under another sun

 Dawn's 60th birthday today. Foul day of lashing rain. Lorraine and I had a slowish start this morning, then zoomed about. I got a private flu jab at Kamson's down on Beaconsfield Road, which was quick and easy, although being jabbed while looking at heart attack risk charts not my favourite interlude of the day.  Then Lorraine and I drove off and shopped in Churchill Square, where I had not been in since the beginning of the year. Lorraine bought some skincare stuff with some vultures she had been given at school, and I bought a new watch strap. This a lengthy process, as the first one they started to put on cost £59 which I rapidly nixed. The second one, at a more reasonable tenner, was put on and as I walked out of the shop simply fell off my wrist as the buckle was faulty. Third time lucky. Then off to Martlet's charity shop to drop off Pat and Maureen's rug. I ran out in the rain to ask if they were accepting them. The woman charity worker weirdly bolshy. Is it jus...

Up with a sore throat and under the weather. Really bad night's sleep for some reason, and Calliope waking me up at least twice my crawling onto me in the night. Lorraine had one of her periodic bouts of sleeping hiccups, which she is blissfully unaware of. My lovely wife brought me a cup of tea, and I manned up and got on with various chores of which there are many. Then I girded the PK loins and went shopping. It wasn't too busy, and I managed to go about a good deal of my business without going mental. I began to feel a bit dazed and had a disturbing incident in the men's loos. The main toilets in Churchill Square were closed, but there was a woman standing outside them whose job it was to point people upstairs to the ones just past Spud U Like . In the toilet was a high trough, with a man standing at the far end. I almost began before I realised only just in time that I was standing by a long trough-like sink and not a urinal. I must be going mad. Next I made my way...

So up early and after Lorraine and I scarfed some porridge, I began writing copy about an unpleasant inherited medical condition for an app. No travel today, thank goodness. The weather ghastly outside, windy and rain. I thought I'd be done by lunchtime, but it took me till mid afternoon. Broke off for a short walk before it started pouring, and had a couple of coffees. After completing the first draft sent it off to Pat, and then began watching a documentary about Voyager missions. Fell asleep and woke up an hour later, with things to be done, but luckily Pat was going to get back to me tomorrow so my sudden narcolepsy did me no harm. Jenny, our next door neighbour popped in to say she was moving house next week. I like Jenny, though she is very shy. Lorraine came home early, and we caught the bus into Hove where we met Betty in the Paris House, after a hard day of elf-work in Churchill Square. Betty doing well as an elf, and has already had to step up as team leader. Apparent...

Up early because it seems that Christmas is here at last. Felt decidedly unChristmassy this year so far. Christmas is usually my favourite time of year. We drove off to drop Betty off at where she teaches drama to kids, and then plunging early into the business of Christmas shopping. I also bought some presents for myself, such as a pair of slippers and an amazing bargain in M&S. I don't normally go there for shoes, but I discovered a honey coloured pair of suede brogues that were suprisingly chic. Turns out they were end of the line, and I got them non-returnably for a mere £9. A bobby bargain. Later L & I stopped off at Foodilic and had a two small savoury tarts and shared a surprisingly delicious beetroot salad and a coffee, before re-engaging in the shops. I found myself enjoying it all somewhat. Home and rather tired several hours later. Luckily there was time to do a bit more shopping, so Lorraine and I sloped up to Fiveways. When we John came around, and after open...