Friday 29th April 2022

Alarm at 0730. Aki brought me a mug of tea, then I got up for porridge. Aki went off to meet Tammy on the South Bank. Made myself a packed lunch, then headed out to Roehampton, and Wimbledon to look at some Metropolitan Housing stock before driving on to Walton-on-Thames, then on to Tunbridge Wells on behalf of Hastoe Housing. Stopped at Clacket Lane service station on the M25, and ate my lunch in the car park. Got home at 1730. Aki cooked a monkfish curry, with dahl and rice, for dinner. Cold evening...had to watch MasterChef with a blanket on our knees, like a pair of old folks! 

Thursday 28th April 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730. Got up around 0830. Headed off to Hornchurch to do some inspections on a Council Estate there...drove past the Queen's Theatre...quite an impressive looking 60s edifice. Drove on to Langdon Hills, near where I used to live in Basildon some 40 years ago, then on to Wickford, and Billericay before heading home. Had my lunch in Sainsbury's car park near Wickford. Got home around 1630. Had to park in the adjoining street, as the roadworks in Sussex Way are playing havoc with the number of spaces available on the street. Bumped into Kathleen from No.49, with Katerina and Artur, who had arrived today from Odessa. I welcomed them to Sussex Way. Artur is only 3 years old, and they were venturing out to the nearest park so he could play on the swings. I assume his dad has been conscripted into the Odessa defence corps! Hope they get on alright here in North London. Aki cooked a mushroom and pumpkin risotto for dinner, with pan fried asparagus, before heading out to Book Club at No.127. I stayed home and went through my lines, and caught MasterChef. Aki back at 2230...no-one had liked the Fleischman novel, so I was very glad I'd missed out! Virginia Woolf's "The Waves" chosen as the next read...

Wednesday 27th April 2022

Woke to sounds on the bedroom roof at around 0630. Went on for an hour. Eventually got up, dressed, and put the ladder up, but no sign of anything animal, vegetable or mineral! I did see a blackbird flay off, but couldn't be sure where it had come form. Noticed an umbrella on the roof above the extension, which is blocking the DWP hopper! Where the hell did that come from? Will have to get the neighbour to get on his roof and lean over the parapet to pick it up. Worked at the computer until 1230. Walked over to Girasole to get something to warm up for lunch, and bought some vine eyes at the DIY shop. Aki back for lunch...lasagna and salad, and half a tomato muffin. Spent an hour or so drilling holes in the external wall behind the wisteria plant, and screwed in some vine eyes, linking them with wire for the climber to climb up....hopefully. Aki made an apple strudel, having been inspired by Rick Stein's visit to Vienna. 

Warmed up the Spanish fish and bean stew for dinner, followed by apple strudel and custard. Drove off to Stoke Newington at 1815 for this evening's rehearsals. Was only required for the first half hour, and the last half hour, so had to kill a couple of hours in between. Bought some snacks and sat in the car listening to Liverpool v Villareal on the radio. Helena the pedantic stage manager we were introduced to last week has been replaced by the redoubtable Laurence Tuerk...much preferred choice! Got home around 2230. 

Tuesday 26th April 2022

Alarm at 0730. Got up around 0815 and made tea, which we had in bed...I did a bit of line-learning before getting up and doing some work at the computer. Headed off to south London at 1000. Bumped into Andrew outside No.49...they are expecting their Ukrainian refugees on Thursday! Did inspections in Streatham, then on to Battersea...the majority of the property at the latter location were on a large 1874 housing estate, which must surely be a Conservation Area. Intrigued to know whether it was originally built by the Peabody Trust. Aki's tasty dill soup for lunch. Ended the day in West Kensington, at a late Victorian block of flats opposite Queen's Club. Got home at 1645, and did some more work at the computer before dinner. Aki did tarragon chicken with orzo and vegetables. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

Monday 25th April 2022

Alarm at 0730. Got up at 0800 and made tea, then had porridge for breakfast. Did some work at the computer before heading out in the car to Tottenham and environs. Had lunch in the car, having purchased a mac 'n cheese from Costa on the Tottenham Hale retail park. Then drove south to Thamesmead, before heading back west to a late 19th Century Peabody Estate on the Old Kent Road, near the Bricklayers Arms junction. Got home around 1815. Had to park outside No.99, as they are still digging up the road at our end of the street! Aki cooked up a lentil dahl for dinner, which we had with mushroom rice. Watched a bit of telly...really enjoying "Derry Girls"...it gets better by the episode...cracking script!

Sunday 24th April 2022

Alarm at 0730. Got up and made a mug of tea, and some porridge for breakfast. Cycled off to Stoke Newington at 0920, getting to the theatre at about 0940...it's faster than driving! Had time to get a coffee before going in to rehearse Act 3 Sc2. Matthew (Sir Andrew) was suffering from a hangover after being up late last night, and going to bed betimes! But the session went well, and my voice seemed in remarkably good condition for a 1000 start! Broke at 1115 and cycled over to Springfield Park.

Nice sunny afternoon in prospect for the first Rowing Club regatta of the season on the River Lea. Aki cycled over with some sandwiches, and we bought some cake from the cake stall before watching a bit of the racing...can't say it's ever grabbed my attention as a spectator sport. Cycled home. Cooked the pork shoulder, which we had with sauteed potatoes and chargrilled broccoli. Watched a bit of telly...really enjoying the BBC Young Dancer of 2022...very inspiring young talent involved. Phoned ma and pa who were about to watch John Simm's new TV drama, "Grace". They seemed in good fettle, dad having been working in the garden, and they had enjoyed a day trip to Druridge Bay which had involved various locals asking them if they had broken down, or needed directions. Macron managed to keep Le Pen at bay in French Presidential elections today...a little bit of good news at last!!!

Saturday 23rd April 2022

Woke around 0830. Aki got up and made tea, then fielded a phone call. I got up around 0930. Exhausted after yesterday's legwork! Weird dream in which I appeared to have purchased a five-storey block of flats in which to house Ukrainian refugees, then found myself on a Council Estate evading a rogue truck driver who was careering around the residential streets in a dumper truck. He eventually got out and appeared at an upstairs window with a gun, so I dived for cover behind a tree. Aki cycled off to the fishmonger on Essex Road before the fans started drifting in for the Arsenal v Man Utd game. We did a shop at Morrisons while the game was in progress. Nice sunny day, but very windy, and it clouded over as the afternoon progressed. I cooked a Spanish cod, bean and chorizo stew for dinner, with griddled asparagus, carrots, and a hunk of bread. Cheese and biscuits to follow. Watched a bit of telly before retiring for an early night...

Friday 22nd April 2022

Alarm at 0730. Aki up early to prepare herself for a trip to the Rowing Club. She brought me a mug of tea. I got up at 0830 and made porridge. Aki cycled off to Springfield Park. I did some work, then left for inspections in central London. Decided to travel in by bus, so caught the No.271 from Holloway Road, getting off at Old Street, and walking to Whitecross Street and the Peabody Estate there. Broke for an early lunch around 1230, and walked down to The Barbican, and had a chicken shwarma wrap in the Canteen.

Walked down to St Paul's and got a tube to Holborn, then walked to the Wild Street Estate, hard by the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The sun was shining, so I had myself a coffee and a coconut slice at a pleasant little coffee house on Great Queen Street, opposite the Masonic Grand Lodge. Got home around 1500 and uploaded my photos, and wrote up the inspection sheets etc. Aki warmed up the aubergine parmigiana lasagna for dinner, with a cauliflower cheese on the side, then we walked down to Upper Street to see Simona's play, on at the Kings Head Theatre. It was OK...difficult subject, but the whole thing felt a little twee...certainly the design, and the performances. Afew Tower Theatre faces in the audience, including the actresses playing Malvolia, and Viola. But we didn't stick around afterward, as we wanted to get back for the Procession of The Icons, an annual Easter related event practised by the Greek Orthodox church next door to our flat...we followed them round the block, and then watched as the entire congregation walked under the byre and re-entered the church, the smell of incense wafting up and down Sussex Way.

Thursday 21st April 2022

Alarm at 0730. Dozed until 0900, then worked on lines in bed for awhile. Started work at the computer at 0945, finishing off some research on stock I saw a couple of weeks ago. Talked to Andy Garrett on the phone to try and chase up some work...he sent me three projects! So suddenly got rather busier than I'd anticipated. He said there was talk of a charabanc cmoing to see one of the matinees!!! Aki finished off the pizza in the oven, which we had for lunch with some salad and cous-cous. Aki nipped out to the shop mid-afternoon, and came back with some red wine for me to use in my tomato, cumin, and cinnamon sauce. Pan fried the veal meatballs to go with the sauce, and served them with rice and vegetables. Watched MasterChef while Aki partook of a zoom meet with a bunch of girl friends of Katherine (from No.127), who are organising a hen night! Gave Steve Coogan's new comedy drama, "Chivalry", a go...can't say we were hooked by episode 1. Bath and bed...

Wednesday 20th April 2022

Alarm at 0730. Dozed until 0830, then sat up in bed and did some line learning ahead of tonight's rehearsal. Pottered about not doing very much this morning. Aki did some gardening out front, while I did the vacuuming. Made lunch of poached eggs on avocado toast with side salad. My shokupan toasts up nicely. Aki cycled off to the Japanese Embassy. I ambled down Seven Sisters Road and bought a lanyard for my sunglasses. Lovely afternoon. Made some pasta for tonight's dinner, which we had with the mushroom sauce I'd made a couple of days ago. Drove over to Stoke Newington for this evening's rehearsals. Traffic dreadful, so got there 10 minutes late . Worked on Act 1 Sc3, and Act 4 Sc1...took some props and costume substitutes with me to try out, as they'll affect my timing. Tried out my fart cushion. Ended up not using it for my opening scene, but held in abeyance until we get to the party scene. It all felt a bit stiff this evening...everyone either struggling for lines, or struggling to recall positioning in the space. Useful work, though. Got home by 2200. Watched the News, and MOTD...then bath and bed!

Tuesday 19th April 2022

Woke around 0900. Aki brought me a mug of tea, and I sat up in bed working on my lines for Acts 3 & 4. Got up and prepared my ingredients ahead of spending half an hour or so kneading bread dough. Needed to get the milk, and butter, down to room temperature. Pizza and salad for lunch. Walked over to Waitrose to pick up a click and collect delivery...a new non-stick frying pan from John Lewis. Back in time to see my dough rise sufficiently to perform the baking phase...much improved results on last time out, but still not fluffy enough inside...I think I should have let the dough rise a bit higher on it's second proof. Aki baked a trout for dinner, served with cous-cous, lemon and dill. Watched MasterChef, followed by a new adaptation of Kate Atkinson's "Life After Life" for dessert...which felt a bit under-cooked. Not sure it deserves to go through to the next round! 

Monday 18th April 2022

Woke around 0630 but quickly nodded back off. Next time I awoke it was 0930! We lazed in bed reading for an hour or so, getting into the Bank Holiday vibe. Got up and toasted the two hot cross buns that Margaret from next door had brought round yesterday evening. Cooked up a tomato sauce for Aki to use later on her aubergine parmigiana lasagna. Did some housework, then we walked to Waitrose via Michael's Fruiterers, and Morrisons, to do a bit of a shop. Got back and FaceTimed Kath, who was entertaining ma and pa. They'd enjoyed a roast lamb luncheon. Jim looked well...doing loads of miles on his bike, to and from work. Ma and pa looked good...though dad had had a parking malfunction, seeing the Up drift across Peary Close and narrowly missing a neighbour's car!!! Cooked up a mushroom pasta sauce to stick in the fridge...we'd found a pack of mushrooms in Morrisons for 21p, as today was it's best by date. Aki made her lasagna, which we had for dinner. Drove to Stoke Newington for this evening's rehearsal...Act4 Scs1 & 2. Parked up outside the theatre just as Emma pulled up in her Fiat...she'd just driven up from Totnes, where she'd been on retreat...it had taken her 8 hours!!! Broke at 2130 and drove home. Bath and bed...

Sunday 17th April 2022

Hauled myself out of bed around 0830 and made Aki a cup of tea…had hot cross buns for breakfast. Tony drove us over to the bluebell woods at Guestling for a morning constitutional, Macey running ahead, and going for a doggy paddle in a rather filthy looking pond. Back in time for Sunday lunch at The Beacon, an annual treat. Sat out at a table under a large flowering cherry blossom. Tony drove us down to the station afterward, and we caught the 1526 to Ashford International, changing there for the fast train into Kings Cross St Pancras. The carriage was invaded at Stratford by West Ham fans, who had just watched the Hammers draw with Burnley. Left Katrina to go find herself a Sunday paper, and we got the No.259 bus outside Kings Cross station, which dropped us at Sussex Way. Had soup for dinner. Watched BBC Young Dancer of the Year...some highly talented youngsters on show...it was strangely moving!

Saturday 16th April 2022

Had a rather uncomfortable night on an unfamiliar mattress. Got up and dressed. Tony laid on breakfast downstairs, then drove off to Seaford to take Piper over to his mum and dad’s, and pick up Macey. Katrina had been looking at possible property purchases online in St Leonard’s, so we walked her over there along the seafront. We looked at a street of large Victorian era villas which had mostly been converted into flats. Can’t say I find the area attractive, but she needs to find something that will allow her to release equity on her London flat. 

Had lunch in Kassa on the sea front then wandered up and down Norman Road, which sports one or two interesting galleries and boutique shops. Popped into one gallery, which was selling several interesting framed photos of Jagger and Ronnie Wood, amongst others. Walked back to Hastings via George Street, and an ice cream on the beach. Got the funicular back up West Hill and found Tony sun bathing outside No.12a. Watched the second half of the Liverpool v Man City FA Cup semi final. Tea and cake out front, then walked down to the First In Last Out pub in the Old Town for our dinner. The walk back up the hill was gruelling, though worth it for the view of the moon illuminating the English Channel…slumped on the sofa for a bit before retiring to bed.

Friday 15th April 2022

Slow start this morning. Got up around 0930 and had coffee flavoured porridge for breakfast. Headed into town to meet Katrina on the terrace in front of the RFH, where we ate a light lunch purchased in the Riverside Cafe. Walked back over Hungerford Bridge to catch the 1415 from Charing Cross. Tony and Piper met us at Hastings station and we repaired to St Mary’s Terrace. Sat out in the early evening sun with tea and Columba cake. Tony prepared dinner…pan fried cod in lemon butter, a pea and mint purée and dauphinoise potatoes, followed by chocolate brownie. Caught up with Tony, who is looking to buy a property near his mum and dad in Seaford…his dad’s dementia is slowly getting worse and his mum has a carcinoma on her leg…awaiting a prognosis next week! All sounds a bit worrying. Had a shower, then retired to bed...

Thursday 14th April 2022

Alarm at 0730. Dozed until Aki brought in a mug of tea. She was up and about as she had to prepare for a site visit to Balham, and headed off at 1015 for southern climes. I walked down to Angel via Highbury Fields, in the sunshine. Bought fish at Steve Hatt's on Essex Road, and some veal meatballs from the butcher next door. I got a bus down to Finsbury, and popped in at the Magic shop on Clerkenwell Road to enquire of their stock of whoopee cushions. Purchased the bog standard Fart 0.1...will try out at the next rehearsal! Got two buses back to the Odeon, and walked home. Prepared lunch...Aki still at site, so had mine on my own. Aki got home for a late lunch at 1500. Popped out late afternoon to the chemist to pick up fresh supplies of statin, and bought some dill and spinach...Aki wanting to make dill soup. Called in on Six at No.29 to look over the fencing gear he had earlier intimated he was willing to lend me for the Twelfth Night duel scene. Came home with a left-handed foil, a sabre, and a head mask. Cooked pan fried salmon for dinner, with buttered dill potatoes, vegetables, and IKEA's lemon and dill sauce. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

Wednesday 13th April 2022

Alarm at 0730. Dozed until Aki brought me a mug of tea, then did a bit of line learning in bed. Got up and toasted yesterday's failed shokupan...it was very thick and heavy, in contrast to the light and fluffy texture I endeavoured to re-create. But it went down well slathered in nutella and mashed banana. Aki departed for Brighton, so I did some more line learning, focussing on Act 4, which we won't get to rehearse until next week. Worked through The Wind & The Rain to try and get a handle on some percussive effects, and had a bash on the cajon. Chicken salad for lunch, then walked up to Elthorne Park for my appointment with my ENT specialist. Ears look good, apparently...no wax to remove, so he agreed to let another six months go by until the next meet. Walked across to Crouch Hill rail station and printed off the rail tickets to Hastings at the machine on the platform, then popped in to Tesco on Stroud Green Road. Got home and made a batch of homemade mushroom ketchup...used a couple of tablespoons for my mushroom and garlic pasta dish for dinner. Aki got home around 1830, just in time for dinner. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed.

Tuesday 12th April 2022

Alarm at 0730. Dozed on until Aki appeared with a mug of tea around 0830, then sat up in bed going through my lines. Started making the shokupan...but the recipe got the amount of milk to add in wrong, and I hadn't seen the correction, so the dough was very dry and quite hard...tried rescuing it in the food processor, then adding the missing amount of milk, and set it to rise near the front window, with fingers crossed. Korean vegetable pancakes for lunch, with fried egg. Took a late afternoon hike up Highgate Hill, stopping for a photo op at the byre outside the church halfway up the hill. Got home only to find that my shokupan hadn't risen, unlike Christ the Lord...rolled it up anyhow, and stuck it in the oven. Looked edible when they came out, but decided to save them for breakfast. Aki cooked chicken and lotus root patties for dinner, with rice and vegetables, and a soy sauce. Watched "MasterChef" and an episode of "Seinfeld" before bath and bed...

Monday 11th April 2022

Alarm at 0730. Too weary to haul myself out of bed until gone 0900. Porridge for breakfast. Did a bit of line learning after breakfast. Working on the mammoth Act3 Sc4 again tonight. Spent a few minutes watching a very busy pair of robins building and feathering a nest in our ivy in the back garden, just a couple of meters from the back door. It's only about 1 metre off the ground, which is a bit worrying...but fascinating to watch them hover like hummingbirds at the entrance for a few seconds before they disappear into the foliage. Aki's bean soup for lunch, with a couple of hunks of sourdough. Renewed my Senior Railcard, and booked train tickets to Hastings for our annual Easter trip. Felt very sleepy in the afternoon...could have quite happily nodded off on the sofa, but then my voice would be in tatters for this evening, so forced myself to stay awake! Aki went out to cut the hedge out front, while I made a tuna salad Nicoise for dinner. Headed for Stoke Newington just before 1900. I was able to park outside the theatre. Had a meeting with Laura, who is doing the costumes, then listened in as Tamara taught Bella a harmony to sing alongside Joel on "Come Away Death"...sounded beautiful. Did a stand up line run of Act 3 Sc2, then worked on bits of Act3 Sc4, as Sophie hadn't been able to come last night due to a feline emergency! Drove home, getting in around 2240 just as Aki was running the bath...

Sunday 10th April 2022

Aki up and about at 0830, keen to get ready to cycle over to the rowing club. She hasn't been for ages. Nice day for it. I got up and made some coffee flavoured porridge for breakfast. Did a bit of work on my lines, and prepared some lunch for Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Matthew turned up at 1400. Not sure he particularly enjoyed my Korean vegetable pancakes, but he gobbled up the raspberry spoom alright! Worked on some basic guitar accompaniment to "The Wind & The Rain"...then set off in the car for Tamara's pad and music rehearsal with Joel and Callum. Hard work...it's a very difficult song to nail down...but we're getting there. Repaired to the theatre to work on Act 3 Sc2, which went well. I had a break, so nipped out for a KFC burger. Bumped into my old flatmate Chris, and his son Charlie...haven't seen them for years. Charlie, who is now a Hollywood small screen star, having just wrapped another series as Winona Ryder's eldest son in "Stranger Things", was on crutches. I assumed he'd been doing his own stunts, but no he'd torn knee ligaments playing with his 5 year old son, Archie! Chris has moved from Walthamstow to Northwold Road, a stone's throw from the theatre...I promised to let him know when the show was up and running. Back to the theatre with my KFC burger and fries, then worked on the lengthy Act3 Sc4...running out of oomph by 2200 when we packed up. Drove home for a soak in the bath...

Saturday 9th April 2022

Woke around 0830. Got up and made tea. Aki cooked a breakfast. Walked up to the Farmer's Market on Yerbury Road, but were waylaid by Carlos and Jane from No.36, who were coming back from the market having failed to find bread there this week, so we walked back to The Green Room cafe with them, which sells sourdough loaves...we bought our bread, and sat out the back with a coffee for a chat. Nice day....sun was out, but a bit nippy still. Aki walked on to Waitrose, and I went home to dump the loaf and pick up the car. Drove round to Waitrose and found her in the toilet roll aisle. Came home and lunched on fresh sourdough with nutella spread...yum! Played some mandolin...worked through Maggie May, with Aki on guitar. Turned the telly on to watch the Grand National. I had Discorama, and Fiddlerontheroof; Aki had Run Wild Fred and Fortescue. Needless to say, Discorama, Fortescue, and Run Wild Fred all failed to finish. Fiddleronthe roof came in 5th, but I'd put £10 on him to win...very moving scenes at the end as the amateur jockey riding the winner was riding his last ever race...fairytale stuff.

Aki cooked mackerel for dinner, smothered in miso paste, and served with rice, and vegetables Japanese style in a broth. Walked to Finsbury Park tube station and took a train to Embankment, changing at Oxford Circus...very busy! Walked to RFH over Hungerford Bridge. There to catch a concert by the London Philharmonic, conducted by the very dignified Russian Vladimir Jurowski. Mitsuko Uchida was the main draw, playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.4...sublime. Got home around 2300. Bath and bed...

Friday 8th April 2022

Alarm at 0730. Dozed until 0830 when Aki brought me a mug of tea. Did some line learning in bed until 1030. Made some lunch prior to Aki heading off to Balham for a site visit. I nipped out to William Hill to put some money on a couple of horses for tomorrow's Grand National, then walked up the A1 to the Sainsburys mini to get some mushrooms, milk and cream to make tonight's pasta sauce. Car on it's roof on Seven Sisters Road outside The Drapery...couldn't see any other vehicle involved, so gawd knows how it managed to flip over like that. Police and fire crew in attendance, but I couldn't see any driver or passengers...may be the ambulance had already carted them off! Cooked dinner, which we had with lasagna cut up into tagliatelle strips. Ben and Gayu came round for us at 1930 and we walked over to The Pleasance Theatre in North Road to see *Dirty Corsets", a three-hander written by the cast set in the tawdry theatrical world of 17th Century Restoration comedy...it was a disappointment...narratively chaotic, and difficult to follow, despite the hard work of the actors. Wandered home afterward, getting back around 2130. 

Thursday 7th April 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730. Got up to make tea at 0830. Had my bowl of chocolate flavoured porridge at the computer. Worked through until lunch time. Aki made a soup for lunch, using cooked beans as a base, and adding milk, spinach and broccoli. Very tasty! Didn't have much work to do this afternoon, so reverted to line learning in preparation for Sunday's rehearsals. Set off for Hackney around 1630, walking down Holloway Road to catch a train from Highbury & Islington, but they were delayed, so got a train to Dalston Junction, and had time to walk from there. The restaurant, Pidgin, is a rather small establishment on trendy Wilton Way, and the interior was disappointing. The food was OK, but didn't blow us away...lots of small tasting plates (I pitied the poor washer-upper!). I enjoyed the wild garlic soup with an egg in the middle, and the teriyaki quail legs, but at £65 a head we expected better. Ambled back to Dalston, and from thence the Highbury Corner by train, and then No.43 bus back up to Lower Holloway. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

Wednesday 6th April 2022

Woke around 0700. Dozed until 0830. Got up and made tea. Set to work at the computer writing up what I'd seen yesterday. Broke to make lunch. Avocado toast with poached egg and Parma ham, and some salad. Aki ventured outside to clean the front window. I did some lines in preparation for tonight's rehearsal, and practised the mandolin and tin whistle parts to "Wind & The Rain". Then a quick thunder storm passed overhead! Did some more work at the computer monitor before breaking for an early dinner. I made mushroom and anchovy sauce, which we had with some pasta and vegetables. Drove to Stoke Newington for an 1830 rehearsal meet at The Tower Theatre. Worked on all the big scenes we've blocked out so far, by way of reminder. It was a long night! Looking in good shape though, methinks. A lot of line learning to do in preparation for Sunday evening's rehearsal. Got home around 1045. Aki just about to get in the bath. I followed not far behind...

Tuesday 5th April 2022

Alarm at 0730. Dozed for a bit. Got up at 0800 and made tea and porridge. Headed out at 0930 for inspections in Islington, Haringay, and Hackney. Filled up with petrol at Sainsburys in Manor House. Popped back home for lunch, then back out to north-west London. Visited Harlesden, Willesden, Kingsbury, Wembley, and Southall. The Kingsbury inspection took me to Apna Ghar's new offices...I stuck my head in to see if Jay was there, but he'd moved on a couple of years or so ago. Shame...nice bloke. Crawled back along the North Circular, getting home around 1830. We warmed up the leftover chicken chasseur for dinner, then watched a bit of telly. Vaguely interesting documentary on the one-woman Cancel Culture that was Mary Whitehouse. I didn't know that one of the men's magazine publishers had fought back by naming one of their soft-porn publications "Whitehouse"! Bleak news from Ukraine following the withdrawal of Russia's barbarous troops from the northern outskirts of Kyiv...murderous bandits! Hope some of them got their just deserts. Calls for Russia to be expelled from the UN...gets my vote!

Monday 4th April 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730. Dozed to the radio until gone 0900. Struggled with the CPAP machine again last night...had to rip it off at about 0200 in the morning, as my mouth and throat dry out so much it feels like the sides of my throat are stuck together. Have to down a large glass of water. Don't know what's happening...I assume I'm breathing the CPAP air flow in via my mouth rather than the nasal pillow, which is drying out my throat. Any road up, it's badly affecting my voice, which is a worry! Aki made a sardine salad lunch. We took a walk up Highgate Hill for some exercise late afternoon. Did a bit of shopping in Aldi. Walked back home, bumping into Gayu on Sussex Way, who was headed for Waterlow Park. Aki made an aubergine parmigiana lasagna for dinner, followed by her homemade chocolate mousse...she had four egg whites left over from yesterday's cake bake...topped her mousse with whipped cream. Watched a bit of Netflix...gave "Top Boy" a go...set in Hackney's drug dens...Aki found it all too brutal. I rehearsed some lines. Bath and bed.

Sunday 3rd April 2022

 

Aki up at 0830 to start making her Japanese strawberry shortcake. I got up at 0930 and baked the croissants in the oven, once Aki's sponge base had been cooked. We drank a small bottle of champagne between us. We took the cake up to The Landseer, and drove back to meet Katrina...she'd brought Aki a bunch of flowers. We walked up to No.36, where Jane handed Aki more flowers. We were joined by Ben and Gayu from No.38 and walked up to the pub. Quite busy in there, but I'd booked a table by the front window. I bought drinks, then we ordered lunch...Aki and I went for the belly pork. Polly from No.124 turned up just in time for a slice of cake. Got home around 1530. Spoke to ma on the blower. They'd been planning a trip to The Blackbird for their Sunday roast, with Kath and Jim, but Jim got seriously waylaid by tyre punctures on his late morning cycle ride, so they had to cancel. We weren't very hungry come the evening, but partook of some cheese and salad, with oat biscuits, for us tea. Watched Keira Knightley as "Colette"...Dominic West as her charming but over-bearing husband was excellent. Some extraordinary photos of the real Colette appeared in the final credits...what a gal she was!!!

Saturday 2nd April 2022

Woke around 0800. Aki got up and brought a mug of tea to me in bed. Did a little line work in bed while Aki cooked up breakfast. Brett from No.7 came round with a birthday card and some flowers. Aki noticed that Japanese pianist Mitsuko Uchida is coming to the Royal Festival Hall next weekend, to play some Beethoven with the London Philharmonic, so I bought tickets as a belated birthday treat. We walked up to Yerbury Farmer's Market and bought some cheese...some Schlossberger, and some Bigod English brie. Aki bought some vegetables, then we walked home to drop the shopping off. Aki then went on to Waitrose, and I went to see Eglal at Girasole. She sold me a couple pre-baked croissants which we'll have for Aki's birthday breakfast tomorrow morning. I also bought some tiramisu, and a Colomba cake, a traditional Italian Easter treat which I'll save until Easter weekend. Then I walked to Waitrose to buy a small bottle of champers to make bucks fizz tomorrow morning. Cooked a one-pot chicken chasseur for dinner, and we had the tiramisu for afters. Watched the final episode of "Holding", and Brentford putting 4 goals past Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on MOTD...Eriksen got on the scoresheet...remarkable stuff!

Friday 1st April 2022

Aki woke ahead of the alarm this morning, and got up and brought me a mug of tea. Got up and made porridge. I worked on mandolin and ukulele chords for "The Wind & The Rain". Aki popped into town to organise something at the Japanese Embassy...paperwork relating to the sale of her father's little plot of land in Kobe. When she came back, I drove her to the DHL drop off point in North Finchley, so she could send paperwork on to the relevant parties in Japan. Then we drove to IKEA in Tottenham and picked up assorted items in the market place...Aki particularly wanting plant pots. Had our lunch in the canteen...meatballs and mash for me, and lamb shank for Aki. Drove home. Chicken tikka masala ready meal for dinner tonight...a good quality one I bought at a farm shop on the A10 a month or so ago. We had it with basmati rice and mini naans. Aki had a zoom meet with her JCUK chums, so I did a bit more work on the song for the show. Bath and bed...