under another sun

A cup of tea in bed brought by Lorraine, and a leisurely breakfast and a the first of two chats with Mum. She was okay, but I am looking forward to seeing her on Tuesday.  Then I had a conversation with Robin, and she sensibly suggested that we take a couple of weeks break on the podcast rather than try to rush things through. Felt like a load had been taken off my shoulders, as I didn't want to let her down. She was worried that because I had been sounding doomy that I wanted to stop doing the podcast altogether.  When we cleared all this up, a cheery chat. The little black book, pamphlet competition winners were announced today by Hedgehog Press. Two winners,  Snow by Palo and I, and another called None of this makes any sense by Keith and Carol McKay. I like that title lots. Mainly I had time to be with Lorraine, doing things about the house, and going shopping and normal things which are so precious like having a roast chicken dinner with a glass of wine and Antique...

Lorraine working from home most of the day today, which was nice. I had a busy start, working from 7:30 writing copy before Keith and I joined up at 8:30. A presentation at 10:00 which went well. Hoping to present to the wider team this afternoon, but this was postponed. Spoke to First Matie today, who had received a bizarre briefing where nobody knew anything, and she had to tell them it wasn't enough. She called me for a sense check on this, but as I was on a call by the time I returned it, the CD had already contacted her to apologise and give her a new brief. Very nice to chat to her though, and know that she is finding her way back into writing again, after a ghastly time of covid, and a diagnosis of epilepsy among other stuff. She is powering back. A bit of an awkward afternoon. Keith not feeling ropey on some hefty antibiotics, and us thinking we should do work, even though our presentation had been postponed till the next day. Lorraine had to go into school to go to her per...

Continuing to be lifeless this morning so, while still in bed decided to book a Covid test. Texts with Keith. Luckily he is working this week, so my wussiness does not affect him.  Got up and gave myself a stern talking to about pulling myself up by my bootstraps. Lorraine, working from home this morning, taking my usual madness in her stride. Downstairs I took a lateral flow test which was negative, did a spot of German work, hopefully the last of the dribs and drabs.  Having booked a test, Lorraine drove me to Withdean before dropping me near home, and going off to school for the afternoon. Once home again, I felt like a complete time-wasting charlatan because I felt steadily better as the day wore on and actually did some good work this afternoon. Heard from First Matie too, and hope to see each other soon.  Anton said I was a wuss, when I told him I wasn't feeling well. He is probably right. Cooked for Lorraine and Sam. And felt much happier by evening. Texts with Yvo...

 A day of little driving today, lurking in and around Monmouth itself, and finding little walks to go on along the penny-coloured river Monnow. A spot more shopping today, and Lorraine picked up some half price sunglasses, and I bought a new anorak in a sale, and Lorraine bought some walking shoes. Well pleased.  We bought some picnic bits and had some food by a small pond, watching a little girl and her mum feeding the ducks. Then a walk along the river, where we came across a site of cows in the river which made me think of Constable. A bit more walking here and there, and I received a call from the bank about the rogue account, and it turned out that all along there had been a problem with an almost identical account with just one digit different on the sort code. Some poor blighter was having as rotten a time as I was for months on end. Luckily that account is now being closed.  A cheery meeting this afternoon. Lorraine and I went around the corner to The Punch, where...

A slog today. Making adjustments to the podcast, and sending that off to Robin at the end of the day. Also working hard on the stuff with Keith, doing a presentation mid day. A senior planner involved this time, who was on holiday before, and he simply wanted the whole thing to go in a different direction. So back to the drawing board, although some of the original concepts were still liked. Also lots of talk between me and Keith about what the IR 35 means. I am going to have to make quite a few adjustments if my business can continue. By the end of the day I felt exhausted and roundly fed up. On the plus side I had a really nice chat with First Matie, who called me at lunchtime, where I had taken he opportunity for a walk. She has had a horrid year of it, bless her. Due to her epilepsy diagnosis she cannot drive, and has got a job in the co-op for a bit which is nearby. It will help her get to know some locals more, and Ian -- bless his cotton socks -- is being an absolute brick. ...

Another day at the conceptual coalface with Keith. Began to work through some of the difficulties we had run into yesterday, and then presented them on at lunchtime. Turns out the client had moved the goalposts somewhat and this became a bit of a re-brief, which we worked at without cracking it for a few hours. Last thing another meeting with Pat and Michel and a long discussion from which we all emerged with a new direction, which Keith and I are going to progress tomorrow. Working all day on this, without going out or thinking about much else.  Heard from Katie that she was reading Bleak House too. A short fifteen minute walk in the cold at six, and then cooked and Lorraine came home, and we lounged on the gold sofa for a bit watching Sherlock, a series I had not really watched much the first time around. And so to bed. Reading a bit more of S.T. Joshi in bed. He seems to think being dismissive and savage makes him a good critic. It doesn't.

First of February. No pinches and punches, thankfully. I hate January, and am always pleased to see the back of it. Sent off my biographical note to David Longhorn at Supernatural Tales yesterday, and was feeling cheery about the idea of seeing my story The Grieving  published.  Quite a few conversations today, for me at least. Spoke to Keith this morning, about a job it now seems likely we will be doing later in the week. He was raging about his smart lighting, which has gone wrong. No longer can you simply turn a light on or off, but it all has to be controlled via the wifi, and having plugged an ethernet cable into it, the lighting went haywire. I must admit I am far happier with a simple on off affair, but maybe this is a sign of age. Anton called too, it being a new dawn for him, having come off his extreme diet and is contemplating his first drink in a month. A good chat with First Matie, who is having a challenging time. Ian, however, is being a solid as a rock as usual...

My actual birthday. Sixty blinking one. This one however not at all traumatic. Lorraine gave me another pressie, which was Steve Howe's autobiography -- which certainly reveals, ah-hem, a lot about his personality and guitar geek side. Also a Molesworth book from Richard and Jane in Guernsey, and a card warning me against the evils of drink from Pat and Maureen. The outside world somewhat grey and dour.  A bracing lunchtime walk however, after eating a cheese and tomato toastie which I snapped and sent to Beth. Dozens of lovely messages from people on Facebook, email and so on. Maureen and Pat phoned this morning, as did Anton and Katie. Lorraine home early today, which was nice. A very pleasant day, after a cheery birthday weekend. Below a snap from the wall of the hill fort looking slightly southwest in gorgeous black and white.    

Somewhat hungover this morning, however this was my Own Fault, and Lorraine on the moral high ground having switched early to soda. A leisurely breakfast outside on a little table, and I felt chipper again. We drove off to meet Katie and Ian at the Sculpture Trail in the heart of the Forest of Dean. Katie and Ian in good spirits, but had also experienced a mysterious jadedness in the morning. A bracing walk in the forest was what was wanted. Having known Katie for so long, and heard all about the Forest and surrounds, I'm really enjoying seeing it all with my own eyes. It is a glorious area. Hordes in the car park, but these thinned out once we got walking into the forest. Lovely place, dotted with sculptures and the whole walk was a little above five miles. All of the sculptures were worth seeing, and the stained glass hanging in the forest was quite majestic, but it made me wonder if doing a representation in glass of a forest scene in the forest was a bit obvious somehow. Ho...

A leisurely breakfast of croissants and tea with Sue and John, a sneaky rematch with Whiskey (a draw) before Lorraine and I got ready to go. In the short time I had been there, I had felt more relaxed than I have felt for many a month. Fond farewells with Sue and John, and then we sped off again. We drove to Monmouth, into the dragon country of Wales, through some increasingly gorgeous countryside. Found our self catering apartment, which looked like nothing from the front of the house, but was actually extremely pleasant. Katie and Ian were going to stay overnight there too. Unloading our things, having collected our key, we mooched into Monmouth, over a little bridge guarded by an ancient Monnow Bridge gate built around 1270, over the river Monnow, to buy some provisions and mooch about a little. Lorraine and I did some food shopping in the Waitrose there, and then loading up our little rucksacks and carrying a bag back, crossed over the bridge again (glancing down at the childre...

Over the years I have become good at managing anxiety, but I was ambushed just as I woke up this morning. After a minute or so I successfully shook it off, but it was a poor start to the day. But it meant things could only get better. I took my news in small pinches and chatted with Anton, and First Matie, and Facetimed Mum and messaged Toby. Like me, First Matie (who hasn't been well) will be joining Craig's funeral remotely tomorrow. Got a text from Ian, Kate's friend. Nice note, and he mentioned he was reading my book too. More encouragement: an old friend Nicki posted a photo on facebook of her two boys, one of whom, Stan, was reading Magnificent Grace for the second time. With my freelance work evaporated after the double blows of Brexit and Coronavirus, life has become very simple all of a sudden.  Take care of people I love, write the sequel to MG, and try to do something positive for the world. Routine is my friend, and once I get going at my desk I feel okay. W...

Quite pleased not to have to be representing a skeleton in various schools this week.  Did a spot of billing admin, walked through the park to the bank in North Street, where I poked book cash into a machine with the help of an employee at NatWest, who said she liked reading. Wrote a bit more of Grace 2 and thought about the look and feel of my upcoming poetry pamphlet Sin Cycle . Spoke this evening to Katie First Matie who is feeling sad about poor Craig -- as so many of his pals are. It happened that Kate was reading my book as I phoned. Luckily she was liking it as it would have been a bit awkward if she thought it was nonsense. Then I called Matty who has found himself with the unenviable task of breaking the news to many of Craigs pals. Matt told me that Mel is in practical mode and is being supported by family who have flown into be with her, and close pals. Spoke too to Mum, who had been to eat piles of fish and chips with Mas in the usual pub. One of the cats had brou...

Very saddened to hear that Craig died this morning. Many heartbroken responses on WhatsApp, and Facebook. Although I'd not seen too much of him lately, we had swapped messages a few weeks ago as I had invited him to my party. Shortly before he told me he had been diagnosed with tumours. He spent the next few weeks in hospital and died peacefully and in no pain. His wife Mel and his very close pals are devastated. My favourite memory of him was when he came to Guernsey on my 50th as a surprise package with Matty boy and Katie, Lorraine having secretly liaised with them. Craig's open-hearted, open-minded delight in the island I love was typical of him. I loved his gravelly Minnesota voice too, and he was a natural storyteller. A lovely human. This all put me off my stride a bit, and I did not feel like writing today. Instead, as Lorraine had taken the afternoon off to go with Maureen to the doctor about her knees and hips and walking. So I hopped aboard too, and we drove across...

Sunday and luckily none too hungover. In fact I felt a good deal brighter than I had the day before. Lorraine and I in decent form and after breakfast with Dawn, how had crept up to bring us tea this morning. Send out some thank yous. A note from Sarah who said she had continued to dance in the kitchen this morning. A note from Robin too suggesting that we do Sin Cycle as a Telltale pamphlet, which is a marvellous idea. Off to meet First Matie and Ian in the Basketmakers. Rainy day and the dregs of storm Dennis still doing its bit. Had a nice beer in there and a Sunday roast. Good to have the chance to get to know Ian better, who is a very decent man indeed, and is clearly exceedingly fond of Kate. Lovely to see Katie, but our meeting was overshadowed somewhat by news about our friend Craig, who is going through a very tough time. However we managed to have a good catch up to and it is always a happy thing to be having a drink with First Matie. A bit worried about the Basketmakers...

Various bits of admin with Janet this morning. As the Canadians have to return home, they have swiftly organised a cremation on Friday and I booked the room upstairs at Grand Central for a celebration of her life, with a buffet and so on. I was sent two address book lists from Janet's computers with many contacts, and I had to sift through these to send the invite out this evening once the details were sorted. This a difficult process, not helped by the mail program freezing and me having to force quit it half way through and start again. However much more enjoyably I went up to London today to meet Mum, the first time in too long. We had a nice afternoon, meeting in the Waterstones bookshop in Bloomsbury, where I couldn't help but buy two books, and then visiting The Grant Museum of Zoology, an odd little place stuffed with bleached out pickled creatures, such as a jar of moles or a jar of lugworms, and various skeletons, including one of the rarest skeletons in the world, a...

Wretched cats woke me at six, and I despised them for it. Back to bed after feeding them, feeling exhausted, and slept till 11. Lovely Lorraine bringing me breakfast in bed, including lots of fried tomatoes I had pilfered from Janet's garden yesterday. A bit of home lurking, and discussing what would happen to the Spare 'Oom, when we turn in into a wee workshop, and measuring walls and so on. I also called First Matie for a chat, which was nice as we hadn't spoken for ages. She has just installed a wood burner. Then off to Janet and Ken's and spent several hours there this afternoon and evening. I felt like I had hit a wall this morning, feeling tired and feeble, however, I snapped out of it when I arrived at Janet's house, which was thronging when Lorraine and I arrived. Rod, Ken's son, and Clare his wife, as well as Georgie and Madeline. Hus turned up shortly after us. Lorraine Hus and I had a long chat with Rod and Clare, to discuss what will happen to Ken,...

Up and sorting a few things to do with work out, and then I walked across to Evolution arts to do stained glass for a couple of hours. Feels a friendly place these days. Yvonne texting me suggestions for horse therapy names during the day, as I'd mentioned this was one of my current briefs. I spent most of my time happily  nibbling bits of glass into shape with pliers. I have accepted slow progress, and no longer strain at the leash, and as a consequence enjoying the class much more. There was classical music on the radio and I said that it was like a rehabilitation centre for people recovering from a mental illness. One of my new classmates said she was an occupational therapist, and this was exactly the kind of thing they did. Then zooming straight to Janet's place for one o'clock. Janet's nieces Kim and Heather had arrived, and Janet was very happy chatting to them. I liked Kim and Heather very much right away.  I spent quite a bit of time with Ken watching him smo...

I have set my face against camping ever since an unspeakable family camping holiday in Devon in 1976. Our tent was very pleasant, for a tent. After we lurched into bed we found the airbed was slightly on a slope, and after a few hours of sliding off the airbed onto our heads Lorraine had the brainwave that it might be a better idea to have our pillows at the other end. This, plus the effects of a good deal of alcohol, a cold night and all the sliding meant I barely slept at all. We did have a strangely romantic walk to the toilets through the dew sodden grass in the early morning light with the landscape looking beautiful at six in the morning. Despite a distinct absence of bounce (which turned out to be a widespread phenomenon among co-revellers) Lorraine and I enjoyed the day very much. Down to the barn again, where restorative buns full of bacon sausages and eggs, and mugs of tea and a good deal of talking. A lull in the middle of the day, Lorraine slept and I had a lovely chat wi...

So up at the De Trafford hotel and eating a Chef and Brewer breakfast downstairs before packing and getting ourselves sorted for the big wedding to be held at a farm near the village of Wincle, south of Macclesfield and in the edge of the peak district national park. All rather idyllic and a gorgeous drive there too. As we were early as we turned off the main road, near the farm, we squinted into the Royal Oak only to see Nicola and First Matie climbing out of a car. We parked up and had a cheery reunion over coffee and then a beer, and were joined by Lucy and Sean, other pals of Matt's. Then we then drove into what was described as the middle of nowhere and kept going through some achingly beautiful countryside and arrived at Barleyford Farm. Family friends of Matt and Isy who were getting married. The French Bloke and Craig pointing the way, both fairly refreshed already, to the barn field where we parked up and found our tent in a village of tents. Quickly changed in there, an...

Horrid news from Manchester this morning of a bomb attack at a pop concert, spent the day dipping into reports about it. Isis, who claimed responsibility, described the victims as crusaders.   Many of these crusaders were little girls. Bad night sleep due to a nipped nerve transferring pain to my head. Headache all day. Couldn’t find my wallet in the morning, but thanks to Lorraine made my train. Worked on an idea in Faux First Class. Keith in rage mode all day. We slipped out at lunch and I bought some scamping pads – usually I can liberate some from the agency I am working with, but I have been using my own as this agency doesn’t seem to have any. Keith and I paused for a pint on the way back, which briefly took the edge off everything. Text from First Matie on the way home. One of her colleagues was found dead, which is really upsetting for everyone in her agency. Sitting next to someone obnoxious person on the way home, who literally pushed my arm off the middle ar...