Thursday 28th November 2024

Woken at 0415 by noise of police helicopter hovering overhead. Turned out to be due to a fire at a takeaway on Seven Sisters Road. Got up at 0830 and brought tea to bed…Aki still snoring. Porridged. Headed out to get some ingredients for making fridge cake. Seven Sisters Road still blocked off by fire engines…they were dousing the smouldering loft space in the flat above the kebab shop, the latter being completely gutted. 

Back home, I started mashing chocolate orange cookies and mixing the resultant crumb with melted chocolate and butter…stuck it in the fridge to chill. Made lunch. Struck out for Colindale to pick my car up from the service centre. Walked from Burnt Oak station, which took me through Silkstream Park, and Montrose Playing Fields. Spotted a heron in the stream, and stood on the little yellow bridge watching him for a few minutes. 

Picked the car up…amber warning on my windscreen wipers, but otherwise given a clean bill of health. Drove home. We had readymade biryani and dal for dinner, with spinach and pitta bread. I then cooked the sticky shallots tart ahead of our guests arriving. Aki hosted this evening’s Book Club session…full quota of attendees, save for Jane from No.36 who, being American, was celebrating Thanksgiving. I hadn’t read the book, so pottered about getting teas for people, and washing up. They chose a novel set in wartime Holland, and centring around a competitive rower, for their next read.

Wednesday 27th November 2024

Woke to alarm at 0830. Hauled myself out of bed for tea and porridging. Drove northward to Colindale to take the car in for service. Mrs Small was on hand to book me in when I got there, then I walked back toward the A5, popping in to Starbucks for a coffee…read some Dickens. Did a little shopping in ASDA, and in the the Loon Yung oriental food market. Walked up to Burnt Oak to take a tube train back to Camden, then a bus home. Colindale station still closed for major works. Aki working at the computer when I got in. I made lunch. Headed back for Colindale at around 1600…taking bus to Camden, and train back to Burnt Oak. Walked down the A5 and did a bit more shopping in Morrison's. Walked round to the VW service centre, and as I passed the workshop, I saw my car being driven on to the ramp...no chance of that being ready by 1800...and so it proved. Mrs Small offered me a cab, but I declined, happy to walk back to Burnt Oak and get a train to Camden. Got home around 1915...Aki cooking mackerel for dinner, which we had with rice and stir fried vegetables. 

Tuesday 26th November 2024

Woke around 0900. Got up and brought a mug of tea back to bed, and read the first chapter of The Old Curiosity Shop. Aki left to go meet Tammy at Tate Modern. I rehearsed some mandolin, and harmonica, for Gig Night. Cooked a pasta sauce ahead of tonight's dinner. Walked to Finsbury Park station in the winter sunshine, and caught a tube train to Oxford Circus. Popped in to John Lewis's to try on their merino lined leather gloves...but they didn't have black. Aki called to say she was making her way toward Holborn for some lunch...so I hopped on a bus to Holborn and walked round to the ramen noodle house near the Garden Cinema, where I found Aki already seated and surveying the menu. We shared a large bowl of tasty soup with pork, and a couple of bao buns with pork and sauce...very good! Will definitely go there again! Walked round to the Garden Cinema, where I'd secured two £5 tickets to see Steve McQueen's new movie, "Blitz". It was OK...6/10. The script and plotting got a bit clunky here and there, but the effects were great...it looked like they had destroyed half the east end to make the movie! Paul Weller had a nice little cameo as Grandad, plonking away on the Joanna in the front parlour. Took a Piccadilly Line train to Holloway Road, and walked home via Boots, where Aki collected a new electric toothbrush she had ordered. Warmed up the pasta sauce, with papardelle and peas  for dinner. Aki had a zoom meeting with JCUK. I sat and read some Dickens. 

Monday 25th November 2024

Woke around 0830. Aki got up and brought me a tea. My left ear is blocked! Got up and porridged. Took a late morning constitutional up to Archway Library and dropped off a couple of borrowed items. Did a little shopping in M&S and walked back down the Holloway Road. Soup for lunch. Bee came round this afternoon for a rehearsal. Aki listened from her post at the computer. Bee still working out some harmonies for She Moved Through the Fair, so we didn't quite click into gear. She left around 1730 and I began cooking...made a chicken and peanut stew with sweet potatoes, served up with some pitta bread, and a few vegetables. Watched the first episode of The Mirror and the Light...everyone looks a bit older than they were...it's been 10 years since the making of Wolf Hall...the make-up artists are evidently up against it...and Bernard Hill has sadly died, so his fantastic Duke of Norfolk only features off-screen. 

Sunday 24th November 2024

Got up around 1000. Windy outside...the tarpaulin was being slowly ripped from its' moorings on the scaffolding surrounding the block of flats going up behind us...not sure that will last the day! Aki cooked brunch. We rehearsed our Xmas ukulele repertoire. Ventured out into Storm Bert...wasn't so bad. Hopped on a No.91 bus to Charing Cross. Finished Beloved on the ride...an American masterpiece! We walked over Hungerford footbridge to the Southbank to go listen to Joli Blon play their Cajun tunes to an enthusiastic audience in the Clore Ballroom...good, free entertainment...we splashed out on coffee and pastel de nata. Enjoyed watching the kids and mums dancing away in front of the band. Walked back across the river, and up to Seven Dials to do a bit of browsing in Carhaart, then jumped on a No.29 bus home. Aki fried some hake for dinner, with savoury lentils. Watched an episode of David Attenborough's "Asia".

Saturday 23rd November 2024

 

Woke around 0800. Got up and made tea. Feeling better this morning…though still got the sinusitis. We walked up to Yerbury Farmer’s Market in the drizzle…wind starting to get up as the eastern fringe of Storm Bert hits London. Bought a loaf and walked home via Nags Head Market. Cooked a hearty brunch. Worked on some Dylan harmonica. Aki nipped out to Boots to take a look at their stock of electric toothbrushes. Phoned ma and pa...they seemed in fine fettle, though were hunkered down out of the snow. Warmed up the last of the chicken curry with dal, and some pitta bread, followed by a Waitrose apple tarte tatin with cream. Caught a bus to Finsbury Park, and a train to Moorgate. Weather inclement, but the wind wasn't too bad, and it was relatively warm. Walked from Moorgate to the Barbican. Did some browsing in the gift shop before taking our seats in the main Hall for this evening's concert with the Take Me To The River All-Stars, a number of musicians and songsters who had come over from New Orleans to give London a taste of their exuberant music. Aki's old pal, Jon Cleary, got things underway on the piano, with a couple of Dr John numbers, before the band came on. The band was fronted by Cyrille Neville, now getting on a bit, but still fantastic...his son on drums, and a nephew on guitar. I was expecting more of a show...the poster inferred colourfully dressed Mardis Gras dancers, but it was just the band, and to be honest they struggled to create the Louisiana swamp vibe among the Saturday night London crowd in the big hall. But we got up and had a bit of a jig about in front of our seats...especially enjoyed the encore, a rendition of Take Me To the River, an old favourite. Caught a No.153 bus from Moorgate afterward, which dropped us a few yards from home...

Friday 22nd November 2024

Got up and porridged. Read some Toni Morrison. Still feeling under the weather, so didn’t get up to much this morning. Aki working at the computer. Lunch. Wandered over to Waitrose to get some shopping done. Oty and her dad popped round at 1800…Aki and I took Oty through our Xmas party repertoire. Also suggested she sing a song from her repertoire…she does Sia’s version of Snowman, so Aki and I can hopefully accompany her on that. They left and we put together a simple pasta dinner with prawns and pesto sauce. Nowt on telly. Early bath and bed…

Thursday 21st November 2024

Fitful night's sleep...woke up around 0400 having a little difficulty breathing properly...had to prop my self up with my pillows until I nodded back off about half-an-hour later. Got up around 0930 and brought myself a mug of tea back to bed with me. Read some Toni Morrison. Porridged in bed. Aki popped out to get supplies from Waitrose. I made lunch when she got back. Listened to music and read a bit after lunch. My new E harmonica arrived so I did a bit of rehearsal trying to work out what Dylan was doing on It’s All Over Now Baby Blue. Made a chicken and mushroom curry for dinner, with rice and dal…it was a bit bland. Nowt on telly so we sat about reading before bath and bed…

Wednesday 20th November 2024

Aki up with alarm at 0730 to get kitted up for a very cold day on the river Lea. I felt much worse than I did when I went to bed last night...feels more like flu, or perhaps covid! Got up and brought myself a mug of tea back to bed...did the same with my porridge ration. Cancelled this morning's appointment with the podiatrist...moved it into next month. Eventually got up and sat in the living room reading. Did some rehearsal for Gig Night. Aki back in time for lunch. Decided to cancel tomorrow’s planned meet up with Colin Yates, as am not feeling great, though a bit better than I felt this morning. Warmed up the Tuscan chicken for dinner, and made some polenta to go with it. Rehearsed our Xmas ukulele repertoire. Watched Wolf Hall. Bath and bed...

Tuesday 19th November 2024

Woke to a light dusting of snow. My sore throat has blossomed into full blown sinusitis. Aki brought me a mug of tea. Read some Toni Morrison. Got up and porridged. Spent the morning reading and playing guitar. Spotted Lynne from the upstairs flat out in the front garden, moving the bins back after the binmen had been...she'd managed to clip one of Aki's plants with the food bin, knocking it off the window sill, smashing the pot. I came out to help clear up. She'd had a good time in Albania...said it was stunningly beautiful. Made lunch. Sat about for most of the afternoon. Arranged to stop over with James Earls-Davis the night before Albert Cooper's funeral in Stoke next month; and the following night with Sean O'Callaghan. Booked my train tickets. Aki cooked trout for dinner, with spelt and black beans. Watched some telly. Bath and bed…exhausted after all the coughing and sneezing!

Monday 18th November 2024

Aki up with alarm at 0730 to ready herself for a meeting in Camden. I dozed on until around 0930. Have had a sore throat every morning these last three days. Porridged. Read some Toni Morrison, and practised some guitar. Wandered round to the GP surgery for an appointment with the health care assistant. She took a blood sample to send away for my annual PSA count. She couldn’t find her tourniquet, so used a rubber disposable glove instead! The NHS is truly on it’s knees. Walked home via Tesco. Aki back when I got in. I cooked up some beans with a vegetable and tomato sauce, served on toast with some cheese and caramelised onions. Aki said they were like Heinz tinned beans…not sure if that was meant as a compliment. Phoned Jim to wish him a happy 57th birthday. He was sat in his van. Emma in bed (in the van), off work with fibro-myalgia. So didn't sound like much of a birthday celebration was planned. Read some Toni Morrison and listened to some music. Warmed up the last of the aubergine bake for dinner, served up with spring greens and peas. Watched some telly before bath and bed...

Sunday 17th November 2024

Woke around 0900. Aki up to ready herself for Rowing Club. I got up to partake of her cooked breakfast before she cycled off. Wandered round to Selby’s to look at their Le Creuset casseroles…Aki fancies one for Xmas. Did some shopping in Waitrose then walked home via the DIY shop. Bought some clips to hang the Xmas lights we bought yesterday. Put them up in the front window when I got home. Lunch. Drove over to Stoke Newington to rehearse a couple of songs with Bee. Kath rang as I was driving. She said she was due to do an overnight sleepover with a client in Amble...but that her notes on the client mentioned occassional violent outbursts! She wasn't looking forward to it, naturally! Bee and I are planning to do She Moved Through the Fair, and I Inside the Old I Dying, for Gig Night. She loved the sound of the shruti box, and we went through a couple of other numbers too. Not in bad shape at this juncture. Drove home in the gloaming…raining a bit. Got home around 1630. Prepared dinner. Cooked Tuscan chicken with orzo. Finished off the pear tart for afters. Watched Wolf Hall. Rehearsed some Xmas songs on our ukuleles. Bath and bed...

Saturday 16th November 2024

Slept well. Woke around 0900. Still feeling very weary though. Aki got up and cycled off to the farmer’s market to buy bread. I was still in bed when she got back. Got up for Aki’s cooked brunch. Baked a pear tart to take over to Wood Street with us this afternoon. Practised some guitar ahead of tomorrow's meet with Bee. Matthew Ibbotson rang to give me the lowdown on some of the songs being mooted for the Gig Night next month. Some interesting choices. Drove over to east Walthamstow, taking our ukuleles with us. Popped into Wood Street garden centre on the way and bought compost, and Xmas lights. Parked up to the rear of the block of flats that Rust and Masumi live in. Rust guided us into his parking space. Kiko greeted us in the hallway, evidently in the middle of a game of tag. 

She showed us her toy drum kit, so we accompanied her on our ukuleles. Played Otrio with Kiko and her mum…sort of noughts and crosses plus. Masumi served up a tasty buffet of spiced foods, dal, chickpeas and salmon, and rice. My pear tart went down well with all except Kiki, which meant Rust getting a second helping. Sat and chatted at the table. Rust, now 62, has been out of work for awhile, but appears to have a new job lined up teaching English to refugee adults and children…he’s been enjoying his life of leisure. He doesn’t look too healthy though…he’s losing his teeth, and recently suffered a minor stroke! Masumi, who is almost half his age, is still working at Takenaka. We left around 2130 and headed home. Watched Later With Jools...and were astonished to spot Dweller, one of the support acts to Barney's band on Thursday night, Dweller, playing keyboards in Rosie Lowe's band...they were good.  Bath, bed…

Friday 15th November 2024

Woke around 0900. Rose to find Lottie and Bob sat on the sofa drinking tea. I prepared Turkish scrambled eggs for brunch. Bob and Lottie left to catch a train back to Nottingham. We vowed to pay them a visit in the Nee Year. Pottered about for a bit. Lunched on bread and cheese, and some tomato chutney that Lottie had given us...very nice! Aki cycled off for a work meeting in Clerkenwell. I wandered round to Waitrose to buy some provisions. Aki back in time to cook monkfish cheeks with lentils for dinner. We enjoyed a Burrata starter with red pesto. Watched Wolf Hall...still catching up with the first series. Felt very tired all afternoon/evening. Think I may be coming down with something. Bath. Bed.

Thursday 14th November 2024

Aki up at 0800 to get working at the computer. She brought me a mug of tea. Got up and brought a bowl of porridge back to bed with me and read some Toni Morrison. Got up and did some cleaning, and made the bed up in the spare room. Popped out to buy bread and milk. Bob and Lottie turned up around 1345 and we had soup for lunch. We had intended on taking them into town to visit a gallery, but we ended up sat around chatting and catching up.

We headed out toward Camden at 1630, on foot...walked up Camden Road, stopping off at the Lord Stanley for a swift half, before walking on into Camden. Got to De Gusto a little early, and took our seats...waited for Katrina to roll up before ordering; Tom Wicks, his wife, and a couple of their mates from Holmfirth turned up too, and we all sat at a long table. The food wasn't bad...not much of it though. 

We made our way to the Jazz Cafe around 2000, and got in to see the tail end of the first support act, and girl singing and playing guitar...nice jazzy soul vibe. Spotted Barney, and he came over for a brief chat. The second support act was a guy who basically twiddled a load of knobs on a unit attached to his laptop, occassionally embellishing the noise with some sax, or keyboard. By the time Barney's band, MRCY, came on, the venue was full, and he and Kojo were given a rousing reception. The band were in top form, and everyone had a great time. Delighted to discover Jim's sister, Mandy, was in the audience after the show...had a brief catch-up, but the house music was loud, and deterred a more lengthy talk...so we escaped back out into the Camden night, and caught a bus home. Stayed up for a bit drinking tea and listening to some vinyl of bands from our Nottingham days. Bob and Lottie retired to the spare room. Bed.

Wednesday 13th November 2024

Aki up early to ready for Rowing Club. I got up about 0830 and brought a mug of tea back to bed. Read some Toni Morrison. Got up and porridged. Walked halfway up Highgate Hill. Stopped off at Archie’s for a coffee and read. Bought half a chicken focaccia to share with Aki for lunch, and walked back down the hill, popping in to Sainsbury’s on the way. Aki back home when I got in. Made lunch. Had a go at She Moved Through the Fair on guitar and shruti box…sounds great. Made some hummus. Aki cooked salmon for dinner, with chestnut rice, and miso soup. Headed off for Stoke Newington on foot. Hopped on a bus at Lordship Park, which meant we had time to pop into The Axe for a swift pre-show drink…am very fond of their London Black. Half the Worst Witch production team happened to be in there. We all decanted into the theatre. Australian play called The Dark Room…set in deprived Darwin, and dealing with themes of child abuse and racism. 90 minutes, no interval, and intriguing for the fact that the six characters share the stage at all times, despite being in different storylines. Couple of excellent performances from the girls. Bumped into Julia in the bar afterward…she’d been in Improbable Fiction with me…she’s now involved with a drama group in Norwood, which is easier for her to get to. Caught two buses home…

Tuesday 12th November 2024

Woke around 0800. Aki up to make tea and start work at the computer. I read in bed for a bit before rising and porridging. Aki cycled off to Clerkenwell to visit a time showroom. I took delivery of my handcrafted Shruti box…made in Wales! Nice bit of kit. Comes with a foot pedal so I can play guitar at same time. Jim texted to say he and Katherine had come down with covid in Reykjavík, so won’t make it down for Barney’s Jazz Cafe gig on Thursday! Aki home in time for lunch. Got an email from Eddie York saying that our mutual friend, Albert Cooper, erstwhile Chairman of the Board at the New Vic in Stoke, has passed away last night. He'd been ill for a while. Sad news. Spoke to Maggie Stanway on the phone...she fell the other day in the street, and has broken her wrist. She sounded in good spirits, and promised to let us know if she needed any errands running. Wandered across to Waitrose and Morrisons to do some shopping. It started spitting with rain as I walked back. Cooked a tahini and mushroom pasta sauce for dinner. Not much on telly this evening. We rehearsed our Xmas sing-a-long repertoire. 

Monday 11th November 2024

Woke around 0800. Got up to unlock the garden gate, then got back into bed and dozed for a bit. Aki got up and made tea. I read some Toni Morrison in bed. Eventually got up and porridged. Pottered about. Did a little tidying up prior to our guests arriving on Thursday. Made lunch. Did a bit of research for up-coming festive season recipes. Warmed up the last of the fish pie for dinner, with spring greens and green beans. Headed off for Finsbury Park station on foot; took a Victoria Line train to Oxford Circus, and walked to Dean Street...managed to catch a glimpse of Oxford Street's Christmas lights. Rocked up at the Soho Theatre to see comedienne Natalie Palamides new show, "Weer". A full house enjoyed a rollicking evening's entertainment...a one-woman show in which Natalie plays a warring couple, being dressed on one side of her torso as a man, and as a woman on the other, constantly turning on a sixpence to deliver their respective lines. It was a master class of contemporary theatrical clowning that had us weeping with laughter, pretty much from start to finish...genius! She earned a well-deserved standing ovation afterward, and we staggered back out onto Dean Street, exhausted! Took a No.29 bus home from outside Foyles. Got home in time to watch The Ten. Surprised to hear Gary Lineker will be standing down as presenter of MOTD at the end of the season...the end of an era...hopefully that means we won't have to endure Alan Shearer for much longer! Bath and bed...

Sunday 10th November 2024

Aki up early to ready herself for Rowing Club. I got up around 0930. Aki cooked brunch, then cycled off. I pottered about a bit. Read some Toni Morrison. Headed up Highgate Hill for my constitutional. Grey day, but relatively mild. Grabbed a coffee and a sausage roll at Gail’s at the top of the hill, and found a bench in Waterloo Park. Walked home via M&S, and Sainsbury’s. Bumped into Ben and Gayu outside No.38…they were on their way to a birthday party at No.34. Aki had lunch at the Rowing Club. Spoke to Lottie West-Oram on the phone…an actress from Stoke days…she had posted on FB that she had relatives trapped in Gaza and was raising funds to try and get some of them out…they are blood relatives of her daughter-in-law. Had a good catch up, and she sent me a link for a JustGiving page to send some cash to. Made Jamie Oliver’s secret veg sauce…plan to turn some of it into soup for our guests on Thursday. Warmed up the aubergine and lentil bake for dinner. Bit of cheese and toasted baguette for afters. Watched some telly before bath and bed…

Saturday 9th November 2024

Woke around 0900. Got up and porridged. We walked up Tufnell Park Road, making our way to Brecknock Road to pick up a baguette from the Italian deli. Had a coffee at Humdingers, then walked on down Camden Road to Camden Garden Centre where Aki bought spring bulbs. Had a wander round the eateries at Hawley’s Wharf looking for possible venues for dinner on Thursday. Ended up booking a table at De Gusto, a little Italian joint opposite Camden Road station. Got a No.253 bus back to Holloway. Made Turkish scrambled eggs with fried halloumi for lunch. Phoned ma and pa. Dad mentioned something about having to bail Jim out, as he’s being chased by HMRC! Failed to glean any further detail. Aki did some gardening out front. Warmed up some fish pie for dinner, with cabbage; semolina pudding for afters. Started re-watching Wolf Hall ahead of tomorrow's screening of The Mirror & the Light. It's superbly done...beautifully lit and shot, with a supremely controlled performance from Mark Rylance. Watched MOTD before bath and bed...

Friday 8th November 2024

Woke around 0815. Aki brought me a mug of tea. Sat up in bed for a bit reading, before rising for a porridge. Aki working at the computer. Grey day. Played some guitar. Prepared a light lunch. We ventured out for a constitutional, walking up Parkhurst Road to look in at the Italian deli on Brecknock Road. I walked back down Camden Road to do some shopping in Waitrose; Aki headed homeward via Tesco Express to buy wine. Bought some Charleston peppers in the Turkish shop for lunch tomorrow. Warmed up some fish pie for dinner. Semolina pudding for afters…the recipe used eggs…it was ok but not as good as I remember it being at school. Can’t imagine they whisked eggs into it at King Edward VI. We rehearsed our Xmas songs on ukulele. Watched Alma’s Not Normal before bath and bed…

Thursday 7th November 2024

Woke around 0815. Got up and brought tea back to bed...read some Toni Morrison before rising to porridge. Pottered about. Transferred some monies from my Current Account into a new Easy Access Account which attracts more interest...although at a variable rate...looks like the Bank of England plan to reduce interest rates this afternoon! Played some guitar...The Christmas Song slowly taking shape. Lunch. Aki left to go meet Piers and friends at the Bridge Theatre to see Guys 'n Dolls. 

Matthew Sale rang from work...he was organising a drinks do to mark Martin Doughty's retirement, but it clashes with our hosting the Book Club. A get together was mooted for the New Year...in Haywards Heath! I decided to venture into town. Caught a No.91 bus to KX, and walked along the canal. Popped into Carhaart to try on some pants, but they didn't stock them, so I got a bus to Cambridge Circus, and sat in the cafe at Foyles. Had a hot chocolate and a large chocolate brownie, and read some Toni Morrison. The cafe was packed! There was a very loud American sat at the table behind me, giving advice on media coverage to a would-be singer-songwriter...a bit tiresome, but good luck to 'em! Walked across to Seven Dials to try the Carhaart store there, but no luck. 

Wandered down Long Acre, window-shopping, then walked across the river via the Hungerford footbridge to hook up with Aki at The National Theatre. Ate some fast food there...not too good, but it did the job. Took our seats in the Olivier for their production of Coriolanus, starring David Oyelowo. The set was stunning, great lighting, and staging. I found some actors inaudible, especially when there was incidental music sounding in the background. But otherwise, we really enjoyed it. Hooked up with Tony afterward, who had been doing his audio-description of the play. He was stopping at The Mayfair Hotel at the National Theatre's expense, so we repaired there, via the Jubilee Line, for a late (very expensive) drink and a catch up. 

He told us he'd been diagnosed with collitis. He also revealed that his mate Liam, who had choreographed a show I did 25 years ago in Huddersfield, had been diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma...not good news! He starts treatment next week. Took the Piccadilly Line to Caledonian Road, and caught a No.259 bus home. Bath and bed by 0100!!!

Wednesday 6th November 2024

Aki woke me to say it was a dark day...Trump triumphed in the US elections, god help us all! What a bunch...half the US population are clearly demented! Aki had cycled off to Rowing Club by the time I got up...made tea, and porridged. Decided to prepare dinner, as time would be tight later. Popped out to buy aubergines. Made an aubergine and lentil bake with a five-cheese sauce. I was still at it when Aki got home. I only had time for peanut butter on toast for lunch, then walked briskly to Finsbury Park station. 

Caught a train to Hornsey, and had time to wander up Tottenham Lane for a photo op outside Konk recording studios, set up by The Kinks in the early 70s with royalties from their hit, Lola. I walked back to the station to hook up with the Healthy Generations guided walk. The girl leading the walk happened to have lead us on the Highbury rock 'n roll walk last year, though I didn't recognise her at first. There were about 12 other attendees, all of a certain age, which meant progress was not brisk. 

The walk took us south down the New River Path, then down Wightman Road to Haringay rail station, where we crossed the railway bridge. Impressive little Victorian Stroud Green Library on the other side, which I didn't know existed.Walked back uphill toward Ally Pally, taking a short cut through Stationer's Park, created in the 1980s on the site of the demolished Stationer's School. The walk ended at St Mary's Church in Hornsey, of which only the bell tower remains, though there has been a church on the site since the 12th Century. I parted company with my fellow travellers as they turned back toward Hornsey station, having been enticed by a cosy looking pub across the road, the Great Northern Railway Tavern...impressive interior. I enjoyed a half of Guinness before heading home via the No.41 and No.43 buses. Aki still working at the computer when I got in. I stuck the aubergine bake in the oven...tasty enough, though would have been better with green rather than red lentils. Plenty left for the rest of the week! Watched some telly before bath and bed...

Tuesday 5th November 2024

Aki up early to call Noboru, her brother in law, in Japan. He’s having ground breaking treatment for his lung cancer, which seems to be very successful. I got up around 0930. Porridged. Played some guitar and sang some songs in anticipation of tonight's Open Mic at the North Nineteen. Lunch. We went for an afternoon constitutional, walking up to Tesco on Stroud Green Road to do a bit of shopping, and walking back via M&S. Cooked a chicken and mushroom traybake for dinner...as seen on Jamie Oliver's TV programme last night! Came home and began prepping, only to find I'd forgotten to buy lemons, so had to trot out to the local convenience store. Cooked dinner. A bit disappointing...not as tasty as Jamie seemed to imply on the TV screen. Watched some telly before bath and bed...

Monday 4th November 2024

Woke around 0930 after a better night’s sleep. Made tea and got back into bed. Read a bit then got up and porridged. Aki at the computer booking hotels and B‘nB’s for our planned Japan trip. Going as far west as Hiroshima this time, taking Nagano, Kanazawa, and Kyoto on the way. I sought out some songs to start rehearsing for our Xmas gigs. Lunch. Walked over to Morrison’s, and Waitrose, to buy provisions. Prepped and cooked a fish pie for dinner. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed.

Sunday 3rd November 2024

Another fitful night's sleep. Aki brought me a mug of tea in bed before she cycled off to Rowing Club. I got up about 1030 and cooked brunch. Kath rang...she was taking the air between clients in Whitley Bay. She told me that dad had been planning to have his teeth whitened...I wondered if perhaps he was considering a late career in film and TV!?! I unloaded my gear from the boot of the car. Aki cycled home, having had a light lunch at the cafe. Got a message from Sarah Ley saying they had found a replacement for the actor who had suddenly dropped out of The Chines…much relieved, as I was just about to send a message turning her down. She asked if I was available to dress up as Santa at the end of the month, to which I acquiesced. Pottered about before warming up the harissa sausage ragu for dinner, followed by tiramisu. Felt weary enough to have a lie down for a bit before watching Anna Maxwell Martin in a serial killer true crime tale…pretty tense stuff. Watched The Ten before bath and bed…

Saturday 2nd November 2024

 

Woke around 0900 after a fitful night's sleep. Aki got up and cycled off to buy bread at Yerbury Farmer's Market. I got up and prepared a hearty brunch. Drove off to Stoke Newington just after midday. Bought coffee and a pastry at the Abney Park cafe, and sat in the theatre bar consuming it. Full house for the matinee. Went down well. Managed to hook up with Chris, ex flatmate from Clapton days, and we went for an early dinner at the Turkish restaurant round the corner. Had a catch up over a couple of kebabs. I had to do a runner in order to get back to the theatre in time for the half...left Chris to pay the bill, on condition he lets me know what I owe him. Pretty full for the last show of the run...a raucous crowd. Great fun. Packed up my guitar, amp, and pedals once the show was over, eager to get out of the way before the set started to come down. Used the lift to get my gear downstairs. Brought the car round, and packed the gear into the boot, before reposing in the bar for a well-earned pint of Guinness. Chatted with Matthew about rock 'n roll while the girls set up for a wrap party in the studio...joined them for a bit of a jig-about but made my escape before the karaoke started, and drove home. Aki had just gotten out of the bath when I got in, having been to a fireworks party hosted by one of her rowing comrades at a house in Crouch End. I had a long soak in the bath before bed...

Friday 1st November 2024

Woke around 0930. Got up and porridged. Ambled round to the health centre in Hornsey Street for another brief session on my frozen shoulder with the physio guy. All seems to be heading in the right direction. Bought some provisions in the Korean shop, and at Aldi, then headed home. Aki made vegetable soup for lunch, with Chinese steamed dumplings and kimchi. Had lemon pavlova, left over from the Rowing Club dinner last night, for afters. Played some guitar and sang a bit this afternoon. Warmed up the last of the lamb stew for dinner. Walked into Stoke Newington for a 1930 show. Full house...a lot of adults in, who were very vociferous...good fun show! Simona was in working the bar, so I stopped for a swift half after the show and a wee catch up...she's busy adapting "Vanity Fair" for her theatre company, Moving Parts. Caught a No.106 bus home...

Thursday 31st October 2024

Woke around 0845. Aki already up and working at the computer. I took tea back to bed and read some Toni Morrison. Got up and porridged. Sat about reading and listening to music. Lunch. More sitting about. Aki cycled off to the Rowing Club where she is part of the kitchen staff cooking up a fund raising dinner this evening. I warmed up some lamb stew for dinner then set off on foot for Stoke Newington. Had to dodge swarms of children dressed up for Halloween…their parents blocking the pavements! One or two balaclava clad youths chucking fireworks about! Got to the theatre in one piece. About 65 in tonight. No Peter Werth on drums, as he had his regular monthly jazz gig at Scolts Head tonight. End of first act went awry as the video pieces failed to connect sound wise…there were a couple of longer, as Laura, playing Mildred, evidently didn’t know what was going on for a minute or two! Stayed for a swift half with some of the girls after the show. Asked Miranda if she fancied getting involved with the proposed panto next year…see what happens. Took a No.106 bus home. Aki in the bath when I got in…