under another sun

A slightly sluggish start for me, getting to the end of a bruising week. Lorraine left for Leeds to spend a couple of days with Sam this morning. Betty back to London for a day too. I was left to my work writing an e-blast. This done, I took myself out for a chilly afternoon walk in town. I dove into one or two second hand music and bookshops, which as I had no glasses with me, I found it hard to read the titles. I had plans to meet Matt tonight, but as he was unavailable, and with Anton away I opted for a quiet night in the warm. Watching an episode of Space: Above and Beyond and channel hopping in a desultorily fashion. Downloaded Messiaen's  Quartet for the End of Time  composed during his time in a prisoner of war camp listening to birds, and scored for the few musicians among his camp: clarinet, violin and cello, with himself on piano. Rather extraordinary, and is a favourite of Mum's I think. Spiritual questing on a foundation of profound unease. Lovely stuff. New ...

Feeling brighter today, and working in Tavistock Square again, with the day mainly being given over to parasitical worms. Working on my poems in the train with my new fountain pen, which is making me actually enjoy the act of writing again. Lunchtime walking in the square, with the sun emerging to dapple the fallen leaves and squirrels scavenging picturesquely. An oasis from the traffic. Lots of floral tributes around the Gandhi statue, perhaps left there from his birthday on October 2nd. I talked to Mum and Mase who have had five young Americans staying with them over the weekend, who had only just left. They were looking forward to a quiet afternoon. Home late, after my vermiform day, and pleased to be there. Lorraine and I gaped at more Space: Above and Beyond, and the end of The Great British Bake Off. Betty had pre-ordered the new album by Martha Wainwright, which arrived this evening as a birthday present.

Off this morning to work with my chums in Tavistock Square. Train delayed as usual, and felt very tired this morning. However, I had a civilised beer at lunch with Karam and Steve to celebrate my birthday, chatting among other things about the amazing Felix Baumgartner jump. His courage was incredible. But then I guess there was no other way down. Somewhat less heroically, I spent most of the day happily thinking about advertising concepts for worming pills, and some time looking at pictures of dogs' and cats' intestinal worms, which was every bit as repulsive as you'd imagine. Home, listening to the ' Wittertainment ' of the Kermode and Mayo podcast. Once arrived, and having returned home past the Church of Christ the King VS street drinkers standoff, and Lorraine and I watched yet another Above and Beyond episode. I like it just as much now as I did when I first saw it on TV, strangely still a cult show, which was devised by people who had worked on the X-F...