Unlocked at 9am, and by 9:30am they were looking for me – internal mail. It’s confirmation of the ‘D’ classification. It says I will get another letter with the transfer date in a few days. Then at 10:30am an officer throws the cell door open and says “You’ve got 5 minutes to pack your stuff, you’re out of here!” How long does it take to pick up my radio, say goodbye to Sean and leg it down to the main desk? This is brilliant. Looks like I’m on my way after just 5 days. Sean was great, he was really pleased for me, and he is due home any day now anyway. He still couldn't remember the name of that book and I didn’t get my canteen. Too late now, let’s get out of here.

They took me back through all the corridors I came in through on Friday night, back to the reception area. They showed me the clothes I had been made to leave there and had me sign for them before they were put into a sealed polythene bag. Then into a holding cell with about 6 other guys – we were all going to an open prison somewhere in Kent or Essex, but no one seemed completely sure. All we cared about was getting out. There was a big Nigerian guy who obviously realised I was completely new to prison. He offered some words of advice and seemed very genuine. He also bore a startling resemblance to Shrek.

After about half an hour we were escorted to the van. Everyone calls them sweatboxes, but in this weather it probably doesn’t make any difference. At least no handcuffs this time, but still locked into separate cubicles. We drive off and after about half an hour we get the sandwich and drink under the door again.

We are on the road for about two hours and end up in the middle of nowhere. There are clearly several prisons on the site. We pull up to a simple barrier – no 30 foot walls, no big gates and no razor wire! The barrier lifts and we pull up to the first building. Everybody out – no handcuffs, just wandering across the car park on our own, this is amazing. Into the building and they give us a cup of tea. No signs saying only one teabag, this is much better. After about an hour they give us our stuff off the van and tell us to make our way to A wing. Its about 300 yards away and we are allowed to go on our own. On the way I see a sign marked gym and swimming pool, this is getting better all the time, and then its into a classroom run by inmates and we are given a key for our room. I wander along a corridor, still with a few familiar steel bars but no safety nets and unbelievably no noise. Into the room, single bed, tv and a big window over open fields. This will do nicely.