Tuesday 10th November 2026

Woke to alarm at 0715...got up in anticipation of our lorry load of roof tiles being delivered at 0800. Gary was sat in his van across the road awaiting the lorry's arrival...the guy didn't turn up until 0845! Chaos then ensued as the lorry blocked the street, or rather Gary's van blocked the street, as it's battery failed, so he couldn't move it out of the way! About three pallets of tiles were hoisted onto the kerbside tarmac. Once the truck had moved out of the way, I was able to drive my car across the road to enable Gary to jumpstart the van! I eventually got away on inspections around 0930. Long drive to Maldon. Stopped off at a couple of pit stops, including picking up a chicken focaccia at a swish garden centre just outside Maldon, for lunch later. Drove on to Colchester, then to Braintree, Halstead, Sudbury, and finally, Steeple Bumpstead, by which time it was 1630 and getting a bit dark! Had to drive home in the dark on winding country roads...fortunately I was able to follow a car in front. Stopped at Birchanger Green services on the M11 then headed for home. Got in at 1845...just in time for dinner. We enjoyed a portion of chilli that we'd rescued from Shelly's on Saturday night. Watched "This City is Ours"...it's very well put together...Sean Bean makes a great psychopathic mobland boss...

Monday 9th November 2026

Woke around 0700. Eventually rose and made tea. Gary and Charlie turned up around 0930. I got 'em parked. Porridged. Headed out east in the car on inspections. First stop, Hornchurch, and a sizeable ex Council estate...the stock list was so cocked up, it took me over an hour to determine what was what. Lunch break in the Tesco car park, then drove north to Abbess Roding, and from thence eastward to Chelmsford. Ended the working day in a village near Wivenhoe. Drove home via the A12 and the M25/M11. Got home as Aki was cooking the dinner. Mackerel. Did a little more work at the dining table, making sure I'd gotten all the notes written up. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

Sunday 8th November 2026

Woke around 0430...took ages to get back to sleep. Next time I awoke, though, it was 0845. It meant I only had half an hour to ready myself and leave for Camden Town. Got dressed, abluted and swallowed some tea, then headed off with my guitar for the bus stop. Got to Camden in time to grab a pain au chocolat and a latte at Gail's on Parkway, then walked round to Cecil Sharp House. Our usual tutor wasn't available today, so a young chap named Joe took the class...an affable chap, and a good and patient tutor...we worked on a finger-picked version of the tune we've been working on for the past six weeks...with an alternating bass. The beginners were thoroughly defeated! Adjourned to the cafe afterward...enjoyed a chocolate brownie truffle with my coffee and chat. Walked down to GuitarGuitar to buy Aki a ukulele strap, but they sent me to Camden Guitars at the top end of the High Street. Bought the only offering, then wandered through Camden, stopping at another Gail's for a harissa chicken sandwich lunch, then walked down to the bus stop outside Camden Road station. Dumped my guitar at home, then walked across to Waitrose to buy ingredients for tonight's dinner. Aki returned from Rowing Club shortly after I'd got back. Listened to R5Live coverage of Sunderland's narrow 1-0 win over Chelsea. Practised some guitar, and some Xmas tunes before cooking dinner...a ravioli and mushroom pasta bake. 

Saturday 7th November 2026

 

Alarm at 0800. Got up and made tea. Val from RoofPro turned up around 0930. I put the ladder up for him around the back...he cut and fitted a protective layer that he put on top of the membrane on the party wall parapet, ostensibly to protect the membrane from any flying ash from Sush's and Rebecca's rooftop cigarette smoking! It took him about three hours. In the meantime, Aki cooked brunch. 

Once Val had gone, we rehearsed some Xmas songs. Lunched on tinned beef consomme. It was OK, but don't think I'll be stockpiling it! Pottered about until it was time to drive ourselves up to Muswell Hill for Shelly's annual firework party. Got there a little after 1800...we were early. Caught up with Becky, Kearsey and Joanna...Dee also rocked up. Got chatting to a neighbour of Shelly's, David, who revealed he had seen the Sex Pistols at the 100 Club in 1976!!! Shelly and her son lit the fireworks in the back garden...some very powerful and impressive examples! Must have cost a small fortune! Got to see the display over Ally Pally to our north-east...the drone display was amazing, particularly the flying saucer! Got stuck in to the chilli and rice...very tasty...so much so, that I returned for seconds, and thirds! Eventually left around 2200...dropped Becky and Joanna off at Highgate tube station, and then took Kearsey to the Harringay Ladder before heading for home...

Friday 6th November 2026

Woke around 0700. Back was giving me a bit of gip, so I got up and made tea. Sat up in bed for a while. Aki readied herself for Rowing Club. I got up and porridged as she cycled off to the east. Gary rang to say that Charlie had failed to turn up this morning, so they would be back on Monday, though he'd pop in later to check a couple of things out. Worked at the laptop all morning. Aki back for lunch. I through a mackerel salad together. Did another hour or so at the laptop after lunch, then we walked across to Waitrose to do a hefty shop...spent just shy of £100!!! Roast partridge for dinner, with sweet potato and vegetables. It was OK...not as tender as chicken, and quite difficult to get off the bone. Watched a bit of telly and rehearsed some Xmas tunes...

Thursday 5th November 2026

Woke around 0530...eventually nodded back off again. Woke at 0845. Got up to make tea. Porridged. Gary and Charlie showed up at 0930. Charlie hoisted the zinc up to the roof...they are intending to lay the zinc valley gutter today. I got up on the roof at the back to do a bit of tidying up and take a couple of photos. I then folded the ladder away. Did some work at the laptop. Aki threw a tasty ham salad lunch together. The roofers left at 1600. I got changed and made off to meet some old college mates in a pub, the Wenlock Arms...had to take a No.43 bus down to the City Road. I was evidently last to arrive. Colin was en route home, having visited his mum in Nuneaton. It sounds as though she is at death's door! He told me that his son, Michael, now living in Berlin, had taken up amateur acting, and had won the Best Supporting Actor prize at a recent short play festival! He's playing a rock star in a production in the New Year...we said we'd try and make a bit of a group outing of it come February, if the dates work for everybody. Geordie has lost a bit of weight...and confessed that he goes swimming five times a week! Little Pete seems happily retired, he and his wife travelling the globe...they are planning a trip to the Arctic Circle next year! Widdup looked in good shape...still working on a part time basis from offices in Golden Square. We repaired to The Narrowboat for dinner. I enjoyed a very rare bavette steak and chips. Walked them back towards Angel where they jumped on a bus to Euston. I walked up Upper Street and jumped on a No.43. Seven Sisters Road was blocked off at the junction with Hornsey Road, due to a fire next door to the Turkish supermarket. Chaos! Aki still out when I got in...she'd gone to Conway Hall with members of the Book Club for a 100th anniversary celebration of the life and works of John Berger. She got back around 2315 and climbed into the bath I'd just run...

Wednesday 4th November 2026

Woke at 0615. Got up and did some work at the laptop for an hour. RoofPro guys turned up at 0830...didn't recognise any of them...one or two only speak Ukrainian! Got them on to the roof at the back, then waited for Gary to show up...he and his lads got here around 1000, by which time I'd helped the RoofPro lads bring some of their stuff through. Aki returned for lunch. I made do with almond butter on toast, as I kept having to attend to the two sets of roofers. The RoofPro bunch had finished by 1430...I'd thought they were due to take two or three days, so was a little surprised. I think we were sent the B Team, to be honest. Gary and his lads left at 1600. Watched the TV News platforms covering the joyous reaction to the US mid-term Democratic tsunami...great stuff! Warmed up the last of the chicken lasagne for dinner. A bit of telly before bath and bed...