under another sun

Counting my blessings So here I am on the last day of the year, counting my blessings, and looking back at the year. Best thing is that Mum has completed her chemotherapy, after her cancer op in the spring, and is well and returning to her old self. Mase has done a great job of staying positive and taking care of her during her recovery. Happily Toby and Romy are both fine and doing well too... somewhere in Central America catching some rays and culture. Turns out that Lorraine is someone to whom being nurturing, and emotionally generous comes as naturally as leaves do to a tree. I am very lucky. This year too I became a Godfather to Oskar and Klaudia, an event I found surprisingly moving. I continue to be blessed with many friends, and it would take many, many blog entries to do them all justice. In 2008 I laid the foundations for a different life. My move to being a freelance writer continues to be sustainable, and I have balanced interesting, often well-paid work with being able to ...

On air Zombie morning. A trapped nerve in my back kept me wretchedly awake till 4am, when I decided to take one of my emergency flight-only diazepams. By the time it came to do the radio show, I was okay. Popped down the road as the BBC is less than five minutes walk away and was given a cup of water and led into the studio with little ceremony. I talked to Allison about men without children, and after about 20 minutes she asked me to read a poem, Thought Daughter. I felt very relaxed, and this not all to do with Allison's professionalism. It just felt very natural, and I'd like to do more of it. Luckily they have asked me to send in other ideas if I have any, so I will. Who knows what will grow from these acorns. On another note, I have grown a beard for the first time in my life. It is not a full-on Father Christmas beard, but a small and tidy one. I'm think it is quite butch. And the kitten rubs her face on it, and Lorraine has said she thinks it is a good thing. Of cour...

I'm on the radio For avid PK fans with time on their hands... I will be on BBC Southern Counties Radio Tomorrow Wednesday 1st October, talking about childlessness. I'm on the Allison Fearns show, not sure yet about the exact time, probably a little after 2.00PM UK time, which is currently GMT +1. It is streamed live here .

Cat sneezes, radio wheezes Calliope is sneezing like a docker, and looking wussy. She had been sneezing a bit but it has got worse. I phoned Top Cat Vets. If there is no improvement tomorrow she is going there to be sorted. However she still had enough gusto to attack ears, dance on laptop etc. as I did my first hour's work this morning, and later on during the day. Took Klaudia into school again as Anna is still feeling ill. Klaudia a bit difficult on the way to school: hiding her arms instead of holding my hand when crossing roads, and taking her coat off, refusing to carry her bag, and creative dawdling. Once we arrived at the school she was back to normal and holding my hand properly. Handed her on to the beautiful teacher with some relief. Contacted today by the local BBC radio Southern Counties Radio and I will be going in next Wednesday to contribute to the Allison Fearns show. This is quite pleasing. After literally being grabbed off the street by her, I am on the show agai...

Radio interlude Not every day that you are grabbed off the street and bundled into a radio station. I was mooching off to look at gym clothes -- what do people wear in gyms? -- prior to joining LA Fitness, when a woman who turned out to be Allison Fearns , a presenter at BBC Southern Counties stopped me in the street. In seconds I was in the studio, and then as the strains of Street life by Randy Crawford died away, I was being interviewed live by Allison in her show's "streetlife" spot - where they simply grab someone off the street and interview them. They told me the interview would be 5-10 minutes but it seemed to go on quite a bit longer. Naturally this was all catnip for me, and I somehow (arf) managed to talk fluently about my life and works, and mentioned my poetry and Skelton Yawngrave too. Talked for what seemed about double the allotted time. Came out of it feeling very pleased with myself, and feeling that it was some sort of sign. They said I must come in a...

A happy Monday Lovely to sleep in until 8:30 this morning. I am feeling worn out and the prospect of being able to have a week of zzzzzzs in the morning is entirely wonderful. Woke up to some very interesting email from Sprinkles. Then Anton and I went to the local BBC radio for a chat and to be shown how to use a small MP3 recorder. We met Neil Pringle and Lanie Whiting of BBC breakfast team, and very nice they were too. Neil gave us some good, practical advice on what to record and what to think about when recording. Anton and I will do some recording on the first leg of the Dragon walk two Saturdays from now - and we'll see how it goes. It's all good fun. Both quite cheerful about this. Went off to a shop and got a cable to connect my iPod to my stereo, and a new phono stage which Anton assured me I needed for the turntable. Also looking at TVs as it would be nice to have one that isn't the size of a matchbox. Home and Anton kindly set up the equipment before having to g...