Aki up early to ready herself for Rowing Club. I lay in for a bit then got up and porridged. Phoned Angus, the luthier, and then drove over to his workshop in Manor House. He adjusted the guitar neck while I waited…sounded great once he had worked his magic. Cost me £25. Came home and vacuumed. Aki back for lunch. Walked over to Waitrose to buy some goods. Bought an electrical cable extension in B&Q ahead of Sunday’s rehearsal. Set off for Kings Cross at 1700 to meet Kath off the train. We managed to squeeze ourselves onto a tube train back to Finsbury Park, and met Aki at Osteria Tufo for dinner. The operatic waiter was on duty. Went for the n'duja paste on bread as a starter...but it was way spicier than experienced on previous occassions...bits of chilli got stuck underneath my tongue. Enjoyed my burrata and spinach lasagne, though the portions appear to have gotten smaller. Aki and Kath both went for seafood spaghetti, but were rather underwhelmed. We cheered ourselves up with tiramisu for dessert. Walked round the corner to The Park Theatre to see the adaptation of Ali Smith's "Autumn" in the studio space. A cast of four...Gary Lilburn the only fella in the play...we had worked together at the New Vic in 1988. He was excellent, as usual. The play was OK...it's a convoluted book, so I feared those who hadn't read it would have been perplexed at certain points. We met Gary in the bar afterward, and he introduced us to his partner, Corinne. Had a wee catch up...they live not far away, in Hornsey. They vowed to come see "The Worst Witch" next week...Corinne expressing an interest in directing there, given the opportunity. We parted company, and walked home.
biscuitman
Thursday 17 October 2024
Tuesday 15th October 2024
Woke around 1000. Aki got up and made tea, which I supped in bed. Got up and porridged. Did a load of ironing while listening to The Smile's new album. Walked to Camden after lunch…popped in at the Irish Centre on the way to see what events were planned…nothing caught the eye. Walked on to GuitarGuitar to change the power cable to the wahwah pedal I bought yesterday. Bought some strings and a tin of plectra. Caught a No.29 bus back to Holloway. Bought some odds and ends in Morrisons. Warmed up the chicken stew for dinner, and made some mashed potato. Changed the strings on my electric guitar. The lighter gauge meant the new strings buzzed horribly! Suspect the neck has warped having had the heavier strings on for years! Will need to take it to Angus tomorrow!!!
Monday 14 October 2024
Monday 14th October 2024
Sunday 13th October 2024
Alarm at 0815. Got up and porridged. Aki up too, ready for Rowing Club. Nice sunny day, though there’s a chill in the air. Lugged my guitar to the car, and headed for Stoke Newington. Got there a little early again, but noticed people entering the front door, so drove round the block before parking up in front of the theatre to unload my gear. The girls had arrived on time to help unload the van for the theatre get-in. I sat about drinking coffee until we convened in the Smith Studio to work through the numbers. Matthew had managed to get hold of a more sizeable bass amp...we are going to be loud! Broke for lunch at about 1330. Sat in the bar area having my leek and apple soup before wandering out to find a drink and a bar of chocolate. Worked on until 1800...a lot to get through, matching up the scripted cues for stopping and starting the tunes. Loaded the car back up and headed for home. Aki had baked sea bass, which we ate with lentils and vegetables, and a creamy sauce with preserved lemon. Watched The Ten before bath and bed...exhausted!
Saturday 12 October 2024
Saturday 12th October 2024
Alarm at 0800. Got up and porridged...Aki slept in. Packed my musical gear into the car and heated up some soup to take in for a planned packed lunch. Drove over to Stoke Newington...hardly any traffic about, so got there a bit early. Parked up outside the theatre, hoping to carry my gear in, only to find it locked up. Can't park there for long, as it's a Red Route, so drove round the corner into Alkham Road, and wandered back toward the theatre with guitar in hand.
Friday 11th October 2024
Eventually got up and porridged. Sat about reading for a bit. Aki working at the computer, until I reminded her of her lunch appointment. She hurriedly changed and set off for South Kensington. I walked up to the North Library to renew my library card, then walked up the Holloway Road. Popped in to Archway Library and picked up "Free", which Aki had reserved...it being the Book Club read. I found a copy of Toni Morrison's "Beloved", which had been among the choices last night...and my preferred choice. I think it's time to hand in my resignation from the Book Club...I obviously want to read what I want to read! Walked up Highgate Hill, and sat with a latte in Gail's, reading some Dickens, before heading for home via M&S. Had myself a late lunch. Aki got home around 1630. I made a leek and apple soup, then cooked a squash risotto for dinner, with spelt instead of rice...it was pretty bland. Nowt on telly. Opted for an early bath and bed...
Thursday 10th October 2024
Aki up early to ready herself for a meeting in Camden. She cycled off before I woke around 0900. Got up and made porridge and tea, returning to my bed to eat and drink. Got up around 1015. Worked through some "Witch" numbers in the back bedroom. Aki back for lunch, having come home via the hairdresser's on Essex Road. Pottered about for the afternoon, then went for my constitutional, walking up Camden Road, then back down Parkhurst Road, before veering toward Waitrose, where I bought some provisions. Aki pan-fried some salmon for dinner, which we had with miso soup, and rice. I then made half-a-dozen berry and pear hand pies, and we walked them across to the Book Club meet at No.38. Ben and Gayu hosted, and aside from ourselves, Dulcie, Polly, Gareth, and Jane, showed up. Mixed reactions to "The Siege of Krishnapur"...Gareth his usual somewhat dismissive self, and Ben got a bit pompous about the treatment of the native Indian characters, seeming to miss the point of the satire. We chose "Free" as the next read, a memoir by an Albanian, recounting the fall of communism there in the latter part of last century...not sure I'm up for it, to be honest...I voted for Toni Morrison's "Beloved". Got home around 2200. Watched "The Ten" before bath and bed...