Monday 28th February 2022

Alarm at 0730…fitful night’s sleep. Dreamt I had to drive to a pharmacy in heavy rain, but was refused what I needed as I didn’t have a prescription. Bumped into a cyclist in the car park afterward and damaged his bike…he insisted I repair it but I didn’t have my tools with me! Can't believe February is coming to an end already...blimey, it'll soon be Christmas! It was past 0900 by the time I hauled myself out of bed. Had some breakfast then did some exercises. Didn't start work till 1130, as my work laptop has finally expired, and Aki was on the computer. Broke for a light lunch...Aki drove off to Waitrose early afternoon. Broke again at 1800. Fish curry and rice for dinner. Tried FaceTiming ma and pa, but no reply....must be watching "Vera". I spent most of the evening cooking up a minestrone soup recipe. Loads of vegetable dicing involved...I'm now suffering from dicer's elbow! There's loads of soup, though it looks more like a stew...should keep us going for weeks! 

Sunday 27th February 2022

Woke at 0730 and got up to make tea. Kiev is still holding out against the enemy…their President is coming over as a magnificent leader in difficult and stressful circumstances…he was formerly a comic actor! You need a sense of humour when Ras-Putin is around!!! Aki cooked breakfast. Did some exercises before setting off in the car for Tok’s in Pinner. Traffic not too bad, though there were some brief traffic jams on the A1...got to Tok's a little after 1300. She served up a tasty Italian themed menu...a fresh smoked salmon salad with pink peppercorns, followed by a cheesey parmigiana, then a seafood pasta dish. The girls had a bit of difficulty opening the prosecco we'd bought...it was bottled with a cork which necessitated the use of a corkscrew...they got there in the end, despite the photo suggesting they were making a molotov cocktail to throw at any Russians we might encounter on Pinner High Street. We took a drive up to Pinner Green after lunch and had a walk around Pinner Golf Club in the sunshine...Tok is a regular player. Nice views across the course toward the wooded hills of Bushey. Then it was back to Tok's for dessert before heading back home. Watched "Mission Joy" on the iPlayer, a very moving account of a meeting between Desmond Tutu and his old chum the Dalai Lama in 2015. What amazing characters...the ageing Archbishop reminded me a bit of Grannie Neale...soldiering on with a smile on his face through all that life and old age could chuck at him...inspirational!

Saturday 26th February 2022

Woke to more bad news from Ukraine. Got up and made tea…read some "Nowhere Man" in bed…the bit I’m currently on is set in Lvov, rather bizarrely given the news! Got up and cooked a late breakfast. Did some exercises to try and counter the discomfort I’ve been experiencing with the bad hernia repair. Drove to Stoke Newington early afternoon…hooked up with Katrina at the Tower for the matinee of the short plays. The two black actors in “Prodigal” have been getting better and better. Our piece is in good shape…Katrina and Aki enjoyed Bee’s singing voice. I'm looking forward to working on a couple of Etta James numbers with her for the next gig night. I hadn’t seen the two second half pieces. The actress in “Ursa Major” was very good…the bloke playing opposite her less so. “Baby Doll” was poorly directed and poorly played…we stayed for the Q&A with two of the writers afterward. Kalungi Ssebendeke, who wrote “Prodigal”, was especially interesting…look forward to more from him. We repaired to Itto, round the corner, for early dinner and did a bit of catching up with Katrina. She’s been up and down to Edinburgh helping to look after her aged aunt who had a nasty fall last month and broke an arm. The dim sum was good, and my sweet 'n sour chicken with egg fried rice wasn't bad. Drove home and watched a bit of telly. Christian Erikson made an emotional return to the football pitch with Brentford...but they lost to a rejuvenated Newcastle.

Friday 25th February 2022

Woke around 0730 and listened to more depressing news from Ukraine on the radio. Got up around 0900. Porridge for breakfast. Aki sloped off to a morning site meeting in Balham. A day at the computer, plodding away at the work. Broke for lunch...Aki cooked cheese omelette, which we ate with salad; apple crumble and custard for afters. Stopped work at 1730 and cooked a fish curry, with monkfish and prawns. Ditched the rice for peshwari naan. Watched Sorrentino's "Hand of God"...a semi-autobiographical piece that deals with the sudden death of his parents, and his nascent interest in the notion of becoming a filmmaker. Bath and bed...

Thursday 24th February 2022

 

Woke around 0630 to the sound of rain hammering down on the bedroom roof...meanwhile, Ukrainians were waking up to the sound of Russian missile strikes. A dark day indeed! Got up around 0900 and started work at the computer. Broke for a mug of tea...then carried on until lunch time...Aki cooked up a plate of egg fried rice with chopped ham for lunch, and a miso soup on the side. Aki popped out to Waitrose after lunch, going on her bike. I worked until 1800. Watched the relentlessly depressing news. Warmed up Aki's parmigiana lasagna for dinner, which we had with a side salad. Nowt much on telly...watched another gruesome episode of This Is Going to Hurt, and an episode of Seinfeld for some much needed light relief. Bath and bed.

Wednesday 23rd February 2022

 

Woke to alarm at 0730...got up around 0900. Spent the morning at the computer. Aki made ramen noodle soup for lunch, with ham and a soft boiled egg. Worked on until 1815...warmed up the chicken cacciatore for dinner, and I was out of the flat by 1830. Drove to Stoke Newington, getting to theatre in time for the half. Handed Matthew and Bee their good luck cards, and repaired to the auditorium. Watched the first two shows...both better than last night's dress runs. Bee's ukulele playing was her best yet...it's in good shape...George can be proud of a job well done! Snuck out at the interval and drove home. Watched a bit of telly with Aki before retiring to bed...exhausted!!! I thin I need to self-isolate for 10 days!!!

Tuesday 22nd February 2022

 

Woke to alarm at 0730. Got up around 0845 and sat at the computer with a mug of tea. Worked till 1130, then walked to the clinic on Hornsey Street for my blood test appointment...need to check my cholesterol levels, and PSA count. Popped in to Waitrose on the way home. Made lunch...hot smoked salmon and salad with a slice of sourdough lathered in cream cheese. Worked at the computer most of the afternoon. Aki cooked an early dinner...pumpkin and mushroom risotto. Drove over to Stoke Newington for 1800. Dress run not due to start until 1930, so took a walk down the High Street...found a couple of good luck cards in Sainsburys. The dress run wasn't ideal. Watched the first play, which was good...our piece was second, but our stage manager had called in sick, and his replacements positioned the props and the Speaker's truck in slightly the wrong places, which kind of threw things awry. This seemed to affect the actors a little, and the performance wasn't as good as it was yesterday...it lost a bit of energy in a couple of places. I snuck out in the interval and drove home. Found Aki watching Sorrentino's "The Great Beauty" on Netflix...stunning piece of work...a touch of Fellini about it. Bath and bed...

Monday 21st February 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730...lay in for an hour or so, but had to leap out of bed when the doorbell went, as Aki was in the bathroom. It turned out to be Lynne from upstairs...the wind had blown the front door shut, and she had ventured out without her keys! Started work, at the computer, at 0900, and spent the day there. Broke for lunch, before Aki headed off for Balham, and a site meeting with the builder on the little residential project she's working on. I stopped work around 1730 and cooked a chicken cacciatore for dinner. Aki got home around 1900, and we ate the chicken with mashed potato and boiled courgette. Tried FaceTiming ma and pa to sing Happy Birthday to Johnners (ninety-two today), but no-one picked up. Probably sleeping off his hangover. FaceTimed Kath and Jim, who were settling down for University Challenge. Watched episode 3 of The Curse....sooooo good...and the final episode of Alma's Not Normal...hope there's a second series in the pipeline! Bath and bed...

Sunday 20th February 2022

Woke around 0745. Got up and made tea before returning to bed to do some reading. Got up and cooked breakfast of fried potatoes with cheddar cheese, poached egg, and parma ham. Prepared for a long day at the theatre...took some old clothes to change into should I be called upon to raise a paintbrush! Drove over there for 1100...and sure enough, I was handed a paintbrush...painted the lectern Tory blue. Went for a lunch break while the first coat dried...KFC burger and fries! At 1500 the cast and directors repaired to the basement rehearsal room to do a run...managed to escape afterward to go home for dinner. Aki had cooked an aubergine parmigiana lasagna. Then it was back in the motor to get to the theatre, and start the tech, at 1930. It was slow going, despite the lack of cues. I snuck out at 2100 and went downstairs to see what was going on in the Twelfth Night recalls. I then read some scenes as Sir Toby with actors auditioning for Maria and Aguecheek...and by 2200 we had chosen our cast...it looks good....some very talented people in it. Rehearsals begin mid March! Drove home to find Aki in the bath...followed her in, then bed....and sleep!

Saturday 19th February 2022

Woke around 0745. Got up and made tea. Went back to bed to read for a bit before making a breakfast of smashed avocado with poached eggs and ham. FaceTimed Kath...no sign of snow in Newcastle, unlike County Durham...sounds like they got off lightly. Ma and Pa were in good fettle, though dad had been complaining of cold symptoms which they reckon he picked up from someone at the swimming pool in the week. Aki cycled off to Steve Hatt's for some fish. I stayed home and did some voice exercises. Light lunch, then drove to Stoke Newington for final rehearsal session for PMQs. It opens on Wednesday night. Rehearsal went well...Colin Guthrie turned up with some sound effects for the piece, and played them in to the first and second runs. Looks in good shape. Drove home...fortunately the Arsenal game had finished an hour-and-a-half earlier, so I didn't get caught up in the crowds. Aki pan fried some plaice fillets for dinner, with boiled potatoes and vegetables, and a lemon caper sauce. Very tasty. Watched some telly...another lurid episode of This Is Going To Hurt...it's superbly put together, but a difficult watch at times!

Friday 18th February 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730, but failed to rise much before 0900. Hauled myself out of bed to make my breakfast. Aki busied herself at the computer, making dad's birthday card...I braved Storm Eunice to go and post it. It wasn't too bad this morning...though I had to keep a hand on my cap to prevent blowing away down Seven Sisters Road! Worked at the laptop on the dining table catching up on the stock I'd looked at yesterday. Broke for a lunch of coronation chicken open sandwiches with side salad. Watched a bit of curling from Beijing before getting back to the laptop. Cooked lamb shank for dinner, with orzo and vegetables. Watched a bit of telly. Storm Eunice died away as the day progressed...didn't see any damage here, fortunately, just a few coloured plastic carrier bags hovering above our privet hedge...

Thursday 17th February 2022

Woke around 0730...got up and made tea, and did some work at the computer screen before breakfast. Made a packed lunch and drove off to east London. Inspections in Canning Town, Custom House, and then on to Poplar. Had my lunch in the Tesco car park overlooking the canal at Three Mills Island. Found myself on the Brownfields Estate, which include Goldfinger's Balfron House tower...I presume he also designed the low-rise blocks on the estate...this one is on Burcham Street...nice! It got dark a little early, and you could see the first signs of Storm Eunice gathering to the south-west. It was raining by the time I got home in the evening. Aki warmed up her lentil ragu, which we had with linguine and some vegetables. Watched "Annie Hall" on BBC4...seen it a few times...I think the first time was at the Odeon, Nottingham, on a date with Janice! It's beautifully constructed...and still very funny! Woody Allen was a singular comic genius...

Wednesday 16th February 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730, but didn't rise until gone 0800. Knackered! Breakfasted and made a packed lunch, then headed back up the M11 to Hunsdon, then on to Sawbridgeworth, and Bishops Stortford. Weather better than yesterday, but some roads flooded...couldn't get to Perry Green from Much Hadham, as the lane was under a meter of water...had to find a way round. Had my lunch in the car in the Tesco car park on the western fringe of Bishops Stortford before ending the inspections in the town centre. Drove back down the M11 to do some inspections in Canning Town, before heading for Stoke Newington. Got to The Tower Theatre around 1745. Had a meeting in the basement to sort out the risk assessment form for the show next week, before rehearsals in the Smith studio. Stephen Ley came in to watch the run prior to finalising the lighting design. Show looking in good shape...one more rehearsal on Saturday before get-in and tech on Sunday! Raining a bit when I came out of the theatre...wind getting up a bit too. The fag end of Storm Dudley. Big storm due to roll in on Friday... Got home around 2200. Aki had been up to visit Helen and Martin...nice photos of their new larchwood bike shed, complete with car charging point! Nice!!!

Tuesday 15th February 2022

Woke at 0730 and got up to do a bit of work at the computer, mug of tea in hand. Headed for Hertfordshire around 1000, driving up the A1. Stopped at South Mimms Service Station to pick up a coffee before driving on to Datchworth for the first stop. Grey skies turned to pouring rain by the time I hit Buntingford. Had my lunch sat in the car by the River Rib. had to cross a couple of fords...the second one I bailed on, as I couldn't tell how deep the brown water was, and it was running quite fast. Turned around and headed for Tesco on the edge of Bishops Stortford to fill the petrol tank, then headed home. Got in around 1830. Aki had cooked a lentil ragu, and made some tagliatelle; and she'd done a burnt Basque cheesecake...yum!!! Watched a bit of telly...the final episode of Ricky Gervais's "After Life" ran out of steam...

Monday 14th February 2022

Woke at 0730 and got up and did an hours work before porridge. Swapped Valentine's with Aki...I'd also got her a large box of Lindt chocolates, and an orchid in a pot. Worked from home until mid-morning, before venturing back out east to Manor Park, and North Woolwich. Ate my packed lunch in the car parked alongside Little Ilford Park. Drove to Stoke Newington for a 1645 start on round two of Twelfth Night auditions. Had a meeting with FOH at 1730 to learn how to set the burglar alarm should we be the last one's in the building. Hope that never comes to pass!!! Made my palms sweat! Had time to devour a salt beef sandwich before returning to the auditions. Not quite as many to get through as yesterday. Nick Hall turned up with his 12-string guitar and sang us a song. He desperately wants to play Malvolio, but we've seen better...and he didn't seem open to playing anything else...I'd hoped he might give Feste a go. Oh well! We repaired to the pub to discuss possible recalls for Sunday. We had no auditionees for Sir Toby Belch...so muggins 'ere is going to play him! Looking forward to it...it should be a giggle! Got home at 2300 just as Aki was getting out of her bath...so I took her bathwater before retiring to bed, exhausted.

Sunday 13th February 2022

Woke around 0800 and got up to make tea and a cooked breakfast of eggs hollandaise. Jumped in the motor and drove to Stoke Newington to meet the director of Twelfth Night, young woman called Emma Miles, prior to auditioning actors. I had to read in Sir Toby Belch on occassion, and had a bit of fun with that. Bought a ham and cheese toastie from the Yellow Warbler cafe across the road from the theatre...very friendly young couple running it. The toastie was huge. I repaired to the theatre bar area to eat it, and was joined by our Assistant Director, a Chinese girl named Feiyang. She had left her family behind in China and had come to London to do a Masters in Business management, and hadn't gone home. I complemented her on her English...she said she learnt it by watching American TV programmes back in China! Back into the audition space after lunch...worked through until 1630 or so...it was exhausting, but very enjoyable. A lot of talented young people came through the door, but no Sir Tobys, Festes or Aguecheeks as yet. More auditions tomorrow evening. It was raining a little when I came out to find the car. Drove home for dinner. Aki did baked salmon with sticky rice and Japanese style vegetables. FaceTimed ma and pa, who seemed in fine fettle. FaceTimed Kath as she got her dinner together in the kitchen at Peary Close...we were a bit shocked to see her having baked potato with chips and lashings of mayo!!! She's working 12 day stretches, and struggling to find time to cook and eat properly. Watched some telly before bath and bed.

Saturday 12th February 2022

Fitful night's sleep....the psoriasis or whatever the hell it is, afflicting my left groin area has suddenly flared up and has been causing me much discomfort these past two days. Have been using Mometosone cream on it, but no sign of it calming down yet! Walking to and from The Almeida yesterday hasn't helped. Aki went off after breakfast to hook up with Helen, who had offered her a ticket to go see the portraits of the Holocaust survivors at the Queen's Gallery in Buckingham Palace. I stayed home and did a little work. Had lunch on my own. Aki got back early afternoon, so I drove round to Waitrose and did the shop. I made some pasta for dinner...silk handkerchiefs with green beans and fried onion in a sauce of miso and nigella seeds...it was OK, but didn't blow us away. More effort than it was worth, methinks. Watched Ben Wishaw's extraordinary performance as Dr Adam Kay...funny, dramatic, visceral...knocks Call The Midwife into next week!

Friday 11th February 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730. Got up and made tea. It tasted a bit weird, so I thought I ought to take a LFT in case I had come down with another case of the covids...fortunately, Aki said her tea tasted strange too...turned out the milk had gone off! Aki cycled off to the Rowing Club after breakfast...to use the gym there, rather than going out on a boat. I ventured out east again, back to Forest Gate, East Ham, and Manor Park. Had my packed lunch in the car in a side street before heading for Tesco in Dagenham to use the facilities. Got home around 1730. Aki had cooked up a Spanish chicken and chorizo stew, and Kev from No.93 came round for some food before we walked down to Islington Green and the Almeida Theatre. Bumped into Martin and Janet South in the bar...their son works their as a Production Assistant. The Ionesco piece starred Marcello Magni, and the inimitable Kathryn Hunter, who stole the show with a perfectly pitched performance...she's so good! They dropped cues toward the end which took a little momentum out of the piece, but it's a great piece of absurdist theatre, and the translator had shoe-horned in some text to bring it up to date with the world of alternative facts that we now live in! Repaired to the bar for a drink and a chat with the Souths before walking back to Holloway.

Thursday 10th February 2022

Headed back out east again today, this time venturing a little further, into Beckton, Upton Park, and East Ham, which took me past the statue to the boys lifting the World Cup. Stopped at ASDA to get some lunch items. Spoke to Emma, who is directing Twelfth Night at The Tower, a summer production that will go to an outdoor theatre in Paris. Agreed to help out with some dramaturgy, whatever that means, and she said she'd need a bit of help with the auditions at the weekend, as she wants to cast a couple of people who can play guitar, and needs another pair of ears to sound them out. Ate my lunch in the car on the rather grim Eastbourne Road Estate in East Ham. Packed up at dusk and drove to Stoke Newington for PMQ rehearsals. Went rather well this evening, with both actors more or less off book, though this meant I had to do a bit of prompting. Chris, our SM, came along to introduce himself and watch what was going on. Got home around 2100, suitably exhausted!

Wednesday 9th February 2022

Woke before alarm at 0730. Got up and made tea. Gobbled up some porridge, and made myself a packed lunch, before heading out east again, spending most of my working day in East Ham, Plaistow, and environs. Had my packed lunch sitting in the car, as usual. Wendeed my way home via Haringey Green Lanes to pick up some petrol at Sainsbury's. Got home around 1800. Aki had prepared a tasty tapas dinner, which we enjoyed with Spanish omelette and patatas bravas. 

Tuesday 8th February 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730. Got up around 0800 and started work at the computer, mug of tea in hand. Porridge for breakfast. Broke for lunch around 1300. More of the same this afternoon. Hard going...could happily have nodded off at the desk! Aki cooked salmon in a white sauce for dinner, which we had with IKEA potato cakes. Tasty! Aki had a JCUK zoom meeting at 2000. I listened to Tom Ravenscroft's Peel Acres on BBC Sounds on my headphones. Tom delves into the humungous record collection built up over the decades by his dad, John Peel. Great stuff! Booked tickets for The Chairs at The Almeida on Friday night...going with Kev from No.93 who went to school with one of the actors, Toby Sedgwick. Bath and bed...read a bit of Nowhere Man in bed...it's a bit lumpy...too many adjectives, and some weird sentences that have no meaning. Hamon is writing in his second language.

Monday 7th February 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730, but didn't manage to haul my weary frame out of bed until gone 0800. Made tea, porridge, and a packed lunch before setting off for Bishop's Stortford for a day's inspecting. Stopped off at Birchanger Green Service Station on the M11 to buy some lunch items, and grab a coffee. Had my packed lunch in a car park on an interesting housing scheme called Nightingales, formerly the site of a large Victorian era hospital, some of the old buildings having been converted to residential use, plus various blocks of infill development. Not terribly imaginative in the execution, though. Finished as the light began to fail and drove back to Birchanger Green services and bought some sushi in Waitrose for dinner, which I ate in the car. Drove back to Stoke Newington for a 1915 rehearsal. Worked a bit with Bea on her ukulele strumming technique...getting there, slowly! Got home around 2130. Caught the News before bath and bed.

Sunday 6th February 2022

 

Slow start after last night's shenanigans...but got up and cooked Turkish eggs for breakfast. FaceTimed ma and pa and caught up on yesterday's birthday celebration for Kath...they had all gone out for a meal at the Indian Restaurant on Broadway, Darras Hall. Sounded worth a visit next time we're in town. Katherine at No.127 texted us to say she'd come down with covid, so had two spare tickets for the Pina Bausch piece at Sadlers Wells this afternoon. We walked there via Upper Street...popped in to Belle Epoch for a tasty quiche lunch and a decaff. Walked on to Sadlers Wells...the sun came out, but it was pretty windy...had to hold on to my hat. Hooked up with Katherine's daughter, and two sons, in the foyer, and found our seats in the Circle...they were side on, so restricted view, so it wasn't an entirely comfortable experience. The piece, Kontakthof, was great...I'd seen it about 12 years or so ago in the same venue. Found myself moved to tears on a couple of occassions by the poetry of the choreography...really enjoyed it. Walked back home in the dark...quite a lot of people about. Got home at 2000 and Aki cooked up some pasta and warmed up the tomato sauce I'd made in the week. Watched the first episode of "The Curse", created by the fantastic team behind "People Just Do Nothing". Promising start, although we could have done with subtitles for one of the characters...might have to watch again on catch up!

Saturday 5th February 2022

 

Slow start...listened to Saturday Live in bed with a mug of tea. Got up and cooked us a breakfast ...ham 'n eggs with avocado toast. Did some voice warm up work in preparation for the afternoon rehearsal. Drove to the theatre with guitar and amp for a 1700 rehearsal with the band. Did Angharad's songs first, on which I played some rhythm guitar, then went through my three songs with Colin and Martin...Artiss, the 14 year old drummer, showed up just as we finished, so we went through all three songs again with him on sticks...he was very good...picked things up immediately, and kept it simple. Aki turned up to watch for a bit, and we tried to get some food in the little time we had before the show kicked off. Bought a takeaway from Itto on the High Street, but didn't have time to eat it, so left it in the car for later, as I needed to be in the room for the start of the show. The neighbours from Nos.36 & 38 Sussex Way turned up. I got up and introduced myself as Pepper Red, hardened bluesman from Chicago who was on tour in the UK of E with my band the Red Hot Peppers, but had told them we were gigging in Stoke, rather than Stoke Newington, and they were all stuck at Keele service station on the M6...so I'd had to get me a pick-up band who I'd picked up on the corner of Northwold Road, and introduced them as Blind Melon Guthrie, and Marty Deep Down South...I'd sat Artiss in the audience and asked if there was a drummer in the house...and Artiss came up and joined us. My three numbers went down well. In the first of two intervals, Aki and I slipped out to the car to eat our by now rather cooled takeaway dinner. The rest of the evening was great, for the most part...some stonking singers at The Tower! The only bum notes were hit by the final act of the evening, Rahul, who was seriously under rehearsed, tediously amateur, and not as funny as he thought he was...and worse, didn't know when to pack it in and get off...we thought he was going to do a Ken Dodd and go on till two in the morning. Finally made our escape and drove home after an otherwise great night.

Friday 4th February 2022

Alarm at 0730 but couldn't get out of bed...rose around 0845 and started work at the computer. Raining outside, so delayed yesterday's interrupted drive to Leytonstone until this afternoon, when things are due to brighten up a bit. Aki's homemade pea and ham soup for lunch. Headed out east after lunch, mostly Stratford and West Ham...this is the attractive Brassett House, a 22-storey monstrosity which I've looked at before...fortunately, I didn't have to do any internals this time round. Got home around 1800 and cooked a chicken tikka masala for dinner. Did a bit of work, and watched a bit of telly...tried Murderville on Netflix, an improvised detective caper...it was OK, but once was enough. Bath and bed...

Thursday 3rd January 2022

Woke to radio alarm at 0730. Very weary after the exertions of the last few days, so decided to work from home this morning rather than hit the road again. Sat at the computer most of the morning. Broke for lunch...Aki made ramen noodle soup. Set off to do some inspections in Leytonstone after lunch. Hadn't got very far when I noticed a warning lamp on my dash board...had to consult the manual in order to decipher its' meaning...turned out I had a flat tyre. Pulled over in Brownswood Road, about half-a-mile from home, and set about changing the wheel. Took me ages to get the jack to work...it's a remarkably inefficient piece of equipment. As I was struggling, a tenant came out of the flat behind me, and I asked her if she was in the AA. Turned out she'd changed many a wheel in the Columbian Andes, from whence she hailed! Moral support only on offer on this occassion. Managed to get the emergency tyre on after about an hour-and-a-half, then drove round to Kwikfit on Camden Road where they put a new Goodyear tyre on for me....£95 later! So didn't get any work done this afternoon...drove home for a clean up, a cuppa tea, and some banana bread. Cooked up a pizzaiola sauce which we had with spaghetti.

Wednesday 2nd February 2022

Got up at 0800 and did a couple of hours at the computer. Aki cycled off to the rowing club to have a go on the rowing machine in the gym...still getting pain in her left forearm, so wants to strengthen it a little before getting back in a boat. I headed off for another day in rural Cambridgeshire. Had my lunch parked next to the church and churchyard at St Mary's in the village of Burwell...very impressive building. Indeed, it's Grade I listed and dates from the 12th Century. Ended the day in the village of Elsworth, to the south-west of Cambridge, then headed back down the M11 to Stoke Newington for rehearsals at 1800. Got there in time to grab a burger on the High Street. Jessa, our set designer, turned up to watch the rehearsal, and we ended with a run which I timed at 19 minutes 10 seconds...it was a bit rushed in places, so should be running at over 20 minutes by the time it's ready for an audience. Got home at 2100. Watched an episode of Seinfeld, then some news, before bath and bed.

 

Tuesday 1st February 2022

 

Woke at 0800 and hauled myself up and at 'em. Made tea, porridge, and a packed lunch. Did some work at the computer before heading out in the motor for Birchanger Green Service station on the M11 where I picked up some lunch items and a coffee before driving on toward Haverhill. Spent the day inspecting cottages, a lot of them with thatched roofs...this one was in Stapleford. Had my lunch in the car at Gog Farm Shop near Cambridge, and used the facilities. Ended the day in Fen Ditton then headed back home. Got back around 1800. Aki baked a trout which we had with potatoes and vegetables. Worked till 2130. Caught the second half of a BBC4 documentary on the building of Britain's motorways...fascinating stuff. There are seven miles of M62 crossing the tops of the Pennines which ended up costing £1m per mile, and now take just seven minutes to drive along...the builders got literally bogged down in the peat!