Thursday 2nd February 2023

Alarm at 0730. Aki got up and made tea. I was still in bed when the doorbell rang...it was the boiler engineer. Aki had arranged an 0830 appointment, so he caught us out by turning up half-an-hour early! He had a tinker about with the boiler, and one or two of the thermostatic valves on the radiators. He seemed to think there may be some trapped air in the underfloor heating system...told us to keep an eye on things and report back. I worked at the computer for a few hours before breaking to make lunch. Popped out to the chemist across the road to pick up a prescription for Aki. Went to Tesco to get some skimmed milk, but ended up buying a couple of items for the girl who sits outside selling the Big Issue. Aki gave her one of her old padded coats last week, so I said hello and asked if she needed anything from the shop...she requested some spray for the bathroom! In the event, I didn't know whether she meant nice smelling spray for the cloakroom, or a disinfectant spray...so bought her both! 

Managed a bit more work at the computer in the afternoon, before breaking to head for Battersea Arts Centre. Oily Cart, my last professional theatre job in 2006, were having a do to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the company's inception. Aki still feeling under the weather, so I went alone. Got there about 1845, and found Bob Karper in the bar, and we went upstairs for the party. They had decked out a rather majestic old room on the first floor with arty hanging installations, cabaret style tables, and a small stage. We were greeted at the door by Griff Fender, and Mark, who I'd worked with on "Blue"...they were costumed up, and acted as joint MC's during the course of the entertainment. Jacques turned up...hadn't seen him since my 60th birthday party bash. Had a brief chat with Max, one of the three founder members, and then sat down for the entertainment. 

It was a fun evening. Got to catch up with Amanda, another of the retired founder members, and the principle set and costume designer over the many years of work. Left without getting a chance to say hello to her husband, Tim, who was the erstwhile AD, but promised her I'd call in for a cuppa tea when next passing their pad in Acton. Got the train and tube back home with Bob...got in at 2245. Watched the tail end of a documentary on a missing person case...this chap had disappeared from an address in Archway 12 years ago. They reckoned he'd been involved with the local drug scene, and had been murdered, his body dumped in Epping Forest. Shower and bed...