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...