Tuesday 20th October 2026

Woke around 0530, but managed to nod back off relatively swiftly. Aki got up at 0830 and brought me a mug of tea. Got up and porridged. Grey, dull morning. The roofer phoned to confirm that a tin hat would be going on tomorrow...reckoned it would probably take all day! Pottered about on the laptop for most of the morning while Aki worked at the computer. Put a simple lunch together. Did some exercises after lunch...too damp to venture out for a walk, though I'll have to face it later, as I've got rehearsals at the South's this evening. The scaffolder came round to dump a load of scaff poles ahead of tomorrow morning's appointment! Interesting lad...must be mid-thirties, and runs the company...half Scottish, half Greek Cypriot! Early dinner...Aki cooked miso cod with rice. Headed off to rehearsals...two buses, changing at Manor House. Got to Martin and Janet South's house about 5 minutes late. We rehearsed three of the eleven short pieces; I was in two of them. Enjoyable evening...although I thought the pieces didn't read terribly well, they took on some life once we'd stood them up. Ian Hoare, co-directing with Janet and Martin, offered me a lift back to Holloway. As we were leaving he seemed to have severe breathing difficulties...I offered to drive, but he rallied enough to drive us back up the Holloway Road...he didn't look well. Sounds like emphysema or something. I asked if he'd seen anything of Angharad...he told me she'd been diagnosed with myeloma and was undergoing treatment! Got home about 2215. Watched some news and a bit of Later With Jools before bath and bed...