Monday 22nd June 2026

Got up and packed. Stripped the bed. Breakfasted downstairs with ma and pa. Kath turned up with a load of shopping...we thought she was in bed listening to the radio she'd left on! Starmer announced he was to resign as Prime Minister, paving the way for Andy Burnham. Prepared some lunch...Jim joined us. Mum came rushing in to announce that Andy Burnham had resigned! Said our farewells, and Jim drove us to Callerton Parkway to catch the train into town. Got to Central Station in good time to climb aboard the 1427 to Kings Cross. Got into London at 1745, 15 minutes behind schedule due to delayed trains in front of ours. Noticeably hotter in London...caught a No.91 bus back to Holloway. Dropped our bags off, and walked down to Xian Impression for dinner. Back home to catch the end of the Argentina v Austria game. Watched the final episode of "Get Back" before settling down to watch France defeat a plucky Iraq before shower and bed...

Sunday 21st June 2026

Delivered dad's Father's Day card, featuring his children reading "Dagga". I addressed the envelope to J H Hagga, 12 Plumpff View, Lollybrod. Aki drew the King of Lollybrod on the stamp. Breakfasted. Aki and I walked down to Darras to do a bit of shopping...had our coffee at Davidson's, as Number 9 was full. Walked back to High View in the sunshine. Lunch out in the garden. Jim and Emma showed up...Emma had gone for a half-hour run! Watched a bit of the tennis from Queen's...won by Argentine, Cerundolo...a new face on the scene. Prepared and cooked chicken for dinner...Aki reprised her no famous harissa potatoes. I stayed up to watch Cape Verde take on Uruguay...astonishingly the islanders scored first, but it was 2-1 to Uruguay by the time I retired for the night, unable to keep my eyes open for the second half...

Saturday 20th June 2026

Woke early again with back ache. Got up and pottered about a bit until porridge. Aki and wandered down to the shops at Darras Hall to buy some bits and pieces for lunch and dinner. Enjoyed a coffee at Number 9. Walked back up Whinfell Road to prepare lunch...eaten in the garden, as it was another fine day. Watched a bit of tennis from Queen's with mum. Aki cooked salmon for dinner, with harissa potatoes. I stayed up to watch the Netherlands thrash Sweden 5-1...they are looking good!

Friday 19th June 2026

Woke early with back ache. Got up and wandered into the office to watch the highlights from last night's World Cup games. Aki got up and made porridge for breakfast. Aki, Kath, and I took a walk down to the shops at Darras...Kath got an emergency call from work, so had to walk back ahead of us...Aki and I enjoyed a coffee at Number 9 before heading for High View. Prepared lunch, which we ate in the back garden. I spent the afternoon cooking up a beef in beer stew for the freezer, while Aki prepared a chicken curry for dinner. A bottle of Prosecco was opened to mark the launch day of dad's novel, "Dagga & The King of Lollybrod". Jim and Emma had gone off in the van for a couple of nights near Bamburgh. Watched Scotland's defeat at the hands of Morocco...the Scot's now need a point from their final game to ensure progress to the knockout rounds...against Brazil!

Thursday 18th June 2026

Readied ourselves for our trip up north. Breakfasted, and made a packed lunch to eat on the train. Made our way to Kings Cross with our baggage. Caught the 1130, calling at York and Newcastle. Uneventful journey, though the family in front of us were a bit loud...on their way up to Edinburgh. Disembarked at Newcastle at 1410 and phoned Jim...he arranged to meet us at Callerton Parkway Metro station. 

He was driving dad's car...has got himself on dad's motor insurance, which is a good idea. He dropped us off at 12 High View, and drove off to pick Emma up from work. Mum and dad looking pretty good, all things considered. Dad still has on-going pain management issues...Kath has referred him to her back specialist, but no sign of an appointment as yet. Sat out in the garden and enjoyed a tea before Aki got to work cooking a carbonara for dinner. Emma and Jim made their own arrangements...they are both looking good, too...Emma now in training for the Great North Run in the autumn! Watched a bit of telly in the living-room...dad doesn't seem to be too interested in watching the World Cup. 

Wednesday 17th June 2026

Woke around 0800...Aki got up to ready herself for Rowing Club. I rose and made tea. Porridged. Aki cycled off. I set about laying dust sheets in anticipation of the roofer coming to inspect the back addition leak. Put the ladder up. Had time to wander over to Morrisons to buy chicken and a couple of tins of tomatoes for dinner tonight. Tom from RoofPro turned up at noon...he's a likeable chap. Got him on the roof and he checked all the joints, but couldn't find anything obvious. He found three or four small pin-point holes in the covering above the parapet...I find it very hard to believe such small holes could result in such a large build up of water in the ceiling void, but got nothing else to go on. He suggested adding an extra membrane layer to the parapet, and he left vowing to send me a costing. I tidied up the dust sheets. Aki back in time for lunch. I ascended the ladder after lunch to give the roof a good sweeping, and did a little pruning in the back yard. Cooked a chicken cacciatore for dinner, with orzo and vegetables. Watched England beat Croatia 4-2...we were fantastic for the first 20 minutes of the second half...haven't seen England play that well for a very long time!

Tuesday 16th June 2026

Aki up at 0730 to ready herself for a dental appointment. She brought me a mug of tea before cycling off. I got up and uploaded the photos from yesterday's inspections, and started writing up the notes. All done by 1130...not a big job, so not much in the pay packet! Put lunch together once Aki had returned from tai chi. Helped Aki tidy up after she attacked the hedge with the trimmer. Watched France defeat Senegal 3-1. Aki cooked sea bass for dinner, with white beans and vegetables. Showered. Came out of the shower just in time to see Iraq equalise against Norway....though Haaland made it 2-1 within a couple of minutes. I retired for the night at half-time.