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...