Friday 23rd January 2026

Alarm at 0800. Got up and porridged. Put a packed lunch together before heading east in the car…on inspections, but the tile shop in Chadwell Heath was our first port of call. We managed to persuade the team there to refund us on seven tiles, despite being over the 30 day limit. Much relieved, I then drove Aki to Yuki’s in Hornchurch, and left her there to have a catch up with her old chum. I headed for inspections in Mountnessing…but was severely hampered by a huge diversion which forced me back into Romford…must have added five miles to my trip, and half-an-hour!!! Stopped in Brentwood to buy some lunch items in M&S, then drove on to Mountnessing. From thence I headed for the M25, and then the M11, stopping at Birchanger service station to eat my lunch in the car park. Inspections at a couple of infill developments in Bishops Stortford, then on to Elsenham, and finally Newport, near Saffron Walden, as the light started to go...had to wait about ten minutes at a level crossing...thought the light might disappear on me before I got round the Newport stock, but just made it. The camera on the iPhone13 is remarkably good in low light. Headed for home in the dark. Got in around 1900. Aki cooked pork medallions for dinner with lots of vegetables. Watched The Traitors Finale with about 10 million other viewers around the country...