Soon

I'll go home and lie down for a bit. Afterwards I'll try and pull myself together and do some housework. At least I won't have to cook today, as I'll have the leftovers from yesterday.

The autism people

I received their enrollment form for the group, by email. Duly completed and returned.

The meeting

Yesterday's meeting with the accountant went well. It wasn't what I'd expected. Things are now in motion, and my trading name was born.

The weather

After the drizzle that seemed to go on all day yesterday, it looks like it's finally starting to brighten up.

Today

I woke up feeling miserable and edgy. I'll stay at home for a couple of days.

Sleep

I went to bed at 10.45pm, and woke up at 7.30am this morning. Although I fell asleep quickly, I had strange dreams all night.

Last night

I watched Derby Day (1952) followed by a dramatisation of Hard Times by Charles Dickens.

Blah

Now beginneth the strange babblings in sundry tongues.

Astonishing

Will this drive the price of diamonds down?


http://www.tydknow.com/did-you-know-that-a-team-of-scientist-has-discovered-how-to-turn-peanut-butter-into/

Now

Building myself up for the meeting with the accountant. I'm not looking forward to it, and want to get it over and done with.

Encouraging

I've just had the meeting with the man from the autism charity. I'm so pleased that I did. He understood exactly what I was talking about, and understood the issues. He told me that the waiting list for referrals is not one year, but at least two. It looks like I'm still in for quite a wait. He also explained what happens at the referral, and the possible ramifications of a diagnosis. I will go to a group he runs for adults, which meets every month.

This afternoon

I really hope I can get my 'self-employed' status sorted out. As usual it's going round and round in my mind.

Soon

Time to go home, have a bite to eat, then tidy up. What an exciting life.

Poppy day

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/17/david-mitchell-remembrance-poppies-television

I entirely agree with this sentiment. I wear a poppy every year in remembrance of the grandfather was killed in action, before I was born.

Moods

is a

True words

More news

I've just read that a man broke his neck on a fairground ride, and is now on a life-support machine. It does remind one how dangerous these things can be.

News

Two interesting stories today. Firstly, there has been a small earthquake in the Midlands. Apparently there are more earthquakes in Britain than one might think. The second, horrible, story tells of a man who was found impaled on railings in London.

Today

I have an appointment with the autism person at lunchtime, and one with the accountant this afternoon. Fingers crossed.

Lost in translation

Instead of offering 'free cash withdrawals', this Welsh cashpoint apparently offers 'free erections'. Hmmm...

Weather

Drizzly, dark and chilly. Autumn, in short.

Sleep

I went to bed at about 8.45pm, and it took me a long while to settle down. I slept through to 7am, and only remember being awake once. I feel tired.

Food

More of the same; I had four mouthfulls and lost interest.

Yesterday

I was definitely out of sorts, and spent the day reading on the sofa.

What?

Halloween

All in a name

Perhaps

Tonight

I think tonight will be very quiet. I'm not in the mood to watch films, so I'll probably have a read instead.

In between

On the way back home, I couldn't resist calling by at..........the library.

Modern technology

The computer has decided to go slow,which is a bit of a drag. On the other hand, at least I'm not sitting in the library.

Now

I'm just sorting out my photos. Very therapeutic.

Positive thinking

I don't like negativity. When I feel down I don't have negative thoughts anymore. I just find it hard to get things done, where my mind is always in overdrive. Negative people upset me.

A musical interlude

After coffee this morning I actually felt like playing. I ran through a number of new (for me) music hall songs. That was unusual, in that nowadays I only play if I have to. I hope I keep it up.

Hard times

A major bank is to lay off thousands of staff and close hundreds of branches. I don't remember having times as bad as this for decades.

Now

I still feel edgy. I've been feeling edgy for a couple of days now. I suppose it's where I can't stop thinking. It's odd really; I don't talk very much and spend most of my days in silence. However when I write, I suppose in a way I am talking, without actually speaking.

Halloween

Traditionally Halloween has never been a very important festival in this country. I don't know why it has now become so big.

Last night

While I was watching the films, my wrist got a bit achey and crackly. I put the splint on and kept it on all night, and it feels much more comfortable now.

Weather

After a grey, damp, cold start to the day, the sun has just made an appearance.

Boring

A leading chocolate manufacturer is apparently discontinuing its production of chocolate coins. So what. They were expensive, and the chocolate wasn't my favourite.

Today

I've got the boring things to do later on,such as housework and laundry. I'll rescue something pre-cooked from the freezer, so I'll only need to boil some rice.

Unbelievable

I read the shocking news that an autistic man was found locked in a caged bed, at a private property. I will follow any further developments.

Today

I'm using my friend's computer, rather than the library's. I really notice the difference. I'm not having to listen to people talking crap, and I'm not sitting here watching the time (for my session to run out). Very civilised.

Priorities

I read with interest the data presented by the charity Mind, concerning the Government's mental health budget. I know that this area is woefully underfunded, as I've already waited nearly a year for a referral, but still don't have an appointment.

Sleep

I slept reasonably well, but remember two periods of wakefulness. I still feel a bit tired.

Last night

I had a nice time watching John Mills films. I started with The History of Mr Polly (1949), based on a story by HG Wells. I'd tried watching it a few times previously, but yesterday I got it for the first time. Afterwards I watched Waterloo Road (1945) followed by The October Man (1947).

More about Aspergers

I have someone coming to see me tomorrow. It will be nice talking to someone with specialist knowledge.

Old British films

What I really admire about them is their complete dependence on the quality of the acting. Special effects are hardly ever made use of.

Language

The old films I've been watching really drive home how much our language has changed, even during my lifetime. Vocabulary, idiom and pronunciation have all changed. One only notices these things with hindsight.

Odd

I'm feeling bored. That's really unusual for me. Possibly bored equals tired, in this case.

Just now

I went home for a spot of lunch, then lay down on the sofa. I couldn't sleep so I read for a bit. I'd really like to get my sleep sorted out.

Shortly

I think it's time for lunch. I know it's early, but the clocks have just changed. Afterwards I'll have a rest before lessons.

Tonight

I'm looking forward to a quiet night in tonight, watching old films. I very rarely go out nowadays. I suppose a friend was right last week, when she said something about finding a balance between staying in and going out. At the moment I don't really want to go out. I simply don't feel like it.

Elegant intercourse

If you enjoy hearing people babbling and talking utter crap, I know exactly the place for you; the local library.

Dogs

Yesterday I heard the landlady of the pub where I played, talking to a woman about dogs. Her pooch had been savaged by a more aggressive animal, which apparently required several kicks to extricate it. I don't understand why people develop such feelings for animals.

This week

I'm still waiting for my referral to the autism person in the NHS. In the meanwhile I contacted a local autism group, and they are coming to see me during the week. I want to know what they can do to help me manage better.

Booze

The pub I played at yesterday is an award-winning cider pub. That suited me very well, as I don't like beer. I had an excellent dry perry while I played, and a strong dry cider afterwards. When I got home I went for a pint of sweet cider in the new pub before dinner. Very tasty, all three.

The weather

Yesterday was overcast and damp. Today it's beautifully sunny, and not at all cold.

Sleep

I spent a lot of time either awake or half-awake. My dreams were strange, including the recurring one about catching and missing buses in the town where I grew up. There was another strange one about a small crab that had latched onto the side of my hand. Periodically it would dig its legs in, and when I looked it was being eaten alive by either a tiny crab or a huge one. I got up very tired today.

Sport

This morning we read the depressing news that three surfers have drowned off Cornwall. To what lengths are people prepared to go for excitement?

This afternoon

I'm looking forward to this afternoon's lessons. I always do.

This morning

I'm feeling fed-up and a bit edgy. I can't think why.

Beer

Haute cuisine

Yesterday

I had my gig at the pub in the next town. I made a costly mistake by forgetting the song sheets, which required a return taxi trip to put right. The playing went well but no-one turned up! I was told that isn't unusual for a Sunday lunchtime. They asked me to go back on a Sunday evening in December.

Films

This weekend I watched some old Hitchcock films. I enjoy these much more than the ones he made in America. On Saturday I watched Sabotage (1936), Young and Innocent (1937) and Number Seventeen (1932). Yesterday I watched Blackmail (1929) and Murder (1930).

Animals

I love animals (or not).

The cafe

My friends' cafe did good business yesterday. I hope that's a sign of things to come. I'd really like to see it do well.

Tomorrow

I've got my first gig at the new pub, and am looking forward to it. I hope it won't be my last.

Now

It's nice and peaceful in the library, with not the slightest hint of babbling. It's nice being here when it's like this.

Yesterday

It was lovely yesterday, seeing the people I did. I'm still feeling good from it.

An invite

Yesterday I was invited to a bonfire night party. I'm thrilled to bits about it. I know I am unsettled by the noise they make, but I'm sure I can find somewhere safe to put myself. I'm already looking forward to it.

Telecoms

I'm glad I've got a phone now. It'll make life much easier, for example if I need to book a taxi. I like it best of all when it doesn't ring.

This afternoon

I'll have a trawl of the charity shops to see if I can find any more goodies. Afterwards it'll be a trip to the supermarket, and that will be my lot.

Food

I'm starting to eat properly again. It looks like the new tablets have kicked in.

News feeds

Facebook has shown a story since Thursday about a supermarket's disastrous profits. On the other hand the story about Facebook's non-payment of UK corporation tax was only shown for about an hour. They ain't daft, are they?

World news

It's particularly depressing today. In this country, a deaf and blind man was attacked at a railway station, before being pushed onto the tracks. In America there has been another shooting spree at a school by one of its students. What is going on? I just don't get it.

Sleep

I went to bed around 1am yesterday, about three hours later than normal. I slept through to 8am and was only awake once during the night. I feel quite relaxed today. I mustn't forget that the clocks change tonight.

Job spec

http://viz.co.uk/railway-enthusiast-recruitment/

Misunderstanding

The melodrama continues

After all the cancellations and mucking around, I've finally got my neurology appointment at last. It only took nine months.

A musical interlude

Yesterday I was booked to play for a party in November. That'll be fun for me.

Today

I've got a couple of new songs I will need to practice. Nowadays I don't really practice much, as I usually play the same songs, and know them by heart. I want to start enjoying music again, so I can play more classical things.

The small hours

I didn't feel like sleeping when I got home, so I watched Secret Agent (1936) with John Gielgud, Madeleine Carroll and Peter Lorre. Lovely.

Last night

There were plenty of friendly faces when I got to the pub, and that got me off to a good start. There was lots of hearty singing. My friends' cafe was open, so I had a lovely pork and apple sauce roll for supper, just when I needed it. I spent a little time talking to friends afterwards.

The world news

All gloom and doom today, as usual. I'm so glad I don't watch the telly.

Sleep

Sleep was much better last night. I slept for about eight hours, and don't remember waking up during the night. Also I go to bed earlier than I used to, which means I tend to wake up earlier in the mornings.

Now

I feel a bit listless and ratty. Too much thinking.

Fine art

A job done

I've finished my song-sheets and have just printed ten copies.

Ouch

I wish someone would stop that kid from grizzling. It's really getting t9o me.

Weather

It's a bit overcast, but the sun is trying to break through. It was much more oppressive at my friend's, with heavy drizzle and very poor light.

Food

No need top cook later. I made so much yesterday, that I've brought home a large portion to heat up in the microwave.

Tonight

I'm playing in the pub as usual.

In the library

This moment is a cacophony of different languages and bawling infants. Depressing.

Telecommunications

I bought a new phone this morning, together with a sim card with £10-worth of credit, for £10.00. I do like a bargain.

Yesterday

I went to my friend from uni, and made chili con carne for dinner. That was an onld standby when we were at uni. Afterwards we watched Gaslight (1940) with Anton Walbrook and Diana Wynyard, which in my view is mych better that the 1944 American version. It was a lovely evening.

Soon

It'll soon  be time for me to go home and get my things ready, before for my friend picks me up. My social life has been busier than normal this week.

Interesting

Online I've just found some fascinating old photos of the street where I live. I can't wait to look at them properly.

Again

Another woman can't stop talking on her mobile.

Now

I feel a little edgy, and can't think why. I just went down for a smoke, and found myself endlessly wondering what I think and what I understand. I don't like not knowing things.

Facebook

Earlier there was a news-feed that Facebook paid no UK Corporation Tax, yet awarded its employees $118m in bonuses. I note that this item has disappeared, and that earlier sports stories have not. Well done Facebook.

A lodging house in Mill Lane, Deptford

 My first real introduction to a common lodging-house occurred shortly after I took my magisterial seat at Greenwich. The establishment in question was in Mill Lane, Deptford. 
   I was, at the time, already tolerably well acquainted with the predatory habits of the poor and criminal (though do not let me be understood as bracketing the two together, for to do so would be grossly unjust), but I was completely ignorant of the sort of life that was led in “kips “ or “ doss—houses.” I had, it is true, visited such places before, but my observation had never proceeded further than a superficial glance, ac­companied, it may be, with a shrug of the shoulders. 
   The courts and alleys of Deptford abound with rotten houses and tumble-down tenements that are the abodes of thieves and unfortunates. It is hardly necessary to enter these places in order to understand their true character; what you see from the outside tells its own tale of poverty, vice, misery, and crime. 
   Here and there, written in legible characters on the outside of a building, are the words, “Registered lodging-house.” As I have elsewhere remarked of these establishments, there is no adequate supervision over them, nor, let me frankly admit, do I see how matters can be mended without fresh legislation in the direction of further restraint. At present the authorities have absolutely no power over the owner of a common lodging [-39-] house. The business is sufficiently profitable to enable him to laugh at the law. For conducting his house improperly, he should, in my opinion, be liable to a fine of say, one hundred pounds. I do not doubt that the enforcement of such a penalty would have a very salutary effect. 
   You get a tolerably good clue to the character of these dens even from an external scrutiny. At the windows you see some hideous human heads, male and female, with blotched, bloated, and bestial faces, matted and tangled hair, and hungry, desperate eyes. 
   Some lodging-houses are for one sex only, and others for both men and women. 
   On entering one of these establishments for the first time, even if you have never been astonished before, I can guarantee that you will experience the sensation. 
   The visit I am about to describe was paid one foggy morning in February, on a day when I was off duty. The place was warmed by coke stoves, which are to be met with in every lodging-house. From the bent and broken gas brackets a sickly light was shed on a number of wan, pinched faces and emaciated forms that were but scantily clothed in rags. 
   The gathering included many disciples of Bong, as was proved by red and pimply noses, beery breath, and sour skins. Obviously the East End brewers and publicans are thoroughly appreciated by the “dossers.” 
   A sergeant of police accompanied me, and what struck me as extremely ludicrous was the way in which the poor wretches watched him. There was an unmistakeable look on their faces—a look that assumed a speaking form, and was inter­rogative—” What do you want me for?” And then, as the officer passed, it was equally amusing to note the look of delight—the gleam of sunshine. “I’m still free! It isn’t me after all ;“ these were the words you could read in their grateful eyes. 
   I don’t believe any of them knew me at all; but I was regarded with the closest suspicion. They were civil, almost servile, to the sergeant; but there was a curious, puzzled look at me, accompanied by an enquiring glance from one to the other—a glance to which, so far as I could see, there was no response. 
   I was at the time unused to these places, and I confess that, though it was in the daytime, I should not have felt very comfortable had I been by myself. 
   [-40-] “Now, what are these fellows?” said I to the sergeant, when we had returned into the street. 
   He replied: 
   “Tramps of both sexes—mat-sellers, griddlers, hawkers of lace, makers of fire-screens and fly-papers, brush-makers, street flower sellers, and so on.” 
   “What on earth are griddlers?” said I. 
   “Well, Sir,” he replied, “if you’ve had enough of this place, I’ll tell you all you want to know while we are walking on to another.” 
   But I had not had enough of that place. I don’t know what possessed me, but I was seized with a strange desire to go back to the lodging-house. We did so, and proceeded to inspect several rooms that we had omitted to enter previously. These rooms were in total darkness, save for a ray or two of light shed from the coke stove. 
   “Now then, light up here,” shouted the sergeant, and the “deputy” lost no time in obeying the injunction. 
   Among the poor wretches huddled together in these rooms were several shabby-genteel men in dreadfully old black clothes. 
   There were also a few little children. 
   The conversation carried on between the sergeant and the deputy was very amusing. 
   “Where’s Billy Goff?” asked the officer. 
   “Left here on Saturday, sergeant.” 
   “Where’s he gone?” 
   “Well, I think if you were to look for him at Notting Hill you wouldn’t be far wrong.” 
   “Where’s Mog Sullivan?” 
   “Not up yet. She’s in that room,” pointing to a door along the passage. 
   Rout her out, then I Time she was up I It’s eleven o’clock!” and Mog’s slumbers were disturbed without more ado. 
   I watched the dinner being cooked with considerable interest. The favourite article appeared to be what they termed “‘addicks.” The sergeant informed me that the principal meal in the common lodging-house is supper, of which all the inmates partake. He added that chops and steaks often figure at this meal, and that many a toothsome morsel is yielded by the “scran bag” of the professional beggar. That individual, it appears, distributes his dainties for a consideration among his comrades of the night. 
  

Round London : Down East and Up West, by Montagu Williams Q.C., 1894

Family history

I've been reading a lot of London social history lately. It is depressing that they mention some of the streets my ancestors lived in, as being centres of crime and vice. One such street was Mill Lane, Deptford (pictures above). My people lived there in the 1890s, just before these buildings were pulled down. Mayhew mentions the 'low lodging houses' there. There was a food poisoning outbreak, which was traced back to ice cream that was made there. There was prostitution, there were murders, apart from all the general thuggery and dodginess. The good old days indeed.

Now

In the library I'm trying to think against a background sea of babbling and noises made by mobile phones.

Sleep

I went to bed around 10pm. I woke up around 6.30am, having only been awake once during the night.

A weather update

The weather has improved on this morning. We now have broken cloud and some blue skies.

A bit of fun

Earlier I made a second trip to the supermarket to buy some Scotch Bonnet chillis. I found two packets with the price reduced, so I pickled them for later use.

Just now

My friend and I went to our friends' cafe for lunch. You really can't beat home-made food.

A result

I went and collected my hush puppies this morning. I'm so pleased I found them.

The weather

The winds died down during the course of yesterday. Last night was very mild and calm. Today is grey, damp and overcast. That's what autumn aught to be like.

Ha!!!

This morning

I''m having an early lunch with my friend, whose birthday it is.

Today

I'm meeting my friend from uni this afternoon and will stay at his tonight. I'll make dinner while I'm there; a chilli con carne, just like student days.

More about Aspergers

This is me.

Thrift

Higher education

Yesterday

I met with my friend whose birthday is today, and a mutual friend, and we went to the pub I like. Lots of nattering, not too much silliness, but a thoroughly lovely evening. A man I didn't recognise came and spoke to me, saying how much he enjoyed my playing at the other pub. I thought that was very kind. The two friends I was with left to go to the other pub, but I stayed and finished my pint before going home.

More

The woman's conversation is dire. I feel like I'm being engulfed in a sea of mud. Awful.

Witty conversation

I wish you could hear the shit I'm having to listen to. Some stupid bint has been blathering on her mobile for the past quarter of an hour, and shows no sign of stopping.

More food

My friends' cafe is near the pub where I play on Fridays. The good news is that they will be doing chips on Friday night. I shan't have to go hungry during the night any more.

Food

I had a hamburger thing baked in pastry earlier. All I can say about it is that it filled me up. I haven't any appetite now, so I'll just have pate and bread later.

Now

Have been walking along a very windy seafront. It was most enjoyable, but thoroughly exhausting.

Songs

All done now. That's a job out of the way.

Songs

I'm working on some new song-sheets. So far I've got the titles, now for the words.

Halley's Comet

The remains of its tail should be visible after midnight, in the form of meteors.  There should be up to twenty-five per hour. Apparently one should look in the direction of Orion.

Yesterday

I found a pair of blue Hush Puppies in a charity shop. The lady has put them aside for me, and I'll collect them tomorrow. Chuffed!!!

Ha!!!

Today

This afternoon I will have the walk with my friend's son, that we usually have on Thursdays. Tonight I've been invited out, which I'm looking forward to.

The weather

It was windy all day yesterday. Around 4pm it got noticeably stronger, and it has been blowing a gale ever since. I walked along the sea-front this morning. In some places I found it hard to carry on walking. The sea is very rough too.

Smoking

I haven't deliberately tried to cut down on my smoking, but my most recent packet of tobacco has lasted me a full eight days. I still have some left. I think I smoke less because I don't go out much nowadays.

Last night

I went to bed tired before 10pm, but couldn't settle down. About an hour later I took myself to the sofa and read for a while. I slept there, reasonably comfortably. I watched it get light this morning. My brain was in overdrive and I didn't feel like moving. After what seemed quite a short time I got up, surprised that it was nearly 8.30am.

Yesterday

The lessons went well, as usual. Afterwards I had a lovely meal with friends. I didn't feel like watching anything, so spent the evening reading.

Another day

This made me smile!

Pests

On the way to the pub yesterday, my friend noticed a shop that I'd never spotted before. It sold pet 'accessories'. What a complete waste of money. In this country, pets have much better lives that many people in the world. It doesn't seem right.

Visitations

Yesterday I told my friend about the mice I'd got rid of. He then told me about two plagues that he'd just got rid of at his place:

What with mice, wasps and rats, it all began to sound like the old testament.

Thinking

I wonder how my friends' new venture in the cafe is going. I'll find out later. I want to go there myself, but that will be later in the week when I can spend something there. I'd love to see it being successful.

This afternoon

I'll have the lessons I postponed from yesterday. I really don't like messing people about.

Relaxation

Having read Lisa Picard's books on Georgian and Restoration London, I'm now halfway through her book on the Victorian city. It's another triumph of thorough research and readability. It's totally engrossing.

Tomorrow

A friend, whose birthday is on Thursday, has invited me out for a drink. Lovely! My life is quite a social whirl this week!

The weather

I've just looked at the sea from the library window. It looks very rough out there. The waves are all white-topped and higher than they were this morning.

News?

I read that there is to be another royal birth. So what.

Weather

I think the hurricane isn't too far away. It's extremely windy, with some ferocious gusts. It's bright and cloudy at the moment, but looks changeable. I wouldn't like to be at sea today.

Sleep

I don't remember exactly when I went to bed last night, but I think it was around half past eleven. I woke up with a start at about six this morning and read for an hour or so. I slept afterwards and got up just before nine.

Now

I've been off the drink ever since I started on my new medication. Today I feel the effects of the vast quantity of booze I consumed yesterday, but it's not at all unpleasant.

Thursday

I'm going down to my friend's place, and am going to make our dinner there. I'm looking forward to it.

Today

My friend stayed overnight. This morning we went to the shopping precinct, as he needed a few things for his house. We had coffee and something to eat in one of the bakers', which made a nice change.

Yesterday

I had a quick tidy-up and cooked during the afternoon. First of all my friend and I had a pint at the pub, before coming home for dinner (accompanied by a bottle of wine each). Afterwards we watched Carry on Camping (1969), after which we went back to the pub. It was a lovely evening and night.

Pets

The mice ate very little of the poison on Friday, where they had previously finished the trays. There has been no sign of them since, so I assume they've gone away and died. I've left a couple of glue traps down, just in case.

More good news

Recently I emailed an autism group re my issues. They are coming to see me next week.

Proverbs

Monday

I've had to postpone my lessons until tomorrow. Luckily that works out better for the recipients on this occasion.

Good news

Two of my close people have now got a cafe to run, selling their own food. Congratulations to them. I really hope it's successful.

This afternoon

My friend from uni is coming for dinner. These bloody tablets. I've felt so drugged I nearly forgot about it.

Facebook

Today's news-feeds; six sport, four showbiz. Yawn.

Food

Friday; had some bought ravioli. The filling was like putty and very bland, so I left most of it.

Saturday; rescued two curries from the freezer. I didn't enjoy them and didn't eat much.

Yesterday; belly pork chilli from the freezer. Much better. I ate the lot.

Sunday

I think the cider kicked in overnight. I woke up feeling very drugged and spent the day reading.

Saturday

I had a quiet evening in. I watched the beginning of The Great McGonagall (1974) with Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers. Not one of their best. I followed this with The Happiest Days of your Life (1950) with Alistair Sim and Margaret Rutherford. Then I watched Nell Gwynn (1934) with Anna Neagle, Muriel George and Miles Malleson. I had two pints of cider and noticed no effect.

Unbelievable

Another news story today concerns a blind woman, who was told to leave a supermarket because she had her guide dog with her. Pets are apparently not allowed. The supermarket has apologised to her, and said that it will improve its staff training. Surely this has nothing to do with training. It has more to do with the quality of the staff that the supermarket employs.

Now

I feel a bit like this. I suppose it's the tablets.

News

I read an awful story about climbers in Nepal who were overwhelmed by an avalanche. It's so sad for the climbers' families and loved ones, but doesn't this story really bring home that some sports are extremely dangerous. Was the thrill really worth risking one's life for?

News?

Out of ten Facebook news-feeds today, five are about sports, one is sports related, and two are showbiz related. Yawn.

This afternoon

I'm certainly not going to cook today. All I need to do is rescue a couple of bags from the freezer, and boil some rice. Sorted.

Medication

My head feels much better today, but I've noticed a different side-effect, namely palpitations. I'm not worried about them, as I've often had it before. My mood is so much better that I really don't mind.

This morning

I was awake by 7.30am. After coffee and fags I walked along the coast to the supermarket, and then carried on to the letting agents to pay the balance on the rent. What an exciting life!

The weather

It's beautifully sunny and warm today. There is a stiff but mild breeze on the coast, but not inland. The storm that's heading our way is apparently Hurricane Gonzalo, which is due to reach the west of the country tomorrow. Gulp.

Facebook

Psychology fact: 6 am: tired 9 am: tired 11 am: tired 3 pm: tired 5 pm: tired 7 pm: tired 9 pm: tired bed time: Over thinking, can't sleep.

I found this posting on Facebook, which just about sums it up.

Ouch

Very trying. They do get on one's nerves.

The early hours

I got home at around 11.45pm feeling overtired. I didn't fancy the cider so I read for a bit. I've started on Lisa Picard's Restoration London, which is very intelligently written and engaging. I went to bed just on 1am feeling restless. It took me ages to get to sleep.

Last night

I got togged up and arrived at the pub five minutes before I was due to start. Some of the nice people I know were there, plus some people I hadn't seen before. I sat in the corner and played, and people joined in for some of the songs. Again people said nice things about my playing. I didn't have any cider because of the new tablets; I'm not sure how they will interact. I took a pint home with me afterwards and I'll have some tonight.

Yesterday afternoon

I tried sleeping but couldn't. I got up at 4.30pm, had a bath and then had dinner. Afterwards, still feeling shattered I tried to sleep, with the same result as earlier.

Medication

Headachey, jittery and very tired now. Time for that sleep, I think.

What?

Is there a difference between 'vintage', 'retro' and 'junk'. I mean that when I was younger we had junk shops. Nowadays we have shops selling the same things but under the other two names.

Something cheerful

The rose garden in Greenwich Park is one of my favourite places, and I have many happy memories there. Of course the photo doesn't really do it justice.

The Age of Enlightenment

Hogarth was a wonderful chronicler of his age. I am unable to reconcile two images of his:

The idle rich and the drunken poor.

This afternoon

I'm feeling extremely tired again, and think I'll need to try and sleep when I get home. Dinner will be easy. I've got some ravioli things, which I'll boil and have with grated cheese. That will save me having to cook.

Weather

This monster of a storm stretches the entire Atlantic, and is due to give us torrential rain for about five days. I hope it doesn't reach us until after I finish playing tonight.

My country

I love pictures of the Earth from space. This one shows the London I escaped from; noisy, dirty, crowded, and it never got dark. London is still visible in the next picture, but overall it's a much healthier green.

News

I've just read about a multiple car crash on the motorway. I like the way the word 'crash' is used, rather than the usual 'accident'. The word 'accident' implies that the event was beyond the drivers' control. Unless the vehicles are faulty, surely the only other explanation would be bad driving?

Now

Feeling distracted and restless, but not so miserable.

A musical interlude

What I'm trying to hear is this:

What I hear though is this:

I'm gradually getting there though.

Facebook

I'm not interested in games feeds, things about animals, or lovey-dovey sentimentality. Plants and flowers though are a different matter. Isn't this cheerful!

I agree

More about Aspergers

Non-stop thinking, night and day.

Strange

I read that a tourist got locked inside a major London bookshop, and 'tweeted' to be let out. How on earth did he manage to get locked in? He must have made a good job of hiding himself.

A reasonable question

Taken literally

Weather

It's sunny and warm again today. I saw a butterfly this morning, which seems a bit late in the year for them.

Tonight

I'm playing at the pub as usual.

Now

I still feel drugged, but it's not quite so horrible as it has been.

Sleep

It wasn't brilliant. After turning in at 11pm I was awake a lot, and half-slept for the rest of the night. My thoughts were lucid throughout, and the bedding was all over the place when I got up at 8.30am.

Yesterday

I still had no appetite, nevertheless I defrosted something from the freezer and cooked some rice to go with it. I wolfed it down and finished it before I lost interest. Afterwards I watched some genealogy programmes, and finished the night with more reading.

Peace

The sea was calm this afternoon, and the weather has been mild all day. The sound of a calm sea, and the absence of people, are two of the most therapeutic things I can think of.