Sunday 2nd August 2026

Woke around 0830. Took a mug of tea back to bed with me. Got up and porridged. Aki cycled off to rowing club. I did some exercises. Headed for Tottenham Hale via bus and tube. Had a quick look around...the area has been under re-development for the last ten years...a sea of high-rise blocks, and a new tube and rail station...it looks impressive, but the area between the tube and bus stations is already looking ropey. The bedding and mattresses of the homeless scattered over the paving...very depressing. What a hole London has become. Had a coffee in a small, modern coffee shop opposite Starbucks...despite being pretty new, it already showed signs of neglect. The coffee was under-whelming into the bargain. I walked over the railway to the wharf on the River Lea Navigation. Modern high-rise blocks have gone up there, too. Walked down the tow-path toward the rowing club, stopping off for much needed refreshment at a quirky little cafe in Markfield Park, hard by the Beam Engine Room and Museum. Enjoyed a chocolate milkshake, and found some precious shade beneath the pergola outside. Walked on down to the rowing club...Aki and her team were in the process of stashing away their boat. I bagged some tables and chairs in anticipation of their joining me. Aki ordered us vegetarian brioche rolls with fried eggs. The girls talked of plans for the forthcoming Sicily trip. We eventually broke up, and Aki cycled off home. I walked up to Clapton Common to get a bus back to Holloway. Got off outside Waitrose and bought some beans, carrots, and a tin of fish, then walked home. Tried phoning High View, but got no reply. Put together a mackerel salad for dinner. Watched a bit of telly. Got suckered into watching The Piano...a bunch of disparate amateur pianists tinkled the ivories at London Bridge station...the autistic kid who played his own composition blew everyone away!