under another sun

Bobbing and weaving today. Organising a few days freelance in London next week with Fernanda, which will be fine. Chats with Mum arranging to see her and Mas next week, and messaging with Carl and Toby, who was invigilating an exam (or as his autocorrect put it, 'invigorating' an exam). Also got some detailed feedback from Charlotte on Sin Cycle , which is very thought provoking and useful. Otherwise, worked on the Centaur libretto, and completed the first draft of the next scene. Off for a walk in the afternoon to blow off the cobwebs and I racked up my 10k steps, listening to a Mayo and Kermode podcast. Lorraine off all day and evening at a Education conference near Arundel. Ate fish and chips tonight with mushy peas, and watched Professor Green's documentary's about Working Class White Men, which was insightful and sad. Then I toyed about with stained glass window designs, listening to David Bowie's last album, Blackstar , which I think stands up with the bes...

Hatches thoroughly battened down this afternoon, with a good deal of icy rain turning to sleet and a bit of snow by the time Lorraine got home. She'd sent everyone home on time from school. I spent the lovely day at my desk fiddling with poems and working on the novel MS, apart from a quick toddle to the bread shop, and a quick chat with mum. Watching Trump's press conference, it occurred to me that the Americans have actually elected the Devil. It is extraordinary that such a nakedly evil presence has gained such power in this world. A glimpse out of the kitchen window in the evening. Didn't fancy it, and the cats when forced to go out for reasons of personal hygiene, soon bolted back in looking affronted. Listening to music off and on today. Working to Reflection by Brian Eno, one of his better ambient pieces, which is praise indeed, and Bowie's Blackstar album, his final one, which is a quite jazzy in places. The song   Blackstar itself is becoming a favourit...

Lorraine still enjoying work, though the six o'clock starts aren't so clever. Woke up twice, once when my phone peeped with news of David Bowie's death, and a second time blearily to find Lorraine had left me a cup of tea, like a tea fairy this morning before heading off to school. Still warm too.  I'm not one for mourning people who I never met too much, but I did feel sad at Bowie's passing or, to put it another way, grateful for his having been here in the first place. There are different Bowies, and while I quite liked his early incarnations I found it all a bit too pantomime to be truly taken to heart, unlike the frowny prog I liked at the time. However there were several of his albums I absolutely loved. Young Americans, Station to Station and most of all, Heroes . In later years I've come to like most of the earlier stuff too. And I had just started enjoying his Blackstar album too.  Otherwise I woke early and tried to write some poems or bits of a...

An unremarkable day doing bits of work for the agency and chatting to a few folks on the phone. Sonia arrived and shared some theories about Incas, which made me laugh. Much more cheerful as the day progressed. A short walk too. Listening to David Bowie's Backstar which is his new album. Rather good in parts. Happy to have reached the end of the week. Lorraine really happy to be home, and to have successfully negotiated her first week as a headteacher. Below a quick walk this afternoon but soon had to return home.