Sunday 13th July 2025

Woke at 0815. Aki got up and readied herself for rowing club…brought me a mug of green tea. Got up for brunch before she cycled off. Walked over to Waitrose to shop some ingredients for a chicken and coriander curry…bumped into Kevin in the car park. He is replacing his kitchen at present so unable to cook…he had bought a few tins of baked beans. Felt sorry enough for him to proffer an invite for dinner this evening. Walked home and prepped a coriander and yoghurt marinade for the chicken. Lunched on the leftover phad thai before Aki returned, she having eaten at the cafe. Kevin turned up for the start of the Men’s final from Wimbledon. We had strawberries and cream. Cooked the chicken in the marinade…served up with dal and rice…it was OK, but had expected more flavour. Sinner claimed the Wimbledon title from Alcaraz in four sets…a deserving champion. Kevin left and we watched the England Ladies sweep the Welsh away in the Euros, before bath and bed…

Saturday 12th July 2025

Woke around 0900. Got up and had tea before walking up to Yerbury Farmer’s Market to buy bread. Walked home via Sainsbury’s. Aki put brunch together. Day warming up! I drove over to Wood Green to deliver the bass guitar to Roxy…she lives in a flat in a large area of new building blocks to the west of the High Street…like a new city has sprung up. I then drove back to Holloway to do a shop in Waitrose. Got back home in time to settle down in front of the Ladies Singles final between Swiatek and Anisimova…it was shockingly one-sided, with Swiatek winning 6-0 6-0 in under an hour! We needed a box of tissues at the end! Aki made phad thai for dinner. Watched some footage celebrating 40 years since Live Aid…I watched the original from Kerry and Louise’s digs in Muswell Hill! Aki cooked a phad thai for dinner. Watched "Civil War", a film that imagines the US president under siege, having granted himself a third term, and follows a bunch of war reporters as they traverse their war-torn nation. 

Friday 11th July 2025

Woke around 0730. Aki got up to ready herself for rowing club…I rose about half-an-hour later. Going to be another hot day in London Town! Porridged. Emptied the car boot then drove to Colindale to stick my car in for MOT at the VW garage. Walked to Burnt Oak station via Starbucks and found a bench with some shade beneath a bush in Montrose Park. Got off the train at Camden Town and popped into GuitarGuitar to buy a plectra box, then took a No.253 bus home. Aki back in time for lunch…I slung a chicken salad together. Watched Fritz take on Alcaraz. Headed back to Colindale via bus and tube train…the No29 I caught broke down halfway up Camden Road! Fortunately there was one behind it! Walked from Colindale station to the VW service centre and picked up my Golf…it had passed its MOT, and they’d given it a wash. Drove home listening to the Sinner v Djokovic game…no contest…the auld fella’s time is up! Got home in time to see Sinner serving for the match. Aki headed off to meet rowing pals in Walthamstow…one of their number professes to be an artist and is holding a viewing this evening. I warmed up a fish curry and dal for dinner. Practised the new song I’ve been handed for the Brighton run, and went through some of the other tunes. 

Thursday 10th July 2025

Woke around 0730. Got up and opened the gate before climbing back into bed to do a bit of scrolling. Rose to porridge around 0915...day warming up swiftly. Colin Guthrie has sent me a new song to learn ahead of the Brighton run...a verse and chorus of The Bold Harpooner...nice song...hope I can manage to learn the lyrics in good time! Worked on the LPAs...decided to post off the first 10 sections of each form to dad, to get mum and David Tanner signed up, then we can do the attorneys and witnesses when we go up to Darras Hall in August and get the forms posted off to the Office of The Public Guardian. What a palaver! 

Lunched on kippers and salad. Watched the Ladies singles semi-finals from Wimbers. Early dinner...warmed up some defrosted chicken cacciatore, with buckwheat and vegetables. Hopped on a bus to Finsbury Park, and caught a Piccadilly Line train to Covent Garden. Aki wanted to visit the Agnes B sale; I popped into to Kryolan to order a block of black cake make-up. Hopefully I'll get it before the Brighton run. We then walked down Wellington Street, past Charles Dickens' office, and on across Waterloo Bridge to the Hayward Gallery to view the Yoshitomo Nara retrospective...a charming hour was spent wandering through the rooms. 

Wandered across the road for a drink in the roof garden at the National Theatre before heading for home via Blackfriars station to Finsbury Park...the overground isn't as hot an experience as either the buses or the underground. Popped into the Turkish shop on the walk home and bought strawberries ahead of tomorrow's Men's singles semi-finals. 

Wednesday 9th July 2025

Fasting this morning ahead of another blood test. Aki up and away for Rowing Club. I walked round to the GP to pick up the blood test request form, then headed for Laycock Street for a noon appointment. I was tended to by a very loud nurse of African descent who told me she loved my straw stetson and kept calling me “Cowboy Richard”…as I left she insisted on high-fiving me and I let out a loud “Yee-haw!”. Lord knows what the rest of the clinic thought!!! Treated myself to a coffee for brunch, and sat on a nice new wooden bench in Highbury Fields. Walked home via Selby’s …bought some safety pins. Got home at same time as Aki. Slung lunch together…chicken salad. Watched the last of the quarter finals…Sinner hitting imperious form just at the right time! That bloke has superhuman hand-eye co-ordination! Early dinner. Garlic and mushroom pasta…used a rice spaghetti…it was odd, but has a pleasant nutty quality. Put our new folding deck chairs in the car boot and drove to Stoke Newington. Managed to find a parking space in front of the shopping parade…short walk across the A10 with our chairs on our shoulders…they are super light…to Abney Park Cemetery to watch Moving Parts adaptation of “Vanity Fair”, which Simona has directed…a few Tower stalwarts in the cast, and indeed in the audience. The adaptation is crisp and concise, and the simple staging worked a treat…good stuff! Got home around 2200…bath and bed.

Tuesday 8th July 2025

Woke around 0900 feeling a little refreshed. Kath phoned to say mum still having tummy troubles...more tests are in the offing. Got up and porridged; a mug of green tea on the side. Sat and read through Act I of the Farndale Avenue MacBeth...it's pretty chaotic, but plenty of opportunity for comic invention. Walked to Stroud Green to get some odds and ends from Tesco. Very pleasant, sunshiny day, Aki had prepared lunch by the time I got back. Watched tennis…Cam Norrie had no game plan to worry Carlos, who won in straight sets.  Cooked a fish curry, and a red lentil dal, for dinner, with rice and cabbage. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed…

Monday 7th July 2025

Woke around 0700. Grey day…had been raining overnight. Signs of water ingress to the back bedroom ceiling. Green tea and porridge for breakfast. Aki went up on the roof to clean the skylight. Got a phone call from the Whittington cancelling my July 15th op date! I’ve to phone back in August to arrange another pre-op test appointment. Sat about for most of the day watching tennis…recovering after a gruelling weekend of shows. Put a mackerel salad lunch together before settling down to watch Djokovic win through to the quarter finals. Sad sight of Dmitrov tearing a pectoral muscle when serving against Sinner, and having to retire in tears…he was two sets to the good at the time. Aubergine parmigiana lasagne and roasted cauliflower for dinner. 

Sunday 6th July 2025

Woke around 0830…got up and made green tea. Porridged on overnight oats. A bit overcast this morning…we are due some rain. Put together a packed meal to take to the theatre…salmon salad. Early lunch…chicken cacciatore and buckwheat. Drove into Stoke Newington and parked up, then sat in the cafe at Abney Park…downloaded Martin Chuzzlewit onto my phone and read some of the introductory notes. One of the Furies taken ill this morning with suspected food poisoning…our director stepped in…seamless performance…a very talented young lady!!! Geoff Hoare and his missus were in this afternoon, and we managed a quick catch up in the bar afterward. Promised to come down and visit them in Dorking. My voice playing up a bit so I excused myself and shut myself in the Meeting Room to have some food. There’s a library in there and I found three Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Operatic Society plays…basically spoofing up amateur theatre…I like the notion of directing one next year, so smuggled them out to read at my leisure. Pretty much a full house for the final show…Sangita had returned from her sick bed. Aki and her Rowing Club chums were in…about 15 of them! Good show…packed up the dressing room afterward, and brought the car round to the front of the theatre. Aki helped me bring my stuff up from the basement dressing room, and we hightailed it home before I got pulled into helping dismantle the set. 

Saturday 5th July 2025

Woke around 0800. Got up and had coffee…and overnight oats with oat milk that I’d stuck in the fridge before bed last night. Two shows today…so made a packed meal to take with me for between the shows. Aki did an early lunch/dinner…pan fried salmon. I walked to Finsbury Park station at 1230 to catch a No.106 bus to Stoke Newington. Already busy with fans converging on this evening’s Fontaines DC gig…I was asked the way to the local Best Western by a bloke with a heavy Black Country accent…had a pleasant chat about the band as I walked him in the right direction. Got to the theatre in good time…sat in the cafe at Abney Park and read the final chapter of Barnaby Rudge. Martin Doughty and his missus were in this afternoon…but weren’t in the bar when I came to look for them after the show…thought perhaps they’d stayed in the theatre for the Q&A. Had my ham salad in the bar before reconvening in the theatre for warm up ahead of the evening show. Another sell out, and standing ovation. Made my way home via last night’s route…No.243 bus to Seven Sisters tube station, then Victoria Line to Finsbury Park. 

Friday 4th July 2025

Woke around 0830…Aki off early for Rowing Club. I got up and made tea…got back into bed to read the penultimate chapter of ‘Barnaby Rudge’. Got up and porridged. Watched some tennis. The Whittington Hospital phoned with a date for my surgery…15th July which means I’ll have to bow out of the Brighton shows. Cooked a chicken cacciatore for lunch, with couscous and vegetables. Watched Sonay Kartel and Cam Norrie progress to the second week. Walked to Stokey to avoid the gridlock in Finsbury Park…Stereophonics playing there this evening. Walked through Clissold Park in the sunshine. Another warm evening on stage…another full house…and another standing ovation. Katrina and Lesley were in and greatly enjoyed it. Got home via a No.243 bus to Seven Sisters and a tube train to Finsbury Park…it was very busy, as the crowds were coming away from the concert. Watched Emma go down to Sabalenka in an entertaining match up on Centre Court…which meant not getting to bed until 0130!
 

Thursday 3rd July 2025

Woke around 0830. Made tea and lay in bed reading for awhile. Got up and porridged. Sad news…28 year old Liverpool forward Diogo Jota died in a car crash in Spain last night, driving himself and his brother to catch a ferry back to Blighty for pre-season training. Watched some tennis and did my exercises. Aki cooked a big lunch…cauliflower ‘steaks’ and aubergine parmigiana lasagna…very tasty! Popped out to the pharmacy to pick up some anti-thrush medication. Took a first dose and found it slightly anaesthetised my vocal cords, so am going to have to delay taking the course until next week. Put a boiled egg salad together to take to the theatre. Drove in for a 6pm call…heavy traffic around Finsbury Park as they prepare for a weekend of open air rock concerts. Got to Stokey in time to sit in the car and listen to some tennis while eating my egg salad. Another pretty full house tonight, and a standing ovation. Phil Ley was in, so had a wee chat about the panto set he’s designing before I drove home. Aki getting out of the bath when I got in…
 

Wednesday 2nd July 2025

Woke around 0830. Aki already up preparing to cycle off to rowing club…strange weather…keeps trying to rain…very muggy. Brought some tea back to bed. Read some Dickens before porridging. Did some exercises. Turned on the tennis from Wimbledon. Aki cooked cod and potatoes for lunch, with a bean and tomato salad. Settled on the sofa to watch more tennis. Voice in fairly good nick, so refrained from doing too much with it beyond some gentle humming. Made a sarnie to take with me to the theatre…drove in for a six o’clock call ahead of our first night performance. Pretty much a full house…staggered through it in good order, with one or two longeurs, but otherwise pretty smooth. Peta and Jackie bought me a beer and I sat with them in the bar until we decided to head home…I dropped them on Brownswood Road. Aki in bed by the time I got in…I bathed and stayed up for a bit before getting to bed around 0030.

Tuesday 1st July 2025

Woke around 0600…dozed until 0700. Got up to make tea and sat on the sofa for a bit…another muggy morning but not quite as bad as yesterday. Porridged. Aki cycled off to Waitrose to do a shop. I did some more wisteria pruning before it got too hot…had to borrow Margaret’s extendable shears. Made a packed lunch to take into the theatre, then drove to Stoke Newington. We slowly worked through the end of Act I…lots of technical things with the potential to go wrong, not least Ahab’s flaming harpoon! Worked through Act II…broke at about 1945 for my packed lunch! Ran the whole thing from 2015…plenty went wrong, notably for me the several times we musicians ended up off stage when we should have been on…but it kinda worked…just meant playing from behind the curtains. I reckon it’ll be alright on the night! Got home about 2345. Bathed. Watched Today at Wimbledon and lay on the hard living room floor for 15 minutes…after spending 10 hours with my guitar slung around my neck, my back is starting to gimme gip! Finally got to bed around 0130…

Monday 30th June 2025

Woken around 0300 by animals running around on the bedroom roof…foxes presumably! Never really got back to sleep…dozed off and on. Got up around 0830 to make tea. Porridged. Watched Black Uhuru’s Glastonbury set…bought their breakthrough album back in 1981! I think there’s only one of the original line up left. Did a little pruning of the wisteria before it got too hot outside. Did my exercises whilst watching some tennis from Wimbledon…14 Brits in action today! Got news that Emma, who fell over in rehearsal yesterday, has damaged her knee and will have to pull out of this week’s shows. Aki cooked cod and black pudding for dinner. I jumped in the car and headed for Stokey. Got to the theatre around 1740 which allowed me time to track Laurence down to set me up with a radio mic. We worked slowly through a tech rehearsal, but failed to finish Act I before we broke at about 2230. It’s slowly coming together, but still a bit nervous about the first couple of performances as they hove into view.

Sunday 29th June 2025

Woke at 0600…managed to get back off to sleep. Rose at 0800 and made tea. Sat and watched Beth Gibbons’ magical Glastonbury set. Drove over to Stokey for 1030. Unloaded my guitar and stuff, then found a parking space. Hooked up with Colin and recorded the shruti box. Broke for early lunch…sweltering outside in the midday sun…bought a chicken and avocado sarnie, and mac ‘n cheese, from Pret. Ate in the theatre bar area. Worked through various set pieces after lunch. Had some headshots taken in costume, as well as a band photo. The evening session was held in the theatre space…re-worked positioning for various set pieces in Act 1. Broke at 2200…hot work! Everyone looking a little jaded. Drove home, dropping Peta off on the way. 

Saturday 28th June 2025

Woke around 0600…warm but not uncomfortable night. Dozed until 0800…got up and brought tea back to bed. We walked up to Yerbury Farmer’s Market to buy bread. Walked home to cook brunch. Watched the Eastbourne Women’s final between Eala and Joint…new gals on the block. Look forward to seeing more of them at Wimbledon next week. Vince popped in to say hello…we had expected him to bring the acid to pour down the kitchen sink, and fix a broken joint from the boiler…the current jointing means we get a few whiffs smells from the sewer below…he promised to turn up tomorrow with the necessary tools…don’t hold your breath! Walked to Finsbury Park to meet Tokiko off the train…she’d travelled up from Twickenham. We ate at Osteria Tufo…the opera singing waiter was on duty. I told him of my vocal problems and he made me an iced lemon and honey drink. Enjoyed our food. Aki handed over a plant she’d promised Tok, and in return we got given some Stornoway black pudding brought back from Tok’s recent trip to Mull. Warm sticky evening. Walked home. Watched some telly…enjoyed Pulp at Glastonbury. Early bath and bed ahead of a heavy day tomorrow…

Friday 27th June 2025

Woke around 0600…took awhile to nod back off again. Aki woke me around 0930 as she left for rowing club. I rose and made tea…porridged in bed. Read some before rising. Fantastic description by Dickens of the preparations for, and attendant crowds to witness, a hanging outside Newgate gaol, opposite the still functioning church of St Sepulchre on High Holborn. Aki back for lunch. No sign of Vince! Phoned him…he was stuck on a job in Kentish Town. Re-arranged for tomorrow afternoon…fingers crossed. A little perturbed to find a bloke on our rear extension roof! He’d been hired by upstairs neighbour to clean her windows…might have asked permission!?! The next door neighbour had granted him access via their back addition! Watched some tennis from Eastbourne, and some Glastonbury coverage. Ran through Act 2 ahead of Sunday afternoon’s run. Aki warmed up her mapo for dinner, with rice. Watched some Glastonbury coverage, in between reading Dickens. 

Thursday 26th June 2025

Woke around 0400…took a while to get back to sleep. Next time I awoke it was 0915. Got up and porridged. Ventured into to town. Made for Charles Fox in Covent Garden to buy make up…only to find the famous old shop had disappeared…they’d moved about three years ago to a small premises to the north west of Covent Garden…finally tracked them down and bought some pancake. Popped in at the Levi’s shop on Long Acre…Aki bought some trousers. Walked across town to the Japanese grocery on Brewer Street…got caught in the rain. Had planned to find lunch but neither of us felt very hungry so we turned for home, stopping off at Waitrose on the way. Managed to take a look at Act 2 ahead of this evening’s rehearsal. Had pasta with a puttanesca sauce, and burrata for dinner then drove to Stokey for rehearsal. Worked on music and movement for the final scene where Ahab and Moby Dick finally clash and everyone is listening at sea. Looking good…provided we can remember what we’re all doing! Apparently we jumped several pages in last night’s run, but no-one on stage was remotely aware! First night is going to be an unholy mess!!!

Wednesday 25th June 2025

Woke around 0800…Aki up to ready herself for rowing club. I dozed on for a bit…strange dream in which I befriended Joey Ramone and gave him a lift back to London! Got up once Aki had departed and made tea. Got back into bed and read some Dickens. Porridged. Rehearsed my Act 2 tunes ahead of tonight’s run. Aki back for lunch. Worked through Act 1 before Aki cooked dinner…baked trout and green lentils. Put my guitar into the car and headed for Stokey. Worked through a couple of set pieces before running Act 1…not in too bad a shape, though would benefit from running a few more times. Act 2 was messy…we have t got long to turn it around. Another run tomorrow night, and a dress run on Saturday, before tech and dress on Monday and Tuesday…scary! Dropped Peta off on Brownswood Road and got home a little before 2300.

Tuesday 24th June 2025

Woke around 0900. Aki up to ready herself for a dental appointment. I got up and porridged as she cycled off. Did some exercises and some tune rehearsal before Aki returned in time for lunch. Drove over to Waitrose to do a bit of a shop. Aki bought a huge bag of compost! Rehearsed some more and read some Dickens. Cooked a chicken and udon noodle stir fry for dinner, then loaded my guitar into the car and headed for Stoke Newington. Got to the theatre for 1900. We reworked the two lowering scenes before the musicians split off to work on Act II tubes downstairs. Finished around 2215. Gave Peta a lift to Brownswood Road. Got in as Aki was running the bath…

Monday 23rd June 2025

Woke around 0800. Aki got up and made tea. I languished in bed for an hour or so. Temperature has cooled to more comfortable level. Eventually got up and porridged. Aki did a bit of gardening out front. I managed to get into Lynne’s flat courtesy of her niece’s husband…they are moving in upstairs on a temporary basis while work is done on their flat in Wood Green…they are selling up and have had an offer on a house in Penzance accepted…nice! Leant out of Lynne’s living room windows and gave the wisteria a trim. Lunched on sardines and salad. Worked on Act 2 notes and tunes before popping out to Morrisons to get some odds and ends for this evening’s supper. Bumped into Captain Ahab in one of the aisles! Came home and found Aki had started cooking…we had baby aubergines in a coconut and peanut sauce, and basmati rice. Walked to Finsbury Park…went to see “Jimmy” at Park Theatre, a slight but entertaining one man show about Jimmy Connors…the actor put in an energetic one hour shift on centre court! 

Sunday 22nd June 2025

Woke around 0600…dozed on fitfully. Aki up by 0830 to ready herself for rowing. She cooked breakfast before cycling off. I did some exercises and some rehearsing before she returned for a late lunch. Watched the first two sets of the final at Queen’s…had to leave with the match between Alcaraz and Lehecka all square. Caught a No.43 bus to Muswell Hill to visit Kim Catcheside, who was hosting a small garden ‘party’ at her flat. She has an enormous back garden…we all sat out around a small table for drinks and scones with jam and clotted cream. Other of Aki’s rowing mates present were Becky, Steph, Kearsey, and Piers. Sat about chatting and having a laugh before breaking up around 1845 and heading home. Aki made omelette for a light dinner and we watched the final set of the tennis final. 

Saturday 21st June 2025

Woke around 0900…made tea and got back into bed. Aki cycled off to buy bread at the Farmer’s Market. Got up and prepared brunch for when she got back. Another warm, muggy day. Drove to Stokey with the AC on. Bought a coffee, and a snack for later, from the Abney Park cafe. Divided our time between rehearsing Act II music in the Tuerk, and plotting into the action sequences in the Smith studio. Long, hot day. Broke at 1800 and drove home. Aki cooked mapo and rice for dinner. Nowt on telly. Watched The Ten before bath and bed…muggy night!

Friday 20th June 2025

Woke around 0700…Aki rising early to take herself off to the funeral of a rowing mate in Watford. I’m fasting ahead of a blood test, so I stayed in bed dozing in between bits of Dickens. Got up around 1130. Did a bit of beard trimming before heading for Archway on foot…another hot day so took it slowly. Got there in good time. Whilst waiting in the waiting area I glanced at the request form I’d been handed at the entrance only to find it referred to the pre-op test I’d had in April. I had to phone the GP and get them to send an updated digital request, which was printed out and handed to me…five vials were required! After I’d been bled, I enquired as to whether I had enough blood left to make the walk home! I’d intended to lunch nearby, but didn’t feel hungry. Walked home instead. Aki back from Watford. I lunched on peanut butter on toast and watched some tennis…Jack Draper won through to the semifinals. Aki cooked noodles with prawns and vegetables for dinner…very tasty. Watched some telly. Rehearsed some tunes ahead of tomorrow’s rehearsal at the Tower. Another muggy night. Bath and bed…

Thursday 19th June 2025

Woke around 0800. Made tea and got back into bed to read for a bit. Got up and porridged. Decided to venture out before the temperature rose in to the 30’s…walked up to the little garden centre at the top of the hill on Camden Road. Aki wanted some bamboo canes to frame her tomato plants. Walked on to the Italian deli on Brecknock Road and bought some pasta and passata. Walked home in the rising heat. Aki put lunch together. Watched some tennis from Queen’s Club…don’t know how they can play in this heat! Aki drove off to Rowing Club…she’s on kitchen duty for this evening’s fund raising dinner. I cooked up a puttanesca sauce, with pappardelle and a side salad. Phoned Ma and Pa to check on them, as the temperature is due to rise to 30C tomorrow. They seemed in good shape…hope they can be trusted to stay in the shade! Did some rehearsal before Aki got back. Watched The Ten before bath and bed…muggy night!

Wednesday 18th June 2025

Woke around 0700. Got up and made tea. Aki readied herself for Rowing Club. Read some “Rudge” before rising to porridge. Sat about Reading until Aki returned for lunch. Watched tennis from Queen’s Club. Jack Draper scraped through. Early dinner…Aki cooked a miso cod with rice and vegetables. I drove off to rehearsals in Stokey. Parked up outside the theatre. The band rehearsed Act II music in the Tuerk whilst the crew and the Furies rehearsed scenes in the Smith. There’s a lot still to nail before we get in to the theatre in a couple of weeks time! Dropped Peta off on the drive home. 

Tuesday 17th June 2025

Woke around 0815. Got up to make tea. Aki fasting ahead of a blood test this morning…she departed for Wood Green via public transport. I porridged. Read some of Clare Tomlin’s “Dickens: A Life”. Nicely written easy reading. Aki returned…the GP had failed to put cholesterol down on the request form, so her fasting was for nought! Broken Britain in action! Early lunch. Watched some tennis from Queen’s Club. Warmed up the last of the chicken and bean stew I’d cooked last week…with potatoes and broccoli. Jumped in the car with guitar and shruti box and drove to Stokey, via the petrol station at Sainsbury’s. Quick fitting in the wardrobe department, then music rehearsal before running Act I again…it was meant as a consolidation exercise after Saturday’s run, but it was a little more ragged…it’s a professional level production that isn’t served well by the amateur level rehearsal time. Finished around 2230. Drove home, dropping Peta off on the way. Aki getting out of bath when I got in…

Monday 16th June 2025

Woke around 0700 feeling a little uncomfortable in the bad hernia repair area, so got up and brought tea back to bed. Read for a while before rising to porridge. Warm day. Aki did a little work at the computer. I put strap locks on my new guitar strap and attached it to the new guitar. Lunched on the last of Aki’s phad thai before walking to Finsbury Park and hopping a Victoria Line train to Oxford Circus. Aki bought a pair of sandals in Clark’s, and a pair of modern looking loafers in Camper. Walked up to the Regent Street cinema…recently refurbished, but the oldest cinema in London. We were buying ice cream when Katherine from No.127 rocked up unexpectedly…we’d told her we were going to see Attenborough’s “Ocean” when we met yesterday afternoon. £6 tickets on Mondays and Tuesdays…bargain…though there were only a dozen in the audience, so I don’t know how they make it work! Interesting film looking at the state of our oceans, and the damage bottom trawling fishing does to the ocean bed. However, there was a note of hopefulness, if the powers that be can agree to creating generous ocean protection zones off shore. Found ourselves squeezing onto the Victoria Line during rush hour. Walked home from Finsbury Park via the Turkish convenience store. I put together a tasty Salade Nicoise for dinner and we caught up with the tennis from Queen’s. Aki nodded off and then took to her bed early. I followed after The Ten..
 

Sunday 15th June 2025

Woke around 0730. Got up and made tea. Read in bed for a bit before rising to make brunch. Walked up to Waterlow Park and back. Home in time to watch the Women’s final from Queen’s. Wandered up to the North Nineteen for a session…low turnout…no fiddle players but we had a good time. Got home around 1830 and cooked a chicken and mushroom pasta dish for dinner. FaceTimed High View…wished father a Happy Father’s Day…Emma had bought him an inflatable zinmerframe! Watched Kingpin, a silly Farrelly Brothers movie that had been recommended to us by Franco and Tammie. Muggy evening. Bath and bed…

Saturday 14th June 2025

Woke around 0600…took some time to nod back off. When I woke again around 0900, got up to find that Aki had cycled off to the fishmonger. I made tea and prepared brunch. Headed for Stokey around 1145, having bunged my guitar and shruti box in the car. Took a bit of time finding a parking space, but still had time to grab a coffee and a sausage roll before gravitating to the theatre. Long afternoon rehearsal, culminating in a rather messy stagger through Act I. Lots to tighten up…but we are fast running out of time. Broke at 1830 and drove home for dinner…Aki had prepared salmon sashimi. Watched a bit of telly. Israel and Iran seem to be at war, trading missile strikes. Bath and bed…

Friday 13th June 2025

Woke to Aki’s alarm at around 0730…she got up to ready herself for rowing club. Brought me a mug of tea before she set off. Got up and porridged before doing my exercises. Walked to Finsbury Park station and took a Piccadilly line train to Leicester Square…wandered up to Foyles for coffee and croissant…read some Dickens. Walked up to Uniqlo and bought a bright red linen shirt…at checkout it came up as womenswear…I wondered why the buttons did up the wrong side. Bought some guitar strings and a strap in Denmark Street, then walked across to Covent Garden. Bought some black Hoka’s, and a sweatshirt in the Paul Smith summer sale. Caught a No.91 bus home, via Waitrose. Got home in time to watch some tennis…Emma’s run terminated by the Chinese number one. Cooked sirloin steak for dinner, with a guacasalsa, and black beans…tasty! Watched some telly…the Israelis have mounted an attack on Iran missile and nuclear bases…WWIII about to kick off!?!

Thursday 12th June 2025

Woke around 0600. Struggled to get back to sleep. Got up at 0830 and brought tea back to bed. Read some Dickens, and managed an Italian lesson. Rose at 1000 to go a-porridging. Walked over to Tesco on Stroud Green Road and did a bit of shopping. Back home, I put some lunch together. Phoned mum to check on dad, as Kath had reported he’d had another fall, this time in the greenhouse! He seemed ok…back gardening this afternoon! While I was on the phone their doorbell rang…mum took the phone with her and answered the door…a bloke told her he was from the Gas Board, and asked whether the house had a cellar…very peculiar. Mum replied in the negative, and he went on his way…she didn’t ask to see his ID but said he looked nice in his spectacles, and that he carried a clipboard. Watched tennis from Queen’s…only Emma left in the competition after today’s matches…she looks sharp. Aki cooked a chicken phad Thai for dinner before heading up to Dulcie’s at No.110 for Book Club. I worked on my Moby script…trying to work out where to make my entrances and exits, and therefore where to place my guitar and shruti box…but of a nightmare. Aki back before 2200. Watched The Ten before bath and bed…whilst in the bath, I was going over my day when I thought, hang on, the Gas Board no longer exists…checked online and sure enough it was replaced by British Gas back in 1972…alerted Kath to my suspicions before I retired for the night.

Wednesday11th June 2025

Woke around 0830. Aki already up readying herself for rowing club. I brought tea back to bed and read some Dickens and did some Italian. Got up and porridged. Did some exercises. Voice still a problem! Kath rang…she sounds a bit stressed but seems to be holding things together. I said I’d pop up when I’d gotten the LPAs to get signed…dad’s paperwork turned up in the post. Aki back for lunch. Watched tennis and did a little rehearsing ahead of tonight’s session. Dined on the last of the chicken pie. Drove Aki to rowing club for a member’s leaving do. Got to the theatre in good time. Another tough rehearsal…had to do my songs which were very difficult given the vocal problem, but got some vocal support through Colin and Peta adding their voices to mine, and one of my songs was cut in half…felt just about manageable. Drove home…Aki didn’t need picking up from the rowing club, as she’d left earlier to catch a bus. I dropped Peta off on Brownswood Road.

Tuesday 10th June 2025

Woke around 0830. Got up to make tea. Got back into bed and read some Dickens. Did an Italian lesson. Got up for brunch…Aki cooked omelette before heading off into town for her quarterly JCUK meet. Having vocal problems, so spent some time trying to warm the voice up…salt water gargle, followed by steaming over a bowl of freshly boiled water, then a gentle vocal warm up…there’s something caking my tongue, mouth, and throat every morning, which is parking itself on my miserable vocal cords. Lunched on peanut butter on toast and a nectarine before nipping round to the GP…told her of the occasional stabbing pain in my jaw, and about the sore mouth…she opted to refer me for blood tests. Came home to watch the tennis…Emma looked sharp with a 6-1 6-2 win. Aki back in time for dinner…I made a carbonara. Drove over to Stoke Newington for rehearsals, having warned our MD that I may have to back out of leading the shanties. Persevered for the time being. Tiring session working movement into song…which meant having to make moves while playing the guitar at the same time…not easy! Gave Peta a lift to Brownswood and got home just before 2300. Bath and bed…

Monday 9th June 2025

Aki up with alarm at 0700 to ready herself for a doctor’s appointment. I got up around 0800 and made tea before she cycled off to Euston. Read some Dickens and did some Italian lessons on Duolingo before rising to porridge. Walked to Highbury Fields and bought a coffee from the Dusty Knuckle van…sat and drank at a street table and bench on the cycle way. Walked home via Waitrose. Bought ingredients to make dinner. Made the chicken, leek and cider sauce ahead of time, then made the lemon surprise puddings. Watched some tennis from Queen’s Club. Aki and Miho turned up around 1715. Miho is on a cultural visit…she’s already been to the Royal Ballet, twice, and has tickets for the opera. I cooked the chicken pie, served with vegetables…seemed to go down well. We had the lemon surprise puddings with lemon sorbet…very nice. Sat and chatted until Miho decided it was time to get a taxi back to her hotel in Piccadilly. Aki washed up before bath and bed…

Sunday 8th June2025

 

Woke around 0830…Aki got up and made tea. I got up around 0900 to cook brunch before Aki cycled off for Rowing Club. I went for a walk…nice day…walked to Highbury Fields…bought a coffee at the coffee wagon and sat on a bench. Wandered down Highbury Grove which took me past a former residence at No.5…I lived in a top floor bedsit there in 1983-1985. Walked back to Holloway, dropping in to Waitrose on my way home. I was listening to the French Open final when Aki got home…incredible 5 set final that took 5 1/2 hours! Alcaraz and Sinner look set to completely dominate the men’s game for the next 15 years. Aki cooked a tasty chicken and mushroom risotto for dinner. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed…

Saturday 7th June 2025

Woke around 0530 again…took an hour or so to nod back off. Got up at 0830 to make tea. Aki cycled off to the Farmer’s Market to buy bread before it started raining again. We realised we needed to get our wills signed at the bottom of each page by our witnesses, and Carlos and Jane kindly came over to sign and have coffee with us. Once they’d departed, I made potato and cabbage cakes and fried them up for breakfast with poached eggs and ham.  Departed for Stoke Newington in the car, taking guitar and shruti box. Got to the theatre around 1210. Afternoon rehearsal putting together the first 7 scenes with music and choreography…hard work. Broke for a bite to eat around 1530…popped out for a spinach borek from the corner cafe. We managed a final run through at 1730…a bit messy but it just about held together. Walked back to the car to leave the instruments…then walked to Sutton’s fish and chip shop on the High Street for my dinner (Aki out on the town with her rowing chums this evening). Got home around 2015. Watched a couple of episodes of Clive Myrie’s Italian Road Trip. Bathed before Aki got home. She’d been to two 50th birthday parties, one in Walthamstow, and the second at a cocktail bar in Aldgate! .

Friday 6th June 2025

Woke around 0515…took me about an hour to nod back off again, but slept through until 0830 or so. Voice buggered after last night’s one song…not looking good! Got up and brought tea back to bed. Skipped breakfast…opted for an early brunch instead. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club…helping Piers with some coaching. I cooked dinner…Tuscan chicken stew with beans…we were hoping to visit Laurence and Kevin at No.93 to watch the Men’s semis from Roland Garros, and offer them some dinner in return…but they texted back to say they were in Paris looking at Old People’s Homes for Laurence’s mum. We lunched on cheese and crackers. Listened to the tennis on R5Live. Dined on the Tuscan chicken and beans...very tasty. Ambled across to Carlos and Jane's at No.36 to get them to sign as witnesses to our mirrored wills. Sat at their kitchen table chatting for a bit before returning home to catch the final games of the Sinner v Djokovic semi-final...Sinner's victory marks the changing of the guard! 

Thursday 5th June 2025

Rose around 0800.  Spent most of the day trying to get my voice going for this evening’s floor spot at the Folk Club. Did my exercises. Raining outside…noticed a couple of small damp patches on the spare bedroom wall! It’s never ending! Kath had alerted us to the fact that dad had fallen in the bathroom and banged his head. Gave him a ring…he sounded fine, though couldn’t explain how his fall had come about. A bit odd! He has a bruise to the back of his head where he clashed with the WC cistern. We finished off the baked ricotta for lunch. Listened to the Women’s Semis from Roland Garros. Early dinner…Aki cooked pork chops with fennel and pickled rhubarb. We walked to Holloway Road and caught a bus to Highbury Corner. Colin, Peta and Kate already at the venue…it was packed…standing room only! Said hello to John Kirkpatrick, who was this evening’s guest artiste…always good to see him. I booked us in for a floorspot…we had to wait until the second half. We went down well…though we suffered a little for lack of rehearsal. I lost my lines in verse two…luckily the guy who wrote the lyrics was to my right and came to the rescue! Adjourned for a quick drink downstairs afterward before catching a bus back to Holloway…

Wednesday 4th June 2025

Aki up with alarm at 0700 to ready herself for Rowing Club. I made tea and climbed back into bed. Walked round to the GP surgery for a 1000 appointment with yet another young doctor…they seem to change at a furious rate! Discussed pain management for my bad hernia repair…opted to start on paracetamol and see how it goes. Walked home, bumping into Lynne on the street…she’d locked herself out again. Read some Dickens. Rehearsed a bit. Aki lunched at the Rowing Club…I lunched on baked ricotta and rhubarb compote. Aki returned via Waitrose. We listened to the tennis from Roland Garros. Early dinner…I cooked mushrooms and chicken in a creamy sauce which we are with tagliatelle. I drove off to rehearsal in Stoke Newington. We rehearsed the crew and the Furies getting the ship ready to sail…it involves me singing a shanty, but I couldn’t be heard above the din as the crew manhandled several barrels as part of the choreography. I’m going to need a mic! Had hoped to rehearse the tunes we planned to do at the Folk Club tomorrow night, but ran out of time. Drove home for bath and bed…

Tuesday 3rd June 2025

Woke around 0745. Got up and brought a mug of tea back to bed. Read some Dickens. Worked through the tunes from last night's rehearsal and made some notes. Did my exercises. Recorded a version of one of the songs ahead of Thursday night's folk club session. Lunched on baked ricotta and rhubarb on toast. Headed into town…caught a No.91 bus to Euston where we got off and walked down Southampton Row. Popped into the umbrella shop on New Oxford Street…Aki needed to replace her faulty pink umbrella…bought a mini blue one. Got to the Garden Cinema and met up with Tammy and Franco to see The Phoenician Scheme, am the new Wes Anderson movie…stuff and nonsense, but great to look at. We had a drink in the bar before parting with them…we headed for dinner at the little ramen joint around the corner. Walked through Bloomsbury and jumped on a No.91 bus at St Pancras. Home by 2030…

Monday 2nd June 2025

Woke around 0800. Got up and brought tea back to bed. Read some Dickens, then rose for a good porridging. Aki headed off into town to meet Tammy for lunch at the National Gallery. I took my constitutional up Highgate Hill, picking up a coffee from Archie’s before heading for a bench in Waterlow Park. Walked home to cook lunch…baked ricotta and rhubarb compote, served with some salad and toast. Listened to some tennis from Roland Garros. Aki back mid-afternoon. Warmed up fish curry and dal for dinner. Put my guitar and shruti box in the car and headed for Stoke Newington for music rehearsal. It went well…there’s a lot of it, though! Repaired to The Axe with Colin, Peta and Stan for a lemonade, then drove home, dropping Peta off in Brownswood Road. Aki in the bath when I got in.

Sunday 1st June 2025

Woke around 0730…lower back giving me gip, so rolled out of bed to make tea. Got back into bed and read some Dickens…the action is really hotting up as the Gordon Riots kick off! Cooked savoury pancakes for breakfast. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club. I did my exercises and tried to get my voice going. Rehearsed some Moby tunes. Peanut butter toast for lunch. Watched Clive Myrie in Palermo, then did my Italian lesson. Aki got back via Waitrose. Restrung my parlour size guitar ahead of tomorrow’s music rehearsals. Cooked the last of the tortelloni for dinner with pesto and a salad. Headed for Stoke Newington. Took a couple of buses as I was running a little late but got to the theatre in good time. About 40 of us convened in the Smith Studio to hear Amanda, the AD, burble on in her usual fashion, then the several directors of the autumn season got up to say what they were doing…Sorrel, who I’m assisting on the panto, didn’t show up, which got me a bit peeved…you’d think she would have told me in advance…not a very encouraging start! Ananda then rounded off the evening by informing us of the Spring season 2026…all sounded rather dull. I left around 1930 and walked home via Clissold Park. Watched a bit of telly…enjoyed Later With Jools…before bath and bed…

Saturday 31st May 2025

Woke around 0700 feeling uncomfortable…lower abdominal pain. Had to get out of bed and make tea. Sat up in bed reading for a bit. Got up and made savoury pancakes for breakfast. Aki cycled off to the Farmer’s Market to pick up a loaf. Pottered about a bit before lunching on peanut butter on toast, then set off on foot for Stoke Newington. Nice warm afternoon...walked through Clissold Park, and Abney Park Cemetery...picked up an ice cream before heading for the theatre. Wardrobe call with our costume designer, Roxy...can't say the brown trousers and shirt did much to get my enthusiasm going. Forgot to ask for a hat...otherwise I'll end up with heat stoke if the weather's like it is today! Walked home via Clissold Park. Aki gardening when I got home. I did some Moby script collation...Angharad keeps coming up with alterations...keeps you on your toes! Salmon for dinner with rice and miso aubergine. Listened to PSG put five past Inter Milan in the Champions League Final. Watched The Ten followed by bath and bed…

Friday 30th May 2025

Woke around 0800. Got up and made tea just as Colin surfaced. He’d checked his rail journey to Nuneaton and discovered part of it entailed a rail replacement bus, so he wanted to get away sharpish…I cooked him a quick breakfast and he then headed for Euston. I cooked brunch for Aki and I. Did a little more pruning out in the front garden…very warm out there…it’s going to be a bit of a scorcher today. Lunched on almond cake and fruit salad. Worked through some of the Moby Dick music. No singing voice today…Tuesday and Wednesday night’s shanty rehearsals, and the chilli in last night’s meal, put paid to that! Warmed up the chicken cacciatore for dinner, and mashed some spuds to go with it. Walked to the Lion & Unicorn pub theatre in Kentish Town, via Carleton Road…nice pub just off the High Street. Went to see neighbour Tom Barnes in a piece called “Mrs T Foresees”. I liked the upstairs space, but the sightlines were very poor. Odd piece, relating a tale of Victorian era Melbourne and the adventures of an Irish woman who can predict the future…set in a lunatic asylum. It was overlong…I reckon 15 minutes could have been cut from the running time with no loss of storyline…but the performances were good. Show came down around 2215…we didn’t hang around to say hello to Tom as we were feeling weary. Walked down to Camden Road and caught a No.29 bus home…

Thursday 29th May 2025

Woke around 0730…feeling weary after last night’s exertions. Got up and made tea. Porridged at the dining table. Did my exercises. Drove Aki to Wickes in Tottenham…she wanted to buy some organic compost ahead of re-potting her tomato plants…they didn’t have what she was after. Drove back to Holloway and bought some in Waitrose…did a bit of a shop. Did a little gardening after lunch. Lynne let me in upstairs so I could hang out of her windows and trim the wisteria, which was beginning to entangle itself in her pot plants. 

Colin turned up at 1600, having gone on a bit of a day trip…Hove to London to Sittingbourne to London…his ex wife Nora is buried in a cemetery in Sittingbourne, so he’d taken the opportunity to go say hello. We took a No.43 bus down to the Town Hall and walked on to Islington Green to meet Jim and Katherine for dinner at the Afghan Kitchen. Ro and Rob came too, having flown in from Cayman today…and Barney’s girlfriend Jenna. Tasty feast and a bit of a catch up. Walked en masse up to the Assembly Hall. Great venue…nice big proscenium arch stage. Enjoyed support act Olive Jones…great voice. It all got hot and sweaty when Barney and MRCY came on…Kojo in fine voice. Very enjoyable set. Colin, Aki and I left the Listers to it and we caught a No.43 back to Holloway…

Wednesday 28th May 2025

Aki woke to alarm at 0730. Brought me a mug of tea before cycling off to Rowing Club. Got up and porridged. Took my constitutional up Highgate Hill…picked up a coffee in Archie’s and found a bench in Waterlow Park, before walking to the summit to buy a quiche at Gail’s to take home for lunch. Walked back home. Aki back for lunch. Finalised our online mirrored wills…will need to get them signed and witnessed. Aki baked trout for dinner. Drove myself and my guitar in to Stoke Newington for Moby Dick rehearsal. Worked on settings for a couple of my songs…went OK, but needs consolidating! Home by 2230. Bath and bed…

Tuesday 27th May 2025

Woke around 0630…nodded back off rather fitfully thereafter. Aki got up at 0830 and brought me a mug of tea. Got up and porridged. Did a couple of hours or so at the computer once Aki had headed off to meet Tokiko in town for lunch. I lunched on peanut butter on toast, then hiked up Highgate Hill in the drizzle. Rewarded myself with a tasty sausage roll from Gail’s at the summit. Walked back down to M&S…they didn’t have what I was looking for, so I hopped on a bus to Nags Head and popped into Waitrose. Walked home. Aki got back around 1630. She’d enjoyed a visit to the Courtauld Gallery. Cooked pasta with brown shrimps and asparagus for dinner. Drove over to Stoke Newington for rehearsals. Concentrated on the shanties, then rehearsed a couple of them in to the action…slow going though. Got home by 2230. Aki had had a pleasant evening celebrating Stephanie’s 50th with several rowing club colleagues. Caught The Ten before bath and bed…

Monday 26th May 2025

Woke late. Aki got up and brought tea. We were still feeling a bit bloated after last night's dinner, so skipped breakfast. Wandered down to The Emirates stadium to catch a bit of the Cup Winning celebrations ...a big crowd had turned up, enthusiastically joining the festivities. Katie McCabe kept pinching Alex Scott's microphone to sing the usual football oriented songs...very badly! I think she'd been on the Guinness! We walked on up to Highbury Barn and grabbed a coffee...sat outside until it started to drizzle. Headed for home, Aki making a detour to Waitrose while I prepared lunch...finished off the frittata I'd bought yesterday. Spent a fairly lazy Bank Holiday afternoon...Aki did a little gardening, and we finished writing up our on-line wills...await a solicitor's check before we can print them off and get them witnessed. Ran through my songs ahead of tomorrow evening's rehearsal. Aki cooked a vegetable curry, which she served up with rice and dal. Watched the final episode of Adolescence…great performance from Stephen Graham. 

Sunday 25th May 2025

Woke around 0815. Got up and brought tea back to bed. Rose for breakfast...Aki did an omelette. She then cycled off to Rowing Club. I walked up to Highbury Barn, via Blackstock Road...all the cafes very busy with brunching young couples. Popped into the Italian deli and stocked up on tortelloni for tonight's dinner. Walked home, picking up a frittata in Broccoli to have for my lunch with a bit of salad. Aki came back after lunching with the crew. I cooked up the chicken with beer and pancetta, ahead of our guests' arrival. They rocked up around 1840, bringing cake and prosecco. Aki served up Aperol and gin spritz, and we watched a bit of Self Esteem's performance at the Radio 1 Big Weekend music fest...Levi Heaton was notably in action, sporting a No.4 shirt. I cooked the tortelloni, serving them up in a creamy Alfredo sauce...very tasty. The chicken wasn't quite as successful, as the onion and pancetta had gotten burnt in the cooking process, leaving a slight bitter after taste. Helen's almond cake for afters, served with strawberries and cream. A pleasant evening. They are planning to come and see Moby Dick at Minack in August. Aki washed up after their departure, and I flaked out on the sofa. Got to bed around 0030...

Saturday 24th May 2025

Woken around 0500 by the sound of rain on the bedroom roof. Eventually nodded back off. Got up around 1000. Prepared brunch while Aki cycled up to the Farmer’s Market for bread. Gave the oven another rinse out…still haven’t managed to shift all the baked on grease, but it’s looking better. Drove off to Stoke Newington with my guitar and shruti box in the back. Got to the theatre at 1315. Happened upon Phil Ley sat in the bar…he’s been busy touring with the Guitar Gangsters, and is sporting a red, white and blue haircut!  They’d been support act to the UK Subs, who I’d seen in 1980 at Eastwood Miner’s Welfare! The leading singer is now in his eighties!!! Long afternoon rehearsing incidental music to various bits of nautical action. There’s a lot to learn…broke at 1800 and headed for home, having caught up with the news that Sunderland had defeated Sheffield United in the Play-off Final, which returns them to the Premiership next season after an eight year hiatus. Aki warmed up the pork stir fry for dinner. Watched ‘Adolescence’…the young actor playing the fucked up kid is brilliant…he sustained a full 50 minute episode being quizzed by a psychoanalyst…a tough watch!

Friday 23rd May 2025

Woken by alarm at 0700…Aki got up to ready herself for a meeting in Camden. By the time I got up around 0900 she had gone. Porridged. Worked at the computer until Aki returned for lunch. Called mum…Kath had sent us a photo showing she had a nasty rash on her back…she had gotten a GP appointment, and had been prescribed some emollient…reassured that she hasn’t come down with shingles. We walked up to Highbury Barn…happened upon a rather good Italian deli…amazing collection of tortellini…may buy some to feed our guests on Sunday. Came home to have a second go at cleaning the oven…will rinse off tomorrow. Cooked pasta with mushrooms and pesto sauce. Watched some telly before bath and bed…

Thursday 22nd May 2025

Woke around 0400 and didn’t really get properly back to sleep…got up around 0730 and made tea. Porridged. Worked at the computer through to lunchtime. Put a tasty chicken salad together. Cleaned the oven. We walked across to Stroud Green to get some provisions from Tesco. Aki cooked a dal to go with the warmed up fish curry. Watched the second half of The Brutalist…which won Adrian Brady the Oscar…impressive performance, and very impressive movie…feels like Citizen Kane meets The Third Man meets Schindler’s List!

Wednesday 21st May2025

Woke around 0700. Got up and made tea. Got back into bed and read for a bit. Got up and porridged at the computer. Worked through until lunchtime. Aki put lunch together. Did another 3 hours work before dinner…Aki cooked a pork stir fry. Watched The Brutalist…it’s over three hours long so we got halfway and took an intermission. Caught The Ten before bath and bed…

Tuesday 20th May 2025

Woke around 0630. Felt a bit uncomfortable in bed, (the bad hernia repair giving me gip), so got up at 0700 and made tea. Porridged at the dining table. Headed for Waltham Cross in the car…final day of inspections. Stopped off at Starbucks in Cheshunt, then on to Broxbourne, and Hoddesdon. Bought some supplies in Sainsbury’s and had a chicken wrap for lunch. Finished up around 1600 and drove home. Aki had already cycled off to Clerkenwell to meet Helen, when I got home. Warmed up the chicken cacciatore for dinner. Rehearsed a bit…not in good voice though, for some reason I can’t put my finger on. Aki got back at 2045. 

Monday 19th May 2025

Woke at 0730. Got up to make tea. Read some Dickens in bed before rising to porridge. Did a couple of hours work at the computer. Aki put lunch together. Started to draw up an online will…realised rather belatedly that our civil partnership rendered our previous wills null and void. FaceTimed Jim Lister ahead of Barney’s gig at Islington Assembly Hall on 29th. They’d had a great time in Cayman, visiting Ro and Rob…who are due to fly over for Barney’s gig. Look forward to seeing them all. Made our way on bus and tube to High Street Kensington and took in a small but perfectly formed exhibition of Japanese woodworking techniques at Japan House, then walked up to Notting Hill to meet up with Paul and Leanda at the Portobello, a little Italian restaurant behind Notting Hill station. They had come over from west Wales to help their newly wed daughter move out of her south London flat...she's married an army officer, who has been sent to base himself in Belfast, though he's due to head for Iraq on a three month tour of duty. Paul says he's thoroughly enjoying his retirement to the Cardiganshire coast, despite having been a little traumatised by a couple of very violent storms...their house is yards from the beach at Aberporth. Enjoyed our food...the staff were great, and Aki and I got a chance to try out our Italian, having begun a DuoLingo language course last week...our conversation is limited, though, to "Hello" and "Goodbye". Got home around 2215. Bath and bed...

Sunday 18th May 2025

 

Woke around 0830. Got up and made tea. Put together a hearty brunch ahead of Aki’s departure for Rowing Club. I then headed for Southwark to attend a shanty sing around, hosted by the Hogeye Men…I got to the Horseshoe Inn in Vinegar Yard to find a rather sparse turnout…most of the regulars had gone to Leigh-on-Sea for a shanty festival…only one Hogeye Man was left in attendance. There were a couple of other blokes from Waltham Abbey way, who couldn’t sing but trotted out very lengthy verses in over-enthusiastic manner. Three or four others drifted in over the course of the three hour session, and it was, in the main, very enjoyable. I wandered westward to Borough Market, lunching on a fish finger sarnie from one of the many stalls…the place was packed! I walked on to Blackfriars intending to jump a train to Finsbury Park, but there weren’t any…engineering works…so walked on to Waterloo Bridge, crossing in the hope of picking up a No.91 bus from Aldwych…nowt for half an hour so caught a No.243 to Theobalds Road, and from thence a No.38 to Angel, where I just missed a No.43…had to settle for a No.19 to Finsbury Park, and a ten minute walk home! Aki practising guitar when I got in. I cooked chicken cacciatore for dinner. FaceTimed the folks…mum has been suffering a strange rash on her arm, but otherwise everyone looked hale and hearty. Caught the Arsenal v Newcastle game on MOTD2 before bath and bed…

Saturday 17th May 2025

Alarm at 0815. Got up and made tea before climbing back into bed. Rose to cook brunch. Strapped my guitar to my back and headed for Stoke Newington. Got off a 253 bus at Clapton and walked down Northwold Road…picked up a coffee before heading in to the theatre. Piers joined us at 1300…I’d recommended getting him in, as he coaches the rowing at the Rowing Club…he used to teach drama, and evidently had a ball pitching in with the rehearsals. He stuck around for the rest of the afternoon to see how Angharad put it all together with the movement of The Furies…we broke around 1630, and I headed home to catch the second half of the FA Cup Final. I’d missed Palace’s first half goal…they hung on to defeat Manchester City and lift their first ever major trophy…great scenes. Aki cooked a fish curry for dinner…yum!
 

Friday 16th May 2025

 

Woke around 0800. Got up to make tea. Porridged at the computer. Worked through until lunchtime. Accompanied Aki into town…she had a click and collect deposit to pick up from Uniqlo on Oxford Street, then went in search of some cheap summer sandals in John Lewis’s. We then browsed around the new Oxford Street IKEA outlet…it’s smaller than the usual retail park outlets, but we picked up some tumblers and a battery charger. The cafe looked very popular! 

Thursday 15th May 2025

Alarm at 0815. Got up and brought tea back to bed. Read the panto script ahead of this afternoon’s meeting with Sorrel Brown, who’s directing. Did a few hours work at the computer before an early lunch, then headed for Stoke Newington. Got there on time…nice chat with Sorrel. She’s putting together a strong backroom team, including Phil Ley on set design, Roxy on costumes, and Sarah Ley SM-ing. Awaiting further developments…unlikely to be auditioning before beginning of September. Walked home via Abney Park cemetery…said a brief hallo to General William Booth. Walked up to collect Carlos and Jane from No.36…we had tickets to go see Jerron Paxton at the Union Chapel. 

Caught a bus down to Islington Green for dinner at the Afghan Kitchen. Had chicken, aubergine, and pumpkin, with rice and bread…very tasty, as usual. Walked up Upper Street to the Union Chapel. Found a pew towards the rear…very busy downstairs but upstairs was empty. Caught Martin Harley, an Australian slide guitar and lap steel player…he was excellent…nice voice too. Jerron Paxton didn’t disappoint…he played guitar, banjo, harmonica, stand up piano, and bones…bags of warm, big hearted charm…he won a well deserved standing ovation. Great night’s entertainment…