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...

Sunday 10th May 2026

Bad back woke me around 0645. Sat up for a bit before nodding back off. It was 1000 when I woke again. Aki boiled the kettle for tea. Wandered through the city centre...most of it looks a bit like Milton Keynes, sadly. 

Eventually happened upon a cafe for brunch. Continued our amble, which took us through the MuseumPark, past the mirror ball of The Depot, to the Remy Koolhaas's Kunsthal. 

Paid to get in for a leisurely browse...really enjoyed the Flowers Forever exhibition, which took in all sorts of different tangents...politics, economics, art, botany...it was never dull, as there was always something interesting around the next corner. 

Took a break for a beverage in the cafe, then took in some smaller exhibition halls before walking down to the Maas. 

Had dinner at Loos Grand Cafe...food was great, but the loos were a big disappointment! Had a wander around the marina, then walked slowly back to the hotel...

Saturday 9th May 2026

Woke around 0600…bad back. Sat up for a bit before managing to get back to sleep. Woke again around 0900. We decided to try the hotel breakfast. Buffet style…but very good. Aki enquired about moving to a room with bath instead of shower so that she can more easily bathe whilst keeping her injured knee dry…to my surprise the request was granted, and we moved to the room next door. 

Headed for the central station and hopped on a train to Delft…only a ten minute ride. Very comfortable seats…we realised we’d been sat in first class. Wandered around the streets bordering the canals in the town centre. Had a sit down at a cafe in the market square and enjoyed a coke before heading for the rendezvous point for the canal tour. 

There were about 40 ladies of a certain age all dressed in purple, sporting red hats…they turned out to be the internationally renowned Red Hat Society…there were loads of them roaming the streets! They all piled onto one boat and headed off, looking like a cargo of tulips from Amsterdam! Wandered across town to the Vermeer Centre...a museum of sorts, though containing only reproductions of the great man's work, in the former St Luke's Guild House, of which Vermeer was once head. Enjoyed a couple of modernist re-interpretations, and re-created a Vermeer with Aki as my muse. 

Wandered the streets and crossed the charming canals, and then made our way to the old Armoury, which now houses a steak restaurant. I enjoyed a very tasty, chunky fillet steak...Aki had the schnitzel. A waiter managed to soak a patron in lager at the next table! He took it all in remarkably good stead. 

Wandered down to the southern harbour for a beer on a barge bar, and watched the boats coming and going. Also paid one final homage to Vermeer, finding the spot from which he had painted his View of Delft. Took a train back to Rotterdam. Wandered north of the central station and found a bar in Provienstraat, an area that managed to survive the Nazi bombing campaign...sat out on the street for a beer before walking back to the hotel for a much needed bath!

Friday 8th May 2026

Woke at 0545 with back ache. Sat up in bed for half an hour before nodding back off. Woke again at 0900. Got up and made tea before limping across the road for breakfast at Served, a modern cafe serving breakfast bowls and sandwiches in crusty flatbread. Popped back to the hotel room to pick up a backpack, then headed for the metro…took the E line to The Hague. Took about half an hour…we pottered along through verdant open country and satellite villages…quite a lot of new housing developments going up. It all looks very calm and civilised. Alighted at the Central station…browsed in The Hague tourist information store at the station and picked up a few silly gifts emblazoned with The Hague moniker. 

Walked to the Mauritshuis…a magnificent C17th mansion built by a local slave trader and sugar plantation owner. It now houses a collection of Dutch Masters…Vermeer’s breathtaking View of Delft, Rembrandt’s self portrait, and the main attraction, Girl With a Pearl Earring. Got to see the delicate Goldfinch, too. Wandered up to the Mesdag, stopping for coffee and cheesecake on the way, and gawped at the Freedom Palace, now housing the International Court of Justice…a small group of protesters had gathered around a banner calling for the release of Venezuelan political prisoners...from whom, it wasn't clear. 

Hopped on a tram to Sheveningen and walked along the Prom. Ate fish and chips in the Herringhouse near the fishing harbour. Caught a bus back to the central station, then metro back to Leuvenhaven. Wandered around the dock looking for a harbourside bar, but couldn’t find anywhere; walked back toward the hotel, stopping for a beer at Grace, a large brasserie with tables on the street. Could barely walk by the time we got back to our room! 

Thursday 7th May 2026

Alarm at 0530. Got up and made tea. Packed our bags and headed for a No.91 bus to KX to catch the 0816 Eurostar train to Rotterdam. Long queues at St Pancras but got through border control in good time…had a coffee in the waiting area before boarding. Rolled into Rotterdam Centraal at 1230 local time and walked to the Hilton hotel. 

Our room was ready so we left our luggage there then headed out to find lunch at the very modern Markthal, taking a couple of Metro trains to get there. Enjoyed a piri piri chicken sandwich at a little Portuguese food stall. Wandered over to the kube housing development and paid €4 to look inside one, which had been turned into an art exhibit. 

Very pokey accommodation and we were horrified by the steep and narrow stair casing…wondered how many residents had met their end falling down the stairs! Took a couple of trams down to Wilhelmina Platz, crossing the Erasmus Bridge. Wandered along the dockside to take a look at the floating houses, and then took seats at the New York Hotel for an early dinner. Built in 1901 to put up those wishing to emigrate to the Americas. Food was OK, the service excellent. Got a ride in an Uber…a Tesla driven by a charming young man from Cape Verde…to the New Instituut of Architecture for a guided tour of the current exhibition extolling the virtues of fungi…there were about eight of us, and the guide was excellent, encouraging much participation…he was particularly impressed with my reading out some of the exhibition text, offering me a permanent role! Got a couple of trams back to the hotel, showered, and crashed out…!!!

Wednesday 6th May 2026

Woke around 0800...back and neck giving me right gip. Got up and made tea. Sat up in bed for awhile before rising to porridge. Did some exercises in a partially successful bid to reduce the discomfort. Did some chores...a bit of ironing, and some packing ahead of our departure for Rotterdam tomorrow morning. Aki cooked a tasty cheesey omelette for lunch. Pottered about not doing very much. Feel very stiff and uncomfortable. Aki popped out to Morrisons in the drizzle. Finished off the mapo for dinner, with rice and gyoza. Cheese and biscuits for afters. Early night ahead of tomorrow’s adventure…

Tuesday 5th May 2026

Woke around 0830...back giving me gip, but not as bad as yesterday morning. Got up and made tea. Aki put more washing on. Porridged. Did some exercises, trying to alleviate the discomfort in my back and neck...think I'm going to have to try a few cannabis cafes in Rotterdam! Made some lunch...finished off the butter beans. Headed for Kings Cross for our annual meeting with Stuart, Aki's financial adviser. Had arranged to hook up with him at Kings Place for a coffee and a chat. We sat outside overlooking the canal basin. The conclusion was that Aki's investments have done well...keep things as they are for the present. We parted ways around 1600...Aki headed for Sweaty Betty's at Kings Cross, and I headed to Oxford Circus to the Vans shoe store. Wended my way home via Euston, where I hopped on a No.91 bus. Aki was already home when I got in...cooking the pasta, which we had with pesto and prawns. Drove over to Stoke Newington to see the Tower Theatre production of "Jerusalem", Jez Butterworth's acclaimed state of the nation play. It was a cut above the usual Tower fare...strong central performance, though two or three weak links...but well directed, and the set was pretty good too. Bumped into Sorrel, who directed the panto last Xmas...she's hoping to be in this year's offering. Drove home...traffic got very heavy around Finsbury Park, the Arsenal having played their European Champions League semi-final second leg tonight against Atletico Madrid...they won 2-1 on aggregate, so the streets were swarming with celebrating Gooners! 

Monday 4th May 2026

Woke around 0700 in pain...neck and upper back. Had to haul myself out of bed and do some exercises in the living-room...lay down on the floor for a bit...it eased things, but didn't eradicate the discomfort. I don't think my groove pillow is going to work with our mattress. Sat and listened to some tunes before Aki appeared. Breakfasted on butter beans in tomato sauce on toast, with cheese on top. Pottered about putting stuff away and Aki did my washing, before we walked up to The Great Indian for lunch with Ben from No.38, and Jane and Carlos from No.36. Carlos had literally only just returned from Heathrow, having met Jane off the plane from New York...amazed they had the energy to come. The food was great, and reasonably priced. Aki and I walked on to Waitrose to buy some loo roll. I bought a new electric toothbrush, as they were going half-price! Aki cooked fish for dinner, with pan fried sweet potatoes, before she hooked up for an online meet with her JCUK chums. I listened to some music. We watched the Netflix documentary, narrated by Attenborough, following descendants of the troop of gorillas he interacted with in 1978. Bath and bed...eventually!

Sunday 3rd May 2026

Alarm at 0830. Dozed for a bit before descending to make tea. Emptied my food cupboard. Packed up some more of my possessions and, with Aki's help, stuck some stuff in the boot of the car. No sign of mein hosts...they'd left instructions for putting their washing in the tumble dryer, though. 

Aki did that, but discovered that one of their number had evidently left a tissue in their trousers, which had re-constituted itself as confetti...tissue bits everywhere! Drove down to King Street to pick up Kath and Roz from outside the Guest House, and drove them to Spode for coffee. Aki and I shared oatcakes, and tea for two in blue Spode...very decorous. Dropped Roz off at the newly opened pick up/drop off point on the east side of Stoke station, then drove round to the south side to drop Kath off...had a brief wander through the Goods Yard redevelopment and picked up a chicken caesar wrap from the little cafe there to have on our car journey back to London town. Drove back to Bakewell Street and packed the rest of my stuff into the back of the car then headed down the M6...stopped off at Norton Canes service station to eat our wrap and swap drivers...Aki drove the rest of the way back to Holloway. Got home around 1630 and unloaded the car. Aki warmed up mapo for dinner, with rice and greens...very tasty. Toasted my return with a glass of Guinness apiece. Watched a TV special on the Making of Life on Earth to mark David Attenborough's 100th birthday...very moving, especially his 1978 encounter with the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. Soaked in a bath before flopping into bed around 2330...

Saturday 2nd May 2026

Woke at 0545. Managed to get back to sleep eventually. Got up around 0930 to make tea...Aidan in the kitchen preparing to journey south to watch Huddersfield Town take on Wimbledon in their final game of a mediocre season. Showered. Made a packed dinner to take to the theatre. Rather overcast morning. 

Drove down to Newcastle for brunch at the Greek Bakery...feasted on my last pork gyro. Then up the hill to the theatre for 1230 warm-up ahead of the matinee...only 150 in, our lowest audience, but loads of them were up dancing by the end. Ate my dinner in the atrium with the gang, before heading to the car with some bits and pieces. Bumped into Aki, Kath, and Roz coming from the Clayhanger Guest House where Kath and Roz had checked in. Joined them at their table in the restaurant for a quick chat...Cath has been discharged from hospital and is at home receiving palliative care...it doesn't sound as though she has long. Phil has been running round making funerary plans. Warmed up for the evening show...about 225 in, but they were raucous. One guy, who was evidently on the sauce, seemed to find Grandad absolutely hilarious, even when I was at my most serious...very odd! Standing ovation at the end...Kath, Aki and Roz all on the crowded dancefloor for the encore. Great final show! A fitting end to my professional career! Things got a bit emotional in the bar as we said our long goodbyes...Sam and Shirley, particularly, got me teared up, saying how much they'd learnt watching my performances every night...very sweet. It was raining heavily, so I gave Kath and Roz a lift down the hill to the Guest House, then drove Aki back to Bakewell Street...got to bed around midnight!

Friday 1st May 2026

Woke around 0630. Had to get up to do some back stretches! Went back to bed before rising around 0945 to make tea. Had a brief kick about with Wilson in the back garden. Lovely sunny morning. Showered before driving over to Hanley to pick up Tony and Katrina from the Premier Inn. Drove them over to Middleport Pottery for brunch by the canal. Enjoyed a full English. Had a browse around the gallery, and forked out £90 for a gorgeous little flower pot by a Korean ceramicist. Drove Tony and Katrina to Stoke station, then did a little shopping in Sainsburys before returning to Bakewell Street. Played football with Wilson out in the back garden for a bit. 

Made a packed dinner and drove in to the theatre for a 1600 cast de-brief in the Youth Room with the SM and Management Team. Not much to report, really. Ate my dinner on a bench in the theatre back garden before warm up. About 200 in this evening...very lively bunch! Got a lot of enthusiastic dancers up...great show. Drove back to Bakewell Street and fed Wilson some cheese and carrot before retiring to my room.

Thursday 30th April 2026

Woke around 0830. Got up and brought tea back to bed. Eventually got dressed, and drove over to Whitmore Lakes for a full English at the Cake Shack. Got recognised by one of the staff...she'd been to the Saturday matinee with her husband...she said I'd had them in hysterics. Hopefully she'll recommend the show to her colleagues...maybe I'll get a discount on the full English! Ate outside in the sunshine. Glorious morning! Drove back to Bakewell Street to put a packed lunch together, then drove in to the theatre. 220 in for the matinee...the average age was somewhere in the mid-80s. But got a few people up dancing. Ate my in-between-shows meal out in the car park on one of the picnic tables before preparing for the evening performance. 

Tony McB and Katrina D in tonight...Tony was on his way up to Buxton for work tomorrow, and Katrina had been visiting a chum in Shrewsbury. They loved the show...and seemed to have been thoroughly entertained, despite the relatively small house of about 190...not many could be persuaded onto the dance floor. Had a quick drink with Tony and Katrina in the bar before driving them over to the Premier Inn in Hanley, then drove back to the digs...