A week in the life of Kenny Richey

MONDAY 2nd August 04

I'm told that Amnesty International and Reprieve are organizing a march with pipers to the US Consulate in Edinburgh to mark my 40th birthday. I wish I could see this. I wonder what tunes they'll play? They're bringing a birthday cake too with my picture on it. I'd love to see the photographs. I'm wondering how they got my picture on the cake in the first place. Guess technology really is something else these days.

My mood isn't great today. Speaking on the phone my wife Karen noticed this and asked what's wrong. She puts up with so much, she really does. It seems I never have much new stuff to talk about because every day in here is the same.
I got more birthday cards from supporters today. I've lost count of how many I've received so far. Hundreds.

I have developed a sty in my eye. Karen suggested rubbing my gold ring on it.
Some old wives tale. Then suggested putting a cold teabag on it. Another tall tale. Will try both and see if they work.

TUESDAY 3rd August

Today is the big '4-0'. Spending it here is not what I'd ever imagined.

The pipers at the consulate were featured on the Scottish news. Karen taped it for me and played it over the phone so I could hear them playing Black Isle and Scotland The Brave. It sounded wonderful. One day I'll get to thank piper Keith Drysdale and his boys for doing this for me. Karen said he had taken time off work especially. What a lovely man with a lovely family. It was nice to hear all the comments given outside the US consulate in Edinburgh. It was weird hearing myself talk though.

I spoke to my mum, dad and brother. My wee niece sang Happy Birthday over the phone too. Bless her wee heart. I truly appreciate the effort that went into making my birthday special. Now I am looking forward to getting all the cards which have been collected from supporters. A box with over 1,000 of them is apparently on its way.

So even though I wasn't home, my birthday was made as special as it could be in the circumstances. It's been a lovely day. And all the guys sang happy birthday too.

WEDNESDAY 4th Aug

Was up all night watching TV. Couldn't sleep. My mind has been working
overtime. Thinking of yesterday and of the pipers. They really made an impression on me. Lawyers let me hear the online stuff from STV. Sounds great but makes me so homesick too.

THURSDAY 5th August

Beth, one of my supporters and Karen's friend, sent me four Harry Potter
books. Bloody brilliant. Looking for the last one now. Karen says Robbie Coltrane might not make any more Harry films after this next one. NO WAY. Harry Potter without the big man cannot be. I might need to begin a SAVE HAGRID campaign.

My dad is waiting on test results. I get worried when my parents get ill.
Will find out later what's happening hopefully. No news on my appeal decision.
Wish they would hurry it up. Every day I wait on it happening. No way for anyone to live.

FRIDAY 7th August

Got called out today by Mr Morrow, the case manager. Janet at the British
Consulate had called and told them to let me call her reverse charge.

Usually when I go out on a call like this, I can go just wearing my
sweatpants and t-shirt but they made a new rule that even if it is just a call, we have to wear the white shirt and the death row trousers. So had to go and get changed into the prison clothes.

The consulate are trying to arrange a call between me and my brother Tom. Tom and I haven't spoken to each other since around 1985. That was the last time we saw each other in person. We have written to one another all these years and Tom did get to see me on the American Justice documentary in March, which was the first he had seen and heard me talk in all those years. Now I just need proof that we are indeed brothers. I need to send birth certificates in to the consulate.

SATURDAY 8th August

Bloody hell!! I just received the box a few minutes ago with over 1000
birthday cards in it. People from all over the UK and other parts of the world have sent all these cards in. I will be reading this lot for a week. haha.
Thank you to everyone who sent a card. This is absolutely brilliant. Even the guard who brought the box was amazed.

SUNDAY 9th August

I had a chest X-ray and an ECG for my heart on my birthday also. I get the results soon. I hope everything is okay. I still haven't had my tooth fixed though. Or any of the other tests I was meant to have. Slow swines.

Okay I'm off to read my cards. :)

Featured in The Sunday Herald 8th August 04