under another sun

Off colour and coughing this morning. Hard to separate the hypochondria from reality. I returned a dab of poo through the post to the bowel screening folks. It seems rude really. Keith and I started what was supposed to be seven days work with Americans this afternoon. The job was only confirmed at noon, and we were given a briefing late afternoon, on a particularly depressing medical matter. We were asked to reconvene at 10pm and where -- announced as good news -- the project was biffed till January. Somewhat galling as we had both put off other work to do this project. Business dealings in the last week or so are chaotic.  Lorraine at home, and officially off sick. She did, however, conduct a Governor's meeting from bed this evening, where it was officially confirmed she was going to finish in the summer. Otherwise she seems a mite brighter today. Sam prepping his trip up to Scotland tomorrow, and went out shopping and bought Lorraine chocolate and treats. I uploaded the new epis...

A good night's sleep. And greatly improved, if not quite human something very close such as Homo erectus (pictured) or Australopithecus africanus .  Felt much better all round, and improved enough to get on with finishing editing the first draft of my interview with Alireza, did some copy, resolved some freelance stuff and seem to have negotiated work for December, and generally got my act together. In a much better frame of mind.  Lorraine had a horrid day at school. There is covid breaking out in her classes, a parent having a go at her, etc. All I can do is listen, and serve up a diner with mashed potatoes as one of the ingredients. This seems to help. Spoke to Anton, who had a major health checkup today, and needs to go for more. He has invited me to pop around for a pizza tomorrow night.   Below today's selfies. (Okay they are Homo erectus reconstructions, I nicked from the natural history museum site). 

A spot of writing, and working through a surprisingly long list of things to be done, and prepping for my interview with Alireza Abiz this evening. Lovely man, and fascinating to hear about his childhood in Iran. After the revolution, for example, the books in school all changed, and a school administrator took a book little Ali had taken from the school library, about the French resistance in the second world war, and torn it in half in front of him.  A walk this afternoon to the fort, gorgeous pearlescent day. Happy to be indoors with Lorraine tonight.  

Plop! That's the sound of me slipping like a lithe young otter into the river having been released back into the wild after Keith and I finished the job to everyone's satisfaction. I had spent till 8pm waiting for feedback, but this was easily dealt with. Meanwhile I interviewed Alireza Abiz, an Iranian poet, translator and author about the Sarah Mcguire prize for which he was chair of judges, and about world poetry. A lovely man, and once edited it will be a good interview. Keith and I may well be teaming up again soon, he has been my lucky mascot when it comes to earning doubloons lately, that's for sure. Drifted downstairs to watch the penultimate episode of The Wire with Lorraine. All is good. Lorraine dragging herself through the week -- and it is only Tuesday. I can't wait till Easter and her having some proper time off. A few bits of short walks between bits of work. But not my full 10k.