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…

Wednesday 14th May 2025

Alarm at 0800. Aki already up readying for rowing club. She brought me a mug of tea in bed. I got up as she cycled off. Porridged. Made a packed lunch and drove north to Waltham Cross. Lunched in the M&S car park in Cheshunt then headed for Hoddesdon. Another hot day in the car. Bailed out early and drove home down the A10. Got home at 1730. Aki cooked a chicken and rice omelette for dinner.

Tuesday 13th May 2025

 

Got up around 0900 and porridged at the computer. Worked through until breaking for lunch. Did another hour before deciding to avail ourselves of the summer weather…walked to Highbury Fields and treated ourselves to ice cream…sat on a bench and watched the sun worshippers who had invaded the greensward. Walked home via Waitrose. Aki cooked hake for dinner with quinoa and prawns. Rehearsed some Scottish airs and reels before bath and bed…

Monday 12th May 2025

Got up and porridged. Put a packed lunch together. Drove up the A10 to do inspections in Cheshunt. Lunched in the M&S car park before heading down to Waltham Cross. Long day in a hot car. Got home around 1930. Aki warmed up the last of the chicken chasseur for dinner…with mashed potato. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed…

Sunday 11th May 2025

Woke around 0900. Got up and made tea. Got back into bed! Aki cooked brunch. A glorious day…walked up Stroud Green Road, stopping at the cafe at Crouch Hill station for coffees in the sunshine. Walked on Crouch End. Did a bit of shopping in Waitrose and M&S before hopping on a No.91 bus back to Holloway. Sat and read the paper. Salad nicoise for dinner. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed…

Saturday 10th May 2025

 

Woke at 0730. Got up to make soda bread. My dough was very wet, rendering it almost unworkable…I bunged it in the oven regardless…it came out OK…a bit stodgy in the middle but edible. Made breakfast…salmon and poached eggs. Walked up to Yerbury Farmer’s Market to buy bread, then up Highgate Hill, rewarding ourselves with coffee at Gail’s. Walked home via Sainsbury’s. Lunched on bread and cheese. Aki got hung up on a call from her niece, so I walked over to Waitrose to do a bit more shopping. Very warm afternoon…going to be hotter tomorrow! Walked home and prepared dinner…pasta with a creamy chicken and mushroom sauce…an old favourite. Watched Stephen Graham in “Adolesence”…gripping, moving TV…co-written by the exceptional Mr Graham, and filmed in single takes. A tough watch, but magnificent! Caught a bit of MOTD before bath and bed…

Friday 9th May 2025

Woke around 0745. Aki up readying herself for rowing club. I got up and porridged. Slung a packed lunch together and headed for Cheshunt, stopping off for petrol and coffee in Harringay on the way. Nice day for it. Broke for lunch in the M&S car park…popped in for some ingredients to make soda bread tomorrow. Packed in around 1715 and drove home via the A10…slow going around Turnpike Lane. Got home at 1830. Aki warmed up the spinach and courgette lasagne for dinner. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed…

Thursday 8th May 2025

Woke around 0745. Got up and brought tea back to bed. Eventually rose...porridged. Did my exercises. Half an hour at the computer...it takes 15 minutes to sign in to the Savills remote working page! Still, I get paid by the hour! Aki made lunch, then went off to the hairdresser's on Essex Road. I met her at 1500 at the Barbican...we had tickets for the Noah Davis exhibition...a black artist based in LA who focussed on the black experience in America...big hearted, joyous paintings...really enjoyed it. 

Stuck our heads in at the theatre stage door to see if Bobby K was on shift...and he was! Hadn't seen him for a couple of years. Sat and chatted for a bit...he promised to come see "Moby Dick" at the Tower. Walked to Moorgate station and caught a train home...popped into M&S to buy risotto rice and then walked home. Aki cooked a chicken and mushroom risotto. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed…

Wednesday 7th May 2025

Aki up with a 0730 alarm to ready herself for Rowing Club. She'd cycled off by the time I rose. Porridged at the dining table. Did some prep work on some inspections in Hertfordshire for later in the week. Aki back for lunch. Managed a little more prep work in the afternoon before helping Aki trim the hedge out front. Warmed up the fish pie for an early dinner. Strapped my guitar to my back and headed for Stoke Newington…jumped on a No.4 bus, getting off at Highbury Grange and walking through Clissold Park. Rehearsal focussed on recapping a couple of the songs, then on working the prologue using movement and live music…looking good. Got home in time to watch the highlights of the PSG v Arsenal game…PSG won out and will meet Inter in the final.

Tuesday 6th May 2025

 Woke around 0745. Got up and made tea. Aki dozed on for a bit, evidently exhausted after her Irish sojourn. Porridged. Vacuumed. We lunched on the mushroom quiche I'd picked up from Belle Epoche on Sunday. We walked over to Waitrose to do a little shopping. Back home, Aki nodded off on the sofa, while I prepared and cooked a spinach and courgette lasagne. Very tasty. Matthew Sale rang to inform me that Martin Doughty, who had retired in December, and whose retirement get together I'm due to go to in Haywards Heath on Friday, is in hospital having discovered he has a heart murmur...he's being assessed for the possibility of having a pacemaker fitted! So Friday's bash may be off. Stumbled across live coverage on Amazon prime of the second leg of the European Champions League semi-final between Inter and Barcelona...not as breath-taking for it's football as the first leg, which had ended 3-3, but another extraordinary game produced a 7-6 aggregate win for Inter Milan...they will meet either Arsenal or PSG in the final...

Monday 5th May 2025

Woke at 0800. Got up and made tea…got back into bed. Languished there for a couple of hours. Got up and dressed. Walked up Highgate Hill…bought a borekita and a cheese and egg slider from Gail’s and repaired to a bench in Waterlow Park. Not very warm today…cold northerly wind. Walked home via M&S where I bought a chicken to roast this evening. Read some Dickens and rehearsed some Moby Dick tunes.

Kath FaceTimed from High View…they were preparing to partake of the High View street party…celebrations leading up to the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Thursday. Watched some snooker…Xintong in a commanding lead. I put the bird in the oven and prepared the roast vegetables. Aki got back around 1830. She’d had a great time in Kilkenny. Served her a roast chicken dinner, followed by ice cream and chocolate cake. Watched Xintong become the first Chinese World Snooker champion…well deserved. Bath and bed…

Sunday 4th May 2025

Woke at 0800. Brought tea to bed. Got up and cooked breakfast. Did my exercises. Headed for Clapham…caught a tube to Warren Street, changing to the Northern Line. Came out at Clapham Common. Bought myself a coffee and sat on a bench overlooking the pond utilised by the Clapham Model Yacht Club…evidently too windy for sailing. Rocked up at Maggie’s on Nightingale Lane at around 1300. Must be six years since I saw her last…she’s now 77 and there are signs she’s struggling a little. She shakes a little, but it’s not Parkinson’s…and she looks a little hunched. She had a hip replacement last year…she can no longer afford a cleaner, nor a gardener, as she has spent all her cash reserves subsidising her son Toby’s legal attempts to get released from prison. But she retains a cheerful equanimity, determined to enjoy her dotage. She fed me  homemade tarragon soup, followed by a ready meal curry and dal, with sticky toffee pudding to follow. I promised to return with Aki in tow at some point. I left around 1615 and walked back across the Common. Took a Northern line train to Angel. Walked back home from there. Pizza and salad for dinner. Sat in front of the snooker. Aki FaceTimed from Kilkenny…she is due back tomorrow evening (I thought she was coming back on Tuesday!)…

Saturday 3rd May 2025

Woke at 0800. Brought tea back to bed. Got up and porridged. Did my exercises whilst watching Trump v Williams in the last of the snooker semifinals. Message from our director to say I wasn’t needed this afternoon. Made myself some lunch. Rehearsed some songs and tunes from Moby Dick. Read some Dickens. Early dinner…ready meal…good quality lasagna, accompanied by plenty of vegetables. Walked to Stoke Newington. Stopped off at Rasa on Church Street to buy popadoms and paratha to take to Maggie’s tomorrow. Rocked up at The Tower to watch “Flare Path”, a dated Rattigan play set during the Battle of Britain. The romantic leads were good, but it was a dull theatrical experience. Caught a No.106 bus home. Didn’t get to speak to Aki as she had opted for an early night following a full day’s rowing…

Friday 2nd May 2025

Woke around 0730. Dozed for a bit before rising to make tea. Message from Aki to say they are being bussed from Dublin to Kilkenny this afternoon, but no rowing today. Another glorious day. Porridged. Did my exercises before watching some snooker...Ronnie struggling this morning. Headed in to town. Caught a tube train in to Leicester Square…walked up to Foyles. Sat in the cafe reading a copy of “The Importance of Being Earnest”…the Tower are doing a rehearsed reading…the script is sparkling, and I quite fancy playing Lane, the Manservant. However, the reading is in June, and I rather suspect I’ll be recovering from my hernia op by then. Ate lunch in the cafe…a huge slice of chorizo and potato frittata with a tomato and black olive salad. Walked through Covent Garden to Somerset House to see the Sony World Photographer of the year exhibition. It was a trifle disappointing…all a bit predictable…climate change, urban deprivation and so on. 

Sat out on the terrace afterward with a cold beer. Charles Dickens’ father worked here as part of the Navy Pay Corps. Walked across Waterloo Bridge and strode through the crowds on the Southbank…crossed the river at the Millennium Bridge, then caught a train back to Finsbury Park. Cooked pizza for dinner, with a nice side salad. Watched Ronnie O’Sullivan get knocked out of the World Championships by Zhao Xintong…Ronnie was his idol and there were some very nice words from Ronnie to his young conqueror at the end. Aki FaceTimed from a beer garden in County Kilkenny…everyone looked to be enjoying themselves prior to an early night…they row tomorrow at 1000. The river looks wide…an idyllic spot.

Thursday 1st May 2025

Aki up at 0645 to ready herself for her trip to Ireland. I was still half asleep when she came to say farewell. Dozed for a bit then brought tea to bed. Got up and made an omelette breakfast. Glorious day…walked up Highgate Hill and had coffee on a bench in Waterlow Park. Read some Dickens. Walked home via M&S. Late lunch. 

Watched the start of Ronnie the Rocket’s semi-final. Kath rang to say she had just returned from Hexham hospital where mum had had a consultation after taking a cognitive test…she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but it’s a slow developing strain. She has refused medication. The consultant suggested a LPA be drawn up sooner rather than later…I made a start on the Government website. Warmed up the last of the fish curry. Strapped my guitar to my back and walked down to Highbury Corner for tonight’s folk club session. Dove’s Vagaries were the guest act, a married couple who specialise in English tunes, from the Medieval to Victorian Music Hall…I did a Richard Thompson song in the first half, and Leonard Cohen’s “Heart with No Companion” in the second half. Enjoyable evening. Caught a No.43 bus home. Aki had retired for an early night, so didn’t speak, but she posted a couple of photos. Bath and bed…

Wednesday 30th April 2025

Woke around 0730. Aki up early to ready for Rowing Club. I brought myself a mug of tea back to bed. Read some Dickens. Aki cycled off into the sunshine. I got up and porridged. Watched Ronnie the Rocket. Aki back for lunch. Did a little gardening in the back yard. Cooked a chicken and leek pie for dinner with lots of vegetables. Aki busied herself with final preparations for her Irish trip tomorrow…early bath. I stayed up to watch highlights of the European Champions League semi finals, first leg…the Barcelona v Inter Milan game was incredible.