under another sun

Lorraine off this morning to Brighton, where she picked up more thyroid mix for Calliope and then went off to Hove to have her hair cut by Paul, and then, from there zoom off to be with Betty for the afternoon, with Laura going too. I meanwhile, did an edit on an interview Robin had done, finally completed editing my chat with Sarah Barnsley. I also spoke with Mimi Khalvati this morning who I was due to interview, but she has a recurring problem with losing her voice unpredictably, and was on a whispery morning so we decided to bump it. Nice to chat to her though, as I'd not spoken to her in about 25 years I think. Late afternoon I made off to Brighton, this time on the train. Train pass wasn't working however, as I have updated my phone but the train app transferred sans data which is a bit galling. Reading a book on the train about poetry, which coincidentally included a couple of paragraphs on Mimi. Went to my usual pharmacy, stocked up on my prescription -- now I have the p...

A peaceful, black and white skies kind of day. Hillfort again, despite tiredness. Great skies today, which when you exaggerate the darkness look well moody guv'nor.  Otherwise editing my interview with Ashanti, and writing poetry. I completed a poem about Glen, my friend who died two years ago.  Peacefully indoors with Lorraine this evening. Sam up travelling off to Scotland today to see Jade, and arriving safely. 

The extra day of the year. Lorraine and I up late today, but managed to drive off to the Book Nook, where she picked up a box of children's books, and then we went down to the sea. It was deliciously rough, and looked wonderful with the lowish winter sun.  We stopped off afterwards for a cup of coffee and toasted sandwich in the Flowerpot Cafe, before heading home. Soon out again, however, off to St Annes Wells where there was a memorial evening held for Glen. Quite a few folks Lorraine and I knew there. Richard, Claudius, Adam Bushell, and Ellie Blackshaw who played on This Concert Will Fall In Love With You with Glen. Ellie also played at  Lorraine and my wedding. Good to see Maria Grazia too, and I spoke for some time with the composer Barry Mills. Such  a nice man. A humanist conducted the serious part of the evening, and she did a splendid job of it, weaving together various accounts of Glen. His daughters and first wife were there too, and it was very sad and t...

Started a new short story, this morning which I worked on most of the day.  No title as yet. At lunch watched the remainder of a documentary in two parts about the Jonestown Massacres in Guyana. Over 900 dead followers of a madman called Jim Jones. Apparently the biggest loss of US civilians until 9/11. On the way to the gym I chatted to a couple I met through Matt Pollard some time ago, Basil and, I think, Michael. Talking about poor Glen lots while standing near the newt pond in Preston Park. All very sad and I hadn't realised they were such friends with him. Glen had so many friends who were all willing to help. The gym is full of students, so I feel like coelacanth, or some other living fossil. I had not taken my water bottle so was reduced to lapping water out of my cupped hand. A quiet night in with Lorraine and Beth, watching the quiz show Only Connect , which Beth is exceptionally good at.

Up at six thirty with Lorraine but not feeling somewhat hungover. I have four social events planned this week, and after the first of them I feel like I need a week of drinking mineral water. However the day was strangely productive, as I did some really good work this morning, putting together the overarching thought for next year's changes to my business model -- which in my own head I am calling project guru . I think I have stumbled across a way of talking about how the imagination relates to business that may prove quite useful. Beth cheery today, and also helpfully arranging for a man to come and fix the washing machine, which has treacherously broken down again. I had arranged to meet Richard and Steve tonight in the Evening Star, and drank some gorgeous dark porter rather gingerly. The place unusually crammed at first, including half a dozen Chinese guys who filed in to the place slightly nervously and wonderingly, but they were soon supping happily like everyone else. ...

Up to London after a spot of early morning work. Finished The Haunting of Hill House on the train. A satisfying book.  Met up with Mum in Waterstones, and then mooched to the Wellcome Collection where we strapped on the nosebags, had a chat before we looked at shrunken heads, a shrivelled Peruvian mummy, a Chinese torture chair made out of blades, fetish objects and ranks of hideous medical forceps and knives and so on. Needless to say we both really enjoyed it, Mum even more than me. We will return, if only for fodder for horror stories. All this excellent preparation for a trip to see Lucinda the dentist. Zoomed off to Chiswick. I am always amused by the wildlife films scrolling overhead to distract from the dentistry and drool management. Watched lion cubs feasting on a gory hole in the side of an antelope for a couple of minutes. Pleased that my teeth are okay though. In Brighton I made for The Evening Star, where I met Nick, Richard and Steve to talk about Glen and hear a...

Sat at my desk with a sigh of satisfaction this morning, able to work on exactly what I wanted. April Fool! Workmen instantly started hammering on the roof next door, a matter of feet from my study ceiling, so cue stamping, the dropping of bricks just over my head, shovelling etc. Sometimes I think there is a conspiracy against me. Worked downstairs on my laptop, and this was much better. Off then to London to meet Shaila by the Tate Modern. We sat in the cafe and chatted for hours. Lots going on in her life, including the death of her uncle who brought her up. Good to see her though. Seeing someone you have known since you were a spotty herbert at school is quite grounding. Then we walked around Southbank and around Waterloo, I was on the hunt for a bookmark featuring London that I had promised Maureen I would find. Unable to find one, so I have resorted to the internet and have ordered one there. Had a quick drink with Shaila in Vaulty Towers, where I have been with Anton...

Another glorious day, although it may betoken the end of the world. Lorraine and I up and off to Sussex University, to the Attenborough Centre to see some classical music from the Castalian Quartet. Sadly their number had been redu ced to three, but they played two trios and one two-person pieces instead, which were rather good. After the interval they were abetted by Hungarian pianist Daniel Lebhard for the Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor Op 34. All rather splendid, and it took us to a happy place. I knew none of the pieces they had played. The event was introduced by Andrew Comben, who turned the pages for the pianist, which I always think seems a stressful job. A highly appreciative audience. We drove home afterwards, the day cloudless and gorgeous. In the afternoon Lorraine and I popped around next door to for tea and a slice of cake with our neighbours Philippa and Harvey. Their son Magnus able to walk about and say words a bit now. Then after a spot of dinner, I went out to T...

A day of rest and socialising with folks, taking advantage of the half term. In the afternoon Lorraine drove us to the village of Fletching to the much vaunted pub The Griffin to meet Jess and Andrew. This is apparently a mecca for Sunday roast lovers. A nice drive through the country to get there, another beautiful sunny day, and a good old pub too. Lorraine had cleverly booked a table in advance,  but the pub was a shambles of disorganisation, and the staff were panicking. All the roasts were sold out, due to an unexpected influx of non-booking people. Lorraine and I ate fish and chips. On a Sunday, disrupting the natural order of things. We sat away from the stress of the main restaurant in a small side bar. And I enjoyed a couple of pints of Harveys, although had to remind the stressed young barman to give me back my change. Jess all cheerful on the birth of her first grandchild, and Andrew, newly retired and recovered from major heart ops this time last year, looked more ...

A blissful morning, without labouring or drilling etc. overhead. Got to grips with some good work, and feel at the end of the week, that I have evolved a progress plan, have identified several weaknesses in what I've been doing, and know what my next steps are. I feel as if I have turned a corner somehow. Because not having to be at the house, I set off for a walk. But I got no further than about three yards, when I started to chat to Clem, and soon found myself up on the roof looking at tiles, and firewalls, and discussing what to do about the fact that the cheeky bastard who had fixed our TV a couple of years ago, had done so by simply legging across the roofs and sticking it onto Clem's chimney. Also looked at lead flashing etc which has split on our roof and may cause damp in our bedroom. Seems I am destined for domestic doings. Clem however, is expert in all these kind of things, which is good. After this done, I resumed my walk, and walked for a couple of hours or mor...

Liking the feeling that Thursday is the new Friday. Off to work in tired but happy mode, playing with poems on my laptop. The day okay, went for a mooch around at lunchtime and went to Moscow Road, where I used to go to the Moscow Arms back in the 80s, and now called the Phoenix. It was popular with all kinds of folks, including Aussies and Kiwis. I have a memory of going in there with friends I'd made when I worked at Casio Warehouse. One of the guys was a bearded Australian teacher on a gap year, who on entering the pub, which was rammed, simply had a pee against the fruit machine in the middle of the pub. I'd never seen anything like it.  Nobody seemed to notice either. Home and straight into The Evening Star, where I met Glen, over from Greece, and Richard and Steve, and a few other pals. A cheery evening, and my first drink in a pub for a few weeks, and fine real ales they were too. Good to see Glen and hear about Greek life. Also had a long and fascinating chat with Ste...

So another good sleep, though punctuated with nightmares again. I seem to be going through a season of them, as the brain does its nightly archiving. Lorraine working from home today, and I was too, courtesy of my lovely French clients, doing a smidgeon of work on antimicrobial resistance. I was also going into town to meet Alex, a very interesting person I met through Glen 'Fingers' Capra. However instead of arriving at 11:30 I set off at 11:30 and so was half an hour late, just missing her. I hate this sort of thing as it pains me to be late by even a few minutes. Luckily she accepted my apology, and we are to meet tomorrow. As I burst into the Marwood, the sound system was playing, appropriately, 'She's Gone' by Hall and Oates. Had a coffee there anyway, and then bought some vittles and returned home, all by foot so, there and back, I had a good walk at least. Home and a bit more French work, and published a summation of the Edinburgh stuff on my other site. ...

The weather muggy and turbulent, ending in an apocalyptic thunderstorm. Writing my proposal for the children's book, plus working on a few poems and doing some Edinburgh stuff. In the evening off to The Evening Star, where I met Glen and Eleni, Steve, Richard and Maria Grazia, and Adam Bushell, who I'd not seen for about five years, then saw twice in a week. Also chatting to a Yorkshireman on his own on our table called Mike, who had invented little cards to place over his drink which said Back in a few minutes, to prevent his drink being removed. A really cheerful evening all round. Steve looking incredibly smart just having got off the train from London where he is doing a new job. It made me want to obey him. Then walked home, managing to get home while the rain was spotting. There followed a thunderstorm the like of which I had not seen in the UK. The sky flashing wildly. Below Mike, and his beer card, and the radiant Glen and Eleni.

Doing lots of mind-maps at the moment, trying to use this natural lull to at least be clear about my objectives. At lunchtime, I zoomed down to the Bath Arms to answer the papal summons. There are few people better to chat with over a plate of pub grub and a pint than Catherine, and we had a great chat over lunch. Then up to St Luke's with Lorraine in a taxi, where Glen and Eleni, and Kostas on guitar were playing a concert of Greek and French music. Bumped into a few folks I'd not seen in a while, including the composer Barry Mills, and Adam Bushell, who, like Glen, played on This Concert Will Fall In Love With You and other adventures, Richard Gibson there too. Glen and Eleni played with Kostas Kationis on guitar, who Eleni told me is extremely respected around Kavala as a choral conductor and arranger. In a selection of Greek songs from the 20th century, in the first half, then a selection of French songs, including of songs by Edith Piaf with lovely fluency too. Afte...

Hot as anything today. Woke to news of a nutter driving into a crowd of people outside a mosque in London, shouting that he wanted to kill all muslims. It is rioting weather. Spoke to Mum sweltering up in London. I worked on The Second Kind of Darkness then in the late afternoon walked off to the gym and did a sweaty workout. Obviously the air conditioning works a little in the changing room, but nothing in the actual gym. I did a fair workout though, and walked home again on the shady side of the street. Received a picture of a man pointing at a stepladder today from Beth, the caption being, you're not my real ladder!  In the walked back to the Evening Star (Lorraine stuck in a late meeting) where I met Glen, Steve and Richard, and Glen's pleasant brother and his pleasant girlfriend. Had all manner of nice chats and drank cold beer. I was not going to drink this week, a firm resolution that was dead by the end of the day. Richard plotting some new political bet, an accu...

After recent events, finding it hard to concentrate today, and so found myself doing things like ironing and laundry instead of pressing on with the story. In the afternoon I took myself to get a haircut and go to the gym, and this was helpful and found myself much clearer headed than before.  Went out at 5:30 to meet Glen and Richard in the Evening Star. Glen fresh off the plane and looking cheerful and well. An enjoyable chat with them, and arranging to meet up again soon. Richard had been over to Greece recently and had played with Glen doing his Shakespeare Heptet material. Steve unable to come because of a leg injury he got while putting the clay pigeon ejector away at his shooting club, which sounded ouchy. I walked down past the Brighton Tavern only to find Matt standing outside having a cigarette. So I simply joined Matt and Reuben for a drink. Great to see them. A very sociable evening, although drinking on a school night possibly not the most sensible thing, I felt...

In a strange state of mind, very tired and I look haggard, but poems are pouring out of me at the moment. Only time will tell if they are any good. Just had my head down all day.  Preoccupied with Mason at the moment too. Spoke to Mum in the morning and later. Was phoned by the hospital to say Mas was being moved from intensive care. In the evening, a delight, seeing The Shakespeare Heptet playing to a good sized audience, listening in rapt attention at St Mary's Church in Kemptown. Lots of chums in the audience, including Glenn over from Greece, we chatted to him and Steve Cartwright, and Maria-Grazia Richard's wife and Claudius. Lorraine also spreading out on the tables flyers for the Christmas play.  It was very atmospheric, and the band though a bit nervous at first played beautifully. They've also taken to projecting the sonnets onto the wall so you get to really dwell on the poems as you listen to the music.  Then Lorraine and I walked with Steve and Mari...

Woke up with a headache. Saturday, but work to be done. Working for mes amis in Paris during the day. Then in the afternoon, a sleep. Messages with the Tobster about Brexit, we feel the same about it. Find myself looking at the news websites, for half-hourly updates, looking at Facebook, my newsfeed full of lamentation and horror, for the majority of my friends were remainers. However hard I look at this news, I cannot find a single positive thing about it. It is the most profound political crisis of my lifetime, and entirely self-inflicted. If in doubt, drink. So off this evening with Lorraine to The Evening Star, where we met Glen, over from Greece, Richard and Steve. Really nice to see them all, and swig some real ale and catch up on the gossip. Then after an hour and a half off to Reuben and Claire's house for a party. With dancing, Lorraine and I both dancing a good deal, with the Turners, Reuben, Claire and Japhy spinning some rather good tunes. Reuben gave Lorraine severa...

Oddly fragile and demotivated this morning. I blame Anton. I made myself a cup of tea and poured myself a glass of water in the kitchen this morning. As they were side by side, I added milk to the water, which I took as a bad sign. I'm not sure of what it was, exactly. I worked a little on the play, and was phoned by the agency to give a short amount of time to considering an client idea that even the dogs in the street could see was a wrong 'un. Meanwhile various friends have been doing highly interesting things. Richard Gibson is out in Kavala with Glen and Eleni in yet another manifestation of the Shakespeare Heptet. I saw this link to a local TV appearance . I love the bit where Richard starts talking and overdubbed Greek emerges.  Meanwhile Jane's been at her Royal impersonations again as you can see here . I read an excellent essay by David Foster Wallace here , a humorous account of a seven day Caribbean cruise, which I heard being discussed on R4's A Good...

Lorraine up early and made porridge and tea for us, which I ate in bed. Then I found Giannis in the kitchen, and made toast and scrambled eggs, taking the opportunity to have a Hobbit's second breakfast with him. I made myself a tea and after the water had quickly reboiled I found that I was pouring a dilute instant coffee over my teabag, which was a bit of a surprise, but we laughed about it. Glen came around again, and another quick chat with him before he and Giannis set off into Brighton. Glen incredibly busy trying to get a whole slew of stuff sorted over here. To work, and after a few hours, I decided I needed to stop going around in circles and cut myself a bit of slack. At lunchtime I broke off to see Eleni and Glen perform a lunchtime concert in the Unitarian Church. Said hello to Giannis again and Sakis and Rita, Eleni's mum and dad. Glen and Eleni did a lovely job,  Eleni truly is a fantastic singer. I wrote about their performance here . Home again to round ...