Thursday 5th October 2023

Got up and porridged, made myself a packed lunch, and then headed out for the car. Drove to Aveley, stopping off at Tesco in Bow on the way. Broke for lunch and drove to Tilbury Fort, where I ate in the car in the car park, then walked the Thames estuary embankment, taking in the view of Gravesend across the water. Wandered into King Charles II's fort, and got myself a tea in the guard house, then wandered back to the car. Did inspections in Tilbury, Chadwell, and ended in Grays town centre, before turning for home. Aki baked cod, which she served up in the remains of the lobster bisque we'd had as a starter last night...it wasn't very good, despite being M&S's finest, but the cod made it more passable! Walked up to No.120 for Book Club meet...full turnout, save for Polly, who was preparing for her father-in-laws funeral on the morrow. "Milkman" seemed to have gone down pretty well, though Dulcie had found it hard going, and Gareth had gotten irritated by the constant repetitions. "Brighton Rock" was chosen for the next read, which I know well having read it maybe three times...so I'll get back to my Dickens for now! Got home and bathed before bed. 

Wednesday 4th October 2023

Woke around 0830 and hauled myself out of bed for breakfast. Did some work at the computer, then took my constitutional up Highgate Hill, stopping off at Archie's to buy a coffee. Took it up to Waterlow Park and sat on a bench to read for a bit, before heading back down the hill. Lunched with Aki, then did some more work at the computer. Broke for dinner. We finished off the homemade pesto sauce, with pasta, mushrooms, and vegetables...very tasty. Watched a bit of telly, and did some reading....finally finished "Milkman", just in time for tomorrow's Book Club meet. Bathed before bed...

Tuesday 3rd October 2023

Fitful night’s sleep…I was woken around 0600 by a great crashing sound, as the binmen emptied the bottle bank of the pub opposite. Got up around 0800 and made tea, then dressed to venture into town to look for breakfast. Enjoyed eggs Benedict at the Royal Albion hotel, and discovered a plaque on the wall outside stating that Charlie D had stayed on many occasions in what must have been a house, later subsumed into the neighbouring hotel. 

After breakfast, I took a stroll around town in search of Bleak House, a large imposing crenellated house perched above the northern end of Viking Bay, with a first floor bay window which had once played host to Charlie’s writing desk. There's a memorial on the wall with a carved likeness of the great man. Also came across accommodation above an archway where he had stayed and written some of Barnaby Rudge. Made my way back to my digs, packed, and walked to my car…set off for Canterbury, and from thence to Herne Bay where I stopped to pick up a tea and a sandwich from the cafe on the old bandstand…sat on a bench overlooking the pier and drank my tea, then headed for Gravesend, and Northfleet. Got home around 1600. Aki cooked a chicken curry for dinner, which we ate with chapati and vegetables, with blackberry custard tart and spoom for dessert.

Monday 2nd October 2023

Woke around 0800. Got up and porridged. Warmed up some soup for my packed lunch, and packed an overnight bag. Set off at 0930 for a couple of inspections in Islington, before pointing the car toward the south-east. Stopped for petrol in Charlton, and bought some lunch items in M&S, then headed down the A20 to hook up with the M25. Had several stops in Tunbridge Wells...ate my lunch in the car, parked up near some greensward in Rusthall, then headed for Goudhurst, and Cranbrook. 

Deal was my last port of call, then I made for Broadstairs, where I'd booked a B&B for the night. Got there around 1730. Artfuls is a small boutique guest house very near the sea front, and just around the corner from the Dickens Museum. Sadly, it's not open tomorrow, so I had to make do with a photo...it was the residence of a Miss Strong, who Dickens would visit on his stays in Broadstairs, and she became the inspiration for Betsey Trotwood, having a propensity for shoo-ing horse and donkey riders off her front lawn at regular intervals. I walked along the front, and made my way down to the Tartar Frigate, where I dined in the upstairs restaurant, with a view across the bay. I then found myself outside the little cinema, and realised the evening showing was just about to start, so bought a ticket and sat in the stalls to watch Ken Loach's new film, "The Old Oak". It was a tale set in the depressed Durham mining village of Easington, which was now playing host to traumatised Syrian refugees…the script was rather lumpen, but as ever, Ken’s heart is the right place, as we see the publican of the I’ll used Old Oak public house come to the defence of the refugees as they battle for acceptance in the community…there were a few tissues to be espied as the final credits rolled…walked back to my digs and ran a bath.

Sunday 1st October 2023

Aki up early to ready herself for Rowing Club...she's got a heavy day of it, helping out with a group of deaf rowers. She brought me a mug of tea, and I sat up in bed and read "Milkman" for an hour. Rose at around 1000 and porridged. Prepped some shortcrust pastry, and stuck it the fridge. Brief FaceTime call with Newcastle...dad looking considerably better, and reportedly beginning to find his appetite, though he wondered whether he'd managed to self-inflict a bout of food poisoning after cooking Wednesday evening's dinner...seems doubtful, though, if mum didn't come down with it. Took my constitutional up Highgate Hill. Bumped into Julia from No.29, walking Lucien, her severely autistic 13 year old son. I walked with them for a little while, and was surprised when Lucien took my hand...I reckon he knows who I am by the sound of my voice, though I can't be sure. I walked up to Gail's at the top of Highgate Hill, and bought a coffee, and found a bench in Waterlow Park. Read some more "Milkman"...it's becoming unputdownable, though it took a while to get into it. Walked back home via Sainsbury's. Got in and tried rolling out my pastry, but it cracked and crumbled, and seemed too dry, I put it back in the whizzer, and added a little water, which seemed to do the trick. Aki got back in time to help me fill the pastry case with custard, and we shoved it in the oven for half an hour. Very leased with the results...we had some for dessert after finishing off the pork and bean stew. Watched "Boiling Point", the Stephen Graham film having been turned into a sequel of four small screen episodes...got off to a cracking start...breathless film making!

Saturday 30th September 2023

Slow start this morning. Read a bit of "Milkman" in bed before rising to cook breakfast. Did a wee shop in Waitrose, and bought some ceramic baking beans to have a go at a custard tart recipe tomorrow. Partook of a light lunch, then hauled our instruments over to the Octopus Garden behind the Council flats off Tufnell Park Road, where we joined their community garden harvest festival. Our Scottish folk tune orchestra was augmented by a couple of ringers, who joined in on fiddle, guitar, and dustbin bass! Really enjoyed it, and came away with some garden produce, namely some heirloom squash, tomatoes, sage, basil, and a French baguette (we'd missed the pumpkin soup). We promised to return to play their Xmas bash in December. Aki cooked salmon steaks for dinner, with potatoes, and heirloom squash...very tasty! Stayed up for MOTD...all good, watchable games. Amazing win for Villa, 6-1 over a good Brighton side, and Man City lost for the first time this season!

Friday 29th September 2023

Fitful night's sleep...woke feeling a bit flu-ey, presumably from yesterday's covid jab! Aki went off for a meeting in Camden, so I lay in bed reading "Milkman" for an hour or so. Got up and porridged, then did a couple of hours at the computer. Rang High View to see what was going on. Dad feeling a bit better, but had sent Kath down to the village to try and get him an appointment to see his GP. Aki came back and cooked more sausages, which we ate with hot dog buns and salad for lunch. Managed a couple more hours or so at the computer after lunch. FaceTimed Kath...dad had gotten to see his GP who diagnosed a stomach bug, presumably picked up at the hospital! He's still very much in resting up mode, and hasn't eaten much. Hopefully things will slowly improve over the weekend. Aki cooked aubergine and tofu with miso and rice for dinner, followed by banana ice cream and a little dark chocolate.