The happy turn up of a boisterous turnover

How busy this prison is becoming. Of course, it might be nationwide. We never know what's going on in other clinks.

I get to see the change better than most because I'm in charge of the library induction presentation for all people who arrive, you know, telling them what's on offer in the library, and the opening times, and the dire consequences of not returning the books on time.

So I can reveal that we have had 130 new inmates in the last six weeks!

The telling thing about this figure is that, as well as we can tell, nearly all prisons are full to the brim. So, with a little simple maths, if 130 have arrived then 130 must have left, unless captives are expected by the new coilition to sleep on top of one another.

So it seems, there may well be movement at the gate that leads to home.

Perhaps not all are going home. I've heard that a lot are moving to open prisons.

How is this movement being interpreted inside? People are saying that common sense seems to be prevailing. Common sense is getting a look in, at last, after all the draconian management of sentence planning we've all had to endure.

I know I still have some way to go - they're not interested that I didn't do it. However, the buzz of optimism gives me hope of actually being released on time, an event that up to the present has been about as rare as feathers on a lamb.

Neighbour Fred has been waiting six weeks to learn if the Home Office is going to fulfil the promise that he can now go to open prison. He was told it might even be parole.

When the chance comes along of being a human and a man again, six weeks can be a very long time indeed.

He seems to be handling the stress well. At least, he does when we chat outside his cell. But behind the cell door, waiting, waiting, waiting can be incredibly punishing.

I really hope he gets his chance to live again. He is a good fellow and society will be better off with him out there.

He'll be missed in here. He's been a really supportive mate, especially in the early days here of settling into this very weird environment. Roger's story is on his website, here.