Tuesday 21st April 2026

Woke around 0830...back very uncomfortable. Aki got up and showered. I descended to make tea. Overnight oats and stewed rhubarb for breakfast. Aki packed her suitcase, and we put it in the boot of the car. Did a little gardening on behalf of mein hosts...watering plants in the greenhouse, then drove to Whitmore Lakes for a coffee in the sunshine. 

Headed across town for lunch at Fenton Town Hall...a rather splendid Victorian edifice, which has undergone some refurbishment recently...they won funding to open up and restore the vaulted ceiling in the first floor ballroom, and opened a cafe on the ground floor. I enjoyed a full English for brunch. Aki had oatcakes. Popped back to Bakewell Street to make my packed dinner. Dropped Aki at the rail station around 1430, and then headed for Westport Lake, hoping for an ice cream. They didn't sell ice cream at the Visitor Centre, so I sat on the balcony in the sunshine supping a decaf flat white, and had a little walk around the vicinity, before heading for the theatre. 180 in this evening...I think that's our smallest audience to date. The show went OK...if a little rusty in parts after a three day break. Audience were relatively lively though, and got up to dance in reasonable numbers when required. With two shows on Thursday looming, I opted to by-pass the bar after the show, and headed back to Bakewell Street. Watched another episode of Mint, then soaked in a hot bath while listening to R6Music...

Monday 20th April 2026

Fitful night's sleep...back ache getting progressively worse. Aki got up around 0900 to make tea. I brought porridge up to the room a bit later. Eventually got dressed and ventured out into the sunshine. Drove down to Trentham Gardens for coffee at Pau, which had been recommended by Lyndsey...it was OK...but the venue wasn't very inspiring, though Aki did have a browse around the cycling section of the business, trying on helmets. A huge circus style tent has been erected opposite, sporting posters for the Ladyboys of Bangkok...the 'girls' on the poster look worryingly like Gary Glitter in a Tina Turner wig! Drove on to the Wedgewood Estate and had lunch in the tea room...very swish! Then drove back to Stoke to hook up with Anne Kinnaird, who was on her community allotment in Richmond Street...had fresh mint tea with her and her oppo, Rachel. Anne gave us a bunch of mint, and some huge sticks of rhubarb. Drove over to Tesco...Aki bought a chicken to roast for dinner, and some custard to have with the rhubarb. Back at Bakewell Street, Aki took on the chicken dinner, and I stewed the rhubarb. We ate in the front dining room, then repaired to the living room to watch telly and attempt to finish Lyndsey's jigsaw puzzle...she and Aidan had driven off to west Wales for a few days of walking the coastal path.

Sunday 19th April 2026

Managed to get a reasonable night's sleep, though woke with back ache again. Got up about 1000 and descended to the kitchen...brought tea and porridge back to the room. No sign of mein hosts, but Lindsay had evidently done the washing and pegged out my socks and smalls...no mean feat! Drove down to the Spode Museum for coffee...got mobbed by fans! 

Very amusing...though it meant I had to talk rather more than I'd anticipated...I needed to rest my voice after yesterday's double-header. But they were very nice. Drove up the road to pick up Sean and Jenny, then drove to Wrinehill for Sunday lunch at the Hand & Trumpet, which one of the cast members had recommended. Lovely pub, and the food was very good...Aki's lamb was particularly good. Drove back to Sean and Jenny's to watch the Man City v Arsenal game. It was a cracking game...the atmosphere was electric. Man City came out victorious, and can now catch the Gooners! Drove back to Bakewell Street for some soup and a roll, then drove to Hartshill to join James and Anne at Vinyl Night in The Sanctuary. Enjoyed a beer and a chat before the pub closed at 2100, and we drove back to Bakewell Street. Had a bath and fell into bed, exhausted!

Saturday 18th April 2026

Woke around 0800, and got up to make tea. Brought tea back to bed. Drove into the theatre for brunch. Popped back to Bakewell Street to put a packed lunch together for later in the day, and drove back to the theatre for a matinee. Lovely sunny day...but we are condemned to remain inside in the dark...took a photo of the tree-lined car park from my dressing room window. About 300 in this afternoon...great audience...they were well up for dancing on the stage when required. Another standing ovation! Bob and Sayan were in and came to say their farewells back stage afterward...Bob heading out to Crete on Monday, and won't see the show again. Aki turned up at the front of the theatre by taxi from Stoke station. We sat in the bar, and I ordered her some dinner before I ventured back downstairs to warm up for the evening show. About 270 in this evening. They were quieter than this afternoon's lot, but the show went well. Not much of a standing ovation, though Aki got to her feet! We had a quick drink in the bar afterward, and I introduced Aki to the cast, before we headed back to Bakewell Street...

Friday 17th April 2026

Woke at 0200, 0500, and 0800, but managed to nod back off fairly readily. My feet seemed better...hopefully I can build on that with a mix of ibuprofen, and alterations to my footwork on stage. Made tea, and brought porridge up to my room. Languished in bed until 1130. Got up and showered. FaceTimed Aki, who was at the cafe next door to the Rowing Club, having partaken in a coaching session all morning. I drove down to the Spode factory for coffee. Bumped into mein hosts coming in as I was leaving. They'd never been there before! Drove in to Newcastle for lunch at the Greek Bakery. Enjoyed a huge pork wrap with mustard mayo. Did a shop in Sainsburys. Bumped into one of Albert Cooper's daughters, and her fella, as I was leaving. Arranged to return her dad's pipes to her house, which is literally just across the road from the theatre, when the show ends in a couple of weeks time. Drove back to Bakewell Street and stocked up the fridge. Drove in to the theatre for 1630. Did some Alexander Technique before warm up. Felt very weary this evening. About 270 in for the show. I struggled to get much energy into my performance...felt more like pacing myself. But show went well, though I noticed a woman sat behind the keyboard looking very stony faced at the end...she got up and left before the encore. She apparently complained to front of house about the disgusting language in the show! Blimey...some people need to grow up...nothing you won't hear on the bus, for fuck's sake!

Thursday 16th April 2026

Woke around 0430. Failed to properly get back to sleep. Back ache, and aching feet kept me awake. Got up eventually, and brought tea and porridge back to bed with me. Drove down to Stoke for coffee at the Spode tea room. Alerted Anne Kinnaird of my being there...she has her artist studio nearby, and I've been keen to stick my nose in to take a look. She walked down to Spode, though, with one of her colleagues, and had a pot of tea and a chat...will have to visit her studio at a later date. Drove back to Bakewell Street and cooked a ready meal in the oven...lasagne. Eaten with plenty of greens. FaceTimed Aki. She'd cycled down to Sainsburys at The Angel this morning to stock up on supplies. Drove in to the theatre for around 1630. Did some Alexander technique before warm up. Just over 300 in tonight...silver surfers, mostly...there was a bus load or three of 'em. They were great...especially in the first half, but seemed to tire toward the end of the show. I walked through the bar afterward, and was collared by a tall white haired gentleman with a handlebar moustache...he shook my hand and said, "That was the best drunk acting I've ever seen...you were hilarious! Like Norman Wisdom". Praise indeed!!!

Wednesday 15th April 2026

Woke around 0530...got back to sleep eventually. Languished in bed all morning, hoping the rest will benefit my cruelly aching feet. Brought tea and porridge back to bed with me. Eventually rose, and drove down to the Spode Museum in Stoke for a coffee in the Little Vintage Tea Room...best coffee I've enjoyed since arriving in the Potteries. 

Returned my coffee cup to the counter and found myself standing behind Debbie McAndrew...was going to say hello, but a senior moment overtook me and I couldn't remember her name. I think I met her about 30 years ago in the company of Oliver Beamish, with whom I was working at the Vic...she was the barmaid in Coronation Street at the time. She now runs Claybody Theatre Company, which is housed in one of the decrepit buildings on the Spode works estate. Drove on to Middleport Pottery and enjoyed a lunch of Staffordshire lobby in the Packing House Cafe...a local beef and potato stew, served with a bap and butter, and beloved of the pottery workers of yore. Very nice! Drove back down the D Road to Trentham and stocked up on ready meals from the cooknet range at the Blue Diamond outlet. Drove back to Bakewell Street...Aki texted me to say she had landed at Heathrow. It sounds like she had a bumpy landing...a bit windy out there today! She FaceTimed me when she'd gotten back home, struggling through the crowds heading for the Arsenal v Sporting game. She looked fresh despite her long journey and 14 hour flight...she'll sleep well tonight. I drove into Hartshill for dinner at Kismet...got a table this time. Enjoyed a chicken and paneer dish, with bindi bhaji, and roti on the side. Drove back to Bakewell Street and sat in the car listening to the final twenty minutes of the Arsenal match...a gruelling 0-0 draw that takes them into a semi-final with Atletico Madrid...