Thursday 30th September 2021

Rather fitful night's sleep for some reason. Got up around 0800. Grey day outside, and the temperatures have definitely taken a dip. Down to 19.5C in the living-room. Worked at the computer monitor most of the morning. Aki called. She's slowly working through piles of paperwork she retrieved from her mum's old flat in Inage yesterday. She showed me some fantastic old b&w family photos she'd re-discovered. Nowt much to do after lunch. Decided not to risk gadding about in the car today, nor indeed tomorrow, as the petrol situation still looks, well, stressed! Did my physio exercises. Jas emailed to say she'd like to sing Dream A Little Dream Of Me, so spent an hour or so scouring youtube for guitar lessons. She has persuaded her dad to strum the guitar for her, and he kindly gave me a bell to take me through the chords. I fancy playing bass on it, so must start rehearsing it up! Martin, the guitar player in Axminster Road, messaged to say he'd ring me tomorrow for more details. Rebecca rang asking if I'd be willing to drive her mum and dad to Euston on Saturday morning. Rebecca is in Anglesey, whence her folks are due to return on Saturday...but they have not been able to book themselves a taxi, due to the Brexiteers' petrol fiasco. I'm to drive them to the station in Rebecca's Landrover Discovery, as they are taking the dog with them! Did some more work on the bass part for Dream A Little Dream in the evening. Coming together nicely. Bath, and bed.

Wednesday 29th September 2021

Woke at 0700. Got up, intending to hit the road early. In the event, didn't manage to get away until 0915. Headed out to Radlett, stopping to grab a coffee at London Gateway services. Big queue for the petrol station there; and at the bottom of Highgate Hill on the A1. Madness!!! Luckily, I have enough to get me round the route today, but will be struggling thereafter. Hopefully things will calm down by the end of this week. There was a petrol station next door to my first inspection...it was empty, on all counts! Aki rang to say she'd been up to her mum's old flat in Inage...Nobby had driven her there, but when they arrived she realised she'd left the flat keys behind! They had to make a second trip in the afternoon. Headed on to St Albans, and Potters Bar, then to a couple of very smart new-build developments in Waltham Cross. Stopped for a late lunch in Hoddesdon at my favourite fish and chip shop...had the lunchtime special. Delicious! Ended the working day in the village of Buntingford, then headed back for Holloway. Roads were very busy...I had a 1800 zoom meeting with the Tower Theatre bunch, but didn't get home till 1815. Joined the meet as soon as I got in, still in my suit and tie! Nothing much has progressed since last week. Simona's put feelers out for singers, but no-one has yet committed! May not happen at all at this rate. Warmed up the pork belly for dinner, with rice and broccoli. Watched "I Care A Lot" on the home cinema set up. Pretty silly crime caper...it got good reviews, I recall, but was a couple of hours of utter nonsense. Rosamund Pike was very good in it, though.

Tuesday 28th September 2021

Woke at 0700. Got up and gave the bathroom sink a good rinsing....ran the hot tap for a bit. Buster seems to have done the trick. Read some Rachel Cooke in bed before rising to make tea...and hummus. She has a very efficient writing style, and manages to convey some nicely wry ideas in very short order. She has a certain talent, that's for sure. Aki called. She had been to see mum this morning. They had insisted she be brought down in her wheelchair to meet Aki in the foyer, but soon complained that she wanted to lie down. Aki managed to get her back upstairs. She's now investigating the possibility of taking her out of the care home while she's in Tokyo, but that would need the agreement of Nobby, as it's his flat. See what happens. Decided not to hit the road today, as heavy rain is forecast for this afternoon. Worked at the computer this morning. Broke for lunch. Popped out to take a pair of troosers to be altered by the guy on Tollington Way...hoped he'd repaired Aki's coat, but he confessed he hadn't yet. No rush! Did a bit more at the computer this afternoon, then read some Mantel and did some physio exercises. Made some more ricotta gnocchi for dinner, and used up the homemade tomato sauce. Watched the penultimate episode of Mare of Easttown...

Monday 27th September 2021

Woke at 0730. My hernia, and my lower back, been giving me a bit of gyp these last few days. Not terribly comfortable lying in bed, so got up and made tea. Raining first thing this morning. Aki called as I was getting breakfasted. She'd managed to get out and take a walk in the park up the road...it's a big park, with man made lakes and areas of forestation. Must have seemed like a blessed relief after being holed up in the flat for two weeks. Did a bit of work at the computer this morning. Didn't get much done before lunch, though I did manage to watch a bit of Homes Under the Hammer with Dion Dublin...for research purposes, you understand. Got a bit more done this afternoon, though. Matthew called to give me the all-clear on the Hertfordshire inspections, so I can start them tomorrow. Got a message from the drummer at No.34 asking if he could phone me...I said, of course, but heard nothing back today. Slow going...hope he's a bit faster with his sticks!! Pan fried a sirloin steak for dinner. Made a red wine and onion sauce to go with it...it wasn't very good...the fact that I forgot to add the butter at the end may have had something to do with it. Watched Mare of Easttown...only two episodes to go! What am I going to do then? Poured some Drain Buster down the bathroom sink before retiring...it can work over-night!

Sunday 26th September 2021

Woke around 0800. Cooked some breakfast and WhatsApped Aki. She had received a negative covid test result, so had hastened to see her mum in the care home this afternoon. Sounds like they had a tearful reunion. Her mum looked smaller and thinner than Aki recalled, and seems to be tired all the time, but she's hanging in there. Had a wee chat with Lynne...they had very much enjoyed their visit to Seville, and highly recommended it. They had managed a day trip by train to Cadiz, too. Watched MOTD on the computer before lunch. Didn't fancy venturing out today, as Arsenal are due to host Tottenham in the early evening kick off. Best to leave 'em to it! Aki sent me a text saying she'd received a message from Kath...Jim is self-isolating having contracted covid. Gave him a bell. He sounded fine...minor symptoms, which had lead him to assume it was a cold, initially. But he tested positive. Karen and Luke tested negative. So Jim has been locked in an upstairs bedroom for a week! Popped out to Tesco...obviously half-time, as Gooners were coming out of the pub opposite with big smiles on their faces. Arsenal 3-0 up! It finished 3-1. Made ricotta gnocchi for dinner...ricotta, flour, and parmesan to make a dough...very soft to work with, but easy to make. Served on a bed of roasted peppers, onions, and cherry tomatoes and a side salad. Watched a remarkable film on BBC2 called "The Last Mountain", charting the deaths of climbers Alison Hargreaves in 1995, and 25 years later, of her son Tom Ballard, on mountains in the Himalaya. Stunningly shot, and very moving...extraordinary family of complete nutters!!!

Saturday 25th September 2021

Woke around 0745. Got up and made a big mug of tea. Did a bit of work at the computer, as I hadn't gotten much done yesterday. Aki called...on her final day of quarantine...has sent off her sample for PCR test, so she should be out of gaol tomorrow!!! Bit grey outside today...looks as though yesterday was the last day of summer. Aki called again, and watched me make my lunch. Cycled down to Kings Cross in the afternoon. Got hit on the right hand by a large dollop of bird poo as I cycled beneath a leafy tree...luckily I was wearing my cycling gloves! It was enormous...I wouldn't have been surprised to look up to see a dog perched on an upper tree branch. Parked up in Granary Square and headed straight for the public toilets in Coal Drops Yard to clean up. Had a wander about for a bit, before doing some shopping in Waitrose. The indoor market was in full swing...a lot of people about. It started raining a little as I cycled home. Made Korean vegetable pancakes to go with my Vietnamese pork belly. Watched Mare of Easttown, and another episode of Master of None. Switched over to R5Live to listen to commentary on AJ's fight at White Hart Lane...decided to get into bed to listen...woke up at the end of the fight to discover that AJ had lost his World titles!

Friday 24th September 2021

Woke around 0700. Got up and did some work at the computer, mug of tea in hand. Aki had sent a link to a post Ivors award interview with Barney that she'd found on YouTube. He really needs a stylist to come on board now!!! I'll have to get on the case. Aki having trouble with wi-fi signal in Tokyo, but managed to make contact via WhatsApp. One more day of quarantine to go, then she gets to do a PCR test...fingers crossed. The sun was shining outside, so decided to take a walk up Highgate Hill. Bought lunch from the Pantry at the top, and ate it overlooking the tennis courts in Waterlow Park. Walked back down the hill, stopping off at M&S to do some shopping on the way home. Didn't get much work down this afternoon...listened to some Black Uhuru, and caught up with some filing. Roasted a couple of Romano peppers, then marinated them in olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and coriander. Cooked up my homemade tomato sauce with some pasta for dinner, along with a side salad that included some of the roast pepper. Rented The Killing of Two Lovers from Curzon Home Cinema...a tense, claustrophobic piece trailing the break of a family set in big country. The claustrophobia was heightened by the director's choice to shoot in 4:3 ratio; nicely pitched performance from Clayne Crawford as the confused husband and dad.