Managed to sleep through till 0900. Aki brought me a mug of tea which I drank in bed before rising to cook brunch. Feel completely knackered...like I've been hit by a car! Lovely sunny day, so we walked to Highbury Fields for lemonaid and cake at La Maison, before continuing on down Upper Street...Aki wanted to get some moisturiser from Neal's Yard. Took a No.43 bus back to Holloway and popped in to Waitrose before walking home. Aki pan fried cod for dinner, with beans and vegetables, followed by cheese and biscuits, then ice cream and amaretti. Watched a Japanese film called Family Romance LLC...a bizarre piece of fakery directed by Werner Herzog, of all people! Gave up after about an hour. Watched an hour or so of the documentary Man On The Run, looking at the post-Beatle career of Paul McCartney, before tuning in to The News to see how Trump's disastrous Middle East war is going. Bath and bed...
Alarm at 0730...relatively decent night's sleep for a change. Got up and showered before descending to porridge and put together a couple of meals for the day ahead. Drove in to Basford for a 0930 start...knackered...need a holiday! We worked bits and pieces ahead of an afternoon run in front of Therese Heskins, the AD, and various back room staff. It all felt rather under-powered...I was certainly exhausted, and my performance therefore felt a bit marked. Got through it though, and we broke at 1700. I drove back to Bakewell Street and microwaved some cheesey beans on toast for dinner, then drove to Richmond Street and parked the car, permitting me a shorter walk to the rail station than that I embarked upon a couple of weeks ago. Caught the 1853 to Euston, and then took a No.91 bus to Holloway, getting home around 2100. Caught up with Aki before soaking in a hot bath...and bed!
Alarm at 0730. Descended for breakfast...Aidan was in the kitchen preparing to head off to Birmingham for a building insulation show at the NEC. I drove in to Basford for a 0930 start. Rehearsed bit 'n pieces in the morning. Wig fittings for my Wilf, and College Lecturer characters. Glorious day...sat out in the sunshine to have my soup at lunchtime. We did a run of the whole show in the afternoon. Broke at 1900. Had microwaved lasagne for dinner, then drove down to the Sanctuary Ale House.
Alarm at 0730. Hauled myself out of bed and showered...after a decent night's sleep, for a change. Headache seemed to have lifted. Porridged, then headed in to the theatre for a 0930 start. Staggered through Act I before lunch break. I popped over the road for my osteopath appointment with Sharon...nice lady, but her premises give off a very third rate vibe. She pulled my neck about and massaged the knots in my shoulders...I came away with my headache restored! Hope things calm down later in the day. Rehearsals were back underway when I got back to the theatre...had to hastily eat my lunch then join the fray. Broke for dinner...microwaved a tasty prawn curry and greens...then we managed to stagger through Act II. Call ended at 2030 and I joined the gang for a swift half of Guinness in the Hop Inn to mark St Patrick's Day. Shirley gave me some magnesium tablets to try out...she swears they give her improved nights' sleep. Drove home and FaceTimed Aki before collapsing into bed...
Alarm at 0730. Breakfasted on porridge in my room. Aki packed her bags, and I drove her down to Stoke station to catch the 0953 back to London. Drove to the theatre, parked up, and then wandered across the road to enquire of the osteopath on the corner of Albert Street...she booked me in for a consultation and session tomorrow lunchtime. Met for warm up at 0930, and worked through Act I. Broke for a packed salad lunch before marching on through Act I, bit by bit. Microwaved pasta and meatballs during the dinner break, then we managed to get to the end of Act I ahead of a planned stagger through tomorrow morning. Call ended at 2000 and I drove back to Bakewell Street. FaceTimed Aki before bed...
