Sunday 26th April 2026

Woke around 0830 after a rather fitful night's sleep. Got up and made tea...brought a bowl of porridge back to bed with me and listened to some radio...another tragically failed attempt on Trump's life last night! FaceTimed Aki who seemed in good shape. She's planning to go to the cafe for lunch with her rowing mates, as the weather is looking good...she'll go on the bus as her knee is still recovering. Jim and Katherine turned up at 1115 to pick me up. Took them down to Stoke for coffee at the Spode Museum but the cafe was closed due to staff shortage. Walked them round to The Bluebird cafe, but that was shut, so we ended up back at Spode and bought takeaway coffees at The Quarter. Browsed in the second hand shop at Spode for a bit, then drove to Barlaston. Nick, Julie, Bob and Charlotte were already at the Plume of Feathers, having enjoyed the woodland walk on Downs Bank. We repaired to the restaurant for Sunday lunch. I enjoyed the belly pork, followed by sticky toffee pudding and custard. Everyone seemed on good form. Julie is heading back to China, where she runs summer camps for primary school children, Nick seems to be helping to develop some kind of pipe/flow technology in tandem with two entrepreneurs from Blackburn; Bob and Charlotte are enjoying the retired life, pootling about in their camper van. Katherine invited us up to Holmfirth for Holmfirth Art Week in July. We said our farewells outside the pub, and Jim and Katherine drove me back to Bakewell Street before heading back up to Holmfirth. I made a cup of tea and went back to bed for a few hours. Kath FaceTimed from the sofa at 12 High View...Dad had been hallucinating after overdosing on his pain relief, and mum was drinking sherry mixed with Baileys! Jim was cooking dinner. Aki FaceTimed having received a surprise visit from Kathleen from No.49...she and Andrew have been away in NZ for a few months. Listened to music. Dined on a slice of Edam, and a small chocolate filled crepe before taking to my bed once more...