under another sun

Up early with Lorraine who had to take the car to Mendall Motors (see what they did there) to have the water jet for the windscreen looked at then off to deliver rhyme time in the in the library. Called mum this morning, and arranged to see her early next week. Then I got on with some writing, in short unfocused bursts.  After a couple of hours I did lots of ironing. Who needs therapy when you can iron? This afternoon, another meeting of the Understory Conversation. Really enjoyed this two hour session, and it was very thought-provoking. I shared some work I was undecided about, but the feedback was that it was good. It helped me take a big decision on a MS I am working on, so all good. As well as Charlotte, my fellow understorians are Nina Ricci, who I am in the Mariscat sampler coming out later this year with, Emma Jones and Linda Goulden.  Afterwards, it being a gorgeous day, I went into the garden with Lorraine. Lorraine working on the raised beds, and I was planting ferns and othe

Lorraine off to her personal trainer this morning. I did some writing, then met up with Callum and went for a late morning saunter along the seafront. First time we'd had a really long chat since about 1990, so that was nice Catching up with where we are in life. He is still doing a bit of freelance journalism, and has written several plays and is working towards getting them performed, so lots to discuss. Chief among them is Will, my old University pal, that Callum had remained close with over the years. A week after they came to see my poetry reading, Will had a severe stroke, and is still in hospital. I agreed to visit Will with Callum and Will's mother Mavis on Thursday. We went for a coffee in Baca too.  After Callum left I did a bit of work including listening to the latest Planet Poetry interview Robin had done, under very difficult circumstances.  Popped again into the Last Minute Artists show, chatting with Adele, Palo and Geraldine, and another lady with two others. T

Lorraine off to Ashford today.  So a quiet day, doing some writing and thinking, and having a nice walk along the sea, followed by popping into The Last Minute Artists where I chatted to Adele and three other artists. Lucky she was there, otherwise I would have been strong armed into buying dozens of things I did however, come away with a dodo under my arm, as I intended. It was no price at all, and it spoke to me last when I saw it the other day.  Lorraine home again in the evening. Below, the dodo. I don't think I've met the artist who did it. Elarissa it is signed. 2020, rather a significant year to be painting dodos I believe.

Up and another gorgeous day. Lorraine and I did a bit in the garden, including varnishing a window cill, one of many that will have to be done. In the evening Lorraine did some planting out of vegetables into the raised beds, and I did a spot of watering newly planted things. At midday, a beautiful leafy drive to West Hoathly and a pub called The Cat, where I'd been once with Anton after a walk, to meet Penny and Steve. We had an excellent Sunday lunch in the pub garden. Nice to see Penny and Steve who I'd not seen since they'd been to Japan -- a challenge for Penny as she hates fish. Meanwhile in the Cat I had some generous slices of roast beef trusting that the threat of orc foot will be staved off by my allopurinol. Washed it down with a Wobblegate cider, from Bolney near Lorraine's last school. Just once every couple of months red meat is marvellous. A Great Dane type of dog, but in grey, in the garden, that even I found it impossible not to smooth its head when pas

A gorgeous sunny day again, so out in the garden doing stuff. Planting things into the area near the new pond, such as native plants, and cornflowers, and popping in a few bulbs for next spring. Lorraine removing yet more bucketloads of pebbles from the beds, which I poured on one side of the pond. It's all a big project. Went off in the late afternoon to Beth and James, and sat in their garden. It makes me very happy to see Beth in this phase of her life, and how she and James are getting used to their beautiful garden and their big koi pond which it turns out has frogs too, and loving their frisky little tabby called Micky, still zooming about indoors but soon to be released.  Beth made us a delicious salad and chicken, which we ate outside. Then inside, and had the Eurovision Song Contest on in the background, which I quite enjoyed. It is best to watch stuff like this with Beth. I predicted the winner too. Noted a prominent poet on Facebook renounced the joys of Eurovision this

Another beautiful day. Friday, so Lorraine off to give Story Time. I called Mum, and did a spot of light admin, then met Yvonne for coffee in the Grumpy Chef cafe, nice and funny to gossip with her as ever, hearing about her recent holiday, and the ghastliness of waiting weeks for medical test results, which were, it turned out, fine. Then to Brighton for a much-needed haircut. Arriving a bit early, I bought a hot sausage roll as a treat from the real sausage company. Emerging from there I bumped into Anton, who'd left his desk to do a bit of shopping. He was in shorts and floral shirt with skulls and so on, and mocking at my long trousers and light jumper and white shirt. Nice to be in Brighton, thronging with people of all sorts. Arrived early, but Stacy had finished his previous customer in record time, being a famously annoying local character, whose parting shots were to mock Stacy for his name, and telling him it was a girl's name. When I left some time later, shorn and s

Up to Edgware. A beautiful warm, sunny day. Peskily missed the train I had earmarked. Then because of working to rule of railway folks, a majorly reduced train service. Had to go to Brighton, then a train to Victoria and tube to Stanmore. Arrived at 12:45 to find Mum chatting with Wynford, now out of hospital but dealing with an unpleasant   autoimmune condition. He is a lovely caring man, with a strong faith that sustains him. Mum and I had a chat, then zoomed off to The Waggon for some lunch. I had cider with Mum which was sweet and refreshing, then my usual chicken shish with decent salad and chips. Home again, and I dropped off at the garage Tescos by the roundabout to buy some bits for this evening. We had a happy hour and a half looking at old photos, although Mum a little sad when she saw photos of Betty Tostevin. There were some snaps there I did not remember.  Then some supper and a watch of MASH, but I pushed off after the first episode. Better journey back, as I had looked a

Pleasantly creaky from yesterday's walk up Seaford Head. I need to do more walking again now that I haven't renewed in the gym, and you see loads more than staring at a wall while on the cross trainer.  Otherwise something approaching a perfect little day. Up fairly early, had breakfast with Lorraine, who then zoomed off to do rhyme time at the library, and then go around to her pal Helen's house. I meanwhile phoned mum then completed a good draft of my new horror story, I'm currently calling The Emptiness. Quite pleased with it, and it is an interesting scenario around wearing a giant rabbit suit in a farm shop. I based it on a job Beth had once in Kent. Then a late lunch. A spot of pottering in the garden, and Lorraine preparing dhal. A little before six Lorraine and I walked to The Crypt, where the Last Minute Artists were having a show. Adele one of these, and she was exhibiting some fabulous Punch and Judy themed glass. The crocodile eating sausages was inspired. 

Writing my story this morning, quite a good session and it is shaping up well. Lorraine doing lots of things today, going to her personal trainer, and visiting Sarah in Bolney, and going to see Coílín the dentist. Lorraine liked her lots too, and she was nice about me. She is certainly the most charming dentist I know. In the afternoon, I walked along the sea to splash point, and saw a seal there, and also fell into conversation with a man who said the birds were kittiwakes, and you could tell them by their cries. He was a bit older than me, perhaps, and said that he moved here when he was about four, and loves the place. Obviously spoiled by time and so on. He told me about how the level of pebbles and shingle had been raised all along the coast here in the 1980s by dredging.  I then walked by the side of the golf course, and up a woody path to the top of Seaford Head, falling into conversation again with another old geezer walking a dog. Once on top, I walked by the side of the hedge

Lorraine and I up and tidying the house in a frenzy of hoovering and dusting and so on. Not long after noon, Catherine, Tanya, Guy and Tim arrived. And we had, as is traditional, bubbly and crisps first. Great to see everyone and catch up. Tim greatly recovered now from his illness, and is looking very well. A cheery throng. We sauntered off to Amie's kitchen for some anglo Vietnamese food. Even though there was only six of us, we had to order it a day or so in advance. I had a noodle soup and splashed my shirt with it. Sitting opposite Tim who with a naughty gleam in his eye was talking about throwing off duty and responsibiltie and just doing what you want in life. Why didn't I, for example, just go on a writing retreat for two months?  Went for ice cream at Holy Cow! and we sat outside. Guy making friends with two older ladies and a dog. Then we all went for a stroll along by the seaside. I had a lovely long chat with Catherine while walking along, a fascinating conversatio

A lovely sunny day, and after getting up for breakfast and calling both mums, we plunged into the garden and spent the next eight hours outside. I mowed and strimmed the lawn edges, and with a spade and shears, cut back the overlapping grass back to the path, cut the big hedge, finished building bits of the pond, tidied up the fish pond, we moved one of the big plants  hefting sacks of earth around, and generally tidied and made good. Lorraine replanting, hefting rocks, digging up a suffering acer and re potting it, and wobbling precariously on the island rockery thing getting into the difficult nooks and crannies and doing a hundred other jobs in the greenhouse, clearing paths and so on. We broke for lunch. Lorraine brought some food out, and I was just finishing cutting a path through long grass and Lorraine popped in to get her drink, when Robert made off with the lump of cheese from my plate. Thieving wretch. Despite this, lunch was lovely, and we continued working till almost seve

Lorraine off for story time this morning. I was a little sluggish after last night, and mooched about tidying my office and the house after  putting in a lot of work podcasting this week. Walked this evening to Patrick's house. Lorraine and Beth went to book group, (slightly delayed by taking Micky the cat to the vet's). Bumped into Kate, Adele and a brown as a berry Brian, who gave me a manly hug, en route. Andrew arrived moments after me, and we went up to Patrick's studio where he played us three songs he had been working on. All quite different, one with a punkish energy, but more sophisticated, another slower song with a beautiful melody, and a dance track with rock guitars.  Andrew and I invited to listen and comment -- and we had a good deal of fun listening, and suggesting edits. One thing is clear Patrick has an amazing ability to write melody, and has mastery over all kinds of forms. And of course the technology is there, at one point Andrew suggested changing an

Sent Robin the episode this morning, and she returned it with a few tweaks, uploaded and so on, and a relief to get this one uploaded. In the evening off to Brighton. Reading The Hatred of Poetry by Ben Learner on the train. So far it's a meh from me.  To the Evening Star, where I met Mark and Peter, the Messrs H&H.  They were kind about Mason and Mum, and generally we put the world to rights over some enjoyable quaffs. I gave them each a copy of Snow . A cheeky pizza in Fatto a Mano in the North Laine, and after one in the Eagle, ended up in the Basketmakers. It hasn't changed, but though I keep expecting to recognise people in there, I didn't. A fine night. And nice to be meeting up with old school friends so regularly. Just missed the Seaford train, so hopped on a bus instead, drinking a much needed litre of water. 

May the first... Up and working at eight, recording with Robin, then spent much of the day editing. Nice to chat to her, and she was as ever, encouraging after my two shortlisting and getting nowhere. Still getting the time-lag problem, and I had to reboot wifi and computer halfway through.  Lorraine off to do Rhymetime, and then she spent the rest of the day with Beth, who had taken the day off. At the end of the day,  I walked across the back of Seaford to Beth's house, where I found her in the enormous back garden with a large net, scooping sludge up from the bottom of the koi pond. She had also been mowing the lawn. She is changing. Lorraine had been gardening with her too. They'd had a really fun time together. James on a cycling holiday around Spain. I met Micky, the cat, for the first time. A frisky little tabby, who is clearly besotted with Beth. Beth and I were standing outside when Lorraine and I were leaving, and Micky was looking at us, with what Beth says is look t