Friday 31st December 2021

Woke at 0600 and visited the loo. No coughing during the night, which was a relief, though I woke at 0800 in a bit of a cold sweat. Aki phoned from the room next door, and made me a mug of tea. Received an email from NHS Test & Trace, with a link to a lengthy questionnaire which I had to fill in with my recent movements and relevant contacts. It seems to suggest that close contacts need to test daily until 6th January! Aki tested negative again this morning. She cycled off to the fishmonger on Essex Road after breakfast. I stayed in bed and read some Shuggie Bain, listened to R6Music, and did a bit of CPD on the laptop. Managed to get hold of ma and pa via FaceTime. They were just about to head out for their constitutional. Spoke to Jim who said he had received the Test and Trace notification. My understanding is that there is no need to self-isolate if you have tested negative, and are fully vaccinated, which applies to everyone involved, except me, of course. Aki had made ham and pea soup yesterday which we had for lunch. We were sharing our meal over FaceTime, when the doorbell rang. Ben and Gayu had come over to see how things were faring, and had brought us some of Ben's promised Christmas cake. Enjoyed with a mug of tea. Spent most of the afternoon reading today's Guardian which Aki had brought back earlier from Waitrose. Aki cooked baked hake for dinner, wrapped in proscuitto, with mashed potato and vegetables. Tasted good, so I'll take that as a sign I'm coming out the other side of the infection...will test tomorrow in the hope of early release. Saw in the New Year from the back bedroom...Aki FaceTimed me from the front room, and we exchanged a New Year's kiss over the air waves!!! Hope 2022 is an improvement on 2021...Happy New Year everyone!!!

Thursday 30th December 2021

Woke around 0530 with a coughing fit. Took a drink of water, and got back to sleep. Woke again at 0900. Aki brought tea and porridge to my door. She tested negative this morning, despite spending all day yesterday in the car with me. Not feeling too bad...got up and did some exercises in the bedroom, and set up a table looking out onto the garden. Had hoped to do some work there, but the wi-fi signal was too poor...had to sit by the bedroom door in order to pick up the booster in the 'office' area. Managed to WhatsApp call Kath...Jim answered. They were driving back from Blyth, where Kath had had a meeting with her employer to see how things were going post Soapgate. They said ma and pa seemed fine, and Kath had dropped a couple of LFTs to them yesterday. Mum got through to me briefly on the phone, but the signal is very poor in the bedroom, so I only managed to pick up the fact that they felt OK, and had been out for a drive, though dad had complained of having a bit of a headache, then the signal dropped off. Managed to get them via FaceTime at lunchtime, and they looked OK, though dad reported aching limbs and a runny nose, which sounded a bit ominous!!! If he's positive, then Kath won't be able to go in there, bearing in mind her vulnerable clientele. It's all getting a bit complicated! Kath texted Aki later to say that mum and dad had both tested negative, which came as something of a relief! Aki cooked an aubergine parmigiana lasagna for dinner, followed by tiramisu from Waitrose! Watched Whitehouse & Mortimer fishing for salmon on the Tyne. They were joined by a rather pinched looking Gazza, but they didn't get much out of him about his drink problem, save Gazza saying he's taking each day as it comes. Received an email from the NHS with my PCR test result, which confirms I have the virus. The accompanying text suggests that all close contacts ought to test themselves daily for seven days...I guess there's two or three days left of that period, taken from my positive LFT on Monday. 

Wednesday 29th December 2021

Woke at 0130 with a nasty cough. Managed to get back to sleep, but woken again at 0430. Aki knocked on my bedroom door around 0700, and I hauled myself up and about to get things packed. Aki brought me some tea and porridge, then I transferred our luggage to the porch prior to packing it into the car. Said my goodbyes via the garage...dad opened the automatic garage doors, as if in an episode of Star Trek. So far, they don't appear to be displaying any symptoms...hope it stays that way. Aki and I drove back down the M1 wearing blue latex driving gloves, and double layered masks, with the car windows open! I did the first half, through filthy driving conditions, rain and belts of fog. Fortunately there wasn't too much traffic about, and we arrived at Tibshelf Service Station around 1215. Had our lunch in the car, Aki going first while I kept my masks on, then it was my turn while she popped in to use the facilities. Aki took the wheel the rest of the way...the weather brightened up a bit as we headed south, but there was a lot of traffic about, especially on the M1 after Luton. Got home around 1545 and unloaded the car...Margaret from next door, bumped into us, and on being informed of my condition, gave us a wide berth. Mum called to see that we had gotten home in one piece. Aki set herself up in the spare room on the sofa bed, and I'm to self-isolate in our bedroom. Took a dining chair in there, and a guitar. Aki made intermittent contact via FaceTime from the kitchen, where she prepared dinner. Lamb shanks and tomato couscous. Lay in bed listening to the radio for a bit...but lying down seems to bring on the coughing, which in turn is giving my hernia repair more than a bit of gip.

Tuesday 28th December 2021

Woke around 0530 feeling a bit fluey...bit of a headache, and aching limbs, but no sign of any fever. Managed to get back to sleep OK after visiting the loo. Aki woke me around 0900 with a mug of tea, and later brought up a bowl of porridge. My sense of taste is definitely impaired, but no heavy cough, and no temperature, so hopefully it's a mild dose of Omicron. Aki keen to drive home to get us out of range of mum and dad. But I suspect I've already been at my most infectious. The PCR Test Kit arrived by Royal Mail. Kath called round...she thinks she needs to get a PCR Test done, maybe at a walk-in test centre, to assuage her employer. Aki drove off to Ponteland to post my PCR test, and get some items from Waitrose. A large bowl of soup was delivered to my door, with olive bread and jam for afters, which made for an interesting combination. Went on the RICS website in the afternoon to find some CPD courses that didn't involve me in parting with too much cash. Did a free one on Residential Service Charge Dispute Resolution...can't say I could tell you what it was about...a duller lecturer I've yet to meet. Still, that knocked off an hour's worth of CPD. Aki left me a plate of squash and mushroom risotto outside my door. I watched the final episode of "A Very British Scandal" before nodding off.

Monday 27th December 2021

Woke in a little discomfort...bit of stiffness in my lower back. Could hear mum coughing this morning, but she seemed to have composed herself by the time we got downstairs. Aki made porridge. I seem to have some mild cold symptoms...a runny nose, and some occassional sneezing. Kath rang to ask if I'd drive over to Peary Close and pick Jim up, as she was on a tight schedule. I drove Aki down to Sainsbury's in the village, and we bought some bits and pieces for meals planned for tonight and tomorrow night. Drove on to the petrol station at Newcastle airport to fill up prior to journeying homeward on Wednesday. Then drove to Peary Close and picked Jim up, then headed back to High View for lunch. Spent some time setting up the clock radio we'd bought for John, and Aki and I helped him set up his new A3 printer. My afternoon cup of tea tasted a little different to the usual, so I thought I ought to take a lateral flow test...and wouldn't you know it!!! It gave me a positive test reading!!! Immediately shut myself in the bedroom, and Aki moved her stuff into the end bedroom. I ordered a home PCR test kit online to be delivered here to High View. Aki delivered my dinner, the one I was supposed to be preparing, to my bedroom door. Spent some time on line on the Government covid website. Ordered a PCR test, which will hopefully come tomorrow, and some more Lateral Flow Tests for Aki to pick up from Boots in Darras tomorrow. What a pain...and worried for the others, especially ma and pa. How long have I been infectious...certainly today, I would have thought? I didn't do the LFT until late afternoon, so plenty of time to spread it amongst the rest of the family! Aki going to do another LFT tomorrow afternoon. Watched Clare Foy's magnificent Duchess of Argyll on iPlayer before retiring to bed.

Sunday 26th December 2021

Aki woke around 0830 and made tea, which we drank in bed. Mum seemed to be a bit better this morning, having the benefit of an uninterrupted night's sleep. We practised some Scottish jigs and reels at the piano with Mum, and Jim sauntered in with his soprano sax to break the mood. Jim and Kath headed off to Westerhope late morning. We followed them a couple of hours later, minus ma and pa...mum didn't feel up to it, so they stayed home. Kath had cooked a salmon in a pastry case, which we had with roast potatoes and a side salad, while Jim told us tales from a marriage. Apparently, Karen had gone round to a house on Christmas morning and confronted the mysterious woman Jim had bequeathed a large candle to, and slagged Jim off to her...full of Christmas spirit, that girl! We told him not to pick up her phone calls!!! We watched a bit of telly with Jim and Kath before heading back to High View for a turkey sandwich and a glass of beer in front of the telly.

Saturday 25th December 2021

Fitful night's sleep. Back ache by early morning, probably not helped by spending most of yesterday sitting in the car.  Kath came in and climbed in to bed with Aki for a chat while I sat in the chair and finished yesterday's blog. Got up and breakfasted downstairs with Aki. We noticed that John had raised a Japanese flag above the bird house at the top of the garden, to mark the fact that Aki was in residence. Activity in the kitchen began to steadily increase as preparations were made for the Christmas dinner, with Kath and Aki taking the lead on the main course. Jim eventually got downstairs which meant we could exchange presents.

I was put in charge of the starter, so decided to get ahead of the game and make some triangles of toasted bread....by the time I served them up at 1400 they had become cold and soggy beneath the sliced tomato, smoked salmon and mayo. Meanwhile, Aki had burnt the parsnips, and Kath had blackened the sausages! Still, Christmas dinner packed plenty of carbonised flavour. Mum, however, began a choking fit which sent her making for the downstairs bathroom. Dad came out looking a bit worried. Mum couldn't eat anything after that, and we considered a trip to hospital. Mum didn't fancy spending what was left of Christmas Day in A&E, and we decided to see how she felt come the morrow. Spent the evening sat in front of the telly...enjoyed two helpings of Eric 'n Ernie. I was last man standing, or rather, sitting, watching a highly absorbing documentary about the life and career of Luciano Pavarotti...what a fella!

Friday 24th December 2021

Woke reasonably early...Aki got up and made tea. Got some porridge sorted for breakfast, and packed for the journey northward. Got away at 1000. Drove round to Green & Glory in Stroud Green...Aki wanted to buy Hokaido pumpkin with a view to cooking a risotto whilst at mum and dad's. While she was in store, I took the opportunity to check the engine oil in the Golf, only to find it dangerously low. Drove up Hornsey Rise to the BP garage and bought some, hopefully, suitable top up oil and poured about 3/4 of a litre into the sump! Finally headed for the M1.

Traffic pretty congested all the way up to the M6 turn off, but it thinned out after that. Patches of fog every now and then, too. Stopped at Tibshelf Services for a lunch break around 1315, and swapped drivers, Aki taking the helm past Sheffield and Leeds. The weather got increasingly murky as we journeyed north. We swapped drivers again at Mainsgill Farm on the A66...had hoped it would be open, so we could get dad some of his favourite pudding rice, but they were closed. Got to High View around 1700, just as Jim and Kath rocked up. Brought our stuff in from the car. Jim looked well, and fairly trim...he's been cycling to work a lot. Kath has been re-instated by the home care team, much to their relief. Ma and Pa look well, all things considered. They've got the tree up, and have decorated the living room and dining room. Mum has prepared the turkey in readiness for the oven tomorrow. 

Thursday 23rd December 2021

 

Woke around 0730. Aki got up and made tea. I drank mine in bed. Alan the electrician turned up around 1015. He got the new receiver installed, and got the radiators working. After he left, we tried to programme the thermostatic control, but couldn't work out how to do it. The manual, if you can call it that, is more a series of short cartoon strips! I finished work around 1630. We walked to Waitrose to get some odds and ends. We stopped by the Christmas light show at No.42 Roden Street on the way back home. Aki cooked a tasty fish soup with prawns and turnip floating in it, as well as half an aubergine each, drenched in miso paste. Yum! 

Wednesday 22nd December 2021

Woke at 0715. Got up and made a mug of tea, then settled in front of the computer. Room temperature hovering around 16C...didn't really warm up all day. Rang the plumber's merchant around 1100...no sign of the parts we'd ordered yesterday. The electrician rang for an update. I drove out to B&Q in Tottenham Hale, to see if they stocked anything useful...wasted journey. Nowt in Wickes either. Drove back to Drayton Park in the hope that the parts might have arrived, but still nothing. Brian the plumber's merchant phoned the delivery company, who told us he was running late.... I drove home. Got a phone call from the plumber's merchant soon afterward to say the parts had arrived, so sent Aki down there on her bike. Helen came round to delver a Christmas card, and suggested we borrow their electric heaters. I drove round and collected them before dinner. Jim Lister rang for a quick chat. He was driving home from Southwell, having spent the last three days looking after his mum and dad. His sister Mandy usually goes to look in on them daily, but is self-isolating after her daughter tested positive, so Jim had come down to cook some meals and jolly them along. 

Tuesday 21st December 2021

Woke at 0715. Got up and made tea, then started work. It's proving to be a bit of a slog! Feeling the cold this morning. Phoned the plumber, and he said he'd get an electrician to phone me...a bloke called Ciaran rang, and suggested, for the sake of speeding up the job, that we source a new thermostat controller, and receiver ourselves. Popped out after lunch to a little plumber's merchant on Drayton Park Road, but he didn't have what we needed in stock. He's ordered it to be delivered tomorrow morning, hopefully. Really need to get it sorted before we can depart northward. Cooked confit of duck for dinner, with a homemade orange sauce. Watched a bit of telly. Gave Ian McKellen's one man show a go....great stuff, and dipped in to "Stop Making Sense" for a bit of a boogie in the living-room prior to bath and bed.

Monday 20th December 2021

Woke at 0700 so got up and made a mug of tea, then sat at the computer for the rest of the morning. Had hoped the heating engineer would turn up in the morning, but no sign of him. Phoned Jim to check on his whereabouts...he had decided not to venture southward, since he's carrying a heavy cold, and has a cough he can't shake off. He has tested negative, though. Still, you don't want to sit in a West End theatre with him ,while he coughs his way through the show! Claims to have been looking at flats to rent in Gateshead...he'll begin a more earnest search come the new year. Soup for lunch. Rang the boiler man, and he asked a few questions in the hope that I might be able to rectify the problem, but to no avail. He promised to head our way later. He eventually turned up around 1900. He grappled with the boiler casing, and was unable to get the screws out...I called on Sush next door, who helped us out...it seems the wrong screw has been forced into the housing, which meant he couldn't tighten them back up again afterward. He reckoned the problem lay not with the boiler, but with the electrical components, and called an electrician who specialises in boiler thermostats and receivers....but he was self-isolating with covid. I rang our local chap, Jack, but he also has covid! He gave me the contact details for another specialist, and I left a message for him. See what happens tomorrow morning. In the meantime, we remain without central heating. 

Sunday 19th December 2021

Got up around 0900. Bit cold in the flat, but luckily it's pretty mild outside. Gave the heating engineer a call. Hopefully someone will turn up tomorrow, if not today. I popped out to Waitrose to get some shopping...needed some double cream to go with the chocolate pudding, amongst other things. Aki started preparing the fish stew, so nice smell hit me when I came back with the shopping. We tidied up a bit, and did some vacuuming. Phoned ma and pa. They said Kath had gone up to Edinburgh for a long weekend. Jim was at the Newcastle game. Haven't heard from him about tomorrow...has he bought a train ticket? Has he posted a negative lateral flow test?

Tony and Katrina turned up around 1730, bearing gifts. Tony revealed he was considering selling the Clapton flat, which he currently rents out, and buying somewhere in Seaford so he can be on hand to aid his ageing parents. His dad is suffering from advancing dementia, and his mum is getting to the point where she will no longer be able to keep things together on her own. Katrina still planning to find a retirement pad in Hastings. We sat down for a starter of pici with a cheese and pepper sauce, followed by Aki's very tasty seafood stew, then chocolate pudding with cream and clementine wedges...then cheese and biscuits. 

Saturday 18th December 2021

 

Busy day today. Aki cycled off to the fishmonger on Essex Road after breakfast. I finished printing off my CD covers, and packaged them up to take to the post box on Seven Sisters Road. Popped in on Eglal at Girasole and bought some festive goodies, and a couple of focaccia buns filled with mozzarella and tomatoes, for lunch. Spent a couple of hours at the computer this afternoon, trying to get on top of my workload...fat chance! Noticed the boiler was making an unfamiliar ticking sound, and discovered that the receiver has stopped talking to the room thermostat. Great! We have hot water, but no central heating. We'll all have to huddle round the oven tomorrow evening. Warmed up some aubergine parmigiana lasagna we found in the freezer for dinner. I spent a good half hour rolling pici before bath and bed.

Friday 17th December 2021

Woke around 0730. Got up and settled myself in front of the computer for the day. Aki prepared a noodle soup for lunch, utilising the leftovers from the other night's mushroom and tofu rendang, and baked cod with a tomato and olive sauce for dinner, which she partnered with some tasty lentils. Aki had an evening zoom session with the Japanese lot, so I used the spare time to prepare some pici dough to put in the fridge for the night, and also made the budino di cioccalatto to stick in the fridge prior to welcoming our guests on Sunday evening. It's all go 'ere! 

Thursday 16th December 2021

Another day at the computer....seems no end in sight! Ma and Pa's Christmas present was delivered. Bumped into Lynne from upstairs whilst at the front door taking the delivery. She's going to a funeral for a friend tomorrow...a woman in her mid fifties who was seemingly despairing of her social life ever getting back to normal in these days of pandemic. Took her own life! Weird innit...us Hague's seem to rather relish the notion of shutting ourselves away from humanity. To that very end, I cancelled my attendance at this evening's Tower Theatre auditions and stayed home, the covid case count going up across the nation! Warmed up the tarragon chicken for dinner, and made some mashed potato. Watched the MasterChef Final....my pick, Dan, won...but had to shed a tear with poor Liam who had served up a bit of cling film in his lobster starter! Spent a couple of hours trying to work out how to burn my annual What's Hip top tunes to CD now that the MacBook seems to have finally died. It was exasperating...I gave up at half midnight and went to bed!

Wednesday 15th December 2021

Woke around 0730. Aki up to prepare for her site visit to Balham later. I got to work at the computer, mug of tea in hand. Aki lunched early on homemade soup, and departed for Balham, taking her chances on public transport. I worked through the afternoon. Made a mushroom and tofu rendang for dinner, which we ate with red rice. Then I set about making a carrot and parsnip chutney, which I managed to jar up before MasterChef came on. Smelt good. 80,000 positive covid tests today....that's a record...things not looking good for the Festive Season! 

Tuesday 14th December 2021

Woke around 0730. Another day at the computer screen. Broke for lunch at 1300. Spent some of the afternoon cooking up and bottling a festive ketchup. Didn't quite get the quantity I was expecting...thought I'd get four bottles, but only got two! Aki cooked tarragon chicken thighs for dinner, which we had with orzo and vegetables. Watched MasterChef, then bath and bed.

Monday 13th December 2021

Woke around 0830. Hauled myself out of bed for porridge and tea, then settled in front of the computer. We finished off Aki's boiled ham for lunch. I interrupted work a couple of times during the course of the day to roll out the pici...put the resulting noodles in the freezer ahead of Sunday's meal. We warmed up my aubergine parmigiana lasagna for dinner. Nowt on telly, so read Sunday's papers. Phoned ma and got the low down on Kath's appearance before the Old Bill at Hexham police station. A sorry tale of mislaid jewellery and hand soap! Sounds as though she's escaped a heavy sentence, and remains at liberty.

Sunday 12th December 2021

 

Woke up around 0830. Did some reading in bed before hauling ourselves out for a pancake breakfast. Drove to Waitrose and parked the car, then walked down the Holloway Road to the art shop near Highbury Corner...got Aki's Christmas present, a set of coloured drawing inks. Walked on down Upper Street and bought some small clip top storage jars, intending to make some homemade festive ketchup. Walked back to Waitrose and did the shop. Brief FaceTime call from Ma and Pa whilst I was washing the shopping. Had a light lunch. Walked up to the North Nineteen for rehearsals with our Scottish folk orchestra. We had all done LFT's before the meet in the back bar. Aki and I stayed behind afterward, having ordered two portions of chicken katsu curry for our dinner...the pub has a Japanese chef, would you believe. He came out and had a wee chat with us...he heralds from Yokohama, and has been in the UK for over twenty years. We promised to return to try his sashimi! 

Saturday 11th December 2021

Woke around 0730. Aki got up made the tea, and we started preparing for our lunch guest. Aki cycled off to the fishmonger on Essex Road while I did some tidying up and vacuuming. Tokiko turned up on time at 1330....she'd brought a bottle of rose prosecco, which we put in the freezer for a bit. Aki had prepared a Japanese luncheon, which included sashimi. I served up some raspberry spoom for afters. We watched a whacky Japanese film called "Beyond Two Minutes to Infinity" which had been made by a bunch of talented film students for about £20,000...I think I read somewhere it had made about £5m! Nicely shot to give the impression you were watching the action in real time. Tokiko left as the Arsenal game went into the second half...you don't want to get caught up in the throng when the Emirates empties out! Did a bit of reading while Aki nodded off on the sofa. Watched a bit of telly...gave "Flowers" a go on Netflix...it's very whacky, but it's got Julian Barrett and the inimitable Olivia Coleman in it, so worth persisting with!

Friday 10th December 2021

Aki up early to get herself ready to head off to the Rowing Club. I got up around 0830 and started work at the computer. Worked through till lunchtime, by which time Aki was back. A very unwelcome recurrence of my constipation problem this afternoon, so couldn't get much work done. Aki had a zoom Christmas party with her JCUK bunch. Had a simple dinner of pasta with the pizzaiola sauce I'd made last week. Watched "Idiot Prayer", the solo concert Nick Cave recorded during lockdown and was streamed as a home cinema release, but was shown by the Beeb last night. The grief for the loss of his teenage son runs through the whole thing, making it a very moving experience, and all filmed in a very atmospheric Alexandra Palace.

Thursday 9th December 2021

 

Woke around 0800. Got up and got to work at the computer. Today marks the 11th anniversary of our first date, which we decided to mark by ordering a takeaway from the Afghan Kitchen for this evening's meal. Broke for lunch around 1330, then ploughed on, trying to get some values researched by the close of play tomorrow. Kath rang, and said that Jim had been drunk when he'd phoned me a couple of nights ago to organise some theatre tickets for a couple of weeks hence, and couldn't recall what had been arranged! Tempted not to remind him!!! Drove down to Islington Green around 1845 to collect our takeaway. Got home and enjoyed chicken in their very special Afghan sauce, baked aubergine in chilli oil with a generous dollop of yoghurt on top, , and their unbeatable basmati rice. Watched a bit of telly in the hope of news of Boris Johnson's resignation, but sadly he's still hanging in there! 

Wednesday 8th December 2021

Woke at 0645 for some reason, so got up and made a mug of tea and sat in front of the computer. Headed off to east London to do some inspections around Cable Street. Bit cold out on the street, but at least the rain has blown out into the North Sea. Got home in time for lunch. More work at the computer this afternoon. Made an aubergine parmigiana lasagna for dinner. Watched some telly before bath and bed.

Tuesday 7th December 2021

Not much to report today. Grey and wet outside. Spent the day at the computer interface. Aki worked on her residential refurbishment project. Defrosted two portions of chicken cacciatore I'd made last month, and had that for dinner with orzo and some greens. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed.

Monday 6th December 2021

Woke around 0800. Rolled out of bed to make some tea, and sat in front of the computer for the rest of the morning. Broke for lunch at 1330. Cooked up some poached eggs, which we had with mashed avocado on toast. Very grey day out there...raining for most of it, plus the odd bout of hailstones. Worked until 1700, then watched Pointless. Aki baked sea bream for dinner, which we had with potatoes and a dill and almond sauce. She had a zoom meeting with the JCUK bunch in the evening, as they planned their Christmas get together, which is on Friday. Hope they've all been jabbed! But it transpired that the venue had decided to put a cap on the numbers attending, so Aki not going after all. Nowt on telly, so played some guitar...learning Mrs Robinson, then I'll have a little set of three Simon & Garfunkel tunes in my repertoire. 

Sunday 5th December 2021

Woke around 0800 and read some Shuggie Bain in bed with a mug of tea. Aki got up and made breakfast, then cycled over to Waitrose to pick up some supplies. I tried to get the dehumidifier working again after it over-flowed during the week and we had to shut it down. I cleaned some gunk out of it's tubes, so hopefully it will work efficiently again, at least for a while. Soup for lunch. Aki cycled off to the Rowing Club early afternoon. I cooked up a pizzaiola sauce but then spent the next 3 hours on the loo with terrible constipation! It meant Aki came home to find me still in the bathroom, and we had to abandon our planned trip to the Angel, Islington to listen to George play his flute in an orchestral concert we'd been looking forward to. Finally relieved myself around 1700, and managed an hour or so's work at the computer before dinner. Jim phoned to say he wanted to come down to London to see The Shark is Broken at The Ambassadors Theatre, and we booked tickets for Tuesday 21st...hope another lockdown doesn't interfere with the plan, as tickets cost £35 each! We'll then drive him back up north for Christmas, unless a lockdown means he has to live with us for six months!!! That'd drive us all to drink...!!!

Saturday 4th December 2021

 

Got up around 1000. Took delivery of our new Vodafone wifi hub. Took hours setting the blinkin' thing up! We escaped briefly to Big Jo's round the corner for a breakfast of coffee and pain au suisse. Came back and finished setting up. Lunched on ham, eggs and avocado toast. Pottered about in the afternoon learning how to play Homeward Bound, and reading Shuggie Bain. Warmed up the leftover beef cobbler for dinner, with lots of vegetables. Watched "Apocalypse Now: the Final Cut" via the BBC iPlayer. What a piece of work it remains...taut, tense, tough film making that looks as good as it did when it was released way back in 1979. Watched MOTD...Newcastle won their first game of the season, but I still reckon they'll be taking on Sunderland in the Championship next season...bring it on!

Friday 3rd December 2021

Got up around 0915 and breakfasted before walking round to the GP surgery on Hornsey Road. Saw Dr Varma...she reckoned that the NHS are no longer doing removals of warts, as they are considered cosmetic. She has asked the Dermatology department for some advice on whether there are any creams available...there certainly used to be! She said it's part of the ageing process, so is going to get worse!!! Great!!! Worked at the laptop for a bit this morning. Listened in to Aki's zoom meeting with her Financial Advisor. He's very good...I may have to sign him up to my cause too! Lunched on ramen soup...Aki put a couple of slices of pork in, and had eaten hers before I said I thought they were a bit old...they turned out to be a week past use by date. She didn't seem to suffer any adverse effects. Pan fried pheasant with caramelised pear and mashed potato for dinner. Watched Jane campion's new movie "The Power of the Dog"...great story telling, beautifully filmed, and great performances.

Thursday 2nd December 2021

 

Headed out in the car again today, though did some work at the computer first. Aki had taken herself off to the Japanese Embassy to sort out some paperwork relating to her mother's passing. I headed out in the car around 1030 to mop up some inspections of Clarion stock in Camden, Islington, and Hackney. Bought a sandwich in Gail's Bakery on Upper Street for lunch, which I ate in the car. Got home around 1600. Aki cooked some salmon in coconut milk for dinner, which we had with rice, before walking up to No.127 for the Book Club meet. The Dazai provoked some interesting conversation...Gareth seemed to have found himself relating to the main character, which was rather worrying, as he tries to commit suicide a couple of times during the course of the novel! We are to read Gurnah's "Paradise" next...he won the Nobel Prize for Literature this year. 

Wednesday 1st December 2021

Woke around 0800. Had planned to breakfast at Starbucks opposite the hotel, but walked over there to discover they are doing drive through only, so made do with a mug of tea in my room. Checked out and went through the drive through to get a coffee and a sausage bap. Finished inspections in Bury St Edmunds before lunchtime, then headed northward to Thetford, and from there to my final port of call in a village just north of Huntingdon. Stopped at Cambridge Services for a very late lunch on the drive back to London. Got home around 1645. The weather wasn't good....a lot of rain and spray on the M11. We had mushroom and asparagus pie for dinner, which I'd picked up in Waitrose in Bury St Edmunds. Aki working at the computer most of the evening. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed.

Tuesday 30th November 2021

 

Aki up at 0700 to join a zoom webinar from Japan. I lay in a little before rising, eating porridge, ironing a shirt and trousers, and packing an overnight bag. Headed off around 0915, driving out to the M11 via the A10 and the North Circular. Stopped off at the services on the M11 before heading east for Haverhill, and from there up to Mildenhall before double-backing to Bury St Edmunds. Managed to stop for lunch in the town centre, and ended the inspections in darkness on an extensive 70s era Council estate. Headed back into town and the new Premier Inn near the junction with the A14. Did some work at the computer, then headed into town to find dinner. The Angel Hotel was busy, so I ended up in Cote Brasserie....had the pork belly with dauphinoise potatoes, and a small bottle of lager. Took a wee turn around the town centre afterward. It's quite atmospheric down by the old priory.

Monday 29th November 2021

Slightly disturbed night's sleep, as I woke around 0500 with half my right hand completely numbed...don't know where that came from, unless it's from practising The Boxer on the guitar, as it involves a right hand picking technique that I don't often employ. Still giving me a bit of gip when I got up around 0900. Had breakfast at the computer. Broke for lunch at around 1330. We had Aki's dill and broccoli soup with a crust of bread. Worked at the laptop in the afternoon. Broke around 1700 and made some dough for my beef cobbler, and cooked it in the oven for 45 minutes. We ate it with carrots, leeks and peas...very tasty. Watched a bit of telly after dinner. Got a message from Brett postponing next weekend's planned Xmas party, much to everyone's relief, by the sounds of it. Bath and bed.

Sunday 28th November 2021

Read in bed for a bit...finished the Book Club read, "A Shameful Life"...not sure what to think of it, really...it feels like the writings of a mentally ill man, and as such he's quite difficult a character to engage with...the writing style and content keep you distanced from him emotionally. Aki cooked a late brunch, then we took a constitutional up Highgate Hill and had a coffee at Lauderdale House. Very cold out, but bright and sunny. Walked back home. FaceTimed ma and pa, who seemed OK, but related the strange tale of Jim and the £100 candle...apparently purchased on a whim and sent to a woman he had never met! Sounds like the starting point for the plot of an episode of Midsummer Murders. I cooked the shin of beef we'd bought yesterday...needs at least 4 hours in the oven, cooking in beef stock and stout. Smelt great! Aki cooked up a dill and green vegetable soup to have tomorrow. Don't plan to eat the beef until tomorrow either...apparently the flavours benefit from it sitting in the fridge for a day or two. I warmed up a couple of portions of my vegetable lasagna instead. Watched an interesting little documentary on Alan Hull, the creative force behind Lindisfarne, then a bit of MOTD2 before bath and bed.

Saturday 27th November 2021

 

Woke around 0900 after a good night's sleep. No sign the Storm Arwen had come our way overnight...all looked calm outside. We had a late brunch of avocado on toast with poached eggs before deciding to head up to the Farmer's Market at Whittington Park to get bread. By the time we set off it had started raining, and the wind was beginning to get up. Aki wrapped up warm in her refugee camp fashion get up! We got there just in time to claim one of the last loaves. Got home, but then decided we ought to make a dash for the fishmonger while the football hooligans from Newcastle were still watching the game at the Emirates. We managed to do a shop in Waitrose on the way back, but got a little caught up in the traffic when we came out, the game having ended...with another defeat for the Magpies. I cooked an apple crumble, which we had after Aki's baked rainbow trout and fried courgettes. Watched the very excellent "I'm Your Man", that rare thing, a German comedy. Lovely performance from Dan Stevens as the humanoid love-interest. That's three really good movies in a row...we're on a roll! 

Friday 26th November 2021

 

Another day at the computer interface. Aki also working on preliminaries for her new Balham project. Broke for lunch of soup and gyoza. More of the same this afternoon. We had an early dinner...Aki made a pesto sauce, which we had with pasta. Then we drove to Stoke Newington to see their production of Conor McPherson's "Port Authority"...nearly didn't make it, the traffic was so bad! Manage to park right outside the theatre with about 5 minutes to curtain up. Simple set design, with a pier-side bollard for each of the three protagonists to perch on. The show is a series of interwoven monologues from three male characters, one in his late teens, one a middle-aged failure, and one a regretful pensioner in a residential home. As such, it's not really a play at all, and although beautifully written, it never really takes off as a piece of theatre. Performances were pretty good, although a line was requested by all three actors on one or two occassions, which interfered a little with the flow of the piece. 

Thursday 25th November 2021

Aki up early...I got up shortly afterward, and we had tea and porridge. I spent the morning working at the computer. Aki left for her meeting in Balham with her new client, who wants a kitchen and bathroom refurbishment in a flat she rents out. I broke for lunch...poached an egg and made a couple of potato fritters. Aki got home around 1730. Warmed up the Goan fish curry for dinner, which we had with rice and dahl. The TV news gets ever more depressing, but I enjoyed an hour long documentary on the history of the A303...it was once part of a long neolithic path which came to be called The Harrow Way...the Romans then built their straight line version over part of it, the Fosse Way, which, incredibly, went all the way to Lincoln!!! Couldn't bear to watch the Ten O'Clock News, so early bath and bed.

Wednesday 24th November 2021

 

Woke around 0715. Got up and made tea and did some work at the computer before porridge. Aki warmed up the cabbage soup she'd made yesterday for me to take for lunch, and I made a sandwich to go with it. Headed south-west to Wandsworth...drove past Phil and Cath's old place on Earlsfield Road. Then on to Streatham, before heading for Charlton. Had my soup in the car park at IKEA, a favoured haunt. Very tasty!!! Finished up in Thamesmead...by 'eck, it's grim down sarf! Then back through the Blackwall Tunnel to pick up some Clarion stock in Poplar and Stepney before darkness fell and put an end to my day's inspections. Got home around 1730. Had pork shoulder for dinner, with vegetable cakes and greens, and an IKEA bought gravy, the one that goes on the famous meatballs. Watched a couple of TV chefs hanging out in Venice, then practised our Xmas ukulele tunes ahead of Brett's forthcoming Xmas bash. Bath, and bed.

Tuesday 23rd November 2021

Up relatively early, so did a bit of work at the computer, and jumped in the car at 0900. Today I headed westward, to Camden Town, Hampstead, Kilburn, Wembley...had my lunch in the car at London Gateway service station on the M1, and from thence to St Albans, before heading for Caversham. Got there just as the sun was setting...nice drive, coming off the M4 at Sonning and taking the narrow bridge across Sonning Eye. Thought about calling in on Roz in Caversham Heights, but felt I needed to get home to write up today's inspection notes...too much work at the moment! Though that didn't stop me taking a quick break at the huge John Lewis store on the outskirts of Wycombe on my way home. Had a browse for possible Christmas presents. Got home at 1930. Aki had cooked up the rendang leftovers, with added mushrooms and tofu, which we had with rice. Did a bit more work at the computer before bath and bed.

Monday 22nd November 2021

Woke around 0730, so got up to take advantage of an early start. Drove out to Wood Green, then Walthamstow, East Ham, Plaistow and environs. Drove past the site of the old West Ham United ground, Upton Park...it's been knocked down, and is now the site of a vast new build development...looks like a second city! Lord knows why anyone would want to live round there...it's an eyesore, save for the statue of the four Hammers lifting the World Cup. Had my lunch in the motor. Ended inspections in Marks Gate, north of the A12. As it was beginning to get dark, I headed for home. We warmed up my defrosted lasagna for dinner. Watched a bit of MasterChef before bath and bed.

Sunday 21st November 2021

Up at 0800 as Aki wanted to get ready to head off for rowing club. I made Turkish eggs for breakfast, which we had with charred asparagus and spring onion. She went off on her bike. I did a little bit of work on the computer, updating my expenses claim. Pottered about on the guitar, and had a couple of go's at Fairytale of New York on the ukulele in preparation for Brett's Xmas gathering at No.7. Read a bit of the Deszai. Aki got home around 1330...bit cold for cycling out there today! Temperatures have dived. FaceTimed ma this afternoon. Nothing untoward to report. Made a Goan fish curry for dinner, with rice and pitta bread. 

Saturday 20th November 2021

Woke at 0430 worrying about the amount of work that is piling up on my plate, so couldn't get back to sleep! Did a couple of hours at the computer before going back to bed for a bit. We got up at 0800 and made tea, then read in bed for a while. I started "A Shameful Life", the book club read. Made croque madame for breakfast. Pottered about...did some physio exercises, some reading, playing guitar and singing, while Aki began work at the computer on a small residential project she's got for a kitchen and bathroom refurbishment in Balham. Aki made a noodle soup for lunch, topped with smoked oysters....very tasty. At 1500 we headed out, walking to the Health Centre on North Street, near Caledonian Road tube station...good half-hour schlepp. 

It was pretty busy, with a short queue outside the main doors, and a rather bureaucratic system...we had to fill in forms, and get a number, which we waited to be called prior to going in for our covid booster jabs. I took it like a man, but Aki was a bit girly about it...but only because she's a girl. Walked back in the gloaming. Warmed up the Spanish chicken stew for dinner, and made mashed potatoes. A Bonne Maman creme brulee each for dessert. Watched "Limbo", a wonderfully artful film set amongst a motley crew of asylum seekers, housed on an island in the Hebrides. Beautifully crafted film making from Ben Sharrock, who I haven't heard of before, and who, judging by his shot making, is a big fan of Roy Andersson. Really enjoyed it...funny, surreal, moving, and poignant.

Friday 19th November 2021

 

Woke around 0745. Got up and did a little work at the computer before making myself a packed lunch and heading out on inspections. Started off in N7, then gravitated eastward. Stopped off at Sainsbury's in Manor House, then on to Walthamstow, Chingford, and across to East Ham. Had my packed lunch sat in the car on a street in Manor Park. Got stuck in traffic on the Romford Road at school kicking-out time. Complete gridlock! Had to pack up and head home as darkness fell. Did a bit of work at the computer, then we headed up the road to No.127 for supper chez Katherine and George's. Ben and Gayu from No.38 brought dessert, and Katherine's eldest son Elliot joined us. A very pleasant evening spent around the dining table. Katherine has been working as a lead architectural project manager on the refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster, but has handed in her notice and is taking a sabbatical come the new year, joining George, who has been on sabbatical for almost two years. They seem to have a lot of plans in the pipeline, not least marriage in May at Islington Town Hall. Gayu is enjoying an Art Foundation taster course at the City Lit, so we were trying to persuade her to give an end of term exhibition at No.38. Ben meanwhile is re-training as a psychotherapist, and already has a couple of clients! It's all go around here!!! Got home by 1030 for bath and bed.

Thursday 18th November 2021

Woke at 0715. Got up and made tea. We had porridge for breakfast. Headed out early for inspections in Haringay...loads of street properties, so it's a bit like wading through meat in high heels! Leek and potato soup for lunch...it was nice...it had cheddar cheese in the mix. Got dark a little after 1600 so finished up in Haringey, and headed for a postcode near home...got there just as the gloaming was gathering. Home by 1630. Worked at the computer until 1930. Aki cooked a mushroom and tempeh rendang for dinner. She found the tempeh in Green & Glory...it's got a slightly soapy flavour...I think I preferred the tofu version I made a couple of months ago. FaceTimed ma and pa who were hosting Jim's birthday dinner...they were all getting soused on the vino. Jim and Kath expressed an interest in coming down for a brief visit to see The Shark Is Broken. Watched MasterChef to get some inspiration. Early bath and bed.

Wednesday 17th November 2021

 

Woke around 0700. Got up and made a mug of tea, and sat at the computer for a couple of hours. We had porridge for breakfast, then I headed out to do some inspections locally. Aki had a zoom interview with a Japanese version of the Samaritans charity. She's going to give it a go...maybe an hour a week. She'll be on call during the day here, but it'll be night time in Japan, of course. See how it goes. I came home for lunch at 1300, then worked at the computer until 1500. We wandered over to Carlos and Jane's at No.36 for 1530. An old friend of Carlos's works for a Refugee charity, and had come across a flamenco guitarist from Syria, so booked him to do a gig in Carlos's front room as a birthday present. Ben from No.38 joined us. It was a strangely intimate affair, but once everyone felt relaxed with the set up, it was a delightful way to spend a November afternoon. Maouyad had come over in 2014, and is now living in Slough, but is an online student with Swansea University, where he is studying International Affairs and Politics. Interesting fellow. Got back home around 1800 and cooked Spanish chicken and chorizo stew for dinner...rather apt. Shame Maouyad had to trek back to Slough, as he would have enjoyed a bit of Spanish cuisine post gig. Watched Stockport County v Bolton in the FA Cup replay...great game...Stockport were awesome! Bath and bed.

Tuesday 16th November 2021

Woke about 0500, and got up for the loo....took ages to get back to sleep for some reason. Hauled myself out of bed at 0830 and prepared some lunch to take on the road. Headed off around 1000 for Shepherd's Bush, then Hounslow, and on to Slough. Had hoped to get to inspections in Caversham, but the traffic in Slough slowed me up. Got dark, so turned back for home...will have to pick up the Reading stock at a later date...shame. Got home to find my new iphone had arrived. We warmed up a couple of portions of aubergine parmigiana lasagna for dinner. Watched a bit of telly before another early bath and bed.

Monday 15th November 2021

 

Worked from home at the computer for most of the day. Aki cooked omelette for lunch. I finished reading Hilary...Cromwell's final days are recorded vividly, viscerally, and poetically, linking the final paragraphs to her equally visceral opening to Wolf Hall. It's a magnificent achievement. What a vile bunch we English were...no wonder Hilary is moving to Ireland!!! Aki popped out to the Post Office to put Jim's birthday card in the post and run a couple of errands. Carlos and Jane came by to say hello and invite over to a concert at No.36 on Wednesday...one of Carlos's chums has given him a birthday present of an intimate gig with a Syrian guitarist...we will all have to cram into his bedroom on Wednesday afternoon...hope the musician isn't a frustrated failed asylum seeker with a grudge!!! Aki cooked a mapo for dinner, which we had with rice and greens...very tasty. Aki fell asleep on the sofa, and went to bed after an early bath. I watched a bit of telly and strummed some guitar before retiring.

Sunday 14th November 2021

Up at 0900 to make tea. Had a read of Hilary in bed, then got up and cooked breakfast while Aki fielded a FaceTime call from Kath. She's been active on Match.com again...!!! She narrowly missed a date with a Chuckle brother last week, and is meeting a Roger for coffee today! I told her she now had enough material for a convincing stand-up act. 

Walked up to Waterlow Park for a coffee and cake, which we consumed on a park bench. rather grey day, but very mild. Called in on Helen and Martin in Fairbridge Road, but Vicky answered the door, and told us they were up in Newcastle for the weekend. Read some Hilary...on the final run in now...Cromwell has been arrested on trumped up charges and conveyed to the Tower. FaceTimed ma and pa. Dad had had a busy day marching about in the village laying a wreath at the war memorial...he was representing the Civic Society. Hopefully, he'll have been snapped by the Pont News marching slightly out of step. Warmed up a couple of generous portions of gnocchi bake for dinner, with a side salad. Watched Danish movie Another Round, about a group of middle-aged school teachers who decide to experiment with alcohol, after learning that a Danish philosopher surmised that humans are born with an innate alcohol deficiency...topping up their levels, they find a new lease of life, but when they up their daily intake, disaster ensues! the final reel seemed to suggest that in moderation, it has life-enhancing powers...not so sure, myself!

Saturday 13th November 2021

Woke around 0830. Aki got up and brought tea back to bed. I made Turkish eggs for breakfast, with avocado on toast on the side. Rather grey day. Decided we needed to visit the fish shop, so walked to Essex Road for the exercise. Stopped off at a patisserie on Upper Street on the way back home...I had custard flan, while Aki had a fruit Bakewell. Bumped into the fella who runs Aki's favourite clothes shop and had a quick chat about the state of the fashion market...he's moving his concern to Soho in the new year. Ordered a new iPhone mini 12 over the interweb. Aki cooked teriyaki salmon for dinner...I've missed her cooking! Too tired to do much...watched Outlaws with Stephen Merchant, and the great Christopher Walken, looking very incongruous on an Avon omnibus. Looks promising. Bath and bed.

Friday 12th November 2021

 

Woke around 0715. Made a mug of tea, then sat at the computer for a couple of hours. Ran some errands, did some vacuuming and tidying up, then set out for west London to do some inspections in Ealing, Southall, and Hounslow, the intention being to strike out from there to pick Aki up from Terminal 2 around 1700. Ate my lunch in the car in Southall. Aki texted me to say her flight was due in an hour earlier than forecast, so I finished up with a couple of stops in Hounslow East before heading for Terminal 2. Managed to find each-other on Level 1 of the multi-storey car park. Great to see her jumping up and down waving at me from outside the lifts. Had to pay £5 for the privilege of using the pick up point...I suppose they need the money after the two years the travel industry has endured! Long journey back home...traffic jams at almost every major junction...took about 20 minutes just to drive up Horn Lane. Camden Parkway even more of a crawl than usual due to road works at the Camden Road end. Got home at last around 1845. Aki unpacked while I made her a welcome home dinner...confit of duck, with mash, and pureed carrot; followed by the last of the pear cobbler. Watched a bit of telly...Aki nodding off on the sofa. Early bath and bed after a long day!

Thursday 11th November 2021

Woke around 0830 after a better night's sleep. Had a brief call from Aki who has finished packing, and is looking forward to flying home tomorrow. Spent the day at the computer writing up inspection notes for what I'd spent the previous three days looking at. Aki called again after she'd had her dinner...she'd taken Nobby out to the little tempura restaurant round the corner. Warmed up a portion of chicken tikka masala for dinner, with rice, dahl, and pitta bread. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed.

Wednesday 10th November 2021

Aki called at 0745, waking me up. Hadn't had a great night's sleep, as the mattress was a bit too firm. Got up and made tea, and jumped in the shower. Had a buffet breakfast before packing my stuff in the boot of the car and heading off to Chatham to complete the inspections. Finished by 1300 and headed for home, stopping off at IKEA for a meatball lunch, complete with Swedish flag! Wandered through the market hall intending to pick up some batteries, but they don't appear to sell them anymore, only re-chargeables. Got home around 1530. Worked at the computer till 1815, then cooked a gnocchi bake with peas, broccoli, and tomatoes in a cheesey sauce. James Earls-Davis, the sound man from the New Vic in Stoke, had sent me four CD's...instrumental pieces he's been working on over the lockdown periods. Enjoyed listening to them whilst reading a bit of Hilary before bath and bed.

Tuesday 9th November 2021

Alarm at 0700. As there is no room at the Ship & Trades tonight, and couldn't get in at my other haunt at Bridgewood Manor, I thought I'd try and get an early start in the hope that I could finish inspections by dusk, then drive home. Had breakfast of poached egg and avocado on sourdough, with a chipotle mayo...can't say I enjoyed the chipotle mayo...it's a rather unseemly addition to a breakfast dish! On the road by 0845 and headed for Gillingham, then on to Rainham, before driving southward to Waldeslade and Hempstead. Stopped at Hempstead shopping centre where I bought lunch at Costa, and ate it in the multi-storey car park. By the time it began to get dark, around 1630, it was clear that I wasn't going to get finished by nightfall...managed to get hold of someone at Holiday Inn, and booked a room for tonight. Oddly, the booking was made by a fellow in the US...he kept saying "awesome" every other sentence! It seems Holiday Inns are run by an American company called IHG. Fortunately he booked me in to the Rochester, Kent, hotel rather than the Rochester, New York State accommodation. Drove back to the Ship & Trades for fish and chips and mushy peas from the fish and chip shop there, and sat and ate in the car, overlooking the marina. 

Monday 8th November 2021

Woke at 0600 for some reason. Dry mouth, and a bit of a cough. Oximeter reading good, but did a Lateral Flow Test just in case. Came out negative, so good to go. Set off around 0900 and headed toward the Blackwall Tunnel. Stopped for petrol in Greenwich, then headed on down the A2 to Strood. Stopped off at M&S and picked up a coffee. Inspections in Strood, Hoo, and Rochester. Had my lunch in the car park at Morrisons in Strood. Ended the working day in Chatham, and then headed for the Ship & Trades hotel, on the marina at St Mary's Island. No wi-fi available, apparently because of a fire they had had last week. Could still smell it as I made my way upstairs to my room. Had dinner in the restaurant...ribeye steak and sauteed potatoes. Took Hilary's enormous tome with me, which got the waitress interested. She said she was researching her family tree, but was unable to tell me whether she was related to Thomas Cromwell. 

Sunday 7th November 2021

Got up around 0930. Made tea and went back to bed with Hilary for a bit. Got up and cooked breakfast. Didn't get up to much today...reading, listening to music, playing guitar. Aki called from Mr Shimizu's. She was just going to bed. She had accompanied the family dog on her evening walk earlier...turns out they have a Bedlington Terrier...I told Aki that Bedlington is very near Morpeth! FaceTimed ma and pa, who seemed on good form...dad has been writing to the local press complaining about the state of the river bank in the village, and drafting an objection to the local Council about plans to convert the old village police station into yet another restaurant...how many restaurants can a village sustain!? Spoke to Kath. Jim had gone up to his room, having been drinking most of the day. He had apparently planned to have a couple of dry weeks, but doesn't seem to have gotten started yet. I finished up the mushroom and tofu rendang for dinner, with plenty of vegetables, and some rice. Very tasty...I shall be doing that recipe again, for sure. Listened to West Ham as they beat Liverpool 3-2...they are on a great run at the moment...Tony will be pleased! Fell asleep on the sofa, so decided I ought to have an early bath and get to bed. Aki texted me to say she had been woken up at 0430 by an earthquake...seem to be lots of minor quakes happening all over Japan at present...some fear this presages a Big One!!! Scary! She's heading back to the flat in Chiba later today.