under another sun

Lorraine had a phone call this morning saying Pat was going to be released from hospital, and they would set off in two hours. Maureen was sleeping on the sofa downstairs, so we got up and Lorraine was around there with Maureen in good time. I'd got up early and had done  some writing, and had just settled back at my desk when Lorraine called in a panic saying the ambulance had arrived early, and she'd had to leave Maureen in the car to be with Pat. I walked round and helped an upset Maureen into the flat. Once we got everyone settled, and I'd made some tea, Lorraine opened the discharge letter and it was for a woman patient, with a similar surname. Lorraine called the ward. Beth, who happened to be in Eastbourne, was able to collect the right one.  When Beth gave Lorraine the letter had no mention of the acute and severe hypertension, which was the main cause of his admission in the first place. Lorraine has started an official complaint. She also talked it through with Su...

Breakfast with Maureen this morning. Then they drove off to Eastbourne to spend the day in hospital. The hospital, they said was incredibly busy and overstretched. But Pat stable. Very stressful for Lorraine and Maureen, and disorientating for Pat, who fortunately spent much of the afternoon asleep.  This gave me a bit of a free day of sorts, but I felt anxious and so it was hard to focus.  Therefore I followed Eno's advice about creativity: if in doubt, tidy up. A longish walk in the sunshine this afternoon, which helped. On my return, feeling a bit better, I began my Meta Book project, subtitled with deliberate pomposity 'being the chronological notebook of notebooks' in which I get all my past notebooks and fillet out anything in them of interest, and in the case of the one I'm just been looking at, what I was thinking about when I was 16 and 17, things like the colour green, stained glass windows, fossils, and spells using the moon, and other unlikely stuff. Girls, ...

A good night's sleep, then after breakfast Lorraine went around to Stratheden, having made an appointment with the doctor. However, Pat still unwell with little mobility, so he was taken by ambulance to hospital. Lorraine and Maureen spent all day with him. Apparently the hospital was unexpectedly busy. It seems Pat may have a chronic kidney infection among other things. He was given good treatment, and they lowered his blood pressure, started to rehydrate him and sent him for various tests and scans. He was kept in overnight, which must have been confusing for him.  Maureen and Lorraine who didn't get home till getting on for 11.  I'd made food earlier, but all Maureen wanted was a bit of garlic bread and a cup of tea.   After talking to Lorraine, I continued with my plan of going up to Hampstead to see Mum. On the Lewes train, I sat opposite two young men with painted nails, lipstick, mascara etc. who were having incredibly detailed conversations about the virtues of va...

Woken in the middle of the night by Maureen saying that Pat was on the floor. Outside, as we rushed off, we couldn't help but notice how bright the stars were. We were there in three minutes. Apprehensive when we were in the lift, but we found Pat had simply slipped out of bed. Maureen had wrapped him up warm. Lorraine and I got him up, no easy task, and tucked him back into bed. Back home again half an hour later, though it took both of us a while to get to sleep. The clocks fell back today, but our extra hour had been used up on alarms in the night. Lorraine and I married 12 years ago today. We agreed on no presents, but Lorraine gave me a card and a little blue glass heart. I got her nothing and felt ashamed of my disorganisation.  A cup of tea in bed for breakfast, and there was another call saying Pat had slipped out of bed again. So we zoomed around picked him up. He was stronger today and able to walk a bit. Lorraine and Maureen monitoring his blood pressure which is high. L...

Shocked to have tea brought to me in bed by Lorraine, who is using the two hour time difference to Greece to her advantage. She had found the purse she had hidden before we had gone away on holiday. It had taken two days of intermittent searching.  I made off to life drawing. We were drawing an older man. I found myself a bit more relaxed about drawing. I realise I've been through a patch of expecting myself to be better, and feeling a bit disappointed. I found I forgot about that, and just got on with it more today, and so I enjoyed it much more. Mellisa says I need to be more fearless in my drawing. She is right. Feeling extremely tired this afternoon. But made off to Brighton, using my free bus pass, to get a haircut. Still outbreaks of flags in Newhaven, and central Seaford. Denton Roundabout which was a nest of flags, now free of them thankfully. They go up, they get taken down.   Stacy in Gandalf mode today, long hair and beard. But did his usual perfectionists job on mi...

Sylwia here this morning. Her first time since the day Brian died, and she was traumatised by him fitting. She seems to be okay though. She is a very kind woman, and has been keeping an eye on Pat and Maureen while we were away. I, however, decided to keep the holiday vibe going, and mooched off to the Lanes Cafe with my laptop. A sign on the door: no coffee. The coffee-less cafe, like the gateless gate of Buddhism.  Their machine had broken, so I sat there with a proper pot of tea, and fiddled about trying to catch up. Later I was joined by Lorraine who had been doing Rhyme Time, and we shared some more tea and some spanakopita, which the cafe happened to be selling, and reminded us of Greece.  Felt like a treat to me meeting in a cafe. Afterwards I went for a very blustery walk, threatening rain along by the sea. Lorraine went to Pat and Maureen's place. I cooked and we had a chilled out evening, watching The Celebrity Traitors. Enjoying time on the Gold Sofa. 

Woke at 6am, and burst of energy, first thing and busied myself about the house.  A chat with Mum. Her  fire is now installed, which is great news. Lorraine off first thing to get acupuncture and see Caroline her personal trainer, and baby sat Enzo while Beth went to the dentist this afternoon.  My energy began to wane this afternoon. But I went for a walk, and later some shopping. Otherwise brain dead and no ideas. The flags continue, although many have removed, there are new ones. Did a little blogging but more to upload. Early to bed.  Below the scene on Seaford Beach looking towards Newhaven.

Up in the dark, a piece of toast and a cup of tea, last minute packing, then collected outside the bakery at 7:00. Leanne and Rahul already aboard the minibus. To the harbour near Gaios, half an hour before the Kamilia line boat left, so we stood about with our cases watching the sky lighten, with Venus bright  again. Leanne had give Lorraine som anti travel sickness gum. We boarded, and when given the chance, scooted outside to sit on the seating at the prow. The seats were wet but it was well worth getting wet bums, as we watched the sun rising over the Greek mainland, as we chugged north to Lefkimmi port in the south of Corfu.  From Lefkimmi, a coach to Corfu town port where we left our luggage, and as I'd found a bookshop online, 15 mins walk away in Corfu Town, we mooched off with Leanne and Rahul, to find it. It had looked massive online, but was actually small. I was hoping to buy some Greek poetry in translation, which I have done before, but they had no English langua...

A good sleep, and Lorraine brought us tea and we sat with the French doors open, looking out at the harbour and the hill, trees and houses across the bay. The day started cloudily, but by the time we'd eaten a slow peach and yoghurt, toast and cheese breakfast and had left for the nearby Mamari beach it was beautiful. The beach was almost completely empty, and utterly gorgeous. We swam together, then I did a bit of sketching, and reading George Seferis's brilliant poetry. Lorraine finished Mountains of the Sea , by Ray Naylor which she has been reading for a long time. Then she crocheted and we gazed dreamily into the distance. We're expecting rain tomorrow so we lapped up all the sun we could.  Photographing jellyfish -- not usual here -- in the shallows, but what came out was the beautiful look of ripples of light on the pebbles. I only noticed the jellyfish today, and it was then it clicked about the day before. We mooched back home, and Lorraine went to have a shower, I...

Our alarm set for 6:30 up and sorting ourselves out. I'd slept like a log so felt a bit better than the previous morning. I looked out of the window and saw the first flush of dawn, with Venus shining brightly. A nice buffet breakfast, then we checked out at 8:00 and were immediately taken in a minibus with the two other couples back to the airport where we hung about. Our fellow travellers, were all living London, Steve and Tony, and Leanne and Rahul. We liked them all immediately. Leanne is a designer, and had recently been doing some life drawing. Then off in the coach to down to Lefkimmi on the south of the island. A gorgeous morning, and lovely to be in Greece again. Lorraine had forgotten her travel pills so was focusing hard on not feeling queasy on the coach, and later the little Kamelia line boat. Sat inside on benches, luckily it was a smooth crossing, and Tony and Steve were talking to us all the way, distracting Lorraine from the general queasy business. Tony revealed h...

I woke up at 4:30, half an hour before we had to get up for a some breakfast and the trip off to Gatwick. A bit tired and a bit sorry for myself. But we met no problems, and simply flew smoothly to Corfu, with only isolated moments of existential unease. Nobody sitting next to Lorraine meant we had more elbow room. Very cheery stewardess.  Once through the airport, we were spirited off to the nearby Corfu Holiday Palace, with two other couples who were both pleasant. A few days ago we learned that the ferry times had recently changed, and we were too late to travel to Paxos. A 4 star hotel, and our room had a nice view down on the pool and the sea and the coast of the mainland. I crashed out for a nap, then once revived, Lorraine and I set off for a walk. There was a novelty funicular from the poolside which went down to the beach below. Walked around the coast for a minute, and found ourselves looking at Pontikonisi island, aka Mouse Island, and The walkway across the water to the...

My birthday. Sixty six. Thinking of W.B.Yeats, 'An aged man is a paltry thing, a tattered coat upon a stick, lest soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing for every tatter in its mortal dress.' So I shall try to maintain my gusto, not that I feel too aged, thankfully. And luckily, feeling a bit perkier than of late, and o longer catastrophising about having to abandon the holiday because of some appalling disease. Lorraine brought a cup of tea and presents in bed including a gorgeous handmade leather belt, and a stained glass window made by Adele of the crocodile from Punch and Judy. She'd also got me, on Mum's behalf, some knee pads which will be incredibly useful for scrambling about in the loft and other knee-based activities. Adele and Patrick also gave Lorraine some lovely art pencils and brushes for me. Many kind birthday messages during the day. Spoke to Mum too, before the big jaunt tomorrow.  Assorted packing and organising to go away tomorrow.  In the aft...

A bit drained and wet blankety but mostly cheerful. This afternoon the sun was at the exact degree of Libra as it was at the moment of my birth, and so invisible fairy dust was sprinkled over me.   Lorraine had most of the day at home, and she planted the Guernsey lilies she had got me as part of a birthday present, and even did some pottery in the studio this afternoon. It makes me happy when she feels relaxed enough to do that. I finished  Light , by M. John Harrison. Science fiction is not a genre I read much, despite loving it in my teens. This was superior SF though, complex but emotional, and highly readable, with some of it set in Chiswick. Once I finished that I started reading Confessions by St Augustine, and passed the point where my 1980s self had given up and his underlinings ceased. I might take it away with me, especially as the forecast for Paxos is somewhat rainy. Lorraine and I ate a tasty delivery meal from The Viceroy. Finally we have found a decent purveyor...

Sniffing this morning. I did a little writing, then went for a walk at lunchtime, to try to perk up. By the afternoon I was feel too meh sore throaty and lifeless to go to the Boot tonight to celebrate my own birthday. A bit of a drag, and also poorly timed as we are zooming off to Greece on Monday. However, was sent a recording by Chris of them singing happy birthday to me from the pub.  Some old scribbles and daubs on a wee instagram account here , as a sort of tidying up impulse.   I spoke to Mum this morning and called up the fire people to get a rough delivery date for her, which should be the week Lorraine and I get back. Sent Robert Hamberger the money for his book, and got a lovely note back from him. Also a meditative text from Brian. My new wallet arrived, which is a thing of beauty, and most importantly, green. Judging by the fact I have lost two train tickets on my last two journeys I certainly need it. Also texted the sweeps who cleaned Mum's chimney yesterday tha...

Noticed there was no Brian waking me up, and no cats to be fed at home for the first time in many years. After breakfast with Lorraine, my life drawing class. Getting to know some of the other classmates better, and it's all quite cheery. Not delighted with my drawings, and I find myself making the same mistakes. The model, Katie, was one we have drawn before but she was nice to draw, being a little older and more curvy who looks like Jane Austen. She was also sporting a broken wrist, gained after falling over wearing a clown costume, and had to go to A&E in it. Then a little walk, and joined up with the Understory folks, another interesting session. Then off to Lewes to go to the Needlewriters, where I sat mainly with Robin, Charlotte, and Stephen Bone. Stephen had been really ill lately, and can't smell anything any more. Janet and Jeremy both there.  Robert Hamburger was one of the readers, and I love his work, and I asked him to sign his latest book Nude Against A Rock ...

Up as usual. Lorraine off early to have breakfast with Beth and her new NCT pal Lucy. Brian miaowed soulfully when Lorraine left and I had to go and comfort him. Sylvia was here this morning, and after phoning Mum I decided to use my new bus pass and went off to Friston Forest for a walk. While I was waiting for the bus, I bumped into Beth and Lucy, with the babies off to Rhyme Time. After that I met Eileen Counsell again, and her husband. Eileen is a former professional musician, who is active in the local arts community, and a good egg. Lovely to walk in the forest, to green bathe and crunch on autumn leaves. I took lots of photos. A call from Lorraine who had been contacted by Sylvia. Brian had had another terrible fit, foaming at the mouth and had tumbled downstairs and hurt his leg. Sylvia was in tears when Lorraine found her. Lorraine stayed with him and we made a vet's appointment for this afternoon, and we went to the vet and took the hard decision to have him put down. The...

Up early and off to Friston Forest for a walk with Brian and Marley the dog. A lovely day for it, and I always enjoy chatting to Brian, he is a great listener as well as talker, and that is a rare thing. I really like getting to the bit towards the top of the hill where he prays and meditates. I just love the fact there is someone doing that there, and more that I know him.  Brian drove me home, and then I did a bit of writing, but also spoke to Ben and Mum. Ben was looking at the fireplace and says we might not need the fire I ordered, and his mate was a gas engineer. He is going to investigate. Ben has returned from a week away, and Mum is pleased he's back. We'll see what he suggests. In the afternoon, Lorraine and I off to Lewes to meet Dawn and Paul at the Depot. We had a quick drink with them, then went to see a film called Dead of Winter, starring Emma Thompson. Set on and around an icy lake, with lots of shooting. Emma saving the day. Most of the main protagonists, inc...

Up at seven, and working on the same new poem. Slow progress, but it might turn into something. Then breakfast, and spoke to Mum several times, and confirming the order for the fire had been placed, chasing chimney sweeps and so on. Apparently this is peak time of year for sweeps. Nothing from the first guy I contacted, so I contacted another who gave me a date weeks away. After some persuasion he said he could try to fit Mum in before. Later in the afternoon the first sweep called to ask if Mum was in so he could do it now, but by then she'd slipped off for a sanity break in The Waggon and Horses, so we missed the slot. No sweep able to commit to a time, but will pop by when in the area. One of the two will come good I hope. Catching up with terrible local news from the weekend. A small mosque in Peacehaven, not far along the coast towards Brighton, was deliberately set on fire on Saturday. Good news was that one of the would-be murderers has already been caught: a white local man...

Both of us feeling a oddly stressed first thing. I checked the weather in Paxos where we are going and the week we are there, storms are forecast. But the weather is always wrong this far out. Then we drove off to Edgware.   We picked up Mum, and drove quickly to the The Waggon and Horses where Mum had booked us a table. It was empty when we arrived, apart from one man looking at the football, but it soon filled up. I had a chat with the guy who is a bailiff, who talked to me about the death of Paul, whose old seat he had been sitting in. He said he had bought the odd Guinness and left them where he used to sit. Paul is being lamented as someone who listened to others, which is something to aspire to. We all had roast chicken with all the trimmings, which was surprisingly good, mum able to have  couple of wines knowing Lorraine was driving. Back to Mum's and we measured up the tray of the heater and ordered a new one on line to be delivered at Mum's place.  Then Mum ...