Thursday 30 September:

Fire alarm went off at 10.15pm last night… and only silenced thanks to Mark’s knowledge of codes/past experience… but it means that the lift isn’t working today (Asda delivery day!!).
Attempted to shift kitchen waste/recycling locations first thing – managed to clear living room corner, but only with negative implications on other (less visible) storage areas.
Had a brief zoom session with Mark, Kevin and Maggie to discuss BNS etc.
Mary and Jennie came over from Bath (Jennie’s visiting Mary) mid-morning for coffee. Great to catch ‘in person’… and went for a walk around the harbour (before the rain came down).
Scheduled Asda delivery (supposedly at 1pm) didn’t show… so very frustrating.
Did a quick sketch while waiting… but clearly could have done a far more detailed drawing in Asda’s continued absence! In the end (5.30pm), Moira phoned Asda… and the delivery’s been re-scheduled for tomorrow 8-9am (when I won’t be here… and with the lift still not working!!). Hey ho!
Evening telly: ‘Bake Off’ and ‘Repair Shop’ (but struggling with sub-titles sync!)
Image: Mary’s photograph of Jennie, Moira and me (alongside Hannah’s old harbour artwork). 

Wednesday 29 September:

Bloke’s Prayer at The Society Café on a bright, sunny but VERY cold morning (Dru, Nick, Dave and Ed).
Went back to the café an hour later to have coffee with one of the other Board members (Kevin) and agreed to try to help out on balcony fire-related, roof maintenance and appropriate lighting (levels and fittings) in communal areas. What have I let myself in for?
Later bumped into another Board member (Mark from downstairs) – who’s clearly getting very cheesed off by BNS’s lack of input in maintenance stuff etc. He had also emailed Kevin and Maggie (and me) expressing his frustrations. Good subsequent emails from Maggie and Kevin… and I added my own thoughts too.
All very frustrating… zoom ‘chat’ tomorrow morning to continue the discussion (do I REALLY want to be involved?).
I put together some thoughts (incl. sketch) on proposed living room worktop and sent them off to Dave – asking if he fancied doing the work (but no probs if he didn’t).
Hung Moira’s textile piece in the living room (looks good).
Late afternoon/evening telly: watched the remainder of the ‘Last Mountain’ and ‘Endeavour’ (apparently the last episode ever??).
Image: St John’s Conduit (restored 1866).

Tuesday 28 September:

Another juggling day…
No early morning walk, but I did go down to Broken Dock to check it out as a possible USk location for next month… and then proceeded to Wilko’s for more screws (and had to put on my yellow waterproof because it started raining quite hard).
It ended up a pretty wet and gloomy day.
Received a phonecall from the Art Shop in Skipton (I’d ordered sketchbooks – which still hadn’t arrived 10 days later). I’d been emailed and asked for a review and, in the circumstances, outlined my frustrations. ‘Jonny’ duly apologies and said he’d just sent off a second version of the order. Well done them!
Spent the rest of the morning and the first part of the afternoon erecting shelving uprights in the living room.
In the afternoon, I sent off an email order to Bishopston Hardware for timber (they responded very quickly – cut pieces, totalling some £125 (which was less than I’d feared). Hopefully (with Fee’s help), I’ll be able to collect it on Friday.
Had another zoom session in connection with Adrian’s studies (although it’s been going on for longer than I’d anticipated, Adrian is very good and the sessions never last more than an hour)... but I found this one (on Mission and Evangelism) pretty difficult and frustrating.
Evening telly (after Adrian’s zoom)… 'The Last Mountain' (first part).
Image: balcony rain!! 

Monday 27 September:

A busy day (but no early morning walk – again!).
Forecast seemed as if we were in for high winds and rain, but these conditions seemed to peter out overnight and, apart from a couple of showers, it was quite a sunny day.
Firstly, I endeavoured to come to grips with bedroom 2 storage and stuff. I ended up shifting the radiator so I could fit the old chest of drawers (useful storage if there’s room)… and also modified the shelf positions on the shelf unit and secured it to the wall for stability. All a bit of a hassle drilling holes into dry-lined walls! Loaded up the shelf unit with as many children’s/religious/art books as possible… and ended up absolutely filling everything – and STILL there are loads of plastic boxes of stuff that end up being in stacked in every ‘spare’ corner. All a little depressing.
The shelf brackets and uprights were delivered mid-morning, so I fixed the uprights into the smaller of the recesses in the living room (stupidly, two of the uprights ended up not being vertical – problem with my spirit level??)… but hey! I think my major concern is whether or not the bracket fixings will be strong enough to take the weight of all the books (really)!
I spent some of the remaining part o the afternoon trying to sort what books were in what boxes (‘Dave’ boxes/normal book boxes/kitchen boxes)… and ensuring we emptied all our recycling stuff in the refuse area – before the bins overflow.
Went for a brief walk up Brandon Hill… sadly, the sun had ‘sunk’ by the time I made my trek and it was starting to get pretty murky.
Evening telly: usual ‘Connect’ and ‘University’.
Image: stained glass shadows through the balcony windows.

  

Sunday 26 September:

Fetched the newspaper then church (Saint Stephen’s) – good talk by Phil.
Then home for coffee and early lunch before continuing with picture hanging (including the lightbox). Some difficulties but overall it seemed to go fine… hung 13 pictures in the hall.
Too many pictures and not enough wallspace to hang them!
Did a quick Art Deco sketch (from a library ‘source book’).
Roast supper (venison from the Farmers’ Market)… excellent.
Looks as if Europe will be thrashed in the Ryder Cup (just the singles to come but they trail 5-11).
Evening telly: ‘Gone Fishing’ and ‘Antiques’ and early to bed to read.
Image: picture-hanging in the hallway. 

Saturday 25 September:

Fetched the newspaper first thing (the ‘new style’ Guardian magazine etc) after a pretty restless night’s ‘sleep’.
Ursa was attending a ‘youth theatre’ group at the Old Vic, so H+F called in for coffee – and, CRUCIALLY, were able to help me hang Clarissa’s picture! Thankfully, all my revised hole positions were accurate (amazingly!) and everything came together pretty smoothly. Huge relief (I was convinced it was going to be a disaster).
We ended up going into the centre for a pizza lunch with them (and, happily, Ursa had a lovely time at the Old Vic).
Villa beat ManU 1-0 at Old Trafford (the first Villa win against them for 12 years!)(and United missed a last minute penalty). Dave+Dan won’t be happy!
Evening telly: another Montalbano episode… then early to bed.
Image: ‘And so it begins…’ (picture-hanging!).

Friday 24 September:

Another somewhat weird day… again, no early walk.
I wanted to drill trial holes(?) for the Clarissa picture (in advance of H+F coming round for coffee tomorrow – and helping lift the picture into position)… with Moira’s help, I managed that and then went up the Gloucester Road to Bishopston Hardware to buy some decent fixings. But, when I got home, I stared at the drilled holes and realised that I’d drilled them in wrong place!! Ridiculous.
Hopefully, I ended up making the necessary alterations – but only time will tell (in terms of accuracy AND whether or not the fixings will stand the load!!).
Our Garden Centre order finally arrived (but my shelving stuff didn’t), so Moira was busy organising plant stuff.
Moira had a bookgroup zoom in the evening… and I had a text message from Robin suggesting we met up for a drink… so that’s what we did (at the Three Tuns – just down the road)… and afterwards I watched ‘The Graduate’ via catch-up (lovely, nostalgic and wonderful music).
Image: Indian fabric stamps (which I came across randomly… looking for other stuff!).

Thursday 23 September:

A rather wasted day. Grey skies meant that I didn’t feel up for an early morning walk… instead I started to fill my new storage units with files.
Cut out a paper template for our large (and VERY heavy) Clarissa picture – with a view to being able to drill holes in the correct place without having to support the picture while doing so. Had planned to go to Bishopston Hardware to explore best type of rawlplug etc… but garden centre (see later note!) meant this didn’t happen.
Moira had lip-reading, so I stayed in to await a delivery from the garden centre… they eventually phoned at around 4pm to say we were their next stop… and then that was followed by another phonecall to say that their van had broken down again (ie. just last last week!!). All VERY frustrating.
I ‘sat in’ on zoom Deanery Directors meeting (2 hours of rambling chat from lots of old blokes… and badly chaired, so it rambled on far longer than it ought to have done. Frustrating, but nevertheless, I’ve agreed to join the Board.
Evening telly: ‘Endeavour’.
Image: Asia textile sketch.

Wednesday 22 September:

Bloke’s Prayer first thing at the Society Café (sitting outside as usual – in the bright sunshine)… Robin, Nick, Ed, Dave and Dru.
Moira and I went to Wilko’s (for odd screws, water softener etc) en route to the Farmer’s Market adjacent St Nick’s (bought meat, cheese, fruit and veg). Then sat outside and had a coffee.
Hung Alan Thompson’s picture on the living/dining room wall (first ‘proper’ picture to be hung!).
Spent much of the rest of the day building IKEA wardrobes and shelving units (and, somewhat embarrassingly, discovered that I’d ordered an extra small storage unit – which we don’t want or need!).
Evening telly: ‘repair Shop’ and early to bed.
Image: Alan’s ‘Kitchen Window’ picture up on the wall! 

Tuesday 21 September:

Amy+Mary here very early (just 8am) to continue decoration (they’re VERY good!).
Moira and I took the opportunity to go to the Garden Centre (to order some drip trays) and then on to coffee at Underfall Yard Café.
Walked back along the harbour and then up through Brandon Hill footpaths to Museum+Art Gallery (some interesting netsuke on display).
Had lunch at Browns before returning home just after 2pm (A+M had done brilliantly – are determined to put on an extra coat of grey on hall wall… and to return tomorrow to ensure no patches(!).
A+M finished their work in the afternoon – looks great… very pleased.
Finished my Dod Procter book (and duly returned it to the library and got out books on Klimt and Textiles of Central Asia).
Finished erecting wardrobe 1 (eventually… very fiddly!)… not brilliant but it’ll do.
Very concerned (fretting!) at the prospect of drilling walls for heavy pictures and shelves (I’m loathe DIY!).
Lovely evening zoom with Alan (it’s been a long time!).
Evening telly: caught up with ‘Gone Fishing’ on my laptop.
Image: coloured sails on the harbour.

Monday 20 September:

Busy (well, strange) day… no early morning walk.
Amy+Mary came to start the re-decoration work… and they ended up doing brilliantly well (very hard working and talented pair!)… they painted the kitchen and dining room/living area (grey wall might need an extra coat?). So lovely to have them here.
I did some sketching and some reading (finished my bookgroup book – now finishing off the Dod Procter art book.
We also had an IKEA delivery!
At the end of the afternoon, Moira and I set about trying to put one of the wardrobes together (made steady/good progress!).
With everything under covers, we ended up going to Pizza Express for supper.
Evening telly: ‘Only Connect’ and ‘University’
Image: Amy and Mary lunching on the balcony.

Sunday 19 September:

Busy day, but no church…
Fetched the newspaper first thing and then, after morning coffee, I went to watch the runners set off in the Great Bristol Run (actually, lots of different start times and two distances involved – half marathon and 10K). Lovely day for it – not too hot – and lots of people around to watch and cheer. More than 10,000 runners, I think.
Read some of my bookgroup book, but most of the rest of the day was spent organising the living room/hall ready for the Amy+Mary redecorations. Boxes everywhere (just hope the floor can stand the weight!?).
Early evening, Moira and I had been invited round to Robin+Sue’s for drinks… also met neighbours Hannah and Francoise there too.
Evening telly: ‘Antiques’… briefly.
Image: one of my photographs from the Great Bristol Run (featuring Dave+Ruby).

 

Saturday 18 September:

Fetched the newspaper first thing… and then organised a temporary dining table (in advance of Ru+co coming for supper later.

Morning coffee with Moira and then bused to Storysmith to collect the next Bloke's Books book before walking back to Urban Sketching at Temple church (perhaps a dozen of us?). Good fun… and the weather held.

Ru+co arrived just after 4pm… and it was so lovely having time to relax with them again. Everyone in very good form (Stu had just returned from a couple of days in the Lake District). Moira cooked chicken supper plus plum crumble.
Villa beat Everton 3-0.
Stayed up to watch footie on telly!
Image: from today’s urban sketching.

Friday 17 September:

No walk today. Needed to stay in to accept (and unload) stuff from the Garden Centre… but we ended up getting a phonecall explaining that their van had broken down (they’ll try again next Thursday!).
Made a sketch of two harbour boats.
Spent much of the morning reading and generally catching up on stuff.
Ana came round in the afternoon and the three of us spent a lovely 2 hours or so sitting on the balcony in the sunshine and catching up. She’s a very lovely lady!
Read more of my bookgroup book on the balcony before supper.
Evening telly: ‘Montalbano’… amid 2 hours of bellringing practice.
Image: harbour boats. 

Thursday 16 September:

Bright morning, so I DID go for a dawn walk around the harbour! Good to get out again at the very start of the day.
Yesterday, I’d commented to Moira that I hadn’t seen any hot air balloons since we came to Deanery Road… and, blow me, just after I’d returned home at 7.30am, I was suddenly aware that balloons were close by (‘that noise’)!
I spent much of the morning filling screw holes in the walls in preparation for Amy+Mary next week (plus tried to modify the radiator height position in the living room)… it all feels part of a never-ending process and one where ‘progress’ is difficult to ‘see’. Step at a time!
Ended up going to the Watershed (for the first time in 18 months) for chunky chips/red wine lunch… and I did a quick sketch while I was there (table service only – no queues at the bar – and really hardly anyone inside… although the roof terrace was full).
In the afternoon, I did a couple of rapid sketches based on images from an Art Deco book I’d got out of the library (an enormous, very heavy thing!)… before returning my Deco and Patrick Caulfield books to the library.
I sat on the balcony for an hour before supper (I was going to read, but didn’t!... but did later).
More balloons overhead!
Evening telly: short ‘Three Men in a Boat’ film (1975 – with Michael Palin).
Image: hot air balloons from the balcony. 

Wednesday 15 September:

The guy from Beaver Electrics (the man who did our survey) turned up at 8am and had sorted all electrical needs by 11am. All very straightforward and efficient – even if it did mean that I needed to shift all the cardboard boxes out of the way beforehand!
I popped down to the Society Café very briefly just to say hello (and give Phil £10).
After lunch, Moira went to the garden centre to order a fig tree and some Spring bulbs while I ended up going to Bishopstone Hradware to check if it was possible to order (cut) timber online for collection (answer: yes… and they were very helpful). They also emphasised how much timber had increased in price over recent months!
I finished my balcony sketch and also started an ‘Art Deco’ pattern drawing in the afternoon.
I read a little more of my bookgroup book.
Evening telly: 'The Long Walk Home' (excellent) and ‘Repair Shop’… and early to bed.
Image: Half Moon from the balcony (taken last night).

Tuesday 14 September:

Another grey start to the day… and, once again, I didn’t go walking(!).
Sketched first thing after early breakfast. Very pleased to see that all my washing had dried overnight.
Moira had been feeling sick in the night but recovered enough for us both to go the Bristol Flooring in North Street and select a carpet. Hopefully, we’ll get a price by tomorrow and get it ordered.
Asda order day – and it really is great that they are prepared to bring the boxes up to our flat front door.
Went to the library (got out books on Art Deco and Patrick Caulfield).
Read a little more of my bookgroup book.
Made some preliminary ‘calculations’ about buying online shelving stuff.
Started another sketch (of the balcony).
Evening Netflix: ‘Chocolat’.
Image: façade from Jacob’s Well Road. 

Monday 13 September:

Didn’t go morning walking just in case our carpet person arrived early… she ended up arriving about 10.30am (and was very helpful). We’ve agreed to pop back to North Street to confirm our carpet choice. Frustrating that it might be over a month before we get a carpet.
Moira and I went out to have lunch at the Watershed… but it was closed (Monday?). Ended up at Pizza Hut instead!
Beaver Electrics phoned to confirm that they’ll come to do our work on Wednesday, starting at 8am.
Had a slightly frustrating time shopping in Broadmead during the afternoon (M+S and Wilko’s essentially).
Watched ‘Gone Fishing’ late afternoon…
Evening “Bloke’s Books” session at Ed’s (Dave acted as bus driver) to discuss “A Shepherd’s Life”.
Image: evening balcony with Moira. 

Sunday 12 September:

I was awake early as usual… and felt very depressed/concerned to reflect on the number of young people 14/15 year-olds(?) out on the streets at 5-6am. Do their parents know/care? There are also a few young people regularly gathering at various times (including very early in the morning) in a recessed doorway in Lower Lamb Street – visible from our balcony; rightly or wrongly, I’m assuming they’re up to no good (drugs?).
Beautiful morning… early morning view from the balcony rather lovely.
I watched some of the highlights of the US Tennis Open (won by Emma Raducanu) and also of last weekend’s Solheim Cup.
Went down to the ground floor after breakfast to offload waste and paper/cardboard. Ridiculous (and annoying) that so many people just put unfolded boxes into the waste bins – which, of course, are therefore full to capacity.
Went to church (Saint Stephen’s) – the first service after Lee’s departure (I was a welcome-cum-reader). Interesting/impressive service themed on climate change.
Read more of my De Waal and Dod Procter books in the afternoon.
Evening telly: new series of ‘Endeavour’! (also watched some golf and the 'Great North Run' highlights.
Image: early morning sky from the balcony. 

Saturday 11 September:

Out early to fetch the newspaper.
Morning coffee inside… awaiting delivery of new Habitat dining table (delivered by the Argos team… and very helpful the two guys were too!).
Lazy morning reading paper.
Received a letter from BNS complaining about (us?) tipping rubbish+cigarette ends over the balcony!! I emailed BNS back immediately (but Mark treasure is now on leave until 20th!). Aargh!! Made me feel very annoyed that we seemed to have been accused so unfairly.
Ambled down the road and sketched the old ‘Pineapple’ pub (now about to be converted into flats).
Venison and mash for supper (excellent).
Evening telly: watched a bit of golf then ‘Notting Hill’ on Netflix.
Image: The Pineapple pub. 

Friday 10 September:

I had a 10am appointment at Southmead Hospital this morning (more walking and respiratory tests)… managed to get there early via and, despite my original reservations about the lack of face-masked passengers, I ended up being the only passenger left on board by the time we arrived the hospital!
The examinations were fine – although I ended up having to do the 6-minute walk tests two-and-a-quarter times due to inconsistent pulse readings! Seemed to be ok in the end.
Back home by lunchtime (by which time it was raining).
Bought a few provisions from Tesco’s after lunch and bizarrely bumped into Jackie Hurst from Thame – who had come to Bristol for the day on her series of cathedral trips (Moira take note!). She briefly popped into the apartment but wanted to cram in other things before she returned home.
We received the quote from Beaver Electrics (£265) – which we accepted immediately (and are now awaiting confirmation of when they can carry out the work – hopefully next week, fingers crossed!).
I spent some time reading my bookgroup book and my Dod Procter art book on the balcony in the afternoon (sunny again).
Evening telly: ‘Montalbano’.
Image: my sketch from College Green a couple of days ago. 

Thursday 9 September:

A drab morning – which eventually turned to rain (the first since we moved in - I know!) – but I went for an early morning, exploratory walk part-way up Brandon Hill. Came across ‘Brandon Steep’ and ‘Brandon Steps’… all pretty hilly!
Also enrolled as a member of the Central Library (and now have my card!).
Amy and Mary called in (on their way to see Hannah) to check our living room/hall/kitchen – which they’ve agreed to re-decorate for us. Lovely to see them both – it’s been a long time (especially since seeing Amy) – and they were in very good form.
Went back to library in the afternoon and looked through (some of) their range of art books… and ended up getting out a book on Dod Procter.
Took another lateral flow test in advance of my Southmead appointment tomorrow (fine).
Evening Netflix: watched Enola Holmes film.
Image: Brandon Steep/Steps signs. 

Wednesday 8 September:

An electrician from Beaver Electrics came round first thing (8am) to run through our list of minor work items… all sounded very positive (and, hopefully, they’ll be able to complete the week by the end of next week)... so missed Blokes' Prayer.
Morning coffee on the balcony again… it looked like being another beautiful day.
Conscious that the Cathedral school pupils were back today (or at least the sixth formers).
Moira and I went to St Nicholas’ Market for the fortnightly Farmers’ Market stalls… bought some locally-grown fruit+veg and also venison, wild boar sausages and chicken! I think we’ll be making this our regular fortnightly ‘shop’. Rather lovely.
Spent the rest of the morning trying to ‘rationalise’ all our large plastic storage boxes… no perfect solution, but a few improvements! We now have eight empty boxes and don’t know what to do with them…
Post brought my lovely SmithAndFielding array of printed booklets… love them!
Went down to College Green after lunch and did a quick sketch (Greenhouse+Catch22). Lovely to be able to walk two minutes from our front door and sit and sketch.
Evening telly: ‘Repair Shop’ and a documentary about Peat.
Image: early morning from the balcony. 

Tuesday 7 September:

I posted a ‘moving reflection’ first thing… thinking back over our first week at Deanery Road.
A busy morning and a catch-up afternoon…
I walked into Southville first thing… firstly, to get my hair cut, then to talk to the people in Bristol Flooring, then coffee+cake on the pavement outside Albatrose, and finally to Storysmith to collect my bookgroup book.
Also managed to cram in a very quick sketch of some North Street buildings while drinking my coffee.
And all the while the sun shone brightly (beautiful day)… took lots of photographs.
Spent the first part of the afternoon noting down our electrical requirements (in advance of my meeting with Beaver tomorrow morning).
Listened to the WW2 podcast of Lancaster bombers over Berlin (sent to me by Ian).
Also booked a flu jab.
Read on the balcony from 3.30pm (just shady enough at the right-hand end!).
Evening telly: ‘Vera’.
Image: North Street façades (on the back of an envelope!).

  

Monday 6 September:

Another restless night (not improved by a number of blokes arguing loudly at 3am outside my window!).
No walking… but went to Tesco’s early on to buy some provisions.
Morning coffee on the balcony.
They’re filming close by (College Street?) and therefore there are lots of ‘film cars+trucks’ parked on our street.
Took me some time to sort out an issue on my camera (for some reason it had started taking 1:1/square images instead of landscape)… I’d obviously accidently pressed something!
Phil+Abbie came round for coffee after lunch – good to spend time with them.
Moira ordered a dining table!
England lost the Test Match by 157 runs… another batting collapse.
Beautiful sunny day – almost too hot to sit on the balcony.
Evening telly: the usual Monday stuff (‘Connect’ and ‘Challenge’).
Early to bed to try to read some more of my book (‘Still Life’).
Image: on location with the film crew?

Sunday 5 September:

A somewhat complicated day…
It was Lee Barnes’ leaving service at HTH, but I also had a 10.30am appointment at the Eye Hospital. The Eye Hospital was very efficient and speedy (and happily had only a few patients… so no waiting time etc).
Immediately after breakfast, I’d done a quick sketch through the window of the buildings opposite.
I ended up managing to get to the end of HTH service – just in time for part-communion  (no cup/wine involved), presentations and food(!).
Felt a little guilty that I didn’t hang about for washing up etc.
Read the newspaper when we got home.
Did another quick sketch on the balcony (and hung a picture in my bedroom!).
Evening telly: ‘Gone Fishing’ and the end of ‘Antiques’.
Image: Deanery Road façades. 

Saturday 4 September:

Iris is 15 today (how did that happen?).
Somewhat disrupted night’s sleep – I thought my back had improved, but perhaps not?
Cereal+espresso… and then bussed over to Ru+Stu’s for a birthday breakfast with Iris (with wonderful waffles made by Rosa)… sun was shining, so we sat out in the garden. Iris seemed to be in good form.
Home for lunch and newspaper.
After lunch put up bathroom cabinet (using new drill etc!)… everything seemed to go ok… and very good to be able to clear stuff away at last.
Sent off some shelving info to a prospective handyman/carpenter (via facebook)… will he get back to me??
Moira’s still uncertain about our colour scheme and went off to Wilko’s again in the hope of getting some paint samples.
England’s cricket pretty disastrous… India 270-3 (171 runs ahead).
Drinks on the balcony…
Evening telly: re-watched an old Montalbano episode.
Image: Ru's photograph of birthday girl Iris. 

Friday 3 September:

Very grey, drab morning… but I DID go for a dawn walk along the harbour.
Back home for cereal+espresso breakfast.
Morning coffee on the balcony and then up the hill to Wilko’s to buy light bulbs, wash-up salt and pick up some paint charts.
Dropped in to St George’s for a toastie (+wine) lunch.
Afternoon spent rather messing with various tasks (hung picture in the bathroom and tried to put my thoughts together for possible shelving quotes)… while checking out cricket scores.
Watched the 9/11 documentary on catch-up… brings it all back.
Evening telly: Moira got us Netflix very recently (can’t remember why or how!), but we watched ‘The Dig’ film about Sutton Hoo.
Image: Three Tuns street art from this morning’s dawn walk.

Thursday 2 September:

No morning walk, but Moira and I decided to go to IKEA to check out various things (armchairs, dining tables, wardrobes etc etc). Actually the bus journeys (both ways) were pretty depressing – I think perhaps only 5% of passengers were wearing face masks.
We checked out various things at IKEA but, apart from one or two minor items, didn’t return home full of enthusiasm about any particular products.
Had coffee+cake but that was it (must be a new record for an IKEA trip!).
Late lunch at home and I then visited IKEA online and ordered some ‘wardrobe’ storage plus some simple shelf ‘squares’. Nothing special but, hopefully, it’ll help to start getting things organised.
We had a pre-supper drink on the balcony (which was good) and then chilled in the evening.
Evening telly: an old episode of ‘Repair Shop’.
Images: homeward bound across College Green. 

Wednesday 1 September:

Bloke’s Prayer at the Society Café first thing (with Ed, Dru, Nick and me)… coldish, but dry.
Tried to sort out more boxes (looking for books!) and after lunch went to see a physio about my back (interesting, but concentrated on my body imperfections rather than trying to sort out my back – albeit they’re related).
Naked Wine delivery eventually arrived at around 7pm (by which time I was out of the house).
I walked to MPT to collect some large bowls (left by the movers) from number40… which also gave me an opportunity to meet George (we had a very good chat).
Then on to Storysmith for our bookgroup – excellent discussion (everyone was impressed by the book).
Home on the bus (with heavy bowls!).
Evening telly: watched a quick episode of ‘ghosts’ while eating late supper.
Image: desperately short of pictures to post (this from an old sketchbook!)