Saturday 11th April 2026

Woke at 0430, but got back to sleep. Woke again around 0800...brought a mug of tea back to bed and listened to the radio before rising. Drove in to the theatre for breakfast and a coffee. Walked down to Coral to place a couple of bets on the Grand National. Matinee performance this afternoon...need to pace myself today. About 350 in for the matinee...10% of whom are former colleagues and performers. Show went very well. Ascended to the bar to see who had turned up...mostly back room staff from yesteryear, some former stage management, and a handful of actors...Graham Fellows, who was the original Stan, Clifford Milner, who played Brian, Johnson Willis who played Stan, and Lennox Greaves who was Grandad in the 1991 production, Georgina Field, who played Bridget in the 1993 production, and now plays Lucille, and me. The wonderful Chris Martin was there...he seemed in fine fettle, despite having undergone recent cancer surgery. We repaired to the Youth Room for some sandwiches and chat, and I took some photos before sneaking out to warm up for the evening show. About 230 in...but they had a good time. My voice began to tire toward the end, as my energy drained away. Had a swift half in the bar with some of the cast and chatted to a couple of punters...surprised that people don't realise that the actor playing Grandad is the same bloke that plays Wilf. Drove back to Bakewell Street in the drizzle and fell into bed...

Friday 10th April 2026

Woke at 0430, but then slept through until 0830. Feeling a little better this morning...my feet aren't as painful. Brought a mug of tea back to bed, and listened to R6Music for a bit, before bringing another tea, and a bowl of porridge, up to bed for breakfast. Got up around 1015 and did some gentle exercises. Poor review of Good Golly in The Stage...two stars! Whoever wrote the review must have been in a very grumpy mood, as we got a standing ovation that night!!! If you don't like theatre, why on earth write about it!?! Phoned up the Upper House and booked a table for eight for Sunday lunch. Drove over to Festival Park to buy some slip on shoes at JD Sports, but they didn't stock them. Did a shop in Morrisons, then drove back to Bakewell Street to cook dinner. Chicken, ham and leek pie. Sat out in the back garden while it cooked in the oven. Drove in to the theatre. Did some exercises and warmed up the tattered vocal cords. Only about 270 in tonight, but they really enjoyed themselves. I forgot to go on with Molly's coat and handbag for the Get A Job sequence! The bar was pretty empty after the show, so I drove back to Bakewell Street for a soak in the bath...

Thursday 9th April 2026

Woke at 0430, but managed to get back to sleep on my new ergonomic pillow...woke again around 0800. Lay in bed listening to the radio. Feet are killing me...think I twisted my left foot during Wilf's drunken rendition of Hit The Road Jack last night. Brought tea and porridge back up to bed. Aki FaceTimed around 1300 from her hotel room...she and her mates were preparing to go bathe in the hotel hot spring. I got up and descended to the kitchen...put the oven on and cooked my pork Dijon ready meal, together with some sweet potato, and lots of greens. It was surprisingly tasty! Raining out...sadly the sunny weather of yesterday didn't last! It had stopped by the time I drove in to the theatre, stopping off at the Co-op in Penkhull Village to pick up a wrap to eat in the interval. Did my exercises in the guest dressing room. About 400 in this evening...they loved it, and we got another standing ovation at the end. Said hello to Matt Ganley's mum and dad in the bar before driving back to Bakewell Street. Languished in the bath listening to R6Music...mein hosts are up in Embleton viewing a cottage they are interested in purchasing...got the place to myself.

Wednesday 8th April 2026

Woke at 0600, but managed to nod back off...woke again at 0830. Languished in bed listening to Today before rising to shower. Drove into Newcastle and feasted on a Cypriot breakfast at the Greek Bakery. Won't need to eat again for the rest of the day! Drove on to Whitmore Lakes to take a look around. Unfortunately, you aren't allowed to walk around the site, as the lakes are for the enjoyment of paying customers...anglers mostly, though there is wild swimming in one of the lakes. Enjoyed a mug of tea, sat out in the sunshine...gorgeous day. Drove back to Newcastle and did a wee shop in Tesco, then popped back to Bakewell Street to make a packed lunch to eat before showtime. 

Drove to Basford for another 1330 call...more notes and scene working...got very tired. Broke around 1630. Team photo. Picked up the cervical pillow I'd ordered, which I had delivered to the theatre. Ate my very late lunch on the John Humphries memorial bench in the car park, determined to get some sun on my face. Press Night tonight. About 500 in...they lapped up the comedy, and loved the local references. Standing ovation at the end, and we reprised Good Golly Miss Molly for the encore. Showered then joined the throng in the bar. Maggie Saxon, and Lee, came over for a brief chat before they had to drive back to Northampton. Maggie looked a little frail. She's been struggling with a trapped nerve in her back after trying to lift a very heavy bag of cat litter!!! We swapped tales of nerve pain. Sean and Jenn were in the bar, and James and Anne...they'd all thoroughly enjoyed the show. Nello was in...and insisted I go over for a brief chat with him...he said I'd made him laugh...though he hadn't realised I played both Grandad, and Wilf! I crept away as the bar was shutting, and drove back to Bakewell Street to lie down on my new cervical pillow...

Tuesday 7th April 2026

Got up around 0930 feeling rather unrefreshed by my two days off! Drove to Middleport for breakfast at the Pottery cafe, adjoining the Trent & Mersey canal. Nice sunny morning, but still a bit too cold to sit out, so ate inside the Packing House. Had a browse around the gallery and shop...the latter is full of Burleigh ware...too florid for my taste! Drove on up to Tunstall to take a quick look at Hawes Street, and the improvements that fuelled our play...but it's all looking very underwhelming...needs revisiting by the architectural team! 

Drove back to Bakewell Street and put a packed lunch together, to eat before the show goes up tonight, then drove in to the theatre. Did some exercises before we met on stage to work some bits and pieces. The theatre wasn't full this evening, but well attended, and the show went well. I felt I got bigger laughs...so headed in the right direction. My arthritic feet were painful by the time I got to my final drunk scene...repaired to the bar for a quick drink, but only us Good Golly lot hanging about. Limped to my car and drove back to Bakewell Street...

Monday 6th April 2026

Woke at 0400, but managed to get back to sleep relatively quickly...next time I awoke it was 0900! Pretty good! Brought tea and porridge back to bed, and listened to the Today programme, and then some BBCR6. Nice sunny day beckoned...but a bit cold out. Drove down to Barlaston and parked up on the village green to take a long circular walk around Downs Bank...centred on a stream and verdant woodland. Bonus of a coffee stop half way round. 

Enjoyed their sausage bap, which I ate at a picnic table while FaceTiming Aki in Osaka. She'd had a fun day out with chums in ancient Nara. Walked back to the car and changed my footwear before walking on into the village. Had a sandwich lunch at The Plume of Feathers, and sat on a bench overlooking the adjacent Trent & Mersey Canal with my half of Guinness. The pub was owned by the actor Neil Morrissey, and still stocks his ales...he recently sold up, and now owns a pub in Newton Solney. Drove up through the Wedgewood Estate and parked up to take a look around...had a hot chocolate and a brownie in the gift shop, then wandered around the Wedgewood gift shop...some gorgeous stuff in there...very expensive! Drove back toward Stoke, stopping at Trentham Gardens...found myself in the outlet shopping centre...rather tawdry...but happened upon the Blue Diamond store, which I knew had Cooknet.com frozen foods for sale...bought three meals, and drove back to Bakewell Street to bung them in the freezer. Cooked up an oven ready moussaka for dinner, with greens. Watched a bit of telly in my room, then listened to some R6Music before catching The Ten...

Sunday 5th April 2026

Woke at 0100, 0200, and 0300...then managed to sleep through to 0730. Got up and brought tea back to bed, and some almond buttered toast. Aching all over! Voice a little tattered after last night's social gathering. Aki FaceTimed from Evie's in Osaka...she'd gotten to visit Ha-chan in hospital in the afternoon...she's undergoing intensive cancer treatment, and it doesn't sound as though she will be discharged before Aki returns to Tokyo. Got up around 1130 in a bid to get my act together. Sat at my laptop for a bit. Turning into a bright, sunshiny day after last night's Storm Dave. Drove to the theatre to pick up David and Georgie, then on to Rough Close for Sunday lunch at the Swynnerton Arms. As we drove along Stanley Matthews Way, the dual carriageway A50, a car came hurtling toward us going the wrong...a car two or three car-lengths in front of us in the outside lane braked suddenly, and the van behind it went into the back of it, smashing the rear window. Numerous police cars appeared in pursuit of the presumably stolen car, which had lost a tyre and was running on a wheel rim, but they went hurtling away into the distance as I watched in my wing mirror! The drivers of the van and the car it crashed into looked OK, but their vehicles will have to be towed away. We got to the pub in one piece. I went for the slow cooked beef, with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, roast vegetables, cauliflower cheese and red cabbage...the beef was melt-in-the-mouth. Excellent Sunday lunch. Learned that Georgie has a job starting in May, touring with Rude Mechanicals, and David is in two out-door shows in a park in Chester over the summer. Drove back to the theatre and dropped them off. FaceTimed Kath from my parked car...Kath, Jim and Emma were getting Sunday lunch ready for mum and dad, and apparently Ronan and Nieve were expected to join them. Spent the rest of the day in my room, too exhausted to venture back out. Got into bed and listened to the last hour or so of the West Ham v Leeds FA Cup game, then listened to music. FaceTimed Jim Lister from my bed...and was surprised to find him in bed too! Katherine is in Cayman, and he's been busy leafletting ahead of his standing for Holme Valley District Council in May, under the Greens banner. I recommended a couple of possible hotel venues for their trip to Stoke to see Good Golly Miss Molly later in the month...

Saturday 4th April 2026

Woke at 0400, and 0600...alarm at 0730. Felt relatively refreshed, though, compared to recent nights. Descended to make tea, and porridged in my room, before driving in to the theatre for a 0930 start. Warmed up, then went through notes, and worked some bits and pieces, before lunch break. Prepared for the second dress run. Tried to hold back a bit, to save some energy for tonight's full house. Went OK...I felt ready! Dinner break, followed by warm up and sound check, then they opened the house and 600 people piled in. Albert Cooper's daughter Jane had managed to find a couple of her deceased father's pipes, and I utilised one of them in my Grandad scenes. The audience were really up for a good time, and I enjoyed extracting the comedy from all my characters...the show went down a storm. Standing ovation at the end...what an amazing night in the theatre! Showered after the show before ascending to the bar. Eddie York was there, as was Sarah Mortimer, Tim Welton and Lynn Whitehead, who had all been in the 1989 production. Got collared by a woman and her daughter...turned out to be Zoe, who had worked behind the bar in 1988/1989! She'd had a bit of a fling with Graham at the time!!! Did the rounds, catching up with various people. Carol Ruggier, who had played Molly in the 1991 production, had made it up from London, in the company of her fella, Bryan. Albert Cooper's daughters, Sarah and Jane, were there too. Had a nice chat with Jenny, Liz Evans' daughter, who plays rugby for the Welsh national team. All in all, a great night. By the time I drove back to Penkhull, Storm Dave was in full swing...bits of tree in the streets! Got to bed around 0030...

Friday 3rd April 2026

Woke at 0200, 0400, and 0800...managed to nod off eventually, finally waking around 1000. Got up and brought tea and porridge back to bed with me. Did some work at the laptop, and made some first night cards. Aki FaceTimed from Tokyo, where she was enjoying dinner with Chiaki and Yoshi. They had been out enjoying the cherry blossom this afternoon. Drove in to Newcastle...parked up at Sainsburys and walked into town. Brunched at the Greek Bakery...very tasty pork gyro. I promised to return. Bought a chicken and cheese pie to take to the theatre tomorrow. Phoned Aki from a bench in the ornamental gardens. She had gone to bed feeling a little tipsy after sitting up drinking with Chiaki. She's off to Osaka tomorrow. Walked back to Sainsburys and did a shop, before driving on to Tesco to buy Ms Molly's strawberry jelly trifles to give to the girls as first night presents tomorrow. Drove back to Bakewell Street. Made some more first night cards, and had a lie down for a bit, listening to music. Ordered a cervical pillow...will hopefully be delivered to the theatre early next week. Lemon chicken risotto microwave meal for dinner, with some greens. Ate in the Morning Room and watched the first episode of series 3 of Trying...it's gone a bit soppy now the children have arrived. Hope it gets better. 

Thursday 2nd April 2026

Woke at about 0400 and don't think I really got back to sleep again. Probably dozed off around 0700, and woke again at 0800. Sat up and listened to Today, swearing every time sound clips of Trump came on! He should be put up against a wall and shot! Showered. Aki FaceTimed from Yokohama, where she is staying with Chiaki and Yoshi. News of Ha-Chan not good...sounds as though her discharge from hospital may not happen when Aki was hoping it might. 

Drove in to the theatre for brunch, prior to an 1130 call. Slow start to the working day. Got into costume for photo calls before breaking for lunch.  I sat on a bench in the car park, dedicated to the memory of big John Humphries...he was the theatre carpenter during my 1990s tenure...a grand bloke...he probably built the bench! Managed to persuade my cast mates to record a rendition of Happy Birthday to Aki, which I sent to her via WhatsApp. Did a run of the play in the late afternoon. Went OK...small invited audience, who were game for getting up and dancing. I missed a couple of entrances...just seemed to run out of oomph. Felt very weary afterward. David organised a large delivery of fish, chips and mushy peas, which we ate in the atrium before dispersing. Drove back to Bakewell Street. Mein hosts away for the night...they are watching Huddersfield v Reading tomorrow. Sat in my room nursing a Guinness before running a bath.

Wednesday 1st April 2026

Woke at 0330, and again at 0600...as per usual! Back giving me some gip, so sat up in bed for a while. Alarm at 0730. Rose slowly and descended to make tea. Lindsey was in the kitchen in her cycling lycra...she and Aidan had sold on their business yesterday, and she was now looking forward to some me time. Porridged in my room. Drove in to Basford for a 0915 start...yet another 11 hour day in prospect! Ran Act II in the pre-lunch session. Lunched on Staffordshire oatcakes in the restaurant. FaceTimed Aki as she was about to bed down for the night at Izumi's in Tokyo...they had experienced a 10 second, minor earthquake today! Ran Act I in the afternoon/evening session. All went reasonably well...broke around 2000. Repaired to the Hop Inn with some of the cast, for a half of Guinness before driving back to Bakewell Street. Got in around 2115. Took a mug of tea up to my room. 

Tuesday 31st March 2026

Woke at 0330, and again around 0600. Alarm at 0730. Got up and showered before descending to make tea. Porridged in my room. Drove to Basford for a 0915 start. Continued working through Act II. Broke for lunch at 1400. Aki sent some photos of cherry blossom in full bloom...I sent her a photo of me in my college lecturer wig beneath the magnolia tree in the theatre garden. Another long afternoon/evening session. Did Hit The Road Jack three or four times...my bad hernia repair giving me gip by the end of rehearsals. Broke at 2000 and ate my prawn salad, before driving back to Bakewell Street. No sign of mein hosts. Repaired to my room, exhausted!

Monday 30th March 2026

Woke at 0300, and at 0600. Alarm at 0800. Got up and descended to make tea. Porridged in my room. Grey, damp day. Drove to Tesco and did a little shopping...filled up with petrol...and picked up a coffee. Got to the theatre around 1000. Morning sound checking the songs in Act II, then we started Act II technical rehearsals. Tea break was marked by cake to celebrate Georgie's birthday. Broke for lunch at 1400. FaceTimed Aki, who was at Izumi's. Long afternoon session, but made good progress toward the end of the show. Broke at 2000. Feet ache. Feel very weary indeed. Ate my pre-prepared prawn salad then drove back to Bakewell Street. Lindsey was sat at the kitchen table on a zoom meeting. She said she had had a tough day...the deal to sell the business almost fell through! Retired upstairs to my room. 

Sunday 29th March 2026

Woke at 0430...my usual 0330, but the clocks had gone forward an hour! Managed to nod back off after half-an-hour, waking again at 0945. FaceTimed Aki from her hotel room in Nagano. The Buddhist ceremony had gone well, though she hadn't expected to have to pick up one of her deceased brother-in-law's bones, and drop it into the family vault! I descended to the kitchen to make tea...ate my porridge in my room. Lindsey doing a big wash, so I took up her offer to wash me smalls. Drove into Newcastle. Parked up at Morrisons and walked into town in the drizzle for a coffee, only to discover Piccoloco was closed on Sundays...had a cappuccino at Bread & Bake next door, then drove to The Secret Garden in Clayton for Sunday lunch with Sam, David, and Georgie. Very odd venue...a small 60s era unit in a little parade of shops, that has been done out in garish neon...a floor singer serenaded us through our two courses. There was half a flamingo in a feather boa in the Gents! Food was OK...the prawn cocktail didn't have any prawns in it, though...shrimp! The pork belly was OK, with roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, and a Yorkshire pudding! Dropped David off at Morrisons on my way back to Penkhull. My washing had been done, so I re-made my bed. Had a lie down for half-an-hour then got up and dined on a chocolate pudding, before driving to Hartshill to meet up with James and Anne for Vinyl Destination at The Sanctuary. Had a Guinness and listened to some Cat Power, Comsat Angels, and The Count Five. Got back to the digs around 2045. Made tomorrow's prawn salad. Listened to some music and watched some TV in my room before collapsing into bed...

Saturday 28th March 2026

Alarm at 0730. Fitful night's sleep, but not too bad. Woke at 0330, but got back to sleep after half-an-hour. Calf muscle in my left leg went into spasm on waking! Desperately need a rest! Got up and made tea. Porridged in my room. Aki FaceTimed from a hotel room in Nagano...she and Naoya had driven up with his father's ashes...Buddhist ceremony tomorrow at the graveyard family plot. Drove in to Basford for a 0930 start. Ran Act I at 1100...ran into immediate problems with the head mics, which demanded a computer reset. Run went pretty well thereafter, I thought, though there were some hiccups along the way. Broke at 1330. I cooked my chicken and mushroom pie in the oven and ate in the atrium. Drove back to Bakewell Street. My shirt had been delivered by Toast...but it's way too big, so will have to be sent back...what a palaver! Drove into Hanley and dropped the shirt off at the Post Office in the Potteries Centre, then had a wander around the city centre...very depressing! What a hole!!! Bought a microwaveable heat mask for my eye in Boots, and one for my neck in Superdrug, then wandered down to take a look at Little Dumpling King, a highly recommended eatery...looks worth a visit. Paid homage at the feet of Sir Stanley Matthews in the city centre, then drove back to Bakewell Street. Feel so tired...as if I've been run over by a steamroller! Pottered about for a bit, then drove to Hartshill for dinner at Kismet...but they were busy, and couldn't fit me in...so I ordered a takeaway, and had a swift half in the Old House At Home. Ate my dinner in the morning room at Bakewell Street, watching the last two episodes of series 2 of Trying...got a bit soppy, but lots of quirky comedy still to be had...delicious! 

Friday 27th March 2026

Alarm at 0730. Lay in for 15 minutes before rising and descending to the kitchen to make tea. Ate my porridge in my room. Feel pretty achey this morning...headache still hovering in the wings, and my bad inguinal hernia repair giving me a lot of gip! Left the strapping on my left ankle in place overnight. Drove into Basford for a 0915 start. Continued working through Act I, focussing on lights and sound. Long, drawn out process. Lunched on burrata and sun dried tomatoes, and a mushroom and chicken pasta microwaved meal. Long afternoon/evening session. Finished around 1930. Sat in the atrium and ate my pre-prepared chicken and avocado salad. Too whacked to join the gang for a beer at the Hop Inn...drove to Tesco to do a bit of shopping. Filled the fridge back at Bakewell Street. Retired to my room with a mug of mint tea and a bag of nuts!

Thursday 26th March 2026

Alarm at 0730. Left eye completely closed. Descended to make tea...brought my porridge back upstairs to eat in my room. FaceTimed Aki, but she was in a restaurant with her niece, and her fella...I gave them a wave before terminating the call. Drove in to the theatre for a 0915 start. Tweaked something in my left foot during the warm up. attempting a couple of Nureyev leaps! Got more painful as the technical rehearsal wore on. Had it strapped up before attempting the Kiss of Life choreography. 

Seemed to do the trick. Cooked a small pizza for lunch. Ate in the atrium. Plodded on with the tech for the long late afternoon session. My headache started to make an unwelcome return! Took a couple of ibuprofen. Broke at 1945. Ate my packed lunch at my dressing table before driving back to Bakewell Street. Watched the second half of the World Cup qualifier between Wales and Bosnia...corking goal from Dan James! Game went to extra time...Wales losing out i the penalty shoot out.

Wednesday 25th March 2026

Woken by my phone at 0720...it was Aki phoning from Izumi's flat in Tokyo. She'd gotten her time calculation an hour wrong. She said she'd phone back, so I went downstairs to make tea and brought my porridge back to my room. Aki rang back...she's off to meet her Ilya colleagues this evening. My left eye more swollen than it's been, but not as painful, so hopefully things are on the mend! Drove in to Basford for a 0915 start. Gentle warm up in the SJR. Then into costume, donning our battery packs and head mics, for an elongated sound check. Tea break saw a theatre community get-together in the atrium to wish Debbie Hall a long and happy retirement...she has worked in the Vic wardrobe department for 35 years! Back into the theatre for more of the same, then broke for lunch. Ate my chicken salad in the atrium, chatting with Polly and Bob about past shows. Finished sound checking after lunch, which meant starting the technical rehearsal, taking it from the top of the show. All went smoothly, if rather slowly. Call ended at 2000. Ate my microwaved ham and mushroom pasta dish in the atrium before driving back to Bakewell Street.

Lyndsey was hanging about...she's about to put a bid in on a bungalow in Embleton, within walking of Dunstanburgh Castle. It's a two-bed 1970s unit with faux stone clad external walls...needs work. Guide price of £250,000 doesn't seem unreasonable...she's thinking of offering £257,500. See what happens! Made my packed lunch for tomorrow...managed to drop half a tub of garlic aioli on the floor! Got it cleaned up before Lyndsey got back from walking Wilson. Made myself some tea and headed for my room.

 

Tuesday 24th March 2026

Fitful night's sleep. Woke around 0800 and sat up listening to Today on R4 for an hour before descending to make tea. Porridged in my room. Showered. Spent an hour on the laptop looking for alternative quotes for my car insurance, which comes up for renewal at the end of the month. Comparethemarket.com suggested £550 with Direct Line, but when I put my details in to their website, they quoted me £950! So decided to stick with Churchill at £750. Daylight robbery!!! 

Drove in to the theatre. Pottered about for a bit before walking down King Street into town. Sought advice about tackling my sty at Boots...they suggested warm compresses, so I bought some cotton pads for the purpose, and some razors. Enjoyed a coffee in Piccoloco. Walked back up to the theatre via the Greek Bakery. Lunched on chicken tikka masala and rice from the atrium microwave. Company called at 1600 for a Health & Safety briefing, and a look backstage. Set looks great...a recreation of a working men's club, complete with dance floor and sticky carpet. Broke at 1830. The lads walked off into town for a beer, and I promised to meet them at the Heart of Siam for dinner. Drove down...parked up near the restaurant...had to sit in the car for about 15 minutes waiting for the pouring rain to stop. Made a dash for the restaurant...eight of us in all. Great food. A very pleasant evening. Drove back to Bakewell Street around 2130...put tomorrow's packed lunch together before ascending to my room...

Monday 23rd March 2026

Reasonable night's sleep, though disturbed by some sporadic neck pain. Got up around 0830 and showered. Made a cuppa tea, then headed in to the theatre. Popped into the dressing rooms to bag my old berth, then headed up to the restaurant for a fry up with some of the cast members. Repaired to the rehearsal room for a final full run before we transfer over to the theatre space tomorrow. It all felt a bit Monday morningish, but we were done by 1440...I sloped off for my osteopath appointment at HJO...young Asian chap, born and bred in the Potteries...nice bloke.

His premises were a notch or three above those of Sharon Bradbury. He was very good...had a good go at the nerve pinch points, and cracked my upper back! Walked back up to the theatre. Sorted my dressing room out a bit, and started the process of shaving off my beard...left a goatee, and mutton-chop sideburns, for now. Aki phoned from Heathrow...she had checked in, and was preparing to board her flight to Japan. My left eyelid looks a bit red and swollen...has been a bit painful since Saturday...don't know what's going on there! A sty, perhaps? Don't think I've ever had a sty. Drove down to Sainsburys to do a shop, then took a walk around the town centre before popping in at the Dancing Octopus for haddock, chips and mushy peas. Ate them in the car in the Sainsburys car park. Drove back to Bakewell Street and loaded up my fridge. Watched 'Trying' on my laptop...laugh-out-loud good! The News then bed...

Sunday 22nd March 2026

Woke around 0915. Got up and cooked brunch. Lazy morning. Packed ahead of my journey back to Stoke this afternoon. FaceTimed Kath who gave us a tour of her re-decorated bathroom; phoned dad expecting him to be able to hear better with his new hearing aid…but he had to take it out in order to hear me over the landline! Jim texted a photo from St James's Park after Newcastle had gone down 2-1 to the Mackems! Everyone appeared to be waving the White Flag! Popped out to buy sweet potato while Aki prepared a roast chicken late lunch. Headed off to Euston to catch the 1552 back to Stoke. Walked up to Richmond Street from the station and jumped in the car, and headed back to Bakewell Street. Greeted by Lyndsey, who was awaiting the arrival of a former lodger...they were planning to head out for a curry. A little disturbed to find that Lyndsey was suffering from a hoarse voice...don't want to catch that! Astounded to learn that Aidan had travelled to Plymouth yesterday to watch Huddersfield Town go down by 3-1!!! I sorted my socks and underpants out...Aki had kindly washed the lot on Saturday. Listened to the latter moments of the Arsenal v Man City League Cup Final. Phoned Aki, who was endeavouring to complete her packing ahead of flying out to Japan tomorrow evening. Watched the last two episodes of Small Prophets...a work of quiet genius! The final episode ended with the words To Be Continued...

Saturday 21st March 2026

Managed to sleep through till 0900. Aki brought me a mug of tea which I drank in bed before rising to cook brunch. Feel completely knackered...like I've been hit by a car! Lovely sunny day, so we walked to Highbury Fields for lemonaid and cake at La Maison, before continuing on down Upper Street...Aki wanted to get some moisturiser from Neal's Yard. Took a No.43 bus back to Holloway and popped in to Waitrose before walking home. Aki pan fried cod for dinner, with beans and vegetables, followed by cheese and biscuits, then ice cream and amaretti. Watched a Japanese film called Family Romance LLC...a bizarre piece of fakery directed by Werner Herzog, of all people! Gave up after about an hour. Watched an hour or so of the documentary Man On The Run, looking at the post-Beatle career of Paul McCartney, before tuning in to The News to see how Trump's disastrous Middle East war is going. Bath and bed...

Friday 20th March 2026

Alarm at 0730...relatively decent night's sleep for a change. Got up and showered before descending to porridge and put together a couple of meals for the day ahead. Drove in to Basford for a 0930 start...knackered...need a holiday! We worked bits and pieces ahead of an afternoon run in front of Therese Heskins, the AD, and various back room staff. It all felt rather under-powered...I was certainly exhausted, and my performance therefore felt a bit marked. Got through it though, and we broke at 1700. I drove back to Bakewell Street and microwaved some cheesey beans on toast for dinner, then drove to Richmond Street and parked the car, permitting me a shorter walk to the rail station than that I embarked upon a couple of weeks ago. Caught the 1853 to Euston, and then took a No.91 bus to Holloway, getting home around 2100. Caught up with Aki before soaking in a hot bath...and bed!

Thursday 19th March 2026

Alarm at 0730. Descended for breakfast...Aidan was in the kitchen preparing to head off to Birmingham for a building insulation show at the NEC. I drove in to Basford for a 0930 start. Rehearsed bit 'n pieces in the morning. Wig fittings for my Wilf, and College Lecturer characters. Glorious day...sat out in the sunshine to have my soup at lunchtime. We did a run of the whole show in the afternoon. Broke at 1900. Had microwaved lasagne for dinner, then drove down to the Sanctuary Ale House. 

James's Open Mic Night was in full swing when I rocked up with my guitar. I did some blues numbers before Bob Eaton got up and did some of his self-penned show songs...really good songs...wry, humane, and very charming. Then the Molly gang did We Gotta Get Outta This Place, and Get a Job, acapella, and Matt did Sweet Little Sixteen. I had a kind of impromptu jam with James and his whacky mate Russell, which took us up to closing time at 2200. Paul and Sylvie Jones, and Sean and Jenn, turned up in support. Great evening, topped by one of the punters revealing that her dad had been on the Hawes Street Tenants Committee in the 1980s, at the heart of the Good Golly Miss Molly story...

Wednesday 18th March 2026

Alarm at 0730 after another fitful night, despite taking a couple of magnesium tablets before bed. Woke at 0200...don't think I nodded back off until around 0500! Got up and showered. Descended for breakfast. No sign of mein hosts...they didn't come home last night. Drove in to the theatre for a 0930 start. Neck giving me a bit of gip, but headache diminished. Ran Act II before lunch. Beautiful, sunny day, so I walked down into Newcastle and bought a potato pie at the Greek Bakery, which I ate with my salmon salad on a bench in the ornamental gardens before walking back up the hill to the theatre. Worked bits during the afternoon call, including several goes at Hit The Road Jack, which left me exhausted! Broke at 1800 and made my escape. Drove back to Bakewell Street and dumped stuff, then drove in to Newcastle in search of dinner. Parked up at Sainsburys and did the shop, then walked across to the Thai restaurant...enjoyed the crispy duck in tamarind sauce, and egg fried rice. Got back to Bakewell Street around 2130. FaceTimed Aki before News and bed...

Tuesday 17th March 2026

 

Alarm at 0730. Hauled myself out of bed and showered...after a decent night's sleep, for a change. Headache seemed to have lifted. Porridged, then headed in to the theatre for a 0930 start. Staggered through Act I before lunch break. I popped over the road for my osteopath appointment with Sharon...nice lady, but her premises give off a very third rate vibe. She pulled my neck about and massaged the knots in my shoulders...I came away with my headache restored! Hope things calm down later in the day. Rehearsals were back underway when I got back to the theatre...had to hastily eat my lunch then join the fray. Broke for dinner...microwaved a tasty prawn curry and greens...then we managed to stagger through Act II. Call ended at 2030 and I joined the gang for a swift half of Guinness in the Hop Inn to mark St Patrick's Day. Shirley gave me some magnesium tablets to try out...she swears they give her improved nights' sleep. Drove home and FaceTimed Aki before collapsing into bed...

Monday 16th March 2026

 

Alarm at 0730. Breakfasted on porridge in my room. Aki packed her bags, and I drove her down to Stoke station to catch the 0953 back to London. Drove to the theatre, parked up, and then wandered across the road to enquire of the osteopath on the corner of Albert Street...she booked me in for a consultation and session tomorrow lunchtime. Met for warm up at 0930, and worked through Act I. Broke for a packed salad lunch before marching on through Act I, bit by bit. Microwaved pasta and meatballs during the dinner break, then we managed to get to the end of Act I ahead of a planned stagger through tomorrow morning. Call ended at 2000 and I drove back to Bakewell Street. FaceTimed Aki before bed...

Sunday 15th March 2026

Woke around 0830. Got up and dressed, then made our way up to the dining room for buffet brunch. Enjoyed the oatcakes. Checked out and drove down the road to Tittesworth Reservoir and took a short walk around the northern end before it started to threaten rain...hightailed it back to the Visitor Centre, then drove on into the Peaks. Stopped at a micro brewery in a village called Wincle. Had a coffee in the Sample Room, and bought a pork pie. Also bought a bottle of Old Hag to give to Jim on his next birthday, though chances are I'll have drunk it before then. Drove over the moors to Buxton, by which time the heavens had opened. Stopped on top of the moors to phone mum to wish her a Happy Mother's Day, and scoff our pork pie. Sat in a cafe in Buxton High Street nursing tea while waiting for the rain to cease. Walked along The Crescent and spent time in the Pavilion Gardens, before walking back to the car. 

Still had time to kill before our 1830 dinner date at The Reform Inn near Leek. Drove down the A54, stopping at the Mermaid Pool to take in the rain swept views. Visited a farm shop, which was one of the poorest stocked I'd ever seen...some chutneys, and big bags of potatoes, and that was about it. It's also a camp site...with a single portaloo, and two outdoor wash basins...grim! Drove down into Thorncliffe and stuck our heads in at The Reform Inn...got lucky and secured a table in the busy dining area for 1715. The food was great...I enjoyed topside of melt-in-the-mouth beef, and Aki had lamb...delicious. It was a three course Mother's Day menu, so we were pretty full up by the time we'd eaten our desserts! Drove back to Bakewell Street in the dark over Staffordshire's pot-holed roads. Parked up and walked our dinner off...walked up to the village green and popped into the Co-op...got caught in a violent hail storm on the walk back to Bakewell Street!

Saturday 14th March 2026

Woke around 0330...neck pain and headache. Took ages to get back to sleep. Aki had a fitful night of it too. Got up at 0830 and showered, then descended to make tea. Brought porridge up to my room for breakfast. Weather looking better than expected, so drove up the Leek Road to Rudyard Lake, famed as the site of Mr & Mrs Kiplings' honeymoon, from whence young Rudyard got his name. 

Headed into Leek to hook up with Andy Billington, and Rachel...Andy had been stage manager on the original 1989 production of Good Golly, where he had met Rachel, who was a Box Office trainee. We met them for lunch at The Spout. Had a good catch-up. The woman who manned the till turned out to have seen the original 1989 production, as well as the 1991 and 1993 iterations! Bade our farewells, and had a little mooch about the small town centre. 

Weather still holding so drove up the A53 to venture up onto Hen Cloud. Very busy! Made the summit and enjoyed the views in the sunshine, then trooped back down hill to the car. Checked in at the nearby Three Horseshoes Inn. It's a spa, and wedding venue. The bath in our room had water jets, so we took turns in the bath...got myself a bit of a massage! Had dinner in the dining room...Aki had sea bass, and I enjoyed a thick pork chop. 

Repaired to the pub afterward and played darts...been a long time...it took an age to get down from 501, and neither of us could hit a double, so we both ended up stranded on double one...gave up, exhausted and fell into bed...

Friday 13th March 2026

Woke to alarm at 0730. Hauled myself out of bed and showered. Descended for porridge. No sign of mein hosts, so set the house alarm before driving off to Basford. Nice day...though a bit cold in the breeze. Worked though the dance routines for This Old House, and It's in His Kiss before lunch break. Ate my packed lunch...two courses...soup, followed by salmon salad. Worked on the Stand By Me sequence, and finished the rehearsal with the Hit the Road Jack, routine. My neck pain and headache surged afterward...I think it's my wobbly drunken head acting that is doing the damage. Took more ibuprofen. Gave David Ahmad a lift to Stoke station...he was headed back to Finsbury Park, and had tickets to see the West Ham game. Picked Aki up off the 1626 Euston train, and drove her up to Bakewell Street. Got her settled, then we walked round to Sean and Jenny's on Westland Street in the drizzle. Sean's brother Peter opened the door and let us in...Sean then drove us down to Newcastle...we had a dinner appointment at 1830 at Amore in Pepper Street. Funny little place...looks like an old semi-industrial units. The food was homely, and we all enjoyed it. Chatted to Sean and Jenny about the possibility of hooking up with them in Lucca sometime next Spring. Sean has a TV job coming up, playing a murderer in an ITV detective show...and before that he's playing Lady Margaret in Richard III at Stafford! Sean drove us back to Bakewell Street. Watched the News on the laptop. Aki showered before bed...

Thursday 12th March 2026

Alarm at 0730. Hauled myself out of bed around 0810...ate my porridge at my laptop in my room. Drove in to the theatre in the rain, for a 0930 start. Had intended to walk down to the pharmacy to buy ibuprofen, but didn't have time. Did my own physical warm-up...decided I could no longer risk trying to emulate the young 'uns after yesterday...inguinal hernia repair not feeling too bad, but feels like it won't take much to cause me gip, so took it easy today. Continued working Act II today...slow going, but it's all coming together. Ventured over to the theatre for lunch...forgetting it was a matinee performance day...the place was packed with grey-headed couples. Managed to get served quickly, though...went for a sausage sandwich and chips...ate with some cast members in the atrium, as we couldn't get a seat upstairs. More of Act II in the afternoon session. Broke at 1730. I was told I wasn't required for the evening session, so ate my prepared salmon salad in the Green Room with the others, before sloping off in the pouring rain. Needed some leaf salad, so drove out to Wolstanton to investigate the M&S Food Hall...ended up spending £45!!! Drove back to Bakewell Street and filled the fridge. 

Wednesday 11th March 2026

Alarm at 0730. Got up and descended to the kitchen to porridge. Lyndsey was up and working at her laptop...managed to get some recommendations for a possible Sunday pub lunch. Tried making bookings online, but nothing doing...it's Mother's Day on Sunday! Booked somewhere for the evening meal instead. Drove in to Basford for a 0930 start. Pulled something in my groin during the warm up...gave me gip for the rest of the day. Feels like something's moved in the area of my bad inguinal hernia repair! Still got the neck-induced headache too...the paracetamol wasn't doing much...need to buy some ibuprofen. We celebrated Sayan's birthday at tea break, Kate the SM having baked a cake. Struggled through the afternoon session. Steve, the company stage manager, came to have a chat about my hernias...not sure what to do about it all, to be honest. An osteopath might be useful, I guess. Broke at 1800. Had some soup, then drove down to Hartshill to join the Auld Vic team at the Sanctuary Ale House for the pub quiz. Sean and his brother were there, Sayan, and Paul Jones made up my team. We came a creditable fourth, but I won the raffle...£32! I shared my winnings with my team. James and Anne showed up, and Bob, who had been working on a show in Liverpool today. We shared a few reminiscences of productions past. I pushed off around 2145...needed to lie down in a darkened room for a bit!

Tuesday 10th March 2026

Woke to alarm at 0730. Room was cold, but I was glad to sense that my terrible headache of the last few days had lifted. Descended for porridge, and packed a ham salad lunch to take into rehearsals. 0930 start...David Ahmad and myself were interviewed by Moorlands Radio...the interviewer, Dave Stringer, had been at the first night of Good Golly Miss Molly in 1989! The interview went well...good fun. Morning spent working scenes from Act II before Bob had leave...we then concentrated on movement, and song, directed by Bev and Polly. My terrible headache re-appeared after lunch, and I struggled through to dinner time...microwaved lasagne and green vegetables. The evening session was devoted to learning harmonies for Stand By Me. We finished at 2030, and I drove back to Bakewell Street, exhausted...headache very intense. Made my packed lunch for tomorrow in the kitchen. Mein hosts appeared, and I managed to get them to reset the heating to come on at around 0630. FaceTimed Aki, who had had fun as sound operator on the annual JCUK short play, written by one of their number. Got to bed around 2300...

Monday 9th March 2026

Alarm at 0730 after a reasonable nights sleep. Still have a headache…had it since Friday…it feels related to my neck problem, which is beginning to worry me. Got up and showered before heading to Tesco in the car to do some food shopping. Deposited my goods in the fridge back in Bakewell Street. Realised I’d forgotten to buy leaf salad, so drove back and got some more odds and ends. Too late to return to Bakewell Street for porridge, I drove in to Newcastle hoping to buy breakfast from the Greek Bakery, only to find it shut. Headed in to the theatre with no breakfast. 1030 start. Worked through bits of Act II. Broke for lunch...ate my ham salad in the Green Room. Took a walk down to Sainsburys, only to discover it had been demolished and is now a building site. Worked on until dinner break, then on again until 2000, choreographing the beginnings of the boarding up dance, complete with hard hats and ladder. I wandered over to the theatre afterward to catch a bit of The Watch...a Belgian band who specialise in re-creating the early prog rock of Peter Gabriel era Genesis...they were superb, especially the young guitarist. Bailed before they got into their 20 minute encore, and drove back to Bakewell Street. 

Sunday 8th March 2026

 

Woke around 0900. Aki cooked brunch, then cycled off to Rowing Club. I did some packing, and then wandered over to Waitrose to buy something for Sunday lunch. Aki back for lunch...confit of duck, with roast sweet potato and carrots, followed by bougasta which I'd bought from the Athenian Bakery on Seven Sisters Road, pimped up with creme fraiche, ice cream, and strawberries. Exchanged farewells on the doorstep, and I took a bus to Finsbury Park station, then a Victoria line train to Euston to catch the 1552 to Stoke. Euston was very busy. Got into Stoke on schedule, and jumped in a taxi to Bakewell Street. Mein hosts were not home...sat in my room for an hour or so, but it was cold, and failed to warm up, so I decided to venture into Newcastle to watch a film...Elvis Presley In Concert. FaceTimed Aki before heading off in the car. Parked up in Goose Street car park. Hoped to buy a bag of chips in The Dancing Octopus, but there was a queue, and service was slow. Gave up and walked to the cinema. Had a hot dog there before I went in. The movie was OK...a bit too frantic, Baz Lurhman likes a jump cut! It was a bit dizzying at times! But it was instructive nonetheless...what a voice...he was doing 2 or 3 shows a day during his Vegas residency...but his voice sounded warm and he pumped out hit after hit with seeming effortlessness! He was superhuman! 

Saturday 7th March 2026

Woke around 0500, but managed to nod back off fairly readily. It was 0730 when I next awoke...dozed for half-an-hour or so. Aki got up to pop round to Big Jo's to buy bread...I got up and prepared a ham and egg brunch. Grey day. Had a chat with Lynne and Fraser about the on-going roof problem...trying to get Lynne to set up two or three meetings with potential roofers to get proper quotes. Fraser reckons he's spotted some rot to the rafters where they meet the wall plate immediately below the external brick upstands where the render has sheared away from the brick facings. Walked to Angel via Highbury Fields. Aki bought a sweatshirt on Upper Street, then we headed for Hotel Chocolat to get gifts for Aki's Japanese relatives. Enjoyed a roti for lunch in Camden Passage before returning home on the No.43 bus. Watched Wrexham v Chelsea in the FA Cup...the Red Dragons put up a great fight, but went down 4-2 after having a man sent off. Aki cooked dinner...pan fried salmon teriyaki and rice, with a tasty miso soup. Ice cream and strawberries for afters.

Friday 6th March 2026

Terrible night's sleep....I reckon it was past 0100 by the time I nodded off, only to wake at 0430, as per usual. Didn't really feel that I'd managed to nod back off before the alarm went off at 0730. Descended for porridge...Lyndsey and Aidan were preparing to go to work, before driving on to Ross-on-Wye for a weekend with some chums. I drove into Basford for a 0930 start. Bob not in today...he's working on a piece about Lennon and MacCartney at the Royal Court. Spent the day working though the choreography with Bev, breaking for an early lunch. Afternoon session broke up at 1600, and I drove back to Bakewell Street to eat, and pack an overnight bag before walking the half-hour down to Stoke rail station to catch the 1853 train to Euston. Went over my lines for Act I on the one-and-a-half hour journey. Took a No.91 bus to Holloway in the pouring rain. Got home around 2115. Aki sat watching the telly. Had a catch up before bath and bed, as I could barely keep my eyes open!

Thursday 5th March 2026

Fitful night's sleep. Alarm at 0730. Descended to the kitchen to porridge. Lyndsey sat at kitchen table...she and Aidan have sold their pharmacy business...due to complete at the end of the month. She's looking to go into farming and sustainability! Drove into Basford for a 0930 start. A day working on scenes with Bob and choreography with Bev. Took a walk down King Street at lunchtime and sat in the ornamental gardens with a coffee...very pleasant in the sunshine. Walked back up the hill for the afternoon session. Pasta bake for dinner, with green vegetables...all courtesy of the microwave. Broke at 2000 and drove down to Hartshill in the car...parked up and presented myself at the Sanctuary Ale House...James's Open Mic night was already underway. A very loud singer was accompanying himself on guitar. Sat with Paul Jones and Sylvie, then said hi to Sean and Jenn, and Sean's brother Paul. I was surprised to see most of the GGMM cast walk in behind Bob and Sayan, but none of them got up to contribute a song or two. I did "She Moved Through the Fair" with guitar and shruti box, followed by "Meet Me on the Corner", and "Country Honk", with harmonica accompaniment...all went down very well. Had a slight out-of-body experience halfway through when I realised that I knew everyone in the room, save for four bald blokes huddled in a corner, and the bar staff...back to the future moment. A grand evening was had by all, and we vowed to return in a couple of weeks to try out some of our Good Golly tunes...

Wednesday 4th March 2026

Alarm at 0730. Got up and showered before descending for porridge. Drove into Basford for a 0930 start at the theatre. Continued where we left off last night...more movement and choreography. Worked on the dance sequence for "It's in His Kiss"...the dummy was a bit heavy, and her head fell off at one point...she underwent repair during the lunch break. Finished early at 1800. I walked into Newcastle in the company of Sam and Connor, who were headed to meet David at the Vue Cinema to see the NT production of "Othello", which David had been in. I wandered round town looking for something to eat...the Italian I was aiming for turned out to be closed on Wednesdays. Made do with another Italian near the bus station...treated myself to fillet steak and mushroom sauce. Particularly enjoyed the sauteed potatoes. Walked back up the hill and rang Aki from the car in the theatre car park. She and Kath had met up with Roz last night...she had reported that Cath is undergoing chemotherapy; that Uncle Pete had been in hospital...the children were now taking turns looking after him; Lawrence and Annie have had their home condemned and have been forced to move out, but Roz has no idea where they've gone. Drove back to Bakewell Street and listened to some football on R5Live...sounded like a great game at St James's Park.