Wednesday 1st July 2026

Woke around 0730 with back pain. Aki got up to ready herself for Rowing Club. She brought me a mug of tea. She'd cycled off by the time I got up. Porridged with Louise before she packed her bags and headed off. Caught up with Lynne...she had asked if Fraser could borrow our car, so I got a bit more detail...he has a couple of hair-dressing jobs up Kings Langley way, ahead of a wedding, and usually borrows Max's car, but he has leant that to someone else on the required date. I said I'd think about it and phone Fraser later. Discussed roofing problems...she's made contact with a couple more roofers in the hope of getting some more quotes in. Watched some tennis from Wimbledon. Aki back for lunch. England kicked off their Round of 32 game with DR Congo at 1700...and were 1-0 down by half time. Djed Spence had a poor game, and things didn't look up until he was replaced by Anthony Gordon, who set up both of Harry Kane's late goals. Kath sent us a rather grim photo of mother's infected right ankle, which has swelled up and looks very angry. The GP reckoned her skin is so thin and dry that it is easily split and open to possible infection. She's been on antibiotics since this morning, so hopefully she can keep on top of things! Warmed up the last of the chicken cacciatore for dinner, with orzo and plenty of vegetables. More tennis from Wimbers. Djokovich was awesome in crushing Tsitsipas. Watched Senegal lose a 2-0 with 5 minutes to go as Belgium came back from the dead...nodded off on the sofa during extra time, only to wake up to find Belgium scoring a winner from the penalty spot...gone midnight when I got to bed!

Tuesday 30th June 2026

 

Reasonably good night's sleep, though plagued by the usual back ache come the morning. Got up around 0900 and descended to find Sylvie preparing the breakfast table in the living-room. Cereal, followed by scrambled egg on toast, followed by whisky marmalade on toast...we got the five star treatment! Took a taxi to Stoke station and boarded a train for Stafford. 

Strolled through Victoria Park and had a browse around the Ancient High House, an impressive four-storey timber framed building on the High Street. Enjoyed lunch in the Soup Kitchen near St Mary's church before heading for the Gatehouse Theatre to see Sean O'Callaghan in "Richard III". Bumped into Howard Jacobson, an actor I'd met during my "Good Golly" run...he was bound for the same venue. James and Anne were awaiting us in the foyer. The production was hamstrung by the decision to set it in 1920s Peaky Blinders land, a pub named The Crown frequented by low class criminals...but since the characters were all aristocratic elite, it really didn't work. Good performances all round...we particularly enjoyed Sean in drag as the hag-like Queen Margaret, widow of the murdered Henry VI, who curses the House of York! Had a brief catch up with Sean in the foyer afterward, before we all parted company...Paul, Sylvie, James and Anne headed back to Stoke, and we wandered around the town centre looking for somewhere to dine. It was all rather underwhelming, so we ended up buying a couple of salad bowls from M&S to eat on the train back to London. Had a quick drink in The Picture House and watched some of the Ivory Coast v Norway game on the big screen, before heading back to the station via Victoria Park. Not surprised to find our train to Euston was delayed by half-an-hour! Sat on Platform 1 and ate our salads, watching the rain pour down on the tracks. Got home around 2130 to find Louise about to retire for the night after a long day at her Arts Admin Conference. Aki showered. I stayed up to watch France demolish Sweden 3-0 before crashing for the night...

Monday 29th June 2026

Woke around 0730 with back ache...lay there for another hour or so trying to ignore the pain. Got up and porridged. Louise departed to meet a chum at The Premises studios in Hackney. Did my exercises. Packed a small bag. Early lunch, then headed for Euston to catch the 1347 to Stoke. Very busy, for some reason, but managed to bag seats. 

Train was 25 minutes late getting into Stafford, so we missed our connection to Stoke, and had to wait around for an hour...walked to the nearby Sainsburys and bought a bottle of wine to give to our hosts. Got to Paul and Sylvie's in Newcastle at around 1730 and sat out in the back garden with a cuppa tea. Aki disappeared into the house to watch Japan v Brazil. It was 1-1 at half-time, when we had to go to dinner...walked round to Basmati. James and Anne were already there. Enjoyed a convivial meal, then we all walked back to Florence Street for a night cap in the back garden. James and Anne left, and we repaired to the living-room. Aki showered and went to bed, but Paul and Sylvie looked up for drinking the night away! Sylvie nodded off on the sofa, and I made my excuses and went to bed...

Sunday 28th June 2026

 

Got up around 0900. Porridged. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club. I took Louise for a wander down Memory Lane...walked down Hornsey Road past The Tollington, Arthur Road where Richard Bealing and John Christie had lived back in the mid-80s, and past the Harvist Estate where Kerry and I had resided on the 11th floor of Hind House. Walked to Highbury Fields, then doubled back to Holloway Road and stopped for coffee at Pierre's. Walked on up the Holloway Road to what is now the London Metropolitan University campus, but was the Polytechnic of North London when we frequented the building...I met Lou on a production of "Twelfth Night" that the PNL Players took to Malta...Lou stage managed the London performances. We had hoped to go in and have a look at the old theatre, but the building was closed for the summer holidays. Walked back home a prepared lunch...Aki back in time to join us. We then hopped on a No.29 bus to Camden Town to go see Ivor Dembina at the Camden Head...I'd bumped into him at Tate Britain a couple of weeks ago, and he had flagged up that he was doing work in progress on a show called "Obituary", which he planned to take to Edinburgh Festival. We found him sitting in the bar with his friend Caroline, and he explained that as we were the only bookings he would give us our money back, but wanted to read us the material he'd put together so far...we refused the money, but acquiesced in attending his reading, which he did in the little upstairs venue. It was an intriguing 40 minutes...it's definitely not in advanced enough shape for an Edinburgh crowd, but he found the afternoon helpful, and we vowed to come see it again once he returned from the Festival. We caught a No.253 bus back to Holloway and walked down to Xian Impression for dinner. Back home to watch the first of the World Cup knockout games, Canada v South Africa...a pretty dull affair, though Canada managed a last gasp winner to go through to the last 16...don't think they'll go much further!

Saturday 27th June 2026

Woke around 0800. Dozed for a bit before rising to porridge. Caught up with highlights of games played in the early hours...the most remarkable being Cape Verde's 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia which sees them through to the knockout stages in second place in their group, Uruguay having failed to get points against Spain! Louise turned up at 1045 to deposit her baggage before heading back into town to see "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Palladium with her sister. Gave her a set of keys. Aki and I ventured out into the heat...a bit cooler today...around 29C, but still hot wandering the baking streets. Popped into Selbys to show Aki the Dyson Air Cool fan and discovered they had boxed up a display item which they sold to us for a 10% discount. I left Aki to pay for it and headed on to Waitrose to do a shop. Bought some beers from Tesco ahead of the England game this evening. Back home, Aki had got the fan up and working...very swish, quiet, and effective. Aki made cold okra soup for lunch, with gyoza on the side. Pottered about on the laptop. Did some exercises. Louise turned up around 1800. I put another majestic salad together for dinner. Sat about catching up, and watching England v Panama...a rather forced England performance resulted in a 2-0 win, and we won the Group...now for the knockout rounds! 

Friday 26th June 2026

Woke around 0730...very warm and humid already. Sat up in bed for an hour or so. Got up and porridged whilst catching up with the highlights of Turkey v USA. Wandered across to Waitrose to do a shop...found the shaded sides of the streets as I made my way. Popped into Selby's to see what they had in the way of electric fans...really liked the Dyson Cool Air, but at £250 it would have to be a bit of a treat! Aki cooked Korean pancakes of lunch. Aki decided the fan would be a good investment, so sent me back out into the afternoon heat...only to discover that Selbys had sold out! Popped into Morrisons to buy some consolatory ice cream, only to find that their freezers had packed up! Put together a salad Nicoise for dinner. Watched France v Norway...an easy 4-1 win for the impressive French, though the Norwegians had rested more than half the team...no Erling Haaland to bother the French back four. Watched Later With Jools...intriguing Newcastle based jazz band, Knats, who profess to have invented Geordie jazz...OK, though their sound is a little old fashioned; really enjoyed the mesmeric Angine de Potrine, and Arlo Parks' new material...

Thursday 25th June 2026

Woke around 0730. Sat up in bed and doom scrolled for a while before managing to nod back off. Got up around 0900. Porridged. Caught up with some World Cup highlights via the iPlayer. Put lunch together. Very warm...30C outside, but felt warmer as very humid today. Worked up a sweat vacuuming and dusting in the living-room. Managed to get hold of the RoofPro chap...doesn't sound as though they can come and do the necessary works next week...may have to live through a few more thunder storms before then! Meat balls and pasta for dinner. Aki headed off to Book Club meet at No.120. I popped in next door to have a word with Sush and let him know the roofer's plans. Returned home to watch Germany v Ecuador...great result for the South Americans, who won 2-1...they would have been going home otherwise. Aki back in time for kick off in the Japan v Sweden match...it was 0-0 at half time, when she sloped off to bed. I stayed up and watched them fight out a 1-1 draw...both go through to the knock out stages...

Wednesday 24th June 2026

Woke around 0900. Got up and porridged. Too hot for Aki to consider cycling over to Rowing Club. Pottered about...tried to get some clarity on RoofPro's repair suggestion to pass on to the neighbour. Wanted to sort out the Registration of Power of Attorney forms that Kath had passed me at the weekend, but I don't have the pertinent account numbers...emailed father in the hope of progressing things a little, but think I'll have to get in touch with NBS directly...wish I'd popped in on them last week...hadn't realised they were next door to the Co-op on Darras Hall Broadway, though I must have walked past dozens of times! Aki made hummus. I popped out into the wall of heat to buy bread...tried to walk in the shaded bits of the street. Came home to find Aki putting lunch together. Aki pan fried cod for dinner, with freekah and fried vegetables, followed by a Magnum each! Watched Canada go down to a 2-1 defeat to Switzerland. Showered. Stayed up to watch Scotland's dismal display against Brazil...they are hanging on to a third place qualification place, but only by their finger nails...

Tuesday 23rd June 2026

Woken around 0300 by a violent thunder storm...the rain hammered down on our leaky roof for over an hour. Woke around 0930 and made tea. Porridged. The damp patch in the back bedroom not looking worse, but my damp meter readings are up 5%. At a bit of a loss as to what to do...the roofer has quoted us £2,000 to add a layer of membrane to the parapet with No.5. Aki cycled off to tai chi...already 25C out there! I caught up with my blog at the laptop, and listened to some music the while. I ventured out into the temperatures to do a bit of a shop at Waitrose. Bumped into Lynne from upstairs...she'd had a great time in Madagascar. I promised to send her details of a couple more roofers I'd come across on the Which? website...told her we were having our own roofing problems. I was surprised to learn that her back bedroom ceiling hadn't let in any water during last night's deluge! Came home and put some lunch together. Enjoyed a Magnum for afters! Had to venture back out again...got some sparkling water from Tesco across the road...we'll be needing that...it's 32C this afternoon! Warmed up the chicken de-frosted chicken cacciatore for dinner. Settled down to watch England v Ghana...a rather dull hour and a half ensued as Ghana sat back and England failed to break through the ranks of yellow shirts. It was too hot to go to bed, so stayed up and watched the Panama v Croatia game...though I nodded off for most of it, despite it being way more exciting than the England game! Got to bed after 0100...

Monday 22nd June 2026

Got up and packed. Stripped the bed. Breakfasted downstairs with ma and pa. Kath turned up with a load of shopping...we thought she was in bed listening to the radio she'd left on! Starmer announced he was to resign as Prime Minister, paving the way for Andy Burnham. Prepared some lunch...Jim joined us. Mum came rushing in to announce that Andy Burnham had resigned! Said our farewells, and Jim drove us to Callerton Parkway to catch the train into town. Got to Central Station in good time to climb aboard the 1427 to Kings Cross. Got into London at 1745, 15 minutes behind schedule due to delayed trains in front of ours. Noticeably hotter in London...caught a No.91 bus back to Holloway. Dropped our bags off, and walked down to Xian Impression for dinner. Back home to catch the end of the Argentina v Austria game. Watched the final episode of "Get Back" before settling down to watch France defeat a plucky Iraq before shower and bed...

Sunday 21st June 2026

Delivered dad's Father's Day card, featuring his children reading "Dagga". I addressed the envelope to J H Hagga, 12 Plumpff View, Lollybrod. Aki drew the King of Lollybrod on the stamp. Breakfasted. Aki and I walked down to Darras to do a bit of shopping...had our coffee at Davidson's, as Number 9 was full. Walked back to High View in the sunshine. Lunch out in the garden. Jim and Emma showed up...Emma had gone for a half-hour run! Watched a bit of the tennis from Queen's...won by Argentine, Cerundolo...a new face on the scene. Prepared and cooked chicken for dinner...Aki reprised her no famous harissa potatoes. I stayed up to watch Cape Verde take on Uruguay...astonishingly the islanders scored first, but it was 2-1 to Uruguay by the time I retired for the night, unable to keep my eyes open for the second half...

Saturday 20th June 2026

Woke early again with back ache. Got up and pottered about a bit until porridge. Aki and wandered down to the shops at Darras Hall to buy some bits and pieces for lunch and dinner. Enjoyed a coffee at Number 9. Walked back up Whinfell Road to prepare lunch...eaten in the garden, as it was another fine day. Watched a bit of tennis from Queen's with mum. Aki cooked salmon for dinner, with harissa potatoes. I stayed up to watch the Netherlands thrash Sweden 5-1...they are looking good!

Friday 19th June 2026

Woke early with back ache. Got up and wandered into the office to watch the highlights from last night's World Cup games. Aki got up and made porridge for breakfast. Aki, Kath, and I took a walk down to the shops at Darras...Kath got an emergency call from work, so had to walk back ahead of us...Aki and I enjoyed a coffee at Number 9 before heading for High View. Prepared lunch, which we ate in the back garden. I spent the afternoon cooking up a beef in beer stew for the freezer, while Aki prepared a chicken curry for dinner. A bottle of Prosecco was opened to mark the launch day of dad's novel, "Dagga & The King of Lollybrod". Jim and Emma had gone off in the van for a couple of nights near Bamburgh. Watched Scotland's defeat at the hands of Morocco...the Scot's now need a point from their final game to ensure progress to the knockout rounds...against Brazil!

Thursday 18th June 2026

Readied ourselves for our trip up north. Breakfasted, and made a packed lunch to eat on the train. Made our way to Kings Cross with our baggage. Caught the 1130, calling at York and Newcastle. Uneventful journey, though the family in front of us were a bit loud...on their way up to Edinburgh. Disembarked at Newcastle at 1410 and phoned Jim...he arranged to meet us at Callerton Parkway Metro station. 

He was driving dad's car...has got himself on dad's motor insurance, which is a good idea. He dropped us off at 12 High View, and drove off to pick Emma up from work. Mum and dad looking pretty good, all things considered. Dad still has on-going pain management issues...Kath has referred him to her back specialist, but no sign of an appointment as yet. Sat out in the garden and enjoyed a tea before Aki got to work cooking a carbonara for dinner. Emma and Jim made their own arrangements...they are both looking good, too...Emma now in training for the Great North Run in the autumn! Watched a bit of telly in the living-room...dad doesn't seem to be too interested in watching the World Cup. 

Wednesday 17th June 2026

Woke around 0800...Aki got up to ready herself for Rowing Club. I rose and made tea. Porridged. Aki cycled off. I set about laying dust sheets in anticipation of the roofer coming to inspect the back addition leak. Put the ladder up. Had time to wander over to Morrisons to buy chicken and a couple of tins of tomatoes for dinner tonight. Tom from RoofPro turned up at noon...he's a likeable chap. Got him on the roof and he checked all the joints, but couldn't find anything obvious. He found three or four small pin-point holes in the covering above the parapet...I find it very hard to believe such small holes could result in such a large build up of water in the ceiling void, but got nothing else to go on. He suggested adding an extra membrane layer to the parapet, and he left vowing to send me a costing. I tidied up the dust sheets. Aki back in time for lunch. I ascended the ladder after lunch to give the roof a good sweeping, and did a little pruning in the back yard. Cooked a chicken cacciatore for dinner, with orzo and vegetables. Watched England beat Croatia 4-2...we were fantastic for the first 20 minutes of the second half...haven't seen England play that well for a very long time!

Tuesday 16th June 2026

Aki up at 0730 to ready herself for a dental appointment. She brought me a mug of tea before cycling off. I got up and uploaded the photos from yesterday's inspections, and started writing up the notes. All done by 1130...not a big job, so not much in the pay packet! Put lunch together once Aki had returned from tai chi. Helped Aki tidy up after she attacked the hedge with the trimmer. Watched France defeat Senegal 3-1. Aki cooked sea bass for dinner, with white beans and vegetables. Showered. Came out of the shower just in time to see Iraq equalise against Norway....though Haaland made it 2-1 within a couple of minutes. I retired for the night at half-time.

Monday 15th June 2026

Alarm at 0800. Got up and made tea. Porridged. Headed for Camberley in the car on inspections for Accent Housing. Made a pitstop at Heston Services on the M4. Found myself looking at property very close to an address I had for cousin Beryl...parked up at Carlin Place on the off-chance, having failed to get through on the phone, and as I stepped out of the car I found myself face-to-face with her daughter, Lisa! She'd just dropped her mum off after a shopping trip...and guided me round to Beryl's flat where I surprised her in the living-room. Had a cuppa tea and a biscuit...and a brief catch-up. They've both had a rough couple of years, Beryl with the loss of Eddie, and Lisa with the loss of her son Daniel...so they'd just got back from a well-deserved holiday in Marrakech. Daniel had been taken by sepsis following the strangulation of his long-standing umbilical hernia. They said they may venture north to visit mum...but we'll see. I got back in the car and continued my inspections. Ate my sandwich in the car on a small infill development north-east of the town centre, then finished up in Camberley before driving on to my final port of call in Bagshot. Very warm in the car...23C outside. Drove home via Heston Services, getting back to Holloway around 1630. Watched a bit of the Spain v Cape Verde game...0-0 at halftime. Popped out to Sainsbury's to put some petrol in the car and get a receipt for my expenses...by the time I got back Cape Verde had successfully negotiated a 0-0 draw...astonishing! Shredded pork shoulder for dinner with sweet potatoes and stir-fried vegetables. Watched the Belgium v Egypt match, which finished in a draw, before bathing. Caught the end of the Saudi v Uruguay game...another draw...before retiring.

Sunday 14th June 2026

Got up around 1000. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club. Porridged. Took a slow walk to Highbury Fields. Bought coffee and a pastry from the Dusty Knuckle van and sat on a bench under a tree. Very pleasant morning. Walked back home via Waitrose on Holloway Road. Put lunch together before Aki got back. Watched Emma Raducanu take on Vekic in the final from Queens Club...Emma wasn't at the races and lost the first set 6-0, but could and should have taken the second set...she let it slip through her fingers, and the Croat raised the trophy. Read some Dickens. Warmed up the n'duja sauce and meatballs for dinner, which we ate with pappardelle and vegetables, followed by cheese, and creme caramel. Watched Germany v Curacao...astonishingly, the Caribbean minnows scored to make it 1-1 after 20 minutes...but went down 7-1 in the end! Watched some more of the "Get Back" documentary before settling down for the Japan v Netherlands game. Japan played well, and deserved their 2-2 draw...

Saturday 13th June 2026

Got up around 0900. Cooked brunch. Set about fitting the grille over the hole in the wall above the boiler. Had to vacuum out the squirrel droppings first! Awkward space to work in...the walls turned out to be plasterboard cavity...so the rawl plugs I put in failed to work...had to use special plasterboard fixings...lost the head off my ratchet screwdriver in the process...it disappeared behind the boiler somewhere! Eventually succeeded in getting the grille fixed in place, and tidied up. Settled down to watch Emma Raducanu's quarter-final win against Rakhimova. Lunched on pici and cheese sauce with fried mushrooms. More tennis...semi-final Boulter v Vekic...Vekic came out on top. Then Emma was back on for her semi-final tussle with the exciting Iva Jovic...she was a set up when we had to leave for Stamford Hill, though we managed to watch as Emma took the match, on my iphone as we took the No.253 bus to Clapton Common. Walked down to the Rowing Club where Kate and her partner, Titus, were celebrating their 70th birthdays. We sat out on the balcony overlooking the River Lea. Really enjoyed the food...bussed in from Rasa in Stoke Newington...went back for seconds. A handful of Aki's rowing mates had been invited, and we sat with them. Ended the evening having a jig about to The Stamford Hillbillies, before walking back up to catch a bus home from the Common. Watched the Brazil v Morocco game...Morocco were fantastic, but the game ended 1-1.

Friday 12th June 2026

Aki up with alarm at 0730 to ready for Rowing Club. I enjoyed tea and porridge in bed. Got up around 0900 and showered before wandering up to Crouch Hill to get some odds and ends in Tesco. Overcast day, but it promises to brighten over the weekend. Aki back in time for lunch. Made some lentil daal. Watched some tennis from Queen's Club. Emma through to the quarter-finals. Early dinner...warmed up the last of the chicken curry, eaten with the daal, and rice. Katie Boulter doing well against the world No.1, Rybakina, when we left for Pimlico. Aki had tickets for Member's Night at Tate Britain. Free to wander around the galleries...stopped to listen to a string quartet and take advantage of the pop-up bar. Took in the Hurvin Anderson exhibition, where I spotted comedian Ivor Dembina. Had a brief chat to suss out what he's up to...preparing a couple of pieces to take up to Edinburgh in August. I promised to go catch his work-in-progress at the Camden Comedy Club. Also had time to take in the James MacNeil Whistler exhibition...some stunning etchings, and the later large portraits in oil are very impressive, including the famous one of his mother. Really enjoyed ourselves. It was almost dark when we came out at around 2200, and made for home...

Thursday 11th June 2026

Got up around 0930. Tea. Porridge. Looks like rain all day...unlikely to get any tennis from Queens Club. Wandered over to the DIY shop and bought a grill to put over the squirrel hole above the boiler. Warmed up lentil soup for lunch. Did a bit of prep ahead of fitting the grill...couldn't face cleaning up the squirrel pooh...postponed that bit until tomorrow! Aki made a carbonara for dinner. Ate early before heading for Paddington. Took the tube to Warwick Avenue, and walked to The Bridge House, which hosts the Canal Cafe Theatre. We were there to see Sam Brenton, who played Stevie in Good Golly Miss Molly, in the weekly NewsRevue...he's got the MD gig for six weeks. Arrived in good time, so took a stroll along the canal towards Paddington Basin...very lively...lots of bars and restaurants. Bought beers in the Bridge House and took our seats in the tiny theatre upstairs...very cramped seating, around small round tables. It was a sell out. Shirley, Alice, Connor, and his girlfriend showed up just as the revue was about to start. The four performers gave 100%...there were loads of spoof songs, which were very cleverly put together, but I struggled to catch lyrics as their voices weren't great. Sam banged out tunes and covering music on the piano at the back...impressive stuff, but I wanted more sketches, less song and dance. The audience were sent away happy, and we congregated outside for a drink and a catch up. Shirley is looking for more theatre work, though mindful that it needs to fit in with her bringing up her kids; Alice will be doing panto at Clwydd at Xmas; Connor is MD for an amateur production of Kinky Boots in Crayford. Had a great chat with Rosie, one of Sam's many half-aunts, who has been living and working in Norway. An enjoyable evening...we promised to try and plan to meet up to see Georgie in The Wife in Eastbourne in August. Aki and I got the tube to Cally Road, and a bus home from there...

Wednesday 10th June 2026

Woke at 0900. Got up. Tea. Porridge. Grey day. Aki made amaretti biscuits...she sent me out to purchase more ground almonds. Watched a bit of tennis from Queens before putting lunch together. Headed into town...had tickets for a sound installation in The Pit...Lee "Scratch" Perry's final recording before he died last year, mixed with the electronic sounds of Mouse on Mars...been enjoying listening to the album, Spatial, No Problem, so intrigued by the notion of a sound installation, The visuals were, in the event, disappointing...four large painted sheets hung in the space, with animations projected on top...the result was a bit of a mess of indecipherable images. Closed our eyes and listened to the the grooves, but came out thinking we could have listened at home whilst lying on the floor with the lights off! Enjoyed a small beer on the forecourt afterward, then walked back to Moorgate to catch the train back to Finsbury Park. Warmed up some fish stew for dinner, with orzo and vegetables. Watched a bit of England's friendly against Costa Rica, their final match before the World Cup kicks off tomorrow; got bored and went to bed...

Tuesday 9th June 2026

Woke around 0500. Managed to nod back off. Got up around 0900. Porridged. Aki prepared to depart for a JCUK meet, so she partook of an early lunch before departing for town. I wandered across to Waitrose to buy some odds and ends...polpette for dinner tonight. Came home and put some lunch together. Watched Emma Raducanu demolish her round 1 opposition at Queens Club. Made a sofritto to go with a jar of tomato and n'duja sauce, which we had on pappardelle with lots of fried vegetables. Got up on the roof via the ladder...Sush came out onto his side for a fag, followed by Rebecca. Had to listen to Sush burbling on telling me I ought to rebuild the whole roof!!! Aki joined us via their front door and took a few photos. We lifted Sush's astroturf, which sits on his side of the parapet...not signs of damage to the fibreglass bridge underneath. No signs of failed jointing to the sarnafil on our side...it's a mystery! 

Monday 8th June 2026

Woke at 0130, and again at 0630, but managed to get back to sleep. Got up at 0900 and brought a mug of tea back to bed with me. Rose at 1000 for porridge. Raining heavily...need to get myself up on the sodding flat roof at some point! Spent most of the remainder of the morning trawling through Which? recommended roofers. Phoned dad...he seemed in good spirits...eagerly awaiting the official launch of his novel on the 19th. Put lunch together. We wandered over to do a shop at Waitrose, in between the showers. Aki cooked a chicken curry for dinner, with daal and rice. Watched some tennis from Queens Club. Aki had an early bath, and I watched some of episode 3 of "Get Back"...charming footage of young Heather McCartney in the studio with her step dad as he sang and recorded "The Long & Winding Road"...

Sunday 7th June 2026

Woke around 0630 to find I'd wet myself! Not profusely, but I was a bit shocked. It seems I have become as leaky as the back bedroom roof! Sat up in bed for a bit and eventually dozed back off. Porridged. Got up around noon. Shaved my head before showering. Pici and cheese sauce for lunch, with fried mushrooms and torchon ham. Listened to the Men's singles final between Cobolli and Zverev. Cooked a fish stew. Early dinner before heading up the road to The Shaftesbury Tavern for band rehearsal. Caught a No.91 bus, getting there at the appointed hour...George and Katherine were already there setting up, and we were joined by Ben, and Lorraine. George bought me a half a Guinness, which he then managed to spill all over the floor...spent five minutes cleaning up! Katherine had to go at 1900, so things fell apart somewhat after that, though people kept sticking their heads in to the back room saying they were loving the music. I thought it all sounded a bit rusty, to be honest. Caught a No.91 bus back down the Hornsey Road, to find Aki at the dining table eating her portion of fish stew. She had had a good time on The Broads, though the food had been a disappointment. Watched Later With Jools...rather dull fare, once again. Aki had a shower and an early night....

Saturday 6th June 2026

Woke at 0230...took a while to get back off to sleep, worrying about the leaking roof! Woke again at 0630 with some back pain, so sat up for an hour or so before nodding back off. Got up around 0930. Porridged. Did some exercises. Early dinner...warmed up a second portion of the moussaka. Headed for Tower Hill via Finsbury Park, and Kings Cross. I bought a sandwich and water at M&S for dinner after the reading. It was raining heavily when I emerged from Tower Hill tube station...I braved the wind and rain and crossed the road to the muster point outside All Hallows By The Tower, picking up a coffee from the Costa shop opposite. We sheltered under a large chestnut tree before filing in to the church as quietly as we could...the Wolf Hall Weekend event was underway in the main body of the church, so we were ushered upstairs to a small ante-room where we got settled before doing a speed run. The punters took a break in the adjoining cafe, allowing us to descend and familiarise ourselves with the rostra, our seating, and the acoustic of the church...there was a lot of natural reverb, which meant having to hit your consonants, and project...skills beyond some of our number, unfortunately. Our reading was preceded by a very interesting talk from a former RSC cast member...the play had been written for and performed by the RSC originally. We attacked the piece with pace, having to battle the acoustic, and the regular rumble of the Circle Line somewhere below our feet. We seemed to go down well. The bulk of the cast wandered across the square for dinner at the Chinese restaurant I'd recommended...I made do with my M&S sandwich and a Bakewell tart, then headed for the Hung Drawn & Quartered for a swift half...but on arrival found my phone, and thus my ability to pay for anything, had died. I hung around briefly to see if any other cast members showed up, then gave up and headed for home, walking up through the city to join the tube system at Liverpool Street. Got home around 2145. Listened to the Ladies singles final on playback...the Polish qualifier was easily beaten by a dominant Meera Andreeva, who lifted her first Grand Slam trophy at the age of nineteen. Briefly FaceTimed Aki...they had enjoyed a gala dinner this evening, ahead of the final morning's rowing tomorrow.

Friday 5th June 2026

Woke around 0630, but managed to nod back off. Woke again around 0745...got up and brought tea back to bed. Rose around 0900 and porridged. Spent another hour or so hand rolling pici...finally used up all the dough! Pottering about, I discovered a 3m long damp patch in the spare bedroom, atop the external wall, and on the ceiling! Great...just one thing after another!!! Early lunch. Listened to Zverev v Mensik in the first of the Men's singles semi-finals from Roland Garros. Did some exercises. Heated up a lamb moussaka for dinner, with lots of vegetables, before heading off to Stoke Newington on public transport. Got to the theatre in good time. Four or five people missing from this evening's run! But it went reasonably well, and we adjourned around 2115...made my way home. Got on a diverted bus, which seemed to go round in a big circle back toward Stoke Newington...got off and caught a bus from Green Lanes, changing at Manor House. FaceTimed Aki in her hotel room. They'd enjoyed today, but tomorrow's trip is under threat, as it's due to rain all day. Watched a bit of telly before retiring for the night...

Thursday 4th June 2026

Woke around 0530. Got up at 0615 and pottered about for a bit. Back actually not too bad, so don't know why I woke so early...seems to be becoming a bit of a thing! Climbed back into bed and sat up for awhile before eventually nodding off. Aki up by the time I awoke again at 0915. Got up and porridged. Did a bit of pruning of the wisteria out front before the rain started, then drove Aki up to Muswell Hill to hook up with her rowing pals...Shelley is driving her and Vicky up to Wroxham for their jolly on the Norfolk Broads. Drove back down to Holloway and dumped some stuff at the tip, then popped in to Waitrose to get provisions. Pizza for lunch, with torchon ham and salad. Listened to the Ladies Singles semi-final from Roland Garros...the Ukrainian Kostyuk v the Russian Andreeva. The match never quite took off as I'd anticipated, the Russian winning comfortably in two sets. The second semi-final between a Polish qualifier, and another Russian, was far more interesting...the qualifier had pocketed a long first set by the time I had to leave for Stoke Newington. Took a bus to Stamford Hill and walked down to Stoke Newington from there, it having stopped raining. This evening's rehearsal was treated as a dress, with a couple of invitees in the audience. Paul's Cromwell coming on a treat, but Tim's Gardiner still all over the shop...and Geoff's Kingston inaudible. It's going to prove a mixed experience for the paying punters on Saturday! I repaired next door to The Axe for a well-earned half of London Black before heading home...Aki sent photos of her base for the next three nights...Sprowston Manor...looks impressive!

Wednesday 3rd June 2026

Woke around 0430, and took a while to get back to sleep. Fitful night from there on in. Aki got up about 0830...I brought tea back to bed before rising around 1000. Porridged. Made, or rather tried, to roll my pici dough, but it was too brittle. Spent an hour or so getting virtually nowhere...lesson learned...buy dried pasta from the supermarket! Aki popped out to Waitrose for bread and leaf salad ahead of lunch. Another wet day out there! I put lunch together. Did some exercises. Tried mixing the chestnut flour dough with a white flour mix in a bid to save the day. Looked and felt better...left it to rest until tomorrow. Early dinner...warmed up Aki's chicken traybake, and added mashed potato. Kevin and Laurence from No.93 knocked us up at 1800, and we all headed off to Kennington to see a play at The White Bear...hadn't seen anything there for about 25 years! What attracted me on this occasion was the fact that the play has been directed by Simon Usher, an old favourite of mine. Partook of some exciting workshops he ran back in the mid 1980s. Got to the venue in good time to sit and have a beer before the show. The play was called "The Name", by a popular Norwegian playwright, John Fosse...it all took place in a living-room, and followed the relationships of family and lovers unable to communicate properly with each other...put across by the spare, absurdist dialogue...it was slight, but very good...John Fosse had evidently been reading his Ionesco. Aki and Laurence delighted in the lines "You never listen to me", repeatedly delivered by the young pregnant girl to her evidently disinterested boyfriend...both Kevin, and I, got the hard stare!

Tuesday 2nd June 2026

Woke around 0430 with numb forearms and hands...a condition I occasionally find myself in of a night, but usually only in one arm, which I've always assumed has been lain upon...obviously not the case this time! Woke again around 0730 with back ache. Sat up and doom-scrolled for a bit. Rose at 0915. Porridged. Raining heavily outside...forecast is for more of the same. Did some exercises. Read through my scenes in "The Mirror & The Light". Vacuumed. Put lunch together once Aki had returned from tai chi. Pottered about doing nothing very much in the afternoon as the occasional thunder storm rolled in. Aki spent most of her afternoon packing ahead of Thursday's rowing trip to the Norfolk Broads. Aki cooked a chicken risotto for dinner. Watched "The Blues Brothers" on the iPlayer...a cult movie of the 80s...what a load of codswallop! I enjoyed the cameos from the likes of James Brown, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin, but the film was complete and utter nonsense. Glad I didn't pay to see it when it came out!!!

Monday 1st June 2026

Woke around 0530. Got up at 0600, as my back giving me gip. Did some exercises. Aki rose around 0830 and watered her plants in the front garden. Porridged. Undertook the Imperial College health survey online, ahead of this afternoon's appointment in Belgravia. Popped across the road for some milk from Tescos...Hornsey Road, at southern junction with Seven Sisters Road, taped off by police. It seems there was a stabbing last night at around 2030...that explains the three ambulances that were stacked up outside our flat last night, spraying blue flashing lights into the living room. Broke into Lynne's flat and stuck my head out of her living-room windows in order to do a bit of wisteria pruning. Tidied up the front garden afterward. Aki put lunch together before she headed off to the dentist. I took the Victoria Line into Belgravia for my appointment on the dementia trial. Got to the Light Centre on time and got seen by a young Muslim gal, who took various measurements, a blood test, and a simple cognitive test. She said the blood test would be looking for markers for hereditary dementia, but that I wouldn't be informed either way, as I may be chosen as part of a control group. Walked over to Green Park tube station, via Buckingham Palace, and caught a train back to Finsbury Park. Cooked a prawn and creamy tomato linguine dinner, with vegetables. Watched "Is This Thing On", Bradley Cooper's movie about a bloke who's marriage splits, and he finds himself in downtown New York City looking for distraction...unwilling to hand over $15 to watch some club comedy, he signs up to do a five minute set, which is basically him ruminating on his marriage and where he finds himself...as his nascent stand-up career takes off, his estranged wife happens to see his act in a club when out on a date...and falls back in love with him...it's based on the true story of Liverpudlian comic, John Bishop...found it rather more moving than I was anticipating. A good watch!

Sunday 31st May 2026

Woke with back ache...got up and wandered about a bit before going back to bed and sitting up. Eventually managed to nod back off again. Alarm at 0800. Porridged. Decided to cycle in to Stoke Newington, as the buses I'd normally take aren't running due to the planned Arsenal Champions parade. The streets were already blocked off with barriers and wardens. Made my way around the back streets to Finsbury Park, then zig-zagged down to Clissold Park, which was also getting busy, as the route meets Green Lanes at that point. Got to the theatre in good time...bought a coffee at The Yellow Warbler over the road. We did more blocking on Act 2, then broke for lunch. I ate the remains of yesterday's focaccia sandwich on a shaded bench in Abney Park Cemetery...a pretty constant stream of people in Arsenal shirts went by. We finished blocking, and ran the whole thing...came in at about an hour per Act, but slow going as some of the more amateur amateurs in the cast hadn't properly written up their scripts with entrances and exits etc...what a bunch! How they one or two of them managed to get through the general company audition, I don't know! Repaired to The Axe next door for a swift half with a handful of cast members, before cycling home via a rather circuitous route, trying to avoid the crowds where I could...not too bad, until I got to the entrance of Finsbury Park...had to wend my way through the crowds, and the rubbish strewn streets. Got home in one piece, though. Aki had cooked a chicken traybake with peppers and tomatoes. Ice cream and bounty bar for afters. Watched Michael Portillo in Kyoto before looking out for young Barney Lister on Later With Jools...playing the bongos in the band behind Jessie Ware. He co-wrote and produced her new album, Superbloom. Fcukers were the best act on the show, though...the rest of the acts were rather bland. 

Saturday 30th May 2026

Woke around 0630 with back ache. Got up and wandered about for five minutes before returning to bed in a sitting position...failed to nod back off. Got up around 0900 and cooked brunch. Aki made some hummus. Warm, sunny day. Took a walk up Highgate Hill in 26C. Stopped off at Lauderdale House and shared a focaccia sandwich and a can of soda, before taking a bus back to the Nags Head. Arsenal supporters congregating in and outside the pubs. Popped in to Waitrose...bumped into Max and Beth. I mentioned to Max that we had been expecting his sister and her fella to show up...they had planned to stay in Lynne's flat above while Lynne holidays in Madagascar. Max revealed that Charlotte had given birth to a second son, in her in-laws kitchen two days ago! Walked back home, skirting the Gooners massing outside The Eaglet. Listened to the PSG v Arsenal Champions League Final on the radio. Arsenal scored after five minutes, and were 1-0 up at halftime...prompting much halftime celebration from the fans who'd been drinking all day at The Eaglet. A banger was let off...it's all going to kick off if they lose!!! Salad Nicoise for dinner. The game went to penalties after Arsenal conceded a second half penalty...and went down 4-3 on penalties after a couple of misses. All went silent at The Eaglet! 

Friday 29th May 2026

Woke around 0700 with back ache. Dozed on for a bit, then sat up. Aki up early to ready herself for Rowing Club. She was cycling off as I got up. Porridged. Showered. Took a hike up through Tufnell Park to the cafe at Bread By Bike on Brecknock Road...very nice interior, but wasn't a fan of their coffee. Bought some burrata and pasta at the Italian deli across the road, then caught a bus back to Nags Head, and walked down to Waitrose. Back home I prepared some lunch...we ate once Aki had gotten back. Dad had sent Aki a signed copy of his novel, "Dagga & The King of Lollybrod"; I enjoyed the opening chapter; full of silly Hague humour. Not sure what Aki will make of it, though!. Did some singing and guitar practice in the afternoon. Cooked up pasta with cabbage in a black garlic and butter sauce, with burrata on top...it was OK...not as tasty as I'd hoped. Mango sorbet and homemade bounty bars for afters. Watched the last hour and a half of Part 2 of "Get Back"...really delightful watching Lennon and McCartney spark off each other. 

Thursday 28th May 2026

Aki woke in the night, having had a nose bleed. I was half aware of something going on, but slept through until around 0630. Back ache had me sitting up in bed for an hour or so before rising around 0815. Aki watered her tomato plants, as we are expecting 30C today. Porridged. Made my bounty bars and stuck them in the fridge for later. Aki cycled off to the hairdresser's on Essex Road. She returned in time for a late lunch. Popped round to see the GP about my bad hernia repair...yet another fresh face. Young lady this time...she was very good, referring me to a consultant at the Whittington to explore my options. Walked back in the heat of the afternnon. Went through a few songs on my guitar in anticipation of visiting the folk club at Cecil Sharp House. Aki cooked pan-fried sea bass for dinner, with fried sweet potato and lots of vegetables. She then crossed the road for Book Club at No.38. I watched "The Lighthouse"...dark, rich, intense, like 70% cacao! Willem Defoe is excellent in it, though things got very dark toward the finale. Aki back around 2230. Watched Newsnight before bed...

Wednesday 27th May 2026

Woke around 0600 with back ache. Sat up in bed for an hour or so before dozing off again. Aki brought me a mug of tea before cycling off to Rowing Club. I got up and porridged. Cooler day today after yesterday's record-breaking temperatures...forecast is for 25C by mid-afternoon. Popped out to Morrisons and Waitrose to get some ingredients to make home-made bounty bars to stick in the fridge. Came home and mixed the coconut and yoghurt, and stuck it in the freezer to harden. Aki back for lunch. Toasted the remains of the ham salad foccacia we'd bought yesterday lunchtime and didn't have time to eat ahead of going in to the cinema. Headed for Earlsfield for food at Tami and Franco's...took the Victoria Line to Vauxhall, and a westbound train to Earlsfield. Sat out in their pleasant back garden, and caught up over drinks and nibbles, before Franco fired up the BBQ and cooked some chicken drumsticks, which Tami had marinated in yoghurt and spices, and some cod fillet, accompanied by asparagus and capers, and a tasty tabouleh salad. They are due to head out to Bordeaux for a short holiday before retreating to their Swiss chalet in time for the Montreux Jazz Festival. We headed off to the train station around 2030 and made for home...

Tuesday 26th May 2026

Woke around 0630 with back ache. Sat up in bed for an hour before nodding back off. Got up around 1030. Already very warm...temperatures forecast to surpass 35C today. Tea. Porridge. Headed into town to watch new Greek film, "Hen", at the Garden Cinema. Nice and cool in the basement auditorium. The film was remarkable...a tale of human trafficking as seen through the eyes of an adventurous hen! They must have gotten through several star players...the cast list included nine names for the leading hen, and there were three stunt hens credited as well! We ascended back into the mid-afternoon heat. There were major delays on the Piccadilly Line. The train was very crowded, so I returned to street level to take a No.91 bus home...Aki squeezed onto a train, as she wanted to get off at Holloway so she could buy some bread and eggs at Waitrose. Warmed up the aubergine curry for dinner, with rice, daal, vegetables and roti. Watched the BBC Film version of "Mrs Dalloway"...some very famous old faces in it...Vanessa Redgrave, Michael Kitchen, John Standing, Margaret Tyzack. Aki said it was very faithful to Virginia Woolf's novel.

Monday 25th May 2026

Woke around 0500...drifted in and out of sleep until the alarm went off at 0815. Got up, showered, and made tea. Porridged. Made a chicken and avocado sandwich to take into rehearsal. Opted for public transport...took two buses. Dan had significantly cut the play overnight, so we spent the first hour or so noting the cuts, then, having allocated ourselves seats at each side of the stage, we began 'blocking' the piece. It was slow going. The guy playing Kingston can barely get a line out...I presume he's dyslexic, but he can't produce any vocal power or clarity. He also has some lines as the French Ambassador, but can't deliver a French accent to save his life! Much hilarity was afforded by his pronouncing Marie de Vendome as Mary du Condom! Gawd help us all!!! Broke for lunch. I hastened for the shade of Abney Park Cemetery, sharing a bench with a couple of weary ladies. Temperatures due to reach 35C today. Walked up to the Albion to get ice cream from Peggy's...found some shade in Clissold Park to eat it, though I could barely eat it fast enough as it melted before my eyes. Back at the Tower we managed another hour and a half of blocking, but failed to finish the play before we broke and headed for The Axe next door...Johnathan, who's playing Henry, bought me a half of London Black, and several of us sat out in the beer garden talking theatre, as amateur actors do. I slunk off and headed for a bus stop...taking a walk through Abney Park Cemetery, then turning right into Bouvery Road, staying in the shade. Got to a bus stop on Lordship Lane, but walked on when I discovered the 106 wouldn't show up for another 15 minutes. Walked westward, then turned right into Lordship Road and ended up at a bus stop on the busier Seven Sisters Road. Got home about 1830. Aki had left me a boiled egg and some salad in the fridge...I used that as a base for a hefty chicken salad for dinner. Aki was out socialising with some rowing mates in Muswell Hill. I had to have a lie down for a bit. Dozed off fleetingly, then got up to watch "Later With Jools...". Enjoyed Sekou's smooth R 'n B and Michael Jackson moves; and Mandy, Indiana's leftfield noisenicks. Aki got in around 2130. Showered before retiring...a warm night in prospect as temperatures hovered around 20C...

Sunday 24th May 2026

Woke around 0600 with back ache. Managed to doze, fitfully, until rising at 0815. Made a sandwich to take for lunch, and heated up some lentil soup. Made breakfast bowls. Headed for Stoke Newington in the car...roads very quiet, but noticed queues of Arsenal supporters outside the pubs near Finsbury Park, preparing to find a place to watch the final game of the season at Crystal Palace, where they will be presented with the trophy. Parked up in Alkham Road, and bought a coffee at Abney Park cafe before gravitating toward the theatre...first read through of "The Mirror & The Light"...went OK, though I was surprised that many people had evidently not read the script in preparation. 

The girl playing Lady Rochford is very good, but thought the casting of Ekaterina as both Princess Mary, and Anne of Cleves, very odd...her heavy Slavic accent works a treat for the latter, but not the former...they both sound exactly the same! Broke early as the director decided he'd have to head home and spend time excising the script, as it's too long for our performance slot. I headed up Church Street to buy a sausage roll at Gail's, and found a bench in Abney Park Cemetery and ate my packed lunch. Walked up to Peggy's ice cream stall, and sat in Clissold Park to eat my dessert, before heading back to the car, and home. Aki and I headed into town before full time, anticipating the pubs would be emptying of hordes of pissed Gooners...got to Victoria early, and found a bar in Belgravia where we could sit out and enjoy an Aperol spritz. Met up with Jim in Oliveto for some dinner. He was still beaming after watching Hull City beat Middlesbrough yesterday at Wembley. It seems he's keen to follow up his experience electioneering for The Greens earlier in the month, and is now planning to help co-ordinate another's campaign in his constituency. Barney looks set to appear on Later With Jools... soon, playing percussion for Jessie Ware, and MRCY are being lined up for a future series. Great stuff!

Saturday 23rd May 2026

Woke around 0615 with back ache. Got up and did some stretches before climbing back into bed. Woke again at 1000. Cooked brunch. I spent most of the remainder of the day cooking. Made a green lentil daal, then after a bit of a rest, put together an aubergine and coconut curry which we ate for dinner, with roti and daal. We walked slowly down to Highbury Corner in the evening heat. Caught the train to Dalston, and made our way to The Victoria pub on Queensbridge Road. Hooked up with Sayan and a couple of her mates. Her daughter Kitty was headlining a gig in the back room. It was small, but not too crowded, and the air conditioning made it cooler than outside! Kitty was great...she has a natural magnetism, and gave a fab performance...great singing voice, but her tunes are rather non-descript...she describes them as "gay pop", but they are quite heavy. We snuck out before the encore and headed home...

Friday 22nd May 2026

Woke around 0700 with back ache. Sat up in bed for a bit. Aki rose to ready for Rowing Club, and brought me a mug of tea. I got up after she'd cycled off into the morning sun. Going to be a glorious day. Got up and made myself a breakfast bowl. Did some exercises. Played some guitar. Made myself a ham, cheese and mushroom omelette for lunch. Aki returned after lunching at the Rowing Club and helping clean the boat storage. Brought the step ladder inside to have a go at cleaning the underside of the skylight. Aki cooked cod for dinner, with butter beans and vegetables. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

Thursday 21st May 2026

Woke around 0630 with back ache. Sat up in bed for a bit. Eventually rose for tea and porridge. Spent half-an-hour or so on the roof, cleaning the skylight, and clearing up the moss that falls off next door's church roof, having gained access via Rebecca and Sushi's roof garden. They are away on holiday in Cyprus. Aki cleaned our front window, and did a bit of gardening. I made lunch...poached eggs and ham. We took a bus up to Highgate and visited Kenwood House to see the single Vermeer in the Iveagh Bequest collection...there's also a Rembrandt self-portrait. I was surprised by just how many paintings are in the collection, as we wandered from room-to-room. Very impressive. Back home, I warmed up the last of the chicken and mushroom pie for dinner, followed by cheese and biscuits. Phoned Kath, who was at 12 High View. She and mum had been out in the back garden, working...dad not fit enough to join them. He's been in much pain of late, and has been taking a stronger painkiller, despite it making him nauseous. Watched a bit of telly...stumbled across The Elon Musk Show...an extraordinary, and very chilling, documentary charting the rise of Musk and what his ambitions may mean for the rest of us!!!

Wednesday 20th May 2026

Aki up early to prepare herself for Rowing Club...she brought me a mug of tea. Got up as she cycled off, and had my breakfast bowl. Made some lentil soup for lunch. Walked down to Highbury and had a coffee before heading to Egerton Pharmacy next door for a 1030 ear suction appointment with Samira. She was great, and gave both ears an over-due vacuuming! Walked back home via Waitrose and the Amazon lockers at The Junction to pick up my Italian tutor book. Aki back for lunch...the soup went down well. We headed into town to watch "La Grazia", Paolo Sorrentino's latest movie, at The Garden Cinema. It was majestic...funny, humane, intelligent, and a feast for the eyes. Jumped on a No.91 bus back home. Aki cooked pasta for dinner, with a tomato sauce, fried mushrooms, and vegetables. Watched "Get Back"... got halfway through episode 2 before bath and bed.

Tuesday 19th May 2026

Woke around 0815. Back giving me a bit of gip, but relatively minor this morning. Got up and made breakfast bowls, and brought tea back to bed. Read some more Mirror & The Light before rising. Aki went off to tai chi. Pea soup for lunch when she returned. She got a phone call from Ha-chan in Osaka...she had been discharged from hospital, and is now recovering at home. Good news! I popped across the road to pick up my statins from Dev's. Finished reading The Mirror & The Light...it's very succinctly put together, telling a complex tale with great clarity. Warmed up chicken and mushroom pie for dinner, with lots of vegetables. Watched Later With Jools...on the iPlayer. Arsenal win the title after Man City are held to a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth...lots of celebratory car horns going off until the early hours in the surrounding streets...a neighbour posted a photo of her husband celebrating with the one-and-only Ian Wright, who had turned up to join in the fun!

Monday 18th May 2026

 

Woke around 0645. Back ached a bit, so sat up in bed for a while before nodding back off. Got up and made a breakfast pot, and tea. Sat down with Aki to book some more Sicilian accommodation...just left Palermo to sort out. Headed in to town. Took the tube to Leicester Square, and walked up to Foyles. Aki got in the queue at the cafe, whilst I sought out and paid for a copy of the RSC adaptation of Hilary Mantel's "The Mirror & the Light". I've been handed the role of the Duke of Norfolk for the rehearsed reading...rehearsals start on Sunday. We enjoyed soup and a chicken sandwich, then walked across to Covent Garden to watch "Kohuko" at The Garden Cinema. Fabulous film...set in the world of Kabuki theatre...the dance sequences were sublime. Caught a No.91 bus back to Holloway. Very busy...Arsenal are hosting Burnley in their final home game of the season tonight. Aki cooked mackerel, Japanese style, for dinner...very tasty! Watched a bit of telly. Oh, and Arsenal won 1-0, so are now 5 points clear of Man City...if Man City fail to win tomorrow evening, then Arsenal will claim the title.

Sunday 17th May 2026

Woke around 0815...back not too bad, for a change. I'm guessing that I didn't roll over onto my side during the night. Got up and brought tea back to bed. Aki cooked omelette for brunch before cycling off to Rowing Club. I did some research on hotels in Taormina...found one within walking of the ancient Greek Amphitheatre. Did my exercises. Aki lunched at the Clubhouse, so I just made do with avocado on toast. I popped out to Waitrose to get some ingredients to make a chicken and vegetable pie, and prepped it all before Aki got back. Spoke to Paul Jones on the phone and arranged to go see Sean O'Callaghan in Richard III at Stafford Gatehouse at the end of June. Aki booked train tickets. Cooked my pie...served up with peas and broccoli. Watched some telly before bath and bed...

Saturday 16th May 2026

Woke around 0730 with back ache...got up and did some back exercises before returning to bed for a bit. Eventually rose to cook brunch. We did some research on travel plans for Sicily. Walked over to Waitrose to buy some provisions. Bumped into Tom at the Greek church next door...mentioned we were planning to visit Syracuse, in Sicily, but once part of the Greater Greek Empire...he told us that there are still pockets of Greek speaking locals in south-east Sicily. Aki cooked salmon teriyaki for dinner, with rice and vegetables. Watched Phillip Ridley's "The Reflecting Skin"...a 1990 venture into the movies for the great playwright...beautifully shot and lit, but his magical writing was forced into the background, and as a result, the narrative didn't quite take off. 

Friday 15th May 2026

Woke around 0430. Got back to sleep. Aki had headed off to Rowing Club by the time I woke again. Got up at 0945 and porridged. Coffee. Did some exercises. Aki back for lunch. Pottered about not getting much done. Popped out to the Post Office. Bumped into Lynne in the hall who said she was off to Madagascar in a couple of weeks time! She's got another quote for roof work...£23,000. Said I'd try and identify a couple more possible roofers for quotations. Read some before warming up the chicken and apple for dinner, with orzo and vegetables. Drove over to Stoke Newington to see Bee's production of "Clyde's". Very impressed by the seedy kitchen set. The five actors were good...hadn't seen any of them before. The two younger guys were awesome. Bee can be proud of her first Tower production, though some of the scene transitions felt a bit clunky, and lighting and sound required a slightly more subtle approach. 

Thursday 14th May 2026

Woke around 0815 with back ache. Sat up in bed for a bit...Aki brought me a mug of tea. Got up and breakfasted on fruit and yoghurt. Did some exercises before vacuuming. Aki made hummus. Grey day...threatening rain. Tinned mackerel for lunch. Sun came out in between the showers over the course of the afternoon. Aki cooked a carbonara for dinner. Watched some telly...the fast paced "The Bear", and a recent small screen adaptation of "Shogun"...the former was very impressive, the latter a bit silly and OTT. The News followed by bath and bed...

Wednesday 13th May 2026

Woke around 0815. Aki already up, readying herself for Rowing Club. I took a mug of tea back to bed for a bit. Eventually rose and made a fruit bowl with yoghurt and granola, inspired by some of the breakfasts we'd enjoyed in Rotterdam. Did some exercises. Sat about listening to music until Aki got home for her lunch. Cullen skink from a tin. Popped out between hail storms to buy some odds and ends ahead of making this evening's dinner. Cooked a chicken tray bake with apple, mustard and cider, with roast sweet potato and vegetables, washed down with a glass of cider. Left Aki to tidy up, and set off for Stoke Newington in the car...journey was delayed due to the fact that the Arsenal Ladies had a game on at the Emirates. Got to the theatre late and joined the auditionees in the Tuerk Studio...about 12 of us, taking it in turns to read for Henry VIII, Cromwell, Dr Butts, and young Wyatt, in an adaptation of Hilary Mantel's "The Mirror & The Light". Enjoyed myself. Found Kathleen from No.49 sat in the bar...had a brief chat before Amanda, the AD, sat down with us, and they complained about having to negotiate the changing moods of Bianca, who has been directing "Clydes", which opened this evening. I thought it politic to excuse myself before the interval, and the risk of being collared in the bar by Bianca...awkward! Drove home. We watched the final 20 minutes of "Get Back"...the episode ended with George walking out on The Beatles. Enjoyed Michael Portillo as he investigated Japan by rail. Bath and bed...

Tuesday 12th May 2026

Woke around 0830 with back pain...not too bad, as I think I managed to sleep on my back for most of the night. Aki got up to put the washing on, and receive a work phone call. I hung out the washing...nice sunny day, but a chilly north-westerly wind. Porridged. Aki cycled off to tai chi. I pottered about, finishing my unpacking, and catching up with my blog. Aki briefly returned, before cycling off again, to the fishmonger's on Essex Road. Light lunch. Walked over to Waitrose to do a shop, then drove Aki up to Helen and Martin's to pick up some tomato plants. Aki cooked sea bass for dinner, with pearl barley and vegetables...very tasty. Watched some more of Episode 1 of "Get Back"...really enjoyed watching the embryonic Get Back song in creation...started out as an anti-racist protest song following Enoch Powell's "Rivers of Blood" speech! Bath and bed...

Monday 11th May 2026

Woke around 0830. Got up and took a shower before we headed downstairs for breakfast. Packed our bags, checked out, and left our baggage with reception, then took a final wander about the locale...popped in to the World Trade Centre, which has recently been re-furbished and re-configured. Impressive modern feel. Walked across to the Markthal...Aki keen to buy herring and onions for lunch on the train later. When we came out it was pouring with rain, so we took a tram to Beurs and walked up to the famous department store for a coffee...basically, it looks like a big John Lewis's. 

Walked back to the hotel to pick up our baggage, and walked to the Central station to get the Eurostar back to London town. The waiting room is rather pokey, and requires people to cram in to a lift to descend to platform level to meet the train...mad! Journey was OK...in fact, we arrived at St Pancras about half-an-hour earlier than expected! Walked round to York Way to catch a No.91 bus home. Unpacked. Cooked up some pasta for dinner, with pesto sauce and fried mushrooms. Sat and watched episode 1 of the Beatles documentary, Get Back. Bath and bed...