Monday 6th March 2023

Dreadful night's sleep...woken at about 0230 in full choking mode, despite having the CPAP mask on, then spent the next half hour coughing violently. As a result, I had a bit of a lie in this morning, before getting up and porridging, and throwing a packed lunch together. Drove off around 1130, heading first for Bedford...stopped off at Thames gateway service station on the M1 for coffee. From Bedford, I headed west to Milton Keynes. Ate my lunch in the car, parked on a street in the Leadenhall area of the city, then picked up some inspections in Monkston, before heading for home. Stopped at Toddington Service station, and drove on to Holloway, popping in to Waitrose before getting home. Aki cooked a carbonara for dinner. Watched a bit of telly before shower and bed...

Sunday 5th March 2023

Another disturbed night’s sleep. The cough is persistent. Aki got up to ready herself for Rowing Club. She brought me a mug of tea. I downloaded a Kindle version of "Master and Margarita", the Book Club read. Read the first chapter…not too convinced by the halting translation. Got up and porridged. Stuck MOTD on, as I’d missed it last night. Took a constitutional, walking up Highgate Hill, and doing a circuit of Waterlow Park, then wandered back down the hill to buy a cabbage. Got home and made myself some lunch. Aki returned just as I was tucking in. FaceTimed Kath, who was at Stuart's pad in Sunderland. They'd been to a comedy night at the Custom House last night. FaceTimed ma and pa, who had been entertaining Jim and Emma. Dad still struggling with his achilles injury, but was busy drilling holes in the bedroom wall and fixing some wall hooks! They looked very well. I cooked chicken tagine for dinner, with baked couscous and vegetables, followed by cheese and biscuits. Watched a bit of telly...interesting programme fronted by Paul Whitehouse, looking into the illegal practices of the nation's water companies. Spirited interview with Fergal Sharkey. Watched Liverpool demolish Man Utd 7-0 on MOTD before shower and bed...

Saturday 4th March 2023

Another fitful night's sleep...cough getting quite heavy in the morning. Lay in bed for a bit. Aki brought me a mug of hot water and lemon, with a dash of ginger. Got up for a late breakfast, then set about cleaning and tidying the living-room and dining area in advance of our guests this evening. Aki cycled off to Waitrose to get some ingredients. I started prepping. Made a tahini and lemon salad dressing, which will go with the side salad. Made some more pea and kale pesto sauce. Aki made some amaretti biscuits. Kevin and Laurence turned up at 1800, and we sat them down for spaghetti with pesto, and salad, followed by amaretti biscuit with raspberry spoom. It all went down very well. Had to chivvy Laurence on a bit, as she likes to chat, so was a bit slow eating her food! Got out of the flat before 1900 and drove us all to Stoke Newington to see the Spring Forward productions...five short plays/pieces, with different casts, and five new young directors. Feiyang's debut was disappointing, though that had as much to do with the weak actors she's cast as with anything else. There were two actresses who had auditioned for the Company when I was on auditions panel in January...they were both good, especially Thissy. There was an extraordinary performance of a short Winsome Pinnock piece, centred around a black slave in Salem who became the first to be accused of witchcraft ahead of the Salem Witch Trials...I hadn't seen the actress, Faith Martin Abongo, before, but she was captivating, holding our attention for almost half-an-hour...her voice needs a bit of work, but she could be a TV star tomorrow, if the right agent comes along. Altogether, an enjoyable evening's entertainment. I drove us all home, dropping Kevin and Laurence at No.93...

Friday 3rd March 2023

Another disturbed night's sleep...sore throat and bouts of coughing kept me awake. Aki up early to ready herself for a trip to Kensington to hook up with Tammy for lunch. I had a lie in. Eventually got up and porridged, with chocolate. Did a little work at my laptop. Had planned to be going out for dinner tonight...a Twelfth Night cast re-union at Megan's in Islington...but felt too under the weather to contemplate it, so cancelled. Mopped the communal hallway floor...the upstairs neighbour flew off the India yesterday, so won't be bringing her dog through for the next three weeks! Aki got back around 1430. I spent the afternoon recovering from mopping the hallway floor! Tried sorting and filing countless recipes culled from various magazines. Got a lot to eat our way through! Aki baked trout for dinner, which we had with Puy lentils and yoghurt. I sounded Barney out about next week's Young Fathers gig at the Roundhouse...he texted back saying he had covid, tonsillitis, and shingles!!! He's going home to his mum's in Holmfirth to recuperate! Watched a bit of telly before shower and bed...

Thursday 2nd March 2023

Fitful night's sleep...bit of a sore throat caused occassional bouts of coughing, but I felt alright come the morning. Aki brought me a mug of tea...I eventually got up and porridged. Did the vacuuming. Fried some tinned sardines for lunch, which we ate with halloumi cheese and a nice salad. Popped out late afternoon to shop for ingredients to make dinner. Took a shirt in to the dry cleaner to be altered, and my old felt hat, in the hope that he could clean it up a bit. Called in on Kevin at No.93 to see if they were up for a visit to the Tower theatre on Saturday...Laurence was under the weather and running a temperature, so they were said they'd wait and see how she felt tomorrow. She came to the door to join in the chat, and looked well enough. I drove the car round to the garage in Hornsey Road to get it cleaned at the car wash...badly in need of a wash, and I gave them a £1 tip for their extra trouble. Can't say I was over impressed with the job they did, though (under new management, whatever that means). I made a tasty pea and kale pesto with walnuts, which we had with the tri-coloured spaghetti. Aki went off to the street greening workshop with various neighbours, who were meeting members of Islington Council to trade ideas. Hooked up with her later at No.126 for the Book Club meeting...we had a full turnout, which hasn't happened in a long time. Generally people seemed to have enjoyed Jeeves and Bertie, though I surprised that Katherine, and Dulcie, confessed to not having laughed out loud...there are some strange people about, to be sure, what!? 

Wednesday 1st March 2023

Woke around 0800...Aki got up to ready herself for Rowing Club. I got up and porridged. Did an hour or so at the computer...no work lined up for March...I need a rest, frankly! Set off on a late morning constitutional up Highgate Hill. Bumped into Carlos, who I found outside No.36 trying in vain to alert Jane to the fact that she'd accidentally locked him out. We could see her in the back garden, but she evidently couldn't hear her phone going off in the kitchen. They'd had a goood time in Barcelona, and had stopped off in Paris for a couple of nights on the way back...as we chatted, Carlos inadvertently let one fly, but neither of us mentioned it, letting it float off on the breeze! I walked up to Archie's for a coffee, and finished the final chapter of "Right-ho, Jeeves". Did a little shopping on my way back home. Aki was back when I got in, and I heated up the remains of the tomato risotto, which we ate with salad and lots of Parmesan cheese. Aki had a meeting with Helen and Martin at Spoke mid afternoon. I started prepping tonight's meal...I made a bread sauce, and carrot puree, then roasted a couple of chicken legs once Aki had returned. Watched FA Cup football on the telly...Sheffield United knocking out Spurs to go through to the quarter-finals, where they'll meet Blackburn Rovers. 

Tuesday 28th February 2023

Woke around 0830. Got up and porridged. Spent most of the day at the computer. Aki headed for Kensington for lunch with the JCUK ladies. I finished the smoked mackerel for lunch, with a side salad. Listened to some Martin Jarvis over lunch. Warmed up the aubergine parmigiana lasagne for dinner, which we ate with peas and broccoli. Watched FA Cup football for most of the evening, switching between games on BBC1 and ITV. Practised a couple of Scottish jigs afore bedtime...