On Insomnia 2

Writing about insomnia is like writing about back pain or science and religion, everybody has something to say on the subject. Since my post I have been asked to write on the subject for The Guardian - no, I write for The Sunday Times - greeted with amazement - 'You have insomnia, how fascinating!' - told I am going to die and go mad in that order and that formidable librarian Dave Lull has sent me this link. Seemingly I can 'cure' myself with cognitive behavioural therapy or not reading in bed. I put 'cure' in quotes because I'm not sure I would continue to be myself if I lost my insomnia. As I said in my last post, there are good bad nights and one of my deepest pleasures is going out ridiculously early and breathing the silent and strangely pure air of the city. It's always the second breath that provides the hit for some reason, the first is just preparation. Feeling truly alone in a city - not just alienated among the crowds - is delicious. But I suspect all this is an indicator of the strange popularity of journalists who write about their lives and afflictions. I once swore I would never do this - I may even now be breathing my last, but I wouldn't tell you, I probably wouldn't tell myself - but I seem to have fallen into the trap. Oh well, that's one thing I'm not going to lose any sleep over.