under another sun

Made breakfast, after going out into the garden again and picking fresh blueberries. Lorraine had to take Maureen and Pat in the car for Maureen to have a scan. After a few bits of tinkering on the full poetry manuscript, I then made off to the gym for an early and rather sweaty session.  Home, a bite to eat, and then I caught a crowded bus to East Dene where I was soon picked up by Robin and she drove us to The Beachy Head pub, with fine views down to the sea.  Here we had a couple of drinks, a few crisps and peanuts, did a bit of recording with a microphone, as is traditional for our season finale. We also finalised our plans for next season, which will be less intense from our point of view. As ever Robin and I are on the same page. Then a bus back, a short and beautiful journey, and then home before six. Lorraine and I went into the greenhouse and picked tomatoes and several giant cucumbers, which Lorraine is going to make into her justly famed cucumber relish. A bit more ...

Off this morning to Beachy Head. Beautiful drive, only about twenty minutes east of Seaford, and a lovely place to visit. While it made me  feel a bit exposed: my open spaces with no cover uneasiness, I still loved it there. Toby and Lorraine ambled about by the edge, and I found another route to explore nearby, snapping various views, passing the Beachy Head pub where Robin and I had recorded the last episode of Season 2 on flying ant day last summer.  Couldn't have been a better day for it. Then down the z-bends following the coast then back to Seaford. Installed Toby for a quick coffee and Lorraine and I did some shopping in Morrisons. Home and preparation for the barbecue. Innis and Rosie, came around, and somewhat later Beth and James. Toby and Innis had lots of book chat going.Toby liked James, who he'd never met before. James and Beth are making a list of must watch films, and Innis and Toby were keen to add to that. Toby suggested The Terminator among others. A fair am...

Lorraine's penultimate week started today. A few bits of work, then the gym this morning. At teatime I made off to Eastbourne, where I met Robin at the station. We were going to do some recording in a pub, but every venue was not quite right in town. Every likely spot outside was also home to a straining air conditioner. We jumped in a taxi and went up to the Beachy Head pub. I had never been there before. We sat outside on a bench looking at the amazing view with Seaford head and Brighton in the far distance in the lowering sun. Bloody hot still. We clicked on the recorder and began our end of season banter, but were beset by dozens of flying ants crawling over us and the table and through the open packets of crisps. But it was a small price to pay. Then a celebratory pint to celebrate before a taxi (difficult to obtain) back. It was nice to actually meet in person to record, and also to actually slap ourselves on the back a bit for our efforts. I managed to miss my train at Eastb...