Thursday 12th February 2026

Woke around 0730...got up at 0830 and porridged. Had to leave for Manor House before the John Lewis van turned up with the new induction hob. Drove to the Green Lanes retail park and parked up, then wandered slowly up Green Lanes to the West Green surgery. The nasal endoscopy went well, and the doctor confirmed that nothing appeared to be of concern, but prescribed a couple of things to combat possible reflux when lying prone in bed at night. See what happens. Walked back down Green Lanes past the countless Turkish cafes, restaurants, and bakeries, displaying their mouth-watering wares...couldn't resist buying a generous slice of chicken pie to share with Aki for lunch, and a cream cake to share for our Valentines dinner on Saturday night. Drove home to find the new hob had been successfully fitted, and was ready to go...instead I microwaved the chicken pie! Watched some Winter Olympics. Aki cooked a tasty fish curry for dinner, with daal, and rice. She had a zoom call rehearsal with JCUK...one of their number has written a short skit, and Aki's doing sound. 

Wednesday 11th February 2026

Woke at 0400…took a couple of hours to get back to sleep! Got up around 0830. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club, and I waited for Chris, the plumber, to show up. He arrived on time at 0900. He finished the siliconing in the shower, then tried to fix the water filter under the sink...looks like we need to order a new housing. He put new washers on the kitchen mixer tap...I had to run down to the Nationwide to get him £100 in cash afterward. Aki returned for lunch. Watched Winter Olympics coverage, did some exercises, and practised some folk songs before warming up the chicken and plum traybake for dinner, which we had with sweet potato and vegetables. Drove to Stoke Newington in the rain and hooked up with Katrina in the bar at the Tower Theatre to see an adaptation of "Brighton Rock", directed by Phil Ley. The lad playing Pinkie was very good, and As did a reasonable job of portraying Ida; the guys playing the hoodlums were rather unconvincing, though...they looked like they'd stepped out of an episode of "Steptoe & Son"...they brought no menace to their roles. 

Tuesday 10th February 2026

Woke around 0900. Got up and porridged. Aki pushed off up the road for tai chi. I awaited the arrival of Tim, who turned up around 1100 and finished painting the skirting, and tidied up...he took away the unused tiles, and his dust sheeting. Chris is due to turn up tomorrow to silicone the edges of the shower 'tray' and finish the job. Aki back for a light lunch. Watched some Olympics from Italy, then headed into town in the drizzle to hook up with Tokiko at Ave Mario, an Italian restaurant in Covent Garden. We enjoyed a reasonably priced set lunch menu...the carbonara was very tasty, and the tiramisu excellent. We then walked across Trafalgar Square and down The Mall to the ICA to watch a "Angry Squad", part of the annual Japanese Foundation touring cinema festival. It was entertaining, though the plotting was clumsy at times...enjoyed it. Parted with Tok outside, then walked up to Piccadilly Circus to get a tube train home...

Monday 9th February 2026

Woke around 0900 feeling rather weary! Got up, though, and breakfasted on toast and jam, coffee, and amaretti biscuit. Watched the Olympics coverage. Enjoyed the Freeski Slopestyle final. Did some exercises. Aki cooked lunch. More sitting on the sofa watching the winter sports...it's exhausting! Early dinner...tortelloni in a chicken bone broth, with vegetables on the side. Headed into town to attend an evening of storytelling at The Moth, held at Rich Mix in Shoreditch...one of Aki's rowing mates volunteers as an usher, and had recommended it. It's a storytelling slam, where ten punters who have put down their names with the organisers, get up and have ten minutes to tell us a story on the chosen theme of the evening, on this occassion "Love Hurts". No-one was particularly good at it, in my view, and the stories were rather depressing rather than entertaining...not sure I'd go again...a pity, as I'd always enjoyed the R4 version. Walked Becky back to Shoreditch train station, and made our way home...

Sunday 8th February 2026

Woke around 0630…dozed back off until 0900. Got up to eat Aki's cooked brunch, before she cycled off to Rowing Club. I sat down to watch the Women's Downhill...Lindsey Vonn was due to ski minus her left ACL, having crashed on the slopes a week and a half ago...mad! Sure enough, she crashed out at the top of the course, and we could hear her yelping in agony as she lay in the snow. She was helicoptered off the mountain! Aki back in time to change, then we headed in to town to meet up with Miho, who had flown over from Japan to see some ballet. We hooked up with her over a coffee at Dover Street Market, then wandered slowly up Regent Street to the Regent Street cinema to watch a couple of Buster Keaton shorts, soundtracked by REM tunes from their Monster album. We enjoyed the old movies, but the soundtracks didn't work...too loud, and failed to add anything to the viewing experience...all rather odd, really. We decamped to Grilandia in Hanover Street for dinner...a new Lebanese restaurant...it was OK, but basically a glorified kebab shop! Walked Miho back to Piccadilly and her hotel, and we caught a Piccadilly Line train back to Cally Road, and a No.91 bus home. Caught up with some Olympics highlights, and watched MOTD2 before bath and bed...

Saturday 7th February 2026

Got up around 0830 to prepare for the tiler. Paul showed up on time at 0930. I cooked brunch…Paul had finished grouting and left before we finished eating. He’s done a decent job. All the areas Chris worked on yesterday are hurting…my bad hernia repair, and my neck. Hope things settle down over the weekend! Watched some skiing and curling from the Winter Olympics. Popped across to Waitrose to get some odds and ends. Walked back in the drizzle. Cooked a sticky chicken traybake with plums, served with freekah and vegetables, and made a damson jam puff pastry wreath, which was very tasty, served with custard. Watched more Olympics…enjoyed the Men’s Big Air…gobsmacking! The free dance figure skating was good, too. Caught highlights of Arsenal’s 3-0 win over the Black Cats on MOTD…

Friday 6th February 2026

Alarm at 0730. Got up and laid the dust sheets ahead of the arrival of the tiler, Paul, who showed up on time at 0815. He'd brought his mum's disabled badge, so didn't need to get him a parking permit! Tim showed up briefly. Paul did a good job of the tiling. I had to push off at 1115 and head for Newington Green for my appointment with the cranial osteopath. Took a couple of buses to get there. Session went OK...booked in for another next week. Popped over the road with a jacket that needed the sleeves shortening. Greek couple run the joint...bit pricey, though! Still, thought I'd give them a go. Took a bus back up to Clissold Park, then walked home from there. Aki had tidied up and mopped the bathroom floor by the time I got in. Pea and ham soup for lunch. Wandered over to Waitrose to do a bit of a shop. Finished off the ham and potato pie for dinner, with sweet potatoes and vegetables. Watched a bit of the Winter Olympics Opening ceremony…