Tuesday 20th October 2026

Woke around 0530, but managed to nod back off relatively swiftly. Aki got up at 0830 and brought me a mug of tea. Got up and porridged. Grey, dull morning. The roofer phoned to confirm that a tin hat would be going on tomorrow...reckoned it would probably take all day! Pottered about on the laptop for most of the morning while Aki worked at the computer. Put a simple lunch together. Did some exercises after lunch...too damp to venture out for a walk, though I'll have to face it later, as I've got rehearsals at the South's this evening. The scaffolder came round to dump a load of scaff poles ahead of tomorrow morning's appointment! Interesting lad...must be mid-thirties, and runs the company...half Scottish, half Greek Cypriot! Early dinner...Aki cooked miso cod with rice. Headed off to rehearsals...two buses, changing at Manor House. Got to Martin and Janet South's house about 5 minutes late. We rehearsed three of the eleven short pieces; I was in two of them. Enjoyable evening...although I thought the pieces didn't read terribly well, they took on some life once we'd stood them up. Ian Hoare, co-directing with Janet and Martin, offered me a lift back to Holloway. As we were leaving he seemed to have severe breathing difficulties...I offered to drive, but he rallied enough to drive us back up the Holloway Road...he didn't look well. Sounds like emphysema or something. I asked if he'd seen anything of Angharad...he told me she'd been diagnosed with myeloma and was undergoing treatment! Got home about 2215. Watched some news and a bit of Later With Jools before bath and bed...

Monday 19th October 2026

Woke around 0800. Got up in anticipation of the roofers turning up. Sat in the living-room with a mug of tea. Porridged. Gary and a roofing mate turned up around 1000...they reckoned they wouldn't be able to start work today, as the forecast was bad for tomorrow, so he didn't want to expose the roof...he's planning to get a tin hat put on, which he is hoping will happen on Wednesday! Spent an hour waiting for someone to answer the phone at Islington Council. Eventually got through...but they weren't much help. Next to useless!!! Put a simple chicken salad lunch together. We headed in to town to watch "Naza" at the Garden Cinema. It's a series of interviews with anonymous Israeli Army operatives, spelling out a very deliberate Israeli government policy aimed at taking out as many Palestinians as possible when targeting Hamas operatives, namely whole families executed by association. It was chilling, showing the Israeli government to be the Fascists we all think they are! The audience sat in contemplative silence while the credits rolled, and we staggered back out into the day. Walked across town to the Japanese grocery near Piccadilly Circus. Found a table at Bolo, a little Italian canteen set up in the name of Gennaro Contaldo, the now 77-year old Italian chef and cookery writer. Portions were small, which allowed prices to be kept reasonable for central London, and my al forno was very tasty. Aki wasn't quite so convinced by her octopus bolognese. Hopped on a No.19 bus back home. Watched 63Up and The Ten before bath and bed...

Sunday 18th October 2026

Woke to alarm at 0800. Got up and porridged. Hauled myself off to Camden with my guitar strapped to my back...got there in good time for a coffee in the Pink Cafe, but no sign of any staff. The lesson plodded through the arrangement of "Sheriff's Ride" for an hour and a half. We adjourned for a coffee afterward...plans afoot for six of seven of us to meet up next Saturday for a jam, since there's no Sunday class, as it's half term. Walked back into Camden Town and did a little shop in Sainsburys, then caught a bus home. Aki lunching at the cafe next the Rowing Club, so I enjoyed a mini pizza and salad for my lunch. Cooked a chicken chasseur for dinner, with boiled vegetables and toasted sweet potato. Tried phoning Roz, but no reply...maybe she's trapped on the barge somewhere! Spoke to mother, who reckoned the boiler had been repaired, but when I asked her if the heating was on, she said "no"...so not sure what's going on...will have to try and speak to a responsible adult at some point! Watched 63Up, and episode 2 of Jimmy McGovern's "Time"...a tough watch! Bath and bed...

Saturday 17th October 2026

Rolled out of bed around 0900. Aki cooked an omelette breakfast before heading up the road to do a little gardening at the street parklet. I pottered about...read some "Dagga" and played some guitar. Pea and mint soup for lunch. Took ourselves off for a walk in the afternoon sunshine...traipsed up to Bread By Bike on Brecknock Road, but they had sold out of loaves. Walked back down the Camden Road...Aki went home as she was expecting an Amazon Prime delivery, while I walked on to Boots to restock my supply of suppositories! Popped into Waitrose for a couple of things. Warmed up the last of the frozen sausage ragu for dinner. Watched 56Up, followed by MOTD before bath and bed...

Friday 16th October 2026

 

Woke around 0730. Got up and porridged, then awaited the scaffolders. Three of them turned up at 0930 in the drizzle, and another team then turned up to build the rig up to roof level. Took them until lunchtime. Gave them tea and amaretti biscuits! Lynne departed for Penzance, so the flat above will be empty for a couple of days before Frazer shows up...hope the scaff rig doesn't encourage intruders!!! I put an egg and halloumi salad together for lunch. We ventured out to do a little shop at Waitrose...nice, warm afternoon in the sunshine. Aki put together a three course meal for dinner...a fig and mozzarella starter, followed by sea bass and vegetables, and her homemade tiramisu for afters. Watched Celebrity Traitors...

Thursday 15th October 2026

 

Woke around 0500. Took an hour or so to nod back off. Slow start. Descended for breakfast at 0930. Poached eggs and smoked salmon. Did a little work on the laptop before packing my bag and heading into Hove for inspections, then on to Shoreham, and Worthing. Had finished by lunchtime...parked up on Marine Parade and walked to Worthing Pier for a light lunch at the Perch Cafe there. Set off for home via the M23...headed for central London via the A23, then up through Tooting and Wandsworth. The traffic through Earls Court was terrible. Got home around 1800. Aki served up a Moroccan lamb stew for dinner before she headed for Book Club at No.38. I watched The Traitors. Aki returned around 2230...they've opted to read The Brothers Karamazov as their next tome...

Wednesday 14th October 2026

Woke around 0730. Aki got up and brought me a mug of tea. Got up and porridged as Aki cycled off to Rowing Club. Headed for Manor House in the car to fill up with over-priced petrol, then drove to Lancing via the M4, M25, and M23. Stopped at Pease Pottage services to pick up something for lunch. Ate my lunch on the sea front at Worthing, then enjoyed a tea and a pastel de nata at the Perch Cafe before driving on to Goring, Littlehampton, and Bognor Regis. Dove back to Hove via the A27, which was slow going...very busy on the Arundel bypass. Got to the Best Western Hotel around 1830. Got booked in then walked across to the Esplanade and dinner at Marrocco's. Felt rather uncomfortably stuffed afterwards, but managed to waddle back to the hotel. Did a little work at the laptop before FaceTiming Aki. Very depressing undercover report on racist, sexist Reform councillors...