Saturday 5th September 2026

 

Alarm at 0800. Aki texted to say she wasn’t rowing today due to feeling seasick yesterday. I watered the plants, porridged, and put some rubbish out before heading for City Airport…got there via DLR…in good time. Got through security in double quick time. Sat with a coffee and a chicken and ham toastie. Boarded my Air Italia flight on time...uneventful journey, landing in Milan on schedule. 

Got through the Entry/Exit System in good time...I'd been a bit worried about getting held up there, and potentially missing my connection to Palermo...it was slow, but I got through with plenty of time to spare. My flight to Palermo was, however, delayed. Killed time with an early evening meal...a slice of crispy Italian pizza and a gelato. The flight to Palermo took off about 40 minutes late, and landed around an hour behind schedule. It meant I wouldn't get to my accommodation until around 2100. Managed to catch the coach into the city...took about 40 minutes. Got off outside the Teatro Garibaldi, and walked across the piazza...the place was buzzing. Lots of families sauntering about. Made my way to the accommodation. Couldn't get enough of a signal to get a message to the host, who had messaged me earlier to say he would open the front door remotely. 

Eventually got through to him, and got in to the property...an old two-storey unit with a marbled staircase. The room, however, was small, and the balcony looked out on to an interior 'courtyard', which had the feel of a large service duct...the view was of a whitewashed wall some 3m opposite! Got myself sorted, and ventured out in search of a bedtime snack...found a little eatery a block away, and ordered a mini pizza bun, and some deep fried cheese! Too hot and sticky to contemplate going to bed, so took a walk down the main drag...a narrow street which was filled with milling crowds, hawkers, eateries, and gelateria. Couldn't believe that so many people were eating at 11 o'clock at night! Walked as far as the Quattro Canti, and then turned back. Shower and bed...

Friday 4th September 2026

Made my way up to Katherine's at No.127, with the guitar strings. I popped in at the GP to return the blood pressure monitor on the way, and picked up a coffee from Big Jo's. Katherine's guitar is in fairly good nick, though the strings are in need of replacing. The machine heads are a bit too battered, notably the one I was using to add the D string...needless to say. the string snapped! So that was a waste of time!!! I suggested she take the instrument to a luthier to get it properly serviced. Lunched at home in a bid to empty the fridge before I head to Sicily tomorrow. Aki FaceTimed from her sick bed...she didn't row today! I think they've found the ocean-going conditions way too challenging! Pretty much finished my packing and opted for an early night...

Thursday 3rd September 2026

Woke around 0700. Dozed until 0800ish, then brought a mug of tea back to bed and did a little doom-scrolling. Got up to make breakfast. Watered the plants. Made some almond and banana cookies. Did most of my packing...finish off on Saturday morning. Ventured into town. Picked up a guitar string for Katherine in Denmark Street. Had a wander about before finding some lunch at Foyles cafe. Bought a t-shirt in Uniqlo, intended for holiday wear. Then made my way to Coal Drops Yard to seek out a red jacket I'd spotted online at YMC...tried it on, but the sleeves were too long...bought a bright green fleece instead...groovy! Bought a pair of linen casual trousers to take to Italy, then made for home via Waitrose. 

Wednesday 2nd September 2026

Woke around 0500 with rooffret. Aki got up around 0730 to water the plants. I followed around 0900...tea and porridge. Aki spotted the bloke who has, on several occassions, offered to replaster the gate post for £120! He sports a walking stick, and look to be in his 70s...I resolved to go out and follow him to see where he lives...he may have a walking stick, but he's pretty swift on his feet! He stopped at Alice's at No.89...I bumped into Dulcie outside No.110, so stopped for a chat, then picked up the trail once my target had walked on. He disappeared up Mitford Road...I stalled, pretending to talk to the hens in the school grounds adjoining...my target stopped a couple of times, ringing doorbells, evidently offering to trim hedges or overgrown shrubs. I gave up, and double-backed to Tesco to buy milk, then walked back home. Aki had finished packing and her suitcase was waiting in the lobby. She headed off for Stansted, via Tottenham Hale, at 1215. We parted at the bus stop. I picked up some Euros I'd ordered from the Post Office, then made my way to the offices of Islington Council. I wanted to know why the Parking Dept hadn't acted on my letter explaining the false registration of a car to our address, as I'd received a visit from the bailiffs yesterday. Had to wait half-an-hour to get seen, and didn't get very far...they recommended I get back in touch with the bailiff and request a written response. I lunched at Belle Epoche, then walked down Upper Street and popped in to the Lloyds Bank branch in Angel with a query regarding the new credit card they'd sent me recently. Paid a visit to Hotel Chocolat, and bought some chocolate! Took a bus back up the Holloway Road. Bought a pie and chips from Waitrose for dinner tonight. Headed for Marylebone after dinner to see an intriguing production of Krapp's Last Tape at The Cockpit Theatre. The actor playing Krapp is 84 and has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's...a prompt corner had been set up on the very edge of the stage, and you could hear the prompter relaying his moves to his earpiece...it was a bit distracting at first, but showed the actor's plight in stark terms...making the performance a very vulnerable and moving one. The prompt had to get up on stage at one point to help him out with re-spooling the reel-to-reel machine. His efforts earned him a standing ovation at the end, from a full house. Great stuff! Walked to Edgware Road tube station and made my way home. Photo from Aki...at dinner with rowing chums somewhere to the north-west of Palermo. Got home around 2130. Watched some highlights from Reading Festival before bath and bed...

Tuesday 1st September 2026

Woke in the early hours with rooffret! When will it end!?! Aki brought me a mug of tea around 0800. Sat up in bed doom-scrolling for a while, before rising to porridge. No word from RoofPro...doesn't look as if it'll be fixed before I head for Sicily. Aki headed off to tai chi. She handed me an envelope that had been posted by hand through our letterbox, addressed to one James Hurrde, the man who doesn't live here! It turned out to be from the bailiff, threatening to come round to take goods worth £576, the amount this chap owes for parking fines in Islington! I rang the number on the notice, and spoke to a very helpful young lady named Ellie...I told her this had been an on-going tale, and that I'd reported the matter to the police, and to Islington...she asked for our Council Tax No., and said we won't hear from them again! Aki returned for lunch. Ventured out in the afternoon...Aki had been recommended an exhibition at the Wellcome Institute, so we headed for Euston, and took a look. There were four or five small exhibitions on, all a bit underwhelming, to be frank, though I liked my photo of the upside down Gormley statue seemingly floating above one of the staff! Caught a No.91 bus back home. Pasta for dinner, with prawns and crab meat. Ice cream and peaches to follow. Nowt on telly. Bath and bed...

Monday 31st August 2026

Woke around 0800. Enjoyed a mug of tea in bed before rising to porridge. Aki made strawberry jam. Light lunch. Ventured out to do a little shop. Walked down to Central Library where Aki dropped a book off, then back up the Holloway Road to Waitrose, getting caught out by a heavy down pour. We sheltered beneath the awning outside the Sports Bar until the rain abated enough to make it to Waitrose. Walked home with our shopping, via Boots. Warmed up some tomato sauce we'd found in the freezer, and two generous chicken thighs, for dinner. Had to field a call from Rebecca next door, claiming Sush's workmanship on the parapet was sound...I made a case for capping the whole in order to eliminate the jointing where we think the water is coming in. I told her that the landlord had agreed to go 50/50 on the bill. She intimated that there was another matter she was concerned with, and that she'd text me. This flagged up the notion that Katherine and Aki have been dissing Sush's work, worded as if they had mounted a concerted campaign against him...I'd surmise it's simply if anybody asks their opinion, they will say what they think...perfectly within their rights to do that, bearing in mind Katherine's experience when she employed him, on Aki's recommendation, a few years ago! Not sure where this is going to go...

Sunday 30th August 2026

Woke around 0800. Aki up to ready for Rowing Club. She brought me tea. Got up for a cooked breakfast, before she cycled off to Stamford Hill. Caught up with highlights of the Fulham v Chelsea game that had passed me by. Took a walk up Highgate Hill, stopping off at Archies for a takeaway coffee and a bacon and egg roll. Found a bench in Waterlow Park for my luncheon. It started to look like rain, so I walked back down the hill and popped into M&S...just in time, as the heavens opened! Did a little shop in M&S then took a No.43 bus down to Holloway, and walked home from there. Aki in the shower when I got in. Listened to the last fifteen minutes of the Sunderland v Fulham game. Isidor scored, and we hung on for the three points! Pottered about doing pre-holiday things...checking accommodation payments, flight details etc. Aki served up some leftovers from last night's dinner party. Nowt on telly. Caught up with some football highlights. Had a soak in the bath and listened to Marc Riley burble on...