Sunday 8th March 2026

 

Woke around 0900. Aki cooked brunch, then cycled off to Rowing Club. I did some packing, and then wandered over to Waitrose to buy something for Sunday lunch. Aki back for lunch...confit of duck, with roast sweet potato and carrots, followed by bougasta which I'd bought from the Athenian Bakery on Seven Sisters Road, pimped up with creme fraiche, ice cream, and strawberries. Exchanged farewells on the doorstep, and I took a bus to Finsbury Park station, then a Victoria line train to Euston to catch the 1552 to Stoke. Euston was very busy. Got into Stoke on schedule, and jumped in a taxi to Bakewell Street. Mein hosts were not home...sat in my room for an hour or so, but it was cold, and failed to warm up, so I decided to venture into Newcastle to watch a film...Elvis Presley In Concert. FaceTimed Aki before heading off in the car. Parked up in Goose Street car park. Hoped to buy a bag of chips in The Dancing Octopus, but there was a queue, and service was slow. Gave up and walked to the cinema. Had a hot dog there before I went in. The movie was OK...a bit too frantic, Baz Lurhman likes a jump cut! It was a bit dizzying at times! But it was instructive nonetheless...what a voice...he was doing 2 or 3 shows a day during his Vegas residency...but his voice sounded warm and he pumped out hit after hit with seeming effortlessness! He was superhuman! 

Saturday 7th March 2026

Woke around 0500, but managed to nod back off fairly readily. It was 0730 when I next awoke...dozed for half-an-hour or so. Aki got up to pop round to Big Jo's to buy bread...I got up and prepared a ham and egg brunch. Grey day. Had a chat with Lynne and Fraser about the on-going roof problem...trying to get Lynne to set up two or three meetings with potential roofers to get proper quotes. Fraser reckons he's spotted some rot to the rafters where they meet the wall plate immediately below the external brick upstands where the render has sheared away from the brick facings. Walked to Angel via Highbury Fields. Aki bought a sweatshirt on Upper Street, then we headed for Hotel Chocolat to get gifts for Aki's Japanese relatives. Enjoyed a roti for lunch in Camden Passage before returning home on the No.43 bus. Watched Wrexham v Chelsea in the FA Cup...the Red Dragons put up a great fight, but went down 4-2 after having a man sent off. Aki cooked dinner...pan fried salmon teriyaki and rice, with a tasty miso soup. Ice cream and strawberries for afters.

Friday 6th March 2026

Terrible night's sleep....I reckon it was past 0100 by the time I nodded off, only to wake at 0430, as per usual. Didn't really feel that I'd managed to nod back off before the alarm went off at 0730. Descended for porridge...Lyndsey and Aidan were preparing to go to work, before driving on to Ross-on-Wye for a weekend with some chums. I drove into Basford for a 0930 start. Bob not in today...he's working on a piece about Lennon and MacCartney at the Royal Court. Spent the day working though the choreography with Bev, breaking for an early lunch. Afternoon session broke up at 1600, and I drove back to Bakewell Street to eat, and pack an overnight bag before walking the half-hour down to Stoke rail station to catch the 1853 train to Euston. Went over my lines for Act I on the one-and-a-half hour journey. Took a No.91 bus to Holloway in the pouring rain. Got home around 2115. Aki sat watching the telly. Had a catch up before bath and bed, as I could barely keep my eyes open!

Thursday 5th March 2026

Fitful night's sleep. Alarm at 0730. Descended to the kitchen to porridge. Lyndsey sat at kitchen table...she and Aidan have sold their pharmacy business...due to complete at the end of the month. She's looking to go into farming and sustainability! Drove into Basford for a 0930 start. A day working on scenes with Bob and choreography with Bev. Took a walk down King Street at lunchtime and sat in the ornamental gardens with a coffee...very pleasant in the sunshine. Walked back up the hill for the afternoon session. Pasta bake for dinner, with green vegetables...all courtesy of the microwave. Broke at 2000 and drove down to Hartshill in the car...parked up and presented myself at the Sanctuary Ale House...James's Open Mic night was already underway. A very loud singer was accompanying himself on guitar. Sat with Paul Jones and Sylvie, then said hi to Sean and Jenn, and Sean's brother Paul. I was surprised to see most of the GGMM cast walk in behind Bob and Sayan, but none of them got up to contribute a song or two. I did "She Moved Through the Fair" with guitar and shruti box, followed by "Meet Me on the Corner", and "Country Honk", with harmonica accompaniment...all went down very well. Had a slight out-of-body experience halfway through when I realised that I knew everyone in the room, save for four bald blokes huddled in a corner, and the bar staff...back to the future moment. A grand evening was had by all, and we vowed to return in a couple of weeks to try out some of our Good Golly tunes...

Wednesday 4th March 2026

Alarm at 0730. Got up and showered before descending for porridge. Drove into Basford for a 0930 start at the theatre. Continued where we left off last night...more movement and choreography. Worked on the dance sequence for "It's in His Kiss"...the dummy was a bit heavy, and her head fell off at one point...she underwent repair during the lunch break. Finished early at 1800. I walked into Newcastle in the company of Sam and Connor, who were headed to meet David at the Vue Cinema to see the NT production of "Othello", which David had been in. I wandered round town looking for something to eat...the Italian I was aiming for turned out to be closed on Wednesdays. Made do with another Italian near the bus station...treated myself to fillet steak and mushroom sauce. Particularly enjoyed the sauteed potatoes. Walked back up the hill and rang Aki from the car in the theatre car park. She and Kath had met up with Roz last night...she had reported that Cath is undergoing chemotherapy; that Uncle Pete had been in hospital...the children were now taking turns looking after him; Lawrence and Annie have had their home condemned and have been forced to move out, but Roz has no idea where they've gone. Drove back to Bakewell Street and listened to some football on R5Live...sounded like a great game at St James's Park.

Tuesday 3rd March 2026

Woke at 0415....took ages to get back to sleep, despite taking sleep aid tablets before bedtime. Got up and descended for porridge. Drove into Basford for a 0930 start...knackered already, and it's only Tuesday! Bev the choreographer was in today...haven't seen her for over 25 years. She looks a little worn down, but still bubbly and energetic. She filled me in on the state of play regarding Howard Gray and his brain tumour diagnosis...it sounds as though they have had some success in shrinking the tumour, but the biopsy left him paralysed down his left side. She confirmed that he's working, though...remarkable! Took a short walk down King Street during the lunch break...it was relatively warm on the sunny side of the street. More choreography in the afternoon session...hard work. Andy Billington, who had been the stage manager on the 1991 and 1993 productions of Good Golly, had come in to take rehearsal photos...he's now a renowned theatre, and wedding photographer. Microwaved a butter chicken dinner with basmati rice in the dinner break before a further hour's rehearsal. Aki phoned from the Hammersmith Apollo, sounding very excited about the imminent David Byrne gig...Noel Gallagher was sat in the seat in front of her! Drove down the London Road to do a bit of shopping at Tesco, then drove back to Bakewell Street. Sat in the car for a bit listening to the Leeds v Sunderland game...the Mackems scraped a narrow 1-0 away win!

Monday 2nd March 2026

Woke around 0400...took ages to get back to sleep. Got up around 0845. Descended for porridge in the kitchen, and prepared a packed lunch. Drove in to the theatre for a 1030 warm-up. Mostly music rehearsal today. Had a zoom session with our accent coach. I was surprised to learn that I was to sing Shakin' Stevens' "This Old House". Had a go at it after lunch, and did a little scene work with Polly in the breakout room. Broke for dinner...microwaved some lasagne and greens. More singing in the evening session..."This Old House", and "Hit the Road Jack". Voice felt very weary once we knocked things on the head a little after 2000. Drove back to Bakewell Street. Disappointed to learn that Thursday's call won't end until 2000...had been lead to believe it would be 1800, allowing us to get to the open mic night. Messaged James suggesting I might abandon plans to sing "Lady Eleanor"...see how I feel on Thursday evening. FaceTimed Aki from the car...she and Kath were watching telly, having enjoyed a fish supper. They are due to meet Roz for dinner tomorrow evening prior to attending the David Byrne concert at the Hammersmith Apollo. Settled in my room to listen to The World Tonight...updates on Trump's on-going attacks on Iran...all very depressing. Twat!