Mon 21 – Sun 27 Sept 2026

Doesn’t everyone think of escaping? Getting away from the world they have created for themselves. Not realistic as total escape means giving up too many responsibilities and leaving people in the shit. But we can all arrange mini escapes. Opportunities to get away from the world we exist in and life a sliver of life in the way that we ideally would like to live.

Me and Dave did our mini escape this week to Portsmouth (again). Details below but it really worked as it wasn’t too much time out of real life but enough to give us a proper break from normality. Though important to remember that escaping isn’t always about physically removing yourself. It can be as easy as finding an activity or way of thinking that enables you to get away from the pain and drudgery of your everyday existence.

“The place in which I’ll fit will not exist until I make it.” James Baldwin

Remember This

• Local elections in Germany cause problems for Chancellor Merz – time to do a switch aka Starmer to Burnham?

• Various heads of government speak at the UN General Assembly with a mass walkout for Netanyahu

• Xi Jinping goes to Washington and is given the red carpet treatment (I despair of all these geriatric men deciding the fate of the world’s young people)

• Debates continue over controls on AI with more examples of it going rogue

• Disputes over marches in Northern Ireland are resurrected

• A potential terrorist incident avoided at RAF Fairford

• The Pope visits France

1. Family and Friends

A relatively quiet week with mum

No attempts to go out as she had done the previous week with the disaster of the library being unexpectedly closed – read about it here. As per usual, I ended up doing a lot of shopping for her though she did go with my brother to do a ‘big shop’ on Sunday. During the week, the GP phoned her with the results of her blood tests which suggest she needs to eat more sensibly to keep her blood sugars under control. I also had to go to the GP to collect the form for her to take and get more blood tests done.

Patrick’s ongoing convalescence

Our very good friend continues his slow recovery from surgery and I have no doubt he has dreams of regaining full mobility and escaping from his flat. His daily carer visits have been cut from 4 to 2 but really can’t go any lower as he still needs help to get showered and make hot food. This rationed and under threat yet vital service illustrates exactly how poor social care is in the UK.

Dave visited midweek to collect laundry and take some shopping as well as sort out with the pharmacy about his blister packs being ready for the next month. We both visited on Saturday morning with clean laundry, more shopping, did some cleaning, and took him for a short walk on the street using the very snazzy stroller bought ages ago but never used. His first time walking outside for several weeks. All good though it really doesn’t feel like he will be able to go out unaccompanied.

2. Health and Efficiency

Just 2 gym sessions

Our mini escape to Portsmouth did interfere with my exercise routine in that I was only able to do 2 gym sessions: the mornings of Monday and Wednesday. The latter being a ‘quick in and out job’ before we travelled. Both good sessions. There can be no doubt that I treat my gym visits as escaping from normality and I do wonder what it will be like when I can no longer do them one day.

106 London gym sessions divided by the annual membership = £5.19 per session

Decent and chilled swim

Got to the pool on Tuesday morning but a bit later than normal. However, I’ve realised the pool is busier on Tues, Wed, and Thurs at whatever time I go. However, I focused on just doing 20 slow alternating lengths of front crawl and back stroke. With a length each of breast stroke and back stroke no arms at the end. So 22 lengths in total – felt good.

Good but difficult jog-run

I really was in two minds about whether to do my normal Sunday morning 5K. My legs have been hurting and the Vitality 10K was taking place across the course I normally run. But it’s always better to try and give up rather than never try. Turned out to be the right decision.

Went out earlier than usual (7.45 am) but still big parts of Green Park were cordoned off and I was having to play dodge the serious runners warming up even though their race didn’t start till 10 am. Don’t believe the idea of a ‘running community’ that embraces runners of all speeds and ability; the better ones will knock you out of the way without a thought if they can get a second off their best time.

So a very disjointed course which influenced my run as there’s always a hesitation about where to run. Still ended up doing 5K in 30 mins and 10 seconds. I’ve done better but really good considering the handicap I was dealing with.

3. Trips and Travel

Our mini escape to Portsmouth

I’ve said before that my partner Dave really likes Portsmouth because he has history there. And it wasn’t long ago we went down. But it felt right to get away for a bit of re-invigoration following the advice in my previous blog of the need to keep our everyday routines more flexible – read it here.

So we caught the train after the gym on Wednesday arriving late afternoon. It was a real escape to sit on the train for a couple of hours and simply focus on reading. Nice to go out for dinner at a Greek restaurant we like, then for a drink. The evening weather was just warm enough to sit out – that will soon be gone. Dave got up early on Thursday and went for a swim then we had a long day doing lots of things that really were escaping for everyday life and living the dream.

First, we went to the D Day Museum which was inspirational – see below. Then we did charity and vintage shop-hopping around Southsea. In fact the vintage shops were more impressive than the charity ones. I did buy a rare Asimov book in the latter and some monogrammed handkerchiefs. The vintage shops were great particularly Sally Antiques – see below again. We also did a walk around Old Portsmouth including The Hot Walls (old sea walls).

Finished off the day with dinner at a Portuguese restaurant. Up early on Friday morning and back to London by train again – more opportunity to focus on reading. Good to be back in London to get stuff done in the afternoon. Less than 48 hours away and with nearly 5 hours of travelling. But still a great mini-escape from London and everyday life. I could happily live my life living in a hotel, eating out, and drifting around museums, galleries, and charity / antique shops.

4. Art and Culture

Portsmouth: D Day Museum…

Officially ‘The D-Day Story’, me and Dave visited on Thursday morning as part of our Portsmouth mini escape. A really engaging telling of the ‘story’ about this history changing event. The main space has a great mixture of visual and artefact displays as well as personal stories and a really good audio guide. You are taken through the planning, preparation, and execution of the landing.

There is also an embroidery akin to the Bayeux Tapestry that tells the story. The final part of the museum experience is going on board a landing craft designed to carry several heavy vehicles at once. Apparently the last remaining such ship and once reused as a night club. It’s a monster and would have been a horrendous experience being on it during D Day. Just two toilets and a urinal plus people being seasick everywhere. Meanwhile, bombs and machine gun fire all around. Then hell is let loose if you are lucky enough to get to the beach in one piece.

…and Sally Antiques

As said above, me and Dave found this amazing vintage superstore in Old Portsmouth: Sally Antiques. Three stories of antiques above a pub. The building itself is wonderfully old and rickety. But the contents are amazing. Tons and tons of antiques including lots of militaria. So much to see and you keep finding new little spaces that you hadn’t realised were there before. Dave ended up buying a little ‘butler stand’ that he had been after for ages – see the main picture accompanying this blog.

Weird as well that this same antiques centre featured on Antiques Road Trip on Friday afternoon. ‘That’s where we went !’, I exclaimed to mum as we watched the TV together.

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” Henri Matisse

5. Books and Reading

A subversive gay novel

Just one novel completed in the last week:‘Henry Henry’ by Allen Bratton. For me, reading is often about escaping and taking me to places I don’t expect to go to. This is a contemporary gay novel about an upper class young man with Catholic guilt and a dark secret. Wasn’t at all what I was expecting – very full on and eye opening. Full review here.

Looking Ahead

• Me and mum are off to the hospital together on Tuesday morning so we can both get bloods done. And then off together again on Saturday morning to the GP for our flu vaccinations (no escape for the wicked LOL).

• No mini breaks in the week ahead (unfortunately) so I’m hoping for a normal exercise routine: 3 gym, a swim, and a jog-run.

• Couple more personal health things to see to as well as my flu vaccination: dental check-up on Wed afternoon and phone call with the dietitian on Thursday afternoon to discuss my borderline diabetes.

• I’m speed reading ‘The Gay Bookshelf’ (a history of gay literature) as it’s already been recalled by another library user. Meanwhile, I’ve got 3 other books on the go:
  • ‘Makers’ by Cory Doctorow, modern day sci-fi by a writer I’ve been intending to catch up with for ages
  • ‘The Dragon Waiting’ by John M Ford, an absolute classic historical fantasy novel
  • ‘Queer as Folklore’ by Sacha Coward, an interesting study that I must get finished

• I’m still in two minds about whether to see the long De Gaulle film. Though I note that’s only part one and part two is also out now. Combined they are nearly 6 hours long !

• Doh! Last week I said QPR were playing West Ham on the coming Friday evening. It’s actually Fri 9th Oct. We’ve got two weeks of international matches giving a break to the domestic calendar.

And Finally…

“Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow.” Carrie Fisher