Tuesday 31st January 2023

Woke around 0800....got up and made tea, which I brought back to bed. Got up at 0845. Porridge. Chucked some ingredients in a tupperware box for lunch, and headed south-east. Stepney was first stop, then on to Mile End, and Bromley-by Bow. Stopped at Tesco near Three Mills Island and bought some odds and ends, then embarked on a circum-navigation of the island. There are film studios there, and a Science Academy. Took a striking photo of the locks at Prescott Channel, with modern day Stratford in the background, then headed back to the car to eat my lunch. Ended the working day in Barking, and turned for home. Aki feeling a bit under the weather...thinks she may have picked up a bit of a stomach bug at the dinner on Friday evening. I cooked dinner...baked cod with lemon and dill sauce, with rice and sauteed potatoes. Fridge cake to follow. Did some work at the computer before bath and bed...

Monday 30th January 2023

Woke around 0800...got up at 0830. Tea. Porridge (with chocolate in it). Made myself a packed lunch. Set off for the Blackwall Tunnel, stopping off at Manor House to get petrol, and coffee. Stopped to use the facilities at M&S in Charlton. Bought a nice charcoal grey jacket. Inspections in Thamesmead, then double backed toward Greenwich. Stopped at IKEA to use the loos, and pick up some odds and ends in the food hall. The traffic on the Blackwall Tunnel Approach was at a standstill, so ate my lunch in the IKEA car park...it hadn't moved much by the time I finished, but I joined the throng. Broken down vehicle at the tunnel entrance causing the tailbacks. Headed east on the A13, picking up stock in Plaistow, and Dagenham, before turning for Romford and Chadwell Heath. Ended the working day in Chingford, then headed for home via the North Circular. Got in just before 1800. Cooked a mushroom risotto for dinner. Called ma and pa for a brief chat. Dad not feeling too well...complaining of occassional dizzy spells spells, but he sounded on good form when we spoke. Mum due at the GP tomorrow for a blood test. Worked for most of the remainder of the evening trying to finish stuff off so I can invoice for it at the end of the week. 

Sunday 29th January 2023

Woke around 0815 after a comfortable night's sleep...nice firm mattress. I got up and made my way downstairs to make some tea. I boiled a kettle, but couldn't find either the mugs, nor the teabags...fortunately, Colin appeared and helped me out. He said he'd managed to get Trudi to bed around about 0200!!! Despite this, he decided to accompany Aki and I to Cafe Elka at 1015...we walked there from Modena Road. Met up with Alicia for brunch...sadly her boyfriend was unable to come and meet us, so it was just the four of us for brunch. We had invited Charlie, but she was gearing up to go watch the Brighton v Liverpool Cup game at the Amex. Had a lovely catch up with Alicia, though...food wasn't bad either, though a bit pricey! She's training in oncology and urology, and is commuting to Eastbourne two or three times a week. Her fella is a mechanical engineer...not sure who he's working for, but he's not enjoying it very much, apparently, and is looking for another job, either in Brighton, or London. Colin walked home afterward to see if Trudi had gotten up yet...we walked Alicia down to the esplanade to show her Dave Gilmore's house, and then walked along to the new Rockwater bar and restaurant to grab a coffee. It was bitterly cold on the sea front, so we needed warming up! Had a good laugh, and got updates on various family members, before heading back to Colin's, parting with Alicia on a street corner to say our farewells...lovely lass! Watched a bit of the first half of the Brighton game on the telly with Colin, before deciding to head home. Drove along the front, turning left opposite the pier to pick up the A23, and head northward. Got home about 1630. Watched the Wrexham v Sheffield United game...great Cup tie, complete with Hollywood movie star in the home crowd...stirring 3-3 draw. Warmed up the venison hotpot for dinner, with cabbage, carrots and peas on the side, followed by fridge cake and creme fraiche. "Happy Valley" before shower and bed...

Saturday 28th January 2023

Woke to a slow start, but a lot to do today. Aki up and at 'em...she made tea, and prepared porridge for breakfast. I got up and we ate. I got up on the bedroom roof to tidy up after last week's build. Collected up all the moss that had fallen off the neighbouring church roof, then washed the skylight. Tidied the ladder away afterward...the garden shed needs a good clear out! Hardly room for my ladder! Aki jumped in the shower, and I packed an overnight bag, then we set off for Brighton in the car. Traffic not too bad, though it was a bit slow getting through the Blackwall Tunnel. We took a detour off the A20 at Sidcup, and stopped for lunch at a farm shop...it was packed, so we opted for a takeaway and ate in the car overlooking fields of horses.

Stopped off at Waitrose in Hove to buy some booze before rocking up at the Yates's house in Modena Road. We were joined a little later by Andy "My Word is my Bond" Widdup and his wife, Kim, who had come by train from Cuckfield. Trudi had cooked a belated Burns supper...haggis, neeps & tatties. Enjoyed a catch up. Hadn't known that Kim had suffered 12 months debilitating long-covid, but she's put up a fight, and is now back on the tennis court! Andy gearing up for retirement, as is Colin, who has slashed his hours and is semi-retired. Trudi is contemplating doing an online course in interior design, a long-cherished hobby...she likes the Arts & Crafts movement, and has always decorated her abodes after this fashion, though I'd imagine it a bit niche. Andy & Kim got a taxi back to Hove railway station...Aki and I stopped the night. Trudi had gotten rather inebriated, and was obviously up for drinking into the early hours...Aki and I dashed off to bed before we got roped in!!!

Friday 27th January 2023

Aki up early to ready herself for Rowing Club. I dozed in bed for a bit, then got up and made tea...got back into bed to read a bit of "A Burning", the last but one Book Club choice...I'm still catching up after only finishing David Copperfield yesterday! Got up and made porridge. Aki cycled off to Rowing Club. I spent most of the morning at the computer doing research on a couple of small jobs. Broke for lunch when Aki got home. I popped out to Waitrose to get some milk and some ingredients to make a venison hot pot for my dinner tonight. Bumped into Duncan from No.9 on the way back home...had a chat in the street, and promised to give him a knock if I was playing the N19 open mic nite. Made us a tasty salad with chorizo tortilla and bresaola for lunch, then got back in front of the computer screen. Aki headed out for Marylebone...she has been invited to a farewell dinner for her former Takenaka boss, who is due to go back to Japan. I started cooking around 1730, and realised that it needed 4 hours in the oven! So I dined on a tin of dried fish in fermented black beans that I'd bought in the Chinese supermarket in Colindale a month or so ago...ate it cold, with rice and quinoa. The fish looked like a mummified child's foot, but the black beans were very tasty, if a bit on the salty side. Watched Man City knock Arsenal out of the FA Cup. Aki got home, a little tipsy after her office reunion, at around 2315. A few old faces had been there...Naomi had come over from Paris especially! Shower and bed...

Thursday 26th January 2023

Woke around 0800...dozed to R4 until about 0830.Got up and porridged. Did a bit of work at the computer, but spent the rest of the morning writing up my CPD on my CPD recording page on the RICS website. Broke for lunch...Aki cooked up a tasty noodle soup. Spent most of the afternoon finishing an RICS web-based course on Party Wall disputes....very tedious, but managed to finish it before tomorrow's deadline. Did a bit more work preparing stocklists prior to heading out on inspections again next week. Cooked a tomato sauce which we had with pasta for dinner. Rachel's Divine Rice Pudding for afters, with raspberries. Watched a bit of telly before shower and bed...

Wednesday 25th January 2023

Aki up early to prepare for Rowing Club. I dozed in bed for a bit, then got up and made tea and chocolate porridge, which I took back to bed with me. Read some DC...two more chapters to go! Got up and did some work at the computer, tidying up after our final day of inspections in east London yesterday. Aki came back, so I broke for some lunch. we had some of her homemade leek and potato soup. I worked through until around 1630. Cooked pork shoulder for dinner, with potato rosti, and vegetables, followed by cheese and biscuits. Did some more DIY work on the cupboard above the boiler....stuck a handle on, and screwed two magnets in place to hold the cupboard front. Looks good. Watched a bit of telly before shower and bed...