Sunday 31st January 2021

Lots of dreams again last night, though couldn't recall much on waking. I remember seeking out Nicholas Lumley to get him to give me some tips for the Grand National, looking over some yellow carpet tiles, and my sat-nav insisting I do a u-turn on a busy dual carriageway.

Phoned Louise for a catch up...she's about to move to Worthing for 8 months to try it out. Reckons there's a very comfortable yurt in the back garden...may have to book it up for our summer holiday!

Walked to the greengrocers on Stroud Green Road for our Sunday constitutional in our new FFP3 masks. 

Dozed off briefly on the sofa this afternoon. Spoke to ma and pa on FaceTime...they wanted to show off their new telly, though, naturally, it's proving a bit of a struggle coming to terms with the technology!

FaceTimed Kath...she is working tonight, and tomorrow...that'll make it four overnights in a row. It seems they are short-handed at the moment. Don't know how she does it, but she told us some experiences of one of her colleagues which had Kath thinking she was getting off very lightly!!!

Saturday 30th January 2021

Bit of a nothing day today...rain forecast for most of the daylight hours, so we stayed in. We designed a 60th birthday card to send to Kath...Aki put it together in Photoshop. Very good. 

Listened to Arlo Parks' new album...one or two outstanding tracks which may find themselves into What's Hip 2021. 

Didn't have lunch, as I'd cooked a huge breakfast. Read a bit this afternoon.

Dined on warmed up chicken cacciatore, and watched The Dig, a semi-fictionalised account of the discovery of the Sutton Hoo hoard. I was surprised at how moved I was when they made the first discoveries...I have been, and stood on that mound, and gawked at the treasures uncovered, in the British Museum. Beautifully shot film...very enjoyable.

Friday 29th January 2021

Dreamt I was in Edinburgh visiting Venue No.4, which had reverted to it's more usual use as a fish market....I tasted the crab...very nice! Then went to see a show in the well of a disused cinema. Later, I found myself flying a small plane over floodplains and fast flowing rivers trying to find somewhere to make an emergency landing. Had to be rescued. Then I was looking at the design of an album cover for a set of improvised piano pieces by Ogden Nash. Looked like a couple of pork chops photographed from above!

Drove back out to Wellingborough...another long day in the saddle. Stopped off at London Gateway on the M1 for a coffee, and needed a comfort break by the time I got to Wellingborough. Made a bee line for the Tesco superstore on Turnells Mill Lane. A lot of stock to photograph on extensive Council estates where I continually had to get out of the car and walk...like the set of A Clockwork Orange! Very depressing. Stopped at Sainsburys once twilight was upon us, and shopped for luncheon items, before driving back down the M1 in the drizzle.

Got home at 1915. Fish curry for dinner, then watched Juneteenth...nice little movie, but I felt it needed a bit more grit in the storyline. 

Thursday 28th January 2021

Didn't sleep particularly well last night, so decided not to spend 10 hours in the car doing inspections up Northampton way, and instead concentrated on stock that needs looking at in east London.

Didn't manage to get out of the flat until 9.45am. Needed a comfort break at Sainsburys in Harringay, where I'd gone for petrol. Got some odds and ends in store. Needed another break at lunchtime, so headed for ASDA in Beckton, as I can access the facilities there without having to go through the store. Ate my lunch in the car park, as usual!

Finished up in Walthamstow by dusk, and drove home. Phoned mum this evening to see what they were planning for Kath's 60th birthday next week. They plan to have her round for food, and are giving her some cash to put towards an E Bike.

Wednesday 27th January 2021

Alarm at 7.30am, as I've been over-sleeping recently. 

Managed to get out of the flat by 9am, and drove up the M1, stopping off at Newport Pagnell Service station for a comfort break, and did a little shopping in Waitrose. Grabbed a coffee from Starbucks, which meant I needed another break by the time I got to Kettering, where I happened upon an ASDA superstore.

Spent the rest of the day driving around the villages surrounding Wellingborough. Had my soup parked outside a block of flats in Ecton, and finished at dusk in Bozeat, before heading home via the M1. Stopped off for a comfort break at London Gateway Services. Got home around 7pm.

Aki warmed up the fish curry, and we watched Grand Designs before an early bath and bed.

Tuesday 26th January 2021

Woke a bit later than anticipated this morning, so got off to a late start at the computer. Avoided venturing out to Northants, as temperatures still low, and there's still snow on the ground up that way. Aki ventured out to the pharmacist after lunch, to get herself some eye drops...and pick up antibiotics for my right ear. Nothing much else to report. I cooked a chicken cacciatore for dinner, and we watched a bit of telly. Today was the day that the UK surpassed the 100,000 covid-related deaths. 

 

Monday 25th January 2021

 

Nothing much to report today. Neither of us ventured out into the Covid-sphere. I decided to work from today, as the roads would be a bit icy this morning, especially up Northampton way.

Beard needs a trim!

Aki cooked up a very tasty monkfish curry for dinner. Watched a bit of Netflix...slowly getting into Better Call Saul. Our viewing was interrupted by the Waitrose delivery man, which meant half-an-hour cleaning the various items prior to storage.

Played a bit of guitar before bath time...practising Rocks Off. Not quite flowing yet, but getting there. Probably makes more sense to give it a go on the electric guitar, but I love the sound of my Eastman acoustic...but it cramps the left hand a bit!