This is a rundown of the week just passed. It began with robbery.  Within 12 hours of a thief in the night  sneaking away with  my computer I am stepping onto the  stage at RADA studios  for a BBC radio 4  comedy panel show called Dilemma presented by Sue “Bake Off” Perkins. Within  24 hours of that I am standing in front of women  prisoners in Holloway prison to inspire and be inspired.

Within twenty four hours of  being in  prison I’m stood on  the roof of the as yet unopened Shard, the tallest building in London,  where  Joanna Trollope and I are giving speeches to Financiers to raise £2,000,000 for The Reading Fund for The Book Trust.   After an excellent speech Joanna Trollope introduces me thus:  “Our patron HRH The Duchess of Cornwall can’t make it but thankfully we have Lemn Sissay”.  She had a twinkle in her eye.   Within 24 hours of this  I am meeting the The roundhouse  team in North London for a project and  24 hours since then I am stood outside Tara Arts in South London talking  with my friend Wylie Longmore after enjoying  his play Speak of Me As.  Twelve hours later I’m  laughing through  Sunday with  Eritrean friends the family of The Journalist.    So what have I learned this week?  Most of all  I have learned through  the theft of my computer (I have lost everything)  to let the passed be past and count the priceless present. Nobody can steal that.

Photographs:  1) The Shard 2) Suzette Newman and I at the Shard  3) Tim Minchin and I at The Shard  4) Wylie Longmore and I at Tara Arts  5) Habersha Sunday:  Azieb’s family and I