A new tax statement landed first thing on Friday morning.
OH JOY.
It was pretty much what I was expecting. Being able to barter with the Taxman is one of the few talents that I posses.
With all the obits for Shane yesterday, I missed out on the equally sad news of Jimmy Corkhill.
Jimmy was my FAVE soap character ever.
Back in the early days of the bloody blogosphere [URGH], Jimmy actually had a Blogger account. Brookie had finally been put out of its misery. But there was Jimbo, in character, ranting and raving down the modern interweb.
A working class hero, etc…
Next task: make an appointment at the Battersea Apple Store to get a new battery for my SE. I can’t justify an iPhone 15. Or even an iPhone 14.
I am at peace however with spending £60 to keep my SE up and running until a new model drops hopefully in 2025.
Battersea is now so convenient with the Nine Elms tube on our doorstop. Apart from the Apple Store and Uniqlo, there’s little else store wise to tempt me.
It was another busy school day over in SW9.
I joined in with a game of Guess the Logo with some of the Year 8 students.
No Logo, as Naomi K was fond of saying. That was a bloody difficult read, btw.
Snow started to fall ever so slightly in SW9 over lunchtime. It never threatened to settle.
I noticed a new kid in one of the classes. His face and physique seemed familiar. I couldn’t place him, but I was sure that I had met him before.
It came to me before the end of the school day: he was a dead ringer for a young fella back in the SE17 school dating back to… 2003.
Gosh.
Schools have aged me.
I ended the school day with an ACE food tech session. Potato rösti was on the menu. I got to wear my FAVE pink apron once again.
A brief turn around in the flat.
And then To the Fair City! Via the splendour of StP!
Brenda was on Christmas tree selling duties outside Stockwell tube.
Brenda has been on Christmas tree selling duties outside Stockwell tube ever since we first moved here in 1995.
Never change, Sunny Stockwell.
I caught a surprisingly empty EMR train. The departure of the earlier train was delayed. I think most travellers boarded this as it rolled out ten minutes ahead of my train.
I was expecting to have to argue my cause at the ticket barrier. My ticket was for travel on Saturday - a strike day. The EMR fella casually waved me through.
The drinks trolly rolled through the carriage. I’m not sure if EMR still offer free cups of tea. I use to milk this, so to speak, for all that I could back in the day.
“Would you like a cup of tea, Sir?”
I’d like four, actually.
I decided not to ask for the tea this time. My tight arse ways would have ruined the entire journey - nope, the entire trip - if I had to pay for the tea.
I listened to the Forest preview on BBC Nottingham. I hang on to every word that Steve Cooper has to say, much in the same way that I once did with that other fella down at the World Famous City Ground.
He’ll break our hearts, one day.
Or rather the Big Fat Greek will.
A quick podcast catch up and it seems that it’s all change for Garibaldi Red. The team have set up a new podcast. Reach wasted no time in putting in place a replacement team in YT Max and SC from The Post.
Forest Podcast Wars ahoy!
This is going to be interesting. Garibaldi Red has the audience, but is about to change in direction. The new Forest Focus podcast has the names, but not the, ahem, reach.
It’s all about content, innit.
Destination Fair City was reached. I passed through Meadow Lane and was tempted to stop off and watch the Pies in the Cup. It was too bloody cold.
Some online catching up followed. Keeping with the cold theme and there was an email from the Serpentine Swimming Club. There has already been two cases of hypothermia this winter.
Brrrrr.
I note that the showers at Lake Brockwell are still cold, Comrades. This is one of the very many reasons that are keeping me away right now.