Sunday 30th November 2025

Rose early. Porridged then headed for Stoke Newington. Got there too early so sat in Leo’s cafe with a sausage and egg sandwich and a mug of tea. The cast and crew gathered at the theatre to start the get in. I was on milk rotor, but was sufficiently disgusted by the stench when I opened the fridge door to embark on giving it a thorough clean. Wandered up to Morrison’s to buy some snacks and tea bags, milk etc. Lunched on chicken soup from the little Caribbean pop up round the corner. Ate in the theatre bar. Helped Rosie comb out Rapunzel’s wig…took two hours! Knocked off around 1630 and headed home. Aki had injured her arm in a minor fall at rowing club so I was tasked with cooking the carbonara for dinner. FaceTimed Kath…Dad seemed reasonably happy, though had been feeling nauseous on the morphine, and is now refusing to take any more! Watched some telly before bath and bed…

Saturday 29th November 2025

Got up around 0830. Walked up to the garage on Marlborough Road to see how they were getting on…my car was up on the lift. They are wanting to replace a part, so not ready to drive away yet. Left them to it and walked down to Jolene’s for coffee and a pain au suisse. Headed to Stoke Newington and caught up with members of the panto cast who had been wandering Church Street giving out flyers. Lunched on chicken wings and chips in the underwhelming Cod & Brew. Returned to the theatre…full run in the studio with sound effects. Looking good. Got a 106 bus back to Finsbury Park…lentil and aubergine bake for dinner. Aki had been to a Japanese flower arranging workshop in Camden, and had brought back some of her work to decorate the flat…really good. Watched some telly before bath and bed…

Friday 28th November 2025

 

Woke to alarm at 0730. Got up and dressed, then drove the car up to the garage on Marlborough Road for a service. Haven’t used them before…when I rocked up the guy had no record of my booking! Only spoke to him yesterday! Not an encouraging start! Left it with them and walked home via Jolene’s, where I took coffee. Phoned Kath…not much news…still waiting to hear whether dad was moved to the Freeman during the night. Did some work on the laptop. Got a call from Graham Fellows inviting us to a party tonight to mark 40 years of John Shuttleworth. Managed another hour or so at the computer after lunch. Email received offering me an audition for the role of Grandad in next April’s production of Good Golly Miss Molly at the Vic in Stoke. 

Headed for Stoke Newington via a couple of buses…dinner booked at Calong on Church Street. Very tasty Korean European fusion food. Walked round to the Tower to see their production of Festen. Strange piece…short, and intense…needed more rehearsal and better actors, frankly. Had a cab waiting outside the venue to drive us to the Phoenix Club in Tottenham Court Road. Bumped into the comedian Paul Foot on the stairs. Said a brief hello to Graham, and chatted with an old fellow named Hugh who lived in a flat below Graham in north London in the 1980s…turned out to be a retired surveyor. Enjoyed our free drink and made for home. City centre was rammed…as was Leicester Square tube station. 

Thursday 27th November 2025

Woke around 0800. Kath phoned to say she’d gotten home at 0130, having seen dad into a bed ahead of a scan on his pelvis later today, hopefully. The A&E department at the RVI sounded like a war zone! Jim and Emma had stayed with mum at High View. Read some Dickens before rising for porridge. Did a couple of hours at the laptop. Soup for lunch. Then another couple of hours work. Update from Kath. Dad is to be transferred to the Freeman…still awaiting scan results though. Cooked the venison stew; made some bread dumplings to go with it. Very tasty! Watched Daddy Issues before bath and bed…

Wednesday 26th November 2025

Woke around 0800. Aki up to ready for rowing club. She’d cycled off by the time I got up at 0845. 1030 appointment with my dentist…I had complained of a little pain when chewing in the tooth she had re-filled last month. She shaved a bit more off. Said she was bringing her kids to our panto on 12th…can introduce her to Aki as she’s taking her rowing crew along that night. Walked home via the butcher on Essex Road, and did a little shop in Waitrose. Text from Kath saying dad had been carted off to hospital in an ambulance. Await further updates. Made lunch. Managed a couple of hours at the computer before dinner…warmed up Aki’s chicken curry, served with peas pilau and dal. Yum! Headed for Stokey…staggered through another run, but two players out ill, which doesn’t help at this stage. Didn’t finish notes until 2230. Got home around 2300…which meant the roads had cleared following the Arsenal v Bayern game. Kath still waiting with dad in A&E…

Tuesday 25th November 2025

Up around 0900…porridged. Worked at my laptop for a couple of hours, writing up my inspection sheets. Drove down to the fishmonger on Essex Road and parked in a side street. Still getting the warning lamps on my dash…so called out the AA. Wandered about Angel for an hour waiting for a van to show up. Aki showed up on her bike…she wanted to visit the fishmonger ahead of making tonight’s dinner. The AA chap ran a diagnostics test and reckoned the turbo pressure valve needed replacing…he cleared the warning lamps, but said they’d probably come back at some point…the valve might fail in which case the engine would lose power, but the car would still be driveable. Drove home for lunch…Aki did a ramen soup. Managed another hour and a half at the laptop. Aki made the fish stew…very tasty. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed…

Monday 24th November 2025

Had a lie in and read some Chuzzlewit. Got up and porridged then did a couple of hours at the computer. Checked the oil in the car…looked OK. Still getting the warning lights and messages. Phoned VW as it’s time to book in for a service…they recommended a diagnostic test…at an additional £250! Lunched on soup and a boiled egg. Managed another couple of hours at the laptop. Aki cooked an aubergine and lentil bake for dinner. I headed off for panto rehearsals. Polished up a couple of the dance routines…looking good. 

Sunday 23rd November 2025

Woke around 0900. Aki cooked omelette for brunch before cycling off to rowing club. I did a couple of hours work before a light lunch…chicken soup. Aki back early afternoon. Did another couple of hours at the computer before warming up the last of the chicken chasseur. Cinnamon bun and ice cream for afters. Watched the Black Swan before catching Arsenal on MOTD…Eze starred in a demolition of north London rivals Spurs.

Saturday 22nd November 2025

Woke around 0815. Aki cycled off to market for bread while I prepared brunch. Text message from Kath to say dad in pain…lower back trouble. Gave mum a ring…dad up and about but needing his walking stick. I caught a bus to Stamford Hill, heading in for Panto rehearsal. Damp day, but not as cold as of late. Picked up a sarnie from Pret. Ran the whole show with some added props and costume. Lines were a bit all over the shop, but they got through it. They all went off to a karaoke club in Dalston…I made my escape, getting home in time for dinner. Kath rang…dad still being violently sick. Keeping an eye on him…see what he’s like tomorrow morning. Meatballs, puttanesca sauce, and pappardelle for dinner. Watched some telly. MOTD included Newcastle’s victory over Manchester City…Sunderland lost at Fulham. 

Friday 21st November 2025

Alarm at 0750. Descended for breakfast in the pub next door. Did an hour at the laptop before checking out and completing the inspections. Skipped lunch in order to maximise the working daylight. Finished up in Strood around 1600. Celebrated with soup in M&S. Headed for home. Surprised at how clear the Blackwall Tunnell Approach was…the toll seems to be doing its job. Equally surprised at how dire the traffic was from then on! Worrying warning lamp on my dash…no idea what it meant so drove on…without mishap. Aki baked trout for dinner. Watched Daddy Issues…a bit gross, but laugh out loud funny. Bath and bed…

Thursday 20th November 2025

Alarm at 0800. Descended for breakfast. Quite bright out but 1C…blinkin’ freezin’! Inspections in Chatham today. Broke for lunch and walked through town to the Shopping Centre…which appears to be undergoing a major redevelopment…about time! Had a baked potato in Subway, and got some odds and ends in Sainsbury’s. Ended the working day on the Weeds Wood estate. Dined in the pub annexed to the Premier Inn…too cold to venture out. 

Wednesday 19th November 2025.

Alarm at 0800. Descended for breakfast in the pub next door…sat at a table which afforded views of the traffic congestion on Watling Street. Grey, damp looking day. Inspections in Rochester and Strood. Had to to a lot of walking…bloody cold out! Lunched on a baked potato in Morrison’s and bought some odds and ends in M&S. Ended the working day in Wainscott, then drove back to the Premier Inn. Drove to Chatham Docks for dinner at the Ship & Trades. Crab linguine was very tasty. Back at the hotel I FaceTimed Aki. Nowt on telly. Got in to bed and nodded off to some music…

Tuesday 18th November 2025

Alarm at 0800. Got up and porridged. Warmed some soup for the thermos flask. Packed a bag and drove off for Strood. Got there about 1130. Shopped for some lunch in M&S, then drove to Hoo to start inspections. Ate my lunch in the car on Knights Road. Ended the working day in the gloaming in Rochester, then headed for the Premier Inn on Gillingham Business Park. FaceTimed Aki from my room. She’s booking tickets for the panto. Drove over to Chatham Docks to pick up fish ‘n chips from the Ship & Trades, and brought my dinner back to have in my room…watched Scotland v Denmark…cracking game which saw Scotland win 4-2 after scoring twice in injury time! They overhaul Denmark at the top of the group and qualify for their first World Cup since 1998!

Monday 17th November 2025

Got up around 0830. Porridged. Did a couple of hours at the computer. Did my exercises. Popped out for stationery before Aki warmed up the bonne femme soup for lunch. Did another couple of hours at the computer before early dinner. Headed off for Stoke Newington for rehearsals. Another stagger through Act I…I acted as prompt. Needs a lot of polishing. Home a little after 2230…bath and bed.

Sunday 16th November 2025

Alarm at 0800. Got up and did some back exercises before preparing brunch. Walked to Southgate Road, via Da Mario’s deli in Highbury Barn, where I purchased some chestnut flower. Rocked up at Martin and Janet’s house at No.201 Southgate Road at 1045. Janet let me in, and I found Paul Graves and a couple of writers already sat in the huge living room. I was gobsmacked by the size of the house…our flat could fit within the square footage of their living room…there was a lower ground floor kitchen, small dining room, and two floors of bedrooms! Must be worth around £2m!!! Slowly the rest of the day’s protagonists turned up…about 12 writers, and a similar number of actors. The idea was to split up into small improv teams….i hooked up with the very excellent Helen McGill, and the enthusiastic Tom Lafferty, and we worked with three writers in the dining room…the theme was The Day in the Life of a Park Bench. Sandwich lunch was laid on in the kitchen. Surprised to learn from our host, Martin South, that he’s working as a West End understudy on Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Worked for another couple of hours in our dining room space…played spies meeting on a park bench, park rangers finishing their day shift, bat enthusiasts, and ghost hunters! Overall a very enjoyable day’s play. Caught a 141 bus up to Manor House, then a 253 toward home. Aki cooked a carbonara for dinner. Watched some telly before bath and bed.

Saturday 15th November 2025

Woke around 0830. Aki cycled off to buy bread. I prepared brunch. Did my exercises. Did a little more prep work ahead of next week’s inspections. Read some Shirley Jackson. Aki popped out for a dental appointment. Had some toast and almond butter for lunch, and an apple. Did some work on VP research for the MHS stock. Aki warmed up the aubergine tagine she’d brought home from rowing club last night…with added lamb meatballs and couscous. Lemon meringue pavlova for afters. Watched Clare Dane’s new Netflix vehicle…The Beast In Me…cracking, tense opening episode!

Friday 14th November 2025

Fitful night’s sleep…back giving me gip. Got up around 1000. Porridged. Sat about reading before doing some exercises. Too wet to contemplate going out for a walk. Made potage de bonne femme for lunch. Sat about reading. Got a call from Katrina McClean at Savills with some inspections in Chatham and Rochester. Did some prep work before dinner…mackerel with rice and miso soup. Finished off the panacotta though they still hadn’t set…so probably a non starter for our xmas menu. Watched the film ‘Shirley’, based on a novel which used semi-autobiographical detail on the latter years of writer Shirley Jackson’s life with her domineering husband…lots of references relevant to the Jackson novel I’m reading at the moment…dark but enjoyable movie.

Thursday 13th November 2025

Languished in bed reading for most of the morning. Got up at 1100 and porridged. Read some Shirley Jackson. Aki cooked omelette for lunch. We wandered over to Waitrose to do a bit of a shop. Aki left for rowing club at 1630. I made pancetta with lime syrup. I had a venison and stout pie for dinner. The pancetta hadn’t set by the time I tucked in…it was just a small bowl of lime flavoured double cream…very tasty though! Watched a Netflix documentary on art-rockers Devo…the two main protagonists went into film and TV music once their brief reign had stuttered to a halt in the mid 80s. Interesting bunch…radicalised by the killings at Kent State University in 1970, at which they were art students. Watched the second half of the England v Serbia game. Aki back about 2200. Watched Question Time…deeply uninspiring bunch on the panel…aside from the very decent Ken Clarke!

Wednesday 12th November 2025

Woke around 0900. By the time I got up Aki had cycled off to rowing club. I took porridge back to bed with me a read for awhile. Got up and did my exercises. Aki back in time for lunch. Read some Chuzzlewit. Cooked dinner…pappardelle with roasted tomatoes and chorizo sausage. Very tasty. Headed for Stokey…took a 253 to Stamford Hill and walked from there. Worked Act II. I had to read in for Sean, as he was still off sick. Got home around 2230. Bath and bed…

Tuesday 11th November 2025

Woke around 0900. Read in bed for a bit before getting up to porridge. Aki cycled off to tai chi class. Did my exercises then read some Shirley Jackson…We Have Always Lived in the Castle was her final novel, and reckoned her masterpiece. It’s darkly Gothic stuff…enjoying it. Aki back in time for lunch. Read some Dickens. Headed out around 1630. Walked to Finsbury Park station and caught a tube train to Brixton. A defective train up ahead meant we had to get off at Victoria…caught an overground train to Brixton, which meant we were a bit early for our dinner date at Kricket, an Indian restaurant in the arches beneath Brixton railway station. Had a wander round Brixton Market. 

Hadn’t realised there were quite so many eateries in there…though some looked a bit grim. Rocked up at Kricket and ordered two early bird thalis…the food was very good…especially taken with the peanut raita. Walked up Effra Road to the Hootenanny…an old pub which has been partially converted into a live music venue. We had tickets to see Japanese electro-jazz band, Mouse on the Keys…a three piece comprising electric piano, thumping drums, and a computer wizard who drew earth shaking bass notes from his machine which vibrated your body parts, even at the back of the room. They were well received by a packed house. Headed back to Brixton station…hopped on a No.196 bus as it was raining. Got in around 2300…

Monday 10th November 2025

Woke around 0800. Read in bed for a bit before rising to porridge. Did my exercises. Put a tasty lunch together. Sat about reading and listening to music for most of the afternoon…raining outside. Aki pan fried salmon for dinner, in a tasty creme fraiche sauce. Set off for Stoke Newington, getting a bus to Stamford Hill, then walking down the A10. Popped into Morrisons for an iced roll. We staggered through Act I in the Tuerk…Sean was missing, feeling unwell, so I read in his lines from stage left. Show looking in good shape, but lots of polishing to do! Got home a little after 2230…Aki ran a bath.

Sunday 9th November 2025

Woke around 0900. Aki up to ready for rowing. We porridged at the dining table. I did my exercises once she’d cycled off, and read some Shirley Jackson…very quirky, dark stuff…very enjoyable. Walked down to Highbury Corner for a fry up at The Hope Worker’s Cafe. Walked home via Waitrose. Prepared a chicken chasseur for later then walked up to the N19 with our instruments. Bit of a low turnout this afternoon…but just about enough of us to make a noise. However, when we rocked up at the pub we discovered our room had been bagged for the footie on the big screen. Tony the landlord had invested in a Sky Sports subscription, so our free rein seems to have come to an abrupt end. The five of us who had shown up convened over a beer, and decided to commandeer Ben’s front room, at his invitation, so we all walked back down to No.38. It worked out quite well, but not sure what we’re going to do next month…looks like we’ll have to take turns hosting from now on. We broke at 1800. Back home for a very tasty chicken chasseur dinner, followed by baked stuffed apples. Watched Diane Keaton in First Wives Club…all very silly but laugh out loud funny…Bette Midler is very good in it.

Saturday 8th November 2025

Woke around 0830. Aki cycled off to buy bread from Yerbury Farmer’s Market…I popped out to buy ham for brunch. Put brunch together, before driving off to Stoke Newington. Visited Bianca for a light lunch…ostensibly to talk about doing an open mic, but as I suspected, she had a lot to chat about. Trouble is, intriguing as her life sounds, she can’t seem to give her takes any context, so I’m always baffled as to what she’s taking about. Managed to escape and walk down to the theatre for afternoon of rehearsals. I’m increasingly taking a back seat…getting quite divorced from proceedings, but quite happy to sit and watch. Left at 1800 and drove myself up to Muswell Hill for Shelly’s family firework bash. There was quite a crowd.  Aki’s rowing chums showed up. The fireworks, set off in the back garden, were of a superior quality…as was the baked potato, chilli con carne, and rice afterward. Had a chat with Johanna…she’s involved with regular Moth Club sessions in Shoreditch, which sound worth a visit. Gave Becky a lift to Highgate tube, then dropped Kearsey off on the Haringey Ladder…

Friday 7th November 2025

Aki up at 0730 to ready herself for rowing club, although the forecast was for rain. My back giving me gip so couldn’t lie in…sat up in bed, reading. Got up and porridged. Did my exercises. Read a bit. Ordered a copy of Mr Nightingale’s Diary, a one act farce by CD. Aki came home for lunch and prepared a tasty ramen soup. Sat about reading and listening to music before dining early on the last of the mapo and rice. Walked to Finsbury Park and took the Victoria line to Oxford Circus…had tickets for a short film festival at Regent Street cinema…a motley collection of shorts from around Europe…the first, an animation, followed the life of an Algerian Jewish swimmer who swam for France at the Berlin Olympics, and survived Auschwitz. Enjoyed a quirky comedy short from the Faroe Islands which saw a woman pick up the head of her estranged father from the airport, then taking it round various landmarks of her youth to show him what he missed. Came out of the cinema to find it raining, but walked along Oxford Street and caught a bus home from Tottenham Court Road.

Thursday 6th November 2025

Got up around 0930. Porridged. Read a bit. My reconditioned laptop turned up courtesy of Savills IT, and I spent an hour or so setting it up. Made some lunch. Aki cycled off to Sainsbury’s at The Angel. Did my exercises. Read some Dickens before cooking dinner…chilli prawns and scallops with pasta and cherry tomatoes. We walked down to the Kings Head theatre to see ‘Fanny’, which had been recommended by one of Aki’s rowing mates…it was very disappointing…a weak farce centring around the Mendelssohns of Berlin, specifically Fanny and her more famous brother Felix, the latter apparently stealing some of Fanny’s work and passing it off as his own. The sight lines are appalling, the stage area constricted, and the set somewhat amateurish…we didn’t go back for Act II. Bussed it home in time to watch Alan Carr win Celebrity Traitors…a well deserved victory!

Wednesday 5th November 2025

Aki up at 0730 to ready for rowing club. She cycled off before I got up at 0900. Porridged.  Drove myself down to Essex Road to visit the fishmonger…Aki wants to do some sashimi for us tonight, as Tami coming round. Drove home with my purchases, then cooked cavolo Nero and butter beans in a creamy broth for lunch when Aki got back. Did some housework ahead of our guest’s arrival while Aki prepared the food. Tami showed up on time and we enjoyed a tasty dinner, though I managed to spill my miso soup all over the new rug, the wall, and my shirt and trousers. Got changed and headed for Stoke Newington…sounded like a war zone out there with fireworks going off at regular intervals. Rehearsals went well…Rosie’s choreographic skills are keeping the show on track. Got home about 2230 and watched a bit of European football before bath and bed…

Tuesday 4th November 2025

Aki up at 0800…I lay in for a bit. Eventually rose around 0900 and porridged. We walked to Finsbury Park station, where we parted company…Aki heading for Tate Modern, while I took the Piccadilly line to Leicester Square to hook up with former work colleague Martin Doughty, whose retirement do I’d missed last month. Met up in Foyles cafe. He looked in good shape…he’d had major heart problems earlier in the year that had kept him wired up in hospital for two weeks. He d also been busy sorting his mum out…and had finally managed to get her in a home a week or so ago. We then walked across town for lunch at Le Relais de Venise, stopping for a photo opportunity outside the Savills HQ in Margaret Street on the way. Parted ways on Oxford Street, and I darted round Selfridges looking in vain for a Pop Trading t-shirt to replace a favourite that went missing over the summer. Bussed home. Posted dad’s LPAs off to the OPG. Aki got back around 1600. Warmed up the last of the chicken cacciatore for dinner. Watched some telly…nice retrospective on British artist Bridget Riley, featuring an interview with Kirsty Wark.

Monday 3rd November 2025

Woke to alarm at 0815. Descended for breakfast with ma and pa before packing my bags and saying farewell…had to drag father out of the bathroom to wave goodbye. Kath drove me into town on her way to the foot hospital. I walked in to the city centre and enjoyed tea and flapjack in the cafe at Fenwicks. Wandered down Grainger Street to the Central Station. My train was delayed by 20 minutes…very busy, with people standing, but managed to secure my seat. We were 50 minutes late getting in to KX. Got home around 1615. Aki cooked mapo for dinner, then I ventured out to Stoke Newington for rehearsal. I worked with the ensemble for an hour, trying, largely in vain, to instil some character…had fun hot seating them all, and we had a rummage in the wardrobe for bits of costume that might assist in the venture. Rosie, our choreographer, took over at 2030, and I slunk off home for a bath…

Sunday 2nd November 2025

Got up around 0930. Breakfasted with ma and pa in the dining room. Prepared the apple crumble…mum helped peeling the fruit. Prepared a rice salad to have with some salmon for lunch. Kath nipped off to Peary Close to take my brown Levi work pants up…the material was too thick for the sewing machine here at mum’s. Kath and I drove over to Kingston Park after lunch to do a shop…included some Xmas essentials…a turkey crown, and a frozen roulade, as well as wine and chocolate. Jim and Emma had arrived by the time we got back. Did some food prep before having a sit down and a chocolate biscuit. Cooked a roast chicken dinner with lots of vegetables. The apple crumble was tasty enough but failed to crisp up in the oven. Watched a bit of telly. Emma and Jim sloped off to sleep in the van. I stayed up to watch Jools…enjoyed Welsh female pink band, Panic Shack.

Saturday 1st November 2025

Got up around 0830. Breakfast with ma and pa. Pottered about. Read the paper. Got dad back on the computer…had to open mum’s old computer in order to  receive a code to input into dad’s computer. My salmon salad lunch was sabotaged by Margaret…I entered the kitchen to find her preparing baked beans and cheese on toast…I added some salad so that we can at least say we attempted to get some of our five a day! Cooked up an Indian rice pudding with saffron and nuts…smelt fantastic! Kath popped out to buy me some Guinness. Took mum for a short walk down to Whinbank and back…took a handful of cooking apples that had been left in a crate outside a house on Whinfell Road…will make apple crumble tomorrow. Cooked a beef and Guinness stew for the freezer. Warmed up the last of Kath’s fish pie for dinner. Watched some telly…a rerun of 1985’s classic Edge of Darkness, with a young Joanne Whalley, though she gets killed off halfway through episode 1. Stayed up to watch MOTD…

Friday 31st October 2025

Woke around 0800. Descended for breakfast with mum and dad in the dining room. Kath disappeared off to the dentists. I cooked a sausage ragu to store in the freezer. Looking over the paperwork for dad’s LPAs I discovered Leigh had signed herself Tattersall, but dad had mis-informed me it was spelt Tattershall…popped next door to get Leigh to initial a correction. Did my exercises…back giving me much gip at the moment. Put some lunch together for mum and dad, then drove off in the Passat to do a shop at Waitrose. Cooked a chicken curry for dinner, which we had with rice, naan and vegetables. Made enough to put some in the freezer. Watched a bit of telly…

Thursday 30th October 2025

Got up around 0830. Porridged. Did my exercises. Vacuumed. Made some lunch before saying farewell to Aki and heading for KX and my train to Newcastle. Train was very busy, but non stop to Newcastle Central station. Got in ten minutes late. Bought mum some chocolates in the station shop, then nursed a half of Guinness in the Centurion while waiting for Kath to pick me up. Kath had made a fish pie, which dad had put in the oven…it was ready when we got in. Margaret looking well…Johnners too, but seems to be carrying a bit of a limp. Very warm in the house…the heating on high! Watched some telly…very loud! Had to wait until they’d all gone to bed to watch Celebrity Traitors…got to bed around midnight!