FRIDAY - At last, found some time to write my diary - who knows, it might be useful when I write my memoirs one day. And guess who writes to me today - Brigadier Andy saying he wants to commit suicide in public, because someone gave evidence against him in one of the so many commissions I appointed. Felt like saying, go ahead my dear, I'll give you live TV coverage but decided against it...

SATURDAY - These chaps are worrying me about the power situation and telling me the power cuts are getting longer. How am I to know, I asked them - I've got the generator working all 24 hours; security, of course is the reason. Came to me with a harangue of complaints. Okay, I told them, let's bring forward the clock by one hour. Ah, they were surprised at that but agreed, open mouthed. Let's do it at midnight, I said, and they gaped even more, but agreed finally. After the meeting Bala asks me, "Madam, will you still be one hour late for your appointments?" Yes, I told him - I didn't adjust my watch, only the rest of the country did! Anyway, I told him not to tell Edmond about advancing the clock, or he might adjust his time of birth by one hour for his next passport...

SUNDAY - Had to go to Gampaha - they are celebrating Ammi's 80th birthday still, even though she is a good month older now. Felt like telling them that they didn't celebrate my 50th birthday on the same scale - but then I don't look 50, do I?

MONDAY - Read the Sunday papers only today. All with pictures of Jaffna. Feel like going there myself one of these days. After all, why should Anu get the limelight always? And, no one has been there for nearly 20 years now - not JR, not Preme and not DB. Maybe I should try it. But even if there is TV coverage, what's the point - half the country won't see it because of the power cuts...

TUESDAY - That Vajpayee fellow has resigned. Should have asked me first and I would have told him a thing or two about how to run a coalition government. You take in anybody who is willing to be a partner and when they start grumbling ignore them - that's how. Or else, how would I have survived for nearly two years with Thonda, Ashraff, Srimani and Bernard all breathing down my neck? Anyway I told Bala to prepare a standard congratulatory message for the next Prime Minister and have it ready. Then, he has to only fill in the name of the PM and send it - huh, I can't be writing new messages everytime they change Prime Ministers!

WEDNESDAY - Anu is again worrying me about the power situation. I asked him whether we can save more electricity by advancing the clock by another hour but he says that it is impossible. So I told him, let's switch off the air-conditioners, and sweat it out a bit. Bala was saying something about this being like the JVP days - not to switch on lights, not to watch TV and now not to use the AC. I told him sweating is good for his health but I don't think even he was convinced.

THURSDAY - These Electricity Board chaps are really the limit. They walk off after switching off all the lights - they are worse than the doctors. Must let Anu handle this one. Already people are blaming him for the air-conditioners. Must learn a lesson from what happened to Fowzie - he had egg all over his face and I could "intervene" at just the right time. Yes, must let Anu handle this one...