Monday 30th December 2024

Woke around 0830. Bad hernia repair giving me gip today. Descended ahead of the rest of the family, so read the paper in the living-room, accompanied by a mug of tea. Aki came down and made porridge. We ate at table with ma and pa before Kath appeared. Played some guitar upstairs. Went on the laptop to look over my RICS CPD requirements...not very keen to give them another £300 for my subscription for 2025, frankly. Fabricated a bunch of webinar tutorials, so I think I've got the CPD covered, but not sure if I want to fork out yet. Aki prepped lunch...omelette and salad with the last of the smoked salmon. Practised "Now Westlin' Winds", then sat in the living-room reading bits of Guardian and old Observer newspaper. Kath cooked several meals...we ate turkey and ham fricasse for dinner, with pasta, followed by chocolate pudd, ice cream, and custard. There's plenty left for the freezer. She also did a mammoth sausage casserole dish, which we plan to eat tomorrow evening. Watched a bit of telly. Spooned portions of the fricasse, and the casserole, into freezer bags before retiring for the night...

Sunday 29th December 2024

 

Woke around 0945. Descended for breakfast. Needed to get milk and orange juice, so Aki and I walked down to the Co-op in the wind. Stopped at Bistro No.9 for a frothy coffee before walking back up Whinfell Road. Assembled lunch, having been informed that Jim and Emma weren’t coming to eat with us today as planned…Jim had had to go back to bed after walking the dog! Aki got a message saying that her IKEA delivery was ready for picking up from the Co-op. I drove her back down to pick it up. Two pillows and a duvet cover. Worked on the Robbie Burns song. Prepared dinner…decided to use up the leftovers pie rather than freeze it. Served it up with bread sauce, mashed potato and cabbage. Melt in the middle chocolate pudd for afters with ice cream. Watched a bit of “David Copperfield” before MOTD.

Saturday 28th December 2024

Woke around 0930. Got up and descended for a light breakfast. I popped out in the car to buy some provisions at Darras Hall...when I returned to my car I noticed white scratch marks to the rear off-side door...baffled as to when that may have happened. Drove back to High View and cooked a chicken jalfrezi using a jar of cooking sauce dad had been keeping in the cupboard...tried to make it tastier by adding tinned tomatoes, and coconut milk. 

Aki and I had an early lunch...soup...then headed off in the car for Jesmond Dene. Parked up at The Blue Bell, but no sign of Micha or Graeme...got a text message saying they'd parked up at the Visitor Centre. The barmaid at the Blue Bell pointed us in the right direction, and we walked along the banks of the Ouseburn, keeping to the road. Graeme, Tess, Jacob, and Daniel, and Micha, Catherine, Flo, Lizzie, and Theo, were all waiting for us near the petting zoo. 

Everyone looked fit and healthy...the kids now considerably taller than when we last laid eyes on them...the twins Flo and Lizzie are now 14! We walked on up to the old mill and the waterfall, then turned back through the Dene, and then into Heaton Park...nice walk. Ended up back at the Blue Bell, where we caught up over a swift half and some thick cut chips. Micha still working as producer on the Breakfast Show at BBC Radio Newcastle; Graeme working as PR for Gateshead Council. I was interested to learn that Flo and Lizzie play in a band, doing Nirvana numbers! Theo plays the drums. The two King boys are very introverted...you can barely get a sentence out of them. I thought they might have grown out of that phase, but it seems pretty well entrenched. Aki and I said our goodbyes, and we drove into the city centre, parking up near St James's Park. Walked into Chinatown, and did a little shop in the HiYou Supermarket...Aki keen to garner some ingredients for her New Years breakfast. Drove home to prepare dinner. Aki made a lentil dal, which we served up with the jalfrezi, rice, and naan bread. It seemed to go down well. Watched a bit of telly before Kath got back from work. We then had a game of Scrabble before bed...

Friday 27th December 2024

Woke around 0800. Aki had managed to get a reasonably good night's sleep, and felt better; thankfully she hadn't had to use the fermentation bin! I went down to the kitchen and made tea. Cereal for breakfast. Kath had departed for Berwick, and a rendevous with Dex. Spent the morning tidying up after yesterday's exertions in the kitchen, and began prepping lunch. Fried potatoes, topped with salmon, spinach, a poached egg, and hollandaise sauce...very tasty. Aki made do with some soup. We walked down to the Co-op at Darras Hall after lunch to buy some provisions, most notably two sheets of puff pastry. Walked back, and started to prep a large turkey and ham pie, stuffed full of Xmas leftovers. Aki came in and gave me a hand. Served it up with creamed cabbage and apple, and a bit of the nut roast; the last of the Xmas pudd for afters...dad made some custard. Played the Book Game...it wasn't a vintage version, but passed the time. Nowt on telly.
 

Thursday 26th December 2024

Woke around 0900…got up to make tea. Kath getting ready to drive off to Widdrington to work. Aki made porridge. I cooked up a turkey flavoured minestrone soup, which was ready by the time Kath arrived back for lunch. We drove out to Newburn for a short afternoon walk, though dad stayed home. Parked up and walked down to the river, but mum began experiencing sciatic pain in her left leg, so we got her as far as the Tyne ARC clubhouse, where we ascended to the bar and ordered coffees. Sat there for a bit, then Aki and I walked back to the car, and drove round to pick mum and Kath up outside the clubhouse door. Drove back to High View. Kath cooked a gammon joint in the slow cooker for dinner. Very tasty...moist and flavoursome. Christmas pud and ice cream for afters. Watched some telly. The "Outnumbered" Christmas special was disappointing...slow and clunky. Caught MOTD before heading up to bed. Aki not feeling well...had felt dizzy in the shower, and a bit nauseous once in bed...I brought her Jim's fermentation bin just in case. 

Wednesday 25th December 2024

Woke around 0815. Descended to make tea, and came back to bed. Kath had gone to work, and mum and dad still in bed. Eventually rose and porridged at the dining table. Prepped a bit more food ahead of cooking the Christmas dinner. Turkey still not fully defrosted, so we bagged it up and stuck it in a bowl of water for a bit. Kath got back around 1215, and we had a light lunch...gravadlax, avocado, prawns, and toast. 

Opened our presents in the dining room. Dad gave us a couple of framed photos he'd taken on his travels around Northumbria...one of some fishermen's cottages at Craster, and one of a view of Bamburgh Castle. Dad seemed pleased with his Jamie Oliver cookbook. Mum liked the mugs we gave her. Kath gave me two Dickens hardbacks, "Martin Chuzzlewit", and "Hard Times". Started the long slog of cooking the dinner. 

We stuffed some citrus butter below the breast skin, and stuck it in a bath of white wine before sticking it in the oven. Roasted the potatoes; made creamed cabbage with apple and cumin; roast harissa parsnips with garlic and salad onions; fried brussels sprouts with pancetta; carrots; broccoli; bread sauce; nut roast...it was delicious! Though ma and pa didn't eat much. 

Waitrose Christmas pudding for afters with brandy cream and ice cream; and cheese and potato crackers to finish off. Had to have a brief lie down afterwards! Watched a bit of telly. Brought the ukuleles down to the living-room, and we had a sing-a-long-a-Xmas, then graduated onto some karaoke via YouTube. Dad sand "Danny Boy", Mum did "The White Cliffs of Dover", Kath sang "Dancing Queen", and I nearly strangulated my hernia impersonating Marc Bolan with a rendition of "Jeepster". 
 

Tuesday 24th December 2024

Woke at 0330 worrying about the turkey…decided it would need defrosting for longer than the usual so got up and descended to the garage to remove it from the freezer…Aki appeared saying it needed to be defrosted in the fridge, and covered it with foil…hopefully that does the trick! Took awhile to get back off to sleep…woke around 0915. Got up to make tea and brought it back to bed. Got up and porridged. Aki and I drove to Tesco in Kingston Park and did a final shop. Got back in time for lunch with mum and dad…mum had made a nice pasta salad. I spent the afternoon prepping food. Cooked a nut roast, and made bread sauce. Aki cooked a chilli con carne for dinner which we ate with rice and broccoli. Pancakes and ice cream for afters. Kath back from work at 2030. Jim has phoned in sick…in bed with flu, so we are not going to see him tomorrow. Watched a bit of loud telly in the living-room...enjoyable documentary with Clement and Le Frenais, talking about creating "Porridge", followed by a masterly Christmas special of the same...as good now as it was way back when! I repaired to the kitchen to prepare the spuds for roasting tomorrow, and made some citrus butter to spread on the turkey before it goes in the oven. Got to bed around 2330.

Monday 23rd December 2024

Woke around 0800. Got up and descended to the kitchen to make tea. Joined by Jim and Katherine. Made do with a bit of peanut butter on toast for breakfast. Katherine and Ro said farewell and drove off for a bridesmaid dress fitting in town. Rob joined us at the table, before we packed the car...said our farewells and drove off for the journey northward. Took the M62 to Leeds and picked up the M1, then the A19 to Yarm, where we managed to park up and walk down the High Street for lunch at Borelli's. 

Got to Sam McClaren's workshop in Stockton at 1430, as arranged. He greeted us at the door, and ushered us into the inner sanctum, where my hand-crafted P-16 was waiting for me. He's done a magnificent job...a spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides, a neck of Cuban mahogany, and an ebony fretboard with mother-of-pearl inlay. I nearly burst into tears! Had a little play...sounds great. The electronics include a built-in tuner! Had a chat with Sam, before sticking the guitar on the back seat, and heading for Darras Hall. Aki drove, as I wasn't feeling too good...can't work out if I've done my back in, or there's some kind of abdominal inflammation. Feels very odd. The weather took a turn for the worse, and it started raining, and got very gloomy. Quite a lot of spray kicked up by the traffic on the A1(M), but Aki guided us into Darras Hall without mishap...as we turned into Whinfell Road, we found ourselves following dad, who had come back from Western Way Garage, having dropped Kath off there to pick up her motor. She'd had to fork out £300 for repairs to get her back on the road again. Unpacked the car, saying a brief hello to mother, as we ran back and forth in the drizzle. Made up our bed, then descended for a cuppa tea. Kath cooked macaroni cheese for dinner, followed by pancake with raspberries and ice cream. Mum and dad appear to be in good health. We sat in the lounge and fell asleep in front of the telly...I escaped briefly to strum my new acquisition in the study...it is a thing of great beauty. Watched The Ten…dad had turned up the volume to 11…it was deafening! Showered before bed…

Sunday 22nd December 2024

Woke to alarm at 0800. Got up and porridged. I then packed the car, and we managed to get away before 1100, although we had to turn back as we realised we'd left the cheese in the fridge. Stopped off at Toddington Services on the M1 for a coffee, and swapped drivers. Aki drove us on to Trowell Services, where we stopped to eat our packed lunch, and swap back for the ride across the tops to Holmfirth. 

Quite windy, especially over the tops, but got to Holmfirth in one piece, and found a parking space on Underbank Old Road. Jim and Katherine were busy getting ready for guests. Sat and had a catch up with Barney, and then Rob and Ro appeared, having arrived from Cayman yesterday...a pleasant surprise. The guests turned up pretty much en masse at 1830...the usual suspects bearing assorted foodstuffs. Katherine’s lamb tagine was as delicious as usual, as was her sticky ginger cake. 

Everyone crammed into the living room for the annual entertainment. Aki and I kicked things off with a Xmas singalong on our ukuleles. Katherine had written a fantastic song about counting sheep in Cumbria, with a band accompaniment. The Ukuladies did some festive numbers, Barney and Louie did a cover of John Shuttleworth's "Margarine", and Alex rounded things off with a sing around before Jenna got stuck into the karaoke…Jim’s rendition of The Bellamy Bros.’ “Let Your Love Flow”, and Jenna’s manic version of “Come On Eileen” being the highlights. Got to bed around 0030…

Saturday 21st December 2024

Woke around 0945. Got up and made tea. Cooked a big brunch to see us through until dinner time. I drove over to Manor House to put petrol in the car. Drove back to Fairbridge Road to deliver a Xmas card to Helen and Martin...but their letter box is too small to get the card through! So I stuck it as far under the front door as it would go. Drove home, and as I was parking up Helen went past on her bike! Stopped her to tell her of the delivery, and we had a quick chat in the drizzle. She is singing at St Luke's tonight, and there's mulled wine and mince pies...sounded worth looking in on. Aki not overly keen, though...she doesn't want to walk anywhere with her bad foot. Aki cooked salmon for dinner. Decided not to venture out...need to get off to an early start tomorrow morning. Watched MOTD before bath and bed...

Friday 20th December 2024

Woke around 0830…got up and brought tea back to bed. Got and porridged. Tidied up a bit after last night's dinner party. Wrapped presents to take north with us on Sunday. Lunched on the last of the sweet potato soup. Popped out to Waitrose to get some provisions for tonight's meal. Back home, I spoke to Sam McClaren...my guitar is ready for collection. He said he was gifted some Cuban mahogany, and used it to make the neck. Made a chickpea and mushroom curry, which we ate with rice, vegetables, and naan bread. Nowt on telly. Put together a Spotify version of my Best of '24 tunes to share with various chums over Christmas. Bath and bed...

Thursday 19th December 2024

Very weary this morning…Aki cycled off to the fishmongers…I languished in bed until 1045! Got up for tea and porridge. Tidied up in preparation for our dinner guests. Lunched on a quiche I'd purchased at Belle Epoche on Upper Street yesterday. Took a call from the NHS...doing a survey on ex-smokers and lung health. Cleaned the bathroom. Walked over to Waitrose to get one or two items ahead of tonight's dinner party. Chris arrived first, followed about ten minutes later by Katrina, and Tony turned up around 1830. We sat in the living-room area, and I served them winter berry bellinis. The syrup seemed to set off an explosive reaction when the cava was poured on top, and my first effort fizzed over the top of the glass! We sat down to a roast sweet potato and tomato soup starter, followed by Aki's baked cod on mashed parsnip and carrot, with boiled potatoes and dill, and my brown sugar chocolate tart with ice cream. Chris was on good form...he regaled us with a very funny story about his cat. His son, Charlie, has finished shooting the final episode of "Stranger Things" and is on the lookout for work, though I'm sure a long rest will be much appreciated. His daughter Levi starts touring as backing singer/dancer with Self Esteem again in the New Year. We swapped Christmas presents before they headed off...I was much relieved that Tony hadn't already read the book we'd bought him, "My Battle of Hastings". Aki and I loaded the dishwasher before bath and bed...

Wednesday 18th December 2024

Woke around 0830. Got up and porridged. Pottered about this morning…played some guitar, and shruti box. Aki popped out to see the GP about her left heel…though it looks a bit better today. I booked an AirBnB in Mousehole for the last week in August. Nice view from the dining area out over the rooftops toward the harbour. Cooked Goan baked eggs for lunch. Made the roast sweet potato and tomato soup ahead of tomorrow night’s dinner party. 

Aki cycled off to Gill Wing on Upper Street to look at earrings as a possible present for Katrina…I followed on a No.43 bus and caught up with her in the kitchen supplies shop next door. Bought her a timber salt cellar with a little wooden scoop. Aki cycled home…I walked. Popped in at a couple of shops on the way. Got home around 1600. Got ready to head for Stamford Hill. Caught a No.253 bus to Clapton Common and walked down to the Rowing Club. We were expecting to help set up, but it had all been done…tables looked great with festive decoration and candles. About 40 people turned up for a two course dinner…it was very loud. I couldn’t hear the person in the opposite side of the table to me…but managed some conversation with Johanna, and with Lorna, neither of whom I’d met before. Aki and I lead the singalong on our ukuleles…but we’re pretty much drowned out by the lusty singing! We made our escape around 2230, walking Kate up to the bus stop on Upper Clapton Road. We headed in the opposite direction, jumping on a No.254 back to the Nags Head. Late bath and bed…

Tuesday 17th December 2024

Woke around 0930. Got up and porridged. Aki worked at the computer. I wandered over to Morrison’s and Waitrose before returning for lunch. Sat about doing Xmas cards. Started learning "Now Westlin’ Winds" ahead of Burns Night. Made a chocolate ganache and poured it into a pastry case and stuck it in the fridge. Aki cooked a dal for dinner which accompanied a coconut sauce, rice, and naan. Drove Katherine from No.127, and Jane and Carlos from No.36, to Stoke Newington to see an adaptation of Dickens' "The Chimes" at the Tower Theatre. We congregated in a busy bar area beforehand, this evening's show being a sell-out. The piece was littered with song, most of which failed to enlighten the audience or move the narrative on...there were certainly no memorable tunes. Rob Ellis, the director, had been very ambitious with his staging, utilising as much of the awkward space that is the Tower Theatre stage as possible, but it looked unsightly, and cluttered, as was much of the story-telling. All in all, a bit of a disappointment, but we all enjoyed a cheap night out. Drove us all home, dropping Katherine at No.127 before parking down our end of the street. Wished Jane and Carlos a very Happy Christmas, and headed for bath and bed...

Monday 16th December 2024

Woke around 0700...dozed on for a bit. Got up and brought a mug of tea back to bed with me. We got up around 0900 and porridged. Aki worked at the computer for most of the morning. I popped out to Waitrose to get some supplies. Came home and prepared a tasty ploughman's lunch, using one of the pork pies Aki had borrowed from the Rowing Club yesterday. Worked on "Now Westlin' Wind" on the guitar, hoping to simplify a version for Aki to strum along to by the time we get to Burns' Night in January. Warmed up the last of the chicken and bean stew, which we ate with rice and vegetables. Watched the final episode of The Mirror and the Light…very moved by Mark Rylance’s performance and the dignity he brought to Cromwell as he mounted the scaffold to meet his Maker.

Sunday 15th December 2024

Woke around 0700 but managed to drift back off until 0930. Aki brought me some tea in bed. Got up for her cooked breakfast. She headed off for the Rowing Club. I ran through the numbers for tonight’s gig, and got all my instruments and bits of costume ready to transfer to the car. Made a pitta bread sarnie, then packed the car boot and headed for Stoke Newington. Managed to park up out front of the theatre to unload, then parked up in Alkham Road around the corner. Walked back to the theatre to find Colin and Matthew busy setting up the stage and sound system. Lawrence will be on the mixing desk as per usual. Spent most of the remainder of the afternoon rehearsing through the material with the various acts. Shaping up well. Aki came to find me around 1730. She'd managed to smuggle a pork pie out of the Lea Rowing Club festive lunch do...she also bought some salad from Wholefoods, and we ate in the Smith Studio in between songs. 

Audience started coming in at 1850 for a 1900 start. We kicked off with Matthew singing Elvis's "You'll Be Gone", and Bee and I sand a couple of songs in the first half which went down well...got to debut my shruti box! Chaachi James rounded off the first half, singing show tunes, including one she'd written herself for a musical she's been working up...excellent stuff! 

Aki nipped out to bring the car round to the front of the theatre during the interval while I gave out song sheets for the communal singalong. The Reverend Jesus Treacle lead the singalong, which went down well. I later played harmonica for Emma who sang a rather flat rendition of Dylan's "It's All Over Now Baby Blue", and mandolin on Emily's rendition of "The Dark End of the Street", and the finale "Come Dancing". Part of my motivation in taking part had been impressing Colin, our MD, with my versatility, in the hope that he'd use me in the band for the summer production of "Moby Dick" at Minack...but I was collared by Angharad, who is writing and directing it, offering me the opportunity to audition for the role of Stubb, my interest being piqued by her describing the role as being "silly"! Aki helped me load the car, and we had a drink in the bar afterward, before driving home. Late bath before bed...

Saturday 14th December 2024

Woke around 0700, having slept through. Dozed on until 0930. Aki brought tea in bed. Didn’t have time for breakfast as we had arranged to meet Louise at Boulangerie Pierre Alix on Holloway Road…following my cancellation of our get together last night, she had crashed at her niece’s flat on Cally Road. We had a catch up over coffee and croque monsieur. She has been offered a job in Perth, so is considering returning to Oz in the NY. 

I left them chatting at 1200 and popped next door to the pharmacy to get my ears cleared. Pleasant Muslim woman wielded the apparatus…and did both ears…total cost £80!!! Ouch!!! But I was delighted to be able to hear clearly again, and bounced back into the cafe with a gratified grin. We parted company with Lou…Aki cycled home, and I walked m, via Selby’s to buy Xmas chocolate, and Morrisons to get rolled puff pastry. Made lunch. Made a sticky onion tart to take to the party, and cooked a bought apple and vanilla tart. Tom the Greek had opened the church hall at 1700, and I went round to put some lights up and sort out tables and chairs. Sush from No.5, and Andrew from No.49 were in there beavering away, and people turned up bearing various foodstuffs. I found Tom in the kitchen making a Greek pasta dish! Looked great! People rocked up from 1800, but it took a while before I felt enough had turned up to justify a singalong…quite a few regulars missing this year. But Oty, Aki, Leila and I kicked off proceedings at about 1930…I gave a few words in Greek by way of thanks to Tom and the church…”AEK Athens 3 Olympiakos 0 Panathinaikos”…seemed to hit the spot. The singalong went down well, and we managed to persuade 13 year old Jake from No.86 to join us on cahon…apparently he’s getting drum lessons from Keith the drum tutor at No.34. I’ll be able to start putting a young band together next year! We slipped away at about 2100 and went home to tidy up. Kathleen from No.49 rang our doorbell at 2215 and foisted a bag of laurel leaves on us, which had been used to decorate the tables at the bash…I can recycle them at the Gig Night tomorrow. Watched MOTD before bath and bed…

Friday 13th December 2024

Couldn’t get to sleep…nodded off around 0300 for some reason. Not coughing…maybe on a musical high after last night’s rehearsal! Got up around 0930 and porridged. Rehearsed my Gig Night repertoire. Cooked Mexican green eggs for lunch…it wasn’t good, but filled a hole! Aki sent me to the Post Office to post some Xmas cards to Japan, then I walked on down to Islington Green and popped into Waterstones to get a book for dad to read to mum. Caught a No.43 bus back to Holloway and popped in to Waitrose. Back home I cooked a prawn and coconut curry for dinner. Ate it with dal, and rice. Ice cream and crushed biscuits for dessert. Watched the rather sad penultimate episode of The Mirror and the Light before bath and bed…

Thursday 12th December 2024

Got a reasonably good night's sleep at last. Woke around 0900. Left ear still blocked though, and right ear showing early signs of following suit! I'll have to start asking for earwax removal as a Christmas present!!! Got up and porridged. Aki popped out to the GP...she has a wound on her right heel which isn't healing, and wanted some anti-biotics. They sorted her out with an anti-biotic cream. I rehearsed some stuff ahead of Sunday's Gig Night, and packed up instruments and equipment to take to the Tower Theatre for this evening's rehearsal. Cooked lunch. Felt well enough to pop out to Waitrose. Aki cooked an early dinner…chicken and bean stew. I loaded my instruments into the car and headed off to the theatre. Got there at 1900 and parked up outside. Worked through several songs…Bee and me did our two for Colin, who is MD-ing. The shruti box went down a storm. Emily rocked up and we did Dark End of the Street…my mandolin worked v well. Also got roped in on the opening number, Presley’s You’ll Be Gone; and the Come Dancing finale sounded good. I left them all headed for the Jolly Butcher’s and drove home. Aki watching The Ten when I lugged my stuff back in. Bath and bed…

Wednesday 11th December 2024

Another dreadful night's sleep...developed an intermittent cough, which scuppered any attempts to nod off...gave up and got out of bed at around 0400...sat on the sofa reading for a couple of hours before finally going back to bed and nodding off for a bit. As a result I was too tired to make it for my earwax cleaning appointment, and had to re-arrange it for Saturday. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club. I porridged. Sat about reading. Aki back in time for lunch. Not up for doing much this afternoon. Alerted our guests that I may have to cancel Friday night's dinner party...Pete messaged me back to say he had a bad cough and a cold...so I decided that was the final straw. Louise still coming over to Holloway on Friday, but will stop with her niece on the Cally; plan to meet up for a coffee on Saturday instead. Not much food in, so we ordered a takeaway from Xian Impression...Aki popped out to pick it up. Very tasty...especially the bang bang noodles with tender chunks of beef. Watched a bit of telly, and rehearsed our ukulele Xmas songs before bath and bed...

Tuesday 10th December 2024

Woke around 0900...better night's sleep, but still feel very blocked up...nose, and left ear! Made tea and went back to bed. Aki readied herself for the JCUK Christmas party...looked very smart, with added Santa accoutrements. She left for the celebrations at 1130. I did some rehearsing ahead of Sunday's gig night. Sat on the sofa reading Dickens. Lunch. More rehearsing…worked out the bass line to Sia’s Snowman toon should Oty be up for singing it on Saturday…sounds good. Aki back around 1800…they had all had a good time…the 70s disco had gone down especially well! Tortelloni for dinner…Aki had a smaller portion, as she had had a generous lunch. Watched a bit of telly and rehearsed our ukulele Xmas tunes before bath and bed…

Monday 9th December 2024

Terrible night’s sleep…sinuses completely blocked…couldn’t breath through my nose. Tried sitting up in the hope that gravity might clear things up, but to no avail. Finally nodded off around 0430! Aki got up at 1000 to find the 14th Anniversary card and chocolates I’d left on the dining table before bed last night. Thought I ought to do a Covid test…Aki popped across the road and bought a test kit…all clear! 

Aki cycled off to Waitrose to get something for dinner…and returned with two duck legs a l’orange. I read some Old Curiosity Shop, and then made some lunch. Practised some harmonica on the Dylan song; and started trying to figure out Dick Gaughan’s guitar part on Now Westlin Winds with Burns Night in mind. Aki cooked dinner. We shared a small bottle of champagne. Nowt on telly so rehearsed some festive ukulele before watching The Ten. Bath and bed…

Sunday 8th December 2024

Woke around 1000, having dozed through sound of scaffolding being removed from the new build to the rear from about 0800! Got up and cooked brunch. Miserable looking day. Wet, and windy. Read some Dickens on the sofa. Aki popped out to Waitrose early afternoon. I stayed behind, nursing a heavy cold. Warmed up the last of the lasagne parmigiana for dinner, followed by cheese and biscuits. Sam McClaren, the luthier in Stockton, sent some photos of the build of my new guitar…says it’s now with the finishers, so should be ready for pick up soon! Looks more like he’s building a scale model of the Tyne Bridge!  Watched episode 4 of The Mirror & The Light, before The Ten, and MOTD2. Bath and bed…

Saturday 7th December 2024

Slow start this morning...feel a bit of a sore throat coming on...maybe another head cold! Aki got up and brought me tea, then braved Storm Darragh to walk up to Yerbury Farmer's Market to buy some bread. I got up and prepped brunch before she got back. Stayed indoors for the rest of the day...wet and windy outside. FaceTimed Kath to talk about Xmas dinner, and phoned mum...they were hunkered down out of the path of the storm. Warmed up the last of the pork and peanut sauce, which we had with mashed sweet potato and greens. Ice cream and biscuits for afters. Watched Jodie Comer in “The End We Start From”…an apocalyptic movie that follows a mother and her new born son as they struggle to survive after storms cause London to disappear under flood waters…it was well done, and Jodie as watchable as always.

Friday 6th December 2024

Aki up with alarm to ready herself for Rowing Club. She cycled off before I got up. Porridged. Pottered about a bit, getting nothing much done! Prepared lunch for Aki's return. Katherine from No.127 popped in for some advice regarding a survey report on a house in Mile End that her daughter is interested in purchasing...little double-fronted Victorian mid-terrace, but in an area surrounded by several sprawling Council estates. She wanted advice on the damp meter readings, which looked high...may be rising damp/failed DPC. Aki and I headed into town after Katherine had gone...caught a No.91 bus, intending to get off at Holborn and walk through to Trafalgar Square to visit the Portrait Gallery...but the journey was slow...the Euston Road was gridlocked, and the bus terminated at Russell Square, which meant a longer walk...we decided to give up the Gallery, and instead look for Xmas presents. Found some wooden soup bowls, and packet soups, in Muji, which we thought might do for Jim and Emma. I bought Aki a cashmere sweater in Uniqlo. Then we sauntered slowly up to Noho for dinner at Circolo Popolare, to mark the 14th anniversary of our first date. It's a big eating house, and evidently very popular. We were shown to a table for two. Portions were very generous...especially the burrata starter...and we shared a large profiterole stuffed with ice cream for dessert. Cost us £50 a head, including a glass of prosecco each...not too bad these days! Walked up to Warren Street afterward, and caught a No.29 bus home...

Thursday 5th December 2024

Aki up early to ready herself for a trip to the hairdresser on Essex Road. I took tea in bed before rousing myself and porridging. Read some Dickens. Made lunch. Grey, damp and drizzly outside. I braved the elements, and walked to Singhsbury's to drop off a return, then down to Waitrose to buy some bits and pieces. Walked on down the Holloway Road to Egerton's Pharmacy to book an appointment with their ear wax removal expert for next week. They took a £20 deposit. Walked back in the rain. Cooked pork fillet for dinner, using the last of the peanut butter sauce I'd made last weekend; we ate it with spelt and pak choi. Rehearsed our Xmas ukulele routine before watching episode 4 of "The Mirror & the Light". Early bath, and bed...

Wednesday 4th December 2024

Aki up early to ready herself for Rowing Club. I dozed on for a bit. Got up and porridged. Walked down to Hornsey Street for an 1100 appointment with the podiatrist. They gave me new insoles, recommending I change them every 12 months...I've been wearing these for about 6 years! They also recommended I get some road running shoes with good arch supports. Walked on down to Highbury Corner to buy some focaccia, and then home via Waitrose. 

Aki having soup at the cafe next to the Club, so I lunched alone before Aki got back. Cooked a chicken cacciatore for dinner. Fed Jane and Carlos from No.36, who came over to eat with us before we ventured over to the National Youth Theatre on Holloway Road. Saw their production of "Twelfth Night". The production took place in a large square rehearsal room to the rear of the building, which had had raked seating put in for the occassion. Half the seats were reserved...we assumed for a sizeable school party, but were staggered to see HRH Prince Edward and a cohort of courtesans troop in before the play got under way...I was sat two seats away, albeit on the other side of the aisle. I assume he is a patron of the NYT. The production was exuberant and fun, with a cast of 18 youths...the chap playing Aguecheek, and the girl playing Olivia, were exceptional, and will no doubt pick up agency representation from this run. Malvolia had an added line referring to Kate Middleton, which raised a hearty laugh from the bleachers! We all enjoyed it very much. Walked home before HRH left the building, but saw his police outriders amassing at the stage door. 

Tuesday 3rd December 2024

 

Woke to alarm at 0800, after a fitful night's sleep. I got up and descended to make myself a cuppa tea, and some porridge, Jenny having left out some oats and various toppings. Sean appeared, and we sat and chatted about his theatrical prospects...he complained that there is a lot less work about these days, as theatre's have slashed budgets. He's hoping to play Claudius in a forthcoming production of "Hamlet" at Stafford next year, though. I said we'd try and get up to see him in it. I packed my overnight bag, and said my goodbyes. Walked down to the station in the crisp, frosty air, to catch the 0953 back to London. Sat and had a coffee on the platform, as my train was delayed by almost half-an-hour. Got to Euston eventually, having spent most of the journey dozing off in my seat. Caught a No.253 bus home from outside Euston station. Aki getting lunch prepared when I got in. Pottered about in the afternoon; had to pop out to pick up a delivery from a local store. Aki cooked haddock for dinner, with sweet potato fries. Very tasty! Had an early, much needed bath. Aki on a zoom call with her JCUK pals, rehearsing a short festive sketch for performance at their Xmas gathering.

Monday 2nd December 2024

Woke around 0330 to find that my mattress had leaked, and I was now sleeping on the floor! Had to get up and pump the thing back up again. When I woke at 0800, it had gone down again, so I got up and found James and Anne in the kitchen...they made some tea, and peanut butter on toast for breakfast. Sat about listening to various oddities from James's endless collection of recorded music. Beth returned from her early morning shift. James drove us down to the railway station at 1115, and we awaited the arrival of Charlotte West-Oram...she'd come up on the train from Derby. James drove us into Newcastle and we found a cafe where we had coffee and a catch-up. We got back in the car and headed for Bradwell Crematorium. Found ourselves about half-a-dozen cars behind Albert's hearse as we followed him in to the crematorium. 

By now it was tipping down with rain. Sat next to Maggie Saxon, who was General Manager at the Vic back in my day. Former directors Rob Swain, and Chris Martin were in attendance. Chris's partner, the actress Mary Jo Randle, too, as well as old acting mate Sean O'Callaghan, and the now retired lighting technician, Paul Jones. Chris, now 82, revealed he was being treated for bowel cancer. But he remains as irrepressible as ever!

A simple memorial service was conducted, and we were given Albert's potted history, from activist fighting to keep his job and hundreds of others at the local steelworks, to his meeting theatre director Peter Cheeseman, who documented the fight, turning it into a famed piece of documentary theatre, "The Fight for Shelton Bar"; 

and Albert's subsequent love-affair with the theatre and his efforts to help Cheeseman build the first purpose-built theatre-in-the-round in Europe back in the mid-80s, just before I turned up to be in "Tom Jones". Eddy York, another old actor pal who had been very close to Albert over the decades, failed to get to the crematorium, his train down from Edinburgh being delayed. He managed to make it to the wake, which was held at the Vic...sat about chatting with various old faces, and enjoyed a light lunch and a cuppa tea. People began to disperse around 1700, and Sean and I accompanied Paul Jones round to what used to be the theatre local, The Crown, now re-named The HopInn. Sat and chewed the fat over a couple of beers. Paul revealed he's written a book about travelling players in the 18th Century...we swapped email addresses, and he promised to email me some excerpts. Sean and I walked to Penkhull in the drizzle...we'd intended to stop for a swift beer in the Jolly Potters', but it was shut...apparently the bloke who took it over last month died suddenly last week! We walked on to Sean's at No.37 Westland Street, just around the corner from where I used to live with Kerry. Indeed, I used to baby-sit Sean and Judy's son, Conor, in that very house. Sean's partner, Jenny, greeted us as we gained entry. She'd cooked a chick pea and tomato curry, which she served up with lots of rice. We had a bit of a catch-up at the kitchen table, then strolled round to The Beehive for a beer...it was open mic night, and very loud, but we stuck it out...an evening's free entertainment. Back at No.37 we had ourselves a night-cap, after which I retired for the night. They put me up in Conor's old childhood bedroom, which didn't look as if it had been redecorated these last 35 years! Still, it was a great improvement on last night's digs!

Sunday 1st December 2024

Woke around 0930. Got up to make tea. Aki cooked cheese omelette for brunch. She's struggling with a septic wound on the outside of her right heel...and has to travel to Twickenham today for lunch with Tokiko. It's raining. Waved Aki off then packed a bag and headed for the bus stop…caught a No.91 to Kings Cross, and walked along the canal to Granary Square. Bought some expensive biscuits at the market in the old goods yard, as gifts for my hosts in Stoke. 

Bought a creme brulee doughnut, and a chicken bao to eat on the train. Walked to Euston and caught the 1452 to Stoke-on-Trent. Stopping the night with James Earls-Davis, erstwhile sound technician at the New Vic Theatre...he kindly picked me up from the station, and we drove to the ex Council semi he shares with Anne, and their eldest daughter Beth. They bought it 15 years or so ago...it was unmodernised, and remains so! No central heating, and a very basic kitchen, comprising a couple of stainless steel basins with taps. The interiors are dominated by James's huge CD and vinyl collection...like a hoarder's cavern! The spare bedroom is full of guitars, amps and sound equipment, and as Beth is back home, I'll be sleeping on a blow-up mattress on the living-room floor. The place is pretty filthy, there being several cats! We walked round to their local hostelry, The Sanctuary, on Hartshill Road...it was Vinyl Night, so James came tooled up with several LP's. We sat and chatted, though my left ear is still blocked, which made conversation a little fraught at times. We left the hostelry at around 1930 and headed back to the house for a generous bowl of vegetable curry with paneer. Tasty enough. At 2215 or thereabouts, the blow-up mattress appeared, and everyone retired to bed...

Saturday 30th November 2024

 

Woke around 0845. Got up and made tea. Aki cycled off to Yerbury Farmer’s Market to buy bread. I cooked brunch when she got back. Popped out in search of a Santa beard…walked past the scene of the fire earlier in the week…the kebab shop totally devastated. Walked on down to the Party shop on Holloway Road and bought a beard…walked home via Peacocks, where I bought a cheap T-shirt with a reindeer in sunglasses on the front. Drove over to Stoke Newington in good time. 

Sharing Santa duties with a chap named Kevin, a local schoolteacher…he wanted to do the 1300-1430 shift, so I dressed as an elf and worked the queue outside Santa’s grotto, ukulele in hand, occasionally singing snatches of I’m Dreaming of a White Xmas. The kids were brought in on timed slots that their parents had booked. I took over from Kevin around 1430 as planned, and took my seat in my grotto. The kids were ushered in with their parent or grandparents, and dealt with as quickly as possible...1 minute allowed per child! All went well...a couple of kids turned up with a letter to Santa detailing their wishes...very sweet. Finished at about 1615. Tidied up, got changed, and headed back to the car. Got home around 1730. Aki cooked an aubergine parmigiana lasagne...I had to pop out to get her some mozzarella. Bumped into Andrew from No.49 outside...he was waiting to gain entry to the church hall...I'd forgotten we had a meeting to look over the facilities ahead of this year's Xmas bash. So I had to run round to Tesco, get the cheese, and leave it with Aki, before I was able to join Andrew, and Becky from No.5, in the church hall...Tom had kindly shown up to show us the ropes. Looks great...plenty of room, plus kitchen facilities if needed. Nowt on telly this evening, so we rehearsed our ukulele Xmas numbers before The Ten, and a bit of MOTD.

Friday 29th November 2024

Aki up at 0830 to ready herself for a site meeting at Kearsey and Kieran's. I got up and porridged. Saw Aki off on her bike. Nice sunny day. Did some boring stuff...need to agree to the Buildings Insurance renewal quote with Lynne upstairs, so ploughed through the documentation, or as much of it as I could bear to plough through! Lynne reports that rain is coming in upstairs again! Aki home in time for lunch. We walked to Stoke Newington mid-afternoon...Aki on the lookout for clothes for me to buy her for Xmas. We stuck our heads in at numerous stores on Church Street, but aside from an olive green beret, we didn't find anything. We parted company at the bus stop, and I walked on to Bee's for a quick rehearsal, before ambling down to the Tower Theatre to try on the Santa costume ahead of tomorrow's shift in Santa's Grotto. It was pretty poor...cheap, and nasty, and not very convincing. They've turned the little Meeting Room into a Grotto...looks quite good. Sarah said almost 200 kids had booked an audience for tomorrow afternoon!!! I got a No.106 bus back to Finsbury Park, and walked home...Aki warmed up the chicken and peanut stew, which we ate with rice and vegetables...very tasty. Watched "The Mirror & The Light", followed by some of The Graham Norton Show, featuring a be-wigged Cher!

Thursday 28th November 2024

Woken at 0415 by noise of police helicopter hovering overhead. Turned out to be due to a fire at a takeaway on Seven Sisters Road. Got up at 0830 and brought tea to bed…Aki still snoring. Porridged. Headed out to get some ingredients for making fridge cake. Seven Sisters Road still blocked off by fire engines…they were dousing the smouldering loft space in the flat above the kebab shop, the latter being completely gutted. 

Back home, I started mashing chocolate orange cookies and mixing the resultant crumb with melted chocolate and butter…stuck it in the fridge to chill. Made lunch. Struck out for Colindale to pick my car up from the service centre. Walked from Burnt Oak station, which took me through Silkstream Park, and Montrose Playing Fields. Spotted a heron in the stream, and stood on the little yellow bridge watching him for a few minutes. 

Picked the car up…amber warning on my windscreen wipers, but otherwise given a clean bill of health. Drove home. We had readymade biryani and dal for dinner, with spinach and pitta bread. I then cooked the sticky shallots tart ahead of our guests arriving. Aki hosted this evening’s Book Club session…full quota of attendees, save for Jane from No.36 who, being American, was celebrating Thanksgiving. I hadn’t read the book, so pottered about getting teas for people, and washing up. They chose a novel set in wartime Holland, and centring around a competitive rower, for their next read.

Wednesday 27th November 2024

Woke to alarm at 0830. Hauled myself out of bed for tea and porridging. Drove northward to Colindale to take the car in for service. Mrs Small was on hand to book me in when I got there, then I walked back toward the A5, popping in to Starbucks for a coffee…read some Dickens. Did a little shopping in ASDA, and in the the Loon Yung oriental food market. Walked up to Burnt Oak to take a tube train back to Camden, then a bus home. Colindale station still closed for major works. Aki working at the computer when I got in. I made lunch. Headed back for Colindale at around 1600…taking bus to Camden, and train back to Burnt Oak. Walked down the A5 and did a bit more shopping in Morrison's. Walked round to the VW service centre, and as I passed the workshop, I saw my car being driven on to the ramp...no chance of that being ready by 1800...and so it proved. Mrs Small offered me a cab, but I declined, happy to walk back to Burnt Oak and get a train to Camden. Got home around 1915...Aki cooking mackerel for dinner, which we had with rice and stir fried vegetables. 

Tuesday 26th November 2024

Woke around 0900. Got up and brought a mug of tea back to bed, and read the first chapter of The Old Curiosity Shop. Aki left to go meet Tammy at Tate Modern. I rehearsed some mandolin, and harmonica, for Gig Night. Cooked a pasta sauce ahead of tonight's dinner. Walked to Finsbury Park station in the winter sunshine, and caught a tube train to Oxford Circus. Popped in to John Lewis's to try on their merino lined leather gloves...but they didn't have black. Aki called to say she was making her way toward Holborn for some lunch...so I hopped on a bus to Holborn and walked round to the ramen noodle house near the Garden Cinema, where I found Aki already seated and surveying the menu. We shared a large bowl of tasty soup with pork, and a couple of bao buns with pork and sauce...very good! Will definitely go there again! Walked round to the Garden Cinema, where I'd secured two £5 tickets to see Steve McQueen's new movie, "Blitz". It was OK...6/10. The script and plotting got a bit clunky here and there, but the effects were great...it looked like they had destroyed half the east end to make the movie! Paul Weller had a nice little cameo as Grandad, plonking away on the Joanna in the front parlour. Took a Piccadilly Line train to Holloway Road, and walked home via Boots, where Aki collected a new electric toothbrush she had ordered. Warmed up the pasta sauce, with papardelle and peas  for dinner. Aki had a zoom meeting with JCUK. I sat and read some Dickens. 

Monday 25th November 2024

Woke around 0830. Aki got up and brought me a tea. My left ear is blocked! Got up and porridged. Took a late morning constitutional up to Archway Library and dropped off a couple of borrowed items. Did a little shopping in M&S and walked back down the Holloway Road. Soup for lunch. Bee came round this afternoon for a rehearsal. Aki listened from her post at the computer. Bee still working out some harmonies for She Moved Through the Fair, so we didn't quite click into gear. She left around 1730 and I began cooking...made a chicken and peanut stew with sweet potatoes, served up with some pitta bread, and a few vegetables. Watched the first episode of The Mirror and the Light...everyone looks a bit older than they were...it's been 10 years since the making of Wolf Hall...the make-up artists are evidently up against it...and Bernard Hill has sadly died, so his fantastic Duke of Norfolk only features off-screen. 

Sunday 24th November 2024

Got up around 1000. Windy outside...the tarpaulin was being slowly ripped from its' moorings on the scaffolding surrounding the block of flats going up behind us...not sure that will last the day! Aki cooked brunch. We rehearsed our Xmas ukulele repertoire. Ventured out into Storm Bert...wasn't so bad. Hopped on a No.91 bus to Charing Cross. Finished Beloved on the ride...an American masterpiece! We walked over Hungerford footbridge to the Southbank to go listen to Joli Blon play their Cajun tunes to an enthusiastic audience in the Clore Ballroom...good, free entertainment...we splashed out on coffee and pastel de nata. Enjoyed watching the kids and mums dancing away in front of the band. Walked back across the river, and up to Seven Dials to do a bit of browsing in Carhaart, then jumped on a No.29 bus home. Aki fried some hake for dinner, with savoury lentils. Watched an episode of David Attenborough's "Asia".

Saturday 23rd November 2024

 

Woke around 0800. Got up and made tea. Feeling better this morning…though still got the sinusitis. We walked up to Yerbury Farmer’s Market in the drizzle…wind starting to get up as the eastern fringe of Storm Bert hits London. Bought a loaf and walked home via Nags Head Market. Cooked a hearty brunch. Worked on some Dylan harmonica. Aki nipped out to Boots to take a look at their stock of electric toothbrushes. Phoned ma and pa...they seemed in fine fettle, though were hunkered down out of the snow. Warmed up the last of the chicken curry with dal, and some pitta bread, followed by a Waitrose apple tarte tatin with cream. Caught a bus to Finsbury Park, and a train to Moorgate. Weather inclement, but the wind wasn't too bad, and it was relatively warm. Walked from Moorgate to the Barbican. Did some browsing in the gift shop before taking our seats in the main Hall for this evening's concert with the Take Me To The River All-Stars, a number of musicians and songsters who had come over from New Orleans to give London a taste of their exuberant music. Aki's old pal, Jon Cleary, got things underway on the piano, with a couple of Dr John numbers, before the band came on. The band was fronted by Cyrille Neville, now getting on a bit, but still fantastic...his son on drums, and a nephew on guitar. I was expecting more of a show...the poster inferred colourfully dressed Mardis Gras dancers, but it was just the band, and to be honest they struggled to create the Louisiana swamp vibe among the Saturday night London crowd in the big hall. But we got up and had a bit of a jig about in front of our seats...especially enjoyed the encore, a rendition of Take Me To the River, an old favourite. Caught a No.153 bus from Moorgate afterward, which dropped us a few yards from home...

Friday 22nd November 2024

Got up and porridged. Read some Toni Morrison. Still feeling under the weather, so didn’t get up to much this morning. Aki working at the computer. Lunch. Wandered over to Waitrose to get some shopping done. Oty and her dad popped round at 1800…Aki and I took Oty through our Xmas party repertoire. Also suggested she sing a song from her repertoire…she does Sia’s version of Snowman, so Aki and I can hopefully accompany her on that. They left and we put together a simple pasta dinner with prawns and pesto sauce. Nowt on telly. Early bath and bed…