Sunday 22nd March 2026

Woke around 0915. Got up and cooked brunch. Lazy morning. Packed ahead of my journey back to Stoke this afternoon. FaceTimed Kath who gave us a tour of her re-decorated bathroom; phoned dad expecting him to be able to hear better with his new hearing aid…but he had to take it out in order to hear me over the landline! Jim texted a photo from St James's Park after Newcastle had gone down 2-1 to the Mackems! Everyone appeared to be waving the White Flag! Popped out to buy sweet potato while Aki prepared a roast chicken late lunch. Headed off to Euston to catch the 1552 back to Stoke. Walked up to Richmond Street from the station and jumped in the car, and headed back to Bakewell Street. Greeted by Lyndsey, who was awaiting the arrival of a former lodger...they were planning to head out for a curry. A little disturbed to find that Lyndsey was suffering from a hoarse voice...don't want to catch that! Astounded to learn that Aidan had travelled to Plymouth yesterday to watch Huddersfield Town go down by 3-1!!! I sorted my socks and underpants out...Aki had kindly washed the lot on Saturday. Listened to the latter moments of the Arsenal v Man City League Cup Final. Phoned Aki, who was endeavouring to complete her packing ahead of flying out to Japan tomorrow evening. Watched the last two episodes of Small Prophets...a work of quiet genius! The final episode ended with the words To Be Continued...