under another sun

A call at 6:30 from Steve in the Waggon and Horses sounding a bit shaken and telling me that Paul had died in the night, and if I could let mum know as he thought she'd find the news upsetting. Steve and Paul had come to Mason's funeral and both are regulars and friends of Mum's at the Waggon. Too early to call Mum, so I waited till 9ish to tell her the news, then called Steve back. He'd received a call early this morning from Paul, and had rushed around to see him, but found him. He gave him CPR for 15 minutes, till the ambulance turned up, but poor Paul was already dead. Mum was obviously saddened by it, and said she was going to the pub this afternoon.   I found the whole thing somewhat triggering. Something about a sudden death, involving Mum, the day after Mason's birthday and I felt very stressed over breakfast. Lorraine gave me a hug, but it was a shadow over the day, and I only felt happier when I talked again to Mum in the evening. She'd been to the pub...

Sleep paralysis again last night. I am sort of conscious but half asleep and unable to move my body before I wake up properly. Disconcerting but the morning fixed everything. After L and I had breakfast we did some gardening. I manfully mowed and strimmed the lawn before it got too hot because we are in the grip of yet another heatwave.  Then after a light lunch, to the supermarket, then an opportunist doze, then I lit the charcoal for the barbecue and cooked a chicken (which turned out to be remarkably succulent, things taste different cooked over charcoal) plus burgers and sausages. Beth, James and baby Enzo with us, and fun just to hang out. Enzo adorable of course. Beth well too. Nice to have a drink and chat with James who allowed himself a couple of ciders. I forgot to take any photos because of having a small brain. In other news all four gulls have left the roof now, and it is nice to be outside without getting dogs' abuse from the pesky things. 

Took my poetry admin by the scruff of its neck. I write my poetry on the Scrivener program, and have done for some time. For various reasons I ended up with duplicate files and occasionally different versions in various folders. By the end of the day I had pretty much de-duplicated, and saved everything into its latest version. It's quite a long process. I how have a giant folder containing poems that have been published, another which is work in progress -- assorted unfinished stuff -- and the current big collection MS I am working on. Feel all clean and in control now. Everything simplified and up to date.  Lorraine off with Beth and Enzo this morning to go to Marmoosh to have some time together, and get Beth out of the house. Then at lunchtime Lorraine brought Pat around and drove Maureen off for a hospital appointment. Beth and Enzo and Pat sat in the living room. Lorraine gave me a snack from Marmoosh I nibbled at during the Understory Conversation, which really was thought pr...

Off this morning to another masterclass this morning. Melissa was trying to shake up how we approached drawing. The best exercise for me was covering a piece of paper with charcoal and then using an eraser to rub out and reveal form. While not fabulous, I quite like the picture down below where I did that. There was a straightforward paint the life figure it with a watercolour and brush - mine was pretty poor, then another go with pastels -- we were given three each of bright colours. Another poor effort for me. Then it was drawing with ink. I was expecting to be quite good at this, but the ink pen was the old dipping sort, which dried up after making a line of two centimetres. Then I found myself having a go with a gull feather that had been turned into a pen, which produced great splotches of ink. These Melissa had collected, much to her husband's disgust, from the streets of Seaford. This gave me a new found interest in the herring gulls on our roof. If I collected their feather...

Awake early, with thunder rolling in the distance, but only a light, brief downpour here. Then someone trouser called Lorraine at about 5:30 and I was awake from then on. A quiet interlude, Lorraine and I down in the garage, sorting and tidying for a while. It is beginning to take shape as a place we can do crafty arty things in now that all the shelves are made. We need another trip to the dump though. Lorraine went to Squirrel's End to be with Beth and the baby while James had a much needed sleep. Beth after the c-section has to move very carefully, and is still on painkillers. The Midwife visited this morning, however, and reassured them that everything was going well.  Meanwhile I sat by the sea. Felt a bit restless but the walk helped. Beth sent me a message that she wants me to come and cuddle Vincenzo soon. All is well. Below Lorraine and I were having breakfast, playing Wordle etc. and I snapped these vases of dried flowers we have in our kitchen. 

Slept heavily after yesterday's massage. Another day on tenterhooks. Beth being induced and so on. Lorraine and I spent the day thinking she was going to go into labour at any moment. I can't really imagine what it will be like for Beth and James.  After doing some writing this morning, rather a good morning where I am having a few ahah moments. Pottered off the gym for a bit today, but having twinged my lower back earlier in the week I took it fairly easy on the cross trainer.  Very hot day and we are in a heatwave.  In the afternoon some work in the garage, and I built another of the metal shelving units. Only one more to go now. Pouring with sweat doing it. Then to meet Messrs H and H in the Evening Star. Telling them about the imminent birth. Lots of sagacious fatherly advice and a rather too graphic description of cutting the umbilical cord with a tiny pair of scissors from Peter.  We went to Fatto a Mano for a cheeky pizza, and went to the Green Dragon, a Brigh...

An electrician came around first thing this morning, we have two lights on the blink, and are going to replace the hob as it has a tendency to spontaneously turn itself off. The electrician instantly got my back up by talking over me when I was talking to Lorraine. Lorraine smoothed it out a little, but I suspect that particular sparky and I will never be close.  After breakfast, Lorraine off to her personal trainer. I wrote a little, but found myself not able to concentrate so I went to the gym which helped, and I was able to focus a bit better later.  Beth went into hospital today, and was kept in to be induced. Lorraine especially a bit on tenterhooks because of this. However by the end of the day there was no news. But Beth cheery and comfortable, and James with her. The Tobster's birthday today, he's off to a Brazilian restaurant this evening and sounding cheery. He was rather attracted by the idea of Beth having her baby on his birthday. She didn't however, and was ke...

Another beautiful sunny day. I did some writing in the morning, and Lorraine machined some curtains, made bread and played piano among other things.  The afternoon given over to driving over to the tip, with lots of stuff from the garage. House-poo done, we went around to see Beth and James and had coffee in her back garden as jackdaws chuckled, and Mickey the cat zoomed about. Beth doing well, but very keen to have the baby, given that the due date was Monday and it's now Sunday.  Home again, and we worked more in the garage. I built another shelving unit, and Lorraine did gardening of all kinds while I got to work with a rubber hammer, and had percussive fun bashing the metal. This done, I cooked and we had dinner watching the film Conclave , a drama about the politics of electing a Pope. Rather interesting movie, and we both liked it. Below shelving units. Assembled rather well even if I say so myself. We have two more of them, and we are going to put everything on them. Be...

A great night's sleep. Tidied the kitchen, made breakfast, then prepared for a recording with Robin, discussing poetry about vampires, John Keats, Hope Mirrlees, and Father's Day. All went well and we had some fun. The publisher's publicist wrote to me about the Vampire book, wondering if we could delay covering it till a bit later in the year, but it was already done by then.  I am going to be a last minute replacement reader, in a poetry reading in Arundel with Robin next Monday, which is Beth's due date. Then I sloped off to Pomegranate to meet Lorraine and Pat and Maureen for an early lunch. Maureen ended up giving me half hers, luckily she had the same,  sourdough bread with smashed avocado with smoked salmon sprinkled with seeds and chilli flakes. Actually a prefect little lunch. Maureen always takes her hearing aid out in the cafe, so we communicate with her by pulling faces and bellowing. Then back home to work on Gordon Road -- a really good session and made a ...

Knee still at me and hurt overnight. Otherwise a happy morning, free of eye pain, and free to do what I want. I called Mum and had a nice chat with her, and I am going to go up and stay over with her next week.  Excellent news from James, who had landed a good job project managing AI and cybersecurity for a telecoms firm after a protracted search, and he won't have to start till a few weeks after the baby's born. Very relieved and pleased for him and Beth. He told me that he was pleased to get this job as it was somewhat future proofed. Now is a great time to get to know about AI. I pottered at my desk, trying to grope my way back into a flow state, but not producing anything concrete. Also reflecting on how useful Steve's feedback had been on Gordon Road. Lorraine had a bit of well earned down time, sitting in the garden, after sorting out a few bits and pieces. At tea time, Steve reappeared, with Patrick and Adele and we polished off the remainder of Richard III. A comple...

7am call from Maureen, that Pat was having trouble with his catheter. Lorraine zoomed around, and I simply fell back asleep like a doghead. Toby called today, showing me a rushing river and gorgeous verdant hills in Japan. After Lorraine returned, and we'd breakfasted, we went off to Beth and James's house and hung out doing a few jobs, a fair amount of carrying things up the stairs. Lorraine and I papered the new baby's wall with wallpaper with foxes and rabbits and badgers and snails and frogs on. James and I popped back to my house to get a drill and buy some compost en route. Back at Squirrel's End we split into teams, Lorraine and James building the big cot in the baby's room. Beth sat with me, while I drilled a few holes into their bedroom windows and put in some bedside lights. Beth had bought these and they give you a multitude of lighting options, almost disco like. Beth doing well but rather drained now she is now in the last three or so weeks.  The baby...

A gloriously sunny day, with a cooling breeze. Very busy this morning with Lorraine and I readying the house and food and the garden furniture sorted for the baby shower for Beth. Julie, James's mum came over early to help, as did Beth's old friend Laura. Lorraine collected Pat and Maureen and lots of Beth's friends began arriving.  The men -- Patrick, James's brother Lorrezo and old friend Callum and I went to the Old Boot while the ladies did shower stuff. Callum kindly gave Pat and I a lift in his car. We had a bite to eat and a couple of drinks, before heading back when summoned by the ladies.  A cheery scene greeted us, with Beth's pals from Uni, Eliza and Emily as well as Laura and old Brighton friends like Amy Tamplin, and Lene, and Erin, and Amy and Neris she'd acted with in Vagabond Skies and probs a few other things. Julie's sister Mandy was there, Callum's wife Chloe, and Beth's auntie, Heather and of course Maureen too. They'd been pl...

Woke up in New Scotland Yard and after cups of tea, went downstairs and joined all the others for breakfast. Lorraine and I had vegetarian English breakfasts and they were huge. Then got ready and went home. Travelling with Patrick and Adele, and Kate and Andrew. My top travelling tip is that to get to London Bridge station simply go to Charing Cross, there is a train there every three mins and it only takes five minutes to get there. Journey to Seaford fairly easy. Home and Beth and James arrived shortly afterwards while I was chatting to Mum. A cheery evening with them, ate chicken and salad. Talked lots about the forthcoming baby of course, which we are all deeply interested in. James very funny about being in the NCT group, and being unable to stop himself from being the class clown. Beth very much in nesting mode at the moment. They also brought some pressies for Lorraine for her birthday, mainly themed around pottery, which is Lorraine's current craze. Lorraine in the apron B...

Breakfast. Lorraine zooming off to do Story Time at the library, and take Pat and Maureen some fish and chips. A bright pleasant morning. Tobs and I went into the garden, and then went for a decent stroll by the sea. Passed Maureen and we waved at her. Then continued to Splash Point. There the sky, which had been steadily darkening, unleashed hail and icy rain on us quite enthusiastically. Stood dripping in a shelter for a bit, but ended up legging it back into town and going to a small cafe, one of those time travelling moments where you feel you have stepped back into the 1960. You are waved away from the counter, and when the person arrives, her first question is will we be paying together or separately. A quick beverage there, and then off to Pat and Maureen's place, where Lorraine was. Maureen on sparkly charming form, and both of them happy to see Toby. I don't think they've met him before -- but Maureen seems to think so. After a bit, Lorraine Toby and I made off and...

Poor Lorraine's Sunday started with me raging after weighing myself and finding, inexplicably, that after plenty of exercise, and moderated eating and drinking. I seem to have added weight. A later post-raging breakfast with Lorraine. I finished reading Peter Daniels book Old Men , which I enjoyed, and selected the poems and so on for the interview.   Then Morrisons to get our food and Pat and Maureen's stuff. Then after I dropped their food off  Lorraine drove us all home. Beth arrived soon too.  I went to the gym, and hair shirting it, pushed myself vindictively.  Then home, and helped Lorraine prepare food etc. for roast Sunday chicken dinner with Pat and Maureen, and Beth and James. I had very controlled portions of roast chicken etc. We sat at the table and all played a game of UNO which was fun.  Then Lorraine produced a sensational hazelnut frangipane and pear tart, which I had to have two pieces of.  Nice to see James, who I'd not seen for a bit. A...

Continued with the Brandt-Daroff exercises today, and felt a good deal improved, steady enough in fact for a half an hour walk after sunset and only felt like I was falling over once or twice.  Spent the morning recording with Robin, and the rest of the day editing, getting the first cut of the episode over to Robin at tea time. Robin told me she and Nick found themselves buying a car the other day, and that she is, this week, starting a course about becoming an end of life doula.  Meanwhile Betty and James had been in A&E in Brighton overnight. Beth having had worrying abdominal pains. However, this was due to a severe indigestion made worse by the baby pressing weirdly. Luckily,  all well.  Once up and breakfasted, Lorraine off to her personal trainer,  then to see Pat and Maureen and later took Beth back to the hospital for a scheduled scan, where they saw the baby sucking his thumb. I spent the day at my desk Lorraine home again, but just as I was starti...

Lorraine found out about tea time that Sam and Beth's grandmother Glenice had died today. She had been very close to Glenice, who been a head teacher, and had been really encouraging of Lorraine when she switched careers to teaching. But Lorraine had been feeling sad for the last few days knowing that her end was coming. I met Glenice a few times. Her kindness and intelligence were obvious, and I liked her immediately. She a quiet but strong Christian faith. Beth and Lorraine have often said she is a wise owl.  I was up not long after seven, to jot down a few bits for the last section of the Kenniad. After breakfast Lorraine and I got the bull by the horns, and went into the garage, to do a bit of sorting and moving in preparation for a tumble dryer which hopefully will be delivered next week. I had a very lazy afternoon. I began reading The Golem by Gustav Meyrink, which is atmospheric and interesting, ate some delicious celeriac and bean soup lorraine made, and slept for an hour...

Rainy most of the day. Mum said this evening that she woke up to a carpet of white snow up in Edgware.  Lorraine and I got up fairly early pulled the curtains on a grey sky, and made a moderately early breakfast. To the gym in the rain, leaving Lorraine to pull out her mat and did some stretches, and played some piano. The gym, meanwhile, was full of what I think of as January wankers cluttering up the equipment. My fightback against festive plumpness began in earnest. By February gym attendance will thin out again, and hopefully I will have done too. Home and as we were doing a roast, Lorraine asked me to pull some veggies from our patch. Some lovely short but sausagey carrots, and some very thin but tasty parsnips. After I'd showered and helped Lorraine prepare, Beth and James arrived, having collected Pat and Maureen. Beth and James sat with us chatting, mainly about the baby, putting names down for a nursery and so on. A tasty roast chicken and pork with lots of vegetables and ...

Boxing Day. A more relaxed start. Up and preparing turkey stock this morning, and then Lorraine put in the Turkey crown. At lunchtime, Mum arrived, having been driven down my Monika and Octay. A really cheery afternoon with them. Finally able to show mum around new Kenny towers, even into the garden despite the slippery paths. Monika and Octay brought lots of food, homemade Czech Christmas cookies, stollen bread, wine, open sandwiches and so on. They are lovely people, and very kind. We sat chatting int he kitchen. Pat and Maureen in the other room. Today's excitement. At one point there was a cry from the living room, and Lorraine went in and called me. Lorraine was putting Patrick into recovery position having found him on the floor with his eyes closed, and Maureen crying out about her leg. Turns out Patrick had a bit of a light headed moment standing up from the sofa and fell down, fall partly broken by Maureen. We picked him up and he was right as rain, and Maureen's leg w...

Mainly getting ready, collecting Pat and Maureen, doing some last minute shopping in Morrisons. Lorraine doing cooking. I made off this afternoon to Brighton, to deliver Anton the pressies that hadn't arrived in time. Quite enjoyed the interlude on the train, sipping a cappuccino on the way home to liven up a bit.  Home and Beth and James had arrived. We had a simple dinner, there was a present swapping. I did rather well with nice pressies from Beth and James: a sharp new cap and bottles of beer and a book of AI written horror, a bizarre and fascinating prospect. Happy now that all the pre-Christmas scrabbling is done, and Christmas is here.  I love this photo I took of Beth holding some Christmas decorations Lorraine had made; Maureen, Pat and Lorraine as Pat opens some socks, James brandishing his Christmas stocking.