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...

Saturday 27th April 2024

Woke around 0845 after what felt like a decent night's sleep. Got up and made tea. Aki cycled off to get bread from the Farmer's Market, while I prepared breakfast for when she returned with fresh vitals. Pottered about doing nothing very much...sent off our postal votes for London Mayor, and read a bit of Dickens. Walked to Finsbury Park station, and caught a Piccadilly Line train to Holborn, where we picked up the Central Line. Got out at Bethnal Green, and walked up to the Young V&A to see their Japan exhibition, a look at the ancient myths that have shaped the modern manga tradition. The venue had previously been the Museum of Childhood, but had been taken over by the V&A and refurbished...the main hall is very expansive, with lots of space for kids to run about, and a cafe at the far end...we had tea and cinnamon whirl, then took the spiral staircase up the the first floor and the exhibition.

The exhibition was interesting, and we had a wander around the free exhibition rooms afterward...liked the design section, and the play areas. Amused ourselves watching the kids playing with the soft play equipment. Wandered out to find it was raining. Had half-an-hour to kill before our appointment at Ombra...but as it was raining we resolved to introduce ourselves at the restaurant half-an-hour ahead of our booking time. We were the first customers of the evening, but it slowly filled up...it's evidently a popular haunt. We ordered gnocco with wild boar mortadella, and a leaf salad with mint, apple, and stracciatella to start. A main of smoked crab tagliatelle for Aki, and I had grilled pork loin with a red wine reduction and green beans. All very tasty, but it was pricey...we felt our local Osteria was just as good, and significantly cheaper! Abandoned plans to walk along the Hertford Canal after dinner as it was still raining. Got home, via bus and Overground, around 2100.

Friday 26th April 2024

Aki up with alarm at 0730 to ready herself for Rowing Club. I got up at 0830. Porridged, and slung a packed lunch together before setting off for Wandsworth in the car. The traffic was dreadful...very slow getting down through Earls Court especially. It was midday by the time I parked up near St Philip Street. Wandered across to the cafe on Lavender Hill and brought a coffee back to drink in the car while I ate an early lunch. Wandered up St Philip Street knocking on doors, then into Broughton Street...the woman at No.29 evidently needed a new kitchen, but explained that she hadn't been on top of things recently, especially since her grandson was "found in the river"...I assumed she meant the Thames, and I was reminded of the opening chapter of "Our Mutual Friend", but on enquiring, she said it had been in the Tees!!! No-one seems entirely sure what happened, and she and her family have been pressing the police to make further enquiries. I wished her good luck, and returned to knocking on doors in St Philip Street, after which I climbed back into the car and mopped up some external inspections in Tooting, Earlsfield, and Camberwell before heading for home. Got in around 1845. Aki had cooked a tasty Goan fish curry for dinner. Watched a bit of telly...Rageh Omaar seemed to be having some trouble reading the Ten O'Clock News, and it reminded me of Robert Dougall appearing slightly inebriated on the BBC many years ago...

Thursday 25th April 2024

Woke around 0830. Hauled myself out of bed. Aki made tea, and I porridged at the computer. Worked through until 1300. Wandered down to Girasole to buy some lunch, which I brought back to share with Aki. The staff confirmed the sad news that Eglal has sold up, and they are due to close on 4th May. She's been a credit to the local community. Aki went off to the hairdressers, and I got back to work at the computer for a couple of hours. Broke around 1630 and read some Marias...getting toward the end now. Warmed up a sausage and vegetable stew we'd discovered in the freezer...ate with orzo and steamed mange tout...very tasty! Watched MasterChef before bath and bed...

Wednesday 24th April 2024

Aki up with alarm at 0730. I dozed on for a bit. Got up and porridged. Aki cycled off for a work meeting in Camden. I headed for Finsbury Park tube station, getting a Victoria Line train to Vauxhall, where I caught a No.156 bus to Queenstown Road, just past Battersea Power Station. Spent the morning ambling down St Philip Street, knocking on doors. The housing is quite interesting...2- and 3-storey terraced houses c1875, in a Conservation Area to the east of Clapham Junction. But they are showing signs of age internally, and Peabody don't keep them in tiptop condition. Broke for a coffee on Lavender Hill, then walked up towards Battersea Arts Centre in search of some lunch. Ordered a croque monsieur in a little cafe called Pique...but it was dire. A soggy mess, which tasted as though he'd accidentally reached for the sugar rather than the salt when seasoning! The chef has evidently never had one before...my efforts are far superior! Got a bus back to Queenstown Road, and knocked on doors on Broughton Street, before ending up back on St Philip Street. Struck for home, taking a bus to Hyde Park Corner, then catching a Piccadilly Line tube to Caledonian Road. Bumped into Brett at the bus stop there, and we got on the 259 to Hornsey Road. She'd been to an exhibition at the Hayward Gallery. Warmed up the Levantine chicken we'd bought in Waitrose the other day, and ate it with cous cous and vegetables, followed by creme brulee. Watched MasterChef before bath and bed...

Tuesday 23rd April 2024

Woke around 0900 feeling very weary. Got up and made tea, and porridged at the computer. Headed out on inspections in north London...drove around Islington before heading for Haringey, and on to Tower Hamlets. Drove home for lunch. Aki made ramen noodle soup. Jumped back in the car and headed for Tottenham. Got home around 1830. Aki made a cavolo nero pesto sauce to pour over some tortelloni, followed by cheese and biscuits. Phoned mum...dad had driven her over to the Fracture Clinic today, and she reported that they didn't appear too concerned... everything healing up of it's own volition, but she's still finding her upper arm a bit painful. They effectively discharged her. Watched MasterChef, and The Ten before bath and bed...