Monday 29th September 2025

Woke around 0400…took ages to nod back off…I’m going to have to ask the GP for sleeping pills! Aki brought me tea in bed. Got up and porridged. Did my exercises. Read some Chuzzlewit. Aki cooked lunch. I set off for my dental appointment on Upper Street. Got there in good time. The hygienist had her work cut out, given the build up of 20 years worth of plaque. In the event, she only managed to clean the bottom row of teeth…I had to book and pay for a second session next week! Walked home, stopping off at Euphonium for a decaf coffee, then walking up to Waitrose to do a bit of shopping. Eating alone this evening…Aki working as a translator for a Japanese client of a design company based in Camden. They were headed out for a posh meal in Coal Drops Yard. I made a taleggio and mushroom lasagna…took rather longer than I’d anticipated…didn’t eat until 2000. Aki got back around 2130. Watched The Ten before bath and bed…

Sunday 28th September 2025

Woke around 0800. Tea. Cooked brunch. Cycled off to Stoke Newington, via Clissold Park, to attend the panto recalls. Parked the bike outside the theatre and bought coffee at the Yellow Warbler. Sorrel already set up in the Smith Studio…Vahan and Kat, our musical directors, were also in attendance, as well as Sarah, our SM. Saw various people…had to make a choice between three potential Princes, and two potential Rubellas. A bit of disagreement amongst us, but eventually agreed on an Italian lady as Rubella…I wasn’t terribly convinced, but some of our number knew her and felt confidant she could be worked up into the role. Adjourned around 1345…aimed for the Jolly Butchers, but it was fully booked, so I made my excuses and cycled up Church Street for a sandwich at Gail’s. Got home around 1445, ahead of Aki, who had been rowing. Listened to some footie on R5Live. Did some exercises. Rehearsed a couple of tunes with Aki. Wandered round to Brett’s at No.7 for dinner. She did a tasty spread…pea and lettuce soup, chicken filo pie with cauliflower, cheesey orzo and ricotta and spinach balls, followed by apple pie and cream. As we chatted afterward, Aki spotted a mouse in the next room…Brett charged up a mousetrap with chocolate, and we made a hurried exit!

Saturday 27th September 2025

Got up around 0900. Cooked brunch. Did my exercises. Vacuumed the car. Aki made savoury Japanese pancake for lunch. Watched the first half of the Women’s Rugby World Cup final…England looked on the road to lifting the trophy. Wandered up to No.127 for a meet up with the Scottish folk band, hosted by Katherine and George. Had a meet to chat about taking things forward…resolved to meet monthly and to try and learn tunes by heart. Sat down to a tasty vegetarian supper…chickpea and spinach curry with rice and naan, followed by German apple pie with creme fraiche. We then spent an hour on a couple of tunes to kick start our honing of the repertoire. All in all a very enjoyable evening. Got home around 2100. Watched an episode of Hotspot, The Ten, and MOTD before bath and bed…

Friday 26th September 2025

Woke around 0330 but got back to sleep again OK…woke again around 0730…dozed before getting up and bringing tea back to bed. Aki up preparing herself a packed lunch. Got up and porridged. Aki left for JCUK lunchtime get-together in west London. Did my exercises. Lunched. Set off for Holborn and a return visit to the Garden Cinema. Watched Di Caprio’s new movie, One Battle After Another…well put together, good performances (Sean Penn as watchable as always)…but what a load of old nonsense…stretched my credibility too far! Caught a bus to Oxford Circus and hooked up with Aki at the Photographers Gallery. Exhibition celebrating the work of Dennis Morris…who bunked off school when he was 14 to go ask Bob Marley for a photo, and got hired as his tour photographer on the spot…and the rest is history. He went on to work with the big names of the punk scene. Very enjoyable…got my photo taken with Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious. Got home by 1915…Aki rustled up a quick salmon dinner. Watched Japanese comedy drama series Hotspot before bath and bed…

Thursday 25th September 2025

Woke at 0330, but managed to nod back off fairly readily on this occasion. Woke around 0800. Brought tea back to bed before getting up and porridging. Much pain in my left foot…managed 11,000 steps yesterday which may have summat to do with it! Did my exercises. Early lunch...warmed up the chickpea and carrot soup. Limped to the bus stop to catch a No.253 bus to Finsbury Park, then a tube train to Holborn. Early dinner at a Japanese restaurant…good value at £22. Walked around the corner to meet Tammy at the Garden Cinema for a showing of Japanese movie, Happyend. The girls seemed to enjoy it, but I found it rather dull…struggled to stay awake. Got home around 2000. Aki worked at the computer…I watched some telly before bath and bed…

Wednesday 24th September 2025

Woke around 0400. Took ages to get back to sleep…seems to be becoming an unwanted routine! Aki up early to ready for rowing…she’d cycled off by the time I got up to make tea. Took it back to bed with me…read some Chuzzlewit. Porridged. Did my exercises. Aki back in time for lunch. I departed thereafter for a tooth-hurty dental appointment…I think that’s the first time that’s happened in my 67 years. I haven’t been to the dentist for about 20 years…supposedly NHS but had to fork out at reception. Seen by a young Asian lady and her Slavic assistant…they were great…took x-rays which came back OK, though some filling required, and I was booked in for a thorough clean with the hygienist next Monday…more money passed hands! Walked up to Kissawa near Highbury Fields for a coffee, then walked home via Waitrose. Aki cooked pasta with homemade pesto, plus tomatoes and vegetables. 

Walked to Holloway Road tube station and took a train to Covent Garden, from whence we ambled down toward the river and the RSA. Had tickets to see a documentary about a Japanese health food pioneer Yoshiko Tatsumi…marking her 100th birthday. She preaches the benefits of simple soup recipes, teaching doctors and nurses how to cook up life enhancing broth for their patients…came out feeling hungry! Repaired to the RSA bar, which is housed in an C18th building originally occupied by the Adelphi Tavern and Coffee House. The interior decor now has a very modern vibe, and we sat by the groovy fireplace and enjoyed a cocktail before heading home on the tube from Covent Garden…

Tuesday 23rd September 2025

Woke at 0430…took ages to get back to sleep. Back giving me gip again! Got up at 0830 and took tea back to bed. Got up at 0930 and porridged. Aki cycled off to the fishmonger on Essex Road. Did my exercises. Pinged off my CV to the Vic…see what happens. Made carrot, harissa and chickpea soup for lunch. Travelled into Oxford Street to look at cushions in John Lewis’s…bought three of a bright yellow hue that will sit well on our grey sofa suite. Aki headed for home with the purchases…I ran an errand for a chum, picking up a DVD from HMV that needs sending on to him in Spain. Bought some underwear in M&S. Walked down North Audley Street and enjoyed a crepe in the Mercato before getting a bus to Tottenham Court Road. Popped in to Regent Sounds on Denmark Street then headed for home on a No.29 bus. Aki cooked mackerel for dinner with rice and yams. She went off to a site meeting on the Haringey Ladder…I had a bath and watched some football before Aki got back…early to bed…

Monday 22nd September 2025

Slightly better night’s sleep…woke at 0330 and 0630. Got up at 0830 and brought tea back to bed. Got up and porridged. Sat at the computer composing emails. Managed to attach a different photo to my Theatrical CV ahead of pinging it off to the New Vic Theatre. Kath sent a photo of dad, having returned from eye hospital…hopefully one cataract down! Put a salt beef salad lunch together. Did some exercises. Sat and read some Dickens…just starting Martin Chuzzlewit…it’s a big one! Did my exercises plus a little voice work. Aki warmed up chicken curry and dal for dinner. Watched a bit of telly. Early bath…

Sunday 21st September 2025

Woke around 0530 and didn’t really manage to get back to sleep. Aki up at 0800 to ready for rowing. She brought me a mug of tea before cycling off. Porridged. Watched some athletics before catching a No.253 bus to Stamford Hill…stuck my head in at BHF store to check on the price they’d put on our old sofa…£285!!! Walked down the hill to the cafe next to the Rowing Club…got there just as Aki’s boat pulled in. I bagged seats at the cafe. Most of the usual crew rocked up. Enjoyed a full English, though had to listen to Oz burbling on about talking trees! Aki cycled home via Waitrose…I walked through Springfield Park and jumped on a No.253 back to Finsbury Park. Getting busy, as Arsenal due to kick off against Man City at 1630. Aki cooked a mushroom risotto for dinner. Kath FaceTimed from High View…dad in for cataract removal tomorrow morning. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed…

Saturday 20th September 2025

Got up around 0800…feeling a little tender today…must have overdone it a bit yesterday. Aki cycled up to the Farmer’s Market to buy bread. I prepped brunch. Popped round to the GP to have the steristrips removed…nurse seemed to think they had done a good job of the stitching but it looks a bit of a mess to me…the white bits are scar tissue, apparently. Watched some athletics. 

Wandered up to the Sussex Way street party for a spot of lunch. Low turnout this year…but enjoyed a sausage sarnie and a chicken drumstick. A handful of Book Club members hanging about. Stayed and chatted for a couple of hours before retiring for a tea and a sit down. Aki seemed some chicken for dinner, which we ate with the leftover vegetable stir fry. Watched “Ordinary People” on Prime. Robert Redfords’s 1980 directorial debut…bit of a slow burner, but nice performances, particularly from Mary Tyler Moore, cast against type as an angry, emotionally frigid wife…and a youthful Timothy Hutton.

Friday 19th September 2025

Another fitful night….Aki up early to ready for Rowing Club. I got up and took a tea back to bed. Porridged. Message from Bob Eaton suggesting I write to the casting director at the Vic. Did my ironing. Walked down to Upper Street in the late summer sunshine, stopping off for a coffee and a muffin at La Maison on t’other side of Highbury Fields. Bought a custard flan, and a mushroom quiche, at Belle Epoche, then jumped on a No.43 bus back home. Aki back for lunch. Started working on trying to track down cast and crew from the three New Vic productions of Good Golly with the intention of organising a get together on opening night of next year’s new production. Watched some athletics. Aki prepared a prawn stir fry for dinner…Katrina coming round to eat with us. She rocked up after 1700. Aki cooked up some stir fry prawns and vegetables, served with rice. She and Katrina headed off to catch a bus to Upper Street to see The Pitchfork Disney at the Kings Head theatre, Katrina taking my seat. I watched a bit of telly then bathed. Aki got back around 2130…they seemed to have enjoyed it, dark though the material was!

Thursday 18th September 2025

Another very fitful night’s sleep. Abdominal spasms still going on…and a bout of coughing didn’t help! Got up at 0830. Made tea. Car still outside. Porridged. Ventured out…headed for the garage on Camden Road intending to enquire as to whether I ought to get the car key signal changed…but after waiting in reception for five minutes and no-one coming to my assistance, I walked on down Holloway Road to the little auto parts shop where I get my engine top up oil. They sold Faraday pouches, but explained that these were only relevant for keyless car technology, so not relevant to my situation…so how did the thief get into the car, and lock it on exiting!?! It’s a mystery! Walked home via Waitrose. Watched World Championship athletics. Put some lunch together…salt beef and a fig salad. Had my first bath in two weeks. Aki popped out to the library. Feeling very tired after two lousy nights sleep. Warmed up Aki’s spicy chicken tray take for dinner.

Wednesday 17th September 2025

Took ages to get to sleep…shouldn’t have taken an afternoon nap yesterday! Got up around 0815…Aki cycled off to Rowing Club, convinced the rain was going to stay away. I fired a text message off to Bob Eaton to see if there was any chance of getting cast in next year’s New Vic revival of Good Golly Miss Molly. Porridged. Did some exercises before settling down in front of the athletics. Aki back for lunch. I went for a late afternoon walk, as I’d not had any exercise for two weeks. Took it slowly. As I walked back I walked past my car and noticed the wing mirrors were deployed…I accused Aki of having left the car unlocked for two weeks, but when we tried the doors, they were locked. Items had obviously been tampered with inside…my binoculars were missing, and my night driving glasses. We assume the car key has been cloned. Tried in vain to get through to the police via 101…reported the incident online instead. Had hoped to ask whether this meant someone could gain access to the car at will, but no such luck. Eventually got a report back together with a crime reference number…tried the helpline number on the report and got through surprisingly quickly. But the guy on the phone didn’t know enough about cars to help out with my queries…I’ll need to phone VW tomorrow. Watched ‘Toxic Town’. Decided to unload what was left in the car in case it was going to get stolen tonight! Hope it’s still there in the morning…!!!

Monday 15th September 2025

Woke at 0515….felt uncomfortable so got up walked around the living room for a bit. Halved my dose of painkillers yesterday, which may have something to do with it. Got back into bed around 0615 and managed to sleep for a couple of hours. Got up and porridged. Had a semi-shower before walking round to the GP surgery to have the wound dressing removed…Tanya left the steristrips on, saying they’d fall off in their own good time…I’m to call in on her on Saturday so she can give the wound a final once-over. Walked home…very windy out and about! Watched World Championship athletics. Aki made ramen soup for lunch. Watched the astonishing Mondo Duplantis break the world pole vault record…for the 14th time!!! Aki cycled up to Helen and Martin to pick up some of their homemade plum compote…we’ve plans to turn it into spoom for the freezer. Warmed up a chicken curry with dal and rice for dinner. Aki had a JCUK zoom meeting in the evening. 

Tuesday 16th September 2025

Woke around 0230…had to get up and walk about for half an hour. Managed to get back to sleep. Got up around 0900…porridged. Watched athletics. Made lunch…which was interrupted by a coughing fit…extremely painful abdominals!!! Like getting stabbed! Matthew phoned from Savills…had a chat about the op, and Moby Dick. He lives in Brighton…but didn’t come see the show. Aki cycled off to Sainsbury’s at Angel. She cooked trout for dinner, with buckwheat and vegetables. Watched Cate Blanchett’s magnificent performance in ‘Tar’ on the iPlayer. A gripping two-and-a-half hours! Got a message from Sean in Stoke alerting me to the fact that Bob Eaton is to mount a revival of Good Golly Miss Molly at the Vic in Stoke next spring…got to wondering if I might put myself up for the role of Grandad…!!!

Sunday 14th September 2025

Got up around 0830…lower back giving me gip. Tea. Porridge. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club. Watched the Canelo v Crawford fight and World Athletics Championships. Aki back for lunch…cooked a mozzarella and mushroom omelette. Sat about listening to music…and reading the Rapunzel script…it’s all rather uninspiring. One or two of the ‘topical’ gags lead me to surmise it was written in 1987! Rained for most of the afternoon. Had a lie down and listened to the Manchester derby. Aki cooked a tasty chicken traybake for dinner. Watched ‘Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams’…great stuff. 

Saturday 13th September 2025

Slept through until 0900…got up for tea. Aki cycled off to Yerbury Farmer’s Market to buy bread, returning to make brunch. Abs feeling slightly better every morning…much less painful getting out of bed, but my abdominal muscles go into spasm every morning…sort of yawning, but it means the belly gives me gip for hours thereafter. Sat and watched the World Athletics championships from Tokyo. Aki cycled over to Waitrose to buy some supplies. She cooked hake for dinner, with black beans and tomato sauce. Watched a bit of MOTD before bed…

Friday 12th September 2025

Woke around 0900. Belly painful after yesterday’s walking. Numbness in my heels for some bizarre reason. Got up…Aki had made tea. Porridged at the dining table. Aki departed for town…meeting up with Tammy for lunch and art at the National Gallery. Listened to music and did a bit of doom scrolling. Made a tuna salad for lunch. Aki returned around 1500, dodging the showers. Abdominal pain showing no signs of retreating. Kath phoned from High View to pass on the news that dad had signed a contract to have his novel published...on further examination, this turned out to be via vanity publishing house, Austin MacCauley, who were stinging him for £4,000 for the privilege! Dad seems happy with the prospect...I just hope he's not counting on getting any of his money back. Aki had bought some Greek style pork shoulder for dinner, which we ate with black beans, rice and vegetables. Watched "Sing Street"...a third rate coming of age movie surrounding a young Dublin schoolboy who finds escape from a traumatic school and home life through forming a band with some random school mates...not a patch on either "Once", nor "The Commitments"...

Thursday 11th September 2025

Slept through until 0800…a sign of progress at long last! Got up and made tea. Porridged at the computer. Finished filing my phone photo collection. Aki made soup for lunch. Took a semi-shower in the bath tub. Aki went out to fulfil a dental appointment…I followed shortly thereafter to attend the GP surgery. The nurse removed my wound dressing. She seemed to think it was healing well, but applied a new dressing, suggesting I come back on Monday. Walked up to Tesco and bought some odds and ends. By the time I got home my belly felt painful. Aki was back when I got in…her dental application had gone to plan. She cooked dinner…ravioli with a tomato sauce, before heading off to No.120 for Book Club. 

Wednesday 10th September 2025

Managed to sleep through until 0545. Had to get up to use the facilities…it remains an agonising manoeuvre, which sets my day up very negatively. Made tea and sat at the computer for a bit. Aki got up at 0800. Porridged at the dining table. Feel very tired this morning…could happily sleep standing up, but for the risk of falling over! Aki cycled off to Rowing Club, hoping to dodge the showers. Watched a panto on YouTube which had been produced at the Old Vic about 20 years ago, and screened on ITV…pinching ideas for audience participation. Aki back for lunch. She put an egg and halloumi salad together. Sat about working on moving photos about on my iCloud apps. Aki warmed up the remains of the salmon and couscous meal we'd had the other night, for dinner. Watched the new Mitchell and Webb sketch show on C4...the production values are very high...beautifully lit and shot, but the material is patchy...though we very much enjoyed the airport security gate staff!!! Felt generally a bit more comfortable for most of the day, though getting pain in the abdomen again come the evening. Hope tomorrow's appointment with the nurse moves things on in a positive direction...

Tuesday 9th September 2025

Woke around 0515…dozed until 0600…my back too uncomfortable to sustain a much needed lie-in. Got up and made tea. Sat at the computer for a bit before porridging. Aki got up around 0830. Listened to music and tried to nod off at the dining table. Put a chicken salad lunch together. Aki cycled off to Clerkenwell to look at tiles…we’ve decided to abandon the shower tray commission, and instead go for wedi board and a large, quartered, non-slip tile. It hailed while she was out and about! She returned home via Waitrose. Pasta and a tomato sauce with meatballs for dinner. Cheese and biscuits for afters. Watched England thrash Serbia. In much discomfort this evening…not looking forward to trying to lie down in bed…

Monday 8th September 2025

Managed to sleep through until 0500. Too uncomfortable to stay in bed so got up and made tea, and sat at the computer. Nodded off a bit in the chair. Belly remains very sore. Can’t help feeling that I’ve popped my stitches every time I’m forced to engage my stomach muscles! Porridged and downed my opioids for breakfast. Sat about trying to make the hours go faster, with little success. Aki made lunch. I phoned the GP…made an appointment with the nurse to have my dressing removed on Thursday. Aki made a dal to have with a defrosted chicken korma for dinner. Filled an hour or so by downloading Amazon’s photo storage app…unlimited storage means I can start deleting photos currently stored on my iPhone…

Sunday 7th September 2025

Woke around 0215 in great discomfort…very painful having to utilise my stomach muscles to get out of bed. Sat at the computer for a bit, killing time, before nodding off fitfully in the office chair. Couldn’t face going back to bed so killed time reading the BBC website on the iPad. Porridged at 0830 so as to take an opioid. Aki got up around 0900. I sat at the dining table for the rest of the morning trying not to move. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club. I prepared lunch before she returned…had mine on my own as I needed to take my opioid with food. Now in constant pain…feel as if I’ve been run through with a Samurai sword! Somehow got through a long afternoon. Aki cooked salmon for dinner. Kath FaceTimed from High View where they were marking mum and dad’s 68th wedding anniversary with chicken tikka masala. Listened to the US Open tennis final between Alcaraz and Sinner…start delayed by security checks as Trump decided to show up…

Saturday 6th September 2025

Woke around 0245 needing the loo…absolute agony rolling out of bed. Walked around the living room for a bit, too terrified to try and lie down again! Sat at the computer and did a bit of work reconciling the Rapunzel script…managed to nod off for a bit a couple of times, in the chair. Aki appeared around 0945. Feeling in constant discomfort now. Aki prepared a late brunch. Sat about waiting in vain for the dreaded bowel movement!!! Aki persuaded me into bed before she cycled off into town to run a couple of errands. Managed to get a couple of hours sleep. She brought me tea and a fruit salad once she’d returned, all of which I managed to consume whilst lying in a prone position! Dozed until dinner time…Aki cooked a tasty pork stir fry. Managed a bowel movement at last. Got back into bed and got some shut-eye…

Friday 5th September 2025

Woke at 0215 needing the loo...very painful rolling out of bed. Managed to get back to sleep, though...slept through to 0815. Aki already up readying herself for Rowing Club. I got up and porridged as she cycled off. Listened to the radio and exercised by walking around the living-room a few times, as if in the prison yard. The painkillers don't seem to be doing much, though I guess there's an argument that things would be worse if I didn't take them...one of them is an opioid...if I run out I can probably get some off the drug dealer on the street outside the front door! Sat at the computer for a bit to work on LPAs for dad...emailed him some queries. Also emailed Will, saying he could stand down as my executor, having recently drawn up a fresh will. Aki back for lunch. She cycled off afterward to her hairdresser on Essex Road. I had a doze in bed and listened to 6Music. Very painful getting out of bed to sit at the dinner table. Still no sign of a bowel movement…constipation on top of this would probably finish me off! Aki warmed up Spanish chicken pie from freezer, served up with plenty of vegetables. Started reading the panto script…it’s not very good…if Sorrel wanted to direct a traditional panto she really could have chosen a trad panto storyline…Dick Whittington, Cinderella, Mother Goose. Very tired by 2300…rolled into bed, an act that is becoming increasingly painful!!!

Thursday 4th September 2025

Woke at 0245 with uncomfortable back pain…had to get up and do some stretches. Doesn’t bode well for my hernia op recovery!!! Managed another couple of hours sleep eventually. Aki drove me to the Whittington for 0700. Surprised to find so many people on the waiting area…there weren’t enough seats, and the reception desk hadn’t opened! Got my name called around 0730 and walked in to the treatment centre. A couple of Filipino nurses took my details ahead of a visit from the Indian anaesthetist. 

The surgeon, Dr Rama, also introduced himself and explained I would be having open surgery, which involves pushing the hernia back in and sewing up the hole! I’m first up. Anaesthetic involved the usual general anaesthetic. They took me down to theatre at 0800 on foot. They decided not to add a spinal anaesthetic, as it meant keeping me in overnight, though they numbed the belly with a local. Came round at about 1100 and was wheeled back up to recovery. Given tea and a marmalade sandwich, which I had to make myself. Passed water, as instructed…got message from Aki saying new furniture had been delivered, and old furniture taken away…Tom from No.99 took the armchair. 

Aki came to get me in the car. New furniture looks great…parked myself in the armchair for the rest of the afternoon. Downed my painkillers, but feeling sore, especially when I cough! Kept myself hydrated. Aki cooked a chicken and mushroom broth for dinner. Managed to stay awake until The Ten. Can't bath, as I'm not to get the dressing wet, so climbed painfully into bed around 2300. Don't know if it's the fact of the earlier cough, or that the anaesthetics are wearing off, but the wound is very sore, especially when engaging the surrounding musculature in getting into or out of a chair, or into and out of bed...hoping I haven't coughed the stitches out!

Wednesday 3rd September 2025

Got up around 0800 and made tea. Porridged. The Ebay auction on the sofa ended without a sale, so I crossed the road to the British Heart Foundation second hand furniture store, and they agreed to come by to collect it tomorrow. They wouldn't take the armchair, as they reckoned the re-upholstery job invalidated any fire safety certification. I put it on Gumtree for £0 in the hope that someone would turn up to take it away. Spoke to the Bolton-based bespoke shower tray people...looks like we are going to go with them...slightly less sophisticated than the Woking bunch, but considerably cheaper. Did some gardening out front ahead of my incapacitation, and Aki moved her plant pots to one side to facilitate the exit/entry of various bits of furniture over the next day or two. Moved the sofa over to the other side of the room just in case the new one turns up tomorrow before the old one has been shipped out! Made a chicken salad lunch. Did some exercising. Signed up to Freecycle and stuck the armchair on there in the hope that someone would get back to me today. Cooked Jamie Oliver's meatball traybake for dinner, with tagliatelle. Spent most of the evening trying to get someone interested in taking the armchair off our hands for free...got some interest from the Denizens...see what happens. Back causing me some gip…I overdid it today on the chores! Early bath and bed...set the alarm for 0530…

Tuesday 2nd September 2025

Woke at 0745. Got up and made myself tea. Ebay auction of the armchair ended last night with no bids…messaged a bloke on Gumtree who had offered £100 a couple of weeks ago saying he could have it for £75…getting desperate now! Aki cycled off to the fishmongers before returning to cook omelette for lunch. I did the vacuuming. I walked across to Morrison’s and then Waitrose to do a small shop for ingredients for tomorrow night’s dinner. Did my exercises. Aki made poke bowls for dinner with sashimi and rice. Kath phoned just as we were about to sit down to eat...she'd taken dad to the eye hospital for pre-cataract procedures, and he'd had to put eye drops in, which had made everything blurry. Hopefully he'll get procedured within the month! Nowt on telly. Early bath and bed...

Monday 1st September 2025

Slept through until 0900. Got up and porridged. Invoiced Savills for the work I’d done in August. Aki popped out to the dentist…they ordered her a new bespoke retainer. Kath FaceTimed from High View. Dad at eye hospital tomorrow. Lunched on tinned fish and salad. We took a walk up Camden Road to Bread by Bike, to buy bread, and bought some pasta in the Italian deli. Managed to miss the rain. Walked home via Tufnell Park Road. Aki cooked a mushroom risotto for dinner. Watched a bit of telly…not much of interest on though. Bath and bed…

Sunday 31st August 2025

Woke around 0800 after a good night's sleep. Got up and made tea. Did some exercises...my back hurting a bit after yesterday's car journey. Aki got up and picked tomatoes out front before doing a little work at the computer. I cooked breakfast. Drove over to Stamford Hill and parked up…walked down to the river and along the towpath to the Rowing Club. They were holding a regatta. Caught up with a few club members, and walked the length of the course. I’ve never found it a particularly invigorating spectacle, but I enjoyed an ice cream. We headed for Waitrose in Holloway to do a shop before they closed. Cooked a roast chicken dinner. Nowt on telly. Early bath and bed…