Friday 26th December 2025

Woke around 0930. Got up and descended for cereal at the dining table…the rest of the family slowly emerged one-by-one. Jim and Emma had spent the night in the van on the drive. I made chowder for lunch. Dad still feeling sick, so didn’t eat much. I drove Aki and Kath over to Chopwell Wood…near Rowlands Gill. Hooked up with Helen, Martin, and their daughter Emily for a long walk along the woodland trails…a lot of cars in the car park, but the trail was quite quiet. Got back to the car as the sun was setting. Said our goodbyes and drove back to Darras. Made a turkey curry with one of the cook in sauces we’d given dad for Xmas. It was a bit spicey! Fried Xmas pud for afters. Sat in front of the telly for the evening…had to listen to a lot of Lesley Garrett! Enjoyed Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson in The Great Escaper…formulaic and sentimental though it was…Glenda was especially good in what must have been her final performance!

Thursday 25th December 2025

Woke around 0830. Got up to prepare the croissants. Kath popped out to see a client so we ate our croissants without her. Started to prepare the dinner…peeled the potatoes, sliced the parsnips and carrots, and put the turkey in cold water to finish the defrosting. Aki prepared smoked salmon blinis for the starter while I tried to time the different elements of the dinner, and steam the Christmas pud. Served up around 1430. Opened presents between courses. Everyone slumped onto the sofa and nodded off to the television. The Amandaland Xmas special was rather good. I prepared a simple buffet…but people weren’t hungry. Dad feeling a little nauseous after taking some morphine. Washed up and tidied the kitchen before bed…

Wednesday 24th December 2025

 

Got up around 0800. Ate breakfast downstairs with ma and pa. Did my exercises. Prepared an early lunch timed to Kath’s work schedule. Took mum out for a short drive and a little amble around Big Water…we were stalked by a large swan! Aki cooked a fish stew for dinner. Watched a bit of telly…

Tuesday 23rd December 2025

Woke around 0530. Took ages to get back to sleep. Woken at 0800 by an alarm…assumed it was the chairlift again, but found it was a radio in the dining room. Aki made porridge for breakfast…sat with mum and dad. Kath out working. Walked down to Darras Hall to shop a few items…luckily bumped into Kath in the Co-op, as it started raining…bummed a lift back to High View. Made some lunch then drove to Kingston Park to do a big shop in M&S, and to buy dad some hearing aid batteries. Got mistaken for Santa Claus in M&S…I told them I was Santa’s younger brother. M&S had run out of parsnips, so had to drive over to Tesco. Very busy!!! Roasted a joint of ham for dinner with sautéed potatoes and a mustard sauce. Watched a bit of telly.

Monday 22nd December 2025

Alarm at 0800. Got up and started to pack the car…needed to make room in the boot first. Porridged. Set off for Newcastle at about 1045. Headed for the M1 and put my foot down. Broke for lunch at Tibshelf service station around 1330, and swapped drivers. Aki took us all the way into Darras Hall…arrived around 1630…an impressive effort! Unpacked the car. Dad was awaiting the arrival of a chap from the stairlift installers, as his machine had ground to an unexpected halt…he duly turned up…he reckoned the power had been switched off. Kath had made dinner. Watched some telly before bed…

Sunday 21st December 2025

Woke around 0900. Slowly got our act together. Made brunch. I drove over to Sainsbury’s to fill the car with petrol for the journey tomorrow. Did a bit of shopping in the store…the place was rammed! Eventually escaped and drove home. I put my 2025 mixtape together while Aki wrapped presents. Did a little packing. Aki cooked a fish pie for dinner. Put a packed lunch together for tomorrow’s car journey. Nowt much on telly…early bath and bed.

Saturday 20th December 2025

Woke around 0900. Rough night with the hacking cough! But otherwise felt on the mend. Decided to delay our journey up north, and alerted Jim that we would have to miss the Holmfirth bash this year. Aki made omelette for brunch. She popped out to the chemist for cold medication, and came back with a new plug in doorbell, as ours had dropped off its perch yesterday and seemed beyond reviving! Took me a good two hours of grappling to get the old backplate off the wooden base plate…the screw heads were unfit for purpose, and I eventually had to saw them off with my multitool. What a palaver!!! Leftover lasagna for dinner, filled out with lots of vegetables. Orange and almond cake for afters. Watched Godland…a rather good Danish movie set on Iceland. A rather mean spirited Danish missionary gets what he deserves from the locals! 

Friday 19th December 2025

Aki up at 0730 to ready herself for rowing club. I stayed in bed till gone 1100…still feeling under the weather. Brought porridge back to bed and did some reading. Dickens being very rude about the yanks…their vulgarity, greed and arrogance…he could be writing about Trump’s America! Got up and made some lunch…Aki ate at the cafe then cycled back…via the cycle repair shop! Her chain causing problems…£175 later!!! Resolved to buy white tiles for the bottom row to match the base, as the grey ones we’d bought from Chadwell Heath were a bit too dark…means we can halve the delivery cost with Tim. We’ll have to drive back out to Chadwell Heath with the unwanted tiles in the New Year! Aki put the order in. Cobbled dinner together. Leftover vegetable biryani from last night’s dinner party at No.36, with some defrosted dal, and lots of vegetables. Aki added some prawns. Watched some telly before bath and bed…

Thursday 18th December 2025

Fitful night’s sleep…difficulty breathing through my blocked nose. Headache getting worse. Got up to lay dust sheets ahead of Tim’s arrival. Thought I ought to do a Covid test…proved negative, so must be a dose of the flu. Porridged. Tim turned up and continued where he’d left off. Aki had to leave to drive herself to the funeral of Tokiko’s ex husband, Geoff, at Golders Green cemetery…just as she was about to depart Tim came in and confessed he’d left a score mark across the face of one of the tiles he’d cut for the shower base…it meant shutting down the project, as well need to buy replacement tiles…so we won’t be showering again until well into the New Year! Tim offered to pay for the replacement tiles…they don’t come cheap…the delivery charge more than doubles the bill! What a shame! He packed up and I saw him off the premises. Aki back by 1530. We were supposed to be joining neighbours at No.36 for dinner, but I was too ill to go. I made the planned mushroom and taleggio lasagna and ate my portion with Aki’s cabbage and chestnut side…yum! Aki trotted off with the remainder to No.36. I watched a bit of telly and nodded off over some Dickens before running a bath and having a soak. Aki back around 2300.

Wednesday 17th December 2025

Woke at 0800. Coughing seems to have eased but still have a sore throat, mildly aching limbs, and a wee headache. Got up and laid dust sheets ahead of the arrival of Tim. Text from Tony saying his dad had had a fall yesterday and had broken his hip…lucky we had cancelled last night’s dinner date! Aki disappeared to have a blood test at the Whittington before cycling over to see how the Haringey Ladder project was going. Tim arrived lugging a massive tile cutter…set it up in the back yard. Printed off a bunch of paperwork from the New Vic…couldn’t sign the contract as they had inputted the wrong rehearsal rate. Printed off the script. Tim nipped out to take the cutter back to the hire shop and I made myself lunch. He returned to finish the tanking. Aki back before he’d left…they had a conversation about grout colours. He left and we tidied up. Warmed up the last of the chicken chasseur for dinner. Watched some telly before bath and bed…

Tuesday 16th December 2025

Woke around 0800. Got up and put dust sheets down ahead of the arrival of Tim and Chris. Porridged. They rocked up at 0900. Tim showed Chris what was to be done then left him to it. The eight tiles we ordered from Chadwell Heath arrived in an oversized truck. Aki sloped off to t’ai chi. By the time she got back for lunch Chris had departed. Tim returned briefly to prime the surfaces ahead of the tanking. Aki cooked a mushroom risotto for dinner. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed.

Monday 15th December 2025

Woke around 0830. Got up and laid dust sheets in anticipation of Tim’s arrival. Porridged. Tim did some more digging out ahead of the plumber’s arrival tomorrow. Aki headed off into town to meet Tammie for lunch. Tim knocked off around 1300. I made a meringue and zabaglioni dessert ahead of tomorrow night’s dinner party. Then set about contacting HMRC to retrieve my UTR no.; registered for self assessment and had to request a new number. Came straight through online…will need to pass that on to the New Vic. Re-instated my Equity membership. Aki back in time for a zoom meeting with rowing chums…trying to decide which overseas rowing trip they fancy going on next year…it’s between Norway and Sicily! Made chicken cacciatore for dinner. Texted Katrina and Tony to warn them I was nursing mild flu symptoms…they decided to keep their distance, and we cancelled tomorrow’s get together…resolved to re-arrange for January.

Sunday 14th December 2025

 

Got up after a bit of a lie in. Made some brunch then began prepping the orange and almond cake for our guests this afternoon. Had to pop out to Waitrose to get some more ingredients. The prep was quite fiddly…had to peel half a dozen clems…Aki did a good job of setting them in concentric circles. Listened to the Sunderland v Newcastle game…rather dull, but exploded into life when Newcastle’s centre forward headed powerfully past his own keeper! People turned up around 1600 for band practice…low turnout today. Only one violin, one accordion, and a flute…the cake went down well. They pushed off around 1730. Aki baked mackerel for dinner, with rice and a vegetable soup. Bob Eaton replied to yesterday’s email saying he would need me in rehearsal first week of March…so I won’t be able to go to see David Byrne with Aki on March 3rd…so we watched a filmed version of his American Utopia show, which we saw at Hammersmith Apollo about five years ago…human, empathetic, intelligent fellow…with some great songs!

Saturday 13th December 2025

Got up and prepped brunch whilst Aki cycled off to Yerbury Market to buy bread. Emailed Bob Eaton asking for time off to go to Jim and Emma’s wedding at the end of February, and wondering if he might let me go see David Byrne during second week of rehearsal. The latter, I have to confess, is pushing it! We drove out to Chadwell Heath with the intention of picking up some bathroom tiles, and thus saving ourselves £60 delivery charge. Took an hour and a half to get there, only to be told that the warehousemen didn’t work at weekends so they wouldn’t be able to retrieve them from the storage shelf…the girl on the till took pity on us and arranged free delivery for Tuesday…phew! Drove home. Cooked a chicken chasseur for dinner with mash. Yum! Watched Paul Giametti in The Holdovers. Entertaining enough, but a trifle long…

Friday 12th December 2025

A bit of a lie in this morning. Got up around 0930 and porridged. Did my exercises. Received an email offering me the role of Grandad in GGMM at the New Vic next spring…very excited! Aki not impressed…she immediately phoned Hachan to say she’d be flying over to see her in March. Started researching possible digs…was hoping Romy might have a spare room, but she’s got her step daughter stopping with her. Sardines on toast for lunch. Drafted a festive missive to send to the wider family. Headed for Stoke Newington in the car. Met several members of the rowing club for dinner at Rasa on Church Street, then headed for the theatre. Very adult audience this evening…and I think they’d been enjoying a few festive drink’s beforehand…it was riotous good fun! The Rowing Club went home happy! 

Thursday 11th December 2025

Alarm at 0800. Got up to take the car back to Marlborough Road garage to have the replacement part fitted. Walked back home for porridge. Aki cycled off to the hairdresser. Tim turned and did a bit more work layering up the plaster, and doing a little exploratory digging around the old shower trap. He knocked off around 1130! Aki returned for lunch…she made ramen soup. I headed for the Whittington for a blood test…eager to see if the increased dose of statin has brought my cholesterol level down. Got to the hospital and suddenly remembered I should have fasted for 12 hours! Walked back down the Holloway Road to Waitrose and did a little shopping. Grilled hake this evening with beans, spinach and chorizo…very tasty! Watched some telly…Pluribus was very silly…had had high hopes, as it was written by the guy who wrote Breaking Bad. 

Wednesday 10th December 2025

 

Woke around 0500…took a while to nod back off. Got up around 0915. Porridged. Aki assisted with my creating some useable templates for creating some set signage for the show tonight. Took some soup with me for lunch and drove into the theatre. Spent a few hours tracing the signage lettering onto the signs so Dinah could paint them in…took ages! Got cramp in my right hand! Slunk off for a kebab round the corner. Back at the theatre, I gave out first night cards then settled in a seat as the punters were ushered in. About 80 in the house, including some enthusiastic youngsters. Show went down a storm! The cast upped their game in front of an audience. Great stuff. Had a beer in the bar with the cast before driving round to the Rowing Club to pick Aki up from their Xmas bash. Had a bit of a dance and a chat with Shelley. Drove us home and fell into bed…!

Tuesday 9th December 2025

Alarm at 0730. Got up and laid dust sheets in preparation for Tim’s arrival. Porridged. Tim rocked up at 0930. Did work repairing the plasterboard in the lobby. Aki headed off for the annual JCUK Xmas lunch. I finished the last of the chicken chasseur for lunch. Tim departed early. I headed in to Stoke Newington in the car. Helped out painting a couple of signs…before the cast rocked up for the final dress rehearsal. I snuck out and bought a wrap. Dress rehearsal went pretty well. Sorrel decided to delay notes so got away before 2245…

Monday 8th December 2025

Alarm at 0730. Got up and laid out dust sheets ahead of Tim’s arrival…he’s working on re-tiling the shower so we can get it all working again. Porridged. Tim turned up at 0845. He’s London-Irish…lives on a council estate in Highgate…and turns out to have been a punk rock fan…so we bonded happily over memories of past punk gigs…Viv Alberteen was brought up on the same estate in Highgate. He removed the bottom row of tiles in the shower, and prepped the walls prior to effecting some major plasterboard repairs. He knocked off around 1430. I cooked an early dinner…pasta and puttanesca sauce. Headed for Stoke Newington in the car. Helped out on the set build before watching the first dress run. Went fairly well…though some of the scenic transitions need tidying. Notes afterward meant I didn’t get away until 2300. Aki was out of the bath when I got home…bath and bed.

Sunday 7th December 2025

Alarm at 0800. Got up and porridged before heading for Stoke Newington. Damp and drizzly day. Sausage and egg sarnie in Leo’s cafe. Long day’s technical rehearsal. I presided over a line run in the dressing room. Broke for lunch. Then a long cue-to-cue tech. I left once they’d gotten to the end of Act I. Got a 106 bus back to Finsbury Park and picked up some cans of Guinness on the walk back to the flat. Picked up Aki and we walked up to No.93 for dinner and a catch up with Kevin and Laurence…she had cooked a beef bourgignon. They are still darting over to Meaux every so often to check on her mother, who is now in a care home. They are back in London for Xmas, entertaining their sons. Staggered home around 2230…bath and bed.

Saturday 6th December 2025

Alarm at 0800. Got up and drove the car to the garage on Marlborough Road. They open at 0800 during the week…Yiannis failed to inform me that they open at 0900 on Saturdays! Parked on the forecourt and walked up Hornsey Road to get a coffee. Left the car once Yiannis turned up, and walked home. Aki popped up to Yerbury Market to buy bread while I prepared brunch. Got a call from Yiannis saying the part that had arrived was for a left hand drive, so going to have to wait until the correct part turns up! Walked back up to the garage after brunch and collected the car! Pottered about for the rest of the day. Did some exercises, and read some Dickens. Aki popped out to Waitrose. FaceTimed Kath…dad could be seen speeding about the living room with his new Zimmer frame. Made chestnut gnocchi to put in the freezer ahead of our dinner party on 16th. Ate the last of the lentil bake for dinner. Tart Tatin and ice cream to follow. Watched the final episode of The Beast in Me…all rather silly in the end!

Friday 5th December 2025

Woke around 0900. Languished in bed for a bit…still feeling under the weather. Got up and cooked brunch. Did my exercises. Aki cycled off to Angel to do a shop in Sainsbury’s. I prepared the apples for a tart tatin…Aki came back with the puff pastry and I popped it in the oven. Aki baked trout for dinner. Had ice cream with the tart tatin…yum! Watched the penultimate episode of The Beast in Me. Bath and bed…

Thursday 4th December 2025

Fitful night’s sleep…woke feeling my flu symptoms had advanced somewhat. Didn’t get up until 1015. Porridged. Did my exercises. Grey, damp day. Kath rang…she has secured the Attendance Allowance for Margaret…just need to persuade father to follow suit. Cooked lunch. Had a bit of a lie down in the afternoon. Fraser and Charlotte, Lynne’s niece and her fella, have moved in upstairs while Lynne away in Bali. Fraser knocked on our door to report that the roof repair we had had done in the summer had failed. Managed to speak to the roofer…he asked me to phone back on Saturday…I’d be very surprised if he picks up! Chicken and leek pie for dinner. Aki departed for Book Club meet at No.38. She took mushrooms on toast over as a snack, in honour of the mushroom poisoner at the centre of the Shirley Jackson novel they were due to discuss. I watched Lawrence of Belgravia…Xav and Charlie of Itchy Teeth now play in his backing band, though the film was made in 2010, way before their involvement…

Wednesday 3rd December 2025

Woke around 04 do 00…took ages to nod back off again. Got up around 0800…still nursing a sore throat. Porridged. Started a lengthy vocal warm up…steamed my vocal cords, then a lot of humming. Aki went off to A&E at UCL…opposite where I’d be heading for my audition. Arranged to meet for lunch later. Set off for town around midday. Got to Warren Street a little early, so had coffee and a raspberry bow at Miel. Got to audition venue at Old Diorama Arts Centre…took some finding in the maze of high rise glazed blocks behind Euston Tower. Bob came to get me and lead me to the studio, where Sayan was waiting…she’s MD. Met Shirley, who was reading in…she played Molly in a Liverpool production…and Anji the casting director, who gave me a big hug, saying she felt she knew me already! Never met her before! Read the row with Stevie scene after a lengthy catch up…they suggested I come back at 1430 to work with Georgina, who was auditioning for Bridget. Met Aki outside Heals and enjoyed a sandwich in the cafe. UCL had given her the all clear on her right arm…no fractures or torn ligaments. Sprained though. I walked back to the Old Diorama and ushered Georgie into the studio. Did two more scenes as Grandad, then sat in as Stevie, and Jack. Went well…got another big hug from Anji as I left…never met so enthusiastic a casting director…if I haven’t landed the role I’ll be flabbergasted! Took a bus home. Aki warmed up the last of the chicken curry, and made a dal. Headed for Stoke Newington for panto rehearsal. Sorrel back in the saddle. Went for a full run…it was under energised, but everything seemed to be in the right order. Notes went on a bit afterward…didn’t manage to quit the building until 1945. Walked to the bus stop in the rain. 

Tuesday 2nd December 2025

Woke to alarm at 0815. Porridged. GP phoned and booked me a blood test for next week. Did an hour or so at the computer…invoiced Savills. Cooked lunch. Feeling a little under the weather…there’s a bug going round the panto team! We walked to Stroud Green to do a little shopping. Back home Aki steamed salmon for dinner, with aubergine and vegetables. Watched The Beast in Me, and Daddy Issues before bath and bed…

Monday 1st December 2025

Woke around 0700. Got up at 0800. Porridged. Aki headed to Angel for a dental appointment. I managed an hour at the laptop then headed for Camden Passage…met Aki for lunch at Kipferl. Hopped on a No.38 bus to Holborn and walked to Covent Garden. I wanted to try a pair of boots at Camper…they weren’t as comfortable as I’d hoped. Aki bought a pair of pumps. Home by 1530. Kath phoned…she’d arranged a preliminary meeting at Home Instead to discuss help at High View. Managed another hour’s work before warming up the venison stew…we enjoyed it with sautéed potatoes and green vegetables. Left Aki to it and headed for Stoke Newington. Cold, damp evening. Bumped into Councillor Dribble on the No.149 bus…he comes up from Thornton Heath…takes him about two hours. No director this evening…off sick. The choreographer lead the evening’s proceedings…marked out the dance routines in the performance space. A good night’s work…Rosie bossed it! Two buses to get home…pouring with rain…

Sunday 30th November 2025

Rose early. Porridged then headed for Stoke Newington. Got there too early so sat in Leo’s cafe with a sausage and egg sandwich and a mug of tea. The cast and crew gathered at the theatre to start the get in. I was on milk rotor, but was sufficiently disgusted by the stench when I opened the fridge door to embark on giving it a thorough clean. Wandered up to Morrison’s to buy some snacks and tea bags, milk etc. Lunched on chicken soup from the little Caribbean pop up round the corner. Ate in the theatre bar. Helped Rosie comb out Rapunzel’s wig…took two hours! Knocked off around 1630 and headed home. Aki had injured her arm in a minor fall at rowing club so I was tasked with cooking the carbonara for dinner. FaceTimed Kath…Dad seemed reasonably happy, though had been feeling nauseous on the morphine, and is now refusing to take any more! Watched some telly before bath and bed…

Saturday 29th November 2025

Got up around 0830. Walked up to the garage on Marlborough Road to see how they were getting on…my car was up on the lift. They are wanting to replace a part, so not ready to drive away yet. Left them to it and walked down to Jolene’s for coffee and a pain au suisse. Headed to Stoke Newington and caught up with members of the panto cast who had been wandering Church Street giving out flyers. Lunched on chicken wings and chips in the underwhelming Cod & Brew. Returned to the theatre…full run in the studio with sound effects. Looking good. Got a 106 bus back to Finsbury Park…lentil and aubergine bake for dinner. Aki had been to a Japanese flower arranging workshop in Camden, and had brought back some of her work to decorate the flat…really good. Watched some telly before bath and bed…

Friday 28th November 2025

 

Woke to alarm at 0730. Got up and dressed, then drove the car up to the garage on Marlborough Road for a service. Haven’t used them before…when I rocked up the guy had no record of my booking! Only spoke to him yesterday! Not an encouraging start! Left it with them and walked home via Jolene’s, where I took coffee. Phoned Kath…not much news…still waiting to hear whether dad was moved to the Freeman during the night. Did some work on the laptop. Got a call from Graham Fellows inviting us to a party tonight to mark 40 years of John Shuttleworth. Managed another hour or so at the computer after lunch. Email received offering me an audition for the role of Grandad in next April’s production of Good Golly Miss Molly at the Vic in Stoke. 

Headed for Stoke Newington via a couple of buses…dinner booked at Calong on Church Street. Very tasty Korean European fusion food. Walked round to the Tower to see their production of Festen. Strange piece…short, and intense…needed more rehearsal and better actors, frankly. Had a cab waiting outside the venue to drive us to the Phoenix Club in Tottenham Court Road. Bumped into the comedian Paul Foot on the stairs. Said a brief hello to Graham, and chatted with an old fellow named Hugh who lived in a flat below Graham in north London in the 1980s…turned out to be a retired surveyor. Enjoyed our free drink and made for home. City centre was rammed…as was Leicester Square tube station. 

Thursday 27th November 2025

Woke around 0800. Kath phoned to say she’d gotten home at 0130, having seen dad into a bed ahead of a scan on his pelvis later today, hopefully. The A&E department at the RVI sounded like a war zone! Jim and Emma had stayed with mum at High View. Read some Dickens before rising for porridge. Did a couple of hours at the laptop. Soup for lunch. Then another couple of hours work. Update from Kath. Dad is to be transferred to the Freeman…still awaiting scan results though. Cooked the venison stew; made some bread dumplings to go with it. Very tasty! Watched Daddy Issues before bath and bed…

Wednesday 26th November 2025

Woke around 0800. Aki up to ready for rowing club. She’d cycled off by the time I got up at 0845. 1030 appointment with my dentist…I had complained of a little pain when chewing in the tooth she had re-filled last month. She shaved a bit more off. Said she was bringing her kids to our panto on 12th…can introduce her to Aki as she’s taking her rowing crew along that night. Walked home via the butcher on Essex Road, and did a little shop in Waitrose. Text from Kath saying dad had been carted off to hospital in an ambulance. Await further updates. Made lunch. Managed a couple of hours at the computer before dinner…warmed up Aki’s chicken curry, served with peas pilau and dal. Yum! Headed for Stokey…staggered through another run, but two players out ill, which doesn’t help at this stage. Didn’t finish notes until 2230. Got home around 2300…which meant the roads had cleared following the Arsenal v Bayern game. Kath still waiting with dad in A&E…

Tuesday 25th November 2025

Up around 0900…porridged. Worked at my laptop for a couple of hours, writing up my inspection sheets. Drove down to the fishmonger on Essex Road and parked in a side street. Still getting the warning lamps on my dash…so called out the AA. Wandered about Angel for an hour waiting for a van to show up. Aki showed up on her bike…she wanted to visit the fishmonger ahead of making tonight’s dinner. The AA chap ran a diagnostics test and reckoned the turbo pressure valve needed replacing…he cleared the warning lamps, but said they’d probably come back at some point…the valve might fail in which case the engine would lose power, but the car would still be driveable. Drove home for lunch…Aki did a ramen soup. Managed another hour and a half at the laptop. Aki made the fish stew…very tasty. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed…

Monday 24th November 2025

Had a lie in and read some Chuzzlewit. Got up and porridged then did a couple of hours at the computer. Checked the oil in the car…looked OK. Still getting the warning lights and messages. Phoned VW as it’s time to book in for a service…they recommended a diagnostic test…at an additional £250! Lunched on soup and a boiled egg. Managed another couple of hours at the laptop. Aki cooked an aubergine and lentil bake for dinner. I headed off for panto rehearsals. Polished up a couple of the dance routines…looking good. 

Sunday 23rd November 2025

Woke around 0900. Aki cooked omelette for brunch before cycling off to rowing club. I did a couple of hours work before a light lunch…chicken soup. Aki back early afternoon. Did another couple of hours at the computer before warming up the last of the chicken chasseur. Cinnamon bun and ice cream for afters. Watched the Black Swan before catching Arsenal on MOTD…Eze starred in a demolition of north London rivals Spurs.

Saturday 22nd November 2025

Woke around 0815. Aki cycled off to market for bread while I prepared brunch. Text message from Kath to say dad in pain…lower back trouble. Gave mum a ring…dad up and about but needing his walking stick. I caught a bus to Stamford Hill, heading in for Panto rehearsal. Damp day, but not as cold as of late. Picked up a sarnie from Pret. Ran the whole show with some added props and costume. Lines were a bit all over the shop, but they got through it. They all went off to a karaoke club in Dalston…I made my escape, getting home in time for dinner. Kath rang…dad still being violently sick. Keeping an eye on him…see what he’s like tomorrow morning. Meatballs, puttanesca sauce, and pappardelle for dinner. Watched some telly. MOTD included Newcastle’s victory over Manchester City…Sunderland lost at Fulham. 

Friday 21st November 2025

Alarm at 0750. Descended for breakfast in the pub next door. Did an hour at the laptop before checking out and completing the inspections. Skipped lunch in order to maximise the working daylight. Finished up in Strood around 1600. Celebrated with soup in M&S. Headed for home. Surprised at how clear the Blackwall Tunnell Approach was…the toll seems to be doing its job. Equally surprised at how dire the traffic was from then on! Worrying warning lamp on my dash…no idea what it meant so drove on…without mishap. Aki baked trout for dinner. Watched Daddy Issues…a bit gross, but laugh out loud funny. Bath and bed…

Thursday 20th November 2025

Alarm at 0800. Descended for breakfast. Quite bright out but 1C…blinkin’ freezin’! Inspections in Chatham today. Broke for lunch and walked through town to the Shopping Centre…which appears to be undergoing a major redevelopment…about time! Had a baked potato in Subway, and got some odds and ends in Sainsbury’s. Ended the working day on the Weeds Wood estate. Dined in the pub annexed to the Premier Inn…too cold to venture out. 

Wednesday 19th November 2025.

Alarm at 0800. Descended for breakfast in the pub next door…sat at a table which afforded views of the traffic congestion on Watling Street. Grey, damp looking day. Inspections in Rochester and Strood. Had to to a lot of walking…bloody cold out! Lunched on a baked potato in Morrison’s and bought some odds and ends in M&S. Ended the working day in Wainscott, then drove back to the Premier Inn. Drove to Chatham Docks for dinner at the Ship & Trades. Crab linguine was very tasty. Back at the hotel I FaceTimed Aki. Nowt on telly. Got in to bed and nodded off to some music…

Tuesday 18th November 2025

Alarm at 0800. Got up and porridged. Warmed some soup for the thermos flask. Packed a bag and drove off for Strood. Got there about 1130. Shopped for some lunch in M&S, then drove to Hoo to start inspections. Ate my lunch in the car on Knights Road. Ended the working day in the gloaming in Rochester, then headed for the Premier Inn on Gillingham Business Park. FaceTimed Aki from my room. She’s booking tickets for the panto. Drove over to Chatham Docks to pick up fish ‘n chips from the Ship & Trades, and brought my dinner back to have in my room…watched Scotland v Denmark…cracking game which saw Scotland win 4-2 after scoring twice in injury time! They overhaul Denmark at the top of the group and qualify for their first World Cup since 1998!

Monday 17th November 2025

Got up around 0830. Porridged. Did a couple of hours at the computer. Did my exercises. Popped out for stationery before Aki warmed up the bonne femme soup for lunch. Did another couple of hours at the computer before early dinner. Headed off for Stoke Newington for rehearsals. Another stagger through Act I…I acted as prompt. Needs a lot of polishing. Home a little after 2230…bath and bed.

Sunday 16th November 2025

Alarm at 0800. Got up and did some back exercises before preparing brunch. Walked to Southgate Road, via Da Mario’s deli in Highbury Barn, where I purchased some chestnut flower. Rocked up at Martin and Janet’s house at No.201 Southgate Road at 1045. Janet let me in, and I found Paul Graves and a couple of writers already sat in the huge living room. I was gobsmacked by the size of the house…our flat could fit within the square footage of their living room…there was a lower ground floor kitchen, small dining room, and two floors of bedrooms! Must be worth around £2m!!! Slowly the rest of the day’s protagonists turned up…about 12 writers, and a similar number of actors. The idea was to split up into small improv teams….i hooked up with the very excellent Helen McGill, and the enthusiastic Tom Lafferty, and we worked with three writers in the dining room…the theme was The Day in the Life of a Park Bench. Sandwich lunch was laid on in the kitchen. Surprised to learn from our host, Martin South, that he’s working as a West End understudy on Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Worked for another couple of hours in our dining room space…played spies meeting on a park bench, park rangers finishing their day shift, bat enthusiasts, and ghost hunters! Overall a very enjoyable day’s play. Caught a 141 bus up to Manor House, then a 253 toward home. Aki cooked a carbonara for dinner. Watched some telly before bath and bed.

Saturday 15th November 2025

Woke around 0830. Aki cycled off to buy bread. I prepared brunch. Did my exercises. Did a little more prep work ahead of next week’s inspections. Read some Shirley Jackson. Aki popped out for a dental appointment. Had some toast and almond butter for lunch, and an apple. Did some work on VP research for the MHS stock. Aki warmed up the aubergine tagine she’d brought home from rowing club last night…with added lamb meatballs and couscous. Lemon meringue pavlova for afters. Watched Clare Dane’s new Netflix vehicle…The Beast In Me…cracking, tense opening episode!

Friday 14th November 2025

Fitful night’s sleep…back giving me gip. Got up around 1000. Porridged. Sat about reading before doing some exercises. Too wet to contemplate going out for a walk. Made potage de bonne femme for lunch. Sat about reading. Got a call from Katrina McClean at Savills with some inspections in Chatham and Rochester. Did some prep work before dinner…mackerel with rice and miso soup. Finished off the panacotta though they still hadn’t set…so probably a non starter for our xmas menu. Watched the film ‘Shirley’, based on a novel which used semi-autobiographical detail on the latter years of writer Shirley Jackson’s life with her domineering husband…lots of references relevant to the Jackson novel I’m reading at the moment…dark but enjoyable movie.

Thursday 13th November 2025

Languished in bed reading for most of the morning. Got up at 1100 and porridged. Read some Shirley Jackson. Aki cooked omelette for lunch. We wandered over to Waitrose to do a bit of a shop. Aki left for rowing club at 1630. I made pancetta with lime syrup. I had a venison and stout pie for dinner. The pancetta hadn’t set by the time I tucked in…it was just a small bowl of lime flavoured double cream…very tasty though! Watched a Netflix documentary on art-rockers Devo…the two main protagonists went into film and TV music once their brief reign had stuttered to a halt in the mid 80s. Interesting bunch…radicalised by the killings at Kent State University in 1970, at which they were art students. Watched the second half of the England v Serbia game. Aki back about 2200. Watched Question Time…deeply uninspiring bunch on the panel…aside from the very decent Ken Clarke!

Wednesday 12th November 2025

Woke around 0900. By the time I got up Aki had cycled off to rowing club. I took porridge back to bed with me a read for awhile. Got up and did my exercises. Aki back in time for lunch. Read some Chuzzlewit. Cooked dinner…pappardelle with roasted tomatoes and chorizo sausage. Very tasty. Headed for Stokey…took a 253 to Stamford Hill and walked from there. Worked Act II. I had to read in for Sean, as he was still off sick. Got home around 2230. Bath and bed…

Tuesday 11th November 2025

Woke around 0900. Read in bed for a bit before getting up to porridge. Aki cycled off to tai chi class. Did my exercises then read some Shirley Jackson…We Have Always Lived in the Castle was her final novel, and reckoned her masterpiece. It’s darkly Gothic stuff…enjoying it. Aki back in time for lunch. Read some Dickens. Headed out around 1630. Walked to Finsbury Park station and caught a tube train to Brixton. A defective train up ahead meant we had to get off at Victoria…caught an overground train to Brixton, which meant we were a bit early for our dinner date at Kricket, an Indian restaurant in the arches beneath Brixton railway station. Had a wander round Brixton Market. 

Hadn’t realised there were quite so many eateries in there…though some looked a bit grim. Rocked up at Kricket and ordered two early bird thalis…the food was very good…especially taken with the peanut raita. Walked up Effra Road to the Hootenanny…an old pub which has been partially converted into a live music venue. We had tickets to see Japanese electro-jazz band, Mouse on the Keys…a three piece comprising electric piano, thumping drums, and a computer wizard who drew earth shaking bass notes from his machine which vibrated your body parts, even at the back of the room. They were well received by a packed house. Headed back to Brixton station…hopped on a No.196 bus as it was raining. Got in around 2300…

Monday 10th November 2025

Woke around 0800. Read in bed for a bit before rising to porridge. Did my exercises. Put a tasty lunch together. Sat about reading and listening to music for most of the afternoon…raining outside. Aki pan fried salmon for dinner, in a tasty creme fraiche sauce. Set off for Stoke Newington, getting a bus to Stamford Hill, then walking down the A10. Popped into Morrisons for an iced roll. We staggered through Act I in the Tuerk…Sean was missing, feeling unwell, so I read in his lines from stage left. Show looking in good shape, but lots of polishing to do! Got home a little after 2230…Aki ran a bath.

Sunday 9th November 2025

Woke around 0900. Aki up to ready for rowing. We porridged at the dining table. I did my exercises once she’d cycled off, and read some Shirley Jackson…very quirky, dark stuff…very enjoyable. Walked down to Highbury Corner for a fry up at The Hope Worker’s Cafe. Walked home via Waitrose. Prepared a chicken chasseur for later then walked up to the N19 with our instruments. Bit of a low turnout this afternoon…but just about enough of us to make a noise. However, when we rocked up at the pub we discovered our room had been bagged for the footie on the big screen. Tony the landlord had invested in a Sky Sports subscription, so our free rein seems to have come to an abrupt end. The five of us who had shown up convened over a beer, and decided to commandeer Ben’s front room, at his invitation, so we all walked back down to No.38. It worked out quite well, but not sure what we’re going to do next month…looks like we’ll have to take turns hosting from now on. We broke at 1800. Back home for a very tasty chicken chasseur dinner, followed by baked stuffed apples. Watched Diane Keaton in First Wives Club…all very silly but laugh out loud funny…Bette Midler is very good in it.

Saturday 8th November 2025

Woke around 0830. Aki cycled off to buy bread from Yerbury Farmer’s Market…I popped out to buy ham for brunch. Put brunch together, before driving off to Stoke Newington. Visited Bianca for a light lunch…ostensibly to talk about doing an open mic, but as I suspected, she had a lot to chat about. Trouble is, intriguing as her life sounds, she can’t seem to give her takes any context, so I’m always baffled as to what she’s taking about. Managed to escape and walk down to the theatre for afternoon of rehearsals. I’m increasingly taking a back seat…getting quite divorced from proceedings, but quite happy to sit and watch. Left at 1800 and drove myself up to Muswell Hill for Shelly’s family firework bash. There was quite a crowd.  Aki’s rowing chums showed up. The fireworks, set off in the back garden, were of a superior quality…as was the baked potato, chilli con carne, and rice afterward. Had a chat with Johanna…she’s involved with regular Moth Club sessions in Shoreditch, which sound worth a visit. Gave Becky a lift to Highgate tube, then dropped Kearsey off on the Haringey Ladder…

Friday 7th November 2025

Aki up at 0730 to ready herself for rowing club, although the forecast was for rain. My back giving me gip so couldn’t lie in…sat up in bed, reading. Got up and porridged. Did my exercises. Read a bit. Ordered a copy of Mr Nightingale’s Diary, a one act farce by CD. Aki came home for lunch and prepared a tasty ramen soup. Sat about reading and listening to music before dining early on the last of the mapo and rice. Walked to Finsbury Park and took the Victoria line to Oxford Circus…had tickets for a short film festival at Regent Street cinema…a motley collection of shorts from around Europe…the first, an animation, followed the life of an Algerian Jewish swimmer who swam for France at the Berlin Olympics, and survived Auschwitz. Enjoyed a quirky comedy short from the Faroe Islands which saw a woman pick up the head of her estranged father from the airport, then taking it round various landmarks of her youth to show him what he missed. Came out of the cinema to find it raining, but walked along Oxford Street and caught a bus home from Tottenham Court Road.

Thursday 6th November 2025

Got up around 0930. Porridged. Read a bit. My reconditioned laptop turned up courtesy of Savills IT, and I spent an hour or so setting it up. Made some lunch. Aki cycled off to Sainsbury’s at The Angel. Did my exercises. Read some Dickens before cooking dinner…chilli prawns and scallops with pasta and cherry tomatoes. We walked down to the Kings Head theatre to see ‘Fanny’, which had been recommended by one of Aki’s rowing mates…it was very disappointing…a weak farce centring around the Mendelssohns of Berlin, specifically Fanny and her more famous brother Felix, the latter apparently stealing some of Fanny’s work and passing it off as his own. The sight lines are appalling, the stage area constricted, and the set somewhat amateurish…we didn’t go back for Act II. Bussed it home in time to watch Alan Carr win Celebrity Traitors…a well deserved victory!

Wednesday 5th November 2025

Aki up at 0730 to ready for rowing club. She cycled off before I got up at 0900. Porridged.  Drove myself down to Essex Road to visit the fishmonger…Aki wants to do some sashimi for us tonight, as Tami coming round. Drove home with my purchases, then cooked cavolo Nero and butter beans in a creamy broth for lunch when Aki got back. Did some housework ahead of our guest’s arrival while Aki prepared the food. Tami showed up on time and we enjoyed a tasty dinner, though I managed to spill my miso soup all over the new rug, the wall, and my shirt and trousers. Got changed and headed for Stoke Newington…sounded like a war zone out there with fireworks going off at regular intervals. Rehearsals went well…Rosie’s choreographic skills are keeping the show on track. Got home about 2230 and watched a bit of European football before bath and bed…

Tuesday 4th November 2025

Aki up at 0800…I lay in for a bit. Eventually rose around 0900 and porridged. We walked to Finsbury Park station, where we parted company…Aki heading for Tate Modern, while I took the Piccadilly line to Leicester Square to hook up with former work colleague Martin Doughty, whose retirement do I’d missed last month. Met up in Foyles cafe. He looked in good shape…he’d had major heart problems earlier in the year that had kept him wired up in hospital for two weeks. He d also been busy sorting his mum out…and had finally managed to get her in a home a week or so ago. We then walked across town for lunch at Le Relais de Venise, stopping for a photo opportunity outside the Savills HQ in Margaret Street on the way. Parted ways on Oxford Street, and I darted round Selfridges looking in vain for a Pop Trading t-shirt to replace a favourite that went missing over the summer. Bussed home. Posted dad’s LPAs off to the OPG. Aki got back around 1600. Warmed up the last of the chicken cacciatore for dinner. Watched some telly…nice retrospective on British artist Bridget Riley, featuring an interview with Kirsty Wark.

Monday 3rd November 2025

Woke to alarm at 0815. Descended for breakfast with ma and pa before packing my bags and saying farewell…had to drag father out of the bathroom to wave goodbye. Kath drove me into town on her way to the foot hospital. I walked in to the city centre and enjoyed tea and flapjack in the cafe at Fenwicks. Wandered down Grainger Street to the Central Station. My train was delayed by 20 minutes…very busy, with people standing, but managed to secure my seat. We were 50 minutes late getting in to KX. Got home around 1615. Aki cooked mapo for dinner, then I ventured out to Stoke Newington for rehearsal. I worked with the ensemble for an hour, trying, largely in vain, to instil some character…had fun hot seating them all, and we had a rummage in the wardrobe for bits of costume that might assist in the venture. Rosie, our choreographer, took over at 2030, and I slunk off home for a bath…

Sunday 2nd November 2025

Got up around 0930. Breakfasted with ma and pa in the dining room. Prepared the apple crumble…mum helped peeling the fruit. Prepared a rice salad to have with some salmon for lunch. Kath nipped off to Peary Close to take my brown Levi work pants up…the material was too thick for the sewing machine here at mum’s. Kath and I drove over to Kingston Park after lunch to do a shop…included some Xmas essentials…a turkey crown, and a frozen roulade, as well as wine and chocolate. Jim and Emma had arrived by the time we got back. Did some food prep before having a sit down and a chocolate biscuit. Cooked a roast chicken dinner with lots of vegetables. The apple crumble was tasty enough but failed to crisp up in the oven. Watched a bit of telly. Emma and Jim sloped off to sleep in the van. I stayed up to watch Jools…enjoyed Welsh female pink band, Panic Shack.

Saturday 1st November 2025

Got up around 0830. Breakfast with ma and pa. Pottered about. Read the paper. Got dad back on the computer…had to open mum’s old computer in order to  receive a code to input into dad’s computer. My salmon salad lunch was sabotaged by Margaret…I entered the kitchen to find her preparing baked beans and cheese on toast…I added some salad so that we can at least say we attempted to get some of our five a day! Cooked up an Indian rice pudding with saffron and nuts…smelt fantastic! Kath popped out to buy me some Guinness. Took mum for a short walk down to Whinbank and back…took a handful of cooking apples that had been left in a crate outside a house on Whinfell Road…will make apple crumble tomorrow. Cooked a beef and Guinness stew for the freezer. Warmed up the last of Kath’s fish pie for dinner. Watched some telly…a rerun of 1985’s classic Edge of Darkness, with a young Joanne Whalley, though she gets killed off halfway through episode 1. Stayed up to watch MOTD…

Friday 31st October 2025

Woke around 0800. Descended for breakfast with mum and dad in the dining room. Kath disappeared off to the dentists. I cooked a sausage ragu to store in the freezer. Looking over the paperwork for dad’s LPAs I discovered Leigh had signed herself Tattersall, but dad had mis-informed me it was spelt Tattershall…popped next door to get Leigh to initial a correction. Did my exercises…back giving me much gip at the moment. Put some lunch together for mum and dad, then drove off in the Passat to do a shop at Waitrose. Cooked a chicken curry for dinner, which we had with rice, naan and vegetables. Made enough to put some in the freezer. Watched a bit of telly…

Thursday 30th October 2025

Got up around 0830. Porridged. Did my exercises. Vacuumed. Made some lunch before saying farewell to Aki and heading for KX and my train to Newcastle. Train was very busy, but non stop to Newcastle Central station. Got in ten minutes late. Bought mum some chocolates in the station shop, then nursed a half of Guinness in the Centurion while waiting for Kath to pick me up. Kath had made a fish pie, which dad had put in the oven…it was ready when we got in. Margaret looking well…Johnners too, but seems to be carrying a bit of a limp. Very warm in the house…the heating on high! Watched some telly…very loud! Had to wait until they’d all gone to bed to watch Celebrity Traitors…got to bed around midnight!

Wednesday 29th October 2025

Aki up early for an 0830 Teams meeting. I got up about 0930, by which time she’d cycled off to rowing club. Porridged. Did some exercises, and a bit of packing ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Newcastle. Aki back for lunch…spinach soup. Read some Dickens and sang some songs. Aki baked trout for dinner before I headed off for Stoke Newington and an 1800 production meeting at the theatre. All seems to be on track. Watched a bit of the dance session with the bugs…looking good. Headed for home…got in just in time to catch the Celebrity Traitors. Alan Carr still hanging in there, but for how much longer. Bath and bed…

Tuesday 28th October 2025

Got up around 1000. Porridged. Did some exercises. Aki cycled off to Tai Chi. Took up and pinned two pairs of trousers to take up to Newcastle…am employing Kath to sew up the hems. Aki back for lunch. She made  cheese and mushroom omelette…very tasty. Pottered about for the afternoon. Worked a bit on my voice. Had a bit of a sing. Cooked three portions of chicken cacciatore for Aki to eat while I’m up in Newcastle. Cooked chicken in some of the green sauce I’d made last Saturday, for dinner. Served with rice. Watched a bit of the Wrexham v Cardiff League Cup game, and an episode of Fawlty Towers, in tribute to the passing of my old Roundhay flatmate, Pru! 

Sunday 26th October 2025

Woke around 0900, only to find it was actually 0800, as the clocks had gone back. Got up. Avocado toast for breakfast. Headed for Brixton…got a Victoria line train from Finsbury Park. Got to the cafe, Parisi, a little early, and had to wait for a table. Tom Wicks and Hayley turned up first…hadn’t been told they were coming, so that was a nice surprise. Jim and Katherine turned up next, then Barney and Jen…enjoyed a catch up over a slow brunch. 

Barney and Jen have moved into a flat around the corner, just off Effra Road, and have the option to purchase it after 12 months. Barney is due to go on a short European tour with MRCY before Xmas. We walked over to The Dairy where Barney has a new recording studio, which he’s renting off Nitin Sawhney. It’s a much bigger room than his previous studio, but looks like it still needs a bit of tidying up, though he’s been working in there with Jesse Ware. Exciting times! We said our goodbyes and headed home, eager to avoid the football crowd coming out of the Emirates after the game with Crystal Palace. Warmed up the last of the lamb stew for dinner. Cherry tart and ice cream for afters. Watched The Ridge, a new BBC thriller set in NZ…dreadful! Bath and bed…

Saturday 25th October 2025

Got up around 1000 after Aki cycled off to the market for bread. I prepared Mexican green eggs for brunch…the tinned tomatillos had a vinegary flavour which wasn’t too pleasing. I headed off for Stoke Newington in the drizzle. They worked on choreography for the tap number, which is looking hilarious! Did some re-blocking of the opening scenes, but rehearsal was cut short when Sorrel developed a migraine…I think she wanted me to take over, but I pointed out that I was departing at 1700, so we called it a day and broke early. I walked to Clapton station. The rain had stopped but temperatures had dropped noticeably. 

Caught the overground to Walthamstow. Walked up to the theatre, which was re-opened in May after a major refurbishment. Had a mint tea in the foyer, then walked round the corner to meet Aki in Sodo for pizza. She’d been joined by about 9 or 10 rowing comrades. Enjoyed my pizza, but we were all sat on high stools at high tables, and the plates were so big we could hardly fit them all on the table top! Very noisy in there…won’t be back. Walked back round to the theatre for a 1930 show…Bog Witch, a one-woman show by Bryony Kimmings. The theatre is enormous…950 seater…and they’ve done a full refurbishment…it looks great. Puzzled as to who funded it, as it’s run by Soho Theatre, which is a small venue in the West End. The show felt a little out of place on such a vast stage, though the set, with a huge white back cloth onto which projections and shadows played, worked well. Bryony spent much of the time changing the set whilst nonchalantly delivering her lines…it was effortless. Got home in time to catch MOTD and Sunderland’s epic win at Stamford Bridge, which took us to second place behind the Gooners overnight!

Friday 24th October 2025

Got up around 1000. Aki had already cycled off for rowing club. Porridged. Walked down to Highbury Corner for a noon appointment at the Egerton pharmacy  to have my ears micro-suctioned. Young Chinese chap had the pleasure, with the rather surprising name of Dustin “as in Hoffman”; he was very good, and cleared both ears. He recommended I return in 9 or 10 months to have dried skin removed from my ear canals as they are exacerbating wax build up. I bought some arancini from the Italian deli next door, and walked home. Aki back for lunch. Did some exercises in the afternoon. Aki cooked hake for dinner. Watched Terence Davies’ 1992 movie “The Long Day Closes”…an affectionate meditation on his childhood in 1950s Liverpool. Not much in the way of wide shots, which gave it more of a televisual rather than a filmic feel…bit disappointing.

Thursday 23rd October 2025

Aki had departed for the hairdresser’s by the time I got up around 0930. Rain in the night. Porridged. Noticed another small damp patch in the back bedroom. There also appeared to be a 10” crack in the skylight glazing. I went up on the roof via next door’s roof garden…Sush was in and came up with me. The cracked glazing turned out to be a length of dried grass. Couldn’t see anything that gave any clue as to the leak in the back bedroom. Don’t know what to do about that! I set off for Southwark to hook up with Aki at Tate Modern. She’s purchased a year’s membership. Met up in the turbine hall. Went to view the Do Ho Suh exhibition…a Korean artist who specialises in reinventions of houses, and rooms, he has lived in in Korea, USA, and London. The most extraordinary piece was the life size rubbing of his childhood home in Korea…he covered the house in mulberry paper and rubbed everything with charcoal…took him months. He then peeled it all off and mounted it on a metal frame…gobsmacking! 

We then hightailed it over to Borough Market where I’d booked a table at Cafe Francoise. We enjoyed a rather overpriced French onion soup lunch. Headed for Oxford Street as Aki was keen to visit the Doc Marten store. I left her to go on to Camper in Regent Street while I headed for Hobgoblin in the hope of procuring a dozen kazoos for Saturday afternoon’s rehearsal. Unfortunately they only had the tin versions, which at £10 a piece would mean blowing a £120 hole in the show budget. I headed for the bus stop. Aki had gotten home ahead of me, having bought a nice pair of black boots at Camper. Warmed up the Irish stew for dinner. Settled down to watch Celebrity Traitors before bath and bed…

Wednesday 22nd October 2025

Aki up early to ready herself for rowing club. She’d cycled off by the time I rose. Porridged. Set off for Oxford Circus. Wanted to try on some grey workwear pants I’d spotted last week in John Lewis’s. Ended up going for brown, but got suckered into buying an unusual pair of patterned cords too. Headed home with my purchases, popping in at Waitrose for some bread. Aki returned for lunch…warmed up the last of my vegetable soup. Pottered about and did my exercises before Aki made a carbonara for dinner. Set off for Stoke Newington and Panto rehearsal. It was a song rehearsal so I wasn’t really needed. Stuck around for an hour or so then went home to watch Celebrity Traitors…got a bit of a soaking on the walk home from the bus stop!

Tuesday 21st October 2025

Got up around 1000. Porridged. Aki cycled off to tai chi. I prepared lunch on her return…finished the last of the vegetable soup. Headed out on a jaunt to the V&A Storehouse, recently opened in the Olympic Park. Aimed for Hackney Wick, and walked across the River Lea. Loads of building work still on-going around Hackney Wick station. A vast city has sprung up here over the last ten years…incredible. The Storehouse has been created in what was the Media Centre for the 2012 Olympics. On several floors, and is a bit like wandering around IKEA but with a vast range of treasures piled high on massive shelves. We got in to the David Bowie archive…interesting up to a point…if you know what you want to look at you can order up a Ziggy costume and take a gander, but the exhibition is rather small. Nice cafe on the ground floor. Took a train and a bus home. Aki pan fried salmon steak, with rice and vegetables, for dinner. Watched some telly…really enjoyed Trying; Rafe Spall is fantastic in it.

Monday 20th October 2025

Got up around 1000. Spells of heavy rain hammering on the bedroom roof. Porridged. Sat about reading before putting together an early lunch, then headed for the dentist on Upper Street, where I had a 1400 appointment with Mrs Jhand…she was very excited as she had been looking forward to applying a veneer to my mis-shapen front tooth…I had grown half of a third tooth over my second, and had been rather proud of the anomaly these last 60 years or so…but she had found signs of tooth decay at the joint, and was now charged with making the tooth look normal for the first time. I was in the chair for an hour and a half! She numbed my upper jaw, and set to work on removing the decay, before re-surfacing. I was stunned by the result…she’d done a terrific job. Went home via Waitrose. Cooked a pasta dinner, then rushed out again for panto rehearsal. Sorrel took them through their paces on a couple of dance routines…looking great. We were disturbed by a mouse in the studio! Evidently freaked out by our clod-hopping! 

Sunday 19th October 2025

Got up at 0930. Aki cooked brunch. I left for the bus stop…caught a bus to Camden, then a tube ride to Belsize Park. Got to the Royal Free on time and made my way to urology. Had to wait an hour and a half before being seen by the consultant. He said the ultrasound had found a benign cyst on the left testicle, and some varicose veins. He recommended cutting out tea, coffee and chocolate for the next three months to see if the discomfort in my right testicle subsides. It was raining when I exited the hospital. I walked down Haverstock Hill into Camden Town. Bought a couple of items in Sainsbury’s before getting on a bus home. Aki and I shared a rather flavourless Sainsbury’s pulled pork and cheese wrap for lunch. Sat about reading. Aki warmed up the paella we’d been unable to eat last night, adding prawns. Churros and creme fraiche for afters. FaceTimed Kath, who was at 12 High View. Watched the final episode of Hot Spot. Bath and bed…

Saturday 18th October 2025

 

Aki cooked omelette for breakfast, before heading off up the road to help planting out the communal flower boxes on Sussex Way. I walked to Stoke Newington via Highbury Barn, stopping off at Gail’s to pick up a sandwich for later. Worked with Sean on some physical delineation of his five split personalities for King Gregg…he’s not a natural, so didn’t get very far, but hopefully sowed a seed or two for him to work on…I think his costume changes are going to have to take most of the strain. Got a bus back home. Aki and I then set off for Waterloo…we’d booked a table at a tapas bar on The Cut, but arrived about half an hour early, so took a stroll down Lower Marsh, a lively destination of an evening. We over ordered at the tapas bar…portions are in my experience usually rather parsimonious, but we had to order a doggy bag! Walked across to the Free Association venue in Union Street Arches for an hour of comedy improv…based around a spoof TV hospital drama. Recognised one of the girls in the cast…she’d lead the Beginners Improv classes I attended in Camden about seven years ago! It was a very entertaining evening, though would have been better if my left ear wasn’t blocked!

Friday 17th October 2025

Aki up early…by the time I got up at 0930 she had cycled off to rowing club. Porridged. Caught up with Celebrity Traitors. Walked round to the GP surgery for my flu jab, then up to the dry cleaners. Hiked on down to Highbury Fields to buy focaccia before popping in at Waitrose on the way home. Put a mackerel salad lunch together when Aki got back. Sat about reading. Cooked a buttery mushroom sauce to go with some tortelloni…it was rather flavourless. We watched the Netflix adaptation of Pedro Paramos, which the Book Club had just finished reading. It was all a bit one-note, and a trifle long. Had its moments though. Bath and bed…

Thursday 16th October 2025

Woke at 0845. Aki brought me tea. Got up around 1000 and porridged. Worked on finalising LPAs for father, with a view to posting them off to Leigh (Certificate Provider)...she can then take them round to dad at her leisure. Quiche salad lunch. We walked round to Nags Head Market…Aki wanted to suss out the taco store ahead of this evening’s Mexican themed Book Club meet. We wandered on into Morrison’s to look at fajita kits, but didn’t find anything suitable. Ended up buying dragon fruit, and custard apples at the stall on Holloway Road. Tried a jesters hat at the Fancy Dress shop…may suit Noggins in the panto, though it was rather too roomy for me…perhaps Sean has a bigger head…will have to check! Walked on down to Highbury and back home via Highbury Fields. Enjoyed the Irish stew for dinner. Aki left for Book Club…I watched Traitors, and then the Mercury Prize coverage from Newcastle. Aki back by 2215. Late bath and bed…

Wednesday 15th October 2025

Fitful night’s sleep. Aki up at 0730…she’d cycled off to rowing club by the time I surfaced. Fancied a greasy spoon breakfast…aimed for the Hope Dining  Rooms on foot. Walked up to the counter only to spot a Cash Only sign so turned on my heel…ended up at the third rate Amici opposite Highbury tube station. Took a Victoria line train to Oxford Circus. Wanted to try on a pair of brown Paul Smith jeans, but only one pair left…headed to KX and the Paul Smith store at Coal Drops Yard…couldn’t find a comfortable fit so gave up and headed home. Aki was already back when I got in. Warmed up some soup for lunch. Spent most of the afternoon cooking up a lamb stew, for eating later in the week, then cooked a crab linguine dinner. Aki had been invited to accompany a couple of rowers to see a play at the Park Theatre…walked her up to Finsbury Park, where I jumped on a bus to Stoke Newington for this evening’s panto rehearsals. The audience participation song, I Am The Music Man, is going to be a hoot. Got home around 2210…we watched Celebrity traitors before bath and bed…

Tuesday 14th October 2025

Woke around 0815. Got up and took tea back to bed. Read for a while before porridging. Aki cycled off to the fishmongers, then headed for tai chi at the Chinese Community Centre up the road. I took a walk to Highbury and had coffee at La Maison, then walked home via Waitrose. Aki made ramen for lunch. Sat about reading. Did my exercises. A bloke turned up to look at the Takamine guitar I’d put up for sale on Gumtree a month or so ago. He’s been teaching a teenage pupil, who turned up 15 minutes later with his mum, and little sister. He liked the guitar…but I can’t say he seemed to have anything resembling musical talent…but his mum forked out £150 in cash and they left with the guitar. I’d bought it 27 years ago  on Dean Street in Newcastle! End of an era. Aki cooked hake for dinner, with black beans and bulgar wheat. Watched The Hotspot…getting very silly, but refreshingly good fun. Caught the second half of the Latvia v England game…a 0-5 win ensures we’ll be at the World Cup in 2026.