Tuesday 30th January 2024

Woke around 0800. Got up and made tea. Porridged at the computer. Warmed up Aki's beetroot soup to take for lunch. Ventured northward on inspections, heading up the A10 to Hoddesdon. Stopped off at M&S in Cheshunt on the way. Inspections then took me on to Ware. Had my soup in the car park at Tesco in Hatfield, then drove on to Stevenage, Baldock, and ended the working day in Biggleswade. Had an interesting interview with a tenant at a bungalow in Hatfield. He didn't want to let me in, as he was so pissed off with the incompetent contractors Peabody had hired to put in a new kitchen. He re-enacted several moments when he had yelled and sworn at some official who had come round to follow up his complaints, and started going on about Grant Schapps, who turns out to be his local MP...he mentioned his name half-a-dozen times, spitting forcefully into his flower bed on each occassion...god help Grant if he goes canvassing in the vicinity!!! Headed back down the A1. Got home at 1800. Aki had cooked the pork shoulder with BBQ sauce, which we had with butter beans and vegetables, followed by rhubarb mousse. I worked at the computer for another hour or so. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

Monday 29th January 2024

Woke at 0745. Got up and made tea. Porridged at the computer. Warmed up some parsnip soup to take out on the road. Headed north-west to Willesden, and from thence to Wembley. Popped in at the big Tesco store just off the North Circular. Then headed for Pinner, before pointing the car north and aiming for Watford. Had my soup in the car in the Tesco car park on the fringe of the town centre. Drove on to Potters Bar, and ended the working day in Cheshunt, and Waltham Cross. Drove home via the A10. Aki had cooked a fish curry, which we ate with rice and loads of vegetables. Watched Wrexham go down 4-1 at Blackburn Rovers in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Read "A Thousand Moons" for a bit, then watched the News. Practised some Stones songs while Aki was in the bath.

Sunday 28th January 2024

Woke around 1000. Aki made tea. Read in bed for a bit before getting up and cooking brunch. Caught a No.91 bus to Kings Cross, and walked along the Regents Canal to Coal Drops Yard. Popped in to Paul Smith's to try on some gloves, my leather pair having gone missing. Then walked down to St Pancras to pick up my altered trousers from Gant. Popped into the British Library to enquire after Dickens' theatrical reading scripts, but no-one around to advise me on a Sunday. Caught the No.91 home. Lunched on peanut butter and toast. Spoke to Nic Campos about his play...he wants me to participate in a read through, and I said I would...planned for mid-March. We took a No.43 bus down to Angel. Aki wanted to pop into Uniqlo, then we ambled up Chapel Market to St Silus Church for a concert by the Angel Orchestra, an amateur concern, in which Katherine from No.127 is involved as part of the choir, and Ben from No.38, on his violin. They had rehearsed up Mozart's Requiem in D minor yesterday, and bearing in mind the frighteningly short rehearsal period, gave a very enjoyable rendition. We had a wee chat with the neighbours, before repairing to Liman, a Turkish restaurant across the road from the church. I had the moussaka, and Aki had grilled lamb and rice...it was OK, but nothing to write home about. We walked down to the Caledonian Road and caught a No.91 bus home. 

Saturday 27th January 2024

Alarm at 0730. Hauled ourselves out of bed. Made tea. Porridged. Got ourselves ready for the drive to New Southgate Cemetery. Kate from Rowing Club came round for a lift, and I drove her and Aki to the crematorium...they were saying farewell to one of their number. I left them to it, and ambled around the byways of the cemetery, which seemed endless. Eshogi Effendi is buried there, the Guardian of the Bahai Faith, and Ross McWhirter, he of the Guinness Book of Records, who was assassinated by the IRA on the doorstep of his Enfield home in 1975. Drove the gals back to Islington afterward. Cooked some lunch. 

Walked to Stoke Newington, via Finsbury Park, crossing Clissold Park...got there in good time to make the 1500 matinee of the Tower Theatre's production of "The Real Inspector Hound", an early Tom Stoppard One Act play with some gloriously constructed absurdism. The production was pretty good, though the paced lagged a little on occassion. Jane and Carlos from No.36 were there too, in the company of Carlos' sister Marta and her wife, who were travelling around Europe, having journeyed across the Pond from Philadelphia. I cooked a cavolo nero pasta sauce for dinner, which we ate with ham and cheese tortelloni, followed by panetone fried in butter and maple syrup, with fried banana and custard. Watched "Anatomy of a Fall" on the BFI Player...it one the Palme D'Or at Cannes last year, but it was long and rather dull. We struggled to stay awake. Much needed bath and bed...

Friday 26th January 2024

Got up feeling very weary at about 0900. Made tea, then porridged at the computer. Warmed up parsnip soup to take for my lunch, then headed out on inspections in Haringey, before turning southward toward Bow. Broke for lunch in the Tesco car park at Three Mills Island, then headed for the Isle of Dogs, and Poplar, before ending the working day in Leyton. Only managed to get into five units, so still 12 to go! 

Drove home in the gloaming. Caught up with last night's episode of "The Traitors" before we put the instruments in the car and drove up to Helen and Martin's on Fairbridge Road. They had some 10 or 11 guests for their slightly belated Burns Night celebration, including a couple of Japanese lodgers, and a lass from Slovakia. We congregated in the front room, then gravitated to the kitchen/dining-room for cock-a-leekee soup. The haggis had been delivered from a butcher in Hawick...it was excellent. A dairy-free cranachan for dessert. All courses interspersed with whisky and poems, including two of dad's Scottish themed poems, The Laird of Killicrankie, and the Ballad of the Missing Teeth. They went down very well.  We finished the evening with the two Burns songs I'd been rehearsing for a month...Aki joined me on the mandolin. Got home about 2315 and jumped in a hot bath before retiring to bed...

Thursday 25th January 2024

Got up around 0800 and took the door off the under sink cupboard in the kitchen. Managed to remove the bottom shelf, thus opening up the space as much as is going to be possible. Walked over to Tesco and bought two large 5 litre bottles of water. Gave one to Lynne upstairs. Got hold of Vince, who came down and took a look. He managed to work the offending cold water tap riser back down into position, so we were able to turn the water supply back on, but we will have to wait until later tonight to see if it holds when the mains system pressure goes up in the evening, which was probably what happened last night, the added pressure forcing the pipe out of it's sleeve. The elbow is hidden almost beneath the screed at the very rear of the under-sink cupboard, so if we need to get to it to replace it, then we will have to dig a bit of the screed up! Very awkward working position. 

I found a mouse in the electric trap we'd put under the sink cupboarding about 6 years ago...lord knows how long it had been in there...it was stiff and crispy, but still covered in fur. I disposed of it and cleaned up. Parsnip soup and a hunk of bread for lunch. Had to abandon plans to go out on inspections today. Rehearsed our Burns Night songs. Read some Sebastian Barry, and did some exercises. Wandered up to No.127 for 2100, our instruments in hand. George and Katherine hosted ten of us altogether, with Ben and Gayu from No.38 also invited. We didn't know the other four, a lady of Russian descent who delivered a Burns poem in Russian (Aki did one in Japanese), an interesting guy named Tony, and a couple from Tufnell Park with Scottish links. The food was good...meat and vegetarian versions of the haggis, served with neeps and tatties, but a bit dry for want of a gravy. The cranachan dessert was fab. We sang "Ae Fond Kiss", and "Green Grow the Rashes, O", and sat around chatting until 2300. Wandered back down Sussex Way with Ben and Gayu and the couple from Tufnell Park. No sign of leaking pipework beneath the kitchen sink, so showered and retired to bed.

Wednesday 24th January 2024

Woke around 0800. Got up a little before 0900...another slightly disturbed night's sleep, largely owing to Storm Jocelyn...the building site over the back took a battering, and I could hear the tarpaulin being whipped about in the winds. Porridged at the computer. Managed an hour or so's work before we walked across to Gillespie Park for Qi Gong. Lunched in the Xian Expressions Chinese cafe opposite the Emirates stadium afterward. Walked home via the Indie Beer shop on Holloway Road, where I picked up a few cans of Scottish brewed ale to take to the Burns Night celebrations at No.127 tomorrow night. Managed another couple of hours at the computer in the afternoon. Aki cooked salmon for dinner, with rice and vegetables. Watched a bit of telly. Aki had a zoom meeting with members of her Japanese expat society, so I sat on the sofa reading "A Thousand Moons". I also made parsnip soup. Aki finished her meeting at 2200, so we caught up with this evening's episode of "The Traitors", and "Uncloaked". So it was 2330 before Aki headed for the shower. I was at the kitchen sink and could hear the sound of running water...I checked to see if Aki had put the dishwasher on, but upon further investigation discovered a massive leak below the kitchen sink, at the back of the cupboard, water flowing generously beneath the party wall with No.5. Turned the water supply off at the stopcock. Phoned Sush next door, but he was in bed...resolved to knock them up in the morning and inspect to see if there's any collateral damage...no water supply until it gets fixed!

Tuesday 23rd January 2024

Got up around 0900. Aki complained that she hadn't had a good night's sleep owing to her itchy eczema...took her a mug of tea in bed. Porridged at the computer. Aki got up and managed to get a telephone consultation with the GP. Broke to put some lunch together. Rehearsed the songs ahead of tonight's performance at the pub. Cooked a simple early dinner...tortellini in a vegetable broth, with lots of Parmesan cheese on top, followed by the last of the apple crumble. I wandered up to the North Nineteen at 1930 to put our names down on the list at the open mic, and was astonished to find the place was packed, and there were already 13 acts to be fitted in. Messaged the band and told them to get there as soon as possible, then walked home to get the instruments...decided to put them in the boot of the car to save space, as the venue was packed with guitar cases. By the time we got back to the pub, most of the band had taken up a table at the rear of the pub...and by now, there was a list of 22 acts! We were on 14th, all eight of us crowding to the front of the room and positioning ourselves as best we could. It was a little ramshackle, but our two Burns songs went down well, the pub joining in on the choruses of "Green Grow the Rashes, O" with great gusto. There were three or four excellent female solo acts this evening...Gina, who was last on, just over from Ireland, had the most astounding singing voice, a star in the making, and the evening was topped off by Tony the landlord doing a couple of sing-a-long stadium anthems...he has a great voice! Got home home about 0015!!!

Monday 22nd January 2024

Very windy night...it woke me up at about 0400, sounding like a jet engine in the back yard! No signs of any damage when I got up at 0915, though. Made some tea to take to Aki, who languished in bed feeling a bit under the weather. I porridged at the computer. Ventured out on inspections in east London. Had my soup in the car park at Sainsburys in Whitechapel, and grabbed a coffee on the Whitechapel Road. Weather not too bad, though it got quite windy on occassion. Got home around 1815. Aki warmed up her delicious mapo, which we ate with rice and a vegetable stir fry. Watched a bit of telly, and read some more of the excellent "A Thousand Moons" before bath and bed...

Sunday 21st January 2024

Woke at 0830. Got up and made tea...took Aki a mug for her to have in bed while I prepared some Turkish eggs for breakfast. Prepared a marinade for the chicken legs we planned to have for lunch. Did some exercises in the front room, then high-tailed it to Kings Cross, hopping on a No.91 bus to Carnegie Street, then ambling along the towpath of the Regents Canal to Coal Drops Yard. The fleece I'd spotted in the Outdoor clothing shop was still on sale, at a good 30% discount, so snapped it up. Took my trousers into Gant so they could be taken up...not likely to see them again before next weekend. Caught a No.91 bus back to Parkhurst Road, and walked down to Waitrose to buy some parsnips to go with our Sunday roast. Popped in on Pierro at The Upper Place to wish him a buon anno, and bought some tortellini from him. Came home to find Aki had put the chicken in the oven. Kath FaceTimed from Peary Close...she had a house full...ma, pa, Jim, and Emma were round for their Sunday lunch. Sonya turned up at 1500 to rehearse the song she wants to do at the open mic on Tuesday, the "Eriksay Love Lilt"...pretty straight-forward. She's got a nice voice, with a strong tone. We walked her up to Katherine & George's at No.127 for band rehearsal. Lorraine had cycled over from Harringay Gardens, and Ben showed up with violin in tow. Worked through the three songs...sounding good. By the time we walked back home, Storm Isha was kicking up a fuss...heavy rain and strong winds. We had ourselves a snack rather than a dinner...I fried some mushrooms, which we had on toast with halloumi and red peppers, followed by apple and ginger crumble and custard. Watched the film "Tove" on BBC iPlayer, a short biopic following the career development of the artist and writer Tove Jansson, who found great success with her children's Moomintroll books. Bath and bed. Could hear the rain drumming on the bedroom roof...hope it doesn't fly off in the night!

Saturday 20th January 2024

Woke at 0900. Got up and made tea. Cooked breakfast. Walked up Highgate Hill for our constitutional, popping into Lauderdale House to see the exhibition of art works by Morgan Howell, who specialises in detailed recreations of iconic 45 rpm singles, but on a deliberately enlarged scale, four times actual size, painting them on large canvases, and framing them. He was there, so we managed to have a quick chat with him about who he'd met (Johnny Marr, Paul Weller, Ray Davies, etc) and his techniques. Nice chap. Walked on to Gail's Bakery at the top of Highgate Hill and enjoyed a coffee and a Soho bun, before walking back down to Sainsburys to buy some odds and ends. Aki went on to Waitrose, while I carried the bread and milk back to No.3. The Gooners coming away from the Emirates looked happy...they'd just seen Arsenal beat Palace 5-0. Aki cooked mapo for dinner, and I made an apple and ginger crumble, which we ate with some Waitrose custard. We sat on the sofa and caught up with last night's episode of "The Traitors", and "Traitors Uncloaked", which gets more entertaining with each passing week. Great stuff! Rehearsed our Burns songs before bath and bed...

Friday 19th January 2024

Woke around 0430 for some reason, and found it difficult to nod back off again! Aki up at 0700 to prepare herself for a meeting in Camden Town. She ventured out into the frozen waste to catch a bus at 0830. I got up and made tea. Went back to bed and started reading "A Thousand Moons" by Sebastian Barry, one of last night's book choices. It wasn't chosen, but I thought it sounded worthy of following up. Porridged at the computer. Broke early once Aki had returned from work so that we could catch up with "The Traitors" before lunch...carrot and lentil soup...followed by "The Traitors Uncloaked" for dessert. Did another couple of hours at the coalface. Broke at 1600. Hopped on a No.91 bus to The Aldwych, and walked up to Eat Tokyo, opposite the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. But there was a queue outside on the pavement, and we felt it was too cold to wait...trued to get a table at Cote Brasserie, but they were full, so we ended up in Sagar, a little south Indian vegetarian restaurant. Cheap and tasty. Walked across Waterloo Bridge to the National Theatre to see Gecko's production of "Kin". Found Laurence and Kevin in the Lyttleton Bar, and had a a cup of tea before we took our seats in the circle. The piece was about 1 hour 20 minutes long, with no interval. It was stunningly lit, and the transitions between scenes were deft and inventive, but the narrative was a little repetitive...lots to admire, though. Laurence didn't like it very much. We took the tube back to Caledonian Road, and then a No.91 bus to Sussex Way. Kevin and Laurence came in for a wee drink, and Aki regaled them with tales of her travels in Africa. Bath, and bed...

Thursday 18th January 2024

Woke around 0800. Got up at half-past and made tea. Porridged at the computer. Worked until 1130, then broke and tried to work out some harmonies for Celia to sing before she came round for rehearsals. Ben showed up first, with violin in hand, so we managed a bit of a catch up before Celia showed up. She'd walked from Stoke Newington. We ran through Ae Fond Kiss, with Celia doing a nice harmony she'd been working on since Sunday's run through...sounded good. Aki joined in with some background oooh's. I served up the carrot soup, but Celia decided she needed to get on, as she has her hands full with sorting her 102-year old mother out...she's had a fall and is in hospital, and at the moment things seem a bit uncertain as to whether she will come out again! So we waved Celia farewell, and gae Ben some soup and had a chat at the dining table. Back to the coalface for the afternoon. Broke early to catch up with "Traitors Uncloaked" before cooking a mushroom and anchovy pasta sauce for dinner, which we had with linguine, and some vegetables. 

Walked up to No.36 for Book Club. Jane had baked a splendid blood orange bundt cake especially for the occassion. Aki and I hadn't read "Through the Looking Glass", instead listening to Miriam Margolyes reading it on our festive journey up to Newcastle and back, and though we kind of enjoyed it, large swathes of it passed me by as I concentrated on negotiating the traffic! Those who had read it seemed to have very much enjoyed it, so may give it a go on the written page after all, now that I've finished "Oliver Twist". We chose "Country Girl" by Edna O'Brien, as the next read. Got home too late to catch up with this evening's episode of "The Traitors", so will have to watch at some point tomorrow afternoon or something. Bath and bed...

Wednesday 17th January 2024

Woken by a loud bang at about 0500...sounded like something had collapsed on the building site at the back. Aki up early to ready herself for a works meeting in Camden. I got up as she cycled off into the dawn. Porridged. Ventured out into the Arctic morning for a GP appointment round the corner at Andover Medical Centre with Dr Wills, or Dr Last Wills & Testament, as he's known in this house. He prescribed some laxatives to take on a regular basis, and suggested I book in again for a month's time. Came home and worked at the computer. My new guitar amp was delivered...but minus the power cable, for some reason, so had to phone the shop...they arranged for one to be sent out tomorrow. Aki came back looking a bit frozen after her cycle ride. I fried some mushrooms and halloumi for lunch, which we had with toast and salad. Did some more work at the computer in the afternoon. I took an early break and cooked a spicy carrot and lentil soup to have for lunch tomorrow. Aki baked trout for dinner, with potatoes and vegetables. Watched "The Traitors", which is hotting up nicely. Finished "Oliver Twist"...bring on "Nicholas Nickleby"!

Tuesday 16th January 2024

Woke at 0845 feeling a bit weary. Hauled myself out of bed to make tea. Porridged. Sat at the computer for an hour or so. Warmed up the parsnip soup to take on today's travels. Headed back toward east London. Stopped off at the Kingsland Shopping Centre to use the facilities and grab a warming coffee. Inspections in Dalston. Had my soup sat in the car on an infill development near London Fields, then headed toward Hackney Downs. Ended the working day in Finsbury, which meant incurring the congestion charge. Drove home. Aki departed for dinner at Rasa in Stoke Newington to mark Piers' 80th birthday. I warmed up some lentil dal, and popped round the corner to get a takeaway chicken tikka kebab and a naan to have with it. Tasty. George from No.127 turned up for a lift to Stoke Newington. As one of the newest members of the Rowing Club, he was keen to show up for tonight's gathering in the Auld Shillelagh public house on Church Street. I don't think I'd been in there before...a long, very narrow Irish pub, which reputedly sells the best pint of Guinness in London...I contented myself with a half. We were a bit early, so had to wait for the other invitees to turn up...I knew some of them. Kearsey, and Kate, and got chatting with John and James about the local music scene. We left around 2130, as Aki was keen for an early night, as she has a morning meeting in Camden Town tomorrow. Dropped George off outside No.127...

Monday 15th January 2024

Woke at 0800. Got up and made tea. Porridged at the computer. Nic Campos had sent me a script he's been working up...he needs another actor to help stand it up. Started reading it, but I can't say I was enthused. However, I'm not averse to the notion of helping him out...he needs encouragement. It's a tough job writing anything, let alone a play! Ventured out into the cold to do inspections in Hackney. Had some inspections at the sister block to the one I lived in with Tony at Paradise Park. It's not wearing well, and the large water feature that lay between the two blocks has been drained, apparently because the residents complained about very raucous nesting Egyptian geese! Had my lunch in the Millfields cafe. Ended the day in Dalston, having managed to get into another nine properties...nearly half way there! Got home about 17.45. Aki cooked a chicken teriyaki for dinner. Watched a bit of telly, and read some "Twist" before bath and bed...

Sunday 14th January 2024

Woke at 0900. Got up and made tea. We drank it in bed; I read a bit of "Twist" before rising to cook breakfast. We finished off the home-cured salmon. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club. I ventured into town, catching a No.91 bus to Carnegie Street, then walking along the Regents Canal into Coal Drops Yard. Had a coffee at Morty & Bobb's, then a quick browse around the shops, before heading towards St Pancras. Bought a fleece jacket in Carhaart, which I'd had my eye on for a while...sadly it wasn't included in the Sale. Picked up the trousers I'd ordered from Gant in St Pancras station, then took a No.91 bus to The Aldwych. Walked up Wellington Street to pay homage at Charles Dickens' offices...from where he published his periodical, "All The Year Round", often sleeping over if he was on a deadline. By this time he was living at Gads Hill Place near Rochester...must have been quite a commute! Popped in to try some mules at North Face on Southampton Street, but they didn't have my size...will have to order online. Walked westward along The Strand to catch a No.91 bus near Trafalgar Square. A lot of people about...big pro-Israeli rally in the Square to mark 100 days since the Hamas massacre, and a lot of police about. The bus ride home meant I got some more "Twist" time. Aki had just got home when I got in. We packed our instruments, and walked up to rehearsal at the North Nineteen. Full turnout this afternoon. We ran through the two Burns songs a few times so people could work out what they were doing. Celia joined in with some voice, as did Sonia, albeit with an Australian accent. We resolved to try and get another rehearsal in before we descend upon the open mic night on the 23rd. Walked home. Cooked a crab and chilli pasta sauce for dinner, with lots of peas. Finished off the apple crumble and custard. FaceTimed ma and pa who had just seen off Jim, Emma, and Kath, having had them round for Sunday lunch. They looked in fine fettle. Dad still awaiting a date for his hip operation. Watched "Better Call Saul" and read some "Twist" afore bath and bed...

Saturday 13th January 2024

Woke at 0900 feeling very unrefreshed. Got up and made tea. Ate the beetroot cured salmon for breakfast, with poached egg and freekah (we had run out of bread). Worked at the computer for an hour or so. Aki cycled off to the fishmongers on Essex Road. When she got back, we made ham and cheese sandwiches with the fresh sourdough, for a quick light lunch. Departed for Chalk Farm. Stood at the bus stop around the corner awaiting the No.91 bus, but it didn't show up...too cold to stand about waiting, so we abandoned the plan to walk the Regents Canal towpath to Camden Lock, and walked down to Isledon Road and caught a No.29 to Camden. Popped in at the guitar shop to ask whether they could get a couple of AER amps in for me to try. Came across a second hand one in store, at about half the price of a new one, so bought it on the spot, arranging to have it delivered next week. We walked on up Camden High Street to the Roundhouse. We had tickets for a showing of Kagami, a virtual concert at the piano by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto, who passed away last March. There was an audience of about 100, sat in a large circle in the main space, and we were given special headwear to put on, which generated the rather ghostly image of the man himself at a grand piano, playing some of his favourite piano pieces. The image certainly wasn't in high definition, but we were able to walk around the space and view him and his piano from all angles...very cleverly done. Lovely pieces too...must explore the sheet music, if we can get hold of it. Caught a No.393 bus back to Holloway. Aki cooked mackerel for dinner, with miso soup, rice, and vegetables. Apple crumble and custard for afters. Watched the 1991 movie "Point Break" until we could stand no more; switched over to Netflix and caught an episode of "Better Call Saul", and stayed up to watch Newcastle United go down 2-3 at home to Manchester City...De Bruyne back and firing on all cylinders...what a player!!!

Friday 12th January 2024

Woke at 0800. Got up and made tea and porridge. Something wrong with the computer this morning, so didn't get much work done. Managed an hour then hit the road. Inspections in Islington, so didn't have to go far. Did a couple of internals, then parked up at Sainsburys in Angel to use the facilities...popped into Uniglo to buy some casual troosers to wear around the flat. Then had inspections in Barnsbury, Liverpool Road, and ended up in De Beauvoir before heading home. Managed to get into nine units today, which I felt was a reasonable start...only 41 to go! Got home around 1630. Worked at the computer before breaking at 1730. Aki headed off to meet her rowing chums for dinner in Bloomsbury. I walked up to George and Katherine's at No.127 for dinner, and a practise of the Burns songs prior to Sunday's rehearsal at the pub. I was surprised they didn't seem familiar, being Scots, or having Scottish links, with Ae Fond Kiss, but hopefully I've sewn the seeds and they can get their act together before Burns Night. Got home at 2130. Aki turned up at 2230, and we watched "The Traitors"...I'm addicted! 

Thursday 11th January 2024

Woke at 0900 feeling unrefreshed. Got up and made tea, and sat at the computer with a bowl of porridge. Worked until 1200, then we walked across to Gillespie Park for Qi Gong class. George from No.127 was there. Very cold out...biting northerly breeze. Repaired to Xian Express for our lunch...a Chinese street food joint opposite the Emirates Stadium. Hadn't been in there for ages, but it was empty, so we took advantage. Very tasty fare! Noticed a couple of young Oriental lads looking at the menu on the window...they had Arsenal scarves on, having just visited the team shop, presumably...I pointed to my plate of food and gave them an encouraging thumbs up, at which recommendation they ventured in and took a seat! Aki strode off to Waitrose, and I walked home to continue working at the computer. Broke at 1745. Pork belly and freekah for dinner, followed by apple crumble and custard. Watched "The Traitors" before bath and bed...

Wednesday 10th January 2023

Aki up early to ready herself for a cycle ride to Stoke Newington and the Rowing Club. I got up after she'd left, and made tea. Porridged at the computer. Aki rang to say she was having an early lunch at the cafe next door to the Clubhouse, so I put myself a lunch together. Aki got home around 1330. I did some exercises, then it was back to the coalface. Broke around 1730 to prepare an apple crumble; also cooked dinner, a simple pasta sauce with cavolo nero, olive oil, and parmesan cheese...bunged some walnuts in for a protein boost. Watched "Better Call Saul", followed by episode 4 of "The Traitors". Read some "Twist". Early bath and bed...

Tuesday 9th January 2024

Woke at 0730. Got up at 0745 to open the gate in anticipation of a Royal mail delivery. Made tea, and sat at the computer and worked for an hour or so before porridging. Went for a brisk walk around the block, making my way down to Holloway Road tube station before turning back, and popping in at Waitrose to buy a couple of things for the larder. Managed a bit more work at the computer before breaking for lunch...warmed up the parsnip soup. Read a little "Twist" before getting back in front of the computer. Broke at 1730. Aki warmed up a chicken and black bean stew for dinner, which we ate with freekah and vegetables. Watched "Better Call Saul", and an episode of "Kim's Convenience" before bath and bed...

Monday 8th January 2024

Woke around 0800, but nodded back off to sleep. Rose at 0845 and made tea. Cold outside. Porridged, then sat at the dining table and worked at the laptop until lunch time. Light flurries of snow outside...reports of heavy snowfalls in Kent! Sat at the computer for the remainder of the afternoon. Aki cooked a Japanese dinner, with smoked mackerel. Very tasty! Watched a bit of telly...enjoyed Dr Michael Moseley dissecting people's food purchases at the checkout in ASDA. Read a bit of "Twist" before early bath and bed...

Sunday 7th January 2024

Somewhat disturbed night’s sleep…don’t think I properly nodded off until gone 0230 for some reason. Woken around 0530 by the sound of an alarm, which turned out to be coming from the iPad in the living room. Had to unplug the powerless to get it to stop…baffling! Woke around 0900 and made tea. Lay in bed and read a little before rising to cook a late brunch. Nice bright day, so walked up Highgate Hill and back, popping in at M&S in Archway on the return leg. FaceTimed Kath who was chilling at home, then managed to get hold of ma and pa for a quick catch up. Dad was in the kitchen rustling up another chicken tikka masala! Watched the Arsenal v Liverpool FA Cup tie…frantic second half brought two goals for the Reds. Cooked a dal, which we ate with the fish curry we’d left in the freezer before heading north for Xmas. Watched a couple of episodes of “Kim’s Convenience”, and an episode of “Better Call Saul” before bath and bed…

Saturday 6th January 2024

Woke around 0900. Languished in bed for an hour reading, before rising to cook brunch...Aki had to pop out to the bakery around the corner, as we'd run out of bread. Finalised the Wot's Hip with the Chadster 2023 playlist, then listened to it back whilst doing my exercises. Ventured into Kings Cross...picked up a bus from the north end of Caledonian Road, and got off near the Regents Canal, and did the short walk to Coal Drops Yard via the canal towpath. Browsed in Paul Smith, and APC, then wandered down to Carhaart, but couldn't find anything in the sales. 

Walked on to St Pancras and to Gant, where my click and collect order was awaiting me...a khaki fleece jacket. Tried it on in the shop, and hated it, so tried some troosers on instead, but they didn't have my size...had to order them from the warehouse, so will have to go back next weekend! Popped in to Waitrose and bought a chunky sirloin steak, then caught a No.259 bus back to Holloway. I cooked the steak, and Aki made a tasty cream and whiskey sauce to go with it; had the orange and whiskey creme caramel I'd made yesterday for afters...yum! Watched a bit of telly, and practised the songs we have been learning for Burns Night. They are slowly coming together, and we now need to introduce the string section...not sure when that's going to happen!

Friday 5th January 2024

Woke around 0900. Aki brought me a mug of tea. Got up and porridged. Managed about a hour doing exercises for feet and my neck. Did half an hour or so at the computer submitting my expense claims and December timesheets. Made a tasty parsnip and carrot soup for lunch, then embarked on an attempt to make orange and whisky creme caramels…first attempt was a failure, but second time was a glorious success. We took the kitchen tap apart in a bid to give the faucet a clean, and stop the din every time we turn the taps on! Also changed the cold water bush bodies and barrels to stop the dripping. The result was definitely an improvement. Cooked a chicken and mushroom pasta sauce with walnuts and Parmesan. Watched "WILTY" and "Traitors" before bath and bed...

Thursday 4th January 2024

Alarm at 0830. Dozed until 0900. Got up for tea and porridge. Planter fasciitis in left foot getting worse…been troubling me since the walk up Highgate Hill the other day! Took delivery of my new copy of “Oliver Twist”, in the same Everyman Classics series as “Nicholas Nickleby” that Kath had given me for Xmas. Sat and read for a bit. Did some exercises for my planter fasciitis, my frozen shoulder, and my herniated discs. Did some prep work on a bunch of Clarion inspections...loads of it! Should keep e occupied for most of January! Aki not feeling too well, so had a lie down before lunch. Walked her round to the GP in the rain, then popped into the DIY store on Hornsey Road to wish the lads a Happy New Year, and purchase a battery for our defunct doorbell. Did some more prep work before warming up dinner...finished off the remainder of the couscous and chorizo sausage stew. An afternoon and evening of heavy rain. Watched "Dragon's Den", and the second episode of "Traitors" in which the first 'murder' was carried out...it's becoming quite addictive! Shocking pictures from Trent Bridge of very high water levels opposite County Hall...

Wednesday 3rd January 2024

Aki up early to ready herself for the cycle ride to the Rowing Club. I got up around 0900 and made myself porridge and tea, and went back to bed to read "Oliver Twist" for a bit. Eventually got up...phoned Andy G to see if he had any work for me...a couple of Peabody portfolios to look at this month. Phoned Katrina's old mate Keith, in Consett...he was after some advice regarding on-going damp problems with his Victorian end terrace house. As he's thinking of selling up, I suggested he'd have to bite the bullet and seek the advice of a Building Surveyor...he has roof leaks as well as rising damp, by the sounds of it. I popped out for a brisk walk to the Central Library to return a book, and walked back via Franchi’s where I bought an Allen key. Aki was cooking lunch when I got in. Pottered about for the afternoon getting not very much done. Mum FaceTimed early evening for a wee chat...she's missing Kath's company this evening. Cooked a quick chicken tikka masala for dinner; very tasty...from a kit I bought in Waitrose...just add chicken!!! Watched episode 1 of the new season of "Traitors" before bath and bed...

Tuesday 2nd January 2024

Good night’s sleep. Aki brought me a mug of tea in bed. Wet and windy outside. Extraordinary footage on BBC News website of a plane engulfed in flames landing at Tokyo airport…after yesterday’s earthquake on the Noto Peninsula, this must be putting Kath off the notion of coming to Japan with us! Aki made cinnamon porridge with banana and orange juice...we weren't terribly impressed with the recipe. Pottered about for the remainder of the morning. Warmed up Aki's aduki bean porridge for lunch, with the traditional mochi in it. I ventured out into the weather mid-afternoon to buy some odds and ends, popping in to Morrisons, Waitrose, and Rio's Grocery to get what I needed...the fennel in Rio's was precisely half the price of that in Waitrose! Cooked a haddock and giant couscous stew, with chorizo and tomato sauce...again, the reality failed to match up to the promised big flavours, but it filled a hole. Not much on telly tonight. Sat at the computer for a bit and administered my expenses claims, and my timesheets, for last month. Bath, and bed...

Monday 1st January 2024

Woke late after getting to bed at 0100. Lay in for a bit…Aki brought me a mug of tea. Got up for her traditional Japanese NY mochi soup…very tasty! Practised "Ae Fond Kiss" for a bit. Decided to take advantage of a break in the bad weather to walk up to Highgate. Aimed for the cemetary, but had just missed the last tour. The guy on the ticket office didn't appear to know that there were Dickens family members buried in the west cemetary...it's £10 to get in if you don't want to take a tour, and we vowed to return at a more opportune moment. Walked though Waterlow Park, hoping for tea and cake at the cafe in Lauderdale House, but it was closed for NY. 

Wandered down Highgate Hill, and popped in for a light lunch at Archies...really enjoyed the burrito, and we shared a generous slice of Basque cheesecake. Walked home in a light drizzle. I cooked a roast chicken dinner, with roast parsnips, sweet potato chips, and bread sauce, followed by tiramisu. Watched the comedy film "Eurovision", from the Spinal Tap team, starring Will Farrell as a delusional Icelandic Eurovision song contestant. It had it's moments, but "Spinal Tap" it wasn't...we switched off before the predicatble ending hoved into view. Early bath, and bed...

Sunday 31st December 2023

Had a good sleep at last, despite heavy rain and squalling winds playing about the bedroom roof...got up around 1030. Cooked breakfast. Vacuumed. Took a walk down to Islington Green, stopping off for a chat with Jane and Carlos from No.36 who we spotted having coffee in Broccoli on Hornsey Road. Swapped some ideas for gigs in the New Year. Wished them a Happy New Year, and walked down to Upper Street. Browsed for a little while in Waterstones, then walked through Camden Passage. The weather was turning, so we opted to get a No.43 bus back up to Holloway...it absolutely bucketed down as we passed Highbury Corner. Got off the bus at Camden Road, and I went to Waitrose while Aki made for Morrisons. Walked back home in the gloom with Waitrose own brand tiramisu in my backpack, amongst other things. Ma and pa FaceTimed us from High View…Kath was there. They’d been out to Wallington for a walk and had caught a choir of children singing carols. Dad’s hip playing up, though, which meant him staying home. Aki cooked a noodle soup for dinner, with tempura prawns and fried tofu. Had some tiramisu for afters, followed by cheese and biscuits. Aki called Tokiko...Tok recommended we aim for Hokaido in spring of 2025 to see the spectacular cherry blossom. Sounded like a plan, and we alerted Kath to the possibility of a change of plan. We played "Ae Fond Kiss" to Tok over FaceTime. Watched a bit of Jools’ Hootenanny and toasted the New Year in with a cup of mint tea…