Wednesday 8th April 2026

Woke at 0600, but managed to nod back off...woke again at 0830. Languished in bed listening to Today before rising to shower. Drove into Newcastle and feasted on a Cypriot breakfast at the Greek Bakery. Won't need to eat again for the rest of the day! Drove on to Whitmore Lakes to take a look around. Unfortunately, you aren't allowed to walk around the site, as the lakes are for the enjoyment of paying customers...anglers mostly, though there is wild swimming in one of the lakes. Enjoyed a mug of tea, sat out in the sunshine...gorgeous day. Drove back to Newcastle and did a wee shop in Tesco, then popped back to Bakewell Street to make a packed lunch to eat before showtime. 

Drove to Basford for another 1330 call...more notes and scene working...got very tired. Broke around 1630. Team photo. Picked up the cervical pillow I'd ordered, which I had delivered to the theatre. Ate my very late lunch on the John Humphries memorial bench in the car park, determined to get some sun on my face. Press Night tonight. About 500 in...they lapped up the comedy, and loved the local references. Standing ovation at the end, and we reprised Good Golly Miss Molly for the encore. Showered then joined the throng in the bar. Maggie Saxon, and Lee, came over for a brief chat before they had to drive back to Northampton. Maggie looked a little frail. She's been struggling with a trapped nerve in her back after trying to lift a very heavy bag of cat litter!!! We swapped tales of nerve pain. Sean and Jenn were in the bar, and James and Anne...they'd all thoroughly enjoyed the show. Nello was in...and insisted I go over for a brief chat with him...he said I'd made him laugh...though he hadn't realised I played both Grandad, and Wilf! I crept away as the bar was shutting, and drove back to Bakewell Street to lie down on my new cervical pillow...