Thursday 3rd August 2023

Alarm at 0740. Got up and made tea. Porridged. Brought the car down so I could empty the boot prior to heading for the MOT in Colindale. Drove first to the tip to get rid of some bits and pieces, then up the A1 to Colindale to drop the car off at the service centre. Walked the mile back to Colindale tube station, and took a bus from Camden Town, back home. Aki still out by the time I got back. Prepared a ham salad lunch, which we ate on her return. Vince turned up mid afternoon to do the grouting in the shower. Aki cooked an early carbonara dinner, after which I walked to Finsbury Park tube station and headed for the Southbank. Tony had gotten hold of one freebie for James Graham's "Dear England" in the Olivier, as he was audio-describing the first half of tonight's performance. Had a quick catch up on the roof terrace. It was a sell-out...very engaged audience who got all the football related gags. Very funny little character sketches of Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford, Raheem Sterling etc. The play itself was a bit lumpen theatrically...not as good as Graham's "This House"...but it was an entertaining evening, which got quite emotional at points, most notably the three black lads missing their penalties in the Euro '21 final against Italy. Walked back over the river...darkness had fallen and the lights of the city were sparkling on the water. Ambled up to Leicester Square, where I got the tube to Caledonian Road. No bus for 5 minutes, so walked on up to Parkhurst Road, and hooked up with a No.259 from there. Aki in bed reading by the time I got in...