Sunday 30th October 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730. Aki put off heading for the Rowing Club, as it was pouring with rain. She made a Spanish omelette for breakfast, by which time the rain was easing off, so I offered to drive her over there...got there just in time for her to join a boat. I drove home via Waitrose, picking up some snacks to take in to the theatre. Came home and grabbed a few props and bits of costume, then drove to Stoke Newington...got there around 1300, by which time I'd conveniently missed the unloading of the van...my hernia repair being my excuse. The set went up very slowly, so we had quite a bit of sitting around to do...did some chores, but nowt excessive...wanted to preserve my energies for later in the week. However, we managed to do some cue-to-cue tech work on both sound and lights come the evening...finished about 2130 and drove home, having been sustained only by a couple of bananas.

Saturday 29th October 2022

Another fitful night's sleep...came up with a Plan B for the quick change, which you really think the costume designer might have come up with...black trousers for both Brevis and the Doctor...then at least I don't have to climb in and out of two pairs of troosers! Dozed to "Saturday Live" on R4 until 1000...Aki cooked breakfast. Decided to go take a look at the re-vamped Battersea Power Station. Took the Victoria Line to Oxford Circus, and then the Bakerloo to Embankment, where we boarded a River Bus to Battersea Power Station. The boat was a bit smaller than we were expecting, and there were no seats when we got on, but a load of people got off at Westminster Pier. The four re-built chimneys rise majestically skyward, having been re-built using exactly the same in situ concrete casting method as used originally in the early 1930s. Inside, the place is basically a large shopping centre on three levels, with a lot of up-market brand names jostling for prominence. There were queues at all the eateries, so we ended up walking back along the south side of the river, stopping at a little coffee joint for coffee and nata, and we picked up a BLT sandwich from a nearby mini-Sainsburys. Got home around 1730. I cooked a Goan fish curry for dinner, which we ate with pilau rice and steamed greens with chilli flakes and peanuts. Watched a bit of telly afore bed...

Friday 28th October 2022

Fitful night's sleep...spent an hour or so with my mind racing through the Act I quick change conundrum. Thus I later got out of the wrong side of the bed...need proper rest if I'm going to get my voice through the next few days! Got up around 0930 and threw breakfast together. Did an hour at the computer. After lunch, we cycled in to the Barbican via the New North Road. Had booked tickets to see "Decision to Leave" by Korean director Park Chan Wook. I found it somewhat difficult to suspend my disbelief when confronted with the almost super-human work ethic of the lead detective character, and the motivation of the suspect widow he was investigating and becoming infatuated with. Beautifully filmed and edited, though, with some ingenious contrivances using split screen techniques, and mobile text messaging (seen from the inside of the phone looking out...the text presented backwards). It was a bit too long though, and I had to fight off the desire to take a nap half way through! Cycled home via Waitrose. Chicken chasseur for dinner. watched a bit of telly...favourites, "Better Things", "Stuck", and "Seinfeld", and gave Guillermo del Toro's "Cabinet of Curiosities" a go...well done, but silly!

Thursday 27th October 2022

Alarm at 0800. I dozed until gone 0900, then got up and showered before porridging. Ventured out for our morning constitutional, walking up Highgate Hill to Waterlow Park, then back down to Archie's for a coffee. Ambled back home via Fairbridge Road. I flung a lunch together, then did some work at the computer before breaking to do a vocal warm up. Lynne from upstairs came down to do her washing...her machine had packed up! Aki cooked dinner...a sort of tomato and mushroom ragu, with orzo and pan fried courgette. Headed for Stoke Newington for what was our final rehearsal before the tech and dress runs early next week...the play is in good shape, but the finale dance routine is still all over the shop...and then there are the myriad quick changes! Not looking forward to next week, particularly. Got home around 2230. Aki had baked chocolate brownies, so the flat smelled very tasty!!!

Wednesday 26th October 2022

Alarm at 0730...Aki up early to ready herself for Rowing Club. I dozed for a bit before getting up and showering. Porridged. Aki cycled off to Springfield Park. I took a morning constitutional and walked up Highgate Hill, but only got as far the Whittington Hospital, as I dived into Archie's cafe for a flat white and a nata...the cafe is bigger than it looks from the street, opening out into a longer back room, with tables nicely laid out. I walked back home and did a bit of work at the computer. Aki having lunch at the cafe in Springfield Park, so I had a mug of her leek and potato soup, with croutons scattered over the top. I tried making a loaf of wholemeal bread, using the Waitrose bread mix, but despite leaving the dough to rest in a warm oven, the dough refused to rise...as a result I ended up with a very dense loaf, more akin to rye bread! Went through some lines before dinner...Aki cooked a chicken chasseur, with boiled potato and vegetables. Drove off for Stoke Newington in what I thought was good time, but the roadworks at Manor House are causing long, slow tailbacks. Tonight was a long night of trying on the costumes in the company of a fractious costume designer. The sci-fi costumes aren't fit for purpose, and are going to look particularly bad...but the Cater family looked good (as pictured). My First Act change from Brevis into the Dr. failed to get me back on stage in time...too much clobber to faff around with. The tech is going to be a nightmare! What have I got myself into?

Tuesday 25th October 2022

Woke around 0800 and dozed for a bit. Got up around 0900 and porridged. Did an hour at the computer, then we walked up to manor Gardens to take a look at the fallen trees...it had looked as I passed last night that a whole row of middle sized trees had been felled by the tornado, but in fact it was one huge tree, which luckily hadn't fallen across the Holloway Road, but had fallen on the pavement, taking out a phone box, and half of a neighbouring tree. Massive hole in the pavement! Went for a coffee at Green Room, then returned home to do some work. Broke for lunch. Managed another hour-and-a-half at the coal face, then did some lines before trying to warm the voice up. Aki pan fried some salmon for dinner, with chestnut rice, and a miso soup. I drove off to Stoke Newington, getting there just before 1900. Ran the whole play this evening. First half went seriously awry, when Sean jumped a few pages...luckily he was later able to find a way of getting us back on track, but it could have gone either way. I kept dropping lines in the opening scene of Act II...don't know why. Bit worrying. Got home around 2230. 

Monday 24th October 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730. Dozed until gone 0800, then hauled myself out of bed and ironed some trousers! Porridged, and warmed up some of Aki's leek and potato soup to take with me for lunch. Headed out at 0930...made for the petrol station at Sainsbury's in Manor House, then drove on to Maldon and some surrounding villages. Nice day...got unseasonably warm as the afternoon wore on. Had to get in to 10 units to do cursory internal inspections...hope no-one had the virus! Had my soup in a lay-by in Great Totham. Turned for home at 1715, getting back at 1845. Aki cooked up a carbonara for dinner. Watched Later with Jools... on the iPlayer. 

Sunday 23rd October 2022

Woke at 0915...didn't have much time to get abluted, eat breakfast, and prepare a packed lunch. It was raining by the time I left for Stoke Newington at 1030, so took the motor. It got quite heavy. Found somewhere to park, then walked the short distance back to the theatre. They had got off to an early start, so when I walked in they had just reached my Act I entrance. Got through my bits in fine fettle, I thought, then we broke to learn the finale dance routine. Cornelia took us through our paces...pretty simple stuff, basically marching about, but the repetition involved in the learning process soon had my knees hurting. Broke for lunch...I sat at the piano and practised until people drifted back in, and we continued where we had left off. Then we ran Act II...by which time I was too exhausted to focus... but managed to lurch through it, a few dropped cues and lines lying in the wake. Got home at 1645. Did some work at the computer while Aki put dinner together. Violent storm swept overhead...it was like a mini-tornado, sending the trees behind the flat swirling in giddying circles, the rain lashing down, threatening to flood the back yard. Watched "Catherine, Called Birdy", an enjoyable medieval romp directed for Amazon by Lena Dunham. Much relieved to get News of Boris pulling out of the race for PM...just need Mordaunt to do the decent thing, and follow suit...can't see the Tories permitting a general election at present!

Saturday 22nd October 2022

Slightly fitful night's sleep. Dozed in bed until gone 0900. Got up and cooked us some breakfast. Practised my piano part for a bit, and tried to warm my voice up. Cycled off for Stoke Newington at 1230 for a wardrobe call. I was first to show up, so wandered round to Pret a Manger to buy a sandwich and a coffee. Long somewhat tedious afternoon trying on bits and pieces of costume...can't help but feel there is too much detail, bearing in mind the quick changes in Act II. Cycled home and showered, then we caught a No.253 to Camden to meet Katrina at a fairly new Korean/Japanese restaurant on Camden Parkway. Aki had a plate of sushi, and I had the udon noodle soup with prawn tempura. Katrina seemed in fine fettle, though suffering from the last remnants of a heavy cold. Wandered round the corner to Cecil Sharpe House to listen to John McCusker and Friends...he's currently on a 30th anniversary tour. Brilliant fiddle player, and he had four fabulous musicians with him...especially impressed by Toby Shaer and his wooden Irish flute...amazing musicianship. He'd apparently been a child prodigy, much like Mr McCusker himself. Accompanied Katrina on the return journey on the No.253, leaving her to jump off at Sussex Way...

Friday 21st October 2022

Woke early, but too tired to rouse myself...dozed to the radio. Aki got up and made tea. Porridged and abluted before getting in the motor and heading back to the Medway City. Had to make a detour to Manor House to fill up with petrol, then took the Blackwall Tunnel, which wasn't as slow as I'd anticipated. Inspections in Strood. Broke for lunch, with a repeat visit to Wimpy, this time the Strood branch...had the chicken burger...not bad. Ended the working day in Rochester, then turned the car around and headed for home. Road works on the northbound Blackwall Tunnel Approach meant very slow traffic...reckon I lost half-an-hour or so, barely moving. Got home at 1830. Aki cooked trout for dinner, which she served with lentils and mixed veg, followed by apple pudding and cream (the plant based stuff...it's very good!). Did a bit of work on Act I lines before watching Friday Night Live with Ben Elton...an entertaining one-off staged to mark 40 years of C4. One or two promising young comics on the bill, but Harry Enfield stole the show, reprising his character inventions of Stavros, and Loadsamoney...shower then bed.

Thursday 20th October 2022

Fitful night's sleep, for some reason. Got up around 0915 and had porridge, then settled for the morning at the computer writing up the last two days worth of inspection notes. Broke for lunch. Watched BBC News coverage as Truss resigned as PM after just 45 days! What a shower!!! Aki popped out to get some bits and pieces from Waitrose, and got heavily rained upon! Finished work about 1630 and did some voice warm up stuff before dinner. Aki made some pappardelle, which we had with mushrooms and pesto sauce. Drove off to Stoke Newington for a run of Act II...still not quite getting the speed of delivery I need...the cues come thick and fast, and some of them are so similar it can cause me to jump ahead. Still no Sean, and Julia, who was complaining of cold symptoms, made her appearance via zoom call! All very unsatisfactory...bloody amateurs!

Wednesday 19th October 2022

Slept soundly...had difficulty getting up and at 'em this morning. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club after porridgefast. I threw a packed lunch together and jumped in the car. Headed north-east to Harlow, and then on to Great Dunmow, and Thaxted. Parked up in the car park for the town recreation ground, and had my salad. Kath rang...she's planning to come down for 9th November, and see my play on the 11th, before training it back to Newcastle. I suggested she invite Stuart down for the play...they could stop at the newly opened Premier Inn in Finsbury Park.(I later checked, and it is yet to open!...oh well). Drove on to Saffron Walden, then down to Welwyn Garden City, and ended my inspections in Hatfield. Drove home, getting in at about 1830. Aki cooked mapo for dinner, followed by apple cake and spoom. Watched a bit of telly. Went over my Act II lines before shower and bed...

Tuesday 18th October 2022

Woke around 0745. Hauled myself out of bed, and made a hot lemon and honey drink. Breakfasted downstairs in the bar...returned to my room to do a bit of work at the laptop before checking out and heading across town. Nice sunny day. Spent most of the remainder of the morning on the White Road estate, then found myself on the fringe of Chatham town centre. Broke for lunch and walked into town...ended up ordering a quarter-pounder from Wimpy, and returning to my car to eat it. £9.90 for burger and chips! No wonder I was the only customer...still, it was a cut above the competition. Ended my working day in the Borstal area, and found myself on the Esplanade. Looked unusually inviting in the sunshine. Turned for home at 1530...Stop the Oil protestors have closed the Dartford crossing, so I anticipated traffic queues approaching the Blackwall Tunnel...in the event, it wasn't too bad. May be a 45 minute delay...got home before 1730. Aki had warmed up a Chris Brigham cottage pie...we weren't very impressed...and then I cycled off to Stoke Newington for rehearsals... did a run of Act I, minus Sean and Julia! Managed to get my voice through it. Had to visit the wardrobe department briefly afterward, then headed home on my bike. 

Monday 17th October 2022

Very weary this morning, so got off to a slow start. Aki brought me a mug of tea. Got up and porridged, and heated up some of Aki's parsnip soup to take for lunch. Packed a bag and headed for the Medway towns. Crawled along the Blackwall Tunnel Approach...2.5 mile tail back. I was expecting roadworks to be the cause, but no lanes had been closed, so no clue as to why things were so slow. Stopped off at IKEA on the south side, and grabbed a coffee. Didn't hit Chatham until gone noon! Had my lunch over-looking a little park and recreation ground at the bottom of Wayfield Road. By the time I got to the end of my working day, I was back in Wayfield Road, and noticed a stunning blood-red sky as the sun set in the west. Booked into the Premier Inn in Gillingham, then drove down to St Mary's Island marina and had dinner at the Ship & Trades. Back in my room, I went through my lines. Voice had largely recovered from last night, but don't think I would have got it through a show...had flagged up my concerns to Phillip in an email this morning, and had a chat with him on the phone this evening...I got over the fact that I'd have to pace myself very carefully in the run up to the opening night.

Sunday 16th October 2022

Struggled to rouse myself this morning, but Aki was up to ready herself for Rowing Club and cooked breakfast...that got me up and at 'em. I cycled off to Stoke Newington at 1000, getting there in time for warm up...I'd forgotten that Sean had disappeared for a week's holiday...pushing it a bit, with just two weeks to opening night! ran Act I in the morning session...went reasonably well, with Pablo filling in for Sean. Broke for lunch...I popped across the road to the Yellow Warbler, and ordered a sausage ragu toastie! It was huge!!! Ran Act II in the afternoon...again, not bad...shaping up, but the sooner Sean gets back the better!!! Cycled home...Aki had warmed up the lemon chicken for dinner, with orzo and vegetables. Felt very weary after dinner, but we had tickets to go see Vox Holloway's new piece...chum Helen has joined the choir. We walked up to St Luke's, and gave Helen a wave as we found a seat. It was pretty full, so we had to sit on the right wing...when the concert started, it became clear this was a poor choice, as the sound system seemed to be directed at the central section directly in front of the choir, and it meant it was very difficult to make out the lyrics, or the spoken text, which was delivered into microphone. Very disappointing. That said, the music and choral sounds were sublime...great use of gospel and blues inflections in the score, and great band...we sat at the back and let the sounds wash over us. Look forward to the CD release...hopefully it'll come with a lyric sheet! Worryingly, my voice was shot by the time we got home...a function of gross fatigue, I think...going to have to pace myself very carefully next week.

Saturday 15th October 2022

Woke late and dozed for a bit. Jim alerted me to the fact that Miriam Margolyes had sworn live on the Today programme, having passed Jeremy Hunt in the studio! Listened to it back on BBC Sounds... Aki cooked breakfast. I did some work at the computer, uploading yesterday's photos, and writing up inspection sheets. We were disturbed by Tom from the church next door, who wanted to allow his handyman into our back yard to clean the church guttering. I explained that he couldn't prop his ladder on our roof as it was very expensive rubber membrane, so he contented himself with clearing out the steel gutter to the church hall extension...they'll have to come back with roof ladders to get at the church guttering. Avocado open sandwich for lunch. Took a constitutional, walking up Highgate Hill in the sunshine. Came across a distressing scene at the Archway gyratory...a woman in the road being tended to by para medics, presumably having been hit by a van. The police were on the scene. Hope she's OK! Walked up to Waterlow Park and sat on a bench to get our breath back before heading home. Dined out at the new Korean cafe just round the corner. I had the beef bibimbap...it was OK...nothing to write home about. Aki enjoyed her spicy noodle soup, and vowed to return. Watched a bit of telly, then did some work on my lines before shower and bed...

Friday 14th October 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730. My left upper arm, where I had the covid jab yesterday, was sore this morning...couldn't lie on my left side. Felt a wee bit flu-ey, so didn't manage to leap out of bed as planned. Got up around 0815 and breakfasted. Warmed up some of Aki's homemade parsnip soup for my lunch flask. Drove southward via the Blackwall Tunnel, stopping to grab a coffee at the IKEA cafe on the south side, then drove on to Hoo. Stopped in Strood to get some lunch items from Morrisons, then headed for Chatham...not my favourite place! It makes Grimsby look like Venice! Had my soup in the car on a side street somewhere. Turned the car around at 1630 in order to get home in time to grab a bite to eat...traffic was slow coming out of Rochester, and again approaching the pinch point south of the Blackwall Tunnel, but managed to get home by 1820...Aki had already warmed up the leftover fish pie, then we jumped in the car and high-tailed across to Stoke Newington. Saw "Mosquitoes" at the Tower...a Lucy Kirkwood play that had premiered at the National in 2017...it was staged in the round, but I didn't feel the space was utilised fully...the action seemed trapped in a circle of light in the centre, and I didn't like the use of tea chests as all-purpose set. Performances were a bit dull, though Bella Hornby (Nick's niece...she'd played Viola in Twelfth Night) was good. Sat with Martin and Janet South and had a laugh with them...they're a grand couple. 

Thursday 13th October 2022

Alarm at 0730. Dozed in bed until 0900. Porridge for breakfast, then walked round to the pharmacy on Holloway Road to get my flu and covid jabs done. Bit of a queue in a rather cramped little shop, but got seen quite quickly. Aki had booked a 1400 slot at Islington recycling centre, so was getting stuff together to throw out when I got home. Then she cycled off to the butcher on Essex Road to get some chicken for tonight. She then had a quick turn-a-round, as she was meeting Tammy in Brixton for lunch. I managed a little work at the computer, then had an early lunch. Put some detritus in the back of the car, and headed for the tip. Did some lines when I got back. Aki returned having had lunch at a small Ethiopian stall in Brixton Market. She cooked up lemony chicken thighs for dinner, with orzo and vegetables, then I headed for Stoke Newington in the motor. Ran Act II...everyone off book, so it was all a bit halting...I managed to jump cut from my first scene, to my second last, thereby missing out two thirds of the Act!!! Had to stop to work out where I'd gone wrong...if that doesn't give everyone stage fright, I don't know what will! 

Wednesday 12th October 2022

Up with the alarm this morning...Aki to ready herself for Rowing Club, while I got up in anticipation of a delivery, my new CPAP machine. Did some work at the computer in the morning...Fred from DPD turned up at lunchtime, and I set up the new machinery by my bedside. Aki back in time for lunch...she cooked up an udon noodle soup. Work fizzled out mid-afternoon, so I did some lines and practised a bit of piano. The smaller keyboard isn't great, but it'll have to do for the moment. I cooked dinner...creamy mushroom and parmesan cheese on pasta, with some spring greens thrown in for good measure. Watched the Young Musician of the Year final on iPlayer...got as far as the percussionist by 2200, then switched to the News to see if Truss had been deposed yet...no such luck! Will have to watch the last finalist later...

Tuesday 11th October 2022

Very weary this morning...everything hurts after yesterday's exercise marathon. Aki brought me a mug of lemon tea in bed. Got up at 0930 and had some porridge. Aki took her Japanese zoom exercise class, so I did some piano practice and line learning in the back bedroom. Managed a bit of work before breaking for lunch...Aki did mushroom omelette and salad. Worked at the computer all afternoon. Warmed up the fish pie I'd made at the weekend for a tasty dinner. Drove into the theatre this evening rather than cycle, as the MD had suggested swapping the heavy electric piano I've been practising on for a lighter keyboard, leaving the hefty one at the theatre for rehearsals. Aki and I manhandled it into the back of the car and I drove off. Rehearsed the final song with Colin Guthrie at the Joanna, then showed our choreographer, Cornelia, the shape of the final set piece so she can go away and think about what she can throw at us. Worked up some physical action sequences with Richard, our fight director. Home by 2200.

Monday 10th October 2022

Fitful night's sleep. Alarm at 0730. Aki got up and made tea. I followed a little while later...I didn't have time for breakfast...Aki had arranged a game of tennis with Gareth from No.120, and George from No.127. Apparently courts are free before 1000, so we cycled up to meet them at 0845, then cycled on to Finsbury Park. Hadn't played for ages, so was pleasantly surprised by my form. Aki and I took them on, losing 6-3,6-3, which meant retiring to the Park cafe for a coffee and a sit down. Cycled home, dropped off my racquet, then cycled on to the Post Office depot on North Road to pick up an undelivered parcel...nothing exciting...disposable gloves from Savills. Did a bit of line learning before cooking lunch...pan fried the remaining sardines, which we had with a potato salad. Managed a bit of work this afternoon, but was slowly enveloped by stiff limbs and fatigue, following this morning's excesses! Aki cooked dinner...a Japanese chicken broth with rice and greens, followed by banana custard. Practised my piano part, and did some more line learning before watching more depressing News from Ukraine. Bath and early to bed...

Sunday 9th October 2022

Woke around 0730 and dozed until gone 0800. Aki was up early to prepare for Rowing Club. She cooked a simple omelette breakfast. I made myself a packed lunch. Aki headed off on her bike at 0945, and I followed at 1000, getting to rehearsal at 1030. We ran Act I first...I struggled with my voice for a while, which had a knock on effect on my lines, so it was a bit of a mess, but we got through it and broke for lunch. Tried on my blue body suit for the sci-fi sections...it shows off my curves...to appalling effect. Luckily, we will have tabards that go over the top and hide the more unsightly bits! Ran Act II in the afternoon...not much better, to be honest, but it was good to get through the whole play and still have some voice left to spare afterwards. Arsenal were playing Liverpool at the Emirates, so I delayed cycling back home until I was sure the game had kicked off...I went a grabbed a coffee at Costa on the High Street, and sat in for 15 minutes, before getting on me bike. Marinated sardine starter, followed by mushroom and anchovy sauce for pasta. Did some work on my piano part, and looked at some Act II lines before watching the News. Shower and and early night...

Saturday 8th October 2022

Woke early so got up and prepared some breakfast...did an hour or so at the computer. Aki cycled off to the fishmonger. Practised the piano for a bit. Aki returned with some fresh Cornish sardines, so she fried them up for lunch with a side salad...very tasty. She dragged me out for a late afternoon amble to Highbury Fields, stopping off at a couple of bike shops to try on cycle helmets...hers is beginning to fall apart! Didn't find what she was looking for, however. Walked back via the Emirates. I prepared a fish pie for dinner, which we had with some vegetables. Managed to FaceTime Kath...she is coming down to see the play in November; and phoned ma and pa...they'd enjoyed a day out at Derwent Reservoir. Did some line learning ahead of tomorrow's rehearsals. Watched a bit of MOTD...big win for Newcastle, mum and dad's next door neighbour scoring twice!

Friday 7th October 2002

Up at 0730 to make breakfast and a packed lunch. Headed out for inspections in the west country, making my way along the M4...stopped at Reading Services to grab a coffee, then on to Swindon. I stopped for lunch in the Tesco car park at Cirencester, then headed for Stroud (see photo), and Dursley...the route took me up Selsey Hill, and I kept an eye out for the church where I seem to recall several ancestors are interred, but didn't spot anything. Finished up in Calne, to the south-west of Swindon, and then headed for home along a section of the A4 I hadn't been down before...it took me past the white horse at Cherhill, through Avebury, past Silbury Hill, and West Kennet long barrow...very scenic...I hope to return when it's not raining! Traffic got heavy on the M4 so took the A404 up to High Wycombe to join the M40, but things got very slow there too...didn't get home until 2045, after driving almost 300 miles. Aki had prepared a little Japanese meal to mark the anniversary of her mother's passing. 

Thursday 6th October 2022

Alarm at 0730. Got up and made porridge for breakfast. Decided to stay home today, and work at the computer...plenty of writing up to be done. Aki made a tasty spinach soup for lunch. Broke at 1700 to eat an early dinner before setting off for Stoke Newington and rehearsals at the Tower. Hadn't realised there was an Arsenal game on this evening...ran straight into a traffic jam on Seven Sisters Road, so turned northward up Hornsey Road, then east to Stroud Green. Crossed Stroud Green Road and hit stationary traffic. It's usually my fail safe escape route when Seven Sisters Road is blocked, but we barely inched along the north side of Finsbury Park. I was aiming for Green Lanes, where I'd turn right to Manor House, but unbeknownst to us drivers, the police had taped the road off due to some kind of incident, so everything was having to turn left up Green Lanes...I could see it was barely moving, so I did a U-turn and headed back toward Stroud Green, hitting the football traffic...I eventually got to the theatre 10 minutes shy of being two hours late! Slotted in to the latter half of a run of Act II...we finished early, which meant I could hasten away, before the Emirates emptied out...

Wednesday 5th October 2022

Woke to alarm at 0700. Aki up to prepare for Rowing Club. Porridge for breakfast. Made myself a packed lunch. Aki cycled off to Hackney. I drove up the M40, stopping off at ASDA in High Wycombe for petrol, and a coffee. Then on to Oxford, and Eynsham, where I stopped to eat my lunch in the village car park. Nice place...lots of brownstone cottages, some thatched. Ended the working day in Hook Norton, just SW of Banbury, and then turned for home. Warning signs of an accident blocking lanes between J2 and J1, but the traffic was coming to halt at J4, so came off and stretched my legs at John Lewis's in High Wycombe. Bought a sweatshirt, and got Aki a potato ricer, so she can make gnocchi. Traffic seemed to have cleared an hour later, but it got heavy somewhere around Northolt....crawled into the city, getting home at 1920. Aki cooked roast duck breast with a blueberry sauce, and fondant potatoes...followed by fig tarte and custard...yum! 

Tuesday 4th October 2022

Woke at 0730....dozed until 0800. Got up and made a cup of warm water. Porridge for breakfast...no yoghurt. Put a packed lunch together. Headed north-west to Willesden, then on to Neasden, and Wembley. Had my packed lunch in an ASDA car park. Ended up in Kenton, then turned for home. Got in at 1630. Aki cooked up a quick stir fry for dinner before she headed out to meet one of her old Takenaka colleagues for dinner in Marylebone. He's now heads up the London office, so hopefully some work might come Aki's way. I cooked a fried egg to stick on top of the stir fry....very tasty, but the egg yolk coated my vocal cords. Drove off to rehearsal in Stoke Newington. Unable to get my vocal cords to shake off the egg yolk, so struggled despite trying to warm the voice up for 20 minutes! Managed to get it through Act I, just! Borrowed the theatre electric piano...very heavy, so had to get a couple of cast members to help manhandle it into the back of my car. Aki helped at the other end. It weighed a ton! Watched a bit of telly then shower and bed...

Monday 3rd October 2022

Woke to alarm at 0730. Dozed until 0830...very tired after yesterday's rehearsal, and all that cycling! Porridge for breakfast. Aki partook of her Japanese zoom exercise class. I headed out...drove down to the Isle of Dogs. Inspections for One Housing. Broke for lunch...my leek and potato soup...sat in the car on a street in Cubitt Town. A lot of high-rise blocks, necessitating getting out of the car and wandering around on foot, as I'm required to get photos of all elevations. Got home around 1630. Aki warmed up the fish curry for dinner, and cooked a fig tarte tatin, which we had with custard...very tasty! Watched a bit of telly...enjoying Dylan Moran's new sit com, "Stuck"...sharp writing, great editing, and great performances...building nicely. Bath and bed...

Sunday 2nd October 2022

Woke at 0715. Hauled myself out of bed...after yesterday's advice from Val, I skipped a milky tea, and had a mug of warm water with a slice of lemon in it. Aki cooked a breakfast, before cycling off to Rowing Club. I got on my bike shortly thereafter, and headed for Stoke Newington. Long day in the rehearsal room, but just about managed to survive. Worked Act II, and the wardrobe gals came in to watch a timed run to get an idea of how tight some of the quick changes are going to be. Broke for lunch...had some of the sweetcorn and egg soup that Aki had made yesterday. Had a wardrobe call after rehearsal. Bumped in to Nick Hall on my way out...he had been in to audition for one of the short pieces written by Tower members during lockdown...cycled back to Drayton Park with him, getting home around 1700. Warmed up the lasagna for dinner, followed by apple crumble and custard. Watched a bit of telly....some amazing violin players on the Young Musician of the Year show...astonishing talent!

Saturday 1st October 2022

Woke around 0730...dozed in bed until nine-ish...Aki cooked poached eggs for breakfast, then popped out to the Farmer's Market to buy a loaf whilst I tried to warm my voice up a bit. Skipped lunch, as we'd breakfasted rather late. Avoided venturing out until Arsenal v Tottenham had kicked off at 1230. I cycled over to Kentish Town West for my assignation with Valerie Coglan. I parked my bike at Queen's Crescent, and grabbed a coffee at the Gaming Cafe...a game of chess was in action. Wandered round the corner to No.17 Herbert Street. Val welcomed me in...she was looking a little frailer than I had supposed, but then she is 86. Most of the session comprised us having a chat about our respective theatrical pasts...she had trained at LAMDA, graduating in 1958, the year I was born!!! Talked about some useful exercises, and voice management techniques...avoiding dairy products, and wearing a warm scarf...two hours later I headed back to my bike. Got home about 1630...Aki was in the process of cooking a Goan fish curry for dinner. I popped out, dodging drunken Gooners who had swamped the streets outside the local hostelries. The place looked like a landfill site! Bought a rear light for my bike at the little shop on Seven Sisters Road...very helpful bunch in there...sold me a battery operated lamp that screws onto my pannier bracket. Came home and screwed it on...all set for our epic cycle ride into town this evening! Cycled down Farringdon Road, which now has a wide cycleway, and over Blackfriars Bridge...went to see an open air art installation outside the Tate Modern, which included the London Bulgarian Choir singing some beautiful melodies as the installation went through lighting changes and images of birds and moths were projected on to it...walked the bikes back over the Millennium Bridge, then cycled up the Goswell Road to Highbury Corner...should sleep well tonight!!! Got home in time to watch Later with Jools Holland...me old flatmate Chris's daughter Levi was on tonight, giving her all...she's one of Self Esteem's very talented backing singers/dancers. Great stuff from the gal from Brid...