under another sun

Pat and Maureen taken by Lorraine to see Enzo. Obviously they loved seeing their little great grandson. And the fact that Enzo's middle name is Patrick after Pat, also wonderful.  Otherwise a day in the studio and garden with Lorraine, and in my study this morning. Photos taken by Beth.

Feeling a bit meh due to the shingles jab I think. My arm is the most painful it has ever been after a jab, Really hot and inflamed and my whole upper arm is sensitive to touch. A blood test this morning, but was in and out in two flicks of a vampire's cloak. Otherwise a bit of ineffectual writing this morning. Just not on it today. Lorraine and I managed to make a bit of progress in the garage and we scooted off to the tip again with a load of drawers and broken bits of cupboards and so on. Could easily have just slept this afternoon, but really needed to have achieved something. And we did. Lorraine and I to The Old Boot Inn this evening. We met Steve, Andy, Chris, back from Dubai, brought his friend Julie, a warm friendly Irish woman who within minutes was reciting W.B.Yeats for the win. Also Debbie, who I am getting to know and finding very nice.  Friday's revolving cast of rebooters is great.  Ate a fish pie there, with too many peas. 

Over breakfast, a call from Maureen about Pat's catheter which was playing up and making him uncomfortable. Lorraine, rather fancying a quiet morning, had to zoom off.  In contrast, I had a three hour portrait masterclass. Melissa drew a self portrait in the first hour, after explaining certain principles, talking us through her process. Then we all stood at easels, and I used my charcoal pencils, and did drawings of two models. Somehow the timings went awry, so we spent most of our time on one model, and I had only 15 mins on the second one. I captured a likeness but so much to learn. It was my first go, however. Adele and Debbie there. Adele bullying me by deliberately getting in my way when we were hustling for position with the easels.   A shingles jab, next. The young nurse kept calling me lovely... thanks lovely... please sit down lovely... Last time I had my shingles jab I felt slightly peculiar afterwards so they told me to wait for 10 minutes. Anton sent me a news ite...

Lorraine off to be with Beth.  James had to travel to London for his first day in the new job. He got up with the sparrows, this morning and got there almost two hours early.   I spent all day indoors waiting for the irritating electrician. He never did showed up, and Lorraine was unable to reach him. Luckily I was writing, looking and thinking about the stuff Robin had said to me the day before.  A nice chat with Anton. He has a very bad knee, but otherwise cheery. Made him laugh telling him about the seagull on the roof that flies at me raging as soon as it sees me. Later I walked over to Squirrel's End to be with Beth and Lorraine, and held little Enzo while he was dozing happily. Lovely little chap. Beth much brighter, and sitting downstairs with Lorraine and the baby when I arrived. Then after chatting with Beth, and holding the baby, Lorraine and I zoomed off to Moon of India to get a takeaway, as Beth had really fancied something a bit spicy. Lorraine and I pushed ...

Lorraine off to the gym this morning, when she came home I cooked a largish lunch for us, as I would only be snacking later. Then Lorraine off to Squirrel's End. James to start his new job tomorrow.  Met Robin in The Depot at Lewes, had cups of tea and Robin gave me some feedback on Gordon Road. Really useful for me, and a few things to think about, as well as a sprinkling of proofing catches and a few small cuts. Then we made off by train to Haywards Heath and jumped on a train and found SJB, and we travelled up to London Bridge and then Greenwich. Lots of talk about babies, and AI and much more (too much for some fellow passengers who moved huffily away). Sarah also showed us her wonderful SUNY book 'Mary Barnard: Complete Poems and Selected Translations', which she edited and is just published. A very handsome thing indeed, and a culmination of huge amounts of work.  We arrived early and popped into a nearby pub for a half, and a sort through of papers and so on. Then to...

Getting some questions together for an interview Robin and I will be doing next week, and a bit of prep for the reading tomorrow. Popped over with Lorraine to give Enzo a cuddle and to see Beth. Beth bed based at the moment, still recovering from the c-section, three days ago. Beth doing well, but Lorraine always says that the third day after anything medical is always a challenge.  I loved looking at Enzo's face and into his eyes, wondering if anything he sees makes any sense. It's all a rather mysterious business, and amazing to think that Beth was still carrying him on Friday morning.   Then I slipped off to the gym. Trundling on the cross trainer, a steady somewhat dubious clicking coming from my knee. Then home again to be there in time for the delivery of a new hob. A relaxed evening with Lorraine, who took the snaps below. 

Awake early, with thunder rolling in the distance, but only a light, brief downpour here. Then someone trouser called Lorraine at about 5:30 and I was awake from then on. A quiet interlude, Lorraine and I down in the garage, sorting and tidying for a while. It is beginning to take shape as a place we can do crafty arty things in now that all the shelves are made. We need another trip to the dump though. Lorraine went to Squirrel's End to be with Beth and the baby while James had a much needed sleep. Beth after the c-section has to move very carefully, and is still on painkillers. The Midwife visited this morning, however, and reassured them that everything was going well.  Meanwhile I sat by the sea. Felt a bit restless but the walk helped. Beth sent me a message that she wants me to come and cuddle Vincenzo soon. All is well. Below Lorraine and I were having breakfast, playing Wordle etc. and I snapped these vases of dried flowers we have in our kitchen. 

After the momentous events of yesterday, a sort of aftermath day. Lorraine full of cheery energy, so we I continued the grand projet  of the garage. We filled up the car with more stuff for the recycling dump, and stopped off at Squirrel's End where Lorraine fed Mickey the cat, who left a welcoming dead mouse by the front door. Then to the dump and home.  Beth and James home with the baby late this afternoon, all well. More photos today, all very lovely. I cooked hot curry, with a thousand veggies and chicken in it. Early to bed. 

Lorraine and I trying to keep busy this morning as Beth was going to have a c-section this morning. Lorraine went off to do Story Time in the Library, I did a few bits of writing and so on, while Simon the roofer came around and replaced the rotting roof on the summer house in the garden. He worked very hard and fast in the heat, and did a good job.  Before he finished however, we were summoned by James. Lorraine had returned from the Library, and both of us were getting antsy. The baby was born at 11:19, however, and everyone doing well. One job first: Lorraine and I bought a pensioner's double of fish and chips and took them around to Pat and Maureen -- then we drove to Brighton.  Found a place to park nearby, and made our way via two lifts to the ward. I felt quite anxious for some reason. It is novel going into hospital for a nice reason. We had to wait in the corridor for a bit. We could hear a crying baby, and then James emerged carrying his little baby on his shoulder, ...

Slept heavily after yesterday's massage. Another day on tenterhooks. Beth being induced and so on. Lorraine and I spent the day thinking she was going to go into labour at any moment. I can't really imagine what it will be like for Beth and James.  After doing some writing this morning, rather a good morning where I am having a few ahah moments. Pottered off the gym for a bit today, but having twinged my lower back earlier in the week I took it fairly easy on the cross trainer.  Very hot day and we are in a heatwave.  In the afternoon some work in the garage, and I built another of the metal shelving units. Only one more to go now. Pouring with sweat doing it. Then to meet Messrs H and H in the Evening Star. Telling them about the imminent birth. Lots of sagacious fatherly advice and a rather too graphic description of cutting the umbilical cord with a tiny pair of scissors from Peter.  We went to Fatto a Mano for a cheeky pizza, and went to the Green Dragon, a Brigh...

Lorraine off to rhyme time. After some writing, I went into Brighton and saw Jewel for a massage at Sundial. I'd not seen Jewel for a few years. Lovely freewheeling chat with her while she sorted out areas of evil in my back. Much of it about babies at the moment.  Home, and feeling pleasantly roughed up, and strangely sleepy. Had a bit of a quiet afternoon and feel deeply asleep for ten minutes, and then felt strangely emotional. This always seems to happen to me after a massage.   A general feeling of unreality at the moment. Waiting for the big event ...  Often thinking about Beth and James. Lorraine went to be with Beth in hospital. Beth experienced cramping today but the baby's not ready for its curtain call quite yet. Beth still in good spirits however. 

An electrician came around first thing this morning, we have two lights on the blink, and are going to replace the hob as it has a tendency to spontaneously turn itself off. The electrician instantly got my back up by talking over me when I was talking to Lorraine. Lorraine smoothed it out a little, but I suspect that particular sparky and I will never be close.  After breakfast, Lorraine off to her personal trainer. I wrote a little, but found myself not able to concentrate so I went to the gym which helped, and I was able to focus a bit better later.  Beth went into hospital today, and was kept in to be induced. Lorraine especially a bit on tenterhooks because of this. However by the end of the day there was no news. But Beth cheery and comfortable, and James with her. The Tobster's birthday today, he's off to a Brazilian restaurant this evening and sounding cheery. He was rather attracted by the idea of Beth having her baby on his birthday. She didn't however, and was ke...

A morning of action. Got up early, and sent off the first two parts of Gordon Road , to Long Poem Magazine. Then had breakfast with Lorraine, looking at my mail, which included the last two copies of the Sampler One from Mariscat with a nice note from Hamish the editor. Another letter told me how to claim my state pension, and my replacement Lamy pen arrived.   Had a good morning's work. Lorraine off to see Pat and Maureen, and brought them back for lunch. Then Lorraine went to the dentist, with Maureen as they both had appointments. I went for a long walk this afternoon, taking some photos with my proper camera. Spoke to Beth briefly, who'd seen the midwife today. All well.  Home, and Pat and Maureen in the garden. Maureen told me very sweetly that the best thing that ever happened was Lorraine and I meeting each other.  Later Lorraine and I mooched down to the seafront again, stopping at Osbourne's fish and chips en route. We ate fish and shared chips in the evening sun...

Another beautiful sunny day. I did some writing in the morning, and Lorraine machined some curtains, made bread and played piano among other things.  The afternoon given over to driving over to the tip, with lots of stuff from the garage. House-poo done, we went around to see Beth and James and had coffee in her back garden as jackdaws chuckled, and Mickey the cat zoomed about. Beth doing well, but very keen to have the baby, given that the due date was Monday and it's now Sunday.  Home again, and we worked more in the garage. I built another shelving unit, and Lorraine did gardening of all kinds while I got to work with a rubber hammer, and had percussive fun bashing the metal. This done, I cooked and we had dinner watching the film Conclave , a drama about the politics of electing a Pope. Rather interesting movie, and we both liked it. Below shelving units. Assembled rather well even if I say so myself. We have two more of them, and we are going to put everything on them. Be...

Up after not a great night's sleep. It was still hot after the thunder moved on, and my idea of drinking rum and coke when I got home didn't help either. A leisurely breakfast, and then Lorraine and I went to the garage and worked again at the huge task of sorting it all out. It was good to have a day at home to do this. I built, with Lorraine's help two large metal shelving units from an outfit called Big Dug, like assembling a Meccano set, and took the motley collection of cupboards etc down, and Lorraine and I dragged things about, and Lorraine put things in storage boxes. Now we have a garage full of the new things plus all the old things. But it felt like progress. And I always am pleased with myself when I can do something practical without making a hash of it. Lunch outside too. All well.  We decided to watch Forrest Gump this evening, one of Lorraine's pals expressing amazement that we'd not seen it. I had my reservations, but Tom Hanks did an excellent job ...

Up early and wanting to write this morning. Lorraine scampering to be with Maureen when she took a medical call.  Writing some bits and pieces, and seeing if Gordon Road can be built into my bigger collection and so on. Wrote to Mariscat recently asking for more copies of the Sampler , but they are able to send me only two copies. This suggests the print run was minimal. It does mean that if I put some of the poems from that into a fuller MS most people won't have seen them. Then off to the gym, where I did quite an enthusiastic session on the cross trainer, but the weight machines were all clogged up with geezers, so I cut my losses and sloped home in the heat.  Lorraine and I had a rather idyllic afternoon, lounging outside under the big parasol.  Rebooting tonight. We met Helen and Andy, Matthew and Andy for a drink. Just as I was sitting down the Tobster called. He's secured a pied-à-terre in Toronto for when he resumes teaching.  After a couple of burgers and a...

To Hampstead with Mum today. Finished Epitaph for a Spy by Eric Ambler. Outside my usual reading ambit, but fun nevertheless. A really easy journey for me, though Mum's train had to be taken out of service. I met her at Hampstead station and toddled all the way down Flask Walk, round the back of a school full of children in the playground demonstrating their healthy lungs. Into The Old White Bear which is one of our new haunts. In the Old White Bear a table full of posh theological students nearby, the most valuable wearing red trousers and a wide brimmed hat. Being God focused clearly not irreconcilable with being a dandified fop -- which I liked. Mum and I were talking about art, and I was reminding her of painting and artwork she did when she was younger and we were living in Neasden, for example a tall totem pole made out of vertebrae, a nail picture of the sun and moon and swirling stars. I remember her hammering many nails into an old door and spraying gold and silver onto i...

Morning and lying in bed I could hear a clear peeping from a baby gull or two on the roof.   Beth update: she is feeling fine and the baby will come in its own time. A day of making further changes to Gordon Road , then I sent it off to Robin, who agreed to have a squint at it for me. A van parked in our drive and a man offloaded a pallet of self assembly metal shelving units. I said I wanted them out the back, and he said that he wasn't insured for that, and we were lucky he put it on our drive and not on the street. There was a brief free exchange of ideas, but there was not much I could do about it. Turned out once Lorraine looked at all the stuff that had been delivered, there was a bit missing, which will come at another time. I used my trolley and took it all through the garden to the garage in half an hour. The hateful gull fortunately not around to fly at me while I did so. Lorraine came back from going to her personal trainer and seeing Penny. She did some gardening, I lur...

Up and doing last bits on Gordon Road this morning, I want to make it good, but I don't want to tweak it to death. Then I took myself off just after noon to the gym, and did a fairly decent workout there. Lorraine brought Pat and Maureen back to sit in the back garden, and Beth came too. Today was her due date but she's relaxed about it, and doesn't want to get into the mindset that the baby is somehow late.  I prepped a little bit for the reading, had a catnap and a shower. Robin came to collect me, but only after Maureen had told me off for having dirty glasses, and cleaned them for me. Took some tupperware with food in it, and Robin parked on the little bridge in the middle of Arundel, and we had a sort of picnic on a little green by the river looking at black headed gulls, and a man with a very old dog. I had forgot to pack a fork, but felt a wave of love for Lorraine as I opened it up to find she'd packed one. Robin and I walked through the streets of Arundel, whic...