Saturday 30th August 2025

Woke at 0630 with back pain…got up and did some exercises. I guess the drive yesterday took its toll, on top of the steps at Minack, and having a guitar strapped around my neck for half the week! Ventured downstairs to make myself a tea. Put four bowls of soaked oats together for breakfast later. Cath turned up and we chatted for a bit before I took a mug of tea upstairs for Aki. Porridged at the kitchen table. Went for a short walk with Phil and Roxy…perambulated the boundary of the Victorian asylum…now, of course, converted into over 100 housing units. It started to rain halfway round. We returned to No.4 to say our farewells, and headed down the A38, joining the M5 at Exeter. The intention was to stop for lunch at Clevedon Pier, but signs started to appear warning of a 45-minute delay between junctions 23 and 21...we decided to stop at Taunton Deane service station for an early lunch in the hope that the blockage would have been cleared by the time we set off again...but signage now warned of a 3 hour delay!!! 

We decided to come off at J25 and head for the A303 via Langport, but the route through Langport was closed due to bridge repair work, so we had to drive a few miles south-east to hook up with the A303...by now heaving with traffic trying to avoid the M5. It was slow going. Aki drove on through the rain, though, and we stopped at Fleet services on the M3 and changed drivers for the final leg in to London. Everyone seemed to be coming home from the Bank Holiday week...it was terribly slow-going, with endless tailbacks...we didn't get home until 1930...the journey had taken about 8 hours instead of the projected 5. We'd bought an Indian banquet for two from Waitrose at Fleet, and Aki warmed it up while I lugged stuff in from the car. Tidied up a bit after dinner, then collapsed on the sofa. Early bath and bed...

Friday 29th August 2025

 

Woke around 0745. Got up and made tea. Finished the packing that Aki had started yesterday…need to be out by 1000. Porridged. Lis came up to say farewell. Put our stuff in the car then walked down into Mousehole for a last look. Aki wanted to show me some paintings in a gallery in the village…nice, but I felt Aki could do similar just as well, and save us £2,300!!! Had coffee in the garden of the Old Coastguard Hotel and took in the sea view before heading back up the hill to the car. 

Drove to the Potager Garden near Falmouth to meet Helen and Martin for brunch in the cafe there. A bit pricey but it was very good…the best mushrooms on toast I’ve ever tasted! Had a little wander round the glasshouse and the artist studios before heading back to the car for the drive to Moorhaven. Slow going on the approach to the toll on the Tamar Bridge. Got to Centre Court around 1645 to be greeted by Phil and Roxy, their five year old border collie. Cath still at work. Chatted at the kitchen table over a cuppa tea. Got stuff out of the car...Cath rocked up, having been given a lift from work in a huge Range Rover...she got out on her crutches. She's still awaiting an operation to replace a part of her ankle, after two failed operations. Phil served up spaghetti bolognese for dinner, and we repaired to the living-room to chat before News At Ten. They are still working on the house, and have bought a used kitchen, the units for which they have stored in the hall...the place still looks half-finished twenty years since they moved in. The dog is sweet, but very needy, and constantly begging for attention, resulting in my black trousers being covered in white dog hairs...I was relieved to get to bed at last!

Thursday 28th August 2025

Woke at 0830. Got up and made tea. Put a packed lunch together while Aki cooked eggs for breakfast. Sat at the dining table watching squalls of rain roll in from the Channel. Helen and Martin rocked up in their electric hire car at 1100…they are stopping in Liskeard for a few nights. We walked down into Mousehole for a coffee. I left them there and drove to the theatre via the Farm Shop in St Buryas. 

Helen and Martin coming to see the matinee later. Got to the theatre to learn that, due to an extreme weather alert, this evening’s show had been cancelled, so the matinee becomes our final performance. The show went well, with Martin South playing Ahab with the audience of a head mic…bet he’s very relieved there’s only one show today…as, indeed, am I! The rain held off. Then it was get out…I hauled my guitar up to the car park, then descended one last time to collect my belongings. With my hernia op due next week, I was happily able to observe the chain gang in action as they passed the dismantled set up the cliff face! 

Aki phoned to say she was on a bus from Penzance to Treen, and I drove off to meet her in the Logan Rock Inn as the forecast rain started to come down. Found myself driving past Nutty Nick, walking in the lane toward the Logan Rock Inn...as it was raining, and he was in a t-shirt, I slowed to offer him a lift...he stared resolutely into space, shook his head grimly, and walked on. I got to the inn and rescued Aki, and we drove off before Nick turned up...I couldn't bear the thought of having to share the space with him for an hour or so before the rest of the gang turned up. As the weather was worsening, we decided to turn back to Mousehole. Parked up and walked down the hill to the Old Coastguard Hotel and snacked on some starters, and enjoyed a couple of beers as the rain hurled itself against the window panes of the old coastguard look-out. In a perceived break in the weather, we decided to make a dash for the AirBnB...as we crossed the road in front of the hotel the rain suddenly came down in drenching gusts that seemed to shoot up my trouser legs as we walked up the steep hill. We were soaked by the time we got in. Dried off and prepared for an early night...got to be out by 1000 tomorrow morning.

Wednesday 27th August 2025

Woken at 0700 by thunder and lightening…got up to watch a strong westerly find hurl rain at the windows. Made tea and sat at the dining table as the weather cleared and the sun came out. Porridged. Set off in the car for Crowlas, to meet up with Jim and Katherine at their niece’s house. Lucy, and her fella, Sam, bought a tiny one-up-one-down tin miner’s cottage two years ago, and have been working on a tasteful modern extension on a cramped site that falls away to marshland at the rear. Sam has gotten through an incredible amount of heavy work. Looks great…but he’s now in demand locally, slowing their renovation down, but it’s perfectly liveable in. Mandy, Jim’s sister, was also in attendance…but Sam was out working. 

We had a coffee and then drove into Penzance in two cars. Parked near the harbour and walked up to 45 Queen Street, a trendy eaterie housed in a barn like old warehouse. Good vibes. Enjoyed my fish finger buttie. Jim leant me his dad’s sailing sou’wester, which happens to be yellow…if it rains I’ll don it for the handyman sequence…I’ll match the yellow set. Left them at the car park and headed back to Mousehole. They are coming to see the show tonight. Did my exercises on the balcony then headed for Minack. Sun shining…but windy. Ate my dinner on the stone bench outside the Stage Door. Show went well, though Martin’s voice was beginning to fail…not sure how he’s going to get it through two show’s tomorrow! Jim and family had driven off by the time I’d changed and climbed back up to the car park. Drove back to Mousehole in the dark…passed Nick walking northward along The Valley…wonder if he’d been hanging about near the theatre…

Tuesday 26th August 2025

Woke around 0700. Got up and made tea for our guests. Drove them into Penzance to catch the 0910 back to Exeter. Aki and I waved them off, then took a short stroll around the town centre…impressive old Town Hall building with a sizeable cupola, but little else of interest. Ordered sausage and egg sandwiches at Sullivan’s Diner, and drove back to Mousehole. Ate our repast on the balcony. I did some exercises. I headed for Minack at noon, stopping at a Farm Shop to buy a steak pasty. Got to the theatre in good time to discover that Nick, our sturdy Captain Ahab, had walked out on the production last night after issuing an ultimatum to the director…either use his method of igniting the harpoon at the end of Act 1, or he goes…the director waved him goodbye…Martin South is to take his place this afternoon! We worked through three or four set pieces for Martin’s benefit. He’ll be using a script, of course. Show was all but a sellout…Martin came on and did his first two or three scenes off book…very impressive. He got an extra cheer from the audience…and us…at the curtain call. I walked up to the car park to eat my ‘dinner’ in the car and listen to R4. Bought ice cream at the shack. Aki and her chum from JCUK were watching tonight…they loved it, and were especially effusive about Martin’s turn. A couple of nasty squalls blew in after the interval…my guitar got wet…managed to play most of it in the musician’s all weather gazebo. Really not looking forward to Thursday’s forecast deluge!!! Met Aki in the car park…her chums had already departed…and drove back to Mousehole in the gloom. 

Monday 25th August 2025

Woke around 0800. Tea and porridged out on the suntrap balcony with Midori and Dan. Another scorcher on the cards. They popped into the village to get some provisions and I took the opportunity to do my exercises on the balcony. Midori had brought her hairdressing scissors and gave me a bit of a tidy up.

Headed for Marazion around 1100. The place was packed with Bank Holiday visitors. Fortunately the overflow car park serving visitors to St Michael’s Mount was huge and we found a space…Dan paid the £5 parking fee. We walked along the beach and then shuffled across the causeway toward the impressive island….we turned back at the gate and walked into town. 

Lunched at The Godolphin…bright, modern pub with views of the Mount. Drove on to Porthcurno. I dropped the gang at the beach car park, then parked up at the Minack and walked back down the hill. Joined Aki and chums in the queue for ice cream then we headed down to the beach…it was rammed! Aki and I climbed the stone staircase up to the theatre car park so she knew where I’d parked up, and I gave her the key then walked across the field to Seabreeze. The director and her fella are stopping there…a big modern detached house built for holiday letting…they are sharing with about seven others. The whole company rocked up for notes. 

Femi seemed in a very strange mood…very subdued. Nick had a run in the the director over the ignition of the harpoon, accusing her of cutting off her nose to spite her face…Angharad visibly bristled. I snuck out before the end to sort out my guitar ahead of sound check. Evening show was a sellout. Nick was slightly under par, but seemed OK. We were granted an enthusiastic reception at curtain call. Met Aki, Midori and Dan at the car. Drove back to Mousehole in the dark. Midori and Dan had really enjoyed the show. Eventually got to bed around midnight after a quick shower…

Sunday 24th August 2025

Woke around 0800. Tea and porridge. Slowly got my act together. Left Aki behind…awaiting the arrival of chums from Exeter…and drove into Penzance to buy batteries from Sainsbury’s only to discover they didn’t open until 1100. Picked up a coffee and drove to Minack, stopping at the convenience store in St Buryan to buy batteries, and a pasty for later. Got to the theatre for 1045 and the start of a long day’s tech and dress rehearsal. Broke at 1400 for a 30 minute lunch break. Slow going! The director getting increasingly exasperated with the less disciplined members of the cast! Limped through to the end of Act 2 by 1730 and took a break…I took my pasty up to the car park and ate whilst listening to the news on R4. Dress rehearsal went up on time at 1930 in front of a handful of Minack staff members. They seemed enthusiastic. Still some bits need ironing out. Got changed quickly and headed up the hill to jump into the car and drive back to Mousehole…in the dark. Took a circuitous route which gave me some time on the A30, and took me back via Newlyn…felt the most comfortable route given the driving conditions! Dan and Midori were readying for bed when I got in…managed a brief chat before I got in the bath…thoroughly knackered!
 

Saturday 23rd August 2025

Alarm at 0650. Got up and made tea in a disappointingly small teacup. Took my guitar to the car and headed for Sainsbury’s in Penzance to pick up Angharad’s bakery order. Picked up a coffee at Costa then drove back to the bus station. Found Julie outside Sullivan’s Diner as arranged. Ordered an egg and sausage sarnie to take to the theatre with me. We awaited Roxanne’s arrival off the night bus. Managed to grapple their luggage into the back of the car and drove to Minack. Took about half an hour. The setting is breathtaking…though it’s a vertiginous walk down to stage level. The dressing room is further down still…I was surprised to find it has its own balcony with a sea view. A lot of standing around trying to find shade whilst some hardy folks built the staff rig to house the masthead. 

Ate my splendid egg and sausage sandwich. Did a group warm up then toured the rat run around the back of the stage area.  Eventually started tech-ing Act I. Broke for lunch at 1400…sat out the back overlooking the east cliff and Porthcurno beach. Ate my packed lunch. Hot work this afternoon…got well over halfway through Act I before breaking at 1800. Drove Julie and Roxy round to their accommodation and dropped them off with their baggage. Drove back to Mousehole to pick up Aki. Roads are very narrow and slow going. Aki waiting for me outside the flat…hightailed it to the Logan Rock Inn for dinner…we had booked for 1900 in order to avoid the mad rush when twenty odd Moby cast and crew showed up at 2000. Enjoyed our food…I had the steak pie. Joined the Moby gang in the annexe and chatted to two or theee of them whilst they awaited their meals…then made our escape and drove back to Miusehoke in the gloaming…
 

Friday 22nd August 2025

Woke at around 0230…took an hour or so to nod back off again. Rose at 0800 and descended to the breakfast room…I had the full English. Pretty ordinary. Walked out of the village to collect the car…managed to park up briefly near the Inn…packed our bags into the motor and headed up toward the village of Paul to meet Andrew…a friend of Aki’s from Rowing Club knows him from college days and suggested he may purchase Jim and Emma’s tickets for Wednesday night’s show. 

He lives in a small but comfortable stone cottage, but works in Dublin teaching textile design! Sat outside and chatted over tea and biscuits. Drove on to Penzance and did a big shop at Sainsbury’s. Filled the car with petrol. Stopped off at Stevenson’s the fishmonger to buy fresh fish. Aki opened the rear car door to put her purchase in one of the shopping bags, only for said bag to topple out, smashing one of her bottles of vino! Drove back to Mousehole and found the AirBnB…it’s in a converted detached house on two levels…the upper storey has been converted into a one bed flat with kitchen, bathroom, and living room. 

We sat out on the balcony enjoying the stunning view of the harbour. Cooked chicken, fresh sardines, and vegetables on a barbecue and ate outside. Walked dinner off…wandered down Newlyn Road to take a look at the old Penlee Lifeboat station, which saw tragedy strike when the boat was lost in a hurricane in December 1981…moving memorial plaque and garden. One of the fallen was the then landlord of the Ship Inn. Walked back into the village for a swift beer in the Ship Inn…they had live music from a chap on guitar and harmonica doing recognisable covers of American hits of the 60s and 70s. Walked back up the steep hill. Made a packed lunch ahead of a long day tomorrow. Bath then bed…

Thursday 21st August 2025

Woke around 0400 for some reason…took an hour to nod back off! Got up around 0830. Tea. Did some packing. Still struggling with sinusitis so popped over to Dev’s for a nasal wash kit. Had had a query as to whether the sofa could be taken apart, so tried it. Got the arms and legs off but still measures the same width! Got away around 1115. Slow going. Roadworks in Acton cut off the route to the M4 junction at Gunnersbury…forced to take the N Circular. Had hoped to get to Taunton services by lunchtime, but nowhere near. 

Lunched at Leigh Delamere. Swapped drivers. Aki took us down the M5 and onto the A30 across the moors…we swapped drivers again in a lay-by. They’ve done some improvements to the A30…it’s a nice, smooth ride…until it narrows about 10 miles shy of Penzance. Crawled through the town and out the other side, getting to Mousehole around 1815. Couldn’t find a parking spot on the harbour…Aki got out a trundled the bags into the Ship Inn…I drove back to the big public car park by the Old Coastguard Inn. £12.50 to park up for 24 hours! Walked back to the Inn with my guitar strapped to my back. 

Aki showed me up to our little room…sea view m, though. Descended for fish ‘n chips then took a turn around the village. Walked back to the car to retrieve some items, then headed for our room. FaceTimed Jim…he, Kath, and his sister, Mandy, are due to drive down from Holmfirth on Sunday. We pencilled in a meet up in Marazion for Wednesday lunchtime.

Wednesday 20th August 2025

Aki up early to ready herself for rowing. I got up later and made tea. Porridged once she had cycled off. Pottered about. Did some ironing and some exercises before Aki returned for lunch. Drove the car over to Sainsbury’s in Manor House to fill the petrol tank ahead of tomorrow’s drive to Cornwall. Checked the tyre pressures. Came home and did some voice work and a little song rehearsal…sinuses still well and truly blocked. Also appear to have been bitten on the forehead by some insect, presumably on the Common last night! Quite painful! Aki cooked a pork stir fry for dinner. I headed in to Stokey for a 2000 call on the Smith studio…glad we’ve knocked the Common on the head…never again!!! Finished a little after 2200 and drove home, dropping Peta and Jackie off on the way. 

Tuesday 19th August 2025

Woke around 0800. Brought tea back to bed and scrolled my phone for a bit…watched highlights of last nights Leeds v Everton game. Got up and porridged. Read some Claire Tomalin then did my exercises. Lunch. Warmed my vocal cords up and tried vainly to sing in the upped keys. Cooked dinner…Spanish chicken pie. Had to wolf it down before jumping in the car and heading to Stokey for rehearsals. Met up with Colin and Angharad to work through the two new keys…should just about make it if my cold dries up before the weekend. We ventured out onto the Common to re-block Act II. Darkness fell around 2030 and we packed in around 2145. Drove home for bath and bed…

Monday 18th August 2025

Slow start this morning. Took tea back to bed. Got up around 1000 and porridged. Aki did a bit of gardening…we now have a ton of home grown tomatoes to get through! Did my exercises. Walked across to Waitrose and did a bit of a shop. Lunched back home. Tried to warm my voice up and rehearse my Moby Dick repertoire, but it’s evidently still in recovery! Aki cooked teriyaki salmon and homegrown aubergine with sweet miso…yum! Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed…

Sunday 17th August 2025

Got up around 0800 and made tea. Watched some football highlights on the iPlayer before descending for breakfast en famille. Sat out in the back garden reading the Sunday paper. Packed our bags. Kath drove us to Parkway to catch a train into Central Station. Had a sandwich lunch at the Centurion on the station concourse. The 1416 was waiting for us on platform 4. Journey delayed by signalling problems coming in to Newark. Got in to KX about half an hour late. Jumped on a No.259 bus back to Holloway. Unpacked our bags. Aki cooked a pasta carbonara for dinner, with ice cream and chocolate brownie for afters. No interest on Gumtree, so listed the armchair on eBay at £95.00...see what happens! Will add the sofa tomorrow. Watched highlights of the Arsenal win over Man Utd. Early bath and bed…

Saturday 16th August 2025

Got up at 0700 still nursing my heavy cold. Stuck marshmallows on mum’s birthday cake to read “92”. Flowers arrived from the southern Hague Clan. Breakfasted at the dining table and mum opened her presents. Drove into Ponteland for coffee at the new cafe set up by the chefs at Hjemme in Hexham. It was very disappointing. Had planned to drive on to the coast but it was decided to return to High View…Aki and I picked up pizzas from Rialtos and did a little shopping in Waitrose. Pizza lunch in the back garden. Brought out the chocolate cake with the marshmallows on it. Sat about reading and chatting in the back garden before I headed down to Darras to pick up an Indian takeaway for everyone. We sat at the dining table. Watched a bit of telly before Jim and Emma headed off in the van to Westerhope. Watched highlights of Sunderland’s 3-0 win over West Ham…we were briefly top of the league until Man City won 4-0…

Friday 15th August 2025

Woke around 0600. Hacking cough and blocked sinuses forced me up and out of bed. Descended to make tea. Sat at the computer in dad’s study for an hour or so. Kath left for work…a day in Hexham altering trousers. Aki got up and made me lemon and ginger tea and I gargled with salt water…took a couple of paracetamol. Not feeling too good. Porridged on a strange Hot X Bun mix which didn’t work out too well. Aki and I walked down to the post office to post the LPAs to the Office for the Public Guardian. Nice warm, sunny morning. We sat on a bench outside the Co-op and had a coffee. Walked back up Whinfell Road. Lunch in the back garden. Had to have a lie down. Jim and Emma showed up, but disappeared down the pub. Aki and I prepped and cooked a roast chicken dinner.  Eton Mess for afters. Watched a bit of telly. Jim and Emma slept in their van on the drive. I watched highlights of Liverpool’s 4-2 win over Bournemouth…looked a good game.

Thursday 14th August 2025

Got up and made tea. Porridged. Put two packed lunches together and finished packing. Headed for KX via Finsbury Park. Got there with time to spare so sat upstairs in the concourse and enjoyed a coffee. The 1218 for Edinburgh left on time. Train was very busy. Started reading Martin Chuzzlewit. Got into Newcastle at about 1525 and Kath met us on the concourse. Drove us back to High View in the Up! Ma and pa looking well…we sat out back with a cup of tea…very warm afternoon. Jim turned up to sign the LPAs. Kath cooked a tasty pasta dish for dinner. Got dad and Kath to sign the LPAs…hopefully that’s all done and dusted, bar posting them off to the Office of the Public Guardian tomorrow morning. Watched a bit of telly. Shower upstairs no longer functioning so resolved to shower downstairs in the morning. 

Wednesday 13th August 2025

Disturbed night’s sleep…hacking cough and violent bouts of sneezing. Woke up at intervals. Vocal cords in shreds. Aki got up early to ready herself for Rowing Club. I got up after she’d cycled off and brought tea and porridge back to bed with me. Read some Claire Tomalin on Dickens. Did an Italian lesson. Alerted Colin that I wouldn’t be at rehearsal this evening. Popped over to Tesco and bought mozzarella. Made a jar of marinated mozzarella with oil, garlic, herbs and lemon zest. Used it for lunch…Aki got back about 1315. Had a huge salad with salmon fillets…very tasty. Needed a lie down afterward. Weather got a bit weird…supposed to be sunny and 29C but it went very dark and rained…thunder and lightening. Checked whether or not I had covid ahead of the trip up north, by doing a test…all clear. Aki set off for town…she’s attending a surprise birthday dinner at the restaurant at the National Theatre to mark Helen’s 70th birthday. I stayed home and nursed my cold. Finished off the arrabbiata sauce with chicken and pasta. Watched a bit of telly. Aki phoned from Cally Road station to say she’d been waiting 15 minutes for buses that didn’t turn up…drove round there to pick her up. Early bath and bed…

Tuesday 12th August 2025

Woke around 0530...bit muggy, but managed to doze off for a bit. Got up at 0700 and made tea. Aki cycled off to Tesco before the temperatures rose. I wrote up notes following yesterday's inspections. Porridged at the computer. Did my exercises. Wandered over to Waitrose in the heat of midday to buy eggs to make tortillas for lunch. Accompanied by a water melon and tomato salad. Colin Guthrie rang…he wants to raise the key to two of my songs…said I’d give it a go, but heavy summer cold means I won’t be singing much at tomorrow night’s rehearsal. Spoke to Jim over the phone…he hadn’t had to take dad in to the eye hospital after all…his appointment was cancelled. Aki ventured into town for dinner with former work colleagues in Marylebone. I fried meatballs for dinner, which I then smothered in arrabiata sauce and ate with linguine and vegetables. Orange and almond cake for afters with ice cream. Watched a bit of telly. Aki got in around 2230. Bath and bed…

Monday 11th August 2025

Woke around 0800 and got up to make tea. Porridged. Put a packed lunch together and headed out on inspections. Stopped off for petrol and provisions at Sainsburys in Harringay, then headed up the A10 for Broxbourne. Picked up a coffee there, then on to Potters Bar, and South Mimms. Parked up at South Mimms service station and had my lunch in the car...30C outside! The place was rammed with travelling holidaymakers and their countless children! Then headed for Wheathampstead, and ended the working day in south Luton, before turning for home, stopping off at London Gateway services on the M1 for refreshment. Got home around 1600. Uploaded my day's photos. Aki baked trout for dinner, with preserved lemon and freekah. Finished off the last of the apple crumble and custard. Called Kath to check the LPA form had been properly signed. Looks OK. Mum and dad were out on the patio supping sherry! Watched The Narrow Road to the Deep North…pretty visceral scenes in the Burmese jungle! Muggy night… 

Sunday 10th August 2025

Woke around 0800. Got up and made tea. Did my exercises. Doorbell rang a little after 0900…Mick da Roofer showed up with a rather rotund assistant with most of his teeth missing! Lynne showed them upstairs. I finished my tea then nipped up to see what they were up to…basically adding a liquid membrane to the valley gutter. I got them to uproot a small shrub that was growing on the parapet, and cut away a now defunct TV aerial cable that the passion flower had used as a climbing frame. They had a quick look at our back addition and smeared some liquid membrane on a split they identified…won’t find out whether they’ve properly diagnosed the problem until it rains again! They handed me their invoice and departed. I chopped away at the wisteria from Lynne’s front windows, and had a go at the passion flower from a step ladder out front. Bought a small marrow from the church next door. Aki cooked brunch. Took a short walk in the afternoon heat, shopping at Kilo, and Waitrose. Read a little Clare Tomalin on Dickens before preparing and cooking a roast chicken dinner; apple crumble and custard for afters. Watched "The Blue Road", a documentary on the remarkable life and literary career of the great Edna O'Brien before bath and bed...

Saturday 9th August 2025

Got up around 0800. More dog wee in the hallway…I alerted Lynne. Tea. Aki still feeling under the weather. Did my exercises. Made mushrooms on toast for breakfast. Drove Aki down to the fishmonger on Essex Road…couldn’t find anywhere to park up so drove slowly around the vicinity while Aki shopped for fish, and bought a chicken from the nearby butcher. Dropped her back home then drove round to Waitrose to do a bit of shopping. Almond butter on toast for lunch. Phoned mum…they seemed OK but haven’t yet been round to David Tanner to get the forms signed. I rang Kath…she hopes to get it done tomorrow or Monday…not holding my breath! Aki cooked mackerel for dinner with rice and miso…sashimi to start, and apple crumble and custard to follow. Watched Angelina Jolie’s impersonation of Maria Callas…rather dull movie with artistic pretensions that never quite ignited. Bath and bed…

Friday 8th August 2025

Woke around 0900. Hauled myself out of bed to make tea, and did some exercises before porridging. Worked at the laptop, writing up yesterday's inspection notes. Broke for lunch. Ventured into town on the No.91 bus to Trafalgar Square and popped into the National Gallery to get mum a birthday present. Then headed back east to Aldwych…Aki had designs on a Cezanne scarf she’d spotted at the Courtauld Gallery…for Helen, to mark her 70th birthday next week. Walked across Waterloo Bridge and then struck east for Union Street for dinner at Bala Baya…been there before. Delicious Levantine tapas plates, though we thought a little overpriced. Walked back along The Cut to the Old Vic. Stalls seats for Girl from the North Country. Having seen it on Wednesday, I felt heavily emotionally invested…Aki kept me supplied with tissues. Katie Brayben’s rendition of Forever Young had us in bits! Standing ovation at the end. Walked through the back streets to Blackfriars to get a train back to Finsbury Park.

Thursday 7th August 2025

Got up at 0800 in anticipation of the roofer coming…though hadn’t heard from him! Had tea at the computer as I continued to make a playlist of Dylan songs from last night’s show. Porridged. Aki up and about looking a little better. I unrolled the new Case rug, and positioned it beneath the dining table...looks great. No word from the roofer, so I drove over to Hackney to wander around the Pembury Estate, taking photos for inspections purposes. It used to have a reputation for drugs gangs and crack houses. I got round without interference. Happened upon a little Japanese eatery around the back of the estate on Clarence Road called Uchi Bake...looks very authentic. Bought a shokupan loaf, and a tuna and prawn sandwich for my lunch, which I ate in the car before driving home. Aki ordered the Robin Day furniture...due for delivery on 4th September. Warmed up fish curry and dal for dinner. I then headed for town to meet Louise, who had organised a wee get together in the bar at Underbelly Soho...I got off the tube at Leicester Square and walked up into Soho...the streets were rammed with tourists! Could hardly move! Found them in the upstairs bar...Louise, Lynda Wigfall (who's sister Tina was Kerry's best friend at school), four guests I didn't know, and Ryan, who works at the venue as Business Manager, and his Polish fiancee. Louise is on a flying visit from Oz, but is due to end her contract there in March next year, and move back into her flat in Worthing. She heads for the Edinburgh Festival tomorrow. Ryan took some of us up to see the performance space from the balcony, at the interval...the Scouse comic John Bishop was doing a gig...stayed upstairs to watch the second half...he was good. Had a good chinwag with Lynda...she lives in Wood Green, and took early retirement, only to volunteer for a Food Bank, which over the last five years has taken up more and more of her spare time...all sounds quite stressful! Left for the tube station at around 2200 and accompanied Lynda back as far as Cally Road, where I got off and caught a bus home. Aki ran a bath...then bed.

Wednesday 6th August 2025

Got up and porridged. Sat at the dining table and uploaded yesterday’s photos on to my laptop, and wrote up some inspection sheets. Aki still under the weather…managed to persuade Katrina to take up her ticket for tonight’s show at the Old Vic. Drove out to finish one set of Peabody inspections…in Islington, Haringey, and Hackney. Picked up a posh sandwich at AllPress in Dalston to share with Aki, and turned for home. She was still in bed when I got back…but got up for lunch. Spent the afternoon writing up my inspection notes. Made a salmon and egg salad for dinner, then set off for Waterloo. Found Katrina waiting outside the Old Vic…they don’t let you in without a ticket these days. Had a drink in the circle bar…bumped into Chris from the Tower…he was seeing the show for a second time, with his wife and daughter. The show, Girl From the North Country, uses a couple dozen Dylan songs to inform a story of Depression era North America…there a big cast, including musicians…everyone was a superb singer…the songs given a light C&W treatment. The acting was first class, and had a surprising Chekhovian vibe…Chekhov with rock music…it worked a treat, and we both staggered out into the night afterward, wiping a tear from the eye! Got home just as Aki started running the bath…I started to put a playlist together of the songs from the show…and booked two tickets to see it again on Friday!!!
 

Tuesday 5th August 2025

Woke around 0730...got up and porridged. Did some work at the laptop, uploading yesterday's photos. Put a packed lunch together before setting off in the car for North Acton. Then it was across the river to Bermondsey, and Surrey Quays, before heading through the Rotherhithe Tunnel to Bethnal Green. Grabbed lunch in the Tesco car park at Leytonstone, before heading east to Goodmayes, then up to Collier Row for my final call of the day. Drove up the hill to Havering-atte-Bower and took a breather in Havering Country Park...never been there before...site of the former Havering Palace. Drove home via Chigwell, getting in around 1645. Aki still in bed...she's come down with a throat infection. I'd bought a ready-made fish pie for dinner, so left her with instructions to cook it later. I jumped back in the car and drove to Stoke Newington for a panto production meeting. Met up with the team…Sarah Ley is SM, her husband Stephen is sound design, Phil Ley is designing the set, and Roxanne is doing costume. Sorrel, our director, turned up over 30 minutes late! I gave her an update on the auditionees I’d seen at the weekend…and informed the team I’d be out of commission over September…it’ll mean my missing the casting process, but rehearsals won’t start until October. Got home around 2000 and we ate the fish pie. Bit of telly, followed by bath and bed…

Monday 4th August 2025

Woke around 0730. Got up and made porridge before heading out on inspections. Found more dog wee in the hallway...had to phone Lynne up to get her to come down and clean it up...don't know why she looks after this woman's hound, I'm sure, especially in view of the fact that the thing doesn't appear to be house-trained! Drove north-westward to Bushey, and from thence to Hemel Hempstead, Luton, and on to Leighton Buzzard, where I ate my packed lunch in the Tesco car park. Then on to Sandy, before turning south to Hertford, and then down the A1 homeward, stopping off at South Mimms service station, and getting in around 1800. Aki cooked pasta with prawn and tomatoes. Watched some telly. Bath and bed...

Sunday 3rd August 2025

Woke around 0900 feeling very weary. Got up and made tea. Porridged on overnight oats and mango. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club...I headed for Stoke Newington, as I'd signed up to be on the general auditions panel to look out for potential panto talent. Took the No.253 bus to Stamford Hill, then a No.67 down to Stoke Newington...had a coffee at the Abney Park Cemetery cafe. Peter and Chris on the panel with me...hadn't met them before, though I'd seen Chris in a couple of things at the Tower...he's pretty poor. Saw five auditionees this morning...one very good German girl who brought an impressive degree of heft to her pieces; and a very poor Japanese girl...she showed promise, but her English was too bad to be understood by a theatre-going audience, so it was a "no". Walked up to the cafe at Springfield Park to meet Aki and the rowing team for lunch outside. Shelley and Kim looked none-the-worse for wear after last night's shenanigans...though Shelley confessed to not getting to bed much before 0130! Had two poached eggs on toast for my lunch...though they were more hard-boiled than I'd hoped! Walked back across Springfield Park to the theatre for the afternoon session with Peter and Eloise on the panel with me...I'd seen Eloise in a couple of things at the Tower...she's very good. Saw seven auditionees this afternoon...another mixed bag; very interesting older fellow who had been caring for his very ill wife until her death a couple of years ago, and was keen to re-connect with the theatre as a means of therapy...he gave a stirring Henry V, and an intriguing piece by Bill Morrison, who I hadn't come across before. Ended the session around 1630 and caught a couple of buses back to Finsbury Park...managed to dodge a downpour. Aki cooked a chicken curry for dinner. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

Saturday 2nd August 2025

Woke around 0900. Got up and porridged. Made tea. Packed up and did some vacuuming and tidying. Met the next door neighbour, CJ, and his missus. Started talking music…turns out he’s a musician…invited me over to check out his music studio…a converted cupboard in the back addition! He plays a horrible neon pink Ibanez 7-string…and has about a dozen foot pedals. Had a brief chat…told him to check out MRCY. Loaded the car and headed back down the A12. Stopped in Dedham for lunch at the Boatyard on the River Stour…Constable country. Then headed for home. Got to Sussex Way around 1630. Mick the roofer rang to say he could do tomorrow but neither Lynne, nor Aki and I, will be in…arranged for Thursday or Friday instead. 

Unloaded the car then drove up to Muswell Hill for an intimate rowing club get together at Shelley’s house. There were about a dozen guests altogether. Shelley’s husband Tony joined the party toward the end of the evening as the food was served…he’s about 15 years older than Shelley, so approaching his mid-eighties…interesting fellow…he’d been a journalist, working as a foreign correspondent all over the globe. He insisted on playing some Tom Lehrer songs on his mobile phone to mark the great man's passing. The food wasn't served until about 2100...bit late for me, but I tucked in anyway...crispy chunks of roast chicken, vegetable rice, tomatoes and mozzarella with basil, and a dressed salad...yum! Gave Becky a lift to Highgate station, and dropped Kearsey off on the Harringay Ladder on our way home...

Friday 1st August 2025

Woke around 0430…took ages to get back to sleep. Aki brought tea up around 0900. Got up and porridged. Drove to Dunwich…car seemed to be working as per normal. Had coffee in the Flora Tea Rooms on the beach…looked very popular…but bemused by the number of people ordering fish ‘n chip suppers at 1130 of a morning! Walked round to the museum in the rain. It details the intriguing tale of a major Saxon port city which had been washed away beneath the North Sea over the millennia. 

It was once the capital of East Anglia, and boasted two large monastic abbeys, and about 10 churches. We took a walk up onto the south cliff to visit the grave of Jacob Forster…the last remaining gravestone in the churchyard of All Saints, which finally succumbed to the waves in 1919. Wandered through the grounds to view the remains of the Greyfriars’ Abbey, then returned to the cafe to share plaice and chips for lunch…best fish ‘n chips I’ve had in a very long time! Drove southward to Thorpeness and browsed in the Emporium…bought a couple of LPs…will frame them in our hallway. 

Aki bought some bright green French cut glass dessert bowls. Drove west to Framlingham…had a little explore of the town centre, but found everything closing up for the evening. Had a beer in The Crown then walked round the corner for dinner at Watson & Walpole, a natty little Italian restaurant that had caught our eye yesterday. It was good…enjoyed a burrata starter with roast nectarine and almonds, followed by ravioli with crispy bacon and a rich, tasty cheese sauce. Excellent tiramisu for afters. Drove back to Saxmundham. Watched British weepy “We Live in Time”…Florence Pugh fabulous as usual.

Thursday 31st July 2025

Woke around 0745…mattress a little too soft for my liking. Aki got up and brought me a birthday mug of tea, and a Moby Dick themed birthday card she’d made. Got up and porridged. Drove west to Framlingham…it started raining just as we parked up on Market Hill. Took shelter, and coffee, in the Crown Hotel. Walked over to the castle. £17.50 each to get in…English Heritage. Norman curtain wall castle with a walk around the battlements. Luckily, the rain had abated. 

Drove to RSPB Minsmere for a sandwich lunch in the cafe then walked around the eastern mere, stopping off in a couple of hides…spotted avocet, egret, Arctic tern, shag, various duck and goose. Drove back to Saxmundham to shower and change before driving to Thorpeness for dinner at Ogilvie’s. 

The restaurant is attached to the local golf club. Looks much better on the website than in reality. It’s housed in what looks like a large conservatory attached to the rather down-at-heel hotel next door. The maitre d came over to take a drinks order…half her teeth were missing, which put us off ordering a starter…resolved to eat up and get out ASAP. I ordered the chicken supreme…it was OK but slightly over powered by the sauce…I liked the bright green pea waffle, though. Had a pistachio tart and ice cream for afters. 

Drove down to the seafront for a brief stroll, then headed back to Saxmundham...had to brake sharply when a piglet appeared in the road, being chased by a young lady...it was very cute, and seemed to be a pet. I managed to avoid running it over, but a red central warning lamp came up on my dashboard, as well as an EPC lamp, which suggests an on-board computer malfunction. The lamps stayed on all the way back to Sax, but no sign of engine trouble. Parked up, switched the ignition off and on an again...no warning lamps! Very odd! Watched a bit of telly. Enjoyed episode 1 of “The Assassin” on Prime…crisp script, and edgy comedy.