Sunday 7th March 2021

Late start this morning....cooked omelette wraps for brunch, with salmon and cream cheese fillings. Aki had a long chat with her niece in Tokyo, and we FaceTimed Kath, who was entertaining ma and pa at Peary Close for lunch. Dad was hooked on radio commentary of the Newcastle game; Mum was guzzling the red wine...hope she didn't drive dad home!

I FaceTimed Jim Lister and gave him a rendition of the song he has commissioned to mark his mum and dad's 90th birthdays at the end of this month. I've done a reversal of When I'm Sixty-Four, the lyrics now looking back on a comparatively youthful 64th year! Seemed to get the laughs in all the right places, but it still needs a bit of tidying up.

Took advantage of some early Spring sunshine and walked to Highbury Fields. A lot of people about. Caught Carlos practising his saxophone at No.34...we had a jig about in his front garden, but he was obviously too wrapped up in the music to notice us staring through his window! 

Aki cooked a slow roast chicken for dinner...can't go back to the old way now...the meat is moist, tender, and falls off the bone...delicious!

Tuned into a livestream from Ronnie Scott's this evening, featuring the Electric Lady Big Band...big band jazz re-interpretations of songs from Hendrix's Electric Ladyland album...groovy!!!

Saturday 6th March 2021

 

Managed to drag myself out of bed around 1000 and cook up some brunch. Went for our constitutional, ambling over to the greengrocer in Stroud Green Road, and popping in on Eglal at Girasole for some n'duja. Discovered Aki in the back garden later, talking to Brett across the garden divide...she came back from Australia a week ago, and has a few more days self-isolation to get through. Watched a Glasgow Film Festival offering this evening..."First Cow". Gently unfurling tale of male friendship and enterprise in 18th century Oregon. 

Friday 5th March 2021

Aki up and out early...Martin picked her up, as they had a site visit in Finchley lined up. I headed back the Chelmsford to finish the inspections for Chelmer. Took advantage of a comfort break at ASDA in Chelmsford, and had my lunch in the car park of the church on the green at Sandon. Got home about 1730. Spent my lunch allowance in TescoExpress around the corner. Aki fried some salmon for dinner. Bought a virtual ticket to "Hymn", at The Almeida. Cracking script by Lolita Chakrabarti, and great performances from Adrian Lester, and Dan Sapani. We gave them a standing ovation as they took their bows at the end.

Thursday 4th March 2021

Another day on the road. Headed back out to the villages surrounding Chelmsford. Happened upon the Hanningfield Reservoir Visitor Centre, and parked up in the trees to have my lunch. Nice spot. Did a bit of bird watching, but it was cold outside the car! Got home about 1830. Aki grappled with an aubergine biryani, and we watched a bit of telly. Persevered with Wormwood, which is beautifully shot and put together.

Wednesday 3rd March 2021

Got up early so as to get on the road. Headed for the villages around Chelmsford today. Stopped off for a comfort break at Waitrose in Woodford and spent my lunch allowance. A lot of mist and fog around out in the countryside. Had another break at ASDA in South Woodham Ferrers, and ate my lunch in the car park. Raining quite heavily by the time I turned for home. Got in about 1830. Aki had cooked some duck breast for dinner. Watched a bit of telly. Tried the new gothic drama The Terror...but couldn't understand half of what was being said over the continual soundtrack of Arctic winds and creaking timber...it's like The Luminaries, but set in a fridge-freezer.

Tuesday 2nd March 2021

Picked up the car this morning...came home £260 lighter! Popped into Waitrose to get some daffs for Aki. Managed to get a bit of work done over the course of the day, but not much. Not feeling very enthusiastic, at present. Aki went to the post box in the afternoon, and stuck her nose in at Kilo to see what they had to offer...she came back with a small bag of almonds dipped in dark chocolate, which weren't very nice. Read some V S Naipaul after dinner. Early night.

Monday 1st March 2021

Up early to take the car in for MOT at Holocene Motors round the corner in Camden Road. Popped into Waitrose on the walk home. Not much work to do today, in the absence of a motor vehicle. Pottered about not doing very much. Garage phoned to say the car needed new rear brake pads, and they'd need to wait for the parts. Looks like I won't get the car back until tomorrow. Aki cooked dinner and we watched a bit of telly before bath, and bed.