Then this morning, the news is that Uncle A's brother, W has had a massive heart attack. Doctors report "touch and go" and "even if he survives he'll likely have a lot of brain damage." He is 41. His wife S is at the hospital, still breastfeeding their new daughter and their other daughter is only 3.

I never got the chance to really get to know W so far, although Uncle A always reckoned we'd get on because we're both brooding intellectual types.

It is of course, all just "co inky dink" in action. But still, feels like a rough week and my mother is (naturally enough) really feeling it.

It'd be nice to say this "puts life in perspective" etc. etc. but I suspect I'm too shallow for that. I would do things differently if I had only X months to live, of course. I'd be on a plane to China to be with CKG.

But beyond that, if we pretend there is a long term out there, then I'm doing the right things, even if it's hard going at the moment.

And yes, my little issues are nothing compared to the pain S must be going through right now. But I think it's easier not to think about S's situation too much. It's not a good week for too much introspection.