Sunday 25th August 2024

Woke around 0930. Hauled myself out of bed and descended for breakfast. Dad pottering about in the back garden. Rehearsed a  song or two for "Witch". We had the soup I'd made yesterday, for lunch. It tasted a bit weird, but couldn't work out why. Added a bit of salt, but it didn't make much difference. We persevered...you got used to it after half-a-dozen spoonfuls. Drove over to Tesco after lunch to do a shop...mum came for the ride. I left her in the car in the car park, reading the paper and watching the world go by. Drove back to High View and cooked a few portions of chicken tikka masala to stick in the freezer, then started on tonight's dinner, a simple baked chicken recipe involving loads of dad's tomatoes, which I served with a green bean salad, and sauteed potatoes. Very tasty! Watched the first episode of the new series of "Sherwood". Dad fell asleep on the sofa during The Ten...he woke about 30 minutes later, half-way through MOTD2. FaceTimed Aki from bed. The film showing of "The Leopard" seemed to have gone well...I look forward to catching up!

Saturday 24th August 2024

Rolled out of bed around 0930 and descended to make tea. Bowl of cereal for breakfast. FaceTimed Aki who had had a good time at Kim's evening get-together at her flat in Muswell Hill. Cooked a lentil soup for use at a later date, then put a simple salad together for lunch, with ham and melon. Popped down to the village to get some provisions, and took a walk along the river behind The Diamond. Drove back to High View for a cuppa then started preparing the evening meal...spicy lamb and aubergine with egg noodles. It was OK...not as tasty as I'd hoped, and rather dry, there being no sauce. We watched a bit of telly in the living-room...enjoyed Michael Portillo's brief sojourn in Lisbon. Caught a bit of MOTD before bed...

Friday 23rd August 2024

Woke around 0900. Ventured downstairs, taking a cuppa tea and my overnight oats back upstairs. Read some Dickens, and started the new Book Club pick, J G Farrell's "The Siege of Krishnapur". Did some admin upstairs regarding the Power of Attorney...suggested to dad that it may be wise to draw up similar documents to allow me some control over mother should dad shed this mortal coil first. He intimated that it might be a good idea to set the process in train. I made lunch. Kath and I took mum down to the new cafe on Darras Broadway…it has the feel of a tv set for a soap. We were sat on a round table with a plastic olive tree branching out of its centre. Still, the chocolate brownie with ice cream and chocolate sauce were particularly good. Did a quick shop in the Co-op before heading back to High View. Kath and I ventured out to do some steps. Walked down the farm tracks behind Callerton, then down the old railway line that has been turned into a footpath and cycle way, ending up behind the Middle School, walking across the football pitches. Kath cooked a chicken fricassee with mashed potatoes for dinner. Watched the amazing Anthony McGill play Mozart's Clarinet Concerto...superb stuff! 

Thursday 22nd August 2024

Woke around 0830. Descended for breakfast with mum...dad was on his way out to the swimming baths. Did some washing, and hung it out on the line once it had stopped drizzling. Very windy outside, which will hopefully assist the drying. Made lunch...used up the remainder of the Dutch Baby I'd cooked yesterday, which we ate with a nice salad. Watched The One. Popped down to Sainsburys in the car to replenish dad's stock of ice cream, which we'd finished off last night. Back at High View, I cooked a Goan fish curry for dinner this evening, which we ate with some rice, and peas, followed by melon and ice cream. Did a little "Witch" rehearsal upstairs, before descending to join in a rendition of "Lilacs in the Spring Again" around the piano. Watched the final episode of "Merseyside Detectives" which ended with various Scouse ne'er-do-wells going to prison for a very long time. FaceTimed Aki from upstairs; by the time we had ended the call, everyone else had gone to bed. I prepped some overnight oats, and followed suit.

Wednesday 21st August 2024

Woke around 0830 after a good night's sleep. Descended for some breakfast with mum and dad. Mum got a call from someone regarding his car accident...we'd had a similar call yesterday, which we had dismissed as a scam, but they want to come up and inspect the damage to dad's car. We rang dad's car insurer, LV, and they confirmed that a prang had been reported to the police, and I was given a postcode...this turned out to be the B&M store on Kingston Park, and dad confirmed he'd been there on the date in question. I looked at his car and found some very minimal scratching to his front nearside bumper, so we decided he must have hit her unknowingly, so we accepted the claim to save everybody's time and money. The guy at LV confirmed that no excess payment would be required of dad, and that it wouldn't affect his No Claims...all a bit odd, though. Made carrot and coriander soup for lunch. Kath came back for that. She and I walked down to Darras Hall Broadway to get some items ahead of my cooking tonight's dinner. Back at High View, I roasted a bunch of tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and sugar, and made a batter, fried some bacon, then put the batter in the pan, put the bacon on top, and sprinkled over some Cheddar cheese before popping the pan in the oven for half-an-hour. It expanded generously in the oven...it's named a Dutch Baby, apparently. It was very tasty! Ice cream and melon balls for afters. Kath had to go back to work. I retired upstairs to rehearse some "Witch" songs, then descended to the living-room to watch some telly with mum and dad. FaceTimed Aki...she still has a sore throat, but no other symptoms...she may cry off going to Book Club tomorrow evening if she's still feeling under the weather. 

Tuesday 20th August 2024

Woke to alarm at 0600. Managed to haul myself out of bed. Kath passed me on the landing. Descended to the kitchen to make tea. Dad appeared from the downstairs bathroom. Took mum a cuppa in bed. Dad all packed...with his little cabin-sized bag, he looked as if he was going on holiday! Kath bundled him into her car, and they disappeared down High View. Mum and I had breakfast around 0800. Read some of my new book, "My Battle of Hastings", by a Chinese authoress who found herself buying a small flat overlooking the sea on Hastings sea-front. Mum and I enjoyed a coffee sat out in the back garden, catching a bit of weak sunshine. Pottered about in the kitchen. Made some rice pudding, and started a beef ragu, which will do for tonight's dinner. Found some slightly outdated chicken soup in the fridge...added some vegetable stock, and warmed it up for lunch when Kath got back. She reported that dad was expected to be in theatre by mid-afternoon. After lunch, I drove mum down to Sainsbury's in the village and did a little shop. As we were unpacking the provisions back at High View, the phone rang...I assumed it was Jim, the voice sounding a little distant, but familiar...it was dad! His op had been cancelled due to complications experienced by the patient ahead of him in the theatre queue. I drove mum into Gosforth, and we picked him up from the Freeman Hospital, and brought him home. Spaghetti bolognese for dinner, followed by rice pudding...the latter went down very well. Did a little "Witch" rehearsal upstairs, then descended to watch a bit of telly. Mum and dad sporadically nodding off on the sofa...we'd all been up since 0600!!! FaceTimed Aki, who had gone to bed early, still struggling with a sore throat. Shower and bed...

Monday 19th August 2024

Woke around 0800 for some reason. Reluctantly rolled out of bed. Kath had driven off to work by the time I descended for breakfast with ma and pa in the dining-room. Packed the remains of the coq au vin into freezer-proof bags and stuck 'em in the freezer. Jim and Emma turned up in the van, en route for Lincolnshire. Jim mowed the lawn front and back. They stayed for some lunch...fish pie and vegetables for dad, as he was planning to start fasting this evening ahead of tomorrow morning's operation; poached eggs and bacon for the rest of us (Emma had some yoghurt and cereal she brought in from the van). They pushed off after lunch. I walked down to Darras Hall for a bit of exercise, and bought some odds and ends in the Co-op. Kath, mum and I ate the last of the fish pie for dinner...dad had a bit of chocolate cake, but that was all. Watched a bit of telly before retiring early...we all need to get up around 0600 tomorrow morning!

Sunday 18th August 2024

Woke around 0830. Hauled myself out of bed...feeling very weary today, despite a relatively good night's sleep. We descended for breakfast. Mum and dad joined us. Aki and I walked down to the Co-op at Darras to get some provisions...had decided to cook coq au vin for dinner. Walked back up Whinfell Road. Started cooking the chicken. Aki packed her bags, and then prepared lunch. Drove Aki into Newcastle to get the 1451 train back to Kings Cross. Managed to find a parking spot near St James' stadium, and bought a couple of hours...walked into toon. Ambled down to the Bridge Hotel, and took in the view from the High Level Bridge. Treated myself to a half of lager in the Bridge Hotel, then walked up Dean Street, popping in to the guitar shop at the bottom of the hill to buy a set of strings. Walked up to the Central Arcade and had a quick browse in Windows music shop, then bought a book at Waterstones. Wandered around Fenwicks and John Lewis's photographing kettles to show to John. Drove home. Took the chicken off the bone, as I reckoned the thighs were way too big for mum and dad...good value, though! Kath came round for dinner. Watched a bit of telly, then ventured upstairs to rehearse some "Worst Witch" songs, before descending for The Ten. Caught some MOTD2 before retiring to bed...

Saturday 17th August 2024

Woke at 0800. Descended to the kitchen to make tea, passing father and his tea tray on the way. Took tea up to Aki and got back into bed. Descended for breakfast with mum and dad. Kath drove off to a birthday party in town for Nicki's two-year old, Everley. Aki and I drove over to Newburn and parked up in the Tyneside Country Park. Walked down-river to the Tyne Amateur Rowing Club boathouse, where a regatta was being held. Managed to find Aki's acquaintances from Hexham, Gill, and Rob, who had been on the Portugal rowing trip. Had a chat with them, then ascended the steps to the boathouse and took up positions on the balcony from which to see the action. The regatta consisted of a number of two-boat races, 600m upstream, to a finish line in front of the boathouse. Enjoyed watching for an hour or so, then wandered out front to bid the Hexham rowers farewell. Drove up to Sainsbury's at Throckley and did some shopping. Back home in time for lunch with mum and dad. Aki spent most of the afternoon prepping and cooking a fish pie for dinner. Kath turned up mid afternoon, and we all sat down to dinner at 1830. Watched a bit of telly in the lounge. Really enjoyed a repeat broadcast of a programme celebrating 50 years of "Parkinson"...some great memories. Kath nodded off on the sofa. Watched MOTD as she snored contentedly...she woke up about half way through, and went up to bed...

Friday 16th August 2024

Woke around 0800. Rolled slowly out of bed. Passed father on the way to the kitchen, taking mother a tray of tea in bed to celebrate her 91st birthday! Prepped the breakfast...did crumpets with cream cheese, ham, and scrambled eggs. Mother opened her birthday cards. Nice one from dad with a self-penned poem in it. Put together some beef and tomato, and chicken and avocado sandwiches, and stuck some accoutrements in a hamper, then we all drove out to Druridge Bay. 

Very busy...like Brighton beach! We wandered down to the beach and sat on a dune for a while. Mum, Kath, and Aki, went off for a quick stroll along the sands. Dad and watched through binoculars! Returned to the car park and found a picnic table...lunched there in a brisk sea breeze. Drove north to Amble, and enjoyed ice creams at Spurrlini's, then drove home via Ulgham, and Morpeth. Ordered an Indian takeaway for dinner. Jim and Emma turned up. 

I finished icing the cake, while Aki cooked rice, and Kath drove down to Darras Hall to collect the takeaway. Seven of us congregated around the dining-table. Broke open a bottle of Cava. The Indian food was followed by birthday cake, and cheese and biscuits. We adjourned to the living-room to watch a bit of telly. Jim and Emma drove home, and left us to it. Mum seemed to have enjoyed her day...

Thursday 15th August 2024

Woke around 0800. Got up and descended for breakfast...Aki had made tea. Spent half the morning making some soup for lunch out of dad's overcooked homegrown runner beans...chucked in some onion, carrots, and pearl barley. Kath came over for lunch. I served the soup with croutons and grated cheese. It was OK...could have been tastier. Aki and I drove over to Tesco at Kingston Park after lunch to get ingredients to make mum's birthday cake. Got some other odds and ends...a box of Ferrero Rocher, and some flowers. Came home and warmed up the green pesto sauce mum had taken out of the freezer yesterday. Added fried mushrooms, shredded chicken, and ricotta cheese. Very tasty...though evidently not to mum and dad, who failed to finish their rather meagre portions. Spent the evening baking the birthday cake, leaving it cool for the night. Dad hung a nice photo of mum in a garden, on the dining-room wall, after she had gone to bed. We brought down the flowers and the chocolates, and displayed them with her birthday cards, for her to discover come the morning. Shower and bed.

Wednesday 14th August 2024

Got up at 0730. Prepared cold meats, smoked salmon, and toast for the communal breakfast. Packed our bags...took them down to the car to stick in the boot. The Lettings Agency wasn't open, so rang them to see if it was OK to keep hold of the parking permit for an extra hour...we had to be out of the accommodation by 1000. They gave me the green light. Wandered down to our favourite cafe for a latte, saying our farewells to Gill and Susan outside on the pavement. Kath and Hilary walked on into town to do some window shopping. I took the keys back to the Lettings Agency, and we ambled around the locale to kill some time. Handed in the parking permit around 1045, and headed for The Meadows. Found some parking about 10 minutes walk from the Summerhall venue where we were due to see John Hegley. Cost me £14 for four hours! Walked across The Meadows and sat watching the locals on the public tennis courts...lovely sunny day. Decided to head toward town to find a spot of lunch. Ended up at an African wrap joint called Nile Valley, next door to the mosque. Ordered a chicken and aubergine wrap...as we were making our way out, Stephanie from The Tower Theatre walked in!!! We exchanged a few words...she was up seeing stuff, rather than performing. We recommended the dance piece we'd seen last night. Walked back to The Meadows and ate our lunch on a park bench, then ventured over to Summerhall. As we rocked up, we joined loads of people hanging about outside, and the shrill sound of a fire alarm could be heard coming from the depths of the venue. Had to wait outside for 15 minutes before getting the all-clear, and we made our way to the Cairns Lecture Theatre. Good turnout for John...he mixed new stuff with a lot of hits from yesteryear...he remains as effortlessly likeable as he always was. Said our farewells to Hilary afterward, and walked briskly to the car before the parking meter ran out. Got there with a minute to spare. Drove southward, stopping off for petrol at Cameron Toll...Kath and Aki bought water, and we took to the A68 toward Newcastle. Got to High View at 1730. Dad had cooked his infamous chicken tikka masala for dinner. It was served with rice, yoghurt, and rather too much mango chutney, which made it more of a dessert...this was followed by dessert...treacle sponge and custard, which went down well. Had to have a lie down after dinner. Kath went home to do her washing. Mum and dad watched telly. Aki had a shower. Bed...

Tuesday 13th August 2024

Woke around 0900. Rolled slowly out of bed. Breakfasted with the girls in the kitchen/dining area. Ham, beef, chicken, mozzarella, toast, cheese, and a bowl of tea. Aki and I repaired to the cafe around the corner, whilst the girls headed into town to do the Art Gallery. We ambled into town around the south side of the castle rock, which took us up to Lawnmarket. Aki bought a couple of tartan lambs wool scarves. Wandered down to the Scott Monument, and across Prince's Street into the New Town. Stopped for a light lunch in St Andrew's Square...sat on a bench and shared a sandwich from a Costa kiosk. It began to rain a bit, so we made for Harvey Nicks...had a wander about, feeling the clothes, killing time until the first gig of the day, Simon Munnery at The Stand Comedy Club. Met the gals outside. The venue was packed, but we all managed to find a seat, though not together. 

Simon was his usual curious self...a very intelligent man who has refused to sell out, living half the year in a tent as he travels the world doing comedy festivals. He didn't disappoint. We then ambled back across town for an early dinner at Le Bistrot, off Lawnmarket. It's located in the Institute Francais. They sat us in an adjoining room at a table for six, which we had all to ourselves. The food was good...hearty French cuisine. It was then time to wander down to the Grassmarket for the next show, "The Passion of Andrea 2", at Dancebase. It was a strange dance trio, featuring three gawky, awkward men in naff wigs prancing about beneath gigantic filled bean bags hung from the ceiling. They had a nice comic rapport, but the piece ran out of steam toward the end. We adjourned to a nearby bar for a drink, sitting outside with a view of the castle. 

Then it was back to Dancebase to see three pieces by Australian wunderkind Lewis Major, and his four Australian dancers. They were superb, the dancers bodies and movements honed by exceptional lighting designs which produced a mesmerising hour's entertainment. Hope we get to see his work in London soon. We walked back to the apartment in ebullient mood, catching some of the fireworks above the castle as the evening's Tattoo came to an end...

Monday 12th August 2024

Woke at 0900. Igor had popped out to the bathroom, so I got dressed, then descended to find Hilary at the kitchen table. Partook of a large mug of tea. Joined by Tim, then Aki and Kath showed up. We breakfasted on cereal and yoghurt. Abluted and packed…had to run back and forth to the car dodging lightening strikes and getting soggy in the obligatory downpour. We waved Tim goodbye, and set off for Edinburgh via the Forth Road bridge. Got to Haymarket at 1230 and popped into the letting office to pick up a parking permit, and keys. Susan met us in the car park, having travelled up from Carlisle this morning. Dropped our bags off in the flat…a three bed third floor unit in a modern 5-storey development backing onto the Haymarket rail station. We walked round the corner for a coffee, and did some planning…then on to M&S on the station concourse to buy provisions. 

We left Hilary on the concourse, as she had arranged to meet Gill off the Dundee train. Had a light lunch in the apartment. The gals headed out for a wander. Aki stayed in to do some washing, and we took turns using the shower. We walked into town, looking for a cheesemonger, but the deli we aimed at in the New Town wasn't a deli, but a cafe. Walked up Prince's Street and bought cheese in M&S before returning to the apartment for a salad dinner. 

We all then ventured out to our first show...a piece by the Grotowski Institute, centred around the experiences of a Ukranian trans actor who was now fighting on the frontline against the Ruskies. It was all a bit conceptual, and felt more like an art installation than a piece of theatre, but it had worthy things to say about the human condition...it ended by the solo actress in the show (the trans actor appeared by pre-recorded video from the frontline), stripping off and laying herself gently down on four or five dozen wine glasses filled with sand. We then had to hightail it across town to Summerhall, tramping across The Meadows. It took us about half-an-hour, at the end of which we rocked up at Summerhall only to be informed that the show we had booked for had been cancelled at short notice! We wandered toward the Old Town, and found ourselves at the Pleasance Dome, hoping to see a comedienne, but she had sold out. We managed to get the last six tickets for Darkfield's production, "Flight", instead...an immersive sound experience set on an aeroplane to nowhere. The production took place in a shipping container, which had been decked out with airplane seats, complete with overhead lockers and small video screens. We had to don the headphones attached to the seat in front, after which we were plunged into darkness for the next 20 minutes while listening to sounds and voices from afar, or close to, whispering intimately in our left ears. There was the very convincing rumble of aircraft engine, and the occassional buffeting as we hit pockets of turbulence...a rather strange, disquieting experience. We stumbled out into the Edinburgh night not knowing quite what to make of it. Kath, Aki and I headed for Captain's Bar around the corner, hoping for some soothing folk music. The bar was very narrow, and packed, with a couple of guys playing guitar and fiddle at the back...they weren't terribly good, and couldn't be enjoyed for the constant chatter of the drinkers. We turned on our heels, and walked back to the apartment.

Sunday 11th August 2024

Alarm at 0800.  Got dressed and ventured over to the breakfast lounge. The offering was a substandard buffet, bacon, rubbery fried eggs, overcooked mushrooms etc. we ate and made our escape, packed our baggage in the boot, and drove off into Perth. Aki wanted postage stamps, so we parked up in Morrisons, then it was on to Dundee. Got caught out by poor signage which lead us past the V&A and on to the blinkin’ road bridge across the Tay. 

Had to find a suitable u-turn to get back over the bridge, eventually finding a parking space at Nethergate. Walked down to the V&A, which is very striking, sat on the riverside like some giant concrete cruise liner. Had coffee on the sun terrace overlooking the estuary, then wandered into town to find lunch. Ended up in the cafe at the McManus Museum, a rather splendid Gothic creation on the northern fringes of the town centre. Walked back to the car and headed for St Andrews. Nice drive through the Kingdom of Fife. Got to Hilary’s a little earlier than planned, intending to park on their driveway and walk back into town, but it was further than expected. We were rescued by Hilary and ushered into the large rear garden, and introduced to her 90 year old father, and her 18 year old daughter Pippa. We were later joined by husband Tim, and a fried Corinne, who’d driven over from Perth. 

We sat out back and chewed the fat until we were called to the kitchen for dinner…Hilary had done a huge pasta bake, which we helped ourselves to, with fruit and ice cream to follow. Retired to the sitting room afterward and told some theatrical tales, before preparing for bed. Kath and Aki shared a big double bed on the first floor, whilst I was billeted with young Igor (a school-friend of Hilary and Tim's son, Marcus) in the attic! Poor old Igor...hope I don't snore too much in the night!

Saturday 10th August 2024

 

Alarm at 0750. Hauled ourselves out of bed. Wandered over to the pub for breakfast…I went for the Full Scottish. Felt rather bloated afterward…waddled back to the rooms and packed our bags. Walked over Eddie’s and knocked him up. He lead us up the driveway of the nearby hotel, a 17th century manor that had been requisitioned by the army during WWII. A contingent of Polish army emigres was stationed there, and in return for the hospitality then shown, one of their descendants created a large concrete relief map of Scotland, set in a pool of brackish water…we ventured into the grounds to take a look. It looked rather like a malformed crazy golf course…but photos from the air look brilliant…shame we couldn’t be floated above the creation…called The Polish Map of Scotland. Said our farewells to Ed and drove north to Perth via the new Queensferry Crossing. Eventually found our hotel…it’s a Best Western, but looks grim. Couldn’t get into our rooms so walked into town. The town centre is pretty run down. 

We found the refurbished Town Hall, now the Perth Museum. Had tea and cake in the airy Stone cafe. The gal behind the counter told us we’d just missed Ewan McGregor, a former resident of this parish. Walked up to a restaurant on the northern periphery of the town centre, hoping to book a table for this evening…but they were fully booked. Looks like the only decent restaurant in town. Heard music coming from the park by the river so went to take a look…found ourselves at a Gay Pride Perth event…walked back to the museum for a 1530 appointment with the Stone of Destiny. We were ushered into a small viewing room and subjected to an immersive video telling the story of the stone, then into an antechamber to gawk at it as it sat in an illuminated glass case…it looked more like someone’s doorstep than anything else. Wandered round the exhibition then trekked back to the hotel and got our room keys. It looks as though Kath’s room is situated within earshot of tonight’s 18th birthday bash. We are in a neighbouring annexe, a couple of converted Victorian terraced houses. The room is large but has seen better days, and the bathroom is geared up for the disabled, complete with pull down seating in the shower…Aki not pleased! Telly doesn’t work. 

Drove back into town for a late dinner sitting at Dean’s on Kinnoull Street. It was very good…we shared a starter of scallops with caviar, pea puree and smoked ham hock, served on a plate of pebbles with dry ice! I had Orkney beef medallion on put lentils and bacon, with an ox-cheek tartlet, fondant carrot with garlic crumb, and butternut puree. Kath and Aki went for the seabass. Walked our dinner off with a stroll along the Tayside, then back to the car to drive to the Lovat Hotel. The 18th birthday bash was in full swing as we rocked up. Had to park on the street, as all the parking spaces had gone…

Friday 9th August 2024

 

Woke around 0800. Descended for breakfast with ma and pa. Packed our bags and loaded the boot of the car. Waved the auld folk farewell and drove north via the A68 and A72 to Eddleston, four miles north of Peebles. Rolled up outside No.5 Station Road on schedule. Eddie opened the front door and let us in. He and Sue live in a small single storey cottage that once served the local manor. It’s pretty cramped, but has a certain character…nice sized garden to the rear. Eddie treated us to Sue’s homemade green soup, olive bread, and a couple of cheeses. He seemed in fine fettle, and we had a good laugh. He suggested we walk off lunch with a short hike up the hill behind the hotel we are staying in…he supplied Nordic walking sticks! We negotiated a steep incline, then circumnavigated the hill to gain views of the heather clad hills to the east. Sadly we got caught in a downpour on the descent…the wind blew the wet stuff in our faces. It was like walking through a car wash! Repaired to our rooms to dry off…stuck my jeans on the radiator. Aki had a lie down. Hooked up with Ed in the bar for a beer at 1830 then walked round the corner to Station Road. Sue greeted us having returned from a day shift at M&S in Edinburgh. We chose some Indian dishes, and Sue and Ed drove off to Peebles to there favourite Indian takeaway, leaving us to watch the athletics from the Stade de France. They returned with the scran, and we gorged ourselves on chicken jalfrezi, lamb rogan ghosh, rice, pakora and chapatis. Walked back to the hotel, exhausted…

Thursday 8th August 2024

Woke around 0715...managed to doze back off. Got up at 0830 and descended to the kitchens to make tea, and prepare cereal. Ate with mum and dad at the dining table. Ordered my new guitar from Sam McClaren...await invoice for hefty deposit! Aki and I walked down to the village, via the old railway line. Nice walk...the trees are very mature, and everything seemed very verdant. Did some shopping in Waitrose, then walked back up Callerton Lane and Eastern Way, cutting through at the top onto High View. Mum had put together an open sandwich lunch. Did some prep in the kitchen for tonight's meal...had planned a vegetarian dish, spring green pesto and linguine, but then got word that Jim and Emma weren't coming. Went ahead with it anyway, jazzing up Jamie Oliver's recipe by adding walnuts and basil to the mix. Ate at the dining-table...Kath working, so planned to eat when she got back around 2000. Watched some Olympic coverage on the telly before shower and bed...

Wednesday 7th August 2024

Woke around 0830 after a better night's sleep. Dressed and descended to find mum in the kitchen, washing up...assumed therefore, that mum and dad had had their breakfast, so made tea for Aki, and a bowl of cereal for myself...at which point it became clear that mum and dad hadn't as  yet breakfasted. We ate together in the dining room. Got on my laptop after breakfast, and checked for Guardian Edinburgh Fringe reviews, and compiled a final programme, comprising six shows over two and a half days next week...emailed it off to our fellow adventurers for final approval. 

Drove over to Teeside for lunch in Yarm. Managed to find a parking space at the northern end of the High Street, near the magnificent Victorian railway viaduct over the River Tees. Wandered down the High Street, and ventured up an alleyway, where we discovered Borelli's cafe...genuine Italian provisions, and I ordered a chorizo and manchego panini...Aki had the mushroom bruschetta. Came away with a box of soft amaretti biscuits. Drove north to an industrial estate on the eastern outskirts of Stockton, and eventually found Sam McClaren's guitar workshop. Lovely lad...must be in his mid-thirties, as he reckons he's been building guitars for 15 years! We had a lovely chat, and I had a strum on one of his P-16's...beautifully built, with an Indian Rosewood backboard, spruce soundboard, and mahogany fretboard, finished with a layer of polyurethane. Nice tone, which he assured me would deepen with age. He said he could build me a cutaway model for £2,950, which would be ready by Christmas. Told him I'd confirm by email, and request bank details to lodge a deposit. Drove home via Sedgefield, and the A1(M), stopping off for petrol at Kingston Park. Got home to find ma and pa sat in the dining room with a pot of tea...a timely moment to hand over the amaretti biscuits. Aki cooked a pork and beef mince mabo for dinner, with rice and vegetables, followed by strawberry trifle and ice-cream. Watched some Olympics on the telly before Kath got in late for her dinner. Shower and bed...

Tuesday 6th August 2024

Woke around 0800 after a rather uncomfortable night. Got up and descended for breakfast in the dining-room with Aki, ma and pa...a bowl of cereal and a large mug of tea (having brought my big mug up from London). Nice day. Aki and I drove over to Throckley to do a shop in Sainsbury's. Had to make a detour to Waitrose on the way home to buy tofu, and aubergines. Had lunch with mum and dad on the patio in the back garden. 

Drove over to Big Water Country Park to take mum for a short walk round the lake, whilst dad stayed in the car and read the newspaper. Drove home and cooked a chicken cacciatore for dinner, which we had with pearl barley and peas, with trifle to follow...it seemed to go down relatively well, though they weren't too keen on the pearl barley. Served Kath's up early, as she had to shoot off to work. Watched some Olympics coverage...watched Keely Hodgkinson destroy the 800m field to clinch a well-deserved gold medal. Shower and bed...

Monday 5th August 2024

Woke around 0800. Got up and porridged. Put a packed lunch together in a couple of tupperware boxes. Packed the car, and did some final checks. Got away just after 1100, heading north via the A1, then on to the M1...I drove for almost three hours, by which time we found ourselves at Tibshelf Service Station, the halfway point. Stopped and used the facilities, and ate our lunch in the car, overlooking the dog-walking area. Aki took the wheel, driving us up to Durham Service Station on the A1(M), where we swapped for the final leg into Northumberland. Got to High View around 1730. Ma and pa made us tea, and we sat out for a bit, before dinner...Kath put together a salmon and potato salad. They seem in good fettle. Chatted at the dining-table before ending up in the living-room to watch some Olympic coverage. 

Sunday 4th August 2024

Nothing much to report. Aki decided not to go to Rowing Club, but instead make preparations for our journey north tomorrow. We did a bit of gardening out front...I pruned the wisteria. Did some of it from out of Lynne's upstairs window to save getting the ladder out. I did some ironing, vacuuming, and sorted out some of the clothing I plan to take with me. Aki cleaned the bathroom. Watched some Olympic coverage on the telly. Warmed up the last of the fish curry for dinner, which we ate with Japanese rice, and vegetables. Packed our bags before shower and bed...

Saturday 3rd August 2024

Nothing much to report, save spending most of the day sat on the sofa watching Olympics coverage. Aki cycled off to Yerbury Farmer's Market to buy bread. Aki went off into town to meet Saho, who was over from Switzerland...they had lunch with a former Kajima colleague. I pottered about with a couple of songs from "Witch" by way of cursory rehearsal. Walked to Waitrose to do some shopping. Aki cooked a pork fillet stir fry for dinner. 

Friday 2nd August 2024

 

Woke around 0900. Aki already up and working at the computer. I watched Olympic coverage on the telly. Pizza for lunch, with a bit of side salad. We walked up Highgate Hill after lunch to get some much needed exercise. I left Aki in Waterlow Park, and walked back down the hill to the Whittington Hospital for an appointment with the Hernia Hub. Managed to catch some Olympic coverage on the telly in the waiting room! The consultant recommended I go for an op...since I have already had keyhole surgery and mesh inserted, they will have to go in for open surgery...but he recommended we go for it, as there is a 17% risk of a strangulation. He reckoned surgery would take place in about 6 months...hope they manage to fit it in before I'm due to fly to Japan in March! Walked home via Dev's, to pick up a couple of prescription orders before we head north for the summer. Drove Aki round to Kearsey's on the Harringay Ladder where the rowing gals were to celebrate Kearsey's birthday. I dropped Aki off on Beresford Road, and headed home via the petrol station at Manor House. Warmed up some fish curry for dinner, with rice, naan, and greens. Watched more Olympics. Aki came home via taxi...seemed to have enjoyed Kearsey's vegetarian cooking. Shower and bed...

Thursday 1st August 2024

Slow start after yesterday's action. Got up and porridged on the blueberry and banana porridge that Kath had sent me as my birthday present. Spent most of the day glued to the telly, watching Olympic action, with some guitar rehearsals thrown into the mix. We ate more cheese and carrot loaf for lunch, followed by a slice of chocolate Guinness cake. Aki popped out to Tescos in the afternoon, and I warmed up a ragu I'd kept in the freezer for a couple of weeks, which we had with pappardelle. Watched more Olympics in the evening before shower and bed...

Wednesday 31st July 2024

Aki up early to ready for Rowing. 66 today! Looking forward to my first pension payment, but not due until mid-August. Aki made me a mug of tea before heading off on the cycle leg of her triathlon. I opened my present...two large ceramic mugs, with cork sleeves...can get a lot of tea in there! Watched Olympic coverage. I cooked a carrot and cheese loaf, then cooked a chocolate Guinness cake, before Aki returned for her lunch. The cheese loaf was OK, but I think I need to use a stronger Cheddar...next time! Aki iced the cake. Watched more Olympic coverage. Kath phoned from 12 High View, and ma and pa sang Happy Birthday down the phone. The signal wasn't great, but I told them I was moving into the Auld People's Home next week. 

Drove Aki round to the Landseer, with the Birthday cake on her lap. We got there before any of our invitees, and grabbed a couple of large tables. Most of the Sussex Way Book Club members turned up, the pub being just around the corner. Helen and Martin also showed up, as well as Kevin from No.93. We tucked in to chicken piri piri and tomato rice, followed by slabs of chocolate Guinness cake...a good time was had by all. We dispersed around 2230...I gave the barwoman who taken the brunt of our diverse food and drink orders a slice of cake, and we headed home in the car.