Tuesday 30 November:

Up early, as usual… had a bath.
Collected my prescriptions ‘first thing’ (around 9.00am)… they’re clearly struggling staff-wise (should have opened at 8am). Once again, my statins weren’t included (“come and collect them in 5 days’ time”!).
I walked across town to the pharmacy on day#1 of mandatory face-masks… good to see that there were far more bus passengers wearing masks but, even though the buses were relatively empty, it seemed that there were always some 25% who weren’t complying (ok, an improvement on my recent on-bus experiences when the figure was nearer 95-97%, but…). Oh, and surprise surprise, these tended to be those ‘invincible’, ‘rules-don’t-apply-to-me’ twenty-something males.
A ‘busy’ day of zooming (Alice+Moira in the morning and Alan in the evening).
Alice explained that, in the light of Mima’s ongoing anxiety issues, they’ve decided to home school her from the start of the New Year. Brave decision, but sensible if it makes things better for M in the medium-/long-term.
Sketched some freasias in the house in the afternoon (and also read).
Good chat with Alan… still lots of frustrations with Lesley’s shoulder issues (getting someone to analyse the scans seems to be a big problem?). Talked about our respective Christmas plans (with fingers firmly crossed that things don’t have to be cancelled).
Image: freasias. 

Monday 29 November:

Reasonable, if restless, sleep.
Put some washing on first thing.
Ru came round for coffee immediately after breakfast… lovely see her, as always. She talked about their ideas for giving the girls their own bedrooms (lots of previous moans from I+R, but Ru very conscious of Iris’s GCSEs next year)… by partitioning off part of the living/dining room to construct a mini-bedroom for S+R.
I continued my sketch for Sam, but made a basic error and now need to start again (I REALLY don’t like being commissioned to do stuff!).
Popped out to the Co-op for basic suppliers immediately lunch… and then read some of my ‘Manningtree Witches’ book.
Pretty gloom day after a promising start – pretty murky by 2.30pm.
Evening telly: usual ‘Connect’ and ‘Challenge’.
Image: more early morning sky from the balcony.

Sunday 28 November:

A better night’s sleep…
Finished painting the wicker chair after breakfast… and good to be able to reclaim the bathroom by the end of the day!
Finished my (unremarkable) Allingham book.
Government is intending to make face masks mandatory in shops and on public transport (as a result of the new Covid variant)… I’m obviously sad/concerned about the variant, but pleased that, at long last, face masks are required to be worn.
Went to Saint Stephen’s (first day of Advent)… archdeacon preached. Walked home with Robin and Sue.
Completed a sketch loosely based on Horace Taylor’s poster for the London Underground in 1924. Sadly, my rather quick version didn’t compare with the crisp print and colours of the original!
Evening telly: ‘An Inspector calls’ and ‘Antiques’
Image: Early morning ‘stratus’ clouds from this morning’s balcony.

Saturday 27 November:

Another rubbish night’s ‘sleep’.
Up early as usual and gave half the wicker chair a coat of paint immediately after breakfast.
Fetched the newspaper.
Read my book for a while and then took the plastic, folding wall-paper table to the Corn Street market… and, very happily, one of the stall-holders was absolutely delighted to accept it (their plastic equivalent stall table was about to give up the ghost)… so a very happy ending!
My sketchbooks finally arrived from Skipton (ironically, it turned out that I’d ordered A6 size by mistake… but I won’t be sending them back!).
Had intended to watch the Barbarians v Samoa rugby but it was cancelled due to Covid positive test results for a couple of players – so ended up watched Women’s Barbarians v South Africa 60-5 (I’ve really enjoyed watching the Women’s Rugby this season – very high standard and excellent attitude).
Villa won 2-1 away to Palace (Bears lost to Northants at home last night).
Added another half coat of paint to the chair…
Evening telly: ‘Holiday’ on Netflix.
Image: The ‘illuminated’ Hargreaves Lansdown building (taken at 6am a couple of days ago). Annoying. 

Friday 26 November:

Another pretty rubbish night’s sleep (woke 11.20pm, 12.30am, 2.30am 3.15am… read… slept until 5.15am).
Morning coffee with Moira, then we went Christmas present shopping for Iris and Ursa (second-hand dungarees and art stuff respectively).
Received invoice from plumber (£157.20 – compared with Bristol Boilers quote of £354!!).
After lunch, I half-painted our wicker chair… until I ran out of paint! Went to Bishopston Hardware to buy some more paint – but awful bus journey on crowded, unventilated bus with perhaps only 2% wearing face masks.
Read more of my Allingham book before supper.
Evening telly: Montalbano.
Image: recent dusk view from the balcony. 

Thursday 25 November:

Felt reasonably ok when I awoke, but started to feel a bit ‘shakey’ by mid-morning… but then, thankfully, felt fine by lunchtime.
Lovely bright sunny day.
Morning coffee with Moira (who then went off to Co-op and then to cathedral).
Plumber was due at 2pm, but rang to say he was ahead of his timetable and so arrived with us at about 12.45pm… he knew what the problem was, but the solution was somewhat complicated. Anyway, he managed to sort things out (but didn’t have any spare parts to check out the similar problem with the ensuite… so another time). Impressed by the bloke’s attitude, work ethic etc.
Started my sketch of Sam’s parents’ house (not great… but it’s a start!).
Moira went out again in the afternoon to buy wool for Mima’s bobble hat.
Read some of my Allingham book in the afternoon.
Evening telly: ‘Between the Covers’ and ‘Portrait’.
Image: Another worktop pic (in sunshine!). 

Wednesday 24 November:

Did a LFT… negative (thankfully).
Bloke’s Prayer at the Society Café (still sitting outside, despite the cold)… Ed, Dave, Robin, Nick (late) and Dru (very late!). Good to get together, as always.
Moira still not feeling great (but slowly improving).
Dave came down to install our worktops. He arrived at 10.15am and the worktops (plus electric radiator) were in position within 45 minutes!! He’s pretty amazing (and incredibly organised)… it mean that he was able to set off for home and (hopefully) get back before the children returned from school (he actually got back by 2.15pm!!).
Went to the library in the afternoon and also to the flower shop.
Evening telly: ‘Who Do You Think’, ‘Repair Shop’ and ‘Shetland’ (excellent).
Went to bed feeling a bit shivery.
Image: our new worktops(!). 

Tuesday 23 November:

Finished my Mortimer book first thing (excellent).
Grey, pretty cold morning.
Morning coffee with Moira (who was still feeling pretty ropey)… followed by trip to pharmacy (for Moira) and trip to Wilko’s and M+S (for me).
Completed a draft Christmas card… and subsequently printed out a few (at A5 size).
Odds and ends during the afternoon.
Evening telly: Bridget Riley documentary (end) and GBBO final.
Image: me on the balcony this morning! 

Monday 22 November:

Another poor night’s sleep… ended up reading at 3.30am, then dropping off until 6.45am.
Had a text message from Ru first thing asking if we would ‘around’ in the morning for coffee (of course!)… and she duly arrived at 9.30am armed with croissants (which were rather lovely – especially heated up). Good to have time to catch up.
Spent some of the morning wrapping Sheila’s secret Santa present, ready for posting early next month.
Moira feeling slightly better today but still taking it easy… and she spent most of the afternoon watching ‘The Crown’ on Netflix.
I spent much of the afternoon reading (Bob Mortimer)… plus also going to Cass Art to buy a cutting board and straight edge.
Mark (from downstairs) came round to check out some ‘continuing noise’ (but, somewhat predictably, couldn’t hear it!).
Had a message from Dave asking if Wednesday would be ok to install the wortops(!).
Evening telly: ‘Connect’ and ‘Challenge’.
Image: this morning’s dawn from the balcony. 

Sunday 21 November:

No church this morning… main service at HTH and Ringers service at Saint Stephen’s (neither of which appealed!).
Fetched the newspaper as usual.
Moira seemed a little better this morning and so we went out for a short harbour walk and then home for coffee and newspapers.
I finished my ‘Hidden Life of Trees’ book (thank goodness… I didn’t really enjoy it).
Watched the women’s rugby in the afternoon (England 89 USA 0) – very impressive.
Ru had thought she might pop round after work… but she didn’t in the end (but hardly surprising, given her juggling days!).
I cooked roast boar joint.
Evening telly: Bridget Riley and ‘Antiques’.
Image: today’s dusk from the balcony. 

Saturday 20 November:

Moira had another rough night… slept at times, but woke up coughing.
Thankfully, I was able to access my various blog dashboards (I think Google had been making some technical changes).
Fetched the newspaper first thing.
Hannah+Fee+Ursa came round for coffee and cake/biscuits (after U’s trip to the dental hospital and before her Youth Theatre). Very good to see them
I produced a draft Christmas card (using balcony photos).
At the end of the afternoon I went to the new Storysmith bookshop opening (and bought and collected some books). A very good gathering.
Villa’s first game with Gerrard in charge… they won 2-0 against Brighton; and England beat the Spingboks in the rugby!
Evening telly: another re-watched ‘Montalbano’ episode.
Image: big wheel adjacent Millennium Square.

Friday 19 November:

Robin and Sue were due to come round this evening for quick drinks, but Moira was still feeling rubbish, so I phoned Robin to cancel (re-schedule for next week?).
Morning coffee (inside!) on another grey, albeit quite mild, morning.
Before lunch I went for a walk up Brandon Hill and then on to ‘Blaze’ to see Ru (lovely to see her… and she might pop round after work on Sunday).
Afternoon spent urban sketching at the Old Vic… and, surprisingly perhaps, there were a dozen of us. Very good to get together again.
Moira had a zoom bookgroup session in the evening, but I ended up trying to access my various blogs (it later appeared that Google had been 'adjusting' things! SO annoying!).
Image: one of my Old Vic sketches.

Thursday 18 November:

I WAS going to go out dawn walking this morning, but it was so grey and bleak that I decided to give it a miss.
Instead, I started scribbling a  sketch based on an Aubrey Beardsley image published in Punch in 1894… but I substituted Mr Johnson and a couple of rich business friends! Silly.
Moira and I had morning coffee at home – Moira had been coughing all night and decided to make her apologies for Lip Reading.
I went out and bought some flowers from Roots.
Late morning, Moira and I took a walk by the harbour (in slight drizzle!).
I posted the virtual sketchmeet event in Toledo (early December).
Moira spent the afternoon in bed (not feeling very well).
I re-watched a history documentary about the ‘Russian Revolution’ late afternoon.
Evening telly: ‘Portrait’ and ‘Shetland’.
Image: my Boris cartoon! 

Wednesday 17 November:

Bloke’s Prayer at the Society Café, as usual… from 7.30am. We (Ed, Robin, Dave, Dru and Nick) sat outside on a bright, but somewhat chilly, morning… but good to get together.
After (another) morning coffee with Moira at home, we went to the Farmers’ Market and then on to Blaze (Ru’s Colston Street shop)… sadly, we’d got Ru’s ‘shop day’ wrong (she apparently is working on Friday).
Bacon sandwiches at home for lunch.
Afternoon spent mainly sketching and reading… and watching Mr Johnson giving evidence to the Commons liaison committee (he was appalling).
Late afternoon/evening telly: ‘Imagine’ on Bernadine Evaristo, ‘Between The Covers’ and ‘Repair Shop’.
Image: a slightly better photograph of ‘our’ golden tree. 

Tuesday 16 November:

I can’t remember the last time I went dawn walking… and today was no different(!).
Essentially, I spent a lot of the day doing catch-up jobs… drafting the ‘Event’ data for the forthcoming virtual sketch-meet (on 11 December) at Toledo, Spain (which involved trawling through google maps and tourist info); also sent Robin+Sue an invite for coffee/drinks later this week; also ordered a couple of Storysmith books; and, finally, emailed Beaver Electrics about some additional work at number17.
In the afternoon, I re-watched ‘Vice’ (film about Dick Cheney).
Evening telly: ‘Portrait’ and ‘GBBO’.
Image: today’s pre-dawn view from the balcony…

Monday 15 November:

A very grey start to the day (following another tossing+turning night)…
Read some more of my ‘Hidden Life of Trees’ book in bed (which I’d started several months ago).
Still not feeling 100% - but LFT was fine.
Sorted out rubbish+recycling.
I went into town after M+I had morning coffee… to Wilko’s in search of non-smelly nightlights (unsuccessful – ended up buying a small pack of vanilla) and some new simple Xmas tree lights… and then on to M+S for towels (for Sheila’s Xmas present) and various supplies from the food hall in preparation for tonight’s Blokes’ Books (at number17).
Spent much of the afternoon tidying and vacuuming… and also trying to remember key points from the book (it seemed a long time since I read it!).
BB very enjoyable (attended by Ed, Robin, Dave, Dru and Nick)… the most people we’ve had in our flat to date! I seemed to take ages ‘clearing up’ afterwards.
Image: the yellow tree across the road (not a good pic!)… 

Sunday 14 November:

A somewhat strange day… I didn’t feel ‘brilliant’ (feeling sick and blurry), so took it quite easy. I didn’t even fetch a newspaper!
I’d already decided not to go to the Remembrance service at Saint Stephen’s (and felt a little guilty).
I spent much of the day finishing my Dorothy L Sayers book and sketching.
I watched most of the England v Canada women’s rugby match (pretty impressive).
Evening telly: Moira and I watched another episode of ‘Shetland’ (excellent), followed by ‘Antiques’ (which was somewhat depressingly/understandably focused on Remembrance!).
Image: Sketch based on a woodcut seen at the Ashmolean.

Saturday 13 November:

Moira and I took the train to Oxford first thing (the first time back in Oxford since March 2020)… we called into the Ashmolean for coffee and a quickish look round (just thankful to be back).
We then walked up Walton Street and met up with Ken/Debbie/Ian/Gail/Steve/Diane at the Brasserie Blanc for lunch (good value).
Lovely to see everyone again.
Train journeys not brilliant in terms of comparatively few wearing face masks.
Ended the day feeling a little physically sick and so went straight to bed (8.30pm).
England beat Australia and Bears beat Exeter in the rugby.
Image: Burne-Jones screen from the Ashmolean. 

Friday 12 November:

Unsettled night… had the ‘minor runs’ and didn’t feel 100%.
Another day of not venturing out of the front door!
But felt reasonably ok by morning… and, given that we’re due in Oxford tomorrow, took a LFT which, happily, proved negative.
Moira’s new chair arrived today (we could just about squeeze it through the front door!).
Did a quick sketch (of my sketching seat).
Read for a while in the living room first thing… and also in bed in the afternoon(!).
Afternoon telly: re-watched Lucy Worsley’s ‘Regency fibs’ (very good).
Evening telly: more Montalbano…
Image: half-moon from last night.

Thursday 11 November:

I decided on a(nother) lazy day today…
I spent much of the morning finishing (and then writing a brief blog review) my Deborah Orr book (excellent).
Lovely sunny morning – so felt a bit guilty about not getting out to enjoy it.
Stevie Gerrard appointed Villa manager.
Had thought about going to a concert at Saint Stephen’s in the evening… but ended up opting out.
Helped Moira do some clearing of her wardrobe space (not sure if I helped or hindered!).
Watched a couple of history documentaries via iPlayer in the afternoon.
Evening telly: ‘Between The Covers’ and ‘Who Do You Think…’
Image: pre-dawn this morning from the balcony.

Wednesday 10 November:

Met up with Alan and David at 7.30am and slowly ambled around the harbour (Travelodge-Pero’s Bridge (Bloke’s Prayer brief chat)-MShed-Marina-Underfall Yard-Grain Barge-Travelodge)… then walked to Spice+Cole for bacon sandwich +coffee breakfast (via brief look at the cathedral).
Waved goodbye to David at Bristol Bridge.
Alan and I explored St Nick’s Market/Corn Street/Saint Stephen’s… then Alan had an hour to himself to check out Christmas Steps etc.
Moira+Alan+I meet up at the Watershed at noon for chunky chips lunch before waving off Alan.
It had been a very good last 36 hours (and A+D both seemed very impressed by Bristol). Just chilled in the afternoon (exhausted!)… and ended up re-watching ‘Death of Stalin’ film.
Evening telly: GBBO and Portrait Artist.
Image: sketch from various images in Art Deco library book. 

Tuesday 9 November:

A rather special day… Alan and David came down to Bristol (and stayed overnight at the neighbouring Travelodge).
Lunch at the Riverstation Restaurant (very nice)… with a window table overlooking the water. Although we’d been talking regularly via zoom, meeting up ‘properly’ was very lovely.
Meandered back from the restaurant to the Travelodge along the harbourside… and then explored Brandon Hill, Park Street and College Green before settling down at Deanery Road for a light supper and continued chat(!).
Image: Three Amigos. 

Monday 8 November:

A busy old day… weather was dull and cloudy all day (with occasional rain).
I’d booked a haircut (for 7am), so had to set out from the house by 6.30am… it all worked out fine.
Dropped in to Hugo’s (North Street) at 7.30am (I must have been their first customer of the day!) for some fruit+veg. Back home before 8.30am.
Gail was driving her mother to the BRI to visit Gail’s father (been admitted on Friday for a heart attack – although Pete firmly denies there’s anything wrong with him!)… and, as the hospital only allows patients to one visitor at present, Gail was able to drop in on us for coffee and lunch. Lovely to see her and have a general catch-up.
Wonder of wonders (thanks my latest email prompt), the removers came to fetch our cardboard boxes (probably 50 of them?)… and, suddenly, there’s space under the bed to store boxes etc!!
Popped out at the end of the afternoon for some basic supplies (white wine, beer and crisps!) for tomorrow – when Alan and David are due to visit Bristol!!
Evening telly: the usual ‘Connect’ and ‘Challenge’.
Image: ‘Always Seeking Knowledge’ (my motto?!). 

Sunday 7 November:

Up reasonably early, as usual… read for a while.
Moira decided to go to church (5^th Sunday at HTH), but I opted for a circular walk around the harbour (beautiful sunny day).
Read the newspaper on returning to the house (some idiot had smashed a beer bottle right in front of the street entrance door – so I cleared away all the glass and disposed of it in the main refuse area).
Did a couple of sketches (loosely based on images from the Euro Deco source book).
Even managed to read my book on the balcony during the course of the afternoon for 30 minutes in warm sunshine (it’s November!).
Dean Smith sacked as Villa manager (feel quite sorry for him – a good man).
Did a LFT and the result was (happily) negative.
Roast chicken for supper.
Evening telly: ‘Dr Who’ (Moira!) and ‘Bake Off’ catch-up.
Image: Dusk from the balcony.

Saturday 6 November:

A pretty miserable-looking morning first thing… grey and drizzling.
Fetched the newspaper (and also some biscuits/doughnuts!).
Ru was working today and Stu was travelling from a week in North Wales and so she was a little concerned about Iris+Rosa being ‘abandoned’. In the event, Iris had gone to a gig with friends last night (and was meeting up with friends in the afternoon)… but Moira and I ended up meeting Rosa at Gaol Ferry Steps at 9.45am for morning coffee/hot chocolate/cake. We ended up walking back to number17 and basically ‘chilling’… by which time the rain had stopped.
I went to the Climate Change march (from College Green at 1pm)… I HAD hoped that Rosa might have liked to accompany me, but she preferred to opt out.
Moira later walked Rosa most of the way home (but it was lovely to have the opportunity to spend time together and catch up on stuff).
The Climate Change march was probably attended by 5-10,000 people (the mass of people took some 10 minutes to walk past me when I stopped to ‘observe’)… rained off and on.
Evening telly: ‘Shetland’.
Image: Climate Change march.

Friday 5 November:

Up early and did some washing, changed sheets and general clear-up stuff.
After morning coffee, Moira and I spent some time assessing what might done to her bedroom (plus work needed by the electrician).
I had lunch with Jeff at the Watershed… and it was absolutely fine… and enjoyable (he was in ‘positive Jeff’ mode!)… and we chatted non-stop for 90 minutes over wine and food.
Called into the library on my way home.
Organised to meet up with Rosa tomorrow… Iris is at a gig tonight and feels she’ll be too tired (AND she’s meeting up with friends in the afternoon!).
Looks like another Villa defeat (0-1 at Southampton at half time).
Evening telly: Montalbano.
Early to bed with my ‘Motherwell’ book.
Image: Balcony shadows sketch. 

Thursday 4 November:

Tidy-up start to the day… pending morning coffee with Charlotte, Alice and Ana here at number17 (Moira had her lip-reading class).
It was lovely to see them all and we had a lengthy discussion on a whole range of stuff (centering particularly on C+A’s continuing issues with the authorities finding them a new home). Lots of laughter and some tears… but very good to chat… and lovely that the sun was shining brightly.
They stayed until 1.15pm.
Asda delivery at 2pm… always a welcome sight!
Our new pan rack/hanger was delivered first thing and so, after lunch, I put it all in place (plus the pan lid rack). Good to get it all in place and give us a chance to reorganize other cupboard stuff.
Did a little sketching and reading in the afternoon.
Texted Iris+Rosa about possibly getting together on Saturday morning for coffee/hot chocolate (and possibly joining me on Climate Change March?). Later spoke briefly to Rosa… she was definitely up for hot choc and would chat to Iris.
Evening telly: ‘Portrait Artist’ and ‘Repair Shop’.
Image: pan rack(!). 

Wednesday 3 November:

A busy day of ‘meetings’(!)…
Bloke’s Prayer first thing at the Society Café (just Ed, Dru, Nick and me in attendance)… sat inside the café – despite my reservations… but it is getting cold!
Mid-morning zoom call for Moira and I with Neil Currier (our financial adviser)… which was very useful and informative.
Finished my ‘Still Life’ book – which really was excellent.
Moira and I went to the Farmer’s Market at St Nick’s for meat, fruit and cheese.
Walked to Storysmith in the early evening for a bookgroup gathering (the last one before they move their shop to the heart of North Street). Always good fun and interesting to hear the views of others on particular books.
Image: early morning sky from the balcony. 

Tuesday 2 November:

I WAS going to chase up a few things today: my missing sketchbooks from Skipton; a response from the Removers about collecting their boxes… but, in fact, I woke to the fact that the internet was down. Was it just our system or was it wider than that?
After doing all the usual checks and also trying to ring Virgin, Moira discovered (on her phone) that there were two serious local issues – coupled with warnings that it might be perhaps 2pm and 4pm before both issues were resolved.
Oh, brilliant!
So, I spent some of the morning and afternoon reading my ‘Still Life’ book… and mid-morning Moira and I went for a walk along the harbour to the Pump House and then back to Broken Dock for coffee and cake.
Internet was off for more than 12 hours (all very frustrating).
Ended up continuing to read my ‘Still Life’ book and went down to Broken Dock at the end of the afternoon to witness dusk over the water.
Evening telly: ‘Who Do Think’ and ‘Bake Off’.
Image: dusk photo of SS Great Britain etc.

Monday 1 November:

A somewhat strange day of chores and catching up.
Spent the first part of the day doing two loads in the washing machine (and trying to dry stuff).
Catching up on Cop26 stuff (David Attenburgh made a powerful speech… but other leaders all rather predictably – words and small actions).
I finished my quick balcony sketch (not brilliant).
I read a fair amount of my ‘Still Life’ book (rather wonderful).
My case of Naked Wine was duly delivered (which meant not venturing out of the house in case they were early!).
Evening telly: ‘Only Connect’ (plus last week’s via catch-up) and ‘University Challenge’.
Image: my balcony scribbled sketch. 

Sunday 31 October:

Pouring with rain first thing.
Fetched the newspaper before church (HTH)… by which time the rain had stopped and the sun appeared. Second of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon series on ‘Differences’… and also Chris+Sarah explained something of their work at A Rocha. New Trinity student (Helen?) led the worship (Frances gave the talk).
Afternoon essentially spent reading the newspaper and general catching-up (washing, diary etc)… and I started a sketch (of one of the chairs drying on the balcony… but had to stop when the rain returned!).
Evening telly: ‘Dr Who’ (not my cup of tea these days) and ‘Shetland’.
Image: local favourite tree in autumn colour.