Wednesday 16th October 2024

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.

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 14th October 2024

Alarm at 0815. Got up and porridged, in anticipation of a call from the GP about my ultra-sound scans last month. Dr Wills rang. He said the scans showed a small cyst on the left testicle, but that this was nothing to worry about. However, as I was still getting some discomfort on the right side, he referred me to a urologist. He said it could be a lengthy wait, though! Wet and rainy day. Sat about reading Dickens, and listening to music. Made some lunch. Took a walk up Parkhurst Road, and on to the top of the hill on Camden Road, and caught a bus into Camden. Popped into the Izipizi store, then walked over to GuitarGuitar. Tried a Crybaby wah-wah pedal...sounded OK, but thought I'd head for Denmark Street and try a Boss Dynamic Wah pedal in their shop there...didn't like it. Tried a Vox pedal in another store, but then headed back to Camden to buy the Crybaby, and a music stand. Buses were getting very busy with rush-hour commuters, so walked up Camden Road, eventually getting on a No.253 the rest of the way. Early dinner...warmed up the last of the pumpkin risotto. I headed off in the car for Stoke Newington, to attend the Tower Theatre's AGM. Managed to get parked outside the theatre. The bar was busy with people chatting and filling in the voting slips for election to the Board, and to the Management Committee. We were ushered upstairs to the theatre for the meeting...there weren't as many present as I had assumed would turn up. We were treated to a Financial Report for the year, which was pretty sound, though much of the income had been generated by bequests from several past members who had died in the last twelve months. One deceased person had pledged £150,000!!! Stephen Ley got up and up-dated us on the works, adding a storey to the rear portion of the building to provide more rehearsal space. They have had to strengthen the walls and put in several RSJs ahead of advancing the works next summer. Amanda, the AD, announced the productions planned for the summer season 2025. Not much to interest me, except perhaps "Moby Dick", which they plan to take to Minack...may be an interesting project, though I'd prefer to be involved musically rather than as an actor. Will have to quiz Colin on what his plans are...he's writing some original pieces for it. Kathleen was there, so I drove her home. She's currently working on costumes for the forthcoming production of "The Dark Room". Aki still working when I got in. watched The Ten before bath and bed.

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 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. 

Managed to get in on this occassion, and found Ruth, our director, in the Penny Tuerk Room setting up the keyboard for Adam ahead of the witches arrival. Had to go back to the car to get the amp, and bits and pieces...by the time I returned, the witches had arrived and were warming up around Adam and his keyboard. Matthew showed up, and set his bass and amp up, and we worked on a couple of numbers, The Witching Kind, and Before They Stop Me. We finished around 1200 as the cast were to rehearse some bits and pieces, and attend costume calls...so the band decided to disperse until the morrow. I lugged my amp back to the car, then drove round to the front of the theatre to load up my guitar and guitar stand, and drove home. Aki working at the computer...she had had a sizeable brunch, so I lunched alone. Went for a walk afterward, up to Crouch Hill, then down to Tesco on Stroud Green Road to get some chicken for tonight's dinner. Called in at The Park Theatre to leave a note for Gary Lilburn, who is rehearsing "Autumn" there...left my phone number, and a note saying we'd be in to watch the show next Wednesday night (opening night). No bread left at Gail's, so headed for Waitrose...it was pouring with rain by now, so I jumped on a bus outside Finsbury Park station. Aki cooked a chicken and bean stew for dinner. I made chocolate Guinness fondants for dessert. They need rather longer in the oven than the recipe recommended, but came out very well. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

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...