Wednesday 20th December 2023

Woke around 0800, but struggled to raise myself. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club, and I got up and porridged. Flung a packed lunch together, and headed northward, stopping off at Sainsburys in Manor House. First inspection was in the village of North Weald Bassett...a modern block of flats in a very strange location, bounded by a semi-industrialised farmyard, a nursery school, and a five-a-side football pitch...felt like the middle of nowhere. Drove on through a busy Harlow town centre, and on to Stevenage, then up beyond Hitchin, stopping at Baldock Services to eat my lunch in the car and use the facilities. Drove across to Dunstable, then back around to Luton, before ending the working day in St Albans. Very slow driving through the little city centre. Got home around 1730. Aki had just gotten back from the crematorium, where sundry Rowing Club members had gone to say bon voyage to one of their aged number who had passed away last week. I worked at the computer until 2030, stopping for dinner...Aki baked a huge trout, which we ate with vegetables, followed by chocolate mousse and rice pudding.