Nairobi, Jan. 27 -- It appears my phone is being tapped, and, truly, no-one is more surprised about that than I am. As a middle-aged professional writer, I never expected to make it onto anyone's surveillance list, but whoever decided I was that interesting: hats off to you, Sir. I am honoured.

Unfortunately, it's a judgment call, in terms of spending of funds, that I would definitely question, as I happen to know just how dull my phone use is.

Indeed, my sympathy goes out to the poor soul who must listen to me talking for hours to my eldest son about Brexit,

Trump, and existentialism, his business plans, and the state of his social life. And to my youngest son, too, about the world of Generation Z, and the girl he is in love with.

Fort...