Thursday 11th April 2024

Woke around 0830 feeling very weary indeed. Hauled myself out of bed and made tea. Porridged. Put a packed lunch together and headed back south of the River, via Tower Bridge. Stopped off at the big Tesco in Surrey Quays to do a wee shop, and go for a wee. Drove on to Lewisham, then double-backed toward Croydon. Lunched in the car on Mayo Road, then headed for Thamesmead...finished the day in Erith, having managed to get in to another seven properties. Drove home via the Blackwall Tunnel...slow going through the roadworks for the Silvertown Tunnel. Got home at 1830. Aki warmed up the chicken and mushroom pie for dinner, which we ate with lentils and vegetables. Watched MasterChef on iPlayer, and a rather moving portrait of Alexander McQueen “In Ten Photos”…his artistry was flabbergasting…his fashion shows more like theatrical productions...

Wednesday 10th April 2024

Aki up with the alarm at 0730. She brought me a mug of tea. Got up and porridged, and put together a packed lunch. Did an hour at the computer after Aki had cycled off to Rowing Club, then climbed into the automobile. Headed south, crossing the River at Tower Bridge. Inspections took me to Rotherhithe, where I briefly took in the view of the River from Surry Docks, then on to Bermondsey, and Camberwell, before doubling back to Sainsburys at New Cross Gate, where I lunched in the car park...did a little shop in Sainsburys and picked up a coffee in Starbucks, then headed southward to East Dulwich, and Forest Hill. Managed to get into eleven units, which was pretty good. Traffic very heavy on the homeward leg, especially the long approach to Tower Bridge...got home at 1900. Aki had warmed up the mapo and rice for dinner. Watched "Race Around the World"...the teams kicked off in Sapporo, and worked their way down to Nara. Watched The Ten before shower and bed...

Tuesday 9th April 2024

Woke around 0930...Aki got up and made tea...but heard sounds of water flow coming from beneath the kitchen sink. Sure enough, our pipework had sprung a leak once more. Managed to get a message to Vince, and he called in a couple of hours later, and staunched the flow temporarily. He promised to return on Friday with tools for digging up the concrete, so we can get a proper repair done. Lunched on tortilla and ham salad. Worked at the computer for most of the afternoon. Grey, damp day, so we didn't fancy a walk. Broke to cook dinner...made a chicken and mushroom pie, served up with boiled potatoes and vegetables...very tasty. Aki had a zoom meeting with the JCUK group, so I read some Javier Marias and watched a bit of Women's Football. Aki finished in time to catch The Ten, then bath and bed... 

Monday 8th April 2024

Woke around 0900. Tea in bed...then porridged at the computer. Aki departed for lunch in Chinatown with one of her JCUK ladies. I broke for lunch at about 1315. Walked up the Holloway Road for my lunch in the little Turkish cafe near Archway...it was refurbished a couple of years ago, and this was my first visit since then...judging by the smooth jazz emanating from the house speakers, it now thinks itself a Parisien bistro. The shakshuka was very tasty, though. Walked on up to Archway Library to pick up my reserved copy of "Our Mutual Friend", then walked home via M&S. Bumped into Kathleen from No.51...she's been busy doing costumes for Moving Parts Theatre's forthcoming out-door production of "Much Ado"...Martin South playing Benedict, so will have to book tickets! Aki put together a tapas-inspired dinner, having had a big lunch! Watched a bit of telly, and read some Dickens before bath and bed...

Sunday 7th April 2024

Woke at about 0930...Aki already up and readying herself for Rowing Club. Neck now giving me constant gip, so didn't sleep particularly well...dunno how I'm gonna get through any work next week! Aki brought me tea in bed...I got up at 1030 and porridged. Did some exercises. Getting a bit behind with my work, so did a couple of hours at the computer before breaking for lunch...chicken and ham salad. Read some of "The Infatuations"...it's a bit slow-going, but is oddly mesmerising...reminds me a bit of Camus. FaceTimed Kath, and then ma and pa...they all seemed in fine fettle, all things considered. Ma and pa had been doing some gardening! Jim and Emma were visiting Goring, and sent us a photo from great grandad's Old Forge, which is now part of the adjoining public house. Aki baked trout for dinner, which we ate with lentils and vegetables, followed by marmalade ice cream and strawberries. Watched two harrowing films detailing the Hamas massacre of young Israelis at the Nova Music Festival which sparked the revenge attacks on Gaza, and the first hand testimony of the Red Crescent volunteers in occupied Gaza as the body count mounts inexorably higher...grim viewing! It brought home the fact that both sides are equally furious with the other, and the notion that there can be any kind of peace within the next 30 years looks pretty pie-in-the-sky...

Saturday 6th April 2024

Woke late after a fitful night's sleep...my neck giving me a lot of gip all of a sudden. Hauled myself out of bed. We cooked breakfast...halloumi, potato cakes, and poached eggs. Aki cycled off to the Yerbury School Farmer's Market to buy bread. Took our constitutional up Highgate Hill...pleasant day, though threatening rain. Popped in on the new exhibition at Lauderdale House, then walked round Waterlow Park, before descending to M&S at Archway, and walking home. I cooked a chicken tagine for dinner, first preparing a marinade, then slow cooking the chicken thighs on the hob. Very tasty, accompanied by baked couscous, and boiled vegetables from the Community Garden. Watched episode two of "Ripley", The Ten, and MOTD, before bath and bed. Neck felt better during the day, but giving me gip again come bed time...

Friday 5th April 2024

Woke around 0930. Hauled myself out of bed at 1000 and porridged at the computer. Worked until 1315. Made a salmon salad lunch with cream cheese and toasted sourdough. Worked through until 1730. Aki cooked a very tasty mapo for dinner, which we ate with rice...marmalade ice-cream and strawberries for afters. Watched Andrew Scott as "Ripley", Netflix's classy adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel. Caught The Ten before bath and bed...