under another sun

Up early to work on Gordon Road, then have breakfast with Lorraine. She zoomed off to do her pottery, and I sloped round the corner to life drawing. For some reason I did everything badly in the first half, producing my worst work yet. A lovely chat with Melissa who runs the sessions at half time, and decided it was okay to not excel, and ended up doing much better in the second half. Adele there with her own stool, a drum stool bought in the US with a Captain America style star on it. Stylish. Home and back onto Gordon Road for an hour or so. Made some decisions. Lorraine back from pottery but only long enough to grab a tupperwear of apples, nuts and cheese she'd asked for before taking Pat and Maureen back to Eastbourne for a medical appointment and some shopping. A bite to eat, then I went to the gym. My knee held up well, though a little swollen afterwards. On the way there I passed the pond, where there was a lively argument going on between a seagull and a heron. Usual seagul...

A decent night's sleep in Edgware and as Mum had some avocados we had avocados on toast for breakfast. Then we decided to head for Hampstead. Not been on that train ride for some time. We got off at Golder's Green and we caught a bus a few stops up the hill to Golder's Hill Park, where we'd spent lots of time when I was young. Mum didn't remember much about it, but we walked a little about the little walled garden, and met a squirrel who I pretended to have food to give it so it came very close. It was almost tame, and was irritated I had nothing and was leaping up onto the fence very close to me, then ran about near us, to the point we almost felt bullied by it. A quick wander over to see some red deer, and look into a cage where there were a pair of kookabarras, who were noisily doing their call which I'd never heard in real life before. Then a bus up to Whitestone pond, and we wandered down to The Old White Bear again, to enjoy a cold drink, as it had got ver...

To Edgware this morning. Feeling at a low ebb of energy, but hopping from crowded train to crowded train, reading a bit more of  A Memoir of my Former Self by Hilary Mantel. A rich, highly intelligent, and slightly cantankerous personality shows through. I enjoyed her Reith Lectures, contained in this volume. The spit of rain in Seaford got heavier the further north, and was full on pelting by Mill Hill.  To mum's had a cup of tea, then off in the rain to The Waggon and Horses. The pub quiet and post weekendish, but Steve and Paul frowning over a laptop in their corner of the bar.  We ate our usual foods, All day breakfast to share with the birds and foxes for Mum, and chicken shish for me. Home again, and a quiet couple of hours in which I looked at some SF books I had bought in the seventies, I even remembered where I'd bought one of them from. Then had some dinner and watched M*A*S*H, episodes I'd never seen and quite enjoyed. Mum creeping out after dark to feed the fo...

Working all morning on Gordon Road, tinkering, and pruning. Requiring brainwork.  A relaxed afternoon, Lorraine went off to see the poet Hollie McNish in Brighton with Rosie and two other pals and I snuck off to the Old Boot where there were Adele and Patrick, Chris and Matthew. A low key evening till Delores arrived. She told us about a horrible experience she had in the week involving a rescue cat. The cat became immediately ill with a cold, Delores phoned the cat rehoming people and told them about it, then took the cat to the vet the next morning, where the cat rehoming people decided to try to physically seize back the cat. There were unseemly scenes at the vets. Police were called.  Luckily Delores was shaken but okay, and her money was refunded but the cat is back with the dodgy cat people. This story told, and much sympathy shown by us all. Minus Matthew, who'd had a stent put in last week and now feels great. We repaired to the Cinque Ports where Delores enjoyed a cou...

At work on Gordon Road first thing. Lots to digest and think about after my conversations with Charlotte and Steve but feeling optimistic that I could sort it. Lorraine zoomed off to Eastbourne to do a morning's pottery. At elven I was collected by Yvonne and we hopped into her mini and went to Mamoosh in Newhaven. A good chat and some coffee. She's full of good advice about grandchildren and the importance of dinosaurs. Apparently her two grandsons do a good deal of roaring when they come back from the Dinosaur Safari, at nearby Paradise Park in Newhaven.  In the afternoon Lorraine and I pressed on with sorting out the spare room, so it works as a guest room and  as Lorraine's knitting and sewing domain.  In the evening to Brighton where I met Anton at the Signalman. And a curate's egg of news to catch up on. We also talked about AI. Anton apprehensive about how it will develop. Then we nostalgically popped into the Joker and had some chicken wings -- sadly not the ...

A good day for me. Up fairly early and tinkering, before breakfast with Lorraine. Actually raining today in Seaford.  Strapped on my neoprene knee, and Brian collected me for a walk in Friston Forest. Brian had already been for a swim and had been up since six. Always lots to talk about, with Marley the dog zooming after sticks, and we tree bathed in the green light. The earth very dry, although there was some fine rain, and it had been raining overnight a little. I always enjoy how Brian is unafraid to talk about the big stuff, like death and religion and art and so on -- and of course we have a laugh too.  Collecting Yvonne and Sebastian, Brian then gave me a lift back, before they went off to look at dinosaurs in the afternoon. Lorraine back, and we snatched a bit of lunch together, between rhyme time, and her having to go round to be with Pat and Maureen, as they waited for the nurse to come and sort out his blocked catheter. Poor Patrick had been in some discomfort. I mad...

Knee still at me and hurt overnight. Otherwise a happy morning, free of eye pain, and free to do what I want. I called Mum and had a nice chat with her, and I am going to go up and stay over with her next week.  Excellent news from James, who had landed a good job project managing AI and cybersecurity for a telecoms firm after a protracted search, and he won't have to start till a few weeks after the baby's born. Very relieved and pleased for him and Beth. He told me that he was pleased to get this job as it was somewhat future proofed. Now is a great time to get to know about AI. I pottered at my desk, trying to grope my way back into a flow state, but not producing anything concrete. Also reflecting on how useful Steve's feedback had been on Gordon Road. Lorraine had a bit of well earned down time, sitting in the garden, after sorting out a few bits and pieces. At tea time, Steve reappeared, with Patrick and Adele and we polished off the remainder of Richard III. A comple...

Monday and back to my desk. However a lot of stuff to be sorted out first, so didn't get down to anything that might be described as writing. Lorraine off to take Pat and Maureen to Eastbourne for medical stuff and a shopping trip.  Having cleared up my study, I took myself off to the gym at 11:30. Trundled on the cross trainer and did some of my normal mild mannered weights. Walking home thinking I need to put more time in at the gym, then at home, while eating a salad and chicken sarnie, I noticed my knee was a bit swollen and sore. I'd felt no twinges in the gym. However I can walk on it, and pushed off to see my dentist Coílín, friendly and lovely as ever. Lorraine, and Pat and Maureen use her and everyone likes her. Luckily my teeth just needed a short clean.  Home, and shortly after Steve came around to discuss Gordon Road over a cup of tea. Many of the things he said were spot on. He had been apprehensive about giving me feedback, but he did a considered and thoughtful ...

A free day today, and Lorraine and I ended up pottering about the garden till it was almost six. Planting up various tomatoes and other veggies, and doing bits and pieces of tidying and sorting and weeding and clearing weed from the fishpond and so on. It was a perfect way to spend a Sunday and an antidote to all the busyness of the last few weeks. We had no plum blossom this year though the tree is healthy, but plenty of apples and pears. After dinner we watched some of an Australian series on BBC iPlayer called Black Snow, which is quietly brilliant, and has a faint echo of Twin Peaks about it. Below have Mexican fleabane in our garden, mainly because in Guernsey it is called St Peter Port daisy, and it reminds me of the island. Our plants are looking fine. Two roses, one just about to open, and the other a gorgeous white one with a blush of pink.

7am call from Maureen, that Pat was having trouble with his catheter. Lorraine zoomed around, and I simply fell back asleep like a doghead. Toby called today, showing me a rushing river and gorgeous verdant hills in Japan. After Lorraine returned, and we'd breakfasted, we went off to Beth and James's house and hung out doing a few jobs, a fair amount of carrying things up the stairs. Lorraine and I papered the new baby's wall with wallpaper with foxes and rabbits and badgers and snails and frogs on. James and I popped back to my house to get a drill and buy some compost en route. Back at Squirrel's End we split into teams, Lorraine and James building the big cot in the baby's room. Beth sat with me, while I drilled a few holes into their bedroom windows and put in some bedside lights. Beth had bought these and they give you a multitude of lighting options, almost disco like. Beth doing well but rather drained now she is now in the last three or so weeks.  The baby...

Friday at last. However faffing about with the podcast, and Robin and I were only finally done with it at 5pm. Went for a bit of a walk down to the sea at some point. Also chatted with Mum. By the end of the day I was very grateful to see the end of it. Not all well however, the poet interview was a bit marred by the sound quality and sibilant esses. I did my best by adjusting the EQ on the Audacity program. The poet is a bit miffed that I did not choose to re-record parts of it. So felt like I had worked all week for not very much.  Stil... publish and be damned.  However it was Friday night and we went to The Old Boot. I had reserved a table but they had screwed it all up and we had to skip between tables, this compounded by a fair amount of rudeness from the staff. Very unusual there. All made me rather cross. Still we had a good night, and lots of pals turned up. Delores, Andy, Steve, Patrick, Debbie, Yvonne and Brian, and Chris -- recovered now from a scare yesterday caus...

Up and a bit of preparation for recording with Robin. Then off to attend my life drawing class. Adele was there, having had to walk to class today. Patrick had kindly taken Chris off in the car to A&E with chest pains. Soon found out that he was okay, luckily.   Having wondered if they would ever feature a male model, I got what I'd wished for. Men, it turns out, are different shapes. My first few efforts were hopeless, but it slowly improved. Toby called me while I was drawing in the hushed room so had ask him to call back. Lorraine meanwhile off to Eastbourne to do more pottery. This class not so tilted at beginners and they just had to get on with their projects, which she found a little daunting. Home just after noon, and soon was recording with Robin. Then I immediately joined the Understory Conversation. Good news about one of the group's health which had been a cause for concern. Otherwise a cheery meeting. Cooked, and didn't fancy doing any editing this evening....

Recording with Robin this morning, and a bit of to-ing and fro-ing with this episode's guest poet, who I later sent the interview to.  In the evening, Patrick and Adele and Steve came around for the reading of Richard III, we started a bit too late sat in the garden reading the first act, eating crisps and having a beer. Then had dinner, and repaired indoors. But at around ten, we'd only got through about half,  so we decided to reconvene next week to finish it off. A strange play, where Richard is made to seem absolutely obnoxious, he gets a poor press.

Editing today. Your ears wilt after a while. Took a nice walk by the sea for a break around lunchtime. Big cauliflower heads of cumulous clouds gathering inland, which resulted in some nice outbreaks of thunder further inland. Lorraine busy, off to her personal trainer then running about seeing Pat and Maureen, and going around to Beth and James's place. I spoke to Mum. In the evening, I cooked, and then a spot more editing while Lorraine played piano downstairs. TV. Bed. Below. Inland there were puffy white clouds.

A bit more rain overnight, then this morning, Lorraine and I both woke at 7:30. I got up and we had breakfast before I hurried off to Seaford station, and I zoomed up to West Hampstead, then walked up to Hampstead station to meet Mum. A gorgeous warm day. We went for a little walk about and happened on the White Bear pub, which I had been to a bazillion years ago. It contained lots of pictures of white bears, and was empty when we got there apart from a nice barmaid from Calgary in Canada. I told her I'd been there. Mum and I settled into a corner and had a couple of drinks and shared a bit of food. Just lovely to be in there, with the sun coming through the windows and plenty to talk about as we'd only seen each other online for some time. I showed her some pics of Beth's baby shower, and about my reading and Scotland and so on. She liked Carolyn's dress lots. She also gave me some jewellery for Lorraine -- two rings -- which Lorraine absolutely loved.  Fond farewells ...

Slow morning, gradually crept up, tidied the kitchen and had breakfast. Sat out on the patio under the parasol all afternoon, and Beth came over and hung out with us, which was lovely. She likes talking through the baby business with Lorraine lots, and I really like hearing about it too.  I also caught up with doing some of this blog, and called Mum to organise seeing her tomorrow in Hampstead. Otherwise today was a happy day of rest. In the evening some distant thunder and lightning, and two heavy showers of rain, from storms heading across the Channel from France. The driest spring for 67 years apparently. I stood in it as it was falling, in big warm drops but not the steady downpour we need. Still better than nothing. My lightning tracker going off all the time, with thunder in the channel. We have yellow roses in the front garden which look amazing when next to irises.

A gloriously sunny day, with a cooling breeze. Very busy this morning with Lorraine and I readying the house and food and the garden furniture sorted for the baby shower for Beth. Julie, James's mum came over early to help, as did Beth's old friend Laura. Lorraine collected Pat and Maureen and lots of Beth's friends began arriving.  The men -- Patrick, James's brother Lorrezo and old friend Callum and I went to the Old Boot while the ladies did shower stuff. Callum kindly gave Pat and I a lift in his car. We had a bite to eat and a couple of drinks, before heading back when summoned by the ladies.  A cheery scene greeted us, with Beth's pals from Uni, Eliza and Emily as well as Laura and old Brighton friends like Amy Tamplin, and Lene, and Erin, and Amy and Neris she'd acted with in Vagabond Skies and probs a few other things. Julie's sister Mandy was there, Callum's wife Chloe, and Beth's auntie, Heather and of course Maureen too. They'd been pl...

Friday and some time this morning to finalise what I was going to read tonight and collect together a few books and so on. Lorraine really busy, shopping with James for the shower tomorrow, doing the last stitches of the secret project, ferried Pat and Maureen from the pub with their new friend also called Maureen. After a wee snooze, I caught the half five train to Lewes, and sauntered over to the Elephant and Castle and sat quietly for a bit and drank a shandy.  Today was the launch of Robin's The Mayday Diaries  and she had been kind enough to ask me to read with her. She also asked Catherine Smith to join us. We discussed beforehand that we wanted to make it fairly informal, and a bit chatty like the podcast. When Nick and Robin arrived, we went upstairs and Robin and I arranged the chairs for the reading. Palo arrived early, with two prints which we put on chairs to be seen. I joked to Palo that she was my show and tell. Soon people were turning up. Many of the audie...

Lots to do and not much energy.  Various emails and messages and thinking about the reading tomorrow and Robin's book launch and started the editing the Richard Scott interview.  Lorraine and I drove off to Beth's to collect our strimmer, and I cut the unruly lawn using this and the manual lawn mower and cleaned the pond filter and did lots of laundry and other housework. On Saturday there is going to be a Baby Shower for Beth at our house, with lots of guests so things have to be got straight. Lorraine busy completing the 'secret project' she has been doing.  A doze this afternoon for half an hour, while listening to a podcast about Robert Aickman. It's making me want to read his brilliant 'strange stories' over again. Reading them for the first time a few years ago,  inspired me to write more stories.   In the evening Lorraine and I listened to Adele's interview on Crozier's creatives, talking about stained glass, and she also chose a track from Pa...

Up fairly early, and a proper breakfast with Lorraine. Then Lorraine went off to do Rhyme time and I interviewed the poet Richard Scott. I really liked him and his work. Toby called shortly before this from Japan. Later I spoke to Mum and arranged to see her next Monday. Also Carl called, having got home at 1.00am last night. I did a few bits of tidying, and putting suitcases back in the loft but was generally quite shattered and confined myself to listening to a podcast about my favourite horror-type writer Robert Aickman. Very happy to be at home today, and potter about getting stuff done. Lorraine zoomed off at tea time to Eastbourne and collected the pottery she'd made. Lovely stuff and I was proud of her. Lorraine experimenting with new highly healthy recipes with beans and pulses and veggies and feta and so on. A few episodes of Frasier and an early night. We're almost on the final series now. Boo. Lorraine's first ever pots...  

Off to London this morning to see Bob and Carl on what was Carl's 67th birthday. I met Bob first and we found a pub to sip some soft drinks and then, having received a message, met Carl loitering outside the National Portrait Gallery. Under a leather jacket, he was sporting a Munch's scream, teeshirt except the figure was Charlie Brown. Off to the pub for a quick pint in the Chandos before we returned to look at the Munch portrait exhibition in the NPG. We all enjoyed this lots -- really absorbing and psychological portraits. Carl zooming about ahead of course, and Bob and I a bit more methodical. We were also pointed to another room we paid particular attention to a room full of Stanisław Wyspiański (1869-1907) pictures also excellent.  Mainly though the day was about talking, and catching up with each other and hear about the families. Bob's daughter Millie about to graduate, Carl's Ellie pressing on with her podcast with her pal Jade, called Really F*cking Trying -- ...

Not on a train, a joy in itself. Popped into to see Beth and James and Pat and Maureen. We had a slow morning, grateful to just be at home. Chatted with Mum too. We did some food shopping, I nipped out at Stratheden Court to drop off Pat and Maureen's few bits of shopping. They waved at me from the communal room, where Vera Lynn music was playing loudly and there were a couple of dozen people wearing plastic Union flag bowler hats. Pat waved at me, and I went in and Maureen demanded a kiss, then there was a chorus from some of the other ladies wanting one too. I made off unscathed. Worked till 11 o'clock on the 'secret project', which has involved a great deal of needlework, and finally finished my part of it. Lorraine more to do. To bed.

A vegetarian Scottish breakfast this morning, with a circle of vegetarian haggis. Shared a table with Leslie and Derek, and there was a round of applause when Ron and Carolyn entered.  After fond farewells, Lorraine and I hopped into the taxi at ten past ten, and were driven back by a cheery driver to Inverness station. I nipped away to buy some sandwiches and we caught the train to Edinburgh on this three-hour journey, through beautiful Highland country, we discovered that we had screwed up the timing, and would miss the London train at Edinburgh by a few minutes.  Lorraine managed to rebook on a slightly later train but a dash of unwanted stress. Managed to get on the Kings Cross train at Edinburgh without incident, and sat in windowless seats by the luggage, for the long journey down. Changed at St Pancras, East Croydon and Brighton. Home not long before ten, fairly worn out. Brian fine, and we were happy and grateful to be home, having travelled the best part of the length...

Lorraine and I up after a decent night's sleep in a comfy bed, in good time for breakfast in the Draumossie Hotel -- where we forked down a Scottish breakfast (with tasty circles of haggis)  and then returned to the room, to squeeze into our , and then a bit more work on the 'secret project'. Lorraine also framed up a heart celebrating their wedding date she had cross stitched. Then we squeezed into our wedding clothes (I always put on weight in Scotland) and went below, where there were lots of men in kilts and so on. Into the function room, which looked simple and elegant. Ron standing at the front, and Carolyn proceeded by a piper and led down the aisle by her brother John. There is something about the sound of the bagpipes that I find inexplicably moving. It's well known that bagpipes are essentially noisy tartan octopuses but the sound brings tears to my eyes in a good way. Carolyn looked exceedingly elegant in a wonderful dress. And Ron kilted, bright eyed and che...

This morning we left the apartment opposite Tescos and the Job Centre. The place had been very convenient for the centre of Inverness, and the river and so on, but we found it hard to love. We went down to the cafe nearby, had coffee and were picked up by a cheery cabbie, who took us to the rather grand looking Drumossie Hotel , outside Inverness. We arrived early, and sat in the grand sitting room, and had a sandwich. Soon we were allowed into our nice room, and we unpacked. Could glimpse the Moray Firth from its windows. We drifted down to the sitting room and met lots of people, Carolyn and Ron obviously, and some of Ron's family, and old friends of ours Leslie and Derek (Derek had lived on Guernsey as a child). Lorraine and I had dinner, and we returned for more chatting. Everyone pushed off to bed early, although Ron was staying up for a bit so I thought I hang out with him chatting too. He bought me another whisky to further to my education, it was twelve years old, and smoot...

A day in Inverness and really nice not to be on a train. I nipped out early and bought some bread, and we had a relaxed breakfast, and we went shopping in Inverness, looking at books and tartan scarves and so on. I  bought her a little silver ring with a non-precious but attractive Scottish Iona stone set in it. In the afternoon, Lorraine did some more work on the cross stitch for the wedding. I went for a walk along the river Ness to the Ness Isles. Lovely houses, and soon you felt you were far from the city.  Across a small bridge to the Ness Isles in the river, I walked along and saw the monster (below) lumbering up the bank. In the evening we went to Mangrove, an Indian restaurant. We'd fancied an Indian meal all day. This one served no alcohol, so I had ginger beer. Nice food though. We were in the window across the street at a small purple building called 'Private Eyes' some kind of pole dancing gentlemen's club that opened late at night. Yuk. We sauntered home, c...