Monday 23rd March 2026

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

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