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.