Saturday 6th January 2024

Woke around 0900. Languished in bed for an hour reading, before rising to cook brunch...Aki had to pop out to the bakery around the corner, as we'd run out of bread. Finalised the Wot's Hip with the Chadster 2023 playlist, then listened to it back whilst doing my exercises. Ventured into Kings Cross...picked up a bus from the north end of Caledonian Road, and got off near the Regents Canal, and did the short walk to Coal Drops Yard via the canal towpath. Browsed in Paul Smith, and APC, then wandered down to Carhaart, but couldn't find anything in the sales. 

Walked on to St Pancras and to Gant, where my click and collect order was awaiting me...a khaki fleece jacket. Tried it on in the shop, and hated it, so tried some troosers on instead, but they didn't have my size...had to order them from the warehouse, so will have to go back next weekend! Popped in to Waitrose and bought a chunky sirloin steak, then caught a No.259 bus back to Holloway. I cooked the steak, and Aki made a tasty cream and whiskey sauce to go with it; had the orange and whiskey creme caramel I'd made yesterday for afters...yum! Watched a bit of telly, and practised the songs we have been learning for Burns Night. They are slowly coming together, and we now need to introduce the string section...not sure when that's going to happen!

Friday 5th January 2024

Woke around 0900. Aki brought me a mug of tea. Got up and porridged. Managed about a hour doing exercises for feet and my neck. Did half an hour or so at the computer submitting my expense claims and December timesheets. Made a tasty parsnip and carrot soup for lunch, then embarked on an attempt to make orange and whisky creme caramels…first attempt was a failure, but second time was a glorious success. We took the kitchen tap apart in a bid to give the faucet a clean, and stop the din every time we turn the taps on! Also changed the cold water bush bodies and barrels to stop the dripping. The result was definitely an improvement. Cooked a chicken and mushroom pasta sauce with walnuts and Parmesan. Watched "WILTY" and "Traitors" before bath and bed...

Thursday 4th January 2024

Alarm at 0830. Dozed until 0900. Got up for tea and porridge. Planter fasciitis in left foot getting worse…been troubling me since the walk up Highgate Hill the other day! Took delivery of my new copy of “Oliver Twist”, in the same Everyman Classics series as “Nicholas Nickleby” that Kath had given me for Xmas. Sat and read for a bit. Did some exercises for my planter fasciitis, my frozen shoulder, and my herniated discs. Did some prep work on a bunch of Clarion inspections...loads of it! Should keep e occupied for most of January! Aki not feeling too well, so had a lie down before lunch. Walked her round to the GP in the rain, then popped into the DIY store on Hornsey Road to wish the lads a Happy New Year, and purchase a battery for our defunct doorbell. Did some more prep work before warming up dinner...finished off the remainder of the couscous and chorizo sausage stew. An afternoon and evening of heavy rain. Watched "Dragon's Den", and the second episode of "Traitors" in which the first 'murder' was carried out...it's becoming quite addictive! Shocking pictures from Trent Bridge of very high water levels opposite County Hall...

Wednesday 3rd January 2024

Aki up early to ready herself for the cycle ride to the Rowing Club. I got up around 0900 and made myself porridge and tea, and went back to bed to read "Oliver Twist" for a bit. Eventually got up...phoned Andy G to see if he had any work for me...a couple of Peabody portfolios to look at this month. Phoned Katrina's old mate Keith, in Consett...he was after some advice regarding on-going damp problems with his Victorian end terrace house. As he's thinking of selling up, I suggested he'd have to bite the bullet and seek the advice of a Building Surveyor...he has roof leaks as well as rising damp, by the sounds of it. I popped out for a brisk walk to the Central Library to return a book, and walked back via Franchi’s where I bought an Allen key. Aki was cooking lunch when I got in. Pottered about for the afternoon getting not very much done. Mum FaceTimed early evening for a wee chat...she's missing Kath's company this evening. Cooked a quick chicken tikka masala for dinner; very tasty...from a kit I bought in Waitrose...just add chicken!!! Watched episode 1 of the new season of "Traitors" before bath and bed...

Tuesday 2nd January 2024

Good night’s sleep. Aki brought me a mug of tea in bed. Wet and windy outside. Extraordinary footage on BBC News website of a plane engulfed in flames landing at Tokyo airport…after yesterday’s earthquake on the Noto Peninsula, this must be putting Kath off the notion of coming to Japan with us! Aki made cinnamon porridge with banana and orange juice...we weren't terribly impressed with the recipe. Pottered about for the remainder of the morning. Warmed up Aki's aduki bean porridge for lunch, with the traditional mochi in it. I ventured out into the weather mid-afternoon to buy some odds and ends, popping in to Morrisons, Waitrose, and Rio's Grocery to get what I needed...the fennel in Rio's was precisely half the price of that in Waitrose! Cooked a haddock and giant couscous stew, with chorizo and tomato sauce...again, the reality failed to match up to the promised big flavours, but it filled a hole. Not much on telly tonight. Sat at the computer for a bit and administered my expenses claims, and my timesheets, for last month. Bath, and bed...

Monday 1st January 2024

Woke late after getting to bed at 0100. Lay in for a bit…Aki brought me a mug of tea. Got up for her traditional Japanese NY mochi soup…very tasty! Practised "Ae Fond Kiss" for a bit. Decided to take advantage of a break in the bad weather to walk up to Highgate. Aimed for the cemetary, but had just missed the last tour. The guy on the ticket office didn't appear to know that there were Dickens family members buried in the west cemetary...it's £10 to get in if you don't want to take a tour, and we vowed to return at a more opportune moment. Walked though Waterlow Park, hoping for tea and cake at the cafe in Lauderdale House, but it was closed for NY. 

Wandered down Highgate Hill, and popped in for a light lunch at Archies...really enjoyed the burrito, and we shared a generous slice of Basque cheesecake. Walked home in a light drizzle. I cooked a roast chicken dinner, with roast parsnips, sweet potato chips, and bread sauce, followed by tiramisu. Watched the comedy film "Eurovision", from the Spinal Tap team, starring Will Farrell as a delusional Icelandic Eurovision song contestant. It had it's moments, but "Spinal Tap" it wasn't...we switched off before the predicatble ending hoved into view. Early bath, and bed...

Sunday 31st December 2023

Had a good sleep at last, despite heavy rain and squalling winds playing about the bedroom roof...got up around 1030. Cooked breakfast. Vacuumed. Took a walk down to Islington Green, stopping off for a chat with Jane and Carlos from No.36 who we spotted having coffee in Broccoli on Hornsey Road. Swapped some ideas for gigs in the New Year. Wished them a Happy New Year, and walked down to Upper Street. Browsed for a little while in Waterstones, then walked through Camden Passage. The weather was turning, so we opted to get a No.43 bus back up to Holloway...it absolutely bucketed down as we passed Highbury Corner. Got off the bus at Camden Road, and I went to Waitrose while Aki made for Morrisons. Walked back home in the gloom with Waitrose own brand tiramisu in my backpack, amongst other things. Ma and pa FaceTimed us from High View…Kath was there. They’d been out to Wallington for a walk and had caught a choir of children singing carols. Dad’s hip playing up, though, which meant him staying home. Aki cooked a noodle soup for dinner, with tempura prawns and fried tofu. Had some tiramisu for afters, followed by cheese and biscuits. Aki called Tokiko...Tok recommended we aim for Hokaido in spring of 2025 to see the spectacular cherry blossom. Sounded like a plan, and we alerted Kath to the possibility of a change of plan. We played "Ae Fond Kiss" to Tok over FaceTime. Watched a bit of Jools’ Hootenanny and toasted the New Year in with a cup of mint tea…