Saturday 4th May 2024

 

Woke at 0745. Got up to open the gate then back to bed to read some Dickens. Cooked breakfast. Weather looked pretty good, so we took a constitutional, walking up Sussex Way, then via Elthorne Park and on up to Hornsey Lane, where we turned westward. Got a nice view of central London from the Archway Bridge. Wandered up to Gail's Bakery at the top of Highgate Hill and bought a couple of snacks for lunch, then repaired to Waterlow Park to find a bench and eat our vitals. Walked back home via M&S. Sat around and read some more before making dinner...a creamy mushroom and walnut pasta sauce with peas, followed by chocolate brownie and creme fraiche. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed.

Friday 3rd May 2024

Woke around 0830. Got up at 0900 and porridged at the computer. As the weather seemed to be holding up, I decided to head out on some external inspections late morning, so threw a packed lunch together, and climbed into the car. Headed east to fill up with petrol at Manor House, then visited various spots in Haringey, Islington, and Hackney. Got home around 1830. Aki cooked pork stuffed cabbage leaves for dinner...very tasty. Watched "American Fiction" on Prime Video...nice, snappy script, with some good performances, though it all got a bit trite towards the end. We had to hit the pause button to go out and watch the Greek fraternity from the church next door, set off down Sussex Way carrying their icon in a byre, and swinging some incense into the night air, in celebration of their Easter weekend...an annual treat. 

Thursday 2nd May 2024

Woken at 0400 by the sound of torrential rain or hail hitting the bedroom roof, and a loud and persistent thunderstorm. Didn't really manage to get back to sleep properly until around 0530! Woke again at 0900 and got up to make tea. Porridged at the computer. Broke at 1100 to walk round to Girasole for a coffee with Jane and Carlos from No.36...the cafe is due to close on Saturday, so we went to say our farewells to Eglal, who was busy organising a catering job, and disappeared with most of her staff shortly after we arrived. We all donned our complimentary Girasole staff t-shirts for a photo op. David stuck around to serve us coffee, and we had a catch up and bought up some of the stock before heading back home. Did a little more work before breaking for lunch...we pan fried a mozzarella and tomato panini we'd bought from Girasole, and enjoyed that with a generous salad. Worked at the computer for the rest of the afternoon. Aki cooked cod fillet for dinner, with butter beans and pancetta. Watched MasterChef, and Race Across the World before bath and bed...

Wednesday 1st May 2024

Aki up with alarm at 0730. She brought me a mug of tea. I got up and porridged, then wandered round to the GP surgery. Saw yet another new doctor...Dr. Sahar Abdulrahman...very pleasant lady. She's going to refer me to the spinal unit for a check up on my herniated neck. Headed into town on inspections...took the tube to Tottenham Court Road, then walked down to Holborn. Repaired to Foyle's Bookshop Cafe for a coffee, before hopping on a No.24 bus to Westminster. Something evidently kicking off either in Trafalgar Square, or in Whitehall, as the bus was diverted down Shaftesbury Avenue, so didn't get any where near Westminster. Had to walk up Victoria Street from Victoria station. Did some inspections before breaking for lunch at Pret a Manger on Victoria Street. Managed to get into about 15 units on two pretty rough 1920s era Peabody Trust Estates behind the Department for Work and Pensions. Had what looked like an XL Bully throw itself at me after I knocked on the owner's front door...it went for my forearm, but missed, and was manhandled back into the flat. Bit shook up after that! Managed to get round without further mishap, then headed for the bus stop...waited for about 15 minutes for a No.24 bus, but it was full, so walked down to Victoria Station and got the Victoria Line back to Finsbury Park. Aki cooked pasta and we finished off the cavolo nero sauce we'd made last weekend. Read some Dickens while Aki partook of a zoom meeting with her Japanese JCUK chums, then I went for an early bath and bed...exhausted.

Tuesday 30th April 2024

Woke around 0830. Aki brought me a mug of tea. Got up and porridged. Threw a packed lunch together, and set off for east London. Inspections in Silvertown, then double-backed to cross Tower Bridge, for stops in Southwark, before heading south to Norwood...lunched in the car park at Tesco in Streatham. Crossed Lambeth Bridge, and ended the day in Marylebone, before turning for home. Got in around 1700. Worked at the computer for a bit. Walked up to No.127 where Katherine & George were hosting dinner for us, Brett from No.7, and Matthew, who works with Katherine on the community gardens, and his partner Peter. Matthew had had a short career as a theatre practitioner, and director, so we swapped tales of our experiences. The food was great...Katherine and George had cooked a tasty vegetarian bean chilli, with a delicious aubergine ratatouille, followed by Brett's raspberry cheesecake. Very pleasant evening. Got home about 2215 and ran a bath before bed...

Monday 29th April 2024

Woke around 0830 feeling very tired. Aki got up and made tea. I read in bed for a bit before porridging at the computer. Worked until about 1230 then broke to read some Dickens before putting lunch together. Did another couple of hours at the coalface in the afternoon. Fish curry for dinner, with rice and chapati. Walked up to Hanley Road for choir rehearsals at St Saviours. Another good turn out...there were enough of us to temporarily split into three mini-choirs. It's all coming together slowly but surely. Walked home. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed...

Sunday 28th April 2024

Woke around 0900. Aki brought me tea, and I read some Dickens in bed before getting up to make breakfast. Vacuumed. FaceTimed Kath, who was at ma and pa's. Mum's arm looks heavily bruised, the black bruising now colouring her right hand and lower arm. She said her shoulder was still a bit sore, but otherwise she looked in rude health, all things considered. Aki cycled off to do some shopping at Waitrose. I stayed home awaiting a delivery, reading Dickens, and listening to Tottenham v Arsenal on R5Live. The Gooners managed to scrape a 3-2 win, which keeps them in the race against Manchester City. Aki made hand-rolled vegetable, and pork, gyoza for dinner tonight, which we ate with stir-fried vegetables. Watched a bit of telly before MOTD, then showered and headed for bed...