Monday 30th May 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730. Aki got up and made me a mug of tea. Got up and made porridge for breakfast, and warmed up some pea and ham soup to take with me for lunch. Aki had a zoom call with the potential purchaser of her mum's empty flat in Inage. I headed northward in the car...inspections of Borough Council stock in Stevenage. Stopped at South Mimms service station and picked up some lunch items at Waitrose and a coffee at Pret. A couple of fellows dressed much as in the photo on the left asked me where I was headed, hoping for a lift. I assumed they were Morris Men heading to a folk festival, but they turned out to Journeymen, a European order of carpenters, who traditionally journeyed around Europe after completing their apprenticeships...they were headed for the Isle of Man, and the TT!! I had my lunch parked beside the common in Saffron Walden, having used the facilities at the town's Waitrose store, then headed to my final port of call in Stanstead Mountfitchet. Got home around 1815. Aki had cooked up a mapo and rice for dinner, followed by Bon Maman salted caramel creme. I was too tired to stay upright on the sofa so went for a lie down in bed before Aki ran a bath...

Sunday 29th May 2022

Woke around 0930. Aki had had a fitful night's sleep, as she hadn't been able to find her wallet, with her bank cards and driving licence in! No sign of it come the morning light, which was a bit worrying. Jim and Kath were already up, and we made them coffee and a bowl of fruit salad and yoghurt for breakfast, before we walked to Finsbury Park station to get the tube to Kings Cross. Treated them to a very expensive brunch in Searcey's at St Pancras station...the prices looked reasonable, but didn't include the 20% VAT, or the 12.5% service charge that appeared on the bill!!! A sign of the times...won't be going there again! Walked them over to Kings Cross station, where they were to climb aboard the 1430 back to Newcastle. They had enjoyed their brief sojourn...pity it couldn't have been longer, but they both had work commitments to return to come Monday morning. Got home about 1500. Still no sighting of Aki's bank cards! She had to cancel them in the end. Flaked out on the sofa for a bit, and then warmed up Aki's fish pie and steamed some cabbage for dinner. Nowt on telly. Rented Brannagh's "Belfast" memoir...OK, but the narrative arc was somewhat trite. Enjoyed the Van Morrison sound track, though, and Gerard Horan and Mark Hadfield appeared in it, who I had shared the stage with in Leeds many moons ago. Early bath, and bed...

Saturday 28th May 2022

Woke around 0500...took a while to nod back off again. Got up around 1000. Porridge for breakfast. Aki made some pea and ham soup, as I planned to take a portion in with me to have between shows. Had an early light lunch, then drove to Stoke Newington for the final two shows. About 50 turned up for the matinee, and seemed to enjoy themselves...bit quiet in places, but were very enthusiastic at the curtain call. Pete had come over from Farnham (he played Sebastian to my Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Malta 40 years ago), and Jane Ely came with her partner, Ian. Jane had done SM work at the Tower when I was there some 40 years ago, so it was great to get her and Pete together after all this time. Me old flatmate Chris came too....it was his first Shakespeare experience! He appeared to have just about survived it. I couldn't hang around long to chat, as I needed to go back to the dressing room to steam my vocal cords prior to the final show. Our biggest audience yet...about 70 in tonight...including, unbeknownst to me, Kath and Jim, who had travelled done secretly on the train from Newcastle. I came out into the bar after the show to find them sitting in the bar! Lovely surprise. We had a quick drink in the bar, but I had to get back upstairs to muck in with the get out, so Aki drove them back to ours and sorted their bedding arrangements out, before driving back to the theatre to pick me up, by which time we had finished clearing the set away, and were tucking into the homemade sushi she'd brought earlier. Had to stay in the bar for a little while for some presentations and thank you's to various members of the creative team who had helped put the show together, so didn't get home until 0200. Could hear Jim snoring from the spare bedroom...

Friday 27th May 2022

Woke at 0800...Aki already up and about, and brought me a mug of tea. She cycled off to the Health Centre for a meet with the physio regarding her rowing elbow problem. Did a bit of work at the computer after a bowl of chocolate porridge for breakfast. Aki back briefly, before cycling off to the Japanese Embassy to send more paperwork out to the estate agency dealing with the sale of her mum's flat. I sauntered up to The Green Room on Holloway Road for my morning coffee. Sat outside round the back to get a bit of sun. Got back home and warmed up a portion of fish pie for my early dinner treat...with steamed vegetables on the side. Voice in reasonably good shape, touch wood. The finishing post is in sight! Drove over to Stoke Newington for 1745 and walked into the 'village' to buy some diet Coke (fake beer) and something to eat after the show. Another good house...about 50 in tonight, including a few Tower stalwarts. Simona, one of the AD's, was in...everybody had a good time. Ruth's Malvolia got an exit round at one point. Drove home for camomile tea, bath, and bed...

Thursday 26th May 2022

Woke at around 0730. Got up and made myself a mug of tea...Aki still snoring. Got to work at the computer. Aki got up and brought me a bowl of porridge for breakfast. Worked through until we had a late lunch at 1500. Aki cooked up the pork roast I'd bought the other day in M&S, accompanied by orzo and a side salad, and an apple sauce. Bit of a headache developed before I set off for the theatre at 1730. I think it's from staring at a computer screen all day! Managed to summon up some energy from somewhere...about 35 odd in the house tonight, and they were very quiet, but seemed to have enjoyed themselves come curtain down! Struggled with my voice a bit in the opening scenes, but sucked on a vocalzone which seemed to do the trick, and got through the second half without too much difficulty. Snuck straight out after the show...don't think I knew any of the audience members, so high-tailed it home for a mug of camomile tea, bath and bed...

Wednesday 25th May 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730. Dozed until Aki brought me a mug of tea. She cycled off to Rowing Club. I got up and made a packed lunch, and had some porridge. Feeling very very weary. Got to soldier on until Saturday! Ventured out south of the river for inspections. Took me to South Norwood, Penge, Bermondsey, ending up in Rotherhithe. Had a late lunch from a Greek street food vendor on Surrey Quays Retail Park. Drove back north of the river via the old Rotherhithe Tunnel. Got home by 1615. Revised my lines before setting off for the theatre. About 40 in tonight. They were good...seemingly enjoying themselves...indeed, several of them rose to their feet at the curtain call to hail our performance! Learnt that Bella Hornby, who plays Viola, is the author Nick Hornby's niece! Drove home for a cup of camomile tea, bath and bed...

Tuesday 24th May 2022

Fitful night's sleep...woken by the sound of rain on the bedroom roof at about 0430, and took an hour or so to get back to sleep. Woke at 0845 and made tea which we drank in bed. Got up and made porridge for breakfast, then sat at the computer until lunchtime, working. Aki nipped out to do a bit of food shopping before lunch. Worked through my lines ahead of tonight's show. Had to pop out to the stationer as I ran out of paper printing off 300 inspection sheets for the Swansea job next month. Stationer said prices had gone up 40%, and he was having problems sourcing supply. Aki made a fish pie for early dinner, and I drove off to the theatre at 1730. Didn't feel very switched on this evening...probably due to having had two night's off...some neighbours were in, which made me feel a bit self conscious on the bigger speeches, and I dropped the ball a couple of times. I had put too much baby oil on my head in the interval (to give the impression of sweating in the sunshine), but some of it got into my left eye, which gave me a squint for most of the second half. Neighbours nowhere to be seen afterward, but Bob Karper, an old actor mate, and Marianne, the mad French choreographer, were in and we had a brief catch up in the bar. I gave Marianne a lift home to Tufnell Park. She'd enjoyed it, though found the Shakespearean language a little tricky, naturally. Bath and bed...

Monday 23rd May 2022

Woke at 0845. Hauled myself out of bed and made tea. Still feel like I've been run over by a tractor, but hopefully I'll start to thaw out as the day progresses. Had some porridge for breakfast, then sat at the computer for the rest of the day...had planned to go south of the river to complete some inspections, but I needed to get the figures researched and completed by close of play today, so worked from home. Aki cycled off to do some shopping at Morrison's and Waitrose. Sardine salad for lunch, followed by one of Aki's marvellous chocolate brownies. I cooked up a chicken and mushroom pasta dish with artichoke and truffle pesto sauce, and walnuts, for dinner, then returned to the computer, finally completing the research at 2115. Bath and bed...

Sunday 22nd May 2022

Got a decent 8 hours sleep, though broken a couple of times by having to get up in the night. Aki made tea at 0900 which I drank sitting up in bed. Felt like I'd been hit by a bus after the two shows yesterday. My feet are aching, my hernia repair is giving me gip, and my voice is in tatters...it's been a gruelling week, but the response has been overwhelming, and I feel I've been able to show the gals who run The Tower what I'm all about. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club. I made myself some porridge, and hastened back to bed. Read a script that Simona had sent me last week...they think I may be a good fit to direct it, but I'm not so sure...it's a solo piece, which means having to work very intensely with one actor, which I don't think is my bag. They are usually difficult to elevate into theatrical spectacle, and there is little in the way of comedy to extract from this very bleak tale! Ventured out in search of some lunch...Aki eating at the cafe next door to the Rowing Club, so I enjoyed ambling in the sun over toward Finsbury Park, and ended up in favourite local Italian Osteria Tufo...sat outside and enjoyed a bowl of ravioli in a sage butter sauce, followed by tiramisu...I couldn't help myself! Spent an hour half dozing on the sofa listening to a podcast marking 25 years since the release of Radiohead's "OK, Computer". Did a couple of hours research on the computer for work. Aki warmed up the remains of last week's fish curry, and cooked some basmati rice to go with it. Very tasty. Watched a couple of episodes of the current series of Later..., then rented The Souvenir Part 2, a semi-autobiographical movie by Joanna Hogg. My old flat mate's son, Charlie, appeared in it...having a sex scene with Tilda Swinton's daughter! Strange movie...knotty, complex, and very clever. Watched MOTD and Manchester City pip Liverpool to the title on the final day of the season. Burnley were relegated, along with Watford and Norwich City.

Saturday 21st May 2022

Woke at 0430 for a toilet visit...could hear loud sound of running water, seemingly coming from inside the false wall which houses the soil pipe from the neighbour's bathroom above. Was her loo over-flowing, or was she having a shower at 0430 in the morning!? Woke Aki, and we had a listen...I texted the upstairs neighbour, but no reply. Very odd...it sounded as though we were standing on a riverbank rather than in a residential building! Managed to get back to sleep. Got up around 0900 and made a mug of tea, and went back to bed to listen to Saturday Live for a bit. Made porridge for breakfast. Slowly got my voice up and running...surprised at how good it was feeling, given the exigencies of the past week. Aki cycled off to Stoke Newington at 1230 to meet Louise, who was coming up from Kingston. I drove in a bit later. Went looking for them to say a quick hello, but they weren't in the cafe I'd suggested, so I went back to the theatre and warmed up for the matinee. Aki also had Tammy and Franco in to see it this afternoon, so I said a quick hello to them after the show, and they went around the corner for dinner at Itto. Tonight was probably our best audience to date...it felt almost half full, and there were a couple of kids on the front row, who made it to the curtain call. The show was interrupted 20 minutes from the finale by someone's alarm going off in the auditorium....it was so loud the stage manager thought the fire alarm had gone off, and the show was halted while he made sure we didn't need to evacuate the building! Unbelievable!!! But Ruth and Joel picked up from where they had left off as if nothing had happened, and the audience whooped and hollered at the curtain call. I said a quick hello to Martin and Janet in the bar afterward, and Colin Guthrie had been in too...I introduced myself to his missus, Pru, who I hadn't met before. The place was buzzing...I got a lot of congratulations from those that had witnessed my theatrical triumph. But I didn't hang around...drove home for a bath and bed.

Friday 20th May 2022

Woke around 0800 after getting a reasonable night's sleep...still don't feel rested, though, and don't think I will ever again! I cooked a breakfast, and downed a couple of mugs of tea. Texted Geoff to check they'd gotten home OK. Did a couple of hours work at the computer before Aki needed it for a zoom meeting with her Japanese 'Samaritan's' team. I cooked a chorizo and pea risotto, with cavolo nero on the side. Popped across to Jane and Carlos at No.36 to get Carlos to witness our signing of the Land Registry Transfer document in respect of the purchase of the freehold interest at No.3 Sussex Way. Drove to Stoke Newington for warm up. Theatre about a third full tonight, which was nice, but they were very quiet for the first half of the show. They let their hair down for the second half, though, and whooped in appreciation at the curtain call. Nick was in , so said a quick hello to him, and Stephen and Sarah Ley, who go back 40 years to my early days at The Tower when I first came to London...they were beaming with delight. Seems to be going down...well, a storm! Drove home for a well-earned bath and bed...got to get my fatigued body and vocal cords through two shows tomorrow!

Thursday 19th May 2022

Woke around 0600 with a persistent tickly cough...got up at 0630 and downed a couple of pints of tea before it finally calmed down. Aki cooked me a breakfast and I did a couple of hours work at the computer before going back to bed...didn't really nod off, but it was very restful just lying there in the horizontal for an hour or so with the weight off of my feet. Aki cycled off to do some shopping for foodstuffs, and came back and cooked chicken with a garlic and lemon rub, which we ate with a nice salad, and a yoghurt and sardine sauce, would you believe. Spent the rest of the afternoon slowly warming up my voice, and going through lines before tonight's performance. Geoff, a retired Savills' director, coming with his wife, Sarah, tonight...all the way from Dorking...hope they are not the only members of tonight's audience! Drove over to Stoke Newington for 1815 and tried to get my voice going. It was slightly worse than last night, for some reason, so I had to manage the delivery through my facial resonators in an effort to take the pressure off the cords. Again, the tricky bit comes in the second half, as the energy needs upping while my energy saps! But got through it. Sangita (Maria) a bit all over the place with her lines tonight. A couple of hefty dries, but we stumbled through somehow. I tripped on the stage left rostra and fell backwards...thought I was going to send the table flying, but as luck would have it I landed on Sir Andrew Aguecheek...fortunately it's my drunk scene, so people seemed to think it was deliberate! Not as many in tonight as last night, and they were quiet, but they were enthusiastic in their appreciation at curtain call. I got downstairs to be told by the bar man that Geoff and Sarah had just left...I caught them up in the street. Gave them a lift to Finsbury Park station so they could begin their journey back to Dorking. They had really enjoyed it, and had fallen for the theatre, promising to come back in the future. Got home at 2345 and Aki ran me a bath...

Wednesday 18th May 2022

Another fitful night's sleep. Got about six hours, though, which is an improvement on the night before! My vocal cords were in spasm in my half sleep, though, which I haven't experienced before...like having a woodpecker in your throat! Aki had cycled off to the rowing club by the time I rose. I penned an email to my director giving her a heads up on my vocal stress...I'm worried for the matinee come Saturday...I definitely couldn't do two shows a day at present, but hoping things will calm down a bit as the week progresses and I can settle into a routine. But I think the theatre may need a contingency plan! Aki made a late lunch...pasta with her homemade/homegrown pesto sauce. Popped out to buy some VocalZones, and soluble aspirin for gargling with. Went through my lines. Drove over to Stoke Newington at 1730. Got my voice through the show just about in one piece...it weakened a bit toward the end of the first half, so had to be doubly careful after the interval. I had about 10 people in, including Aki, who was probably as much in trepidation as I was. There was an audience of maybe 20 altogether, and they picked up on the comedy pretty instantaneously, We got off to a good start, though the second half sagged a little as energy levels dropped. Matthew (Sir Andrew) was a bit all over the place...had to grab him from the dressing room at one point as he was about to miss another entrance! Blinkin' amateurs!!! The response from everyone was very positive afterward...everyone seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed it. Got home around 1130 and had a soak in the bath before bed.

Tuesday 17th May 2022

Poor night's sleep. Had thought that my late night might mean me sleeping through until 1000 or something, by way of adjusting my body clock for performance week...but no. Plagued by thoughts about dropped lines at 0530 in the morning! Eventually got up at 0600 and did a bit of work at the computer, uploading yesterday's photos, and downing several mugs of tea. Aki got up at 0815. We had porridge for breakfast. Aki cycled off mid-morning to her hairdresser...she's trying a new chap, a Korean, who's based in West Hampstead...bit of a cycle ride!!! Heard from our solicitor...he has received a draft deed of transfer from the freeholder's solicitor, so it looks as though we won't need to go to Tribunal after all, which would come as something of a relief! Did some line work, then went back to bed...but didn't get to sleep, unfortunately. Aki came back and cooked an early dinner, but I couldn't eat it all. Drove off to the theatre at 1700. Bought some energy drink on the High Street, and tried to get in a relaxed frame of mind for the run. It actually went pretty well, though I had to hold back on the vocal delivery, which affected the energy of my performance, but I got from start to finish without too much difficulty, much to my relief. Matthew (Aguecheek) was all over the place...three late entries, or entries from the wrong side of the stage. He seems more interested in grabbing his cigarette breaks between scenes than he does in serving the play. A bit worrying! Got home at 1130 and had a soak in the bath before falling into bed.

Monday 16th May 2022

Woke at around 0630. Got up and made myself a mug of tea, and prepared a packed lunch. Headed south toward Charlton, stopping there for petrol, before driving on to Tunbridge Wells. Spent most of the day in and around the town, having my lunch in the car on a 60s era Council estate. Aki phoned to say that her brother-in-law, Noburu, has been diagnosed with lung cancer...he's been a long time smoker. Hopefully they've caught it early...he's due an operation next month to remove a portion of one lung. Ended inspections at 1530ish in Horsemonden, a little village to the east of Tunbridge Wells, then drove to Stoke Newington, getting there around 1715, which gave me time to visit Sutton's fish & chip shop...I ate in the theatre bar area. The tech started at around 1830...it was a long slog. I tired around 2200, and struggled to get through it, but we finally finished at about midnight, and i drove home. Aki already in bed. I worked a bit on my script and had a soak in the bath, getting to bed a little before 0200...

Sunday 15th May 2022

Woke early and got up to make tea. Had a cooked breakfast to set me up for the day. Didn't go in for 0945, as I needed to allow my voice to warm up gently...did a steam bath over a pan of boiled water. Drove in for about 1030. Bagged a place in the dressing room, and kept myself out of harm's way as much as I could, not wanting to aggravate the hernia repair! We did a speed line run before breaking for a late lunch. Then there was some tweaking of Act 5, before a run of the play at about 1600. Still dropping my lines on the big speeches...though I had gross fatigue to blame on this occassion, but the same bits are looming up at me like icebergs before the Titanic. Only got a couple more days to find a way of rectifying the situation. Other than that, the piece seemed in reasonably good shape. Got home at 2030 and had dinner...Aki had had hers an hour or so earlier. Did some work on the my lines before bath and bed...

Saturday 14th May 2022

Woke early and dozed for a bit before rising and making tea. Planned my route into Kent....need to take in Dartford, Canterbury, and Dover today, as well as a couple of villages on the way back home. We had porridge for breakfast. Set off for the Blackwall Tunnel, then put some petrol in the car at the Sainsburys petrol station in Charlton, before driving onto the first port of call in Dartford. Made a brief detour for a photo op outside No.39 Denver Road, the childhood home of one Sir Michael Jagger. Our journey on to Canterbury was severely delayed by the closure of the M2 between junctions 5 & 6, which meant coming off at junction 4 and finding our way on to the old A2 Watling Street...with several hundred other drivers! Added almost 2 hours to the journey. Stopped in Canterbury for a late lunch at the old goods warehouse at Canterbury rail station, which has been converted into a food hall. Finished in Dover around 1600, then headed back toward several villages around Tunbridge Wells. Stopped at a pub in the village of Frittenden for dinner...Aki had the wild mushroom pie, I had beer battered cod and chips...and very good it was too. Got home around 2215 utterly exhausted. Aki had a bath, but I headed straight to bed. Busy day's rehearsal tomorrow...

Friday 13th May 2022

Alarm at 0730. Aki up and about getting ready to go rowing. She brought me a mug of tea which I enjoyed in bed. Worked at the computer all morning. Aki back in time for lunch. I made a ham salad, with falafel. Did another 3 hours or so at the computer in the afternoon. Aki made a Goan fish curry for dinner. Andy G from work called needing some urgent inspections in Kent on Monday...said I could do some of it, but only the Tunbridge Wells stock, as I needed to be at the theatre for 6pm on Monday. Decided I would drive me and Aki down that way on Saturday, and we could make a day of it...find somewhere nice for lunch. Watched a bit of telly...enjoyed Dominic West in "Ten Percent" doing an actor with stage fright schtick...then went through my lines in the back bedroom before bath and bed.

Thursday 12th May 2022

Alarm at 0730. Too tired to raise myself up much before 0900. Aki brought me a mug of tea. Porridge for breakfast. Booked a room in the Priory Hotel in Bury St Edmunds for tonight. Made myself a packed lunch and hit the road, aiming first for Saffron Walden. Stopped off at Birchanger Green Services station on the M11 for a coffee and some lunch items. Found the road to Saffron Walden was closed for works at Stansted Mountfitchet, so had to take a long diversionary route which eventually brought me to Newport, and then Saffron Walden. Did my inspections, then ate my lunch on a bench on the Common, but it was a bit colder than I'd anticipated. Got my jacket out of the car and had a quick wander round the rather quaint town centre...the central library looks a bit of gem. Received a call from Katrina at Savills to say the Bury St Edmunds job was off, so I managed to cancel my hotel booking, and drove home. Got back around 1600 and did some work at the computer until 1830. No sign of Aki...she had gone off to meet an old friend, Anna, who is over from Spain for a flying visit. So I finished off the apple and parsnip soup for dinner, with some toast, and yoghurt and banana for dessert. Did some work on the script. Aki got back about 2030 having gone to a photography exhibition with Anna, grabbing some dinner in a ramen noodle bar on the way. Bath and bed...

Wednesday 11th May 2022

Woke feeling quite unrefreshed....voice still tired. Took me all day to slowly warm it up. Aki got up and made tea. I got up at 0830 and made myself some porridge. Aki cycled off to rowing club before it started raining. I worked at the computer for most of the morning. Aki returned for an early lunch. I did another hour or so at the computer afterward, and then did some voice exercises and shaved my head, and trimmed my beard. Had a bath. Steamed my vocal chords over a pan of boiled water for five minutes or so. Aki made spaghetti carbonara for dinner...very tasty. Then I loaded the car and drove off to Stoke Newington. Lucky I left in good time, as the traffic was terrible. The run went pretty well, though I had a couple of major dries in the long scene in the second half....but my energy came good, and my voice warmed up nicely over the course of the show, so came away with more pluses than minuses. Stopped behind for change to do a bit of socialising with my cast members, before driving back home. Got in around 2330. Aki already in bed in reading. I stayed up for a bit and went over the dodgy speeches with a cup of mint tea in hand.

Tuesday 10th May 2022

Fitful night's sleep. Got up at 0815 and prepared a packed lunch. Did a couple of hours on the computer writing up what I'd seen yesterday, then headed south of the river. Colliers Wood was first port of call, so popped in to M&S there for some lunch items, before driving on to Mitcham, Thornton Heath, West Croydon, then down to Kenley, Warlingham, and Felbridge, near East Grinstead. Ate my lunch in the car in a side street in Croydon. Got home at 1915. Aki warmed up the chicken and bean stew for dinner, followed by banana and custard. Worked on my lines in the back bedroom while Aki watched telly. Voice very tired by the end of it. Fell into bed hoping for a restful night prior to tomorrow evening's run of the play...

Monday 9th May 2022

Alarm at 0730. Got up at 0815 and made tea. Porridge for breakfast. Warmed up some soup to take on the road with me. Drove out to Oxford, stopping off at ASDA in High Wycombe to fill up with petrol, and grab a coffee at Next. After Oxford, it was on to Buckingham. I parked up at lunch time a strolled into the quaint town centre. Happened upon a Waitrose, so spent my lunch allowance in there, before driving on to the village of Calvert, and then a long drive to Stevenage. Drove from there straight to rehearsals in Stoke Newington, just finding time to buy a felafel wrap on the High Street before rehearsal. By the time we got to run from Act 3 Sc 4 unto the end of the play, I was very tired. Struggled with energy and lines, and when Sangita (Maria) cued me up with a line from Act 3 Sc3, I was completely thrown...the stuff of nightmares!!! Notes went on a bit...didn't get home until gone 2300. Had a quick soak in the bath, and then bed...!!!

Sunday 8th May 2022

Woke around 0730. Got up at 0800 and made porridge. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club. I sat down in front of the computer and did some VP research for 3 hours. Arsenal kicking off at home against Leeds at 1400, so decided to head for Stoke Newington a bit earlier than I would ordinarily. Lovely afternoon. Wandered around Church Street looking for somewhere to grab some lunch, and ended up in Leo's caff where I ordered a cheap chicken kebab with rice and salad. Reported for rehearsal at 1400. Worked through the box-tree scene. Got half my cues wrong! Which set me up poorly for the afternoon run....couldn't get my head in to it. Things picked up a bit by the time we hit Act 2, though fell apart again toward the end of Act 3 Sc4. Still, it's all kind of there....just needs a bit more running...I hope! Notes took ages, so didn't get away until 2000. Got home at 2020. Aki cooked teriyaki salmon with rice and aubergine, followed by rhubarb crumble. Watched episode 2 of Ten Percent...Helena Bonham-Carter turned up as herself. Tired, so early to bed...

Saturday 7th May 2022

Woke around 0800. Aki up early to make sushi for the afternoon's hen picnic/evening gathering for Katherine from No.127. I listened to some morning radio. Made a late brunch. Weather not looking too good for a picnic, but Aki headed off to Leicester Square anyway. I worked for most of the afternoon, writing up notes on what I saw yesterday. Nipped out for some onions to make dinner tonight. Made some tagliatelle, and a mushroom and garlic sauce to go with it. Aki got back from the hen do around 1930. Had dinner, then watched the final of Young Dancer of the Year...what a treat! The young traditional Indian dancer won it, but she showed she can dance modern contemporary too....should go far. All of them were terrific, and the show finished on a high with a great ensemble piece. Can't wait for 2023!

Friday 6th May 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730. Rolled out of bed and made tea. Porridge for breakfast. Heated up some soup to take on my journey, and bagged one of the sushi trays we bought last night. Got out of the house around 0930, and drove to Sainsburys in Manor House to fill up with petrol, then made for the M1. Stopped off at Toddington Service station to buy some lunch items, then it was on to Milton Keynes, my first port of call on a long day. Took the A5 toward Coventry...took about half an hour to crawl through Towcester...then on to inspections in Keresley, Exhall, Bedworth and Nuneaton. Had my lunch sitting in the car on a side street in Bulkington. Finished in Nuneaton about 1600...the traffic was dreadful, so I was glad to get back on M1. Last port of call was Kempston, a suburb of Bedford. Got home at 1900 after doing 260 miles! Exhausted. Aki had cooked chicken and chorizo with white beans and tomato, followed by rhubarb crumble and mango ice cream. Aki had a zoom meeting at 2000. I wanted to listen to Sunderland's play-off tie with Sheffield Wednesday, but couldn't find it. Kept an eye out on the live text feed. Did some lines, concentrating on the long second half section. In bed by 2200!

Thursday 5th May 2022

Woke around 0630 for some reason...dozed until the alarm went off at 0730, then listened to the radio until 0830. Got up and made porridge. Worked at the computer all morning. Aki popped out to Waitrose for some bits and pieces, then came back and made a pumpkin soup which we had for lunch. Worked at the computer all afternoon. Broke at 1745 for dinner. We finished off the aubergine baclava I made last weekend. Wandered over to No.36 to see if Jane and Carlos were ready, but they were finishing eating, so we Aki and I went ahead, catching the No.43 bus in Holloway Road. Got off outside Jackson's Lane Theatre, opposite Highgate tube station. Wanted to get there early enough to take a quick look at the refurbishment, but part of the venue was being used as a polling station, so I couldn't access much. The entrance has been moved, and the cafe area is still pretty similar to before. A lift has been put in, which has reduced some of the foyer space. Jane and Carlos caught us up, and we had time for a quick chat in the cafe. There's new seating in the auditorium, and a slightly steeper rake, which made for a good view. We had come to see a show by renowned Spanish clown, Leandre, who usually performs solo, but has formed a quintet of talented compradres. It was a delightfully creative hour and ten minutes, involving doors, sofas, kitchen utensils, raining doorkeys, aerial work and bags of invention. A real treat. We wandered back down the A1 afterward to investigate a Japanese deli we'd noticed on previous drive-bys. We popped in and came out with mango ice cream balls wrapped in rice dough, and two half-price sushi boxes for lunch tomorrow! Got home and caught up with the MasterChef final...Eddie Scott, a very talented young fella from Humberside, took the crown. It was a lacrimose edition!!!

Wednesday 4th May 2022

Woke around 0730. Got up to make tea, and listened to the radio in bed until 0900. AKi cycled off to Hackney and the rowing club. I worked at the computer until about 1130. The biker tee-shirt I'd ordered from Amazon turned up...it fitted well, so Sir Toby can wear it at the fitting this evvening. Popped out to the Pound shop to get a butter brush to use in the next run to flick 'holy water' at Malvolia. Wandered up to The Green Room for a coffee, and bumped into Angharad, one of the Tower AD's. It transpired she was working at the surgery on Holloway Road...she's a community psychiatric nurse. I assumed therefore that she lived locally, but no, she lives in Tooting! I had a coffee and a cinnamon bun at the cafe, then walked home, Aki had gotten back by the time I got in. She prepared some noodle soup for lunch. I got back in front of the computer for the afternoon. Broke at 1730 for dinner...tortelloni with a butter sauce, mushrooms, and some veg on the side. By the time I drove off to Stoke Newington, it had started raining. Had a fitting in wardrobe for a pair of jeans, and a denim jacket. My new tee-shirt got the thumbs up. Did some fight rehearsal in the Smith studio...Nic, who plays Antonio, managed to pull a calf muscle, so that put the mockers on things....hope he's fit for the next run on Sunday! Got home about 2030. Watched MasterChef, then listened to the last few minutes of the Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid and Man City...Real scored twice in the last 2 minutes to take the tie to extra time, and scraped a win with an extra time penalty....cruel on Man City!

Tuesday 3rd May 2022

Woke at 0730. Got up and made tea, which we drank in bed listening to the radio, then up to make porridge. Worked at the computer most of the morning, breaking to make lunch at 1300. Went over my lines for the mammoth Act 3 Sc2, which got away from me a bit in the run last night. Feedback from the three or four bods (wardrobe and sound) who came to see it was good...one of them said it was much funnier than he'd envisaged, and that the Shakespearean lingo came across with clarity. It needs fore-shortening, though! More work at the computer this afternoon. Bad news from the valuation team negotiating our freehold purchase...the freeholder's team are asking for an extra £15,000 to reflect hope value in respect of a possible roof garden! Fortunately for us, it will be linked to the value of the upper maisonette...unfortunately, however, it looks as though it will mean the upstairs neighbour pulling out of the purchase! See what happens...I've urged her to give our valuer a bell tomorrow. It seems Jim has been speaking out of turn...he intimated last night that the Hagues were planning to come down to see Twelfth Night, but Kath says Dad feels he's too old to make the trek...can't say I blame him! Warmed up the last of the Goan fish curry for dinner, and watched a bit of telly. Gave "Undone", an interestingly put together anime...the second season has been getting good reviews, but we've begun at the beginning. Did some more lines before bath and bed...

Monday 2nd May 2022

Fitful night's sleep. Eventually hauled myself out of bed around 0930. Porridge for breakfast. Did a slow vocal warm up...voice seems in reasonable condition after yesterday's excesses in song rehearsal. Phoned Kath, who was on her way to Berwick on the train. Phoned mum, who sounded in good fettle...they are excited to have Bruno Guimarres, the new Newcastle mid-field dynamo, as a neighbour in the £1.2m house across the road!!! Jim will be hovering around in the front garden, no doubt. Did some line work in the back bedroom before lunch...Aki warmed up the aubergine baclava. She made me some soup for me to take to rehearsal today. Set off for Stoke Newington at 1415...called Jim on the hands-free...he corrected me...it's Joelinton, not Guimarres, who has moved in opposite ma and pa. Still, pretty extraordinary...why on earth would he want to spend that amount of money to live on High View!? Jim said he and the clan were determined to come down to see Twelfth Night...bit of a blinkin' trek for ma and pa...but it's been awhile since they saw me tread the boards, so I guess it makes sense...it will be good to see them. Rehearsal went OK. Did the party song, and the drunken party scene, as well as the Sir Topas scene, then broke to swallow some soup before the run at 1900. First half was in great shape...second half less so, with people dropping their lines in ever increasing numbers as the play progressed...probably put half-an-hour on the projected running time!!! Got home exhausted at 2230. Aki ran a bath...

Sunday 1st May 2022

Slow start...lay in for a bit, but eventually got up and cooked breakfast. Drove over to Stoke Newington around 1230, lugging various bits and pieces with me, the cajon, my mandolin, and a tambourine. Rehearsed the box-tree scene, which is getting there...still trying to match lines to bits of comic business, but it felt we made progress. A long rehearsal of Act 4 Sc3, which feels like a whole play within a play...first I taunt Malvolia, then get Sir Andrew to draw up a challenge for a duel, then manipulate Viola into agreeing to take on Sir Andrew in said duel. I was knackered before the end of it, losing my lines as my brain turned to mush...hopefully tomorrow's run will hold together better. Then I had to teach everyone the finale song...fortunately Tamara the composer came in to watch, so I could defer to her from time to time. Got it into a vaguely stage-able state, and we tried it with instruments. It needs work, but we've made a start at last. Got home just after 1900, exhausted. Aki had cooked stuffed cabbage in a broth with new potatoes, and had made individual trifles...we had our trifle on the sofa watching the ever inspiring BBC Young Dancers of the Year going through their paces...some of them reduced us to tears, and the tissues got handed round. Watched "Ten Percent", Amazon's British version of "Call My Agent", the French production which took off during lockdown. It was good...some nice performances, and looks to be worth persevering with...

Saturday 30th April 2022

Woke around 0800. Dozed for a bit before leaping out of bed to cook breakfast...made corned beef hash fritters, which we had with poached eggs, salad and a tomato sauce. Aki went off to meet her client in Balham, to take some photos of the completed refurbishment. I did an hour or so's work at the computer. Walked up to Big Jo's for lunch...a pizza slice and a decaff latte. It was 1430 and the place was packed! Wandered to the Turkish shop to get some dates to put in my aubergine baclava. Developing into a glorious day. The baclava took time to put together, griddling slices of aubergine, then buttering and layering the filo pastry...Aki came home and interrupted my efforts, but I got it in the oven, and boiled some vegetables to have on the side. Made six portions, so that should keep us going for most of next week! Bon Maman creme brulee for dessert. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...