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…