Israel: Ross Kemp and Mrs Kemp

Book into the Carmel Forest Spa Hotel just south of Haifa, an 80 minute drive north of Tel Aviv. A remote, highish altitude (about 1,000ft up) shangri-la on Mt Carmel, set amid pine, much favoured by jaded celebs. Here, you do not sleep but have a "sleep experience" and this is aided by a selection from a Pillow Menu. My first facial is booked, a cycling trip is on the agenda.

At dinner last night, quite by chance, the subject of Ross Kemp [see earlier posting below] came up. A companion told me how the actor had been enthralled by all the fuss last year when his now estranged wife, Sun editor Rebekah Wade, had been briefly detained over night at a police station after a claim of hubby bashing. My dinner companion said: "Ross, who's a very sweet guy it must be said, marvelled at the media storm over the whole thing and would talk about nothing else. I got the impression that he was very flattered and exhilerated by it all. Of course, the problem in that marriage is that she's vastly more successful and driven than he is."

I'm not sure how one measures such matters: he is a household name, I'm not persuaded she is. Only a fellow journalist might try to measure their respective standing in the world. I think their marriage failure is due to much more interesting personal dynamics, but I'm not one to gossip.

Anyhow, I must go now for a Turkish steam experience prior to work on the wizened exterior (or not, as the case maybe).