A series of unlikely outcomes

22nd July

We have a yellow box in Barking where we store all of our crap – a few books, mementos of the kids when they were toddlers, my photo albums …a super king bed. so much stuff has been binned and yet we have stuff everywhere in flat and a full 75 ft2 yellow box lock up too – who would have thought it – so much accumulated – after all we are only a combined 129 years on earth …

Carla playing Tennis (lesson) so I have headed there early to get a head start – also tennis once or twice per week is currently all my back seems able to cope with – was hurty all yesterday seems to have eased today – next tennis for me is Friday.

Went to bed ‘Veran time’ last night – just after 9 so was up at 0645 and … miracle got my current book out and read for 30 mins – very interesting – Russian Roulette by Giles Milton – all about uk interference in Russian politics leading up to and after the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 and beyond – basically the invention of spying and the birth of MI6. Interesting fact Somerset Maugham was an early recruit and his subsequent spy novels ‘Ashenden: or the British Agent’ are based on his experiences – must read them too.

Anyway arrived at this dreaded place:

So bought boxes then started a 3h marathon clearing and sorting of mainly my shit … wow I have a lot of coats, shirts and shoes. Also managed to extract 8 out of 9 drawers from chest of drawers so it can be shipped out on long term loan to Alex and Mila.

I found several (ok 8) linen shirts and (ok 6) pairs of linen trousers as well as camping stuff I needed to retrieve. My biggest and best recovery though was a book from University by Stroud : Further Engineering Mathematics as I fancy re-learning. Sadly cannot find Vol 1 ‘Engineering Mathematics’ and the very cool ‘Laplace Transforms’ – both also by Stroud.

Was a bit laden so I übered home and had a lovely chat to the driver about many things but mainly climate change and the challenges and he finished by telling me to not retire as ‘you know so much’ (I really do …) but – fuck that (I said).

Home to an Ikea delivered lazy Susan for fridge – omg game changing …

Also a pull out shelf for larder cupboard.

Dabba drop delivered our first dabba so tonights dinner is that plus Roti which was just lovely – home made and recyclable stainless containers.

Also – joy – found my absolute favourite beer at Waitrose Food Hall yesterday:

The Dabba was delicious as was the beer. I feel satiated – sorted the YB found the stuff I needed including my multi tool for when I go camping and my swanky (from boat) corkscrew.

A productive and satisfying day.