Hot under the collar

Up early to complete work on writing answers to some questions I'd been asked for a Guernsey Literary Festival blog. The amazing weather continuing. Feeling much repaired today.

As I worked, new second home neighbours opposite using noisy and unnecessary garden tools. A blowers on for minutes to convey three leaves and a piece of paper across their small decking. This soon replaced by the continuous sound of protesters just outside Brighton Station. An unpleasant neo-fascist group called March for England had dragged their knuckles to congregate outside The Railway Bell, Brighton's worst pub, and outside the station there were dozens of policemen, some mounted, plus police helicopters flying overhead. There was also a sizeable anti-fascist counter demonstration, singing things like Racist Scum... Off our streets, and Police protect the Nazis. Eventually the marches were fed through town in separate directions.

Lorraine and I dragged bits about in the debris of what was once my garden, and generally tidied it up under the relentless helicopter flying almost overhead. However it was good honest work. Then to Lorraine's house where we painted the second white coat on the long wall facing her house.

Sadly Lorraine learned today of the death of an old friend, who was Sam's Godfather, so was rather sad this afternoon.

In the evening Lorraine and I with Betty off to Wayne and Matt's for their party. I was not in top party mode but still managed several good chats with folks. Interesting talking to Catherine and Tanya about books and other matters. Tanya I knew from her singing in the This concert will fall in love with you gigs last year, while Catherine who is an expert in Victorian literature, and republishes out of print Victorian novels - one recent example being The Light that Died by Kipling which I had read.

Music, food, friends and boozes as bats flew overhead. Nosed about on Matt's desk and good to see A Guernsey Double pinned open at Clameur on his desk. Betty had to leave to do a babysitting job, but returned later to cab it home with us. Nice to be home, though, eating a guilty round of melted cheese on toast. Bed, with the faint sound of a student party kicking off past midnight. Rather amazed, as I drifted off to sleep, to hear they were playing The Yes Album.

Note from Jane... Her viral video has now had an amazing 10 million hits.

Below police outside the station, blocking off the anti fascist demonstrators. Cops filming them and casting a cold eye on me as I walked about with a camera so I melted away fairly quickly.

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