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…