Saturday 31st December 2022

Woke around 0845. Knackered! Aki got up and made tea. She wanted to get going with the laundry backlog…I prepared breakfast. Aki drove off to the fishmonger's on Essex Road (she would normally have cycled, but it was raining) while I undertook another hour or so of work on my RICS CPD requirement. Aki got back around 1400, and began working up several recipes for her traditional Japanese New Year's feast. I made some toast for lunch, with some mezze tomato paste smeared over it, and some grated comte cheese...not bad, though the Turks would have crumbled feta over it. Did another couple of hours at the computer, and racked up the requisite 10 hours...just need to log it all on the RICS website now! Aki made fish noodle soup for dinner, with salmon sashimi with grated daicon on the side, and we had cheese and biscuits for afters. Watched the Detectorists Xmas Special on iPlayer...not as good as I'd been lead to believe, but entertaining enough...some heavy handed writing, but it's heart always in the right place. The dripping kitchen tap was getting worse and driving us mad, so I replaced the valve with the one that had arrived last month, and miraculously it did the trick. No such luck with the dishwasher, which has packed in altogether! Saw the New Year in watching me old flat mate's daughter Levi strutting her stuff on Jools' Hootenanny...she was having a ball...

Friday 30th December 2022

Woke around 0800 after a relatively comfortable night's sleep. The mattress was a memory foam one, but firm, and the pillows were great. Bob brought us mugs of tea, and we showered before descending for breakfast of croissants and homemade apple and bramble jam, and buttered crumpets. Managed to fit in a quick walk along the nearby Greenline, a stretch of reclaimed railway line...Lottie took her rubbish picker and filled a plastic bag! Said our farewells at their front door and climbed back into the car. Headed down the A606, past the Keyworth turning, and on to the A46, joining the M1 at Leicester Forest East. Stopped for a sandwich and a salad at Newport Pagnell Service Station...which is showing it's age...needs knocking down! Traffic very slow around Milton Keynes, but got through it, getting home around 1545. Unpacked the car before Aki cycled off to the dentist on Upper Street. I called mum and dad to report our safe return, and returned Chris Martin's call of a couple of days ago. He's about to jet off to the Algarve to mark his 80th birthday on a white sandy beach! Nice!!! Aki returned via Waitrose bearing some supplies. She cooked a carbonara for dinner, and we had cheese and biscuits to follow. Opened up the dishwasher to find the bottom of it full of water...it seems to have developed a blockage. Aki managed to bail it out, and clean the filter, but we won't know for sure whether it's worked until next we switch it on! I did an hour or so at the computer, trying to progress my CPD...need to do four hours tomorrow! Read a little Copperfield afore bed...

 

Thursday 29th December 2022

Woke around 0800 and hauled ourselves out of bed...Aki had brought the cushions from the sofa up for me to sleep on last night, and they were an improvement. Breakfasted downstairs. Packed the car and said our farewells to mum and dad. Stopped at the petrol station at the airport, but they were having a delivery, so the only fuel available was diesel, and the expensive premium petrol, so turned round and drove back to Darras Hall. Picked up a coffee and a couple of sandwiches for our journey, and headed south. Only got as far as Ripon...a nine car pile up had closed the A1(M) southbound, and we were forced off at J49. Had to make our way toward Boroughbridge via single track lanes and B roads...ended up just north of Boroughbridge on the B6265 for over an hour! Happened upon a Morrisons on the other side of Boroughbridge and used their facilities before re-joining the A1(M) at J 48 and continued on to Nottingham, getting there at 1730 rather than the 1430 we'd been aiming at!!! Horrified to be ushered into Bob and Charlotte's front room to find it heated by a wood burning stove...Dad had read us an article by George Monbiot in The Guardian only yesterday, detailing the noxious particulates that these things throw out!!! Will have to find the article and speed it on to them...they were complaining of high blood pressure readings, which had lead them both to seek medical advice! Could be a link!?! We dined in the dining room on Bob's Goan fish curry, a chicken curry, rice, and Lottie's dahl, followed by ginger and rhubarb cake with cream before retiring to sit in front of the wood burning stove and chat and drink until 0030. 

Wednesday 28th December 2022

Woke after worst night's sleep on the mattress so far, feeling very weary, and with great discomfort in the lower back. Followed Aki downstairs for breakfast, but didn't feel good for most of the day. Kath turned up for lunch, having spent the night over in Sunderland. Stuart not coming over to see us today, though, as he's still recovering from his festive Grandad duties. Graeme got in touch, and I initially suggested a possible meet this afternoon, but the weather was foul, and I was still not feeling perky enough to make the effort, or indeed, any effort! However, I managed to get myself into gear mid afternoon and did a couple of hours CPD...enrolled on a 15 hour course investigating the Fundamentals of the Party Wall Act 1996...I could barely keep me eyes open as I lurched from one legal statement to the next! Went downstairs to put dinner together...finished up the turkey and ham pasta bake, and dad followed up with Xmas pud and ice cream. Played The Book Game in the living-room, which threw up a couple of very funny moments, as per usual. Glad we made the effort!

Tuesday 27th December 2022

Awoken around 0830 by back ache. Followed Aki downstairs for tea and cornflakes. I spruced them up with some of Margaret's muesli, sliced banana, and some leftover pear. Rather grey day. Kath had had to go out on assignment in Ponteland, and would have had to scrape the ice off of her car windscreen. After a slow start I managed to begin chasing down some CPD options...did a couple of webinars in the morning. Kath returned to the fold for lunch. We watched in horror as Margaret ventured out into the back garden to deposit some vegetable remains in the compost bin...she had to pick her way gingerly through briar and bush, and looked a little lost on her return journey...we thought she was going to veer left through the hedge at the bottom of the garden, and in to Anne's garden! Aki and I walked down to the shops in Darras Hall to pick up some milk and some bits and pieces. Walked back up Whinfell Road in the drizzle. Spoke to Bob on the blower...they have room at the inn for Thursday night, so we can break our journey there. Aki cooked a tasty fish pie for dinner, followed by dad's Xmas pud. Not much on telly again this evening...though there were some interesting strands on Countryfile, looking at Scottish New Year traditions, and lost Scots words...I particularly liked "windle", to wander aimlessly in the face of high winds! We enjoyed the 1990 Xmas special of "One Foot In the Grave"...some nice ideas in there, especially the erroneous delivery to Victor Meldrew of 243 garden gnomes, which they then had to house in the house before they could be returned to sender...nice touch when Mrs Meldrew opened the wardrobe at bedtime, to reveal yet more gnomes hiding in the shadows.

Monday 26th December 2022

Had a bit of a lie in this morning. My nights are becoming increasingly disturbed, as I find the mattress so bad for my lower back. Hauled myself up and made tea. Breakfasted downstairs on cornflakes. Nice sunny day outside, so Aki wanted to go for a little walk somewhere. It was bitterly cold though. Drove us to Big Water for a brief look at the lake, but it was too cold to stay out for long. Bit of wind chill in the air too. Drove on to Kath's at Peary Close for lunch. Jim and Emma showed up. 

Emma still coughing a bit...otherwise, they both looked pretty healthy. They are driving down to Bristol tomorrow with Emma's daughter, who has work down there. Watched a bit of the Leicester v Newcastle game on Amazon Prime...Newcastle were 3-0 up by half-time! Mum and dad's neighbour, Bruno, was playing. Kath had to go to work, so we said our farewells and drove back to High View. Cooked dinner...a Guardian recipe for a turkey and ham pasta bake, which utilised all the leftovers...I even put some bread sauce in the stock! It didn't smell too good when I opened the oven, but it tasted OK. Dad served up the last of the Xmas pud, with ice cream, cream, and brandy butter. I flaked out on the sofa in front of the telly. Not much on though...missed The Detectorists, which we will have to catch up with on iPlayer.

Sunday 25th December 2022

Woken by Santa creeping in to the bedroom with our Xmas stockings! I asked her to bring me a mug of tea, but nothing materialised, so I eventually wandered downstairs and stuck the kettle on. Drank our teas in bed opening our stockings...mine was full of chocolate...nice!!! Descended downstairs for another mug of tea, and a bowl of cornflakes. Got the turkey rubbed with duck fat and dried herbs, and put him in the oven. Opened our Christmas presents...

Dad was very taken with his quilted over-trousers! I think the "Get Started in Stand-up Comedy" book that Kath gave me should have been given to him!!! Mum liked her electric toothbrush. The rest of the morning/early afternoon was largely spent in the kitchen preparing Xmas dinner. A lot of things needed to come together at the last minute...crispy roast potatoes, brussels sprouts with bacon and fried onions, parsnip mash, carrots with ginger and chilli flakes, roast parsnips, bread sauce, turkey gravy, broccoli...there was mountains of it. Too much for mother and father to manage, and Kath struggled a bit too...Aki and I cleaned our plates. Kath did a salmon and prawn starter, and dad served up a tasty xmas pud with cream and brandy butter.

We teamed up to clear the table and tidy up. Sat in the living-room to watch Charles III's King's Speech at 1500. It was the usual generic guff, though had a more religious slant than I was expecting. Jim had bought Dad a DVD of Danny Kaye in "The Court Jester", but their new TV is not compatible with their old DVD Player, so I tracked it down on Amazon Prime, and was surprised to see that they had Jim's Amazon Prime account...which, perfectly justly, meant Jim paid for our rental too. Kath fell asleep in her chair, and snored through about an hour of it...Aki nodded off too. Dad and I stuck it out to the bitter end...it's certainly hasn't aged particularly well, but still plenty of laughs to be had!

Played "Am I Normal" which I'd bought for Kath...it turned out to be rather nearer the knuckle than I had anticipated, asking potentially awkward questions...we all had a go at responding, and it lead to some entertaining moments, so we got a few laughs out of it. Mum put some bread and butter out on the dining table, and we made turkey and ham sandwiches, which we ate in front of the telly. No-one was very hungry, in all honesty, after the massive feast at lunchtime. Found ourselves watching an intriguing, if rather thin documentary charting the career of Tina Turner...some interesting contributors...hadn't realised she'd teamed up with Heaven 17...or rather, perhaps, I'd forgotten. Shower and bed, exhausted!!!

Saturday 24th December 2022

Very weary this morning...lay in bed until around 0930. Eventually followed Aki downstairs. Croissant for breakfast with some of dad's homemade marmalade. Drove down to Waitrose to do a small final pre-Christmas shop. Kath and Margaret came with us, and went for a short walk round Pont Park before meeting us back at the Waitrose car park. Drove home and unloaded the groceries. Jim turned up to collect his presents from under the tree...they ain't joining us tomorrow, as Emma is still in bed with flu. He left three large wicker hampers behind! Mum made cheese on toast for lunch, with a bit of ham and salad. I spent most of the afternoon prepping for tomorrow's Christmas dinner. I made the buttered toast bread sauce, and cooked carrots in butter with turmeric and chillies. Also made a parsnip mash. Julie turned up to wish us a happy Christmas, and she joined us for a glass of sherry. She seems in good spirits, though busy with the B&B in Seahouses. Put dinner together...ham with mashed potato, Aki's steamed cabbage and baby courgettes, and mum's cheese and mustard sauce. We finished off the rice pudding. Watched a bit of telly in the living room. Enjoyed "Dad's Army", though Aki nodded off on the sofa, and "Whitehouse & Mortimer Gone Fishing in Norway"...dad nodded off in his chair. "Motherland" was OK, but is now a pale imitation of it's first series. Read the Guardian's take on the years' best movies before heading for bed.

Friday 23rd December 2022

Woke around 0800. Hauled myself out of bed and down the stone stairs to the kitchen, where I found Jim and Kath already up...Jim made me a couple of mugs of tea to take back upstairs. Got dressed and then descended to partake of a simple breakfast...a slice of pannetoni. Contacted the AA and waited for their arrival. Barney turned up at the breakfast table, sporting a hangover. He's dating a gal from Hexham who lives in Finsbury Park, so we promised to organise their coming round for some raw fish in the New Year. The AA man turned up...he ran some diagnostic tests and declared us fit to carry on up the Great North Road, so we said our farewells and jumped in the car. The satnav guided us back toward Wakefield where we re-joined the M1...the weather was filthy, making driving conditions rather discomfiting. We headed north-west at Scotch Corner to stop off at the Farm Shop...the camels were out being fed by the locals, but we headed inside...it was packed. We bought a couple of filled baps and some yoghurt to eat in the car, then decided to take the scenic route to Darras Hall, which took us through Barnard Castle, and over the moors to Stanhope. It was a desolate but beautiful ride. It meant we didn't get to High View until 1630. Ma and pa made us some tea, and we unpacked the motor. They are both looking well...Kath showed up, and we had sherry and cheese 'n biscuits. Mum had made pasta with a ragu for dinner, and we ate risalamande for pudding. Sat around the dining table chatting and laughing for most of the remainder of the evening. Mum and Kath managed to fit in a table tennis match before bed...

Thursday 22nd December 2022

Alarm at 0730…but too tired to leap into action after last night’s excesses. Eventually hauled ourselves out of bed. Porridged. Aki donned her waterproofs and headed off to the hairdresser on Essex Road. I packed and brought the car down so I could fill the boot. Put together our packed lunches. Aki got back just as I had started transferring our luggage to the car. Wished Lynne upstairs a happy Xmas, and out some cards through neighbours’ doors before heading off up the Great North Road. M1 was slow going. We stopped at Tollington Services to eat our packed lunch and grab a coffee. Passed about four stranded vehicles on the motorway, including one which had just come off the slip road from Dunstable and was sitting in the slow lane! We got more and more behind schedule as we hit bottlenecks, and then we saw warning signs stating that the M1 northbound was closed between J32 and J33. We pulled into Woodhall Service station, and decided to drive out via the service road onto the local road system, which took us toward Rotherham...traffic was very heavy as it was obviously being diverted off the M1 at J32...our diversion eventually saw us re-join the M1 at J33. Came off just after the Tinsley Viaduct, and headed across country toward Holmfirth in the dark. As we drove down hill toward the town, a warning message appeared on my dash saying Error: power system failure - seek workshop assistance! However, the vehicle kept going, and we managed to get it uphill onto Underbank Old Road and park up outside Jim and Kath's house...about three hours later than we had anticipated. We were warmly welcomed, and met Duke, their new dog, a rescue from Romania! He's very cute, but very timid, and didn't want to make friends. We were delighted to find that Ro was at home...having gotten married in Cayman last month, she is now awaiting naturalisation paperwork so that she go go live with hubby Rob on the island...we are already planning a visit! Barney was also home, but had gone in to town to meet old school mates for the traditional pub crawl. I had a go at lifting Barney's Ivor Novello Award statuette...it weighs a ton! We were treated to dinner, and I served up some of the rice pudding I'd made for Katrina and Tony...it was very creamy, and the nuts give it an unusual crunch. It went down well. We retired to the living-room for a catch up and a beer before heading to bed.

Wednesday 21st December 2022

Woke around 0800...listened to R4 in bed for a bit before rising to make porridge. Worked at the computer for most of the morning. Aki had a zoom call with Japan...she has some work assisting liaison between Japanese hotel developer and Camden builders...should be interesting! She made chicken noodle soup for lunch, then started putting together the nut roast ingredients for tonight's dinner party. I popped out to the local shops to buy some odds and ends...bought a Big Issue from the smiley girl who sits outside our Tesco Metro. I prepared the stuffed potato dumpling starter, the roast potatoes, the buttered toast bread sauce, and the rice pudding. Took ages to blanche and peel the almonds, then roughly chop 'em up...I had cramp in my left hand after 15 minutes! Katrina and Tony turned up around 1800 as I was putting the potatoes in the oven. They had been to see "Othello" at the National this afternoon...I guess Tony was doing the audio describing. We opened some sparkling wine, and I got back to cooking the starter...it went down very well...the dumplings were served with fried mushrooms, sour cream, and cranberry sauce. Aki's splendid nut roast followed, the piece de resistance being the fact that it is covered in savoy cabbage leaves. We ate it with parsnip mash, roast parsnip and peppers, bread sauce, gravy, and crispy roast potatoes. Yum! Katrina had made Tony an almond and orange cake to mark his birthday today, and we stuck some candles on it and sang happy birthday. We then got stuck into a couple of the cheeses Katrina had bought us, with biscuits, followed by decaff coffees and Aki's amaretti biscuits. What a feast! 

Tuesday 20th December 2022

Woke around 0530. Couldn't get back to sleep properly, so not feeling good by the time I fell out of bed at 0830. Dressed and descended for breakfast in the restaurant area on the ground floor. The fried eggs looked like they'd been there awhile. Did a bit of work at my laptop back in my room before checking out and heading back to the multi-storey car park...£17.00 to park overnight! Lucky I ain't paying!!! Drove out to Rackheath, stopping on the way at a large Tesco Extra to fill up the tank. Rackheath turned out to be an industrial estate, the development I was seeking being in the small village of New Rackheath. Headed back toward London, stopping to take some shots of units in Welwyn, and St Albans, getting home around 1645. Aki hard at work at her computer, so I worked at the dining table on my laptop. Aki cooked dinner at 1900...pan-fried hake with Parma ham and fried rice. I made the toasted butter bread sauce for tomorrow, and a cherry sauce. Watched the MOTD highlights of the World Cup Final...extraordinary match, but I grudgingly concede that the Argies were the better team. Shower and bed...

Monday 19th December 2022

Hauled myself out of bed at 0800. Porridged at the computer desk, and managed an hour's research, before warming up Aki's chicken soup to take as my packed lunch. Got away around 1000. Drove first to Potters Bar, then on to Welwyn, and Stevenage, and then struck out for Dereham. Found myself driving past Bury St Edmunds, so took a short detour to the Priory Hotel to ask the reception staff if they would consider extending the VIP voucher we bought from them during the first lockdown...it expires on 23rd March, but we've been invited to an old chum's 60th birthday bash, in Bury St Edmunds, on April 1st, so I put my case...they said they'd have to contact head office and get back to me. Had my soup in the car in the hotel car park, then carried on toward Dereham. Got to the development around 1530...the stocklist I'd been given didn't detail the street names, so I was unable to photograph the specific units on the stocklist...I only had Plot Nos. Tried to elicit more information out of the valuer, but she had the same stocklist as I did, so I took some random photos and headed for Norwich. Booked in to the Premier Inn in Duke Street. Dined at The Ivy...enjoyed the courgette fries that came with my burger. Phoned Aki from my room...she was cooking amaretti biscuits! Flaked out with the telly on...

Sunday 18th December 2022

Didn't hear Aki get up this morning...I slept through until 0930. She was contemplating heading for a row, but the threat of rain put her off. She cooked cheese omelette for breakfast. She departed for the Rowing Club shortly thereafter, as the girls are meeting for Sunday roast at the Club. I did an hour's work, then put lunch together, in between practising tonight's repertoire on guitar and ukulele. Packed the car with guitars, leads, stands etc...drove to Stoke Newington, listening to the first half of the World Cup Final on R5Live! Argies 2-0 at half-time. Parked the car outside the theatre and unloaded, then moved the motor to somewhere I could legally park. Set up my equipment as best I could, and we hung around waiting for everyone to turn up so we could sound check. Got myself a burger from KFC round the corner...burger was OK, but the chips were decidedly lukewarm....won't be going there again! Colin didn't show until 30 minutes before doors opened to the public, so sound check was painfully minimal...didn't get time to sound check my electric guitar, so decided not to use it after all. Aki turned up 15 minutes before the doors were opened, and we nabbed a couple of seats in the audience. She informed me that the game had gone to Extra Time and the Argies had won it on penalties!!! Mixed bag of entertainment...I was in the band for a couple of numbers in the first half, so was able to sit and watch most of it with Aki. The highlight was one of the Tower's longer serving members getting up and doing a Joyce Grenfell sketch...brilliant! I had more band duties in the second half...kept the comedy going by donning a different hat for each number, therefore effortlessly upstaging the singers! It culminated in my Christmas Tree hat for Matthew's rendition of "I Believe in Father Christmas". Aki helped me pack everything up and lug it all to the motor...got in around 2330.

Saturday 17th December 2022

Alarm at 0800. I dozed for a bit before Aki brought me tea. I read a bit of David C while Aki cooked breakfast...poached eggs on toast with gravadlax. Wrote up some final Xmas cards for posting...last day today, bearing in mind the postal strike! Had thought the last collection was at 1230, but got there at 1225 to find it had been 1155!!! Oh well...there'll be next year! We walked down the A1 to browse for gifts in Islington...popped in at the cheese shop, but nothing caught the eye, so we walked on down Upper Street to the Italian deli off Canonbury Square. Got some odds and ends in there, then had lunch at Belle Epoche round the corner...stuck with our favourites, cheesey mushroom quiche, and egg custard flan...yum! Walked on toward Islington Green, then got a No.43 bus back up the Holloway Road. Got off at Waitrose and did a minor shop, then walked home. Aki cooked a chicken risotto for dinner, and we enjoyed cheese and biscuits for afters. Spent a couple of hours making mushroom stuffed potato dumplings, which I then put in the freezer...they're the starter for our guests on Wednesday evening. Aki wrapped all the Christmas presents in readiness for our journey north on Thursday. Shower and bed...

Friday 16th December 2022

Alarm at 0800....Aki roused me with a mug of tea. Got up and porridged and did an hour or so at the computer, and warmed up some tinned chicken soup to take for lunch. Headed out in the motor toward Hackney and Bethnal Green. Found myself driving back toward Holloway around lunchtime, so stopped and had my packed lunch with Aki at the dining table! Drove on to Willesden, but traffic was very slow. Didn't manage to make it on to Pinner as planned before dusk, so turned for home. Cooked dinner. Belly pork with sauteed potatoes, which I tried pre-cooking in the microwave before frying off. Worked OK, though the potatoes stuck together a bit once microwaved, and had to be delicately prised apart before jumping into the frying pan. Had the mishti doi pudding Gayu had made for last night's dinner party, which I had had to forego, as I rushed off to band rehearsal after the first course. It was delicious...she's passed Aki the recipe, so will have to try it out on ma and pa next week! Did another hour's work at the computer, before we watched the final episode of "The English"...the actor playing our red Indian hero was magnificent...a centre of calm and stillness around which the more manic actors hovered. Shower and bed...

Thursday 15th December 2022

Alarm at 0800...dozed to the News before Aki turned up with a mug of tea. Read some David Copperfield before getting up to make porridge. Worked at the computer all morning. Broke for lunch. Aki nipped out to Waitrose afterward, braving the sheet ice. I worked at the dining table on my laptop, but had to get back on the computer, as the laptop monitor screen is too small for some of the work I need to get through today. Walked over the road at 1800 for dinner at No.38. Kath and George from No.127 were also there...Ben served a vegetable lasagne, with leeks, and side salad. I swallowed mine, then had to leave them to it, missing the dessert. Packed my guitars into the car and drove off to Stoke Newington. Bit of a traffic jam on Seven Sisters Road, and took my diversionary route around the north side of Finsbury Park. Hauled my equipment into the Smith studio. Zelia was first up, so we did her two numbers, then Julia turned up, and we did "Desperado" and "Two More Bottles...", before ending with Matthew's two numbers, Monty Python's "Galaxy Song", and "I Believe in Father Christmas", which I'm still struggling with somewhat...it'll be alright on the night! We broke at 2145, and I left my amp and electric guitar in the Studio cupboard, hoping it'll still be there on Sunday! Got home about 2230...Aki had saved some dessert for me! I look forward to that tomorrow...

Wednesday 14th December 2022

Alarm at 0800. Aki got up and made some tea. I read another chapter of Mas'r Davey before hauling myself up and out of bed. Porridged. Worked at the laptop all morning. Broke to sling lunch together. Carried on for a four hour afternoon stint, breaking at 1800 to cook dinner...made a creamy mushroom and chicken pasta sauce...yum! Stuck my electric guitar and ukulele in the car and headed for Stoke Newington...listened to some of the first half of the France v Morocco World Cup semi-final...Morocco 1-0 at half time. Rehearsal went OK...worked through Fleetwood Mac's "You Make Loving Fun", and by the fourth take I think I had it down pretty good, playing some nice lead guitar fills. "Santa Baby" I tried to play on ukulele, and I just couldn't get one section where Colin wants me to finger pick it...got very tiresome! I was glad when we decided to break, and jumped in the car to head for home. Got in around 2245...Aki had watched the semi, and had really enjoyed Morocco's performance...they came agonisingly close on a couple of occassions, but went down 2-0, so the French march on to Sunday's finale!

Tuesday 13th December 2022

Alarm at 0800. I dozed for a bit...Aki brought me a mug of tea, and I read another chapter of "David Copperfield" before rising to make porridge. Sussex Way still snowbound...doesn't look as if a gritter has passed this way...the binmen didn't show up, probably wisely! I worked at the computer until lunchtime, Aki sitting at her laptop on the dining table. I cooked lunch, avocado toast with poached egg on top. I spent half the afternoon trying to work out how to play "I Believe in Father Christmas"...realised my plucking technique had been wrong...couldn't get my brain to accept the kosher version...it'll be a struggle, that one! Andy Garratt rang with more work, so I had to get back on the laptop and set things up and print stocklists off. Aki baked trout, which she served up with cous cous and vegetables. Carrot cake and creme fraiche for dessert. Watched a couple of cookery programmes...enjoyed Jamie Oliver's Easy Xmas recipes, but still looked like an awful lot of work! Aki feeling sleepy, so she sidled off to bed...I did some more guitar practice. Enjoying myself, but I fear it's too much given the fact that we are on on Sunday! 

Monday 12th December 2022

Woke to alarm at 0800. Aki opened the bedroom blind to reveal a covering of 6 inches of snow in the back yard. I got up and porridged, before cancelling my Premier Inn booking for tonight in Norwich. Worked at the computer up until lunch time. Aki ventured outside to buy stamps...she came back saying conditions were hazardous for the pedestrian! Lunch was busked...Aki wanted hot noodle soup, but I needed to eat up some salad items that had overtaken their use by dates, so had tortilla with some ham and potato salad. Worked for most of the afternoon. early dinner...Aki made me some noodle soup, with chicken and egg, and we FaceTimed ma and pa...they had Uncle Peter, and Matt, making a flying visit, so had a wee chat with Matt about J having taken on the mantle of the Beast of Bolsover. They had to ring off, as mum had put their dinner on the table. I drove off to Stoke Newington for band rehearsal. Not much traffic about, but the main roads were pretty much clear of snow...Sussex Way is a bit of an ice rink, though. We rehearsed in RR3, the cold basement room...we couldn't seem to get the air conditioner to fire up, so we kept our coats on. Colin turned up, so we had an MD on the joanna. We worked through a couple of numbers with Zelia....Seal's "Kiss from a Rose", and "She Used to be Mine", from the musical, "Waitress"...they went well. Then in the absence of Emily, we worked through the chords for Fleetwood Mac's "You Make Loving Fun", and "Santa Baby", made infamous by Ertha Kitt. Emily didn't show, so we disbanded at 2200, and I drove home. 

Sunday 11th December 2022

Woke around 0900. Dozed for another half hour or so. Aki still not 100%. Got up and cooked a breakfast. Drove round to Waitrose to do a bit of a shop. Below freezing outside! Bit of fog about too. Got back in one piece. Sat about reading The Observer while Aki worked on her Xmas card design...I cooked a roast chicken for dinner, with roast potatoes (over cooked), parsnips (burnt), carrot and caramelised onion puree (over salted), and a bread sauce (overly soggy)...doesn't auger well for Christmas dinner duty later in the month!!! Astonished to look out of the front window at about 2030 to see 6 inches of snow covering Sussex Way...had planned a road trip to Norwich tomorrow, overnighting at the Premier Inn on Duke Street...looks like I'm going to have to cancel and move it to later in the week! Matthew emailed me with three additional songs for rehearsal this week...it's turning into a marathon. Had a listen to them all, though, and pieced them together on the guitar. 

Saturday 10th December 2022

Woke at around 1000...Aki got up and made tea...I read a bit of David Copperfield. Got up and made a late brunch. Aki just had poached egg on toast, while I made potato cakes with beaten egg and spring onion. Aki still not yet 100%...she dozed off on the sofa. We watched the Moroccans beat Portugal 1-0 to go through to the semi-final. Had a bite to eat, then walked over the road to watch the England v France game at Ben and Gayu's at No.38, in the company of Carlos and Jane from No.36. Ben had set up a screen and projector. France started the better, and were soon 1-0 up, but we were awarded a penalty, and Harry Kane smashed it past his Tottenham team mate to draw us level. We were much better second half, and were unlucky to go behind to a Giroud header...when we were were another penalty with 10 minutes to go, it looked certain we'd be in for extra time...but Harry blazed over, and that was that! Very disappointing. Carlos and I walked up to the North Nineteen to hear Rollo and Lewis play some blues...Ben and Gayu followed us up there...the boys were on good form, and it was nice to see Tony the pub landlord, who's always very welcoming. Walked back home at 2330 along pavements sparkling with a heavy frost! 

Friday 9th December 2022

Woke at 0800. Aki got up to ready herself for the JCUK Xmas bash, but brought me a mug of tea. I languished in bed until 0900. Got up and made porridge. Waved Aki off, and sat down in front of the computer to upload yesterday's photos, and start writing up inspection sheets. Broke for a late lunch...warmed up the last of the chicken bao in the steamer, with some pak choi. Managed another couple of hours before tuning in for the second half of the Brazil v Croatia quarter-final. It was all a bit of a stalemate, and ended 1-1 after extra time...the Croats won the penalty shoot out, and Brazil are out of it! Aki got back from the party...she'd operated sound on a little sketch that one of their number had written, which went down very well by all accounts. I baked some haddock for dinner, and made mashed potatoes. We ate on our laps in front of the telly as the Netherlands v Argentina game got underway. Very tense, tetchy game, which ended with the Dutch equalising in the very last seconds of the game....so it too went to extra time and penalties...the Argentinians held their nerve, and go through to a semi-final with Croatia! 

Thursday 8th December 2022

Woke around 0830...struggled to get out of bed, but forced myself up and out to make porridge, and put together a packed lunch. Aki feeling a bit better, and manned her post at the computer. She has a lot of work piling up all of a sudden! I headed off toward Chelmsford for a second day, stopping off in Brentwood for coffee and a quick shop in M&S. Cold but gloriously sunny day. Most of my inspections took me to small villages and hamlets to the west and north of the city. The fields were partly covered in hoare frost. Had my lunch in the car on a recent development in Great Leighs, then headed back toward Chelmsford, ending the working day in Sandon to the south-east, before turning the car for home. Glorious sunset over the London Basin as I hit the M11. Got home around 1745. Aki cooked up a Greek lemon and chicken soup with rice porridge and pak choi. I hauled my guitar into the car and drove to Stoke Newington for band rehearsal. Couldn't park outside the theatre, as the road was being tarmacced. Ran through Desperado and Two More Bottles of Wine with Julia on vox, Colin on keys, Phil on bass, and Matthew on guitar. I found myself adding some guitar to a couple of songs that Matthew is doing, namely Monty Python's The Galaxy Song, and Greg Lake's They Said There'd Be Snow At Xmas...then we repaired to The Butchers for a beer and chat about rock 'n roll. Got home at 2330. 

Wednesday 7th December 2022

Woke at 0230...needed the loo, but took ages to get back to sleep again afterward. Alarm at 0730. Given the lousy night's sleep, I decided not to head for Norwich, as planned. Aki feeling under the weather...a bit nauseous...she decided to stay in bed. I porridged, and warmed up some soup for my packed lunch. Bumped into Andrew from No.49 on the way to the car, who said that Kathleen had been up half the night vomiting...sounds like Aki's maybe caught the Winter Vomiting Bug!!! Eventually set off for Margaretting, stopping off in Brentwood to get some odds and ends in M&S, and pick up a coffee from Gail's in the High Street. Happened upon some very odd looking, nay, downright ugly, 80s era ex Council stock in the village of East Hanningfield. Had my lunch in the car in an ASDA car park in South Woodham Ferrers. By the time I finished up in Danbury, the light was fading fast, so I turned for home. Got home around 1745. Aki still in bed, though doesn't appear to have gotten worse. Did some work at the computer. Aki not hungry, so I warmed up the remains of the mushroom and anchovy pasta sauce I found in the fridge, which I ate with linguine, and a side salad. Listened to music and read a chapter or two of "David Copperfield". Watched the News before shower and bed...

Tuesday 6th December 2022

Woke at 0830. Got up and made porridge, and heated up the remains of the mapo to take for my lunch. Aki left for rehearsals in Kensington, and I set off for Bushey via the M1. Stopped at Sainsburys in St Albans to pick up some items, and fill the car with petrol, before heading north to Wheathampstead...stopped on the way at a car park serving a pleasant little woodland spot and ate my lunch. Nice sunny day. Drove on to Luton, then ended the working day in Maulden, a little village just south of Bedford, on a new build development. Drove home via the M1. Got home before Aki, and tuned in to the end of the Morocco v Spain game...Spain went out on penalties. Aki got back, and I warmed up the haggis and lentil lasagne for dinner. Aki didn't have much appetite...she ate too much at lunch time! Watched Portugal demolish a lacklustre Switzerland, then early shower and bed...

Monday 5th December 2022

Woke around 0800...Aki already up...she brought me a mug of tea. Hauled myself out of bed, porridged, and put together a packed lunch. Did a bit of work at the computer before heading northward in the car for inspections, firstly in Potters Bar and South Mimms, then on up to Broxbourne, before heading west to Hertford. Stopped to pick up some lunch items, and a coffee, at Tesco in Potters Bar, and had my lunch on a Council estate in South Mimms. Got home around 1730, in time to watch Japan crash out of the World Cup in a penalty shoot out against Croatia. I cooked mushroom and anchovy pasta sauce for dinner, which we ate on our laps, watching the Brazilians take South Korea apart. 

Sunday 4th December 2022

Woke around 0900. Aki brought me a mug of tea...felt a bit dehydrated after last night's Guinness! Got up and Aki cooked a breakfast. FaceTimed Kath, who was at ma and pa's...quizzed them over what we needed to bring up to Newcastle with us, but they seem to have it all covered. Sat and read yesterday's paper and listened to music. Watched the France v Poland game before driving down to Pentonville to listen to a concert by the Angel Orchestra, an amateur outfit including George from No.127 on flute, and Ben from No.38 on violin. The concert was conducted in St Silas's church, which was well lit and comfortably seated, but there were bits of polythene on some of the arches, which presumably leak when it rains....fortunately, the rain stayed away, though temperatures have suddenly plummeted. The programme included Elgar's Enigma Variations, and Vaughan Williams' Lark Ascending. Enjoyed it very much, though the French horn sounded a bit wobbly, and some of the violins were a little off key! Congratulated the neighbours on their endeavours, then hightailed it back home in time for the England v Senegal game, and Aki warmed up the mapo, which we ate in bowls on our laps in front of the telly. England got off to a slow start, but came good at the end of the first half, and ran out 3-0 winners....France next up!!! Kath texted to say that Reg, one of her aged clients, had died while she was with him this afternoon...his wife passed away yesterday! Sounds like a rough day for Kath!!! She repaired to ma and pa's later for a stiff drink...

Saturday 3rd December 2022

Woke at 0915. Aki brought me a mug of hot water with lemon, honey and ginger. Got up and cooked us a breakfast. We walked round to Waitrose to do a bit of shopping...Aki used the scanner to make things quicker...a wasted effort, as at the checkout we were selected for a random check by a member of staff. Blinkin' ridiculous. Came home and had a light lunch, then watched Netherlands v USA, for a place in the quarter-finals. The Dutch won 3-1. Aki prepared some food to take round to Brett's later, and Julia and Ottie came round for band practice. We then repaired to Brett's at No.7...good turn out. Got Ottie set up with her guitar, and we led the community sing-a-long-a-Brettmas. Ottie's relaxed concentration was impressive for one so young...we may have a guitar prodigy on the street. I managed to gobble some food down before departing for the theatre. 

Parked up outside and listened to the end of the Argentina v Australia game...Australia were 2-0 down with 15 minutes to go, and got a goal back, which made for an exciting final act...but they went out 2-1. Got into the theatre expecting the audience to be going back in after the interval, but the show had gone up 15 minutes late, as half the audience had got stuck in the local traffic, due to on-going roadworks. So I delayed going up to dress until Act II had kicked off. Did my Santa entrance and ho ho-ed briefly, and stood for the curtain call...as the rest of the cast were slow out of the blocks, I took a solitary bow! Stayed for a beer in the bar, and chatted with various people before we were ushered into the studio for the end of production gift giving...as there were so many people involved in the show, it took rather longer than usual, so I left before the karaoke got started. Got home around 0100 and crawled quietly into bed...

Friday 2nd December 2022

Woke around 0830 and dozed for a bit. Aki brought me a mug of hot lemon water. Read a chapter of "David Copperfield"  before rising for porridge. Cleared the boot of my car prior to driving up to the VW service centre in Colindale. Had booked a slot at 1200 on the basis that I was to wait around for a couple of hours, so walked back into Colindale and had a coffee at the little Costa cafe, then wandered back to the Oriental supermarket, and bought some chicken bao and pak choi. Had lunch at Bang Bang, the large Far Eastern food hall next door. tried chicken rendang with udon noodles...it was a lot spicier than I'd anticipated! The service centre rang to say my rear brake pads needed replacing, so it would be another hour or so. I wandered around Morrisons, still in a bit of a sweat, looking in vain for pecan nuts that Aki needed for a recipe she planned to take round to Brett's Xmas bash tomorrow evening. Ended up finding a small pack of them in M&S for £2.65 (blimey!), then ambled back to the VW place. Car cost me £650!!! I presume the ever rising price of oil had something to do with that! Drove home listening to the climax of the Portugal v S Korea game...the Koreans came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 and find themselves up against Brazil in the last sixteen...great stuff. Warmed up the haggis ragu lasagne for dinner. Aki still in some discomfort. The GP prescribed her some anti-biotics today, so we'll see how she gets on with those over the course of the weekend. Watched the penultimate episode of "The English", and a bit of the Graham Norton Show before retiring to bed exhausted...

Thursday 1st December 2022

Woke around 0830. Aki suffering a bit of stomach ache, so she got up and sought out some medication...unfortunately it was past it's use by date. She rang the GP, who recommended buscopan, or paracetamol, So I ventured out after porridge, and got some fresh supplies from Superdrug on Seven Sisters Road. By lunch time, she was still in discomfort. I cooked a light lunch, and she took some more buscopan and had a lie down. I made a move to turn on the central heating, as it's getting a bit colder every day. Down to 15C in the flat. But on opening the boiler cupboard, I found a couple dozen droppings...they were too big for a mouse, so I suspect a squirrel...rats we don't want to think about! I put a mask on and vacuumed the cupboarding out, then read on an internet site that you shouldn't do that, as it can send pathogens into the air! Maybe that's the cause of Aki's stomach cramps! Switched the heating on for a bit to take the edge off the cold. Watched Belgium go out of the World Cup after drawing with Croatia. Baked salmon for dinner, with rice and vegetables, and some sauce leftover from the fish pie...went down well. Watched the first half of the Japan v Spain game...Japan were 1-0 down at half-time, and looking short of ideas, but burst into devastating life at the start of the second half, scoring twice in quick succession, and holding on for a win that takes them through to the last sixteen. Germany went out, despite beating Costa Rica 4-2. I listened to the second half of the japan game in the car on the way in to the Tower Theatre. Got there for the interval, and went backstage to sort out my Santa costume. The wig made me look vaguely like Billy Connolly! Once I'd got the whole costume on, I had to very tentatively walk down the fire escape steps bearing my heavy cape, the through the bar, and up the stairs to the theatre door. The hood and wig made vision poor, and I could barely hear the action on stage through the theatre door, what with the sound of traffic on Northwold Road...but I made my entrance with perfect timing, and even got a laugh, though I've no idea what for. Managed a quick word with Janet, who'd written the piece...she complemented me on my ho-ho-ing. I departed and drove home to see how Aki was doing. She was still basking in the glow of Japan's victory, and had been texting friends and family! They've got to get past a tough Croatian team next...