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…