Monday 20th April 2026

Fitful night's sleep...back ache getting progressively worse. Aki got up around 0900 to make tea. I brought porridge up to the room a bit later. Eventually got dressed and ventured out into the sunshine. Drove down to Trentham Gardens for coffee at Pau, which had been recommended by Lyndsey...it was OK...but the venue wasn't very inspiring, though Aki did have a browse around the cycling section of the business, trying on helmets. A huge circus style tent has been erected opposite, sporting posters for the Ladyboys of Bangkok...the 'girls' on the poster look worryingly like Gary Glitter in a Tina Turner wig! Drove on to the Wedgewood Estate and had lunch in the tea room...very swish! Then drove back to Stoke to hook up with Anne Kinnaird, who was on her community allotment in Richmond Street...had fresh mint tea with her and her oppo, Rachel. Anne gave us a bunch of mint, and some huge sticks of rhubarb. Drove over to Tesco...Aki bought a chicken to roast for dinner, and some custard to have with the rhubarb. Back at Bakewell Street, Aki took on the chicken dinner, and I stewed the rhubarb. We ate in the front dining room, then repaired to the living room to watch telly and attempt to finish Lyndsey's jigsaw puzzle...she and Aidan had driven off to west Wales for a few days of walking the coastal path.