Wednesday 11th January 2023

Woke around 0800. Aki already up and about, as she had a work meeting in Camden this morning. I got up at 0830 and porridged. My damaged finger throbbing a bit this morning. Heated up some of Aki's homemade pea and ham soup for my packed lunch. Headed out to pick Leon up in Upton Park. Slow progress made before lunch. Stopped at Tesco in Barking to pick up some supplies and a coffee, then drove to inspections in Creekmouth. Looked for somewhere to park up near the river for lunch, but it's an industrial wasteland, so drove to a park to the east of Barking and parked up overlooking the boating lake. Ended the working day in Plaistow, and dropped Leon at the tube station before heading home. Got home around 1715. Dave the plumber came round to take a look at our shower tap and half took it apart...I wasn't convinced he knew what he was doing...he used a spanner instead of unscrewing the grub screw, and didn't seem to know how to put it all back together! He promised to come back on Saturday to try and extricate the cartridge. We plied him with a couple of portions of Aki's mishti doi for him and Lou to have as dessert. Had ham for dinner, with potato gratin on the side, and some vegetables, followed by cheese and biscuits. Read some David Copperfield. Hernia repair giving me a lot of gip today...uncomfortable getting in and out of the car, and sitting on the sofa. Presumably it was aggravated by last night's visit to the 100 Club! Too old to rock 'n roll...