Friday 30th September 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730, but too tired to rise much before 0930. Got up and made porridge for breakfast. Aki at the computer so I planned dinner, and popped out to Tesco to get some ingredients to make a pumpkin and spinach lasagna. Internet connection very poor for some reason....tried to do some work but connection kept dropping off, so gave up! Cooked up the pumpkin to make a sauce later. Aki made leek and potato soup for lunch. Aki got on to Vodafone, but it appears there is a problem that ain't gonna get fixed quickly...BT Openreach apparently working on it...jeez...I might have to go into the office to work! Managed to get a couple of hours done before breaking to make dinner...a caramelised pumpkin and spinach lasagna. It looked good, but tasted a bit disappointing...not as good as the spinach lasagna I made for mum and dad in August, but will give it another go at some point, I'm sure. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

Thursday 29th September 2022

Alarm at 0730. Got up around 0815 and made tea. Porridge for breakfast. Day at the computer...needed to get figures to Andy G by close of play. Broke for lunch...Aki put together a ham salad. Ma and Kath FaceTimed mid-afternoon. Emma has abandoned her bid for London Marathon glory this coming weekend, but apparently has been feeling better, thanks to a nasal spray that Jim came across online, which seems to have eased her headaches. Got my figures out by 1730. Did a little voice work before dinner...Aki cooked up some trout, which she served with cous-cous and a white sauce. Drove off to rehearsal in Stoke Newington...worked the second half of Act I...looks to be shaping up well. Photographer came in toward the end of the session to take a few posed shots for publicity purposes...I posed in cycling helmet, wielding my bicycle pump. Got home around 2200 in time for more depressing News. Bath and bed...

Wednesday 28th September 2022

Woke to the alarm at 0730...Aki got up to prepare to head for the Rowing Club. I dozed for half an hour or so...got up and made porridge. Aki cycled off, and I got my act together...working on foot today in central London, so had to plan my route with military precision...it's going to be a long day! Got a bus to Finsbury Park, then the tube to Euston. Then walked for six hours, in a big figure of eight, taking in Kings Cross, Clerkenwell, Holborn, Covent Garden, before heading to Charlotte Street for lunch at Mowgli. Found myself outside Great Ormond Street hospital at one point, and came across a little garden where the ashes of former PM Jim Callaghan and his wife are buried...beneath a statue of Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, commemorating the fact that J M Barrie signed over all royalties from Peter Pan to the hospital. Then on to Fitzrovia, before getting a bus to Marylebone for the final visit. Got home about 1630 and did some work at the computer while Aki tried her hand at homemade gnocchi...we ate them with a mushroom sauce and parmesan cheese. Watched a bit of telly before shower and bed...

Tuesday 27th September 2022

Woke around 0800, feeling very weary and unrefreshed. Got up and prepared a packed lunch. Porridge for breakfast. I was just about to head out the door when I received an email asking me to get figures out for the stock I was still looking at, so decided to work at that from home today...the packed lunch was put in the fridge. Aki was working at the desktop, so I worked on my laptop at the dining table. Broke for lunch, and phoned a voice coach...Valerie Coglan used to run the theatre courses at the City Lit many moons ago, and as I recognised her name on the Spotlight directory, I gave her a call...it transpires that she's not far away, which was good, and we arranged a session for the coming Saturday afternoon. Worked through the afternoon, breaking for dinner at 1800...cooked up the pre-made moussaka that was sitting in the freezer...it wasn't bad, though I think I prefer Tesco's Finest version. Drove over to Stoke Newington for rehearsals...we worked through the first two thirds of Act I, and people are generally off book now, so it's beginning to shape up. Got home at 2220. Aki ran a bath...then fell into bed!

Monday 26th September 2022

Woke to alarm at 0700. Aki got up to get ready for tennis in Finsbury Park. Porridge for breakfast. Aki cycled off with her tennis racquet, and I headed out for inspections in various parts of London...stopped off at Morrisons in Stratford and bought some odds and ends. Ate my lunch in the car underneath the railway bridge at Wanstead Park. Ventured further eastward to Rainham, before turning back for Hackney, and Kings Cross. Got home around 1715. Worked at the computer until breaking for dinner...Aki cooked tarragon chicken which we had with orzo and vegetables, followed by apple crumble and cream. Watched a fascinating BBC4 documentary charting the history and culture of Persia, then caught the final 30 minutes of the England v Germany game, which finished a frantic 3-3 draw. 

Sunday 25th September 2022

Got up and made potato cakes to have with our breakfast. My voice was not in good shape, so I warned the director I'd be late getting in this morning, as I tried, fairly vainly, to warm the cords up. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club. I cycled off, arriving at the theatre an hour late, but just in time for my Act I entrance. I had been preparing for Act II, and hadn't revised these bits, but most of it seemed to have been retained in my memory banks. We broke for lunch and I popped out to pick up a coffee from Pret. Ate my packed lunch in the theatre bar with the rest of the cast. Phil looked surprisingly spritely, bearing in mind his punk band had had a gig in Newcastle last night!!! Managed to just about get my voice through the afternoon, though felt very weary. Cycled home, getting in around 1630. Aki wasn't in, as she had partaken of the Sussex Way street party, so I grabbed the opportunity for a lie down in a darkened room for half an hour. Warmed up the remains of the aubergine and tomato curry, with rice, dahl and chapatis. watched a bit of telly before showering and bed...

Saturday 24th September 2022

Got up and made breakfast, utilising the leftover chips from Thursday night. Combined them with some mashed potato and broccoli to make tasty potato cakes. I did a bit of work at the computer. Aki cycled off to see some furniture design at TwentyTwenty-one's warehouse in Angel, and cycled home via the fishmonger on Essex Road. I did a bit of vacuuming and tidying up prior to our guest arriving. Marianne came round at 1800...we were to accompany her to the Hope Theatre, where she'd been involved in re-choreographing Bob's one man show, "Oh Suburbia!". Aki cooked up a tasty salmon teriyaki, which we had with rice, miso aubergine, and miso soup, followed by my English apple crumble and cream. We walked down Hornsey Road, and got a bus outside the University on Holloway Road...but missed our stop, and had to jog back up Upper Street from St Mary's church. Got to the theatre with two minutes to spare. Bob's partner, Natasha, took our tickets. This was the third time we'd seen the show...it had a bit more technical nous than previous incarnations, but the sound equipment in there was poor, and Bob's voice projection swamped a bit at times by his instrumentation. The theatre space is above the Hope & Anchor in Upper Street, a famous pub rock venue, and the band in the basement were causing the floorboards to vibrate! We had a quick drink with Bob and Tash after the show, then walked home...

Friday 23rd September 2022

Got up around 0700 and did a bit of work at the computer before breakfast. Drove up the M1, stopping at Gateway Services for a coffee, to undertake inspections in Chesham and Amersham. Stopped for lunch at Sainsburys in Chesham town centre, purchasing a sandwich which I ate on a bench in Lowndes Park, watching the Canada geese by the pond. Drove for home around 1530....stopped to field a call from Kath...she'd had a good time in Whitby, and seems to have a busy working weekend ahead of her. She said that Emma had been ill, and was probably not going to be running the London Marathon next weekend, after all. Jim has been undertaking nursing duties, apparently. Aki cooked up an aubergine and tomato curry, with a lentil dahl, homemade chapatis, and yoghurt. Watched a bit of telly before shower and bed...

Thursday 22nd September 2022

Another day in the saddle. Did a large circular route today, starting in Camden, then heading out toward Kilburn, and Brondesbury. Broke for lunch in Sainsburys car park in Queens Park. Then turned southward along the A3 to Surbiton, before heading north-east to Camberwell. Traffic in the area was in gridlock, so decided to head for home. Got home around 1700. Aki set off for Kings Cross to meet up with a former colleague who had come over from Geneva, and a couple of other former Kajima employees. I drove over to Stoke Newington. Bought chicken and mushroom pie and chips for dinner at Suttons on the High Street, which I ate at the theatre. Managed to haul my voice through rehearsals...middle section of Act II. Got home around 2200. Aki got in around 2300...one of the party had offered to pay for everyone, so they'd gone mad and had three courses, and champagne. 

Wednesday 21st September 2022

Woke around 0700 and dozed until the alarm went off at 0730. Aki up and at 'em...she needed to get ready to cycle off to Canvey Island for a site visit with architects Helen and Martin. She brought me tea in bed, then I rose and made a porridge bowl for breakfast. Aki cycled off with her packed lunch...they are putting their bikes on the train at Upper Holloway, then cycling to the shopping centre site at the other end. i headed west in the motor to do more inspections in Chesham and Amersham. Stopped at London gateway on the M1 for a coffee, and had my lunch in the Tesco car park in Amersham Old Town. Didn't manage to get it all done, so will have to return on Friday! Turned the car around and headed home via the A41, the M25, the M1, and the A1...got home at 1830. Aki already back after her trek...she cooked a speedy pasta carbonara, and we tried her freshly made apple chutney with some cheese and biscuits for afters...very good! Watched Louise Doughty's "Crossfire"...nail-biting drama based on the Tunisian hotel terrorist attack! Aki spent most of the first episode hiding behind me!

Tuesday 20th September 2022

Woke at 0330....took a little while nodding back off. Alarm at 0800. Aki brought me a mug of tea. Got up and had porridge for breakfast. Worked at the computer for a bit, then took a break to do a bit of vocal work ahead of tonight's rehearsal. Headed out on inspections at 1130, driving east to Manor House to stick some petrol in the motor, and then doubling back to Camden. Picked up a sushi platter in Waitrose for lunch, which I ate in the car. Ended my tour in Kensal Town, then headed back home. Aki warmed up the sausage and plum bake that had been sitting in the fridge. Cycled off to Stoke Newington for rehearsals...met up with Phil for a brief chat to put my concerns to him, and we agreed to revisit the situation after Sunday's rehearsal. I did my own vocal warm up, but it didn't improve matters much. Managed to squeak through this evening's work, and cycled home in the dark. Got in around 2200. Watched a bit of News before bath and bed...

Monday 19th September 2022

Woke at 0230 worrying about the state of my vocal cords. Eventually managed to nod back off again. Woke again at 0730. Aki got up and brought me tea in bed. Porridge for breakfast. Turned the telly on to watch proceedings from central London as the Royal Family put on a stunning show for the Queen's state funeral. Watched the procession from Westminster Hall to the Abbey, and the mourners amassing in the aisles. Listened to the service...one or two stunningly sung oratories from the choir, and a moving lament from a bag piper before the coffin was processed up Whitehall to Buckingham Palace, and transferred into a hearse for the journey to Windsor. Managed a bit of work after lunch at the computer, occassionally dipping in to the procession through Windsor Great Park and the intimate service in St George's Chapel where the wand of office was broken in half and placed on the coffin. Another moving Scottish lament followed. Sent Phillip the director an email suggesting I may have to pull the plug on Brevis, as my voice is spiralling out of control...I fear a nodule is on the cards! Rang ma and pa to see how they were getting on...they had been watching proceedings, like us. Beef and red wine pie for dinner, followed by the last of the pear tatin. Watched A Bout de Souffle in honour of the recently departed Jean Luc Goddard. No reply from Phillip...

Sunday 18th September 2022

Fitful night's sleep. Aki brought tea. Got up around 0800. Aki cooked breakfast, then I cycled off to Stoke Newington for rehearsals. Chained the bike up outside the theatre, and wandered round to Pret to pick up a coffee. Worked the beginning of Act I in the morning session...slow going. I tried to do it without book in hand, and just about got away with it. Broke for lunch at 1230. I had some of Aki's garlic and almond soup with a hunk of bread, followed by a clementine, and a croissant. Worked over Act I a couple more time this afternoon...my voice was struggling at the end...I could hear/feel it going as I sung my brief song at the end of Act I. If I come down with a cold, or worse, I am done for!!! Cycled home. Aki was in the front garden as I rolled up on my bike, having been sorting out yesterday's garden centre purchases. Had a soak in the bath. Finished off the parmigiana lasagne for dinner, followed by pear tart tatin and the last of the ice cream from the freezer. Watched some telly, which was interrupted by the doorbell shortly after the 2 minutes silence for the Queen...it was Kate from No.87 with a bagful of cooking apples she'd purloined from a friend's orchard out Amersham way. Apple crumble in the offing...

Saturday 17th September 2022

Woke around 0830. Got up and made tea, and went back to bed again. Eventually rose around 1000 and I cooked a breakfast with poached eggs and parma ham. Drove over to Camden Garden Centre early afternoon...Aki bought a couple of pot plants...and a couple of pots. Got her back in time for a 1515 appointment at the optician's on Holloway Road to have her blocked ear cleansed. I drove on to Waitrose and did a little shopping. 

Back home, Aki made a garlic and almond soup, before we headed for Finsbury Park to get a tube to Notting Hill. Had dinner at Eat Tokyo, then walked the short distance to The Coronet Theatre to see Ambiguous Dance Company, a Korean contemporary dance troupe, as part of the venue's current Korean arts season. They entered to a thumping soundtrack, and gave an extraordinarily varied performance encompassing ballet, breakdance, contemporary, folk, and acrobatics...we were exhausted just watching! A full house gave them a rousing reception at the curtain call. Got home around 2130. Watched a bit of MOTD before bath and bed...

Friday 16th September 2022

Woke at 0715. Got up and made tea. Sat at the computer for an hour or so. Breakfasted on porridge, then drove the car round to KwikFit in Camden Road...but they were under-staffed, and suggested I try the Tottenham Hale branch. I left it with them and wandered around the new development at Tottenham Hale...a little town seems to be going up, slowly but surely...looks quite good, as these things go. Nice new rail station. Had a coffee and a bap at Costa, then rummaged around in B&Q on the Hale Retail Park. Got back to KwikFit about 1130 to discover they hadn't changed the tyre...they'd had a look at it and couldn't find anything wrong, but I insisted it had a slow puncture, and got them to put a new tyre on...better safe than sorry! Drove home in time for lunch...we put together a salmon salad. Worked the afternoon at the computer, breaking at 1800. Aki cooked dinner...sausage and plum tray bake with cannellini beans, followed by her marvellous homemade pear tarte tatin, which we ate with ice cream...delicious! Watched "The Incredibles", an incredibly silly pixar movie executed with great skill and imagination. An early night followed...

Thursday 15th September 2022

Woke at 0730...seems to have become a habit, as we haven't been using the alarm. Made tea, and did a bit of work at the computer before breakfast, and putting together a packed lunch. Headed back north-westward, up the M1. Got a warning light on my dash stating that my right rear tyre was losing pressure...stopped at Gateway Services...it looked OK, but I wanted to check it on the air pressure machine at the petrol station...unfortunately, there was a lorry parked there unloading stuff for the forecourt shop, so I risked it and found a petrol station as I headed in to Hemel Hempstead. I was surprised the psi was down to 20...it should be at 35. Pumped the tyre up, and went on my way. Had lunch in the car park at the new Sainsburys in Aylesbury. Drove on to Amersham Old Town, which looks very monied...lovely High Street! Then across to High Wycombe, before ending up on a Council Estate in Beaconsfield. The low tyre pressure warning came on again, and I had to stop at a garage in Beaconsfield to put more air in the tyre. Got home in one piece, but traffic was dreadful...only had time to stick my head in at home...Aki passed me a 'bento box' of rice and salmon. I drove on to Stoke Newington, and ate my dinner sat in the motor outside the theatre. Sean didn't turn up for rehearsal this evening...domestic emergency. Gave Julia a lift to Finsbury Park station, and dropped Pablo, the assistant director, off near the Holloway Odeon. Got in around 2200 and caught the news before bath and bed...

Wednesday 14th September 2022

Woke at 0730. Got up and made tea. Had breakfast at the computer, writing up some of what I'd inspected yesterday. Ventured out to look at stock in Camden before heading up to Harrow, then Watford. Stopped for a coffee break at Camden Garden Centre, which now sports a rather trendy cafe-cum-bookshop. Had my lunch in the car park of a large Garden Centre on the outskirts of Watford, and used their facilities. From North Watford I drove east to Potters Bar, before turning north-west to Harpenden, and back to Redbourn and St Albans. Redbourn High Street is quite pretty...don't think I've driven along it before. Finished in Park Street, then headed home. Got in around 1900. Aki had made a tasty aubergine parmigiana for dinner. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

Tuesday 13th September 2022

Woke around 0730. Got up and made tea. Did some work at the computer while I ate breakfast. Put together a packed lunch. Headed out northward, starting with inspections in Islington before gravitating toward Enfield, and from thence up to Waltham Cross. Had my lunch in the car on a leafy street in Cheshunt, before heading for Hoddesdon, then up to Buntingford, before turning back south-westward to Welwyn. Stopped off at Pearce's Farm Shop and bought a couple of frozen ready meals to bung in the freezer. Got home around 1730. Aki cooked dinner, then I drove over to Stoke Newington in the drizzle. Rehearsed more of Act II this evening...felt a bit weary after doing 120 miles in the car. Gave Julia and Sean a lift to Finsbury Park station, as the rain was still coming down. Got home around 2230.

Monday 12th September 2022

Woke at 0730. Got up and put the telly on so we could watch the final sets of the US Open Final. Made porridge and tea. Watched the extraordinary Carlos Alcaraz win the first of many Grand Slam titles...great scenes as he found his way through the crowds to reach his team...the guy is going to boss the next 20 years!!! Fielded a couple of telephone calls for work, then had lunch...Aki made a tasty cold noodle salad with sesame sauce. She managed to drag me out for a constitutional...we walked up Highgate Hill, and had a rest on a bench in Waterlow Park, before heading back home. Managed a couple of hours work at the computer ahead of inspections in Hertfordshire tomorrow. Aki cooked dinner...Moroccan lemon chicken. Very tasty! Watched a bit of telly...interesting C4 discussion on the future of the monarchy with various interesting contributors, such as the 89 year old Joan Bakewell, who's still got all her marbles. Phoned High View to see how pa had gotten on at the Freeman Hospital...it transpires that the consultant reckons his left hip ain't nowhere near as bad as his right hip was when it was replaced two years ago...and it was felt that the risks of undergoing surgery outweighed the benefit...so dad now reckons it's pure sciatic pain down that side, rather than anything to do with the arthritis in the hip. More thought needed on the conundrum, and he has another appointment in six months time. It also transpired that he'd been holding his walking stick on the wrong side...it should be in his right hand, allowing him to put his weight through the right side and take the pressure off the left hip a bit...

Sunday 11th September 2022

Alarm at 0730. Got up and made tea. Porridge for breakfast. Prepared myself a packed lunch to take to rehearsals. Cycled off at 0930 for Stoke Newington...Aki wasn't far behind me, on her way to Rowing Club. I got to the theatre in good time, and chained my bike up outside the theatre. Walked round to Pret a Manger to get a takeaway coffee. Full complement of players this morning. Pablo lead a brief getting-to-everyone's-name warm exercise. Jean Carr and her assistant Emma came to watch...they are doing the costumes. Worked our way through Act I then broke for lunch. Ate my ham and cheese salad upstairs in the bar area...a few people about, as the theatre opened it's doors as part of the Open House weekend. Don't think many punters turned up, though. Re-visited the first half of Act II after lunch...Jean brought us some props to play with...I had to hold up a three-pronged candelabra for the first five minutes...gave me arm ache! Repaired to The Axe, the public house next door, to mark our director's birthday...I managed to escape after half-an-hour, and cycled home. Aki cooked up a tomato and aubergine curry for dinner, with rice, and dahl on the side. Margaret from next door popped over to bring Aki a bottle of wine in gratitude for watering her plants while she was away in New Zealand. Ma and pa FaceTimed after dinner...dad due to go see his hip specialist tomorrow...fingers-crossed he'll get moved up the waiting list a bit. Watched the first two sets of the men's US Open Final between Casper Ruud and Carlos Alcaraz...hit the pause button at one set a piece.

Saturday 10th September 2022

Woke around 0700 and got up to watch the Alcaraz v Tiafoe semi-final. Porridge for breakfast. As the game reached 2 sets a piece, we put the telly on pause and nipped up to Yerbury Farmer's Market to get our favoured square tin sourdough loaf, then scurried home to watch the final set. Alcaraz had a bit too much left in the locker for the older American, and advances to the Final to face Casper Ruud. Should be a compelling match! I put together a tasty ham salad lunch. Did a bit of DIY and put up the solar-powered motion sensor lamp on the front elevation. Hope it doesn't annoy Lynne upstairs...we'll see how we get once darkness falls... Out for dinner at Girasole with Jane and Carlos from No.36. They walked us round. Food was a bit disappointing. I had gnocchi and squash for my first course, which was OK, but the second course of osso buco wasn't good....tough piece of meat, no flavour...too much garlic. The gnocchetti and ice cream dessert was fab, though! Home in time to watch the Women's US Open Final....Swiatek took it in two sets from an under par Ons Jabeur. 

Friday 9th September 2022

Woke around 0730...after a nightmare in which Father Christmas appeared to me dressed in black with a disturbing black face mask...woke myself (and Aki) up shouting in horror! Got up and stuck the TV on to watch the Women's Semi-final...Iga Swiatek lurched awkwardly past Sabalenka, and will meet Ons Jabeur in the Final. Managed a couple of hours work at the computer before lunch. Aki popped out to see the GP about on-going sinus problems, and came back with a nasal spray. She put together a ham salad lunch. Did some more work at the computer this afternoon. Watched a wee speech by King Charles paying tribute to his mother's years of service, and a bit of the Service of Thanksgiving for Liz at St Paul's. Aki cooked up a carbonara for dinner. Watched Casper Ruud beat that Karen fella to make it to the US Open Final. The game featured an extraordinary 55 shot rally!

Thursday 8th September 2022

Woke around 0730 and got up at 0800. Made tea. Turned the telly on hoping to watch the final Men's Quarterfinal, but the replay wasn't ready to roll, so stuck on the Swiatek v Pegula Women's Quarterfinal instead. Set about work at the computer. Put the Alcaraz v Sinner Quarterfinal on mid morning, and let it roll whilst at my work station. Broke for lunch...made a tasty salad with thyme stuffed pork. The Men's Quarterfinal went into a fifth set, becoming the second longest match in US Open history, the young Carlos Alcaraz winning through in a very tight, breath taking match. Finished work just before 1800....friends on FaceBook seemed to know something concerning the health of good Queen Bess, so I turned the News on...her death was duly affirmed, only two days after she'd received a visit from our new PM. The nation will now be plunged into days of mourning. I didn't know she was a direct descendant of Mary Queen of Scots! We are now living in a new Carolian Age. Momentous happenings! It means she'll miss the US Open finals!!! All TV channels channelling the nation's grief, so turned off after dinner...warmed up the remains of the fish curry, which we had with rice, dahl, and roti. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

Wednesday 7th September 2022

Woke around 0800. Got up and turned the telly on to watch last night's match, Kyrgios v a bloke called Karen...Karen won a tight, gripping game, and goes through to a semi-final against Casper Ruud. Porridge for breakfast. Got down to uploading two day's worth of inspection photos, and writing up notes. Broke for lunch. We had the ham and cheese quiche from Gail's Bakery, with a bountiful salad. More work this afternoon. Left off at 1830 to catch a bit of TV News. Aki cooked tarragon chicken for dinner, which we had with orzo and green beans, followed by ginger biscuits and ice cream. Watched Tiafoe win through against an out of sorts Andrey Rublev...the first American to get to the semi-finals since Andy Roddick in 2003. Did a bit of work on my lines before shower and bed...

Tuesday 6th September 2022

Woke around 0800. Got up and made tea. Porridge for breakfast. Put together a salmon salad lunch box and headed out east again. Stopped in Manor House top get petrol, and bought some lunch items in Sainsbury's, before heading for Brentwood and a coffee stop. Got to Chelmsford around 1145. Broke for lunch in Tesco's car park. Finished the working day in Great Leighs, which lies somewhere between Chelmsford and Braintree. Heavy downpour on the M11 which made driving conditions very difficult...a lot of spray from the vehicles in front of me. Got home around 1930 just in time for dinner. Aki had cooked up a mushroom and anchovy pasta sauce, followed by two of her freshly baked ginger crunch biscuits sandwiching some ice cream. Yum! Had a badly needed soak in the bath. Reluctantly watched The News...half of it about Truss's accession to the PM post. Fed up with her already!!! Early night...

Monday 5th September 2022

Woke around 0730 and got up to turn the telly on. Watched Dan Evans go out to Berretini...love watching Dan, though...you can almost hear him thinking about each point. Drove eastward, back to Chelmsford. Stopped off in Brentwood to pick up a coffee and some lunch items from M&S. Broke for lunch by driving back to Writtle and having my soup on a bench overlooking the duck pond on The Green. Included a couple of internal inspections...on my last one, I went up to take a look at the bathroom furniture only to find a snow white cat sitting in the wash hand basin! I told the tenant I'd spotted a snow leopard. Got home around 1930. Aki had cooked up a Goan fish curry for dinner, which we ate with rice and roti. Watched Nadal go out to Francis Tiafoe in four sets...Rafa evidently struggling with his various injuries, but sad to see him go out. Had a shower. It poured with rain just as we were preparing for bed...thunder and lightning!

Sunday 4th September 2022

Woke early. Got up and tuned in to some tennis from the US Open, then put together a late brunch of salmon and poached eggs with fried potato cakes. Kath phoned around noon...she was preparing for a week's break in Whitby with Stuart. They are driving down tomorrow. Hope the weather holds for them. I cycled over to Stoke Newington for rehearsal. Got there early so I had time to grab a coffee and a bun from the Yellow Warbler cafe across the road. Got into the theatre to find a couple of blokes rigging up some sound baffling in the bar area...strong smell of adhesive, but I could detect a difference already...it is notoriously noisy in the bar if it's full and everyone is talking at once. Good move. Now they need some sound insulation in the theatre to keep out the sound of the traffic in Northwold Road. Met Sean (Arnold), and Tony (Clem), and assistant director, Pablo. We waited for a couple of the girls to turn up...Julia (Jess) showed, but Sophia (Grace, I think) didn't show. We ploughed through several sections of Act II, blocking out some basic moves based on Phillip's crude set design. Finished around 1600...picked up a text message from Aki saying she'd been assaulted in the street! Cycled straight home. Transpired she was harangued by a drugged up woman in Holloway Road who accused Aki of stalking her...Aki tried to escape by seeking shelter in a hairdresser's but the woman followed her in and made a grab for Aki's arm before Aki managed to escape. She was a bit shaken up, but otherwise OK...a bit bruised on her upper arm. Called ma and pa via FaceTime. They looked in fine fettle. Aki made a Greek lemon and egg soup and cooked some tortelloni in it...very tasty dinner. Watched a bit of telly before shower and bed...

Saturday 3rd September 2022

Got up around 0730 and switched the telly on to catch up with Serena’s 3rd round match with Tomljanovic…made tea and porridge. It was an extraordinary match, but Serena didn’t have enough in the tank and went down in three sets. Emotional farewells at the end. Spent an hour or so finishing the siliconing to the shower ‘tray’…looks ok…better than Arek’s job! Aki put lunch together. Aki feeling a bit better than she did yesterday, so went out for our constitutional mid afternoon…walked down to Highbury Fields and had an ice cream in the park. Home in time to watch Norrie get safely past a young Danish chap and into the second week. Tried out the shower...first time for a year-and-a-half...the tap is a bit stiff, and may need descaling properly. Lamb shanks for dinner with mash and vegetables. Watched a bit of telly before bed...

Friday 2nd September 2022

Aki woke early, but still not feeling well. I got up and made her some tea and porridge for breakfast. Prepared a packed lunch. Set off for Chelmsford at 0930, heading up the M11 for a pit stop at Birchanger Green service station, then eastward via the A120, before dropping southward to Writtle, a pleasant village to the west of Chelmsford. Stopped for lunch on Writtle village green, and found myself a bench over looking the duck pond. Enjoyed my homemade carrot and lentil soup, and a samosa I'd bought at Waitrose in the service station

Some nice houses surrounding the Green, including Tantrums, which seemed eerily quiet as I walked past! Ended my inspections in Rainsford, a north-western suburb of Chelmsford, then turned for home. Got in around 1930. Aki warmed up the spinach and courgette lasagne for dinner, followed by ice cream and raspberry spoom. Watched both Andy Murray, and Jack Draper, fail to make progress at Flushing Meadows...young Jack was forced to retire in the third set with a groin injury. Aki still feeling under the weather, so got herself an early night. I stayed up and watched The News, and did some work on my lines before bed...

Thursday 1st September 2022

Got up at 0745 and switched on the replay of Serena's match against the No.2 seed...she won it, pretty emphatically in the end, and her march goes on. Aki stopped in bed...she's been complaining of a bit of a sore throat over the last couple of days, though the last Covid test proved negative. Did some work at the computer before breaking for lunch. Made a yellow split pea and carrot soup, which I served up with roti and yoghurt. Took Aki her portion on a tray for her to eat in bed. Nipped out to buy some clear silicon to seal around the bathroom internal window, as water is finding it's way to the sill on the lobby side of the glass. Got some odds and ends in the Tesco Express. Watched Dan Evans' second round match against James Duckworth. Cooked schnitzel for dinner, with poached eggs and mashed potato. Watched a bit more telly before Aki sloped off for an early night. I looked over my lines prior to Sunday afternoon's first rehearsal of Improbable Fiction.

Wednesday 31st August 2022

Got up around 0745. Switched on the telly to watch the replay of Raducanu's first round match at the US Open...the champ went out to a determined Alize Cornet. Stuck Naomi Osaka's game on for Aki to watch, and started doing a bit of tidying up...the flat needs a bit of a clear out before Aki's guest arrives on Saturday. Naomi went out at the first hurdle, too! Oh well. Aki went off to lunch with the JCUK ladies in Kensington. I vacuumed and dusted, and cleaned some of the grubbier looking floorboards in the living-room. Broke for lunch. Did some voice work, then some DIY on the shower room step. Popped out in the car to Waitrose to do a shop. Got back just before Aki returned. Shared a pizza and salad for dinner, followed by creme brulee. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...