Sunday 8th October 2023

Woke around 0800. Aki got up and made tea. I read a bit of "Pickwick" in bed, then got up for breakfast...Aki cooked a tasty omelette with camembert cheese melted in the middle of it. She cycled off to Rowing Club. Did a little work at the computer, then watched the Japan v Argentina RWC game. It was end to end stuff, but the Japanese were always trailing, and have been knocked out of the competition. I walked over to Waitrose and bought a chicken and some bits and pieces....came home and started putting the roast dinner together. Buttered the chicken beneath the skin, which I've never done before...it was a messy job! Aki got home around 1600. I served dinner at 1730...the roast chicken breast was very moist, so the buttering worked a treat...delicious. Served it with roast spiced cabbage with a caper and raisin dressing, courgette and apple slaw with walnuts and tarragon, roast potatoes and peas. Very tasty. 

Cycled over to Stoke Newington before the Arsenal v Man City game chucked out. Could hear the roar as Arsenal scored as we were cycling through Clissold Park. Had time to kill...bought ice cream at the pub on the corner of Church Street and Albion Road, and sat outside to eat it. Wandered back over to Clissold Park in the gloaming, and FaceTimed ma and pa...they had just seen Jim and Emma off the premises, they having come over to cook mum and dad a Sunday roast. Repaired to Stoke Newington Old Church for the concert...a trio consisting of two violincellos, and a harpsichord, playing rarely heard French Baroque compositions. The two cellos worked wonders as they formed intricate musical patterns, rather akin to Keef Richards and Ronnie Wood on their electric guitars. It was a real treat. Cycled home in the dark.