under another sun

Chicago by air and river To Island Airport by cab. Porter Airlines very nice and professional, but it was a prop plane which chugged through the cloud a lot of the time, which I didn't particularly like. Chicago grey and rainy when we arrived at Midtown airport. Toby given his traditional hard time at US customs, having to field annoying questions like: 'so, they teach English in Canada, do they?' To the Ritz Carlton by cab. The clump of enormous buildings downtown seeming a bit disappointing from afar, until you got amongst them. Passed Navy Pier and the W hotel, which is the only part of Chicago I knew from my business trip several years ago. Pulled up at the Ritz Carlton, and was warmly greeted. Swanky and cool hotel. Lorraine and I have a wonderful room on the 20th floor. After a half an hour crash out, Toby, Lorraine and I made our way up the Majestic Mile, grabbing a sandwich before making for the new Millennium Park park. Two stunning and monumental works of public a...

Brighton bursts into life A great start to the day, getting a note from Catriona in Guernsey saying that my Guernsey anthology proposal is well received so far, and will be taken to the next arts commission meeting. Fingers crossed. Also worked on my Skelton story for a couple of hours. Anton, Oskar and Anne called around and we all went to see the Children's Parade. Anton had to double back to get his camera, and I ended up having to carry Oskar after he fell down and bumped his head. Quite touched that he turned to me for comfort. Brighton sunny and full of life, on the first day of the Brighton Festival. This year's theme was the elements so there were people as fishes and birds and insects and clouds and so on. Loads of drumming and dozens of schools parading through, and half the town out to see them. Noticed Spooner pushing a pushchair cigarette in hand as part of the parade. I bumped into him and Ali afterwards and had a brief chat. He is looking very perky and well. Lor...