Monday 29th September 2025

Woke around 0400…took ages to nod back off…I’m going to have to ask the GP for sleeping pills! Aki brought me tea in bed. Got up and porridged. Did my exercises. Read some Chuzzlewit. Aki cooked lunch. I set off for my dental appointment on Upper Street. Got there in good time. The hygienist had her work cut out, given the build up of 20 years worth of plaque. In the event, she only managed to clean the bottom row of teeth…I had to book and pay for a second session next week! Walked home, stopping off at Euphonium for a decaf coffee, then walking up to Waitrose to do a bit of shopping. Eating alone this evening…Aki working as a translator for a Japanese client of a design company based in Camden. They were headed out for a posh meal in Coal Drops Yard. I made a taleggio and mushroom lasagna…took rather longer than I’d anticipated…didn’t eat until 2000. Aki got back around 2130. Watched The Ten before bath and bed…

Sunday 28th September 2025

Woke around 0800. Tea. Cooked brunch. Cycled off to Stoke Newington, via Clissold Park, to attend the panto recalls. Parked the bike outside the theatre and bought coffee at the Yellow Warbler. Sorrel already set up in the Smith Studio…Vahan and Kat, our musical directors, were also in attendance, as well as Sarah, our SM. Saw various people…had to make a choice between three potential Princes, and two potential Rubellas. A bit of disagreement amongst us, but eventually agreed on an Italian lady as Rubella…I wasn’t terribly convinced, but some of our number knew her and felt confidant she could be worked up into the role. Adjourned around 1345…aimed for the Jolly Butchers, but it was fully booked, so I made my excuses and cycled up Church Street for a sandwich at Gail’s. Got home around 1445, ahead of Aki, who had been rowing. Listened to some footie on R5Live. Did some exercises. Rehearsed a couple of tunes with Aki. Wandered round to Brett’s at No.7 for dinner. She did a tasty spread…pea and lettuce soup, chicken filo pie with cauliflower, cheesey orzo and ricotta and spinach balls, followed by apple pie and cream. As we chatted afterward, Aki spotted a mouse in the next room…Brett charged up a mousetrap with chocolate, and we made a hurried exit!

Saturday 27th September 2025

Got up around 0900. Cooked brunch. Did my exercises. Vacuumed the car. Aki made savoury Japanese pancake for lunch. Watched the first half of the Women’s Rugby World Cup final…England looked on the road to lifting the trophy. Wandered up to No.127 for a meet up with the Scottish folk band, hosted by Katherine and George. Had a meet to chat about taking things forward…resolved to meet monthly and to try and learn tunes by heart. Sat down to a tasty vegetarian supper…chickpea and spinach curry with rice and naan, followed by German apple pie with creme fraiche. We then spent an hour on a couple of tunes to kick start our honing of the repertoire. All in all a very enjoyable evening. Got home around 2100. Watched an episode of Hotspot, The Ten, and MOTD before bath and bed…

Friday 26th September 2025

Woke around 0330 but got back to sleep again OK…woke again around 0730…dozed before getting up and bringing tea back to bed. Aki up preparing herself a packed lunch. Got up and porridged. Aki left for JCUK lunchtime get-together in west London. Did my exercises. Lunched. Set off for Holborn and a return visit to the Garden Cinema. Watched Di Caprio’s new movie, One Battle After Another…well put together, good performances (Sean Penn as watchable as always)…but what a load of old nonsense…stretched my credibility too far! Caught a bus to Oxford Circus and hooked up with Aki at the Photographers Gallery. Exhibition celebrating the work of Dennis Morris…who bunked off school when he was 14 to go ask Bob Marley for a photo, and got hired as his tour photographer on the spot…and the rest is history. He went on to work with the big names of the punk scene. Very enjoyable…got my photo taken with Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious. Got home by 1915…Aki rustled up a quick salmon dinner. Watched Japanese comedy drama series Hotspot before bath and bed…

Thursday 25th September 2025

Woke at 0330, but managed to nod back off fairly readily on this occasion. Woke around 0800. Brought tea back to bed before getting up and porridging. Much pain in my left foot…managed 11,000 steps yesterday which may have summat to do with it! Did my exercises. Early lunch...warmed up the chickpea and carrot soup. Limped to the bus stop to catch a No.253 bus to Finsbury Park, then a tube train to Holborn. Early dinner at a Japanese restaurant…good value at £22. Walked around the corner to meet Tammy at the Garden Cinema for a showing of Japanese movie, Happyend. The girls seemed to enjoy it, but I found it rather dull…struggled to stay awake. Got home around 2000. Aki worked at the computer…I watched some telly before bath and bed…

Wednesday 24th September 2025

Woke around 0400. Took ages to get back to sleep…seems to be becoming an unwanted routine! Aki up early to ready for rowing…she’d cycled off by the time I got up to make tea. Took it back to bed with me…read some Chuzzlewit. Porridged. Did my exercises. Aki back in time for lunch. I departed thereafter for a tooth-hurty dental appointment…I think that’s the first time that’s happened in my 67 years. I haven’t been to the dentist for about 20 years…supposedly NHS but had to fork out at reception. Seen by a young Asian lady and her Slavic assistant…they were great…took x-rays which came back OK, though some filling required, and I was booked in for a thorough clean with the hygienist next Monday…more money passed hands! Walked up to Kissawa near Highbury Fields for a coffee, then walked home via Waitrose. Aki cooked pasta with homemade pesto, plus tomatoes and vegetables. 

Walked to Holloway Road tube station and took a train to Covent Garden, from whence we ambled down toward the river and the RSA. Had tickets to see a documentary about a Japanese health food pioneer Yoshiko Tatsumi…marking her 100th birthday. She preaches the benefits of simple soup recipes, teaching doctors and nurses how to cook up life enhancing broth for their patients…came out feeling hungry! Repaired to the RSA bar, which is housed in an C18th building originally occupied by the Adelphi Tavern and Coffee House. The interior decor now has a very modern vibe, and we sat by the groovy fireplace and enjoyed a cocktail before heading home on the tube from Covent Garden…

Tuesday 23rd September 2025

Woke at 0430…took ages to get back to sleep. Back giving me gip again! Got up at 0830 and took tea back to bed. Got up at 0930 and porridged. Aki cycled off to the fishmonger on Essex Road. Did my exercises. Pinged off my CV to the Vic…see what happens. Made carrot, harissa and chickpea soup for lunch. Travelled into Oxford Street to look at cushions in John Lewis’s…bought three of a bright yellow hue that will sit well on our grey sofa suite. Aki headed for home with the purchases…I ran an errand for a chum, picking up a DVD from HMV that needs sending on to him in Spain. Bought some underwear in M&S. Walked down North Audley Street and enjoyed a crepe in the Mercato before getting a bus to Tottenham Court Road. Popped in to Regent Sounds on Denmark Street then headed for home on a No.29 bus. Aki cooked mackerel for dinner with rice and yams. She went off to a site meeting on the Haringey Ladder…I had a bath and watched some football before Aki got back…early to bed…