under another sun

A productive day. Feeling as if it were the first day of the rest of my life. Up with Lorraine, who after breakfast went off to Caroline's and did lots of exercise. I went to my desk and got busy, sent off an invoice, paid my tax, recorded with Robin, and had a good conversation about the pod, the year and so on. I also chased up a book that had been supposed to have been sent me for next week's interview and received a PDF by return. Began editing what I had recorded with Robin this morning. Lorraine in the garden playing with streamers after she returned despite it being very cold, After lunch with Lorraine: incredibly healthy stuff of course... Rocket leaves grown in our garden, avocado, some feta, cucumber, tomato, beetroot, alfalfa shoots and a very thin slice of seedy sourdough loaf.  I went for a walk for an hour and a half, crisp cold day but barely a cloud in the sky, so beautiful and mood enhancing too. On my return, we did a bit of prep on the large bathroom, before ...

Struggling for focus. Breakfast with Lorraine, then I did my duo-lingo French course, which I am doing every day now. But I'm feeling generally nervy. Down to The Warren to pick up some tickets. Currently the final night is already sold out, and the two others are selling well. Went to the gym again, and had a decent go in there, but decided that I would take tomorrow off to allow the Temple of the Kenny body repair itself. Home and a few bits and pieces done before Beth returned in Laura's new Mini Cooper, which we loaded up with theatrical things before Laura drove us to The Copperdollar Studios. A really good rehearsal today, perhaps something to do with Lorraine coming, hugging everyone and casting a fresh pair of eyes on it. Upstairs was a dance class and there was a faint background of dragging and sliding which I quite liked. Everyone much better today, and I got a shiver as it was unfolding that only comes from watching proper theatre. All three of them did well, Dyla...

Lorraine up and off again. Me sipping the tea Lorraine brought me before springing up and working on a few agency bits this morning, and standing in the kitchen practising some poems, in a last minute attempt to get myself ready for this evening. Managed to leave home late, then the train I caught up to London was delayed, however I made it to the Poetry Cafe just in time, but feeling stressed. Siegfried Baber had come up from Bath, he's becoming a more relaxed rand confident reader. Also Kitty Coles, who I'd not met before but whose poetry I liked, dealing with mythology and quite psychological. Our main reader was Jack Underwood, who is a Faber poet, and therefore accomplished and original. I followed that, but it was a day when I was niggled by doubts about my own work and had the sense that by the time it came to me I was a bit of an unappetising pudding, and I felt I read to stony faces. Robin said I held my own. A quick drink in the pub afterwards with Robin and another...

Lorraine and I walked round the corner to get the fixings for a large breakfast with Beth and John. Feeling cheery and holidayish, as long as you don't listen to the news. After a hefty but tasty breakfast, Beth spent some time with Lorraine looking at holiday gear. Then we dropped them round the corner at Hove Station, where John will be living in a few weeks. Then to see Janet and Ken, and Hus and his daughter Reem, who is on a holiday in the UK but working in a cafe. Janet looking well. We drank tea flavoured with rose petals and had wide ranging discussions. Ken had had a heart monitor put into his chest this week, but seems to have taken this fairly philosophically. In the evening Dawn and Matt came around for supper. Lorraine copied Jane's chicken and chickpea stew cooked in wine and herbs from last week, and then peaches, strawberries and ice-cream. Delicious. Matt has an infected finger, and is on heavy strength antibiotics. Played Chiara's music to Matt who lik...