Wednesday 6th November 2024

Aki woke me to say it was a dark day...Trump triumphed in the US elections, god help us all! What a bunch...half the US population are clearly demented! Aki had cycled off to Rowing Club by the time I got up...made tea, and porridged. Decided to prepare dinner, as time would be tight later. Popped out to buy aubergines. Made an aubergine and lentil bake with a five-cheese sauce. I was still at it when Aki got home. I only had time for peanut butter on toast for lunch, then walked briskly to Finsbury Park station. 

Caught a train to Hornsey, and had time to wander up Tottenham Lane for a photo op outside Konk recording studios, set up by The Kinks in the early 70s with royalties from their hit, Lola. I walked back to the station to hook up with the Healthy Generations guided walk. The girl leading the walk happened to have lead us on the Highbury rock 'n roll walk last year, though I didn't recognise her at first. There were about 12 other attendees, all of a certain age, which meant progress was not brisk. 

The walk took us south down the New River Path, then down Wightman Road to Haringay rail station, where we crossed the railway bridge. Impressive little Victorian Stroud Green Library on the other side, which I didn't know existed.Walked back uphill toward Ally Pally, taking a short cut through Stationer's Park, created in the 1980s on the site of the demolished Stationer's School. The walk ended at St Mary's Church in Hornsey, of which only the bell tower remains, though there has been a church on the site since the 12th Century. I parted company with my fellow travellers as they turned back toward Hornsey station, having been enticed by a cosy looking pub across the road, the Great Northern Railway Tavern...impressive interior. I enjoyed a half of Guinness before heading home via the No.41 and No.43 buses. Aki still working at the computer when I got in. I stuck the aubergine bake in the oven...tasty enough, though would have been better with green rather than red lentils. Plenty left for the rest of the week! Watched some telly before bath and bed...

Tuesday 5th November 2024

Aki up early to call Noboru, her brother in law, in Japan. He’s having ground breaking treatment for his lung cancer, which seems to be very successful. I got up around 0930. Porridged. Played some guitar and sang some songs in anticipation of tonight's Open Mic at the North Nineteen. Lunch. We went for an afternoon constitutional, walking up to Tesco on Stroud Green Road to do a bit of shopping, and walking back via M&S. Cooked a chicken and mushroom traybake for dinner...as seen on Jamie Oliver's TV programme last night! Came home and began prepping, only to find I'd forgotten to buy lemons, so had to trot out to the local convenience store. Cooked dinner. A bit disappointing...not as tasty as Jamie seemed to imply on the TV screen. Watched some telly before bath and bed...

Monday 4th November 2024

Woke around 0930 after a better night’s sleep. Made tea and got back into bed. Read a bit then got up and porridged. Aki at the computer booking hotels and B‘nB’s for our planned Japan trip. Going as far west as Hiroshima this time, taking Nagano, Kanazawa, and Kyoto on the way. I sought out some songs to start rehearsing for our Xmas gigs. Lunch. Walked over to Morrison’s, and Waitrose, to buy provisions. Prepped and cooked a fish pie for dinner. Watched a bit of telly before bath and bed.

Sunday 3rd November 2024

Another fitful night's sleep. Aki brought me a mug of tea in bed before she cycled off to Rowing Club. I got up about 1030 and cooked brunch. Kath rang...she was taking the air between clients in Whitley Bay. She told me that dad had been planning to have his teeth whitened...I wondered if perhaps he was considering a late career in film and TV!?! I unloaded my gear from the boot of the car. Aki cycled home, having had a light lunch at the cafe. Got a message from Sarah Ley saying they had found a replacement for the actor who had suddenly dropped out of The Chines…much relieved, as I was just about to send a message turning her down. She asked if I was available to dress up as Santa at the end of the month, to which I acquiesced. Pottered about before warming up the harissa sausage ragu for dinner, followed by tiramisu. Felt weary enough to have a lie down for a bit before watching Anna Maxwell Martin in a serial killer true crime tale…pretty tense stuff. Watched The Ten before bath and bed…

Saturday 2nd November 2024

 

Woke around 0900 after a fitful night's sleep. Aki got up and cycled off to buy bread at Yerbury Farmer's Market. I got up and prepared a hearty brunch. Drove off to Stoke Newington just after midday. Bought coffee and a pastry at the Abney Park cafe, and sat in the theatre bar consuming it. Full house for the matinee. Went down well. Managed to hook up with Chris, ex flatmate from Clapton days, and we went for an early dinner at the Turkish restaurant round the corner. Had a catch up over a couple of kebabs. I had to do a runner in order to get back to the theatre in time for the half...left Chris to pay the bill, on condition he lets me know what I owe him. Pretty full for the last show of the run...a raucous crowd. Great fun. Packed up my guitar, amp, and pedals once the show was over, eager to get out of the way before the set started to come down. Used the lift to get my gear downstairs. Brought the car round, and packed the gear into the boot, before reposing in the bar for a well-earned pint of Guinness. Chatted with Matthew about rock 'n roll while the girls set up for a wrap party in the studio...joined them for a bit of a jig-about but made my escape before the karaoke started, and drove home. Aki had just gotten out of the bath when I got in, having been to a fireworks party hosted by one of her rowing comrades at a house in Crouch End. I had a long soak in the bath before bed...

Friday 1st November 2024

Woke around 0930. Got up and porridged. Ambled round to the health centre in Hornsey Street for another brief session on my frozen shoulder with the physio guy. All seems to be heading in the right direction. Bought some provisions in the Korean shop, and at Aldi, then headed home. Aki made vegetable soup for lunch, with Chinese steamed dumplings and kimchi. Had lemon pavlova, left over from the Rowing Club dinner last night, for afters. Played some guitar and sang a bit this afternoon. Warmed up the last of the lamb stew for dinner. Walked into Stoke Newington for a 1930 show. Full house...a lot of adults in, who were very vociferous...good fun show! Simona was in working the bar, so I stopped for a swift half after the show and a wee catch up...she's busy adapting "Vanity Fair" for her theatre company, Moving Parts. Caught a No.106 bus home...

Thursday 31st October 2024

Woke around 0845. Aki already up and working at the computer. I took tea back to bed and read some Toni Morrison. Got up and porridged. Sat about reading and listening to music. Lunch. More sitting about. Aki cycled off to the Rowing Club where she is part of the kitchen staff cooking up a fund raising dinner this evening. I warmed up some lamb stew for dinner then set off on foot for Stoke Newington. Had to dodge swarms of children dressed up for Halloween…their parents blocking the pavements! One or two balaclava clad youths chucking fireworks about! Got to the theatre in one piece. About 65 in tonight. No Peter Werth on drums, as he had his regular monthly jazz gig at Scolts Head tonight. End of first act went awry as the video pieces failed to connect sound wise…there were a couple of longer, as Laura, playing Mildred, evidently didn’t know what was going on for a minute or two! Stayed for a swift half with some of the girls after the show. Asked Miranda if she fancied getting involved with the proposed panto next year…see what happens. Took a No.106 bus home. Aki in the bath when I got in…