Tony came round for a rehearsal on Monday afternoon. We did an impromptu performance for Owen, Madeline and James via WhatsApp. They'd been speaking to M and she told them what I was doing and O and M wanted to see. Did the Castle Tap open mic in the evening. Sang Everything Is Broken, To The Brink, Reason To Believe and Counting Salmon. We noticed a light on at Paul Webb's so knocked on the door and he came along too. Andy Coltman also turned up. A good night. Went to the dentist's on Tuesday morning. Need to have a filling replaced. Sophie came in the afternoon from Neptune kitchens. An AFD. Did a spot of gardening on Wednesday, digging up the raspberry canes and surrounding area. A mild autumnal shorts wearing day. Took my mountain bike into Bike Hub after as the gears weren't changing at the front. Ended up leaving it in for a service. Did the Castle Tap Folk Session in the evening. Played Counting Salmon, Ukulele Blues and Jungle Lulaby. Paul came along again. Danny remembered him from when they both lived on Coley Hill. Went swimming on Thursday morning. Cris came round in the afternoon to talk about kitchens. Met up with Clive and Penno later for beers in The Allied. Did the sound at RSAC on Friday evening with Adam. It was one of Sid's gigs. Little Red, Jess Tuthill and Lee Switzer-Woolf. All really good. Didn't have to pack away either so home by 11 30. Had a power cut on Saturday morning so had to resort to desperate measures to make coffee.
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Monday, November 02, 2026
Went over to Mandy's in the afternoon to look at her Wren kitchen. Did the society walk on Sunday from The Cricketers at Littlewick Green, a place I'd never been to before. Becky organised it.
Monday, October 26, 2026
I had ordered a packet of mozzarella in the Friday morning shop but this turned up.
M went for her first haircut at Salon 35 after she stopped using Alex. Had pizza for tea. Lazy day Saturday, had pasta with tomato and mozzarella sauce for tea. Chilled a bit on Sunday. A mozzarella free day. Had a fried tomato and mozzarella sandwich for breakfast on Monday. M went for her flu jab. Made some pesto sauce with basil from the garden. I'd been trying to sort out some light fitting issues. This fell apart
and couldn't get the bulb out of this.
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Asked Tony if he'd have look. By the time he came I'd managed to get the bulb out but when I put the new one in there was a bang and it tripped the fuses. I'd also partially fixed the other but the bulb was still hanging down. He advised a new spot light fitting and fixing the other with garden wire or a cable tie as the bulb holder connector had snapped. M cooked chicken breasts with grated mozzarella and pesto wrapped in parma ham. An AFD. On Tuesday had a fried tomato mozzarella and parma ham sandwich for breakfast. I picked up the spot light fitting. It wasn't straight forward trying to replace it. The lathe and plaster ceiling kept crumbling and I lost both attaching screws somewhere in the cupboard. I managed to find one and got the light working but it was just attached by a single screw. Had mozzarella in our salad with tea. Another AFD. Went swimming on Wednesday morning. I searched through cupboard for the remaining screw but couldn't find it. Tony came round for a rehearsal in the afternoon. As I was tidying up in the guest room found the missing screw on the bed. Went to watch URZ beat Leyton Orient 1 0 with Ralph. Good goal by Paddy Lane. A mozzarella free day. On Thursday morning we went to Wickes to talk about kitchens. Had a fried tomato and mozzarella sandwich for breakfast. Attempted to fix the light fitting in place with the screw I had found but all that happened was the other screw came loose. In the end I just left it hanging there with no screws. An AFD. On Friday I wrote a song which will probably be called Blue. Made a sort of cottage pie but with a layer of sliced potato instead of mash. Grated mozzarella on the top. The mozzarella crisis is now over as we've frozen all but one of the remaining packets. On Saturday afternoon popped into RSAC to set up for a DJ set in the evening. Then went to see URZ beat Barnsley 2 1 with Ralph. The first half was dire and we were 1 0 down at half time. It wasn't helped by the fact I got there late so wasn't able to get a pint. Got one at half time though. 2 good goals from Lissbie. Did my Theale, Pangbourne, Mapledurham ride on Sunday. It was a struggle at times.
Friday, October 16, 2026
Got the train up to Perth on Friday. Easy journey, just change at York, but about half an hour late getting in. Met by James and Owen at the station. Took Madeline and Owen to South Inch park on Saturday morning whilst James and Amy went shopping. Stopped off at the Provender Brown deli on the way back for some gin and quiche. James and Amy picked us up but they had a new step ladder in the car so me and James had to carry it back. Played out in the garden in the afternoon. Pretty good fish n chips for tea. On Sunday morning we went to the Quarrymill park for a walk with James and the kids. I cycled there on Amy's bike. After, me and M went into town for a paper. She went back and I did a walk along the river, over the railway bridge and back.
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It was a lovely day. Sat out in the garden later. They have a very tall tree.
On Monday we went down to North Inch park with the kids and James. They went on their bikes. Not great getting there but great for cycling when they got there. Had a spot of lunch and then went to the art gallery. There's a great area for kids. Picked up some food so we could cook tea and some apples from next door to make a crumble for pudding. Heard from the dermatology department that the mole I had removed was harmless. On Tuesday we took Madeline to Waterstones to buy books and stuff using the token we'd bought her for her birthday. We also bought her a magazine she wanted from W H Smiths which is now T G Jones. We'd bought her a cardboard model that she made with our help when we got back. Took her to the park briefly in the afternoon but it rained. Managed to amuse her with the stuff she'd bought. Had a pint in The Old Ship in the evening before a meal at Aphrodite. On Wednesday Amy had a meeting in Glasgow so she took Owen into nursery quite early and drove there. We popped into town again to buy Madeline another magazine and model. In the afternoon we went to North Inch. Madeline on her bike and me on Amy's. Had a snack in the Black Watch Museum cafe then met up with James who was picking up Owen. James and Amy then went out to Cafe Tabou for dinner. It was James' birthday present from us. Got the train back on Thursday. Unfortunately we didn't get to sit together much.
Friday, October 09, 2026
On Monday morning I had a mole removed at the dermatology out patients at RBH. Painless but need to keep it dry and was told not to cycle home and take it easy as increasing the heart rate could cause the wound to bleed. Had a flu jab in the afternoon. An AFD. A while back I ordered a new lock for the car as when we got back from Canada the battery was flat and the key didn't work in the lock. Chap came to fit it on Tuesday. I'd ordered a Fishman acoustic guitar pre-amp pedal as the signal from my dobro pickup is quite weak. Tried it out and it didn't really improve things. My EQ pedal worked better. So sent it back. The Morrisons in Coley Park has closed and with it the post office but I was able to hand my parcel in at the offy. Got out of filling in a self assessment return. Another AFD. Got a new Bluetooth adaptor for the car as the old one seemed to have stopped working. Fitted it on Wednesday morning. It connects to an FM radio channel so no wires.
Did a bit of tidying up in the music room, took a box of old clothes to a clothes bank and took the old nylon string to Oxfam music.
Monday, October 05, 2026
Went to the Rising Sun on Friday morning to set the PA up for the evening gig. Went to Brendan and Lynda's in the afternoon for the annual summer get together. Played some good games. Tony came round for a rehearsal on Saturday. In the evening we went over to Davy and Howie's for a drink before going to the Kung Fu Kitchen. I was impressed by Howie's paintings and the KFK was great. Meanwhile all the younger generations except Edith were at a wedding in London.
Lazy day on Sunday. Went over to Neptune Kitchens over at Hare Hatch on Monday morning and popped into Wren on the way back. Tony came round for a rehearsal in the afternoon. We did the Castle Tap open mic in the evening. Think we did OK, did Walking Blues, No Problem, Bird On A Wire and Don't Ask Me Questions. Tom's mate Adam was down there. He seems to know Alex Marlow. Did a spot of gardening on Tuesday. Made a roasted tomato and goats cheese tart with the last of the tomatoes and even found enough spuds for a potato salad. Got woken up in the night by an owl again. Did the URZ end of season points ride with Stuart and Kelvin on Wednesday. Got a train to Newbury and cycled out to Pewsey and back. 63 miles in all.
We then had a spot of lunch and headed for the giraffes. They were sharing an enclosure with zebras and ostriches but the giraffes were hiding inside. We waited around though and they came out.
We passed some colourful birds on the way.
Edith then fell asleep so we left. Tom and Sally had been for lunch in Deptford so we met them on the train on the way back. We then had a swifty in the Green Goddess before going back to their place to pick up our stuff and head home. On Sunday we did a society walk round Cookham organised by Helen. I popped into RSAC after to put away the sound gear from Saturday's gig.
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Worked out quite well. We had shortish stops in Marlboro, Pewsey and Selbourne and no alcohol until the end when we had 40 odd minutes to kill in Newbury.
Went swimming on Thursday morning. In the evening there was a RSAC sound team social but only me and Amy the trustee turned up. I set the PA up for Saturdays event. On Friday we went to stay with SET. Picked Edith up from nursery and then we all went for a pint at the Blackheath sports club where Tom and Sally are social members. We then called James to wish him a happy birthday. Tom and Sally had bought him a new jumper.
Tom made some excellent pizzas for dinner. On Saturday we took Edith to London zoo. It was her birthday present. We saw gorillas, lions, tigers, penguins and went into the butterfly house. She also got to stroke a goat.
Friday, September 25, 2026
Got up early on Monday morning to see James off then set off down the station with Kelvin to meet up with Andy for our trip to Verdun. Got Eurostar to Paris then had 3 hours to kill before the next leg. What we didn't know was that Andy had arranged to meet up with Dominique.
The Gare De L'est is a very nice station.
Got the TVG to Meuse, a station in the middle of nowhere, then a coach shuttle for the last leg of the journey to Verdun. Lovely evening and all very sparsely populated.
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Checked into our apartment and tried to find somewhere to eat but a lot of places were closed on Monday so settled for a takeaway pizza supplemented with salad, beer and wine from the supermarket. Did a walk round Verdun on Tuesday. Started off by the river.
Then up to the cathedral.
There was the sound of monks singing somewherebut it was actually being piped through the partially disguised speakers.
I assume the paintings were stations of the cross. Just along from there was the grandly named Centre For World Peace.
Apologies for the dark shadow my phone case is falling apart. We then found ourselves in this park/fortress area.
There were some weird statues.
We then went to the Citadelle Souterraine which was part of the old fortress. The highlight was a virtual reality experience in a motorised buggy where you followed the fortunes of a group of soldiers from the 1st World War on leave in the underground citadel. It was kind of OK but went on a bit and the sound was very tinny. We had to wear hairnets under the apparatus.
We then did quite a scenic walk back into the centre by the river and had a coupe of beers in the sun outside a bar on the quay. We'd spotted a likely restaurant the day before but it was closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Looked at a few other places but decided to eat in with tortellini and salad. Hired electric bikes on Wednesday to cycle round the battlefield sites. First up was a trench memorial.
Then a destroyed village.
Then the Ossuaire du Douaument.
We thought it was just a memorial building for the cemetery until we watched a film and realised the cellars were full of bones that were visible through the windows.
We then went to the Citadelle Souterraine which was part of the old fortress. The highlight was a virtual reality experience in a motorised buggy where you followed the fortunes of a group of soldiers from the 1st World War on leave in the underground citadel. It was kind of OK but went on a bit and the sound was very tinny. We had to wear hairnets under the apparatus.
Then the Ossuaire du Douaument.
Then the Fort du Douaumont.
Then back to Verdun for a couple of pints in our favourite quayside bar. Ate in again, pesto pasta and salad. We travelled back on Thursday but still had time to visit the victory memorial and gardens of the Centre For World Peace where wespotted a piece of the Berlin Wall.
Andy went on the rest of his Interrail trip and me and Kelvin headed home. We got to Paris and had a pint outside the Gare Do Nord.
Then suddenly realised our train left in 10 mins. We got to the first Eurostar gate but weren't allowed in as you need to be there at least 30 mins before. Managed to get tickets for the next one but had to pay £44 each.
Monday, September 21, 2026
A quiet day on Sunday, went to Wickes to talk about kitchens. On Monday I had an appointment at the dermatology department at RBH to check out the enlarged mole on my neck. They think it's harmless but are going to remove it and get it checked out. Attempted to cook a version of the beef and aubergine stew I'd had in Nikiti and a Greek loaf. Had my hair cut on Tuesday then went to John Lewis of Hungerford to look at kitchens. Went to watch URZ v Brentford in the EFL Cup in the evening with Kelvin and Ralph. The upper west wasn't open so we sat in the north stand like old times. Good atmosphere, the south stand was filled with 5000 away supporters. We conceded after 3 mins and then in the single minute of extra time of the first half. Pulled one back in the second. Not a bad performance from mainly understoodies. Quite liked sitting where we did. Went on a bike ride on Wednesday with Kelvin and Stuart. To Henley via the Sip And Spoke at Warren Row and back via the hill up to Bix. M did a her tale of two inventories talk for the Berkshire Family History Society on Thursday afternoon. The plan was to use my laptop but we needed an hdmi output which it doesn't have. Fortunately someone else had one that did. However we couldn't get the clicker to work to change the slides so it had to be done manually. The talk went well. Lindsey and Clare were there. I wasn't allowed to stay. On Friday we drove over to see Kevin and Adrienne in Overstrand. Not a great journey but great when we got there. Overdid it a bit. On Saturday we went to the local food fair then walked along the cliff tops to Cromer. Had a couple of pints in The Red Lion and then got a cab back. Went to a restaurant called The Grove to eat in the evening.
Played a few games when we got back and had an earlier night. Set off back just after 11 and had another bad journey. James had been over since Friday, he went to a friend Harry's stag do on Saturday and was also picking up a car load of stuff. Made pizzas for tea.
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Played a few games when we got back and had an earlier night. Set off back just after 11 and had another bad journey. James had been over since Friday, he went to a friend Harry's stag do on Saturday and was also picking up a car load of stuff. Made pizzas for tea.
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