Thursday 2nd April 2026

Woke at about 0400 and don't think I really got back to sleep again. Probably dozed off around 0700, and woke again at 0800. Sat up and listened to Today, swearing every time sound clips of Trump came on! He should be put up against a wall and shot! Showered. Aki FaceTimed from Yokohama, where she is staying with Chiaki and Yoshi. News of Ha-Chan not good...sounds as though her discharge from hospital may not happen when Aki was hoping it might. 

Drove in to the theatre for brunch, prior to an 1130 call. Slow start to the working day. Got into costume for photo calls before breaking for lunch.  I sat on a bench in the car park, dedicated to the memory of big John Humphries...he was the theatre carpenter during my 1990s tenure...a grand bloke...he probably built the bench! Managed to persuade my cast mates to record a rendition of Happy Birthday to Aki, which I sent to her via WhatsApp. Did a run of the play in the late afternoon. Went OK...small invited audience, who were game for getting up and dancing. I missed a couple of entrances...just seemed to run out of oomph. Felt very weary afterward. David organised a large delivery of fish, chips and mushy peas, which we ate in the atrium before dispersing. Drove back to Bakewell Street. Mein hosts away for the night...they are watching Huddersfield v Reading tomorrow. Sat in my room nursing a Guinness before running a bath.