under another sun

Up and off to Inverness station and this time a train ride north, up to Argday station. Another lovely journey through beautiful countryside. A really warm day. Carolyn at the station to meet us, and drive us across a bridge up to Bonar Bridge. She and Ron have a lovely house with an incredible view towards mountains and over the Kyle of Sutherland, flowing into the Dornoch Firth.  Really nice to see Carolyn, and she was soon leading Lorraine around her steep garden, and the site of an old church which is part of her lands. I sat with Ron before he took me on a tour. I liked him immediately, and he's had fascinating life. Born in Newcastle, and marrying a woman from North Uist and moving there, learning Gallic, and making a living from fishing, collecting seaweed, then working in mink extermination, as this invasive species had invaded, and was decimating the local bird population, as the local birds on the treeless island are all ground nesters. He also did welding and became a pi...

Up in our new apartment, and off today for another train ride on our Spirit of Scotland rail passes, this one going west from Inverness on the train to the Kyle of Lochalsh on the west coast near Skye. We chugged through amazing forested and mountainous country, so sparsely populated it did you good to look at it after the crowded landscapes of SE England.  Eventually we got off at Strathcarron station, a one track affair. We had to let the train conductor know we were getting off there as a special request. Attadale gardens was just across the road. A gorgeous place, which being on the west side of Scotland benefits from the gulf stream. Beautiful plants and flowers. There was a self service cafe there called The Midge Bite. We mooched about for a couple of hours, and then wandered back to the station where we waved down the train to take us a couple of stops further on to Plockton. En route I was called by the dentist who were expecting me, despite having cancelled the appointmen...

Up and tidying our Glasgow apartment, which we liked lots despite the large rat we saw nosing by the street door. We made our way to Sam's flat and had a cup of coffee and then made off after fond farewells to him and Amy at Partick station. Here we caught an overland train and then a train to Inverness. This went past The Wallace Monument  near Stirling, near where Sam had stayed in Bridge of Allan. Then the train went through gorgeous landscapes of the Highlands till we reached Inverness some hours later. We were staying only about ten minutes from the station, on the other side of the river Ness. Dragged our cases, and as we got to the bridge a local woman said something disparaging about tourists. We found the apartment, and pulled our cases up more stairs, to a flat above some shops. A few clumsily officious notes, but otherwise not to be bad. We went across the road to buy some essentials and ate in our flat. We tried to put the TV on and there were two sets of conflicting in...

Surprisingly comfortable bed, and we slept well. Woke up and read more of Pastoralia , a short story collection by George Saunders that Innis lent me. Very inventive stuff. Lorraine and I up late and breakfasting, then mooched off to stand outside the Library on Dumbarton Road to meet Sam.  I popped into the library for a moment, very pleasant place. Outside again, and we watched a man cough up something disgusting into the gutter in the drizzle.  However we soon saw Sam striding along towards us and we met his friend Amy, and we all went for a coffee and cake. Amy seemed pleasant and friendly.  Back to the apartment, and Lorraine busy sewing and doing cross stitch. I had a sore throat and slept blissfully for an hour. Later, in his apartment, Sam made cocktails, with enormous precision. He made me a honey and ginger and lemon with a smidge of turmeric and from that point my throat felt great. Snuck down a few Scottish beers, Sam cooked an excellent chilli and made Lorrai...

A 4:50 alarm this morning. We were on the first train out of Seaford, a little before six. Lovely to see the pools of mist in the fields making everything look mysterious and pearly in the first light. A five minute wait at Lewes before we were en route to Victoria. Then Euston on the Victoria Line. Not been in the deep tunnels on the smaller trains for a while. I didn't enjoy it. Caught the Aviva train to Glasgow at 8:30 which was somewhat cramped, and the buffet car had only teas and coffees and sweets and crisps. Glasgow at 1.00pm, and after dragging our cases around a bit, went into a Pizza Hut. Not been to a Pizza Hut for decades. The pizza apparently made from donut dough. Yuk. Then to St Enoch's station, where we caught the circular Glasgow subway. Almost a miniature tube train notably smaller than the Victoria line. Off at Kelvinhall station and eventually found our way to the Airbnb rooms we were renting. A proper reddish Scottish tenement, hefted our cases up two floo...

A bit of sorting out of things and housework. Then a nice chat with Mum, then Lorraine and I made off to Brighton for lunch, met Mike and Zina in the Basketmakers -- great to see them. Almost two years since last we set eyes on them and especially as they are set on a move to Brighton, probably near the marina, poised over a plate of oysters. Like no time had passed since we last saw them. We had lunch together, and generally welcomed our new neighbours to one of our favourite places in Brighton. Interesting to hear about Zina's photography -- she'll be in her element round here, and Mike's plans to change gear on his work which seems all consuming. Lorraine and I decided to have our main meal there, and had a particularly delicious fish pie, served with a good salad. Home and I fell deeply asleep, then woke to go shopping. I still have very little energy. Had Yvonne and Brian around for a quick drink. Yvonne very happy as she though she had cancer again, but tests proved f...

My lovely Lorraine's birthday. She opening her cards and a few pressies in bed, many of them pottery focused, and after breakfast zoomed off to Caroline's place with her gym gear on and did some exercises.  Then we went off to Mamoosh by Newhaven harbour for lunch. Had fun chatting and planning over a delicious plate of falafel and all kinds of salads and pickles and chilies and chickpeas and hummus and leaves, and flatbreads baked there. Marvellous and incredibly healthy. Then to Pat and Maureen's place for a cuppa, and Maureen suggested she look after Brian while L and I are in Scotland. A solution nobody had thought of. Maureen is so happy in their flat these days, and has made so many new friends and acquaintances it is lovely, Pat has settled in really well too. Home and after a sleep (I'm still tired and a bit brain foggy) we pottered about in the garden, watering the parched plants. (A few hours later it rained all night) and planting some new biggish plants for...

Woke up in New Scotland Yard and after cups of tea, went downstairs and joined all the others for breakfast. Lorraine and I had vegetarian English breakfasts and they were huge. Then got ready and went home. Travelling with Patrick and Adele, and Kate and Andrew. My top travelling tip is that to get to London Bridge station simply go to Charing Cross, there is a train there every three mins and it only takes five minutes to get there. Journey to Seaford fairly easy. Home and Beth and James arrived shortly afterwards while I was chatting to Mum. A cheery evening with them, ate chicken and salad. Talked lots about the forthcoming baby of course, which we are all deeply interested in. James very funny about being in the NCT group, and being unable to stop himself from being the class clown. Beth very much in nesting mode at the moment. They also brought some pressies for Lorraine for her birthday, mainly themed around pottery, which is Lorraine's current craze. Lorraine in the apron B...

Feeling very tired, but up to London on the train, travelling with Andrew and Kate, and Carol. Assembled at the Civil Service Club, near New Scotland Yard. We met Adele and Delores, and all had lunch there. Then off to the Dublin Castle in Camden to where Patrick was going to perform. The others went there by the Northern line, not fancying that I took a more scenic route. Ended up walking down Kentish Town Road, which I'd not done for ages. A very weedy smell along there. Camden is usual trendy busy place. I think I have been to the Dublin Castle before, and its music venue in the back of the pub had the authentic sticky floor, so much that you could hear yourself walking in the moments when there was no noise. Hot as a sauna in there till, they turned on the air conditioning.  Lots of acts associated with the Music Production MA that Patrick had done, and all of them good. Patrick did very well, creating a strong rapport with the audience, and having natural charisma. He also bro...

Dawn and Paul due for lunch, but Paul had to pull out at the last moment. Always a treat to hang out with Dawn however. She arrived looking so sweet with the most beautiful colour combinations. Lots to catch up on with her, but I also I left the ladies to it for a bit so not to harsh their buzz with my Y chromosome. In the evening in our crammed schedule, off to Hove to see Innis and Rosie. Lorraine cooked for us, and we were just about to tuck in when Rosie clarified that we were round there for our dinners too. A cheery evening, me in a novel move, bringing round some alcohol free lagers. Innis and I had a proper beer then one of alcohol free ones, which to my surprise was lovely and crisp. Lovely dinner. Innis saying he is very busy zooming about collecting dead birds to take them to the laboratory to check whether they have bird flu -- one of his jobs, when he is not being a coastguard and photographer. Rosie full fun and energy, more so than I have seen her for a while since her M...

A tad wan this morning. Despite that, to the Boot this evening. Tonight's assembly included Matthew, Delores, Steve, and Pat and Maureen. Maureen loves Delores, who brings out the naughtiness in her. And everyone loves Matthew's wee dog Rumi despite the fact he growls ferociously at larger dogs. Most dogs are larger. Nice to get to know Matthew a bit better, a really interesting guy, and a cheery evening. Had a burger there, which was perfectly decent and served with lots of salad.   After a lively night in Brighton with Anton, I drank a non-alcoholic Guinness just to see what it was like. Actually very similar and I enjoyed it despite Delores mocking me somewhat. I did wash it down with a Proper Job beer afterwards. Home very early. Below Maureen with Rumi on her lap.

To my art class this morning, and spent a happy couple of hours trying to draw people without making them look like mutants. A BT engineer arrived shortly after I got home, and Lorraine and I thought he needed a refund from whatever charm school he went to. Rude and abrupt, although his work was neat.  I made off to see Anton this evening, met at the Evening star, stopped off at the Great Eastern and ended up in a cafe bar called Presuming Ed's on London Road. Lots to catch up on as we'd not seen each other for weeks.  Both of us loved Presuming Eds condensing an essence of Brighton. It was a chaotic student place, with plastic limbs  brandishing lightbulbs from the ceiling, areas of giant spider models, and ancient cigarette advertising lightshades, a large shark model with its jaws clamping on a large teddy bear of some description. Toby phoned shortly after we arrived, and Anton was able to chat to him too. It only served halves, and we sat there on stools around a rai...

More recording with Robin this morning, chatting and having a laugh. In the afternoon off to see Stacy to get a shearing. Stacy chatty and looking like a wizard with large beard and long hair. I asked him about it and he says after a day of cutting hair, the last thing you want to do is do anything to your own. I paid him using some of the poetry reading cash, which felt good. Poems for haircuts -- that's a sound business idea right there. Meanwhile Lorraine spent much of the day taking Pat and Maureen to Eastbourne to meet a couple of their old Ashford pals.  Once home Lorraine decompressing on the gold sofa, listened to the episode and did a bit of tweaking. Then I cooked a cheeky stir fry, but once I got going I realised I had no soy sauce so had to substitute Worcestershire sauce. Close but no cigar.   The Sassarinis are thinking of moving to Brighton. We shall see them on one of their reconnaissance missions soon.

Off to Edgware this morning. It had rained overnight, which was quite exciting. The omega pattern jet stream over the UK meant weeks of settled high pressure and no rain. An early breakfast and off. The train journey not too bad, but because I have to hop from train to train it's hard to settle to doing any work even though I had my computer. Good to see Mum, who I'd not seen in person since I met her with Toby in Hampstead. We had a cuppa and looked at the will she's had drawn out with the help of Steve and Paul at the pub, looks watertight to me. Eventually I drove off to the pub, where I was able to thank Steve and Paul. We had a nice time there, although Waleed the chef has suddenly left without really saying goodbye. He always used to call Mum and Mas mummy and daddy and kiss mum's hand. My chicken shish wasn't quite as good as before. Home again with Mum and after more tea and chat, I left at around 4pm, it had been good to see her.  Home at 7:30 as the trains...

Feeling stressed and a bit low. Not helped by the morning all being about blood pressure. I am now wearing my watch strap like bp monitor, and we had to initialise it by taking my readings. Being a nutcase, as soon as I start thinking about this I feel stressed. We had to recharge the arm cuff. Lorraine then played bank waiting music and messages till I felt like exploding, then took my readings. I will wear it for a couple of weeks so it should all balance out hopefully. They have stepped up my medication so this is to check to what extent this has worked. Off then to record with Robin, we were talking about Isobel Baafi who had read a couple of poems for us in her interview. Then I met Lorraine and Pat and Maureen in Morrisons, and we did everyone's shopping. Lorraine then took Pat off to the dentist.  Home and looking at my own poems for a while, then went for a walk, once or twice microdots of rain fell on the area of concern. I explored the little brickfield opposite the sea, ...

Woke up feeling happy and free. A cheery breakfast with Lorraine, and we spent a few hours in the garden, which is very dry, but rain is now confidently forecast. Paying special attention to blossoms. Our pear and apple trees are flowering. We planted things into what will be the wilder side of the garden, and watered the gasping pots. Lorraine then went off to spend the afternoon with Beth. I happily lurked about. I read The Mayday Diaries through for the first time. I felt really proud of Robin, and was touched by her thanking me in the acknowledgements. Really strong and compelling. A page turner in fact. Lorraine cooked a delicious curry on my request. All well. And one of those evenings when it hits you that there is no work to worry about tomorrow. Lovely.  Pear blossom (white) and apple blossom (pink and white) in our garden.  

Spent much of the day prepping for the poetry reading at the Wellington Hotel, while Lorraine zoomed off to Hove to see Paul. Came back looking glossy and glamourous. I decided to go slightly outside my comfort zone and try out some new stuff, including a bit from Gordon Road. A full moon (in Libra). I felt the right amount of nervous pre-reading. Lorraine popped in to drop something off with Pat and Maureen. I got there early and chatted to Chris Goode the organiser from Seahaven poets. Drank shandy.   Lots of Seaford friends turned up, and in the poet corner Robin and Stephen Bone. Robin gave me an advance copy of  The Mayday Diaries , her first full collection from Pindrop Press. It looks excellent, with a cover designed by Robin too. Of Seaford pals were Steve, Andrew and Kate,  Delores and her brother Dave and newer rebooters, Matthew and Andy, and Carole from the book group, and Helen and Andy.  The evening started with an open mic reader who threatened to...

Up and a freer day than I'd anticipated. Spent some time getting my ducks in a row for the interview for Seahaven FM this afternoon, and the reading on Saturday. Had an understory conversation session this afternoon.  In the evening off to the radio office. Just by the Saxon pub, where I have been with Steve a couple of times, and encountered some rum types.  Met David Crozier, who was a lovely man who was very methodical in a way that put you at ease. We chatted for an hour beforehand, going through what we'd talk about, then we moved into the booth to have a similar conversation which was broadcast live. Popped into the loo beforehand, and I could hear the music of the pub through the wall. Not ideal neighbours for a radio station.    Unlike the podcast where I can edit out my stumbles and so on, this was raw and so potentially more nerve-racking. But having been on BBC Guernsey and Sussex in the past, I just focused on the idea that there would only be a sheep and...

First home day for a while. Up early and a few hours planning an interview, and sending information off to the poet ready for an interview on Thursday. However he bumped it this afternoon, which was a bit of a chiz, and throws all my timings out. Serves me right for having to bump him last week.   Feeling tired still, and sniffy with hay fever despite allergy pills. Had a nice walk by the sea this afternoon, gorgeous blue skies, but the land parched with no rain for weeks.  Lorraine feeling washed out and unwell today, like I was feeling last week.  A peacock butterfly I spotted in the front garden.

Up and sent some music choices off to Seaford FM for Thursday's local radio interview.  Then Lorraine and I went with Pat and Maureen off to Nymans. We were a bit late, so had to call ahead to hold the buggy ride Lorraine had booked for around the grounds to celebrate Maureen's birthday. A beautiful sunny day but still with a nippy wind. A nice woman driving us, and explaining to Pat and Maureen the history of the building and grounds. Lovely camilla and magnolias here and there under the bluest of skies. After we had a nice meal in the restaurant cafe there. Pat and Maureen going for lamb stew, which Maureen told the staff was delicious. The staff were mainly middle class women volunteers which was rather interesting seeing them working collecting plates. Unfortunately, Lorraine feeling a bit tired and illish later in the day, and so when we got home to Seaford, I did some shopping and Lorraine dropped Pat and Maureen off, she collected me, and a peaceful evening was had.

Salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast, then we packed, and drove off in a convoy to a house called Hellens  in the Herefordshire village of Much Marcle. We lurked in the grounds where there was a hedge maze, and which overlooked a large grass field, where archers, of both sexes, were shooting arrows from longbows. They zinged off for what seemed about three hundred yards. Makes you think about longbow warfare. A rain of arrows from afar would have been no joke. The building itself built on ancient foundations -- and very old. Next time we will go inside it. Had tea and a piece of carrot cake there, before Sue and John returned home to Bromyard, and we took the long drive home to sunny Seaford. Lovely to see them as usual, and I certainly feel rested after a couple of days away.  A fairly straightforward journey home. However just after Lewes we passed by the side of a twisty road a burning motorbike and a several people standing around a motorcyclist lain on his back. A slig...

Lorraine and I woke up in Bromyard. Getting dressed looking out the window over the fields and wooded hills, and what looked like a big red kite poised above it all in the completely blue sky. Down for coffee and croissants with Sue and John.  Whiskey the dog being frisky and spooked by something, and barking at vapour trails from planes.  A very relaxing day. Went for a short walk into town, past the now closed down Dr Who museum, Bromyard now Dalek free, and saw an art exhibition a room of one's own at the Chapel Gallery. I was very impressed by the quality of work there -- and we had a long chat with the curator. Then we meandered back home via a couple of shops. Home, and took the opportunity for forty winks. Lorraine and Sue happily chatting all afternoon.   In the evening John drove us to a restaurant called The Baiting House which served gourmet pub grub. Very tasty food -- we all had meltingly good pork belly main -- with cheery service. I would have liked sligh...

April fool's day. Another beautiful day, and a much better night's sleep. Nothing too foolish going on (if you discount world politics) and I am trying to be cheerful. Having sprawled around so much, my back has stiffened up and I managed to twinge it while pulling my socks on, so now my back hurst too. I was supposed to interview a Faber poet, but I bumped this and so his publicity people got in touch again. Spent a good deal of time reading my book of Gothic Tales, including re-reading The Fall of the House of Usher , by Poe. I find myself laughing lots reading these stories.  I received my copy of Supernatural Tales, with my story in it, the third ST has used. I read it through again, and felt quite pleased with myself as I think it is tight, unusual, well-written and quite scary. I usually just fixate on the typos. But this one almost error free. Some years ago Beth told me in some detail what it was like to wear a rabbit suit in one of her jobs working on a hop farm. I wan...