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.