Monday 14th October 2024

Alarm at 0815. Got up and porridged, in anticipation of a call from the GP about my ultra-sound scans last month. Dr Wills rang. He said the scans showed a small cyst on the left testicle, but that this was nothing to worry about. However, as I was still getting some discomfort on the right side, he referred me to a urologist. He said it could be a lengthy wait, though! Wet and rainy day. Sat about reading Dickens, and listening to music. Made some lunch. Took a walk up Parkhurst Road, and on to the top of the hill on Camden Road, and caught a bus into Camden. Popped into the Izipizi store, then walked over to GuitarGuitar. Tried a Crybaby wah-wah pedal...sounded OK, but thought I'd head for Denmark Street and try a Boss Dynamic Wah pedal in their shop there...didn't like it. Tried a Vox pedal in another store, but then headed back to Camden to buy the Crybaby, and a music stand. Buses were getting very busy with rush-hour commuters, so walked up Camden Road, eventually getting on a No.253 the rest of the way. Early dinner...warmed up the last of the pumpkin risotto. I headed off in the car for Stoke Newington, to attend the Tower Theatre's AGM. Managed to get parked outside the theatre. The bar was busy with people chatting and filling in the voting slips for election to the Board, and to the Management Committee. We were ushered upstairs to the theatre for the meeting...there weren't as many present as I had assumed would turn up. We were treated to a Financial Report for the year, which was pretty sound, though much of the income had been generated by bequests from several past members who had died in the last twelve months. One deceased person had pledged £150,000!!! Stephen Ley got up and up-dated us on the works, adding a storey to the rear portion of the building to provide more rehearsal space. They have had to strengthen the walls and put in several RSJs ahead of advancing the works next summer. Amanda, the AD, announced the productions planned for the summer season 2025. Not much to interest me, except perhaps "Moby Dick", which they plan to take to Minack...may be an interesting project, though I'd prefer to be involved musically rather than as an actor. Will have to quiz Colin on what his plans are...he's writing some original pieces for it. Kathleen was there, so I drove her home. She's currently working on costumes for the forthcoming production of "The Dark Room". Aki still working when I got in. watched The Ten before bath and bed.

Sunday 13th October 2024

Alarm at 0815. Got up and porridged. Aki up too, ready for Rowing Club. Nice sunny day, though there’s a chill in the air. Lugged my guitar to the car, and headed for Stoke Newington. Got there a little early again, but noticed people entering the front door, so drove round the block before parking up in front of the theatre to unload my gear. The girls had arrived on time to help unload the van for the theatre get-in. I sat about drinking coffee until we convened in the Smith Studio to work through the numbers. Matthew had managed to get hold of a more sizeable bass amp...we are going to be loud! Broke for lunch at about 1330. Sat in the bar area having my leek and apple soup before wandering out to find a drink and a bar of chocolate. Worked on until 1800...a lot to get through, matching up the scripted cues for stopping and starting the tunes. Loaded the car back up and headed for home. Aki had baked sea bass, which we ate with lentils and vegetables, and a creamy sauce with preserved lemon. Watched The Ten before bath and bed...exhausted!

Saturday 12th October 2024

Alarm at 0800. Got up and porridged...Aki slept in. Packed my musical gear into the car and heated up some soup to take in for a planned packed lunch. Drove over to Stoke Newington...hardly any traffic about, so got there a bit early. Parked up outside the theatre, hoping to carry my gear in, only to find it locked up. Can't park there for long, as it's a Red Route, so drove round the corner into Alkham Road, and wandered back toward the theatre with guitar in hand. 

Managed to get in on this occassion, and found Ruth, our director, in the Penny Tuerk Room setting up the keyboard for Adam ahead of the witches arrival. Had to go back to the car to get the amp, and bits and pieces...by the time I returned, the witches had arrived and were warming up around Adam and his keyboard. Matthew showed up, and set his bass and amp up, and we worked on a couple of numbers, The Witching Kind, and Before They Stop Me. We finished around 1200 as the cast were to rehearse some bits and pieces, and attend costume calls...so the band decided to disperse until the morrow. I lugged my amp back to the car, then drove round to the front of the theatre to load up my guitar and guitar stand, and drove home. Aki working at the computer...she had had a sizeable brunch, so I lunched alone. Went for a walk afterward, up to Crouch Hill, then down to Tesco on Stroud Green Road to get some chicken for tonight's dinner. Called in at The Park Theatre to leave a note for Gary Lilburn, who is rehearsing "Autumn" there...left my phone number, and a note saying we'd be in to watch the show next Wednesday night (opening night). No bread left at Gail's, so headed for Waitrose...it was pouring with rain by now, so I jumped on a bus outside Finsbury Park station. Aki cooked a chicken and bean stew for dinner. I made chocolate Guinness fondants for dessert. They need rather longer in the oven than the recipe recommended, but came out very well. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

Friday 11th October 2024

Eventually got up and porridged. Sat about reading for a bit. Aki working at the computer, until I reminded her of her lunch appointment. She hurriedly changed and set off for South Kensington. I walked up to the North Library to renew my library card, then walked up the Holloway Road. Popped in to Archway Library and picked up "Free", which Aki had reserved...it being the Book Club read. I found a copy of Toni Morrison's "Beloved", which had been among the choices last night...and my preferred choice. I think it's time to hand in my resignation from the Book Club...I obviously want to read what I want to read! Walked up Highgate Hill, and sat with a latte in Gail's, reading some Dickens, before heading for home via M&S. Had myself a late lunch. Aki got home around 1630. I made a leek and apple soup, then cooked a squash risotto for dinner, with spelt instead of rice...it was pretty bland. Nowt on telly. Opted for an early bath and bed...

Thursday 10th October 2024

Aki up early to ready herself for a meeting in Camden. She cycled off before I woke around 0900. Got up and made porridge and tea, returning to my bed to eat and drink. Got up around 1015. Worked through some "Witch" numbers in the back bedroom. Aki back for lunch, having come home via the hairdresser's on Essex Road. Pottered about for the afternoon, then went for my constitutional, walking up Camden Road, then back down Parkhurst Road, before veering toward Waitrose, where I bought some provisions. Aki pan-fried some salmon for dinner, which we had with miso soup, and rice. I then made half-a-dozen berry and pear hand pies, and we walked them across to the Book Club meet at No.38. Ben and Gayu hosted, and aside from ourselves, Dulcie, Polly, Gareth, and Jane, showed up. Mixed reactions to "The Siege of Krishnapur"...Gareth his usual somewhat dismissive self, and Ben got a bit pompous about the treatment of the native Indian characters, seeming to miss the point of the satire. We chose "Free" as the next read, a memoir by an Albanian, recounting the fall of communism there in the latter part of last century...not sure I'm up for it, to be honest...I voted for Toni Morrison's "Beloved". Got home around 2200. Watched "The Ten" before bath and bed...

Wednesday 9th October 2024

Aki up early to ready herself for Rowing Club. I languished in bed until 0930. Got up and porridged. Did some exercises before retreating to the back bedroom and plugging in the electric guitar. Aki came home for lunch via Waitrose. Sat about reading and listening to music...working through The Guardian music reviews for 2024. Had my dinner early, as I had to depart for The Tower Theatre...walked it again. Got rained on a little as I was perambulating the edge of Clissold Park. The theatre bar area was crammed with school kids. I sat amongst them for a few minutes before "Witch" rehearsals started. They had all come on a double-decker bus from Grays Thurrock to see tonight's performance of "The Princess & the Hustler". I got talking to a couple of the kids, who must have been 14 or 15 year olds...the play is on their curriculum. A lot of peeps had come in to watch tonight's run of Act 2 of "Witch"...Phil was there, who is designing the set, sound operator was in, numerous stage and deputy stage managers and their assistants. We all enjoyed an entertaining run, though there are still plenty of bum cues flying about. Made my escape at 2030 and headed for home via the No.106 bus to Finsbury Park. Aki still working at the computer when I got in. Watched "The Ten" before early bath and bed...

Tuesday 8th October 2024

Aki up early to ready herself for a meeting in Camden. I got up around 1000 and made myself tea, and porridge, and went back to bed to read some Chuck D. Got up around 1100. Aki back in good time for lunch. Did my exercises. Walked round to the surgery for an initial appointment with my Get Active trainer, Michael Mahone. To my surprise, Michael was a strapping black lad with an American accent...had a good chat with him...he hails from Nashville, and met his English wife over the internet 15 years ago. He's lived in London for 10 years...nice chap, and we had a good laugh. Not sure his Get Active programme is up to much, though...he exhorted me to do me brisk walking, and that was about it. I was planning on going for a walk when I came out of the surgery, only to find it had started raining, so I headed home. Sat about reading. Aki cooked a Thai style prawn curry for dinner, with rice. Very tasty. Watched episode 3 of "Ludwig"...it was a bit of a slog. Not sure we'll make it to the end of the series at this rate! 

Monday 7th October 2024

Aki up at 0800 to work at the computer. I got up around 0900. Porridged. Sat about listening to music and reading. Did a bit of guitar work in the back bedroom before lunch. I walked over to Waitrose after lunch to buy some chicken to cook tonight, and get some puff pastry. We walked over to Kate's at Battledean Road around 1700...she's laid up, having had a bunion removed, and a toe straightened, and now has to keep her recovering foot above the level of her heart for most of the time, in order to minimise the risk of a blood clot. So friends have been going round to help out...we were on dinner duty this evening, cooking up a generous portion of chicken cacciatore, and I made some berry and apple hand pies, which we had for afters. Kate seemed in good form, despite having to go up and down stairs on her bum...she won't be allowed to discard her crutches until Xmas! Dinner went down well, and we left her enough to freeze several future meals. Got home around 2130, exhausted!

Sunday 6th October 2024

 

Woke to alarm at 0800. Got up and made tea. Cooked myself breakfast before Aki rose. Logged my musical equipment to the car and headed for Stoke Newington. Very little traffic about, and I got lucky with the green lights. Got to the Fire Station a bit early but managed to find a free parking space right outside. Peter was already there…his wife and daughter were helping him lug his drum kit into the building. We were in a room on the second floor. Peter evidently not too fit…his breathing gets very heavy as he mounts the stairs, and his wife insists he doesn’t carry anything himself. We all mucked in. He apparently has a scan booked for next weekend! Adam turned up, while Matthew hauled a Casio keyboard over from the theatre. Tamara showed up, and Laura, who is playing Mildred…we worked through her show number before letting her go. Tom then joined us with his sax, and we worked through all the music in Act One. Broke for lunch. Peter and I had brought packed lunches…the rest trooped out to buy takeaway wraps on Church Street. We worked through Act Two. Miranda then rocked up and we worked on her two numbers before rounding off with the Finale, and breaking at 1715. Gave us plenty of time to haul everything back downstairs. I gave Peter a hand once his missus rocked up with their car, then drove for home. Aki had gone to meet Kearsey and Kieran to discuss their plans for reconfiguring their kitchen, so I got home a little before she did. Aki cooked a mushroom spelt risotto for dinner. Watched a bit of telly...interesting little documentary recalling the birth of the BBC's "40 Minutes" strand, followed by their 1991 film following a day-in-the-life of the staff and passengers using Angel tube station just before it's failing Victorian layout was reconfigured by a modern refurbishment. 

Saturday 6th October 2024

Woke around 0900. Hauled myself out of bed and made tea. Porridged. Caught a No.43 bus on Holloway Road… very busy for some reason, but managed to find seats. Got off at Angel and joined the walking group…where we bumped into Jane and Carlos from No.36. The hour long walk took us around the Angel and Islington Green area, ending at the Business Design Centre, which was originally the Victorian era Agricultural Hall.

We took in Owen’s Field, named after a14th Century woman named Alice Owen…she founded the Dame Alice Owen school, which moved to Potters Bar in the 20th Century, but still accepts pupils from Islington. We stopped outside the house of Douglas Adams at No.22 Colebroke Row, and the 18th century home of Charles Lamb, a little further up. Aki and I persuaded Jane and Carlos to join us for coffee in Camden Passage. Kipferl was full, so we ended up in a little creperie and lunched on ham and cheese crepes. Parted company with Jane and Carlos on Upper Street, and walked home via Waitrose. Ran through some "Witch" numbers in the back bedroom. Aki cooked hake for dinner. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

Friday 5th October 2024

 

Aki up early to ready herself for Rowing Club. I got up shortly after she'd cycled off...porridged. Walked over to the pharmacist on Holloway Road, and queued up inside the pharmacy for my flu and covid jabs, then walked down to Hornsey Street for my appointment with the physio in respect of my frozen shoulder. Not much progress made, but at least things seem to be stabilising. Caught a Piccadilly line train from Holloway Road station, to Leicester Square, and walked up to Foyles bookshop. As I was heading upstairs to the cafe, I happened upon the newly published documentary on Lawrence, and Mozart Estate...found a chapter entitled Itchy Teeth, so too the book up to the cafe to have a read of the relevant chapter. It's pretty dull reading, but I enjoyed the chapter nonetheless, as the author focussed on a meeting with Xav and Charlie, of Itchy Teeth, who now make up half of Lawrence's backing band. I sent Xav a photo of me reading it. After my coffee, I sauntered across to Denmark Street, and found myself in a Boss store...which was fateful, as I was after purchasing the Boss Mega Distortion guitar pedal. Also bought some power leads, then wandered over to Uniqlo and bought a new pair of house-pants. Walked up Tottenham Court Road, and sought out Miel on Warren Street, a bakery that has been receiving glowing reviews in the foodie press. They appeared to concentrate mostly on sweets, rather than savouries, so I sauntered onward and bought a chicken satay bahn mi at Mini Bang Bang, and ate it on a bench in Fitzroy Square. Caught a No.29 bus home. Played about with my new guitar effects pedal...not sure it adds much, but useful to have in the sonic armoury. Aki still out...she had gone to meet a couple of JCUK big-wigs for dim sum in Marylebone. I cooked dinner once she was home...linguine with fried mushrooms in a tahini and lemon sauce...very nice! Watched episode two of "Ludwig"...it was OK, but I felt the joke was already wearing a bit thin. Watched The Ten before bath and bed...

Thursday 3rd October 2024

Woke early for some reason. Aki talking in her sleep...she was apparently on a trip to Slovakia, and thanking banking staff for their help in transferring her state pension payments into a new bank account! I got up and made tea; porridged. Sat about listening to music and reading Farrell. Rehearsed Act One numbers after lunch. Aki on a Zoom call with Tammy, so I took the opportunity to slip out for a constitutional, walking up to Archway to buy some milk, then back home again to cook dinner…mustard marinated pork chops, with sautéed potatoes and greens. Walked down to Highbury Corner to catch Tom McConville at Islington Folk Club. Good turn out. Quite a few floor singers before Tom came on, some of whom were decidedly ropey…Aki not impressed. Tom hails from Scotswood, where his dad ran a pub. He started singing for the clientele at the age of four! He has a good baritone singing voice, and a personable stage persona, but his fiddle playing was a bit pedestrian. Aki left at half time to head home for an early night. I stuck it out to the end, then walked home via Holloway Road. Got in just as Aki was getting out of the bath…perfect timing!

Wednesday 2nd October 2024

Aki up early to ready herself for Rowing Club. She cycled off at around 0930. I got up and made tea and porridge, and got back into bed to read Farrell. Got up and headed for Winchmore Hill in the car. Popped into Sainsbury’s to get some greens to have with lunch. Picked up the AER amp from Electrohill, minus the heavy batteries that Richard had removed for me. It’s still weighty, but manageable now. Drove home. Ambulance outside No.29…hope Lucien is alright! Prepared lunch...Aki got in just as I was wilting the Swiss chard. Sat about reading, and listening to music. Did some exercises. Cooked dinner early...tortellini with a tomato soffrito sauce, and fried mushrooms. Walked to Stoke Newington via Highbury Barn, getting there in good time for this evening's "Witch" run through. I helped Laurence get some of the props out of the prop cupboard before the witches turned up en masse. Matthew joined to watch. Some new faces in the cast...one or two are very weak...hope they get more solid on their lines...lots of bum cues. But I think the fun of the piece will win through. Janet South's Miss Hardbroom is shaping up very well. Walked round to the Fire Station with Matthew afterward...we are due to rehearse all day Sunday there, so I wanted to sus out the parking. Double yellow lines all round the property, so it'll be a bit of a struggle lugging all the equipment in and out! I just missed the No.106 bus, and noted the next one wasn't due for 15 minutes, so I walked five bus stops, jumping on at Lordship Park. Got home around 2215.

Tuesday 1st October 2024

Alarm at 0830. Got up and made tea. Porridged at the dining table. Sore throat not as bad this morning, but voice has almost vanished. Joined Savills' Teams Meeting at 1000...sub-contractor's refresher session. Lunch. Spent half a hour on the throne…things not right down there! Walked to Holloway Road tube station and took a train to Covent Garden. Rocked up at the Garden Cinema in good time and took our £5 seats in Screen Two to watch The Outrun…it’s almost a one woman show, with Saorise Roman giving a stunning performance as a young alcoholic who leaves Hackney to return home to Orkney to turn her life around…very intense, and oddly moving. Descended Holborn tube station for the journey home, coming up at Holloway Road to be greeted by crowds of Arsenal football supporters…they take on PSG tonight. Aki cooked teriyaki salmon for dinner, with rice and miso soup. Nowt much on telly, so sat about reading Farrell. 

Monday 30th September 2024

Aki up early to breakfast before catching a bus to Camden for a work meeting. I got up around 1000. Made tea and read in bed for a bit, before rising for porridge. Rehearsed some Act One Witch numbers before Aki returned. Made some lunch. Rehearsed Act Two songs. Grey day. Needed to venture out for some fresh air, so took a walk. Wandered down to Highbury Fields, and back up the Holloway Road to Waitrose. Aki had gone to bed for a nap whilst I was out, and was still asleep when I got in, so I cooked dinner...peeled and trimmed some fresh beetroot, roasting them with oil and cumin; served with roasted chick peas, and a chickpea and tahini dip. Also made some flatbreads. It was all tasty enough, but felt more like a starter than an evening meal. Nowt on telly, so we read our Farrell instead. Watched the ever-depressing News at Ten, as Israel begins a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.