My Week: Diana Athill

Monday

I go out and do my little bit of shopping in Morrisons. A boy of about 12 and his family are in front of me in the queue to pay. They are just about to leave when the boy suddenly turns around and says, "Can I load for you?" and comes back to help me. I can't understand it when people say, "Oh, everyone's horrid to old people" because people seem to me to be very courteous and kind. Saying that, I live in a very civilised part of London.

Tuesday

I'm invited to go to my publishers, Granta Books, to have tea with them at their office in west London. Before I leave my house, they call me with the news that my book has been shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award. I'm brainwashing myself to have no expectation of winning it. I just feel rather thrilled and honoured that I've been shortlisted. I think Chagall by Jackie Wullschlager will win. I may even put some money on it. When I was a publisher, I used to accompany my authors who had been shortlisted for prizes and I found something very sad about sitting beside my hopeful author. When they didn't win, everyone would put a huge smile on their face, which is quite unreal. If you half expect to win, you can't help but be disappointed when you don't.

Wednesday

I have a former publishing colleague over for lunch today so I make some stuffed eggs and salad and a raspberry fool. We have lots to talk about and that takes up most of the day. In the evening I read. I haven't had a television for years, but I went to stay with some friends in Norfolk recently and I requested to watch Strictly Come Dancing because I wanted to see John Sergeant dance. I think it's quite right of him to pull out. He wasn't any good. He was going to win just because he was so funny. It was very unfair on the other dancers.

Thursday

I have a great deal of emails coming in at the moment, so I spend most of the day dealing with those and pottering. In the evening I read again. I read anything I can get my hands on. At the moment it's A Book Of Silence by Sara Maitland. I like to write in the evenings as well. I'm keeping a sort of diary in the hope that it will turn into something.

Friday

One of my main problems is getting myself up, and today is a classic example. I tell myself that I'm going to be good and set my alarm for 8am. I go downstairs and fetch the paper and then go back to bed with it. The next thing I know it's lunchtime. In the evening, I have dinner with my friend Sandra. I'm an evening person and often I'll go to bed at three o'clock in the morning. Can you believe it.

'Somewhere Towards The End' by Diana Athill is published by Granta