January 5th 2025

Been so busy over Christmas which just shot by. Went up aunt Joan's, Karl rang Alan while we were at Dunchurch to ask where we were. 

We went the London road route, I was relieved when Alan turned up. We went to Elliott's field a shipping complex near Brownsover estate,  most of the shops are closing in the town and may be turned into flats.  I don't even know how long shops will last, because everyone seems to shop online.  I'd rather feel the product, then have to return the stupid thing because it didn't look like what was in the photo.

When my parents came to Rugby in 1967 Rugby was a different world.  It has changed a lot, we used to park at Rugby precinct now renamed Clock Towers.  Someone got killed while under the ift fixing it, how horrible in that?  Alan knew one of his friends, what a way to die.

Sometimes when I'm in the bathroom, I can hear speeding trains going through the station on the way to Manchester from London. We get this in Devon with London to Penzance express.  I was sat in the waiting room once when the Penzance Express flew by, the doors rattled in their hinges.

Saw Vicky's and Alan's new flat. A lot of houses round Murry Rd are Victorian built,  a lot of foreign people live in them now. To be honest, their flat didn't really impress me. The doors don't shut properly,  they have cupboards painted shut. The original outside loo is there, but the toilet bowl (in full view) has been disconnected and no one can enter as its locked anyway.

The passage leading to their house is like entering the black hole of Calcutta, also there's a scruffy rotary line with concrete still attached to the bottom. It's not the sort of place I'd want to live, also they have a cellar with slippery steps and a grotty carpet.

You can see where the coal was poured in years ago, as I said, the stairs are a bit dodgy. These houses must have seen some history, also the original pantries are there. I only hope the neighbour's aren't druggies or bad tempered bastards.

I got reminded of why I don't like the Midlands when I went with Alan and Vicky to Leicester. We were in a shopping mall looking for a café, and a man in passing rudely belched in my ear. How vile is that!  honestly, some people don't have any manners!

Alan & Vicky are married in Nigerian law, but not British. I went to their ceremony at Vicky's house. The pastor was very nice, but it was a bit heavy going for me, all that commitment. 

I shared a bed with mum, she's my best friend but she's also a noisy sleeper. Had to nudge her a couple of times due to snoring, plus I could hear Alan snorting next door.  My lamp did something weird one night.  It's a touch lamp and I was thinking of dad, when it started flashing.  This completely freaked me out, might have been dad trying to communicate with me; surprised mum didn't notice.