Terrible night's sleep. Back pain, neck discomfort, and much gip from my bad hernia repair meant a fitful night! Gave up at 0600 and got up for a while. Got back into bed around 0630...woke up at 1000. Glorious day outside descended to make tea and brought porridge back up to my room. Showered. Drove down to Newcastle and parked up outside the Jones's at No.44 Florence Street, then walked in to town for a quick coffee at Keele In Town.
Walked back to Florence Street and presented myself at No.44...Paul had set up lunch outside in his verdant back garden. Sylvie was there too, still sporting her plaster cast, having broken a wrist in a fall three weeks ago. I was treated to a tasty mozzarella salad, with creme caramel for dessert. Had a lovely chat with them both about old colleagues, theatre, etc...I had a delightful afternoon. Drove round to Brampton Park for a wander...FaceTimed Aki from a bench beside the rose garden. She seemed on good form, though still feeling a bit bruised...she'd been to have her dressing changed at the GP's. I parked the car off Albert Street and wandered up to the Polite Vicar for a sandwich and a beer, before reporting to the ticket office ahead of this evening's Lindisfarne gig...managed to get an upgrade, which brought me down from the balcony onto the second row. Had a nice chat with the guy sat next to me...it turned out he had seen me in many shows at the Vic in the 90s, and remembered my name...he even recalled that I'd gone down to London to restart a surveying career! Lindisfarne were great...only one founder member in the line up these days, an ageing Rod Clement on guitar and mandolin. Most of the singing was done by Dave Hull-Denholm, Alan Hull's son-in-law, who possessed an uncannily similar voice to his father-in-law...great stuff. They played all my favourites...Lady Eleanor, Meet Me On the Corner, Fog On The Tyne, We Can Swing Together, Winter Song, ending the set with Clear White Light. I had a tear in my eye at the end. Drove back to Bakewell Street for a soak in the bath...
Reasonable night's sleep...woke at 0415, as usual, but managed to get back to sleep after fifteen minutes or so. Woke around 0800 and lay in bed listening to Today. Got up around 1000 and descended to the kitchen to make tea...brought porridge back to eat in bed. Showered before driving down to the cafe at Spode for my obligatory latte. Akin FaceTimed me from a street in Stamford Hill...she'd been knocked off her bike when someone opened a passenger door on her. She was a little shaken, but no bones broken...however, she discovered a sizeable gash in her leg. I advised her to head for home and get it cleaned up. Lovely sunny day. Drove on to the Plume of Feathers at Barlaston to meet up with Andy Smith and Stuart Hewlett, who had driven up from Coventry. Managed to bag a table in the sunshine, and ordered lunch...I had a delicious steak pie. Did some catching up, but ended up mostly discussing our various ailments. I drove them up to the start of the circular walk at The Upper House, and left them to it. I drove back to Penkhull and enjoyed an ice cream on The Green. Aki texted to say she had headed for Homerton Hospital...needed stitches. I put together a packed dinner and headed in to the theatre. Did some exercises and ate before warm up. Only 200 in tonight...they were very quiet, but evidently enjoyed the show, judging by the reaction at the end. Had a beer with Stuart and Andy before they set back off to Coventry. I was approached by a bloke and his wife who said they had had their first date in March 1990 seeing Good Golly Miss Molly! Drove back to Bakewell Street. Made a packed lunch for tomorrow before ascending to my room.
Woke around 0830...back very uncomfortable. Aki got up and showered. I descended to make tea. Overnight oats and stewed rhubarb for breakfast. Aki packed her suitcase, and we put it in the boot of the car. Did a little gardening on behalf of mein hosts...watering plants in the greenhouse, then drove to Whitmore Lakes for a coffee in the sunshine.
