‘I am officially exhorted to remain isolated and indoors which is to say that my usual going on now has governmental endorsement’

24 February

Last week, Rupert [Thomas, Bennett’s partner, then editor in chief of the World of Interiors] and his whole magazine were thrown into confusion when for no apparent reason the management inquired how many of the team could work from home. This was taken to be the prelude to some sort of shedding of staff. Today, it transpires it’s less inimical than this, but rather a precaution. The coronavirus in Italy has meant the Milan office has had to close, the inquiry in case a similar situation should arise in London. This is thought to be unlikely.

1 March

Thanks to arthritis I’m now much less mobile than I was. Gone are the days when I could jump on my bike to pop down to the shops, so static semi-isolation is scarcely a hardship or even a disruption of my routine. Himself no slouch when it came to work, George Steiner once asked a Soviet dissident how he got through so much. “House arrest, Steiner. House arrest. ” Alas, so far as work is concerned, I haven’t yet noticed much difference.

4 March

HMQ pictured in the paper at an investiture wearing gloves, presumably as a precaution against coronavirus. But not just gloves; these are almost gauntlets. I hope they’re not the thin end of a precautionary wedge, lest Her Majesty end up swathed in protective getup such as is worn at the average crime scene.

14 March

As an over-70, I am officially exhorted to remain isolated and indoors which is to say that my usual going on now has governmental endorsement.

18 March

The York Theatre Royal’s tour of The Habit of Art, the play about Auden and Britten that did well last year and was due to be revived for a festival in New York, has had to be cancelled. I write to the cast apologising and saying that one person who would not be washing his hands every five minutes is W H Auden.

20 March

With Rupert now working from home my life is much easier, as I get regular cups of tea and