under another sun

We were both up shortly after 7. Lorraine drove off to Bolney to attend the leaver's service at the church, and say hello to some of the children and parents. Children running up to her and giving her a hug, and she met some old pals Jo and Sue there. I had a good day's writing and editing, being decisive and making cuts and decisions. Off at lunchtime to go to the gym, then a leisurely salad with Lorraine, who then lurked in the garden when it was a bit cooler while I made off to Brighton. I walked up Guildford Street (one of the steep streets of Brighton) and called on Anton. We sloped off to the Crescent for a couple of beers, then past St Michael and All Angels all the way down to Preston Street and played a game of bones in The Brick. Anton had brought his chess set too, but we stuck to the dominoes. Apparently Anton has been studying chess a bit and has an ambition to be good at it. Anton's knee much improved, but he has a knee replacement booked in a few weeks and is...

Up early and recording with Robin. After four seasons of not featuring any of our own work, we decided to do that this time. A big decision as I don't want to jump the shark and I hope that it won't alienate our listeners but as we both have publications happening in the near future and the fact it is the going off on holiday episode, we felt it would be okay. So we recorded two sort of mini interviews, a bit less formal than our usual ones, with each other - and read three poems each.  After recording, quite a bit of editing, and also a long walk. Meanwhile Lorraine off to Bolney today, and went to a leaver's service in the church there. She loved this, seeing her former pupils on their last day. She went with Sarah, who has also left the school. Hugs from the new head, parents saying nice things to her. Then she went off to see her friends Jo and Rob in the village.   A relaxed evening. Went down with Lorraine to the glasshouse, where the cucumbers are going gangbusters, ...

Off to Bolney today for their village day. This is the last time I will feel the need to trail behind Lorraine like Dennis Thatcher smiling at local worthies, parents and children. Lorraine ran a little stall there where children threw tennis balls at a pile of painted cans, and into buckets. I ran around collecting balls and cans. I also judiciously had a pint of beer in a plastic glass. Two very pleased with themselves and annoying men who did all the announcing last year and for years before were banned last time for scuffling, so Posh Bob, last seen by me delivering a pub quiz in the Eight Bells, did the announcing for the village dog show, the maypole dance, the tug of war and so on. Said hello to various folks, the local vicar, folks at Lorraine's school including Zoe and Sarah and Dan, and the parent of kids who have now left Lorraine's school who was on mastermind.  From there we drove off to Seaford where we parked up near the sea, and scrunched down the pebbles toward...

Rain but nevertheless off to Bolney village day on the green. Once we were over the downs it wasn't raining. I did my Dennis Thatcher/Prince Phillip impressions while trailing the VIP. Fun though, lots of dogs Lowry style, little stands, little fairylike children dancing around a maypole. We bought a very boozy Christmas cake, and I made small talk with folks about the weather and so on as Lorraine progressed around the place. Lorraine was working on a stall where people threw beanbags at piles of cans, which was fun. Next stand along Sarah and Dan had boules and we were chucking them at a stump with a hole in it, containing a tomato, and the aim was to explode the tomato. Despite my recent boule action I failed in this despite repeated attempts. We won two bottles of wine in the booze raffle too, cleverly going back late to discover there were few tickets but lots of bottles remaining.  Then home, and into a Cab off to Anton's place. Drank beer and ate beautiful lamb kebabs, a...

Up fairly early for a Sunday, and Lorraine and I drove to Bolney. Another gorgeous day. We went into Lorraine's school, where she did several important jobs, and I watered the kids vegetable patch, and helped Lorraine laminate Be Smart Stay Apart sheets. Little rings two meters apart sprayed onto the playground to help with distancing while they enter the school too. Lorraine feeling a bit anxious  to get everything right for the school opening tomorrow. This done, we walked to the nearby woods, around the Mill Pond. Beautiful it was and rather tranquil. We were sitting by one pond and we saw a crow flying with a snake or slow worm in its mouth, something I had never seen before. The pond itself was gorgeous with carpets of lily pads, and shoals of fry near the edges of the pond along with azure damselflies, and dragonflies. All utterly idyllic, if you filter out the roar of the M23 in the background. Then to Bolney garden centre, and we bought in a socially distanced way some...

Up and working hard on my French work this morning, before hurrying down to Preston Park in the rain, after a quick chat with Mum, off to Haywards Heath to be met by Lorraine in an unfamiliar car as her one was being serviced. We zoomed off to Bolney and spent a happy afternoon with eight children who were among the strongest writers in the school. Read them a little from Magnificent Grace and gave them task to use something they are familiar with and add something magical or unexpected. I am always impressed by children and how good they are. Lorraine working with me so it was quite fun to be calling her Mrs Kenny. The school staff always friendly to me there. One of the perks of being Mr Kenny. A quick book signing, which was great fun, and then off to the garage to pick up Lorraine's real car, and then back home. Beth at home, and we went to The Cleveland Arms where we had a bite to eat and a few beers. I was drinking old and bitter, which I find curiously delicious. After s...

I was feeling bright and cheerful today. Lorraine and I did several things and sprang out of bed fairly sharpishly for a Saturday. First we drove to the Book Nook in Hove. As a headteacher,  Lorraine receives a box of books to take into school, they go through them, and return any unwanted ones and only pay for the ones  they want. Then we drove to Bolney Village Hall, where there was a small exhibition from the Bolney Historical Society. They also showed a video that was shot ten years ago, and featured Sarah who works with Lorraine, and John, the previous head who I used to go for the occasional drink with, and to see his band The High Sides. Chatted to several Bolney worthies. Then we impulsively drove off to Leonardslee Gardens as it was a sunny and beautiful day. The gardens were almost empty and we loved walking down by the tranquil ponds and through the empty gardens. There was a little cafe there too, and we had a pot of tea and scone each. Next to Horsham where we...

Lorraine back to work today, despite not feeling well. She drove me into school too, as I was doing another presentation to a class of children about my story. Quite a few familiar faces in there now, and I was in Rebecca Burton's class, and she is very good, and I have been in a class with her before. I felt much more relaxed this time, as the kids were known to me, and so was the school obviously. Managed to get through the hour or so without making too much of a buffoon of myself, and read them the first chapter of the story. At one point I ask the children what pseudonym they might choose, and what kind of books they would write. Excellent children. Met Mark there, our next door neighbour who drops into Lorraine's school with his lovely dog Flo, to whom some of the children read, and Flo is supportive and uncritical. Nice to chat to Mark again. Unscathed, I returned to Lorraine's office, and found Dawn had texted about another school visit in Jan. It's all...

A slow Saturday. A lie in for me, although Lorraine got up and gave Beth a lift to work. Anton called and cancelled plans for a barbecue this afternoon as he had a horrible cold. Lorraine returned home and brought up in breakfast in bed. Marvellous I was feeling lethargic again, I took my temperature and found I had one. Both of us pretty tired. We did zoom off to the different planet of Bolney's horticultural show, where we met Dawn. Looked at various flowers in pots and prizewinning cakes and so on, said hello to pleasant Bolney folks like Sue, and Sarah and Dan, and had good natter with Dawn, who is still coming to terms with her dad's death a year after her mum went. We told her about Glen too, who she had known. Still it was very good to see her, and he was my secret weapon in making the horticultural show even more fun. Lorraine's school had entered a few veggies in the show, and the potatoes won first prize, and third prize in the longest runner bean category. ...

Up and Lorraine off to Specsavers for an eye test, that ended up dragging on and on. I went back to the London Road gym again, and did another modest workout. Then home, and once Lorraine was back, having had to pay out for new specs, we drove off to Bolney where the village day was in full throttle. We have been to this a few years on the trot now, and find I quite enjoy it. Was in full Dennis Thatcher mode as people chatted to Lorraine. However a few know me too. Dan, Sarah's husband called me over, and invited me to play a game where you have to hurl boules onto a stump with an egg held in it. The idea is to smash the egg. I managed this and won a bottle of wine, which pleased me a disproportionate amount. Then much mooching about with L talking to a variety of parents and village worthies as children periodically ran up to her, some wanting hugs. Dogs being shown in the middle of the field when we arrived. I availed myself of a beer in the beer tent and chatted to various fo...

Up to London again this morning, finishing the short story The Willows by Algernon Blackwood on the train. Slightly apprehensive wondering if I had delivered enough work, as the brief was vague, but Keith and I seemed to have done enough. Lunchtime, and I popped off for a wee, and Keith and Ross had disappeared, which rather peeved me. I went out to get a sandwich, having texted Keith. Crossing the road Keith popped out of a pub and pulled me into it with them. A cheery pint with those two, before heading back to the office. Continued rather chaotically, but the people were nice. Released back into the wild. Walked back to St Pancras, and then trained to Hateful Heath, where Lorraine met me and we drove back to Bolney. Had a beer with in The Bolney Stage, a very popular and pleasant pub, and then went to Jo and Rob's house, a lovely property on the edge of the village with a huge garden containing a small wood that Lorraine and I walked in. Guest of honour was the admirable Yvos...

Waking up fresh and cheery this morning. A slow start, then up for breakfast. Drove off to a garden centre out in the sticks and bought some herbs and succulents and some thrift and saxifrage and thyme, which later we poked into the pebbles. We are feeling increasingly happy with our little garden at the moment. However before we did this, we went to Wobblegate just outside Bolney, where they make fruit juices and cider, and have opened up a little tap room and restaurant on the farm. Had a pint of their own Eden Farm cider there, and it was bloody marvellous. Lorraine spoke to Tom, who was a go getting young guy, clearly loving what he was doing. He was going to pop into her school to talk soon too. I said I loved the cider I was drinking, and Tom said the brief had been to make a cider that tasted like alcoholic pure apple juice, and it did. The brew in small batches, and use the natural yeast on the fruit rather than add it, so each time they brew it there are subtle differences....

I felt vey tired today, and Calliope as ever no respecter of weekends and was climbing on me at at six. A full day once we did get up. Took a mattress to the recycling centre, then bought some hardboard to do glasswork on, and then went to a garden centre, and Lorraine bought a few succulents and bags of gravel and compost. Then off to Bolney village hall where there was a horticultural show of spring flowers. Lorraine's school had entered some, and the prize for the single tulip went to the school, which made me smile. Lots of snowy haired keen-eyed folk wandering about looking critically at daffodils and voting in boxes. If you were a member of the horticultural society you got a vote. Then a cup of tea followed by a talk on the Modern Kitchen Garden by Barry Newman, I enjoyed saying loudly to Lorraine that she had told me it was Gary Numan. Weirdly, as we are just planning on doing more stuff to our garden, we both enjoyed this talk, and Barry was an excellent speaker, and h...

Off this morning to Bolney in Lorraine's car for the school inset day. Lorraine and I presented the branding work on the school vision. Strange to be making a work presentation with Lorraine to the school's staff and governors. Enjoyed having a warm up session first, where we all played two games for ten minutes. Got talking to one of the new governors, a retired GP called Tony, who was interesting. I asked him how he avoided being psychically drained by his patient's problems. He said that you had to learn to be a mirror and not a sponge. Lorraine drove me to Hateful Heath station at lunchtime, and I trained back to Brighton, and went around to Janet and Ken's house. Remembering only with a few attempts, the door code. The house mostly empty and the painting I had long admired with a posit with For Peter written on it, and Janet with a heart. Took this back on the bus. A old man asked me if it were a print or an original, I said original. I explained the circumstance...

A really nice day today, spent with Lorraine. We walked into town where I got a new tan coloured watch strap, to compliment the green face of my nice watch, and Lorraine looked at clothes and shoes and so on. As we were mooching about, I kept noticing young women with botoxed faces to give them trout pouts. To me this intervention makes otherwise attractive people look a bit gormless. We went to giggling squid together for a lunchtime snack and there was a frozen faced woman in there, whose lips were so bloated that she could only eat without her mouth open. In the evening off to Bolney, to the village hall, where a charity evening had been set up on behalf of Hope House Haiti . Bolney has a strong link with this charity. A fun night, with tropical flavours, and about 150 people wearing garlands, and tropical clothes. Really nice Caribbean food too, such as goat curry, ('made with lamb because we couldn't catch the goats'), rice and peas, jerk chicken, and a chilli hot an...

My weekday off! Friday has now become 'My Friday' in my mind. Walked off early to Stained Glass this morning, passing two men in top hats. Enjoyed stained glass, but slightly rueful that my design is so complex. Now getting to the bits where I am overlaying glass on glass, which requires sections of wide heart lead.I am liking everyone involved in the workshop these days. There is only one woman, Yvonne, who I am warming to lots now having found her difficult at first. She is very creative, always making pottery, teaching children various stuff in schools, and doing design work. She is very chatty and told me she was bipolar, but her medications keep it completely under control, and creativity is her great release. If she can creative she stays well. A feeling easy for me to understand. Pretty washed out today, after having drinks last night, and my throat back to being spiteful. A quick coffee with my interesting fellow student, Chris. Noticed on the bus home lots of gulls ...

A busy day today. Up early with Lorraine and put spade shovel, fork and a watering can and off to her school. We joined a handful of Bolney volunteers and quickly planted 40 laurel bushes along the back fence of the school. This job done, the volunteers left and Lorraine and I then soldiered on in the rain  sweeping leaves and doing a few jobs around the school that Lorraine has no time to do usually.  Then planting children's ten mile an hour please signs along the little lane that leads to the school, this done home to much needed hot drinks and chicken and ham pies I bought at the butchers.  We walked down into town to delve in two cramped cloth shops full of gorgeous colours for the curtains in our spare room. These cloth shops exhausted, Lorraine suggested we repair to the Basketmakers, where we had a beer and an early dinner. Then we walked to The Duke of York's to see the film The Phantom Thread , which was enjoyably full of silences and significant looks. An in...

Up and off to Bolney today. Once I was up and had a cup of coffee, I felt utterly brain dead and could hardly think for a while. Tiredness coming in waves, like it does with jet lag. Lorraine's school having its Christmas fair to raise money for the school, so lots of people setting up stands and parents and children zooming about. My part was to be Santa. I arrived early with Lorraine and then lurked in Lorraine's office, before changing into my Santa outfit. The clothes not too bad, but the beard, which had been bought separately was wild in a nylon way, with a odd rictus for a mouth. I was led by two elves around the school, ringing the school bell ho-ho-ho-ing it up, and then I was led to my grotto, and sat there for a couple of hours chatting to children in the character of Santa. This went remarkably well, and for the most part the children were chatty, one or two were dumbstruck by the large red apparition, but all went well. A couple of ontological debates around th...

Lorraine and I up fairly early. Lorraine off to see her pal Tanya, who also gave her lots of resources for her school. I, meanwhile, worked on my my proposal for the novel, which I intend to send out tomorrow. I am putting a great deal of effort into this. In the afternoon, Lorraine home again, and we had a light lunch and then drove off to Bolney School, where we dropped off the boxes Tanya had given Lorraine, and looked at the building work being done on the old school. Lorraine a bit sad that some of the more quirky features were being covered behind new panelling.  From here we went for a delightful short walk around some old mill ponds in a nearby wood. Gorgeous they were, saucered with waterlilies, and reflecting the fluffy white clouds. We sat under an oak tree, near the biggest of the ponds, which was already dropping a few acorns while watching the dragonflies. We scrumped a dozen or so sweet and juicy blackberries, which seem very early this year. A lovely little ...

Infernal Calliope woke me up at 5:20 this morning by climbing on me and purring aggressively. Bah. Up early to feed them and return with teas for Lorraine and I. Eventually we got up much later, and went off to visit Bolney Village for its village day. Quite enjoy this, and know a few more of the people there. Lorraine and I went around doing things on stalls, such as trying to beat the goalie, or guess how many balloons there were in a car called Betty. We dropped by the WI stand, where I scored an ice bun, with a glace cherry on it. Nice. Also went to the welly throwing attraction, and watched a man in his forties throw a welly. Instead of it going straight ahead, it zoomed up into the air and over all our heads, narrowly missing Lorraine. A women said, Oh my god, you almost took out the head!  Children zooming about all over the places, and one of the parents came to me and said his nipper had enjoyed my visit, which was nice. I paused briefly in the beer tent (twice) before Lor...