under another sun

Christmas shopping with Lorraine, as there's much to sort out before we go to Japan. Much mooching about and I felt curious flashes of happiness. Having a wife is a good idea, for all kinds of reasons, and certainly transforms the horror of Christmas Shopping into something enjoyable. We turned into an shopping machine too, scything on through the crowds. The shops actually not infernally busy, perhaps due to everyone shopping online, nor was it raining. Met Betty after her morning's work teaching drama school kids. She was tired and end of termish, and had a night's work till gone three to look forward to. We repaired to the Bath Arms briefly, and I think it did her good to see her mum for half an hour over half a Laines best bitter. Home and a quick sprawl on the gold sofa before Lorraine drove us off out into the Weald to Cuckfield to see Jess and Andrew, who took us to a cozy pub called The White Harte Inn where they served quite good Thai food, and ate some of it w...

Shopping Laughing this morning at a text from Jane in Guernsey wondering if spray starch (see Thursday) was the Viagra of the poor. Lots of shopping this afternoon with Lorraine. After some hours of enjoyably nosing about in shops and rain dodging (and buying Lorraine a dress that was not a Christmas present merely a Saturday present) L and I snuck off for coffee in the Marwood, which as one of its staff said was 'mental busy' as he sucked at a cigarette outside. Then I sloped home to boof exhaustedly on the gold sofa, Lorraine returning shortly after. We had two invitations for evening revelry but as both of us were in need of a night in, we curled up before the TV weakly sipping tea and water. Actually this was rather blissful.

Shopping Shopping today and into a few toy stores to look for presents for Oskar and Klaudia. Luckily I had Lorraine with me who was able to step in before I re-enacted The Shining in the aisles of a toyshop after walking around the shop 12 times seeking a Jolly Octopus . There are some shops at this time of year I find almost impossible, I am always in the way of the sparrowy folk who can actually flit about in them. I did manage to aquire a nice reading lamp in Habitat , but shops full of women's trinkets and baubels such as Accessorize simply do not enough space for a men to enter them without barging into carousels of cheap earrings and silk effect scarves. A couple of hours of this, and home for a cup of tea and to discuss, at some length, with Lorraine the best way of assembling floor standing angle-poised reading lights. She will persist in reading the instructions. Then off to our usual curry house, which we'd not been to for a while. Sat next to a couple rowing sotto...

Shopping in Brighton The streets still slidy, but had the most relaxing and productive day's Christmas shopping I can remember weaving in the lanes, and punctuated with a warming coffee. The shops weren't too busy, which was nice. Down on East Street a new clothes shop has opened, its window display made up of what must have been a hundred old sewing machines. A really amazing display, which I found myself having to photograph. At the end of the shopping ended up in Borders, which has three days left of its existence. A melancholy scene. On the way home Lorraine and I had a refreshing pause in The Caxton for a post five hour shopping bout beer. Then home to get changed, and off to Bills restaurant, where we met Lorraine's neighbours Sarah and JD, Patrick and Angie, and the Dawn for a delicious meal in a curiously empty restaurant. Due to frozen streets and it being a Sunday I suppose. I had a fisherman's pie, followed by a gorgeous berry crumble. Friendly bunch of folks...

A welcome lull A day to regroup. After a long chat with Mase, and Mum who was being "dogged" by Salty the kitten, went early into Brighton to finish off some Christmas shopping. Spoke to Anton, as I did so, who persistently wanted to discuss football. Bought a few last things, feeling a surge of cheeriness and relief as I finished. The shops are already offering half price offers, and gearing up for the sales (and there will be some fabulous bargains for the shopper). There has been an underlying desperation in the shops this Christmas; the Titanic orchestra is playing festive tunes. Everything is okay for me financially at the moment but there is such a mood of general apprehension it's hard not to get drawn into it. Home and I found that there was a smidge of work come through on the hogsite, which I did quickly - and also that I had been contacted again by Giles from the BBC website - so I sent him a few opinions about advertising. A nap with the cat, then happily insu...

Historic drinking Up to London this afternoon, after a little work. I will have to do a little more on the hogsite over the holidays: but it's manageable. Being continually jostled on Oxford Street for a couple of hours wore my Christmas spirit to a tattered rag. Being lurched into by a small, drunken Big Issue seller who proceeded to hurl abuse at me for my rudeness was almost the last straw. Things improved drastically walking down the Strand and Fleet Street, where I went to meet Bob in Ye Old Cheshire Cheese . While I waited for him, I fell into conversation with three young Australians, a girl and two boys. One called Tom had left Manchester two years ago and moved down under. He loves it there. All very cheery, which quickly restored my festive spirit. Bob appeared and we stayed with my new friends for half an hour or so. They were very young and it made me feel quite paternal, especially as the younger lad was not used to drinking very much. Then Bob and I left, to complete ...