Thursday 16th April 2026

Woke around 0430. Failed to properly get back to sleep. Back ache, and aching feet kept me awake. Got up eventually, and brought tea and porridge back to bed with me. Drove down to Stoke for coffee at the Spode tea room. Alerted Anne Kinnaird of my being there...she has her artist studio nearby, and I've been keen to stick my nose in to take a look. She walked down to Spode, though, with one of her colleagues, and had a pot of tea and a chat...will have to visit her studio at a later date. Drove back to Bakewell Street and cooked a ready meal in the oven...lasagne. Eaten with plenty of greens. FaceTimed Aki. She'd cycled down to Sainsburys at The Angel this morning to stock up on supplies. Drove in to the theatre for around 1630. Did some Alexander technique before warm up. Just over 300 in tonight...silver surfers, mostly...there was a bus load or three of 'em. They were great...especially in the first half, but seemed to tire toward the end of the show. I walked through the bar afterward, and was collared by a tall white haired gentleman with a handlebar moustache...he shook my hand and said, "That was the best drunk acting I've ever seen...you were hilarious! Like Norman Wisdom". Praise indeed!!!