Saturday 21st February 2026

Woke around 0730...dozed on until 0900. Got up and cooked brunch. We drove over to Sainsburys at Manor House to fill the car up with petrol, and check tyre pressures, before doing a shop. Drove home and unloaded. Watched some Winter Olympics. Did some exercises. Called High View to wish father a Happy 96th! Kath was there getting dinner ready. Dad looked in good shape...he seemed very happy to have received a proof of the cover for his soon-to-be-published novel, "Dagga & the King of Lollybrod". Jim due to join them for a celebratory dinner later. Aki cooked hake for dinner. Watched the curling final between GB and Canada...it's so dull, we switched over to watch "Trying", and "Small Prophets"...GB lost in the final end. 

Friday 20th February 2026

Woke to Aki's alarm at 0730. She got up to ready herself for Rowing Club. I dozed on until 0900. Got up and brought porridge back to bed with me...looked over some of Grandad's Act 2 lines. Took a constitutional up Highgate Hill, stopping at Archie's for a coffee, then continuing up to Base Camp 2 at Waterlow Park. Rather uninspiring exhibition of naif paintings in Lauderdale House. Walked back home via M&S. Aki back for lunch. Watched some Winter Olympics. Aki spoke to Hachan in Osaka...she has been called in to hospital for scans on a suspicious lump found near her gall bladder. Doesn't sound too good! Did some exercises. Cooked a ready-made chicken and ham pie, and baked a sweet potato with it, plus lots of vegetables. Ice cream and amaretti biscuit for afters. Watched more Winter Olympics before bath and bed...

Thursday 19th February 2026

Woke around 0715. Dozed until 0900. Got up and porridged. We met up with Ben from No.38 and accompanied him to Seven Sisters to view a flat that his daughter Mira has put an offer in on, with her boyfriend, Alex. It's in a pretty rough area of south Tottenham, and within walking of Seven Sisters tube station. We hooked up with Mira, Alex, and Alex's Ukrainian mum, Nica, outside the property, a Victorian era double-fronted house converted some time ago into two flats. It's an odd shape, but there are possibilities for opening it up a bit...the flat is on the first floor. It's been fairly well looked after by the current owner. The problem for Mira and Alex is that, although they don't need a mortgage in order to make the purchase, they have applied for a £70,000 mortgage to have cash to re-configure the accommodation...this has been refused by a lender due to the fact that the property abuts a commercial unit, a roofing and scaffolding concern. All a bit odd, really, as the current owner got a full mortgage 15 years ago without hassle. They are looking to find a second opinion. I rather suspect Mira's credit score is "challenging". We repaired to a nice cafe around the corner afterward, and Nica showed us some alternative plans she'd drawn up (she's architect trained). Ben bought us some lunch and coffee. I left them at Seven Sisters tube station and took a bus down the A10 to Stoke Newington. Wanted to pop in at the chiropodist's there to see if they stocked the insoles I've been using, but the woman was pretty unhelpful. Left empty handed and caught a No.106 bus back home. Signed up to a Dementia Research programme...had to take some cognitive tests...I scored in the top 10% for my word, and picture, memory. Watched some Winter Olympics before putting an early dinner together...a cheesey mushroom pasta sauce. Spoke to Linsey on the phone...she's going to be my landlady as of Sunday! She confirmed that there are no parking restrictions outside her home. Aki sloped off to Book Club at No.127. I watched the culmination of the Women's Figure skating...great little Japanese skater who won bronze. She was overwhelmed by her achievement...very charming! 

Wednesday 18th February 2026

Woke around 0715 and dozed for a bit Aki cycled off to Rowing Club. I porridged in bed and look over my lines for Good Golly…they should come fairly readily. Walked down to Upper Street for a coffee, and bought a quiche in Belle Epoche before heading back up the Holloway Road for a wee shop in Waitrose. Had forgotten my bus pass, so had to walk back home! Aki back for lunch. Pulled the other chest of drawers out from the bedroom wall and sprayed the black mould with mould remover...signs of damp to the external wall. Did some packing, and emptied the car boot ahead of loading up on Sunday morning. Aki cooked pan fried trout fillet for dinner, with cannelloni beans and plenty of vegetables. She then departed for a lecture at the RIBA...a famous Japanese architect, whose work we had visited in Hiroshima, and Toyama, last year. I worked on some songs, and watched some Winter Olympics. Aki back around 2200...bath and bed...

Tuesday 17th February 2026

 

Woke around 0600...took a while to doze back off. Aki woke me at 0930, and I got up to porridge. She sloped off to tai chi...I emptied the drawers from one of the chests of drawers in the bedroom, so that I could move the carcass to reveal the wall behind...as I surmised, the black mould is back...gave it all a good spraying, and did some vacuuming. Aki back for lunch...beetroot soup. Ventured into town to see "Wuthering Heights" at the Regent Street Cinema...a new adaptation. It's too glossy by half, having the feel of a sub-standard Tim Burton movie. Shallow, and rather dull. Aki went off to M&S to try on a jacket, and I went to John Lewis's to buy some bits and pieces in the Food Hall. Met up with Aki in M&S...we had a nice chat with a member of staff, who told us she hailed from Doncaster...we talked about Brexit and the surge in support for Reform, and rued the current state of the nation! Caught a No.29 bus, but it conked out in Camden Town and we had to decant onto a No.253. Aki cooked a mushroom risotto for dinner. Watched the Men's Big Air Final...nuts!!! 

Monday 16th February 2026

Woke around 0600...dozed off again eventually. Got up around 0930. Porridged. Did my exercises and watched some Winter Olympics. Did some packing ahead of decamping to Stoke next weekend. Put lunch together. Walked over to the Park Theatre to watch a rehearsed play reading, directed by a friend of Helen and Martin. The audience was rather small. The play, "My Girl", has been written by a New York comedienne of Palestinian descent, named Marena Riyad, and is basically a takedown of the flakey Palestinian men she has dated...Marena basically plays herself, but the action is slow and over-long, until we hit Act IV, which sees her deliver her message via a taut stand-up routine...good stuff, but needs some judicious cutting...they plan to take it to Edinburgh for the Festival in the summer. Walked home in the gloaming. Warmed up the last of the chicken and plum traybake for dinner, served up with sauteed potato and lots of vegetables. Aki had a zoom call. I watched some Winter Olympics.

Sunday 15th February 2026

A relatively decent night's sleep...woke around 0630 and dozed fitfully until 1000. Discovered Aki on the phone when I got up...her nephew, Naoya, had rung to pass on the news that Nobaru, Aki's brother-in-law, had passed away last night after a battle with lung cancer. She had been hoping to see him next month to say her farewells, but she will now re-direct her energies to assisting Naoya sort out his father's estate. Aki cooked eggs shakshuka for brunch. Watched some Winter Olympics. Very wet day, so stayed put. Aki served up fish curry, rice, and daal for dinner. Watched some telly...particularly enjoyed Lisa McGhee's new piece, How To Get To Heaven From Belfast...classy stuff. Watched Sunderland scrape through to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win at Oxford United, on MOTD2. Bath and bed...

Saturday 14th February 2026

Aki woke me up at around 0900 with a Valentine's card. Got up and made brunch. Watched some Winter Olympics, then headed out for a walk, as the sun had made a rare appearance. Took a No.91 bus up Hornsey Rise, then walked along the disused railway line to Highgate, and wandered into Queen's Wood. A little muddy underfoot. There was a long queue outside the cafe, so we walked on to Highgate Woods, and had tea and pain au chocolat at the Pavilion Cafe there. 

Walked back down the A1. Popped into a new vinyl record shop, and bought a couple of vaguely interesting cheap second hand LPs for framing on the hallway wall. Bought Japanese rice and black sesame ice cream at Cocoro, then caught a No.43 bus back to Holloway. We had a four course Valentine's dinner...the beetroot soup I'd made yesterday, with sliced radishes and yoghurt, followed by bavette steak with sauteed potatoes, vegetables, fried portobello mushroom, tomato, and peppercorn sauce. Turkish cream sponge cake, followed by cheese and biscuits. Watched the Women's skeleton final, and some ice skating, then FA Cup MOTD...Burnley humbled by League One Mansfield Town. Bath and bed...my bad hernia repair giving me much gip this evening...hope things calm down tomorrow!

Friday 13th February 2026

Woke around 0530. Took a couple of hours to nod back off! Aki cycled off to Rowing Club before I managed to rise. I walked round to Big Jo's for coffee and cinnamon bun, then wandered over to Waitrose to buy bavette steak, and Prosecco, for tomorrow night's Valentine's Day menu. Had time to drop everything back at home, then head for Newington Green via two buses. Got there a bit early, so had a coffee in Brags & Brams, with a nice window view of Newington Green. I liked the cup and saucer...I assumed they were made from bamboo, but it turned out they were made from re-cycled coffee beans! Walked across the Green for a half-hour osteopathy session with Chris Harris. Picked up my jacket from Stitch & Stitch, then walked to Highbury Corner in search of a Valentine's card. Found one at a little florists' shop, then headed home on the No.263 bus. 

Aki had cooked ramen for lunch...very tasty. Watched some Winter Olympics. Cooked up some beetroot soup...most of it destined for the freezer. Then cooked a creamy mushroom and parmesan sauce which we had with tagliatelle and peas. Finished off the damson jam wreath and custard for afters, then headed for Notting Hill. Had tickets to see Kyoto-based Chiten Theatre Company and their adaptation of Dostoevsky's novella, "The Gambler". It was highly stylised, involving a long table which rotated for most of the piece on a floor pained as a roulette wheel. The performers yelled out bits of text, in between hammering on the table with pool game balls...it was quite invigorating for the first 15 minutes or so, but became increasingly unengaging as the eight actors continually moved in a circular motion with the table...nowt much else happened, really...a show that literally went round in circles...not sure what Fyodor would have made of it...I had to fight to stay awake! 

Thursday 12th February 2026

Woke around 0730...got up at 0830 and porridged. Had to leave for Manor House before the John Lewis van turned up with the new induction hob. Drove to the Green Lanes retail park and parked up, then wandered slowly up Green Lanes to the West Green surgery. The nasal endoscopy went well, and the doctor confirmed that nothing appeared to be of concern, but prescribed a couple of things to combat possible reflux when lying prone in bed at night. See what happens. Walked back down Green Lanes past the countless Turkish cafes, restaurants, and bakeries, displaying their mouth-watering wares...couldn't resist buying a generous slice of chicken pie to share with Aki for lunch, and a cream cake to share for our Valentines dinner on Saturday night. Drove home to find the new hob had been successfully fitted, and was ready to go...instead I microwaved the chicken pie! Watched some Winter Olympics. Aki cooked a tasty fish curry for dinner, with daal, and rice. She had a zoom call rehearsal with JCUK...one of their number has written a short skit, and Aki's doing sound. 

Wednesday 11th February 2026

Woke at 0400…took a couple of hours to get back to sleep! Got up around 0830. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club, and I waited for Chris, the plumber, to show up. He arrived on time at 0900. He finished the siliconing in the shower, then tried to fix the water filter under the sink...looks like we need to order a new housing. He put new washers on the kitchen mixer tap...I had to run down to the Nationwide to get him £100 in cash afterward. Aki returned for lunch. Watched Winter Olympics coverage, did some exercises, and practised some folk songs before warming up the chicken and plum traybake for dinner, which we had with sweet potato and vegetables. Drove to Stoke Newington in the rain and hooked up with Katrina in the bar at the Tower Theatre to see an adaptation of "Brighton Rock", directed by Phil Ley. The lad playing Pinkie was very good, and As did a reasonable job of portraying Ida; the guys playing the hoodlums were rather unconvincing, though...they looked like they'd stepped out of an episode of "Steptoe & Son"...they brought no menace to their roles. 

Tuesday 10th February 2026

Woke around 0900. Got up and porridged. Aki pushed off up the road for tai chi. I awaited the arrival of Tim, who turned up around 1100 and finished painting the skirting, and tidied up...he took away the unused tiles, and his dust sheeting. Chris is due to turn up tomorrow to silicone the edges of the shower 'tray' and finish the job. Aki back for a light lunch. Watched some Olympics from Italy, then headed into town in the drizzle to hook up with Tokiko at Ave Mario, an Italian restaurant in Covent Garden. We enjoyed a reasonably priced set lunch menu...the carbonara was very tasty, and the tiramisu excellent. We then walked across Trafalgar Square and down The Mall to the ICA to watch a "Angry Squad", part of the annual Japanese Foundation touring cinema festival. It was entertaining, though the plotting was clumsy at times...enjoyed it. Parted with Tok outside, then walked up to Piccadilly Circus to get a tube train home...

Monday 9th February 2026

Woke around 0900 feeling rather weary! Got up, though, and breakfasted on toast and jam, coffee, and amaretti biscuit. Watched the Olympics coverage. Enjoyed the Freeski Slopestyle final. Did some exercises. Aki cooked lunch. More sitting on the sofa watching the winter sports...it's exhausting! Early dinner...tortelloni in a chicken bone broth, with vegetables on the side. Headed into town to attend an evening of storytelling at The Moth, held at Rich Mix in Shoreditch...one of Aki's rowing mates volunteers as an usher, and had recommended it. It's a storytelling slam, where ten punters who have put down their names with the organisers, get up and have ten minutes to tell us a story on the chosen theme of the evening, on this occassion "Love Hurts". No-one was particularly good at it, in my view, and the stories were rather depressing rather than entertaining...not sure I'd go again...a pity, as I'd always enjoyed the R4 version. Walked Becky back to Shoreditch train station, and made our way home...

Sunday 8th February 2026

Woke around 0630…dozed back off until 0900. Got up to eat Aki's cooked brunch, before she cycled off to Rowing Club. I sat down to watch the Women's Downhill...Lindsey Vonn was due to ski minus her left ACL, having crashed on the slopes a week and a half ago...mad! Sure enough, she crashed out at the top of the course, and we could hear her yelping in agony as she lay in the snow. She was helicoptered off the mountain! Aki back in time to change, then we headed in to town to meet up with Miho, who had flown over from Japan to see some ballet. We hooked up with her over a coffee at Dover Street Market, then wandered slowly up Regent Street to the Regent Street cinema to watch a couple of Buster Keaton shorts, soundtracked by REM tunes from their Monster album. We enjoyed the old movies, but the soundtracks didn't work...too loud, and failed to add anything to the viewing experience...all rather odd, really. We decamped to Grilandia in Hanover Street for dinner...a new Lebanese restaurant...it was OK, but basically a glorified kebab shop! Walked Miho back to Piccadilly and her hotel, and we caught a Piccadilly Line train back to Cally Road, and a No.91 bus home. Caught up with some Olympics highlights, and watched MOTD2 before bath and bed...

Saturday 7th February 2026

Got up around 0830 to prepare for the tiler. Paul showed up on time at 0930. I cooked brunch…Paul had finished grouting and left before we finished eating. He’s done a decent job. All the areas Chris worked on yesterday are hurting…my bad hernia repair, and my neck. Hope things settle down over the weekend! Watched some skiing and curling from the Winter Olympics. Popped across to Waitrose to get some odds and ends. Walked back in the drizzle. Cooked a sticky chicken traybake with plums, served with freekah and vegetables, and made a damson jam puff pastry wreath, which was very tasty, served with custard. Watched more Olympics…enjoyed the Men’s Big Air…gobsmacking! The free dance figure skating was good, too. Caught highlights of Arsenal’s 3-0 win over the Black Cats on MOTD…

Friday 6th February 2026

Alarm at 0730. Got up and laid the dust sheets ahead of the arrival of the tiler, Paul, who showed up on time at 0815. He'd brought his mum's disabled badge, so didn't need to get him a parking permit! Tim showed up briefly. Paul did a good job of the tiling. I had to push off at 1115 and head for Newington Green for my appointment with the cranial osteopath. Took a couple of buses to get there. Session went OK...booked in for another next week. Popped over the road with a jacket that needed the sleeves shortening. Greek couple run the joint...bit pricey, though! Still, thought I'd give them a go. Took a bus back up to Clissold Park, then walked home from there. Aki had tidied up and mopped the bathroom floor by the time I got in. Pea and ham soup for lunch. Wandered over to Waitrose to do a bit of a shop. Finished off the ham and potato pie for dinner, with sweet potatoes and vegetables. Watched a bit of the Winter Olympics Opening ceremony…

Thursday 5th February 2026

Woke around 0800. Read in bed before rising for porridge. Sent Kath a Happy Birthday text...65 today!!! We ventured into town, taking the Victoria Line to Oxford Circus, and making our way to John Lewis's. Bought a new Bosch induction hob...comes with half-price installation...hopefully will be delivered and installed next Thursday. Took the Central Line to Lancaster Gate and walked though Hyde Park in the drizzle, to see the Peter Doig exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery. I wasn't very taken with the works, but quite enjoyed the sound system, which was pounding out some Caribbean reggae vibes. Walked south to South Kensington tube station, and headed for Pimlico. Stopped on the way for lunch at the V&A. 

Saw the impressive Lee Miller exhibition at the Tate...remarkable career that went from fashion to the avant-garde, and finally to her documenting WWII in the Blitz in London, the D-Day Landings, and the liberation of Buchenwald. What a life! Headed for home, pausing on the stairwell to get a photo with Chris Ofili's wall painting paying tribute to the victims of the Grenfell Fire. Walked home from Finsbury Park in pouring rain. Aki cooked hake and beans for dinner, followed by cheese and biscuits. Nowt on telly. Researched restaurants for Sunday dinner. Early bath and bed...

Wednesday 4th February 2026

Woke around 0800 after a relatively decent night's sleep. Aki had cycled off to Rowing Club by the time I rose. Porridged. Read some Tomalin on Dickens, and did some exercises before Aki got back. Made some lunch. We walked down to Angel. Nearly got run over on the pavement by two youths doing 30mph on electric bikes as they fled from police! Did a shop in Sainsburys, and hung about in Hotel Chocolat for a bit before jumping on a No.43 bus back to Holloway. I made a ham, leek and potato pie for dinner. Nowt on telly. Read some, before bath and bed…

Tuesday 3rd February 2026

Woke around 0700 and failed to get back to sleep…sat up and read in bed before rising to porridge. Quite noisy outside…tree surgeons were pollarding the massive tree opposite. Aki sloped off to t’ai chi, and I headed for the gym. Managed 15 minutes on the bike, and some leg curls. Got home and made some ham and pea soup for lunch. We ventured into town and met up with Katrina outside Holborn station. 

Walked her round to the Garden cinema to watch Richard Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague”, an entertaining, flawless movie which follows Jean Luc Godard’s making of A Bout de Soufflé…movie of the year! Had me grinning from ear to ear. Caught a No.91 bus back home. Aki made a pork stir fry for dinner. As I was cleaning down the surfaces afterward, I noticed a crack in the induction hob...it's front-to-back across two cooking zones...the whole thing will need replacing and installing by an electrician! Watched Arsenal v Chelsea in the League Cup semi-final...a tense game which ended 1-0 in the Gooners' favour. Bath and bed...

Monday 2nd February 2026

Woke at 0145, and again at 0545. Took ages to get back to sleep. I'm going to have to get myself some sleeping pills or something! Got up around 1000 and porridged. Did a couple of hours work at the laptop before putting some lunch together. Did my expenses, and put my timesheet in for processing. Read some. Borrowed next door's garden hose, and stuck it down the shower trap, thinking to check that the leak hadn't been a bit further down the pipework, so ran some water down there for around two hours. See if anything bubbles up over the next 24 hours! Warmed up the lasagne from Da Mario's for dinner with some vegetables, followed by chocolate brownie and ice cream. Watched Black Ops. 

Sunday 1st February 2026

Woke around 0545…took an hour or so before nodding back off. Got up around 1015…Aki cooked a tasty omelette brunch. We listened to the Australian Open tennis final…Alcaraz beat poor old Novak once again...though Novak was very gracious in defeat. Roz phoned with bad news of Cath, Phil’s partner…she had undergone tests for heart problems which have revealed a thymic carcinoma…apparently stage IV and incurable. Roz said Phil was in shock, and wanting space to come to terms with it all…very sad. Headed for Clapton in the drizzle, taking a No.254 bus to Clapton Pond. Walked down to Lesley's at No.56 Fletching Road...she was hosting Katrina's 70th birthday bash. Good turnout. Simone was there...hadn't seen her for years; Tony turned up, as well as Carl and David. Enjoyed a bit of catching up, a great finger buffet, and some tasty birthday cake. Chatted to a chap named Ron, who's wife is an old chum of Katrina's...he'd worked as an archaeologist on numerous digs in the City of London, and made replicas for showing in the Museum of London. We slunk away with a little doggy bag around 1830, by which time it was pouring down with rain. Aki made ramen soup when we got in. Watched a bit of telly...a Italian serial adaptation of The Leopard, and MOTD before bath and bed...

Saturday 31st January 2026

Yet another fitful night’s sleep. Got up at 0945 and read in bed for a while, but was interrupted by the postman ringing the doorbell...Aki's hygrometer had arrived. Made brunch. We walked over to Waitrose to do a bit of a shop. Cooked a gammon shank for dinner, with sweet potatoes and lots of vegetables, followed by chocolate melt-in-the-middle puddings with ice cream.