Sunday 12th October 2025

Slow start…Aki feeling a little under the weather, so didn’t fancy rowing club this morning. Brought me tea in bed. Got up around 1030 and made brunch. Pottered about. Did some exercises. Walked to Newington Green via Highbury Barn. Only took about 30 minutes…so had a bit of time to kill before heading to No.60 for an early dinner. We shared chicken skewers and rice, and a warm halloumi salad. Walked on down to Dalston for the Cerys Hafana gig at St Matthias church. Large Victorian era church…great acoustic but very uncomfortable timber pews! Managed to sit through the support act, Astra Forward…a silken voiced experimental songwriter…a sort of half-speed Enya. Beautiful sings if a bit samey, but they had a liturgical vibe that was a perfect fit for the venue. Retreated toward the rear to watch Cerys from a standing position against a stone pillar. She plays the Welsh triple harp…gorgeous sound, and has a delicate voice…played with a sax player and a percussionist…standing ovation at the end…£19 well spent!  

Saturday 11th October 2025

Woke to alarm at 0815. Got up to make tea. Aki cycled off to buy bread at the Farmer’s Market while I prepared brunch. Aki dropped me off outside the Royal Free for my 1100 appointment with the ultrasound team…having my right testicle inspected. Results will be passed to the Urology team in due course. I walked down to get a Northern Line train from Belsize Park, getting out at Tottenham Court Road. Walked down Oxford Street to buy replacement Doc Marten shoes, then hopped on a No.22 bus to Sloane Square. Passed the old Savills HQ in Berkeley Square…the building has been demolished and a new modern block is rising from the ground. 

Got off the bus at Sloane Square and popped in to Peter Jones….haven’t been in there for many years! Met Aki in the 6th floor cafe for a swift lunch…the leek and potato soup was very disappointing. Walked across to the Royal Court…had tickets to see, or rather, hear, Katie Mitchell’s Cow/Deer…a 55 minute piece for four foley artists, including Tower Theatre regular Ruth Sullivan, who dropped out of Moby Dick to take up the job. 

It was a fascinating hour, an hour in the life (and death) of a pregnant cow, and a deer, portrayed with a dignified delicacy. Walked back to Victoria station via the eastern fringes of Belgravia. Bumped into Jen as we emerged from Finsbury Park tube station…she was heading for Hackney Wick to deliver an early evening DJ set. Pork shoulder for dinner, with black beans, mashed potato and plenty of vegetables. Watched “Rye Lane”…a quirky movie set in south London, shot in vivid saturated colours, with a rye and witty script to match.

Friday 10th October 2025

Aki up early to ready for Rowing Club. Tea and porridge in bed. Got up around 1000 and did some exercises while awaiting Aki's Amazon delivery. Vacuumed. Aki back in time for lunch. Sat and read some CD. Rehearsed a couple of tunes. Warmed up the last of the chicken chasseur for dinner, with orzo and vegetables. Watched Hot Spot, and Alan Partridge before bath and bed…

Thursday 9th October 2025

Woke around 0800. Got up eventually to bring tea back to bed. Rose and porridged. Grey day. Read some CD. Sardine salad for lunch. Ventured into town as Aki had been given a National Gallery membership card by a chum who has gone to Japan for a month…went to see the Neo-impressionist exhibition…Seurat, Pissaro, Signac et al. It was interesting but failed to blow me away. Seurat’s drawings with black crayon were very impressive though. Walked up to Piccadilly Circus and from thence to the Japanese convenience store on Brewer Street before heading home. Tortelloni with puttanesca sauce for dinner. Watched some of the Scotland v Greece game before switching channels to catch this evening’s episode of Traitors…Alan Carr is proving to be priceless entertainment…

Wednesday 8th October 2025

Woke at 0630…back giving me gip. Managed to get back to sleep, though. Aki up early to ready for rowing club. I got up at 0900…porridged. Read some CD before doing my exercises. Aki back in time for lunch. Took a late afternoon walk up to Highbury Barn and popped in to Mario’s deli…bought handmade tortellini and gnocchi for dinner tomorrow. Warmed up the last of the fish curry for dinner, with dal and rice. Watched the opening episode of Celebrity Traitors…Alan Carr his usual very funny self! Stayed up to watch the TV podcast…got to bed at 0030!

Tuesday 7th October 2025

Woke around 0900…got up to find that Aki had departed for the dentist. Made tea and porridged. Spent some time penning letters and emails to the Office of the Public Guardian…still trying to get the LPA’s sorted for mum! What a palaver!!! Did some exercises before Aki cooked omelette for lunch. Pottered about before heading up to Archway for a walk. Returned to warm up the last of the mushroom lasagna for dinner. Watched ‘Hot Spot’ before bath and bed…

Monday 6th October 2025

 

Woke around 0800…Aki brought me a tea. Got up and porridged. Pottered about then did some exercises. Warmed up the soup for lunch. Set off mid-afternoon for the dentist on Upper Street. Bumped into Gayu from No.38 and Jane from No.36 outside our pad…they were going in our direction. Almost got run over by a speeding electric cyclist at the lights on Seven Sisters Road…he was trying to run the red light, but bailed out, slamming on his brakes, skidding, and crashing to the tarmac in the middle of the junction…I stared at him in contempt whilst Aki, Gayu, and Jane rushed to his assistance. He’d damaged his bike and grazed an elbow…I left Gayu and Jane ministering to their charge, and pulled Aki away, as I had to get to the dentist by 1530. 

Walked down Upper Street…had time to pop into a new gallery…selling some Tracey Emin, Banksy, etc at eye watering prices. Aki parted company outside the dental practice and headed for Angel. I had a 30 minute session with the hygienist…my second in a week…she’s very good…a young lady of Slavic origin, I’d hazard. Caught a bus home. Warmed up chicken chasseur for dinner, with mashed potatoes…delicious! Took a couple of buses to Stoke Newington for panto rehearsal. Wasn’t needed as the musical team were concentrating on the songs. Had a rummage in the wardrobe department for hats and things for Sean to help him develop the split personalities of King Gregg…didn’t find much. Departed for the bus stop early and got home around 2130.