Saturday 29th July 2023

Woke at around 0815. Got up and made tea. Back to bed to read for a bit. Cooked eggs menemen for breakfast with toast and a bit of rocket. Took our constitutional up Highgate Hill, via Yerbury Farmer's market, where we bumped into Jane from No.36. We then carried on up the hill to Lauderdale House and had a gander at the photo exhibition...some kind of local competition. One or two good ones, but otherwise all a bit ordinary. Walked back home in time to let Vince in...he wanted to cut away a bit more plasterboard before having a go at re-directing the shower tap pipework. Gave him a cuppa tea and we had a chat about Holloway in years gone by, and his exploits as a teenage DJ. 

Aki did a bit of gardening out front. We caught the No.91 bus to Kings Cross. Wandered over to the Regent's Canal and hooked up with Roz and Walt at the Albert Dock, where they had moored up for the night, just behind Kings Place. Lucy came out from the stern exit to greet us. The vessel is a long narrow boat called Arcona...nicely painted outside in reds and greens, and Walter ushered us into a well kept, tidy interior. The living quarters are decked out with a couple of comfy armchairs, there's a wood burning stove, and a kitchenette. Then there's the bedroom with a narrow looking double mattress, a WC and a tiny "bath", the engine room with a magnificent brightly polished two-cylinder machine, then another little room in the stern with a drop down bed and hot plates, where Lucy will be kipping tonight. 

It's all very homely, though a bit cramped for my liking...Walter has banged his head on the door jambs on innumerable occassions. I had trouble getting in and out of the vessel...don't think I'd last long! We ambled over to Granary Square, and took a table outside at Granary Brasserie. It was very busy. The food was good though. Enjoyed a catch up...Lucy is currently unemployed, but has had a few job interviews; Lol sounds OK, though Annie's mum died, and Annie couldn't bear to get rid of her mum's possessions, so their already over-cluttered house is now packed with clutter from floors to ceilings; Cath is awaiting another op on her badly broken leg, as it hasn't been re-aligned properly. Phil now has to do most of the dog walking duty; Nick is now 40, and the grandchildren are growing up fast...the eldest is now at secondary school. Emily seems to be holding her own OK after going a bit AWOL for a few months. Walked them back to the dock, and promised to arrange to jump aboard on the River Lee at some point midweek. Caught the No.91 back to Holloway. Watched a bit of telly before showering in the bath tub, and bed...