under another sun

Lorraine off this morning to take Pat and Maureen to a celebration of life, for Pat's cousin Tony, who I met only once many years ago, in the Isle of Sheppy. They stayed overnight to make things easier. So I had the day to myself. I went to the gym, then in the afternoon went to Lewes. Charlotte was having a birthday party for local poet pals. Twelve guests in all, including mutual pals Robin, SJB, Stephen Bone and Janet Sutherland. I'd never been to Charlotte's place before. I met a poet with purple hair lost like me, and we found our way to the door, was let in by Pete, Charlotte's husband, and climbed up a flight of stairs, then outside, up a zigzag path in the garden and then found ourselves on the top of a mound, overlooking all of Lewes and the downs beyond. A rather magical place that can only be accessed through Charlotte's house. It was there we all read a poem (except Robin) and had a poetic altogethery time.   There was an immediate calamity however. Ther...

Friday and some time this morning to finalise what I was going to read tonight and collect together a few books and so on. Lorraine really busy, shopping with James for the shower tomorrow, doing the last stitches of the secret project, ferried Pat and Maureen from the pub with their new friend also called Maureen. After a wee snooze, I caught the half five train to Lewes, and sauntered over to the Elephant and Castle and sat quietly for a bit and drank a shandy.  Today was the launch of Robin's The Mayday Diaries  and she had been kind enough to ask me to read with her. She also asked Catherine Smith to join us. We discussed beforehand that we wanted to make it fairly informal, and a bit chatty like the podcast. When Nick and Robin arrived, we went upstairs and Robin and I arranged the chairs for the reading. Palo arrived early, with two prints which we put on chairs to be seen. I joked to Palo that she was my show and tell. Soon people were turning up. Many of the audie...

Feeling somewhat sluggish, with an aching arm, caused by the shingles jab. Lorraine off to rhyme time. I did a spot of writing first thing. A after a light lunch I took the train to Brighton for a futile shopping expedition, followed another in Lewes. At four o'clock, rainsoaked and tired, I retreated to a cafe for a large coffee, and a read of a book of historical Beano front covers in full colour, that I had bought early in Seaford Post Office for a ridiculous £2.95. Repaired, I made off to the Lewes Arms to meet poet friends. SJB, Charlotte, Stephen and Robin. A cheery drink for a couple of hours, with the usual mixture of banter and poetry. I like being with my tribe. Towards the end of our session, Christmas carollers came into the small bar, and began singing. People, talking loudly to compete. Charlotte had to go as it was making her feel claustrophobic. Just as everyone was leaving, the singers asked me if there was a carol I liked, and I said Silent night. I sat there list...

Up early and was collected outside by Brian shortly after eight, with Marley in the boot. Brian had already been swimming in the sea and was generally glowing. We went to Friston forest and had a lovely walk through the trees deep in discussion about all kinds of things. We paused at the place where you can look down into the valley and see the hedgerows make a big cross in the landscape. Brian uses this place to pray briefly most days. I find this quite touching.  Home again for breakfast, and as Rosie had stayed overnight we had breakfast and long chats with her. Rosie and Lorraine went off to see Pat and Maureen, before Rosie went off to work in the afternoon.  Lorraine told me that when Rosie arrived yesterday, they were talking and there was hammering on the roof. It was two crows, pecking at bones, with seagull feathers. The current theory is that the Robert the robbing herring gull has been murdered by, or at least scavenged by, crows. Probably a murder of crows. I did ...

A quiet couple of days. I finished off a bit of an interview I have been doing with Charlotte for her Understory Conversation website -- which she ran by SJB who seemed to like it. Otherwise I fiddled with the big poem, and feel like I am making progress now. Read a bit of a book called Think Like a Poet, whose first line 'Poetry is the art of thinking' made me wonder what philosopher friends might make of that.  Lorraine and I now on The Last Battle , the final book of the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis as our bedtime story. The first few chapters are  traumatic. An evil manipulative ape dressing a donkey in a lion skin to pretend it is Aslan and trees being murdered, and their dryads expiring. As ever the illustrations by Pauline Baynes are utterly beautiful -- especially in my colour edition.  

The day, I thought, of my latest interview. When I chased the publisher's publicity person, she said that they'd not even sent the questions to the poet who I was interviewing at 9am Central time. I sent them a crisp email about this.  But as usual when I send crisp emails, turns out I was the buffoon, having got the day completely wrong. Somehow as all the correspondence had the 22 August in the subject line, I'd forgotten this was the launch date, and not when I had agreed to interview the poet, which was 11 September.  Quite a startling mistake, and not like me, also a bit peeving as I had push myself to get it all done in time. However, now all the preparation is done, I can relax until I interview the poet next month. This let the steam out of the day. And I worked calmly on a short job for Val, having decided a while ago that I would turn work aside, except for my favourite client. It a fun mind-mappy thing anyway, proposing taglines for a portfolio of new animal medi...

Lorraine struggling with a bad back this morning. But after taking painkillers and moving about a bit, decided to drive Pat and Maureen back to Ashford. I met Palo at the Church Lane Tea rooms, to sign some more copies of Snow, and have a cup of coffee and a scone. I went there with Lorraine, Pat and Maureen some other time, and they are famous for their pies.  A cheery chat with Palo. Mark the guy at Hedgehog press is going to send us lots more copies as they are going like hot cakes. One nice thing about Seaford is that it is a smaller pond, and its easy to find your artistic tribe. I like Palo very much and its nice to connect with people through making art in its different kinds. We went into Gallery Uno, and chatted with Phil who runs it, and a man there who makes automata, and then we popped into the Crypt, where two artists were having a show. Good work there, but I was deeply impressed by Palo flogging one them one of our pamphlets. Home and helped Pat and Maureen into...

Up early, at my desk by eight editing yesterday's recording,  recording with Robin in the morning, and then editing the rest of the afternoon, barring a two hour session of The Understory Conversation over zoom, which is a kind of poetry seminar run by Charlotte, looking at the personal, often hidden, stories that drive the writing of our poetry. I really enjoyed today's session. Then back to editing, till my ears were too tired and I sent it off to Robin for her to have a go at tomorrow morning. No time for anything else today, apart from chatting to Mum a couple of times. She made excellent progress with the banks today, and also my note to the American Embassy means her pension as Mason's wife has now been adjusted.  Had soup in the back garden with Lorraine at lunchtime as, away from the screen glow, it was a glorious day and Lorriane was busy outside.  Lorraine had done her rhyme time at the library, and had also... Brilliantly, got me a new dentist in Seaford. I go ...

No work. Bliss. Up and breakfast with Lorraine, and she went off to walk and talk with Penny and other ex-headteacher friends I spent a happy couple of hours finalising my reading for tonight's Needlewriters. (Success happens when preparation meets opportunity, I reminded myself). A lunchtime walk, and the luxury of a nap this afternoon. Quite nervous, and bleating nervously to Lorraine once or twice. Pleased Robin and I were reading together which somehow made it feel better.  I'd not seen the rooms upstairs at the John Harvey Tavern so crowded. I counted about 45 people. All my favourite poet friends there, SJB, Charlotte, Janet, Stephen Bone, Antony Mair and Jeremy. Plus there was a delegation from Seaford, Adele, Patrick, Andrew and Kate. Then, greatly to my surprise, old Warwick University pals, Will Leith and Callum Murray appeared, who I first met when I was 19, and then sat in the front row. As I was being introduced by James Ellis, who did a great job all night, I some...

Dejected by lack of improvement to the back.  But people were kind to me all day. First, Lorraine rescued me from this, by setting up an osteopath appointment, and going off to Ashford to take Pat to an appointment. She also called Brian and arranged for him to collect me. Not before calling our old pal Brian Bell by mistake first, which was fun. Brian in Seaford kindly picked me up, Igor-ing in my slippers into his car.   The osteopath was incredibly gentle and very chatty behind his facemark. After twenty minutes or so of deceptively light massage transformed the rigid muscle into something more pliable. We were chatting all the time. His father was an archeologist, and his mother a dentist, and he and his brother grew with bones to play with. He also said that the majority of spines are horizontal, which I had never thought about in quite that way before.  He took my payment, while chatting intensely, and it was only when I got home, the receptionist called to say the ...

A better night's sleep, despite the happy cats bedding down with us. We woke up earlier, and I had a meeting with Keith in fairly cheerful and philosophical mood. Emails with Robin about plans for the podcast. Charlotte told me that she had been ill yesterday, and others had to cry off the launch of Frogmore Papers 100th issue and Clare Best's book due to Covid. Robin told me later that it was a good night.   Lorraine drove us all off to The Outlet, which is oval of quality retail brands selling their goods from 'outlets' at bargain prices. I bought a new watch strap to replace my fraying one, and I bought Lorraine a nice Radley purse in sage green. There was a Le Creuset shop and we bought a bargain butter dish and some heavy but colourful mugs. We collected Pat and Maureen who had been shopping in the M&S outlet, and buying lipstick from another shop, and drove home. Pat and Maureen tend to eat in the middle of the day, so Lorraine made a very tasty vegetable chil...

So back to my desk, while Lorraine worked downstairs with Emma the head who will be replacing her at her school, and the two Sarahs. I had a quick meeting with Keith and then got on with finishing the work I was doing for Pat, Michel and Perky. Had a meeting with them virtually and was done by one, thankfully as I felt a bit wan and tired. Lorraine was finding work hard today. Just a few more weeks for her to go -- but getting to the end of the year, even in the best of years, is always tough. I had a spot of lunch with the teachers, and then did admin and other stuff.   In the evening sauntered down to London Road station and from there to Lewes, where SJB was having a launch party for her fabulous book The Thoughts.  With typical generosity she invited some friends to read poems too: Stephen, Charlotte, Jeremy, Robin and me -- as well as Louise who read excellently and also hosted. I really enjoyed the event -- Sarah's book is wonderful and she read with great humour and emo...

Up early prepping for my recordings with Robin. All kinds of technical shenanigans at Robins end this morning, but eventually we were up and running.  Recording and chatting for an hour or so, then much of the rest of the day given up to editing. A note from Charlotte this morning saying she has covid, and as we were chatting last Thursday she kindly let me know. I said I would much prefer to get it from a friend than a complete stranger. I did a test this morning anyhow, as I hadn't done one for ages. Was fine.  Clarity that Keith and I are not working for the rest of the week finally arrived today. But it seems a new job somewhere new has just emerged. Booked the Barbarie for Lorraine and I to have a few days away in Guernsey in the late spring. Trying not to get too excited by this prospect. I also braved the gym. As I walked to the gym I realised the new trainers I bought yesterday look a bit ridiculous. They have the word PUMA on them in huge white letters, and they are o...

So a limboish work day. Sent somewhat irritatingly phrased demands from folks in Munich and Paris.  Then was booked again on the annoying job Keith and I had been doing now extended from tomorrow till mid next week. Hoping that I can be in a better frame of mind about it all soon. In the evening, I went to Lewes to the Needlewriters at the John Harvey Tavern, the fountainhead of Harvey's beer. I had forgotten I had double booked with Ben and Rick around the corner, so sent apologies to them yesterday. Rick did not get his, which was a bit awkward as I spoke to him on the train heading towards Lewes. Reading were two poets Kay Syrad and Sonya Smith who were enjoyable, and a prose writer whose work I did not enjoy in the least.  Nice to be out, saying howdy to Stephen Bone and Jeremy and others. Best part was sitting with Charlotte afterwards and having a good talk about poetry life etc. The result was I felt more optimistic and was reminded of what was important about the whole...

Finally able to focus on my writing this morning. Then off to Lewes to meet up with Robin, Charlotte, Stephen, SJB and Lou, and Antony Mair among others for the Finished Creatures reading, held at the Depot in Lewes. I got to meet Jan Heritage for the first time, and was chatting with a nice poet from Ealing called Oliver Comins. Lots of good poems read from the new issue. When it came to it I forgot even to say my name, nor plug Planet Poetry and read one by Tess Jolly, whose work I like lots, and then my Mezquita de Cordoba. Sarah and Lou making me laugh both being in the same issue and writing about the same subject, without knowing the other had done so.  Interestingly, Jan saying she had broken her own rule in publishing my poem, as she doesn't like printing the word God with a capital letter.  It was a gorgeous day, and it was great fun to do some poetry, and then sit in the sun chatting with poet pals afterwards. Felt like a holiday suddenly, and Friday afternoons ...

Up feeling fresh and working with Keith from early on. Early afternoon, and possibly the worst brief I have ever been taken. Full of irrelevant information and no clarity at all about what they were asking us to do. Cue assorted creatives from both side of the pond trying to make sense of it, asking questions that were not able to be answered. I had to leave early today, so missed a subsequent meeting with the poor CD attempting to re-explain it.  Late afternoon a months-planned meet up with Robin, Charlotte, Sarah and Stephen at the Open House.  I had just escaped from work and it took me a moment or two to tune out of that drivel. But having a beer and putting the world to right about life, managing (or otherwise) the pandemic, the good the bad and the ugly of poetry. Robin, Charlotte and Stephen already there when I arrived and we were soon joined by SJB fresh from the hairdresser and very proud of it. Sarah also has her first collection in the pipeline, which we toasted. I...

Made good progress on a poem first thing, and then did some final recording with Robin for the season finale of Planet Poetry. We will be back in late September. We have done 17 episodes in all, which isn't bad. Robin a bit stressed about her party this weekend, but otherwise cheery. I spent a fair amount of time editing afterwards. Received a copy of Finished Creatures magazine, edited by Jan Heritage, with my Mezquita de Córdoba poem in it, I wrote after falling in love with the interior of the Mosque there . Pals like Antony, Tess, Charlotte, SJB and Louise all in it, so I was pleased to be part of the club. My poem, as is SJB's is printed sideways, so as not to interfere with the line length, which is nice. It arrived in a beautiful envelope with a bookmark placed in it on the page of my poem, which struck me as a very Japanese style attention to detail. Went for a long walk, and was phoned by Valérie while I was by the side of the hill fort, briefing me on a job to be sta...

Friday and a sense of a little mental space opening up. Caught up with some correspondence including a long overdue reply to Sarah Barnsley, a note to my accountant and so on. Sonia here today, and said she is going to Bulgaria in June. We will have to find another person to clean for us, but more importantly I will miss her making me laugh with her no-nonsense perspective.  Wrapped up agains all possible weathers, I sauntered down to London Road in my sunglasses, and hopped on a train to Lewes to meet Robin. Lewes under threatening dark skies however.  Lovely to see Robin IRL (in real life), and it was great to just have a beer and shoot the breeze. It made a change from the purposeful stuff to do with the podcast, although there was a wee bit of that.  Threaded through town and went to The Gardeners, somewhere I went to with Matty boy and Graeme many years ago, and also have since visited with Mark Hartley. We were outside in the little alleyway, but I had a pint of Har...

Dreaming about owning some kind of moped last night, and was delighted with the novel idea that it could take me places. The dream was set in London and several years ago. I showed it to a dream Michel, and the French Bloke was surprisingly impressed with it.   Lorraine back to work. But started working on poetry and toying with the idea for a new short story which flowed nicely. The wind slightly taken out of my sails with a rejection of Diabolus in Musica from The Fiction Desk, who I was trying out as they publish ghost stories and wanted fiction about music. I was a bit dubious about them before I sent it, and despite receiving the friendliest of generic rejections, I shan't be submitting to them again. Visited Charlotte's blog again , and she has a link to a wonderful talk by Brené Brown called The Power of Vulnerability .  Vulnerability is not something to be avoided. When I interviewed her she said she was trying to write from a place of honesty. This of course exposes y...

More podcast recording with Robin this morning:  the what we are reading section, and reaction to Charlotte's interview. Robin talking about La Vita Nuova by Dante, and me chatting about audiobooks by John Cooper Clarke and Joy Harjo. Robin is not interviewing her next victim till tomorrow, and so we decided to go with Charlotte for this week, so it means I'm leading on this episode again, so quite a bit of editing to do in the next couple of days.   Charlotte saying she so wanted a beer with me, Robin, SJB and Mr Bone. That would be a fine thing. A proper Blue Monday this year. Not that I heard anyone on the radio mention it. Doing my best not to feel bleak and mid-winterish, but glum dissatisfaction now settling on me and my own writing like a flock of malign birds. I have so many promising ideas, that I slowly prune to death; a reductio ad absurdum.  A news clip of folks enjoying life in Guernsey, with no social distancing, made my personal little heaven seem even more...