Friday 27th November 2020

Headed back to Chelmsford late morning, stopping at Sainsbury’s in Manor House for petrol. Snacked on a pork pie I’d squirrelled away in the glove compartment yesterday, but needed a comfort break at Tesco in Chelmsford. Got home around 2.30pm and had a late lunch with Aki. Watched a livestream from the NT this evening of Death of England: Delroy. Delroy is a working class east London black man who has voted for Brexit in order to see England brought to its’ knees!!! Interesting take...great performance from Michael Belogun, sustained for the entire 90 minutes. Pete closing in for the kill on the chess board!

Thursday 26th November 2020

Didn’t sleep well...some strange dreams, including one where we were followed about by an over-friendly stag! Kept rubbing up against our VW Golf...and even tried to get into bed with us. Dropped off a couple of homemade cinnamon whirls to Carlos at No.36, before driving out to inspect stock in and around Chelmsford. Stopped at Birchanger Services on the M11, and visited Waitrose, and Starbucks, before heading east down the A120. Ate my packed lunch in the car park of an unprepossessing sheltered scheme in Springfield, a not very fetching suburb of Chelmsford. Watched another episode of The Queen’s Gambit after dinner, and began a game of chess with Pete via WhatsApp...found myself deploying the Alekhine Defence!

Wednesday 25th November 2020

Aki out on site this afternoon. I ventured out to TescoExpress around the corner for some odds and ends, and baked a batch of cinnamon whirls. Spoke to sis on FaceTime...she had seen her back specialist yesterday who had recommended surgery to fuse her lower vertebrae! She’s understandably not too keen, but is mulling it over. Had a chat with mum about Xmas...I think Aki and I will take the self catering apartment on the quayside whatever happens...it’ll be a break, and we can drop off Xmas presents to all and sundry. Aki home late after an impromptu office leaving party...her last day at Takenaka tomorrow! 

Tuesday 24th November 2020

Ventured out to pick up click and collect shopping from Waitrose. Bumped into Jane outside No.36. She said she had a timber pallet going spare, having taken delivery of a small garden shed. Suggested we use it to create a hanging garden. Aki and I went back for it mid afternoon, but it had gone. 

Monday 23rd November 2020

Only ventured out to put the bins out. Spoke to Geoff Hoare on the phone. He’d emailed to say Savills had finally cut the communication cord...he’s now enjoying repointing the flint wall in his front garden. Watched Nigella...she made a Burnt Basque Cheesecake...with liquorice sauce!!!

Sunday 22nd November 2020

Drove up to No.14 Fairbridge Road and handed the borrowed heater back to Emily at the front door. Bumped into Yukko and daughter outside the North Nineteen and had a quick catch up. Spoke to Kath via Facetime...she has an appointment with spinal surgeon on Tuesday to discuss options. Dex was watching football in the front room. FaceTimed John and Margaret and we were shown John’s dressed head wound! They are looking for a new TV...subsequently sent them a couple of links.

Collisions

Sunday 2nd June 2019

Collisions @ The Etc Theatre, Camden

An hour or so of improvised theatre, featuring our Sussex Way neighbour, Tom Barnes. Aki and I took the bus to Camden Town and walked up the High Street. The area is a magnet for the homeless, and some hardy souls had set up a soup kitchen and were doling out provender. The pavements are blackened and stained with last night's vomit. Camden Town has long since lost it's allure...

The Etc Theatre is housed above the Oxford Arms and is tiny, smaller even than I'd recalled. It was a warm night, and the room was hot and sweaty even as we took our seats. The audience numbered maybe 10 or 12, and we were asked to volunteer what was on our minds. I thought this a particularly open approach to garnering the raw material to feed the ensuing improvisation. The Showstoppers team, on the other hand, ask very specific questions of the audience, which gives them a much more certain framework from which to evolve their show. 

As a result, I felt the themes gathered were treated in a way that didn't give us a rounded 'play', as advertised, but a series of unconnected scenes and monologues. It was pretty slow going for the most part, though I enjoyed a couple of the monologues, particularly one delivered by one of the older actresses who we discover going through her dead mother's wardrobe trying to pick out some clothes in which to bury her. She painted an extraordinary picture of the walnut grain on the wardrobe doors, and described each dress along with an associated memory...great stuff.

Tom was keen that I join the rehearsal slots, every Monday night, but I'm not sure it's quite my cup of tea, though I think I'd enjoy it. I'd rather find some comedy impro to get involved with...will see.