Tuesday 20th January 2026

Woke at 0900. Got up and porridged. Aki headed off to tai chi. Did my exercises. Aki back for lunch...warmed up some spinach and dill soup. Ventured into town, taking the Victoria Line to Pimlico, and then walking to the Tate to view the Turner/Constable exhibition. We came out much preferring JMW's work; some of his small watercolours are exquisite. The Royal Academy only taught watercolour...he had to teach himself how to use oils. Came home and stuck dinner in the oven...a Waitrose chicken and leek pie, served with lots of vegetables, and sweet potato chips. Watched some telly.

Monday19th January 2026

Took hours to nod off. Thus got up very late. Aki up early to take a call from the GP about her skin condition…he prescribed some steroid cream. Got up and did my exercises. I headed for the gym. Did 15 minutes on the bike and some leg curls. Came home and put lunch together. We rehearsed some tunes ahead of this weekend’s Burns Night bash. Did my exercises. Drafted some emails. We rehearsed some tunes.  Warmed up the leftover mushroom sauce from Saturday and poured it over tagliatelle for dinner. Put my neck out in the gym this morning…got worse as the evening progressed! Watched some telly…still working through series 1 of The Night Manager. Tom Hollander very good in it…

Sunday 18th January 2026

Long lie in after yesterday’s efforts. Eventually rose. Aki cooked brunch. Did my exercises. We took a walk down to Upper Street...Aki looking for a flower vase to use for her new Japanese flower arranging hobby...needs to be a specific shape. Ended up in the very expensive designer ware shops, but fortunately couldn't find anything suitable. Stopped for coffee and cake at Paul's, then returned to Holloway on the No.43 bus. Got off at Waitrose and did a little shop. Enjoyed watching Ski Sunday...stunning Swiss Alpine backdrop. Warmed up the chicken curry for dinner, with spiced vegetables and rice. Aki cooked up a dal to serve on the side...very tasty. Watched some telly. Enjoyed David Attenborough’s Wild London, particularly the peregrine falcons…

Saturday 17th January 2026

Woke at 0600…took a long time to nod back off again. Woke at 0900. Aki already up and about. Got up and made brunch before Aki cycled off to the fishmonger on Essex Road. I read some Chuzzlewit then cooked a mushroom sauce to pour over my homemade gnocchi this evening. Tidied up the living room, cleaned the loo, and laid the table. Katrina arrived first, bearing cheese, closely followed by Tony and a bottle of Prosecco. We sat and chatted over some nibbles before serving dinner…homemade chestnut gnocchi with a cheesy mushroom sauce, followed by Aki’s fish stew, then my meringue zabaglioni semi-fredo and raspberries…various cheese and biscuits to follow. Katrina had been tested for throat cancer just before Christmas but was now much relieved to be able to report it had been diagnosed as chronic tonsillitis. Tony juggling work, home improvements, and keeping an eye on his folks. They left around 2300 and Aki and I tidied up before bath and bed…

Friday 16th January 2026

Woke around 0845. Aki had already cycled off to rowing club. Porridged, then headed for the Whittington for a blood test. Walked back down the Holloway Road afterward and did a little shopping in M&S and Waitrose. Came home and prepared lunch. Aki back in time to cook and add an omelette to the mix. Ventured into town to see Hamnet at the Garden Cinema. Needed a box of tissues! The scene depicting Hamnet’s death elicits an astonishing performance from Jessie Buckley…it’ll probably secure her the best actress Oscar. We adjourned to the Japanese restaurant around the corner for dinner. The black sesame ice cream was delicious. Got a slow No.91 bus home and watched The Traitors before bath and bed…

Thursday 15th January 2026

Woke around 0900. Read in bed for a bit. Aki already up and porridging when I surfaced. I did some exercises the headed for the Sobell Centre in the drizzle. Did 15 minutes on the bike, followed by some leg extensions. We decided to have dinner for lunch, as Aki is hosting the Book Club this evening. Cooked confit of duck with boiled potatoes and vegetables. Did some voice work and sang some songs. Prepared a savoury tart to feed the gathering. Had some soup before people arrived. Full house turned up to chat about their views of Mrs Dalloway. Chatted to new recruit Alice from No.87…turns out she’s married to Rupert Orton, erstwhile guitarist with the Jim Jones Revue, and brother of songstress Beth! My savoury tart went down well, as did Katherine’s quince tart. I retired to the office zone with my headphones and watched The Traitors. People departed around 2200 and Aki and I tidied up before bath and bed…

Wednesday 14th January 2026

Woke around 0715. Dozed for another hour or so. Aki got up the ready herself for rowing club. Got up and porridged, by which time Aki had cycled off to Stamford Hill. I took myself off into town. Dropped my old work laptop off at the Margaret Street office. Had to get the lift up to the third floor…massive office covering IT, residential sales, letting, and marketing…must have been about 300 people in there sat at their computer screens! Went in search of a specific pair of shoes…but no luck…tried shops in Berwick and Poland Street. Gave up and headed home on a No.29 bus. Did a little shopping in Waitrose. Aki back for lunch…hot smoked salmon and salad. Did my exercises. Warmed up the last of the lentil lasagna for dinner…tasty! Watched The Traitors…some ingenious twists have been worked into the game. Very entertaining.