Thursday 30th April 2026

Woke around 0830. Got up and brought tea back to bed. Eventually got dressed, and drove over to Whitmore Lakes for a full English at the Cake Shack. Got recognised by one of the staff...she'd been to the Saturday matinee with her husband...she said I'd had them in hysterics. Hopefully she'll recommend the show to her colleagues...maybe I'll get a discount on the full English! Ate outside in the sunshine. Glorious morning! Drove back to Bakewell Street to put a packed lunch together, then drove in to the theatre. 220 in for the matinee...the average age was somewhere in the mid-80s. But got a few people up dancing. Ate my in-between-shows meal out in the car park on one of the picnic tables before preparing for the evening performance. 

Tony McB and Katrina D in tonight...Tony was on his way up to Buxton for work tomorrow, and Katrina had been visiting a chum in Shrewsbury. They loved the show...and seemed to have been thoroughly entertained, despite the relatively small house of about 190...not many could be persuaded onto the dance floor. Had a quick drink with Tony and Katrina in the bar before driving them over to the Premier Inn in Hanley, then drove back to the digs...

Wednesday 29th April 2026

Woke at 0630, and again at 0830. Got up around 0900 and descended to make tea. Aidan sat at his laptop in the kitchen. Drank tea in bed before descending to make porridge, which I ate in the Morning Room, as it was getting a blast of sunshine. Showered. Nice sunny day, but remarkably windy! 

Drove down to Spode for my coffee. I was the only one in there. Had a brief browse of the current exhibition, charting the origins of the famous Willow Pattern, apparently introduced by Spode in the late C18th. Kath phoned to say she was very confused by her train ticket...she has a five hour journey on Saturday! It ought to take three, so I don't understand what she's purchased...she said she'd pop in at the Central Station to make enquiries. I drove back to Bakewell Street to cook 'dinner'...only to find my chicken tikka masala and gunpowder potatoes had gone off...had to bin it all...so I cooked the frozen Dijon pork instead, with some sweet potatoes, and greens. Ate in my room.  Drove down to Newcastle to hook up with cast members who had arranged a final group meal at Cappello. I joined them for a ginger beer...didn't like the venue...the walls are lined with dreadful art. Gave David a lift back up to the theatre. Did some exercises before warming up on stage. About 200 in this evening. Show went down well. Had hoped to be introduced to Debbie McAndrew, who was in the audience, but no sign of her in the bar. Bought Matt a beer, had a brief chat, then drove back to the digs...

Tuesday 28th April 2026

Another fitful night...bad hernia repair giving me gip, though not as bad as last night, though I had to move very gingerly when necessary. Got up around 1000 and descended to make tea. Lyndsey and Aidan both at the kitchen table on a call. Kicked a ball about with Wilson in the back garden, but it was surprisingly nippy out there today. Brought porridge back to my room. Drove over to Brampton Park for coffee at Brampton Gallery and Museum. Had a wander around the ground floor displays...a bit of the history of Newcastle, and some local art displays. Drove on down to Newcastle for lunch at the Greek Bakery...enjoyed a pork gyro. Then headed for Tesco on the A34 and did some shopping; filled the car up with petrol ahead of Sunday's drive back to London. Headed back to Bakewell Street...was accosted at the back door by a woman claiming to have come to read the meter...she seemed kosha, as her notes stated that the gas meter was in the cellar...I showed her the way, before seeing her off the premises. Did some exercises before heading in to the theatre. Only 170 in this evening...a captioned show, which meant there were some hard of hearing in the house. It went OK...felt a bit rusty, as per usual after time off. I came straight back to the digs afterward...trying to stop the hernia pain getting any worse, and protect a voice that is beginning to tire...

Monday 27th April 2026

Terrible night's sleep. Back pain, neck discomfort, and much gip from my bad hernia repair meant a fitful night! Gave up at 0600 and got up for a while. Got back into bed around 0630...woke up at 1000. Glorious day outside descended to make tea and brought porridge back up to my room. Showered. Drove down to Newcastle and parked up outside the Jones's at No.44 Florence Street, then walked in to town for a quick coffee at Keele In Town. 

Walked back to Florence Street and presented myself at No.44...Paul had set up lunch outside in his verdant back garden. Sylvie was there too, still sporting her plaster cast, having broken a wrist in a fall three weeks ago. I was treated to a tasty mozzarella salad, with creme caramel for dessert. Had a lovely chat with them both about old colleagues, theatre, etc...I had a delightful afternoon. Drove round to Brampton Park for a wander...FaceTimed Aki from a bench beside the rose garden. She seemed on good form, though still feeling a bit bruised...she'd been to have her dressing changed at the GP's. I parked the car off Albert Street and wandered up to the Polite Vicar for a sandwich and a beer, before reporting to the ticket office ahead of this evening's Lindisfarne gig...managed to get an upgrade, which brought me down from the balcony onto the second row. Had a nice chat with the guy sat next to me...it turned out he had seen me in many shows at the Vic in the 90s, and remembered my name...he even recalled that I'd gone down to London to restart a surveying career! Lindisfarne were great...only one founder member in the line up these days, an ageing Rod Clement on guitar and mandolin. Most of the singing was done by Dave Hull-Denholm, Alan Hull's son-in-law, who possessed an uncannily similar voice to his father-in-law...great stuff. They played all my favourites...Lady Eleanor, Meet Me On the Corner, Fog On The Tyne, We Can Swing Together, Winter Song, ending the set with Clear White Light. I had a tear in my eye at the end. Drove back to Bakewell Street for a soak in the bath...

Sunday 26th April 2026

Woke around 0830 after a rather fitful night's sleep. Got up and made tea...brought a bowl of porridge back to bed with me and listened to some radio...another tragically failed attempt on Trump's life last night! FaceTimed Aki who seemed in good shape. She's planning to go to the cafe for lunch with her rowing mates, as the weather is looking good...she'll go on the bus as her knee is still recovering. Jim and Katherine turned up at 1115 to pick me up. Took them down to Stoke for coffee at the Spode Museum but the cafe was closed due to staff shortage. Walked them round to The Bluebird cafe, but that was shut, so we ended up back at Spode and bought takeaway coffees at The Quarter. Browsed in the second hand shop at Spode for a bit, then drove to Barlaston. Nick, Julie, Bob and Charlotte were already at the Plume of Feathers, having enjoyed the woodland walk on Downs Bank. We repaired to the restaurant for Sunday lunch. I enjoyed the belly pork, followed by sticky toffee pudding and custard. Everyone seemed on good form. Julie is heading back to China, where she runs summer camps for primary school children, Nick seems to be helping to develop some kind of pipe/flow technology in tandem with two entrepreneurs from Blackburn; Bob and Charlotte are enjoying the retired life, pootling about in their camper van. Katherine invited us up to Holmfirth for Holmfirth Art Week in July. We said our farewells outside the pub, and Jim and Katherine drove me back to Bakewell Street before heading back up to Holmfirth. I made a cup of tea and went back to bed for a few hours. Kath FaceTimed from the sofa at 12 High View...Dad had been hallucinating after overdosing on his pain relief, and mum was drinking sherry mixed with Baileys! Jim was cooking dinner. Aki FaceTimed having received a surprise visit from Kathleen from No.49...she and Andrew have been away in NZ for a few months. Listened to music. Dined on a slice of Edam, and a small chocolate filled crepe before taking to my bed once more...

Saturday 25th April 2026

Alarm at 0830. Feeling very weary ahead of two shows today! Descended to make tea...drank it in bed. Drove down to Spode for brunch at the Quarter...had a triple croque madame...it was great, but a bit OTT...felt a bit sick afterward after too much cheese! Met Helen in the Little Vintage Tea Room next door...she'd cycled from Stoke station on her Brompton. We had coffee and a chat before I left for the theatre. Busy day...two shows. Got a text from Bob Golding, and actor I'd worked with at the Vic 35 years ago, saying he and his missus were driving up from Earls Barton to see the show. Only about 200 in for the matinee, but they were a good crowd...some enthusiastic dancers among them. Bob and Nikki came to my dressing room window and we had a catch up over the sill. They'd really enjoyed the show...as had Helen, who I caught up with in the bar. She cycled off to Stoke station on her Brompton. I ate my packed 'lunch' at a table outside in the sunshine...glorious day! About 275 in for the evening show. Jim, Bob and Julie were in, my ex-flat mates from Trent Poly days, with their other halves. I could see they were having a great time...Katherine said that Jim had been in hysterics every time I came on as Wilf. Managed time for a swift half in the bar afterward. Haven't seen Julie and Nick for maybe ten years! Made arrangements to meet in Barlaston for Sunday lunch tomorrow, before they ventured to their respective overnight quarters...Bob and Charlotte had brought the camper van and had paid to park up for the night at Sainsburys in Newcastle!

Friday 24th April 2026

Reasonable night's sleep...woke at 0415, as usual, but managed to get back to sleep after fifteen minutes or so. Woke around 0800 and lay in bed listening to Today. Got up around 1000 and descended to the kitchen to make tea...brought porridge back to eat in bed. Showered before driving down to the cafe at Spode for my obligatory latte. Akin FaceTimed me from a street in Stamford Hill...she'd been knocked off her bike when someone opened a passenger door on her. She was a little shaken, but no bones broken...however, she discovered a sizeable gash in her leg. I advised her to head for home and get it cleaned up. Lovely sunny day. Drove on to the Plume of Feathers at Barlaston to meet up with Andy Smith and Stuart Hewlett, who had driven up from Coventry. Managed to bag a table in the sunshine, and ordered lunch...I had a delicious steak pie. Did some catching up, but ended up mostly discussing our various ailments. I drove them up to the start of the circular walk at The Upper House, and left them to it. I drove back to Penkhull and enjoyed an ice cream on The Green. Aki texted to say she had headed for Homerton Hospital...needed stitches. I put together a packed dinner and headed in to the theatre. Did some exercises and ate before warm up. Only 200 in tonight...they were very quiet, but evidently enjoyed the show, judging by the reaction at the end. Had a beer with Stuart and Andy before they set back off to Coventry. I was approached by a bloke and his wife who said they had had their first date in March 1990 seeing Good Golly Miss Molly! Drove back to Bakewell Street. Made a packed lunch for tomorrow before ascending to my room.