Saturday 23rd September 2023

Woke around 0830. Aki got up and made tea, which we drank in bed. Read a little "Milkman" before getting up to prepare brunch. Aki cycled off to the fishmonger on Essex Road. Did a little work at the computer. Aki brought a loaf of fresh sourdough back with her, so we had toast for lunch. Walked to Finsbury Park to have a quick gander in the new French bakery on Blackstock Road...we were greeted with a "Bonjour" on entry from the friendly staff, who talked us through some of their produce. We promised to return to try the coffee. Caught a No.106 bus toward Stoke Newington. It's London Design Week, so there are a number of venues hosting open days over the weekend. We first visited a gift shop on Church Street which specialises in selling stuff made by local practitioners...Aki liked a little backpack, and persuaded me to buy it for her for Christmas! Walked on into Stoke Newington. Aki couldn't resist popping in to Hub...and ended up spending over £200 on a very nice yellow hoodie, and a pair of baggy black pants in a heavy linen mix. Walked on to Praxis on Belfast Road, an old Victorian factory building now housing studios hired out to local artists, milliners, furniture makers etc. Had a wander through the rooms, and a look at the small exhibition. Then it was on to the Tower Theatre, who were staging an exhibition of some of their past set and costume designs. Bumped into Janet South, who was propping up the, in the company of Max Batty and Jude Chalk, who are probably the most prolific of the theatre designers to be found at the Tower. Got home around 1800. Aki cooked mackerel for dinner, with miso paste, sticky rice, vegetables and kimchi. Watched "Women Talking" on Amazon Prime. It had gotten bigged up when it came out last earlier in the year, but I found it all a bit mannered and unconvincing...a bit of a waste of an hour and three quarters!