under another sun

Another tranquil day. A cup of tea in bed from lovely Lorraine. I did a smidge more for mes amis in France, and pushed on a little with the waiting room work, and did little apart from send a few emails. Went for a walk around in Preston Park, where I did most of my ten thousand paces going into the walled garden circling the park and crossing Preston Road I slid dangerously on the slippy rocks of the rock garden. Sat in the walled garden but a nearby drone ruined the tranquility. I cooked a fine bean jar today. The stars aligned and it was excellent. We ate beany bowls of it this evening with a thick slice of chewy brown bread. Lorraine very appreciative. Delicious. As I always remark about a bean jar, it is the smell of thing slowly cooking all day that is so nice too. Been reading a strange story a day by Robert Aickman . Listened to an old BBC R4 programme about him. The stories are excellent, and Aickman who died in 1981 remains little known. An annoying drone.

Woke to the news that Ursula K LeGuin had died after a long life as a fine SF writer, whose book The Left Hand of Darkness I had enjoyed as a teenager. I read other of her books later, but The Left Hand of Darkness was interesting because the society it depicted was constructed around a different sexual cycle, where its inhabitants were gender neutral, and then chose which sex they wanted to be when they reached 'Kemmer' a point when they felt like breeding. Certain fish do things like this, so the idea was entirely plausible to me at the time. A letter from Robin with comments on Sin Cycle , which were very useful, and I was really pleased with. Was contacted about doing bits of freelance I have a cheeky three days pencilled in next week working with Fernanda at her new agency, and the folks in Paddington wrote to check my general availability over the next few months. I cooked bean jar today. Smells of beany goodness drifting through the house. Lorraine said she thought i...

Monday, and expected work load did not happen. So a fairly quiet day. I cooked my first Guernsey beanjar in ages, and with beef too. Sauntered out to get fresh parsley and onions and added patented PK ingredients and the house filled all day with the smell of beany goodness. Walked down into town too, a cold and bright day. Brain still a bit mushy and feeling buggy. I found I was perfectly able to fritter time away quite well without accomplishing much. Lorraine into school today on her own to sort out one or two things, but didn't get up till late. Good to feel fairly relaxed on a Monday. Also news last night that Matt and Isy got engaged. And a text this morning from the old FB.

New Kenny Towers a place of industry. I made a Guernsey beanjar, to christen the house with my bean-based aromas. A BT guy arrived to connect our wifi, as three men arrived with our new washing machine, which is now in the dungeon, as Lorraine and I have dubbed the cellar. Later other men delivered was a dishwashing machine, that I thought I might be able to plug right in, but came with a many instructions, regrettably none in English. My throat now very sore and my neck puffy with swollen glands, and foot still hurts, so today's painting, scraping and rebuilding my office a slog. Lorraine doing governor training, but not too late. Beth back for a few hours too, before zooming off to look after Anton's house while he is in the US, and we all snapped down some beanjar. In the evening, the previous owner helped us decode the mystery of the washing machine plumbing. It means we have to take apart a substantial kitchen unit, and pass the outflow pipe from the washing machi...

Up before the sparrows and off to Victoria, a bus from there to an agency I haven't worked with before near Goodge Street tube. Feeling a bit run down having had a stomach upset for the last couple of days. However London looking rather lovely from a bus top. A couple of old faces I knew from former agencies, and was greeted nicely. A long-seeming day battling with tiredness. Snuck off at lunch to buy a book of plays by Ionesco by way of being in a quiet atmosphere. Caught a bus to Victoria, which went down Oxford Street. The chief decoration this year seems to be hundreds of silver globes in the air. Some of the window displays remarkable.  Listening to the very short audiobook A grief observed, by C.S.Lewis. Some fine writing in it, although I don't share his orientations. Home after eight, and Lorraine training governors on school data tonight. Spoke to mum, the heated up a  bowl of bean jar and felt pretty good about it. Lorraine home and fed the same. Both tired and r...

A day when things started to unblock. The exchange of contracts on the twitten looks likely for this week. While Talib, who photographed our wedding only to become silent and not reply to my email, got in touch. And I ended the day with a virtuous glow, having completed the preparation of my accountants, something which made me feel light and airy, as well as stern and efficient.  I also did some preparation for the gifted and talented session I am doing on Thursday with Dawn. Contacted too by my chums in Tavistock Square, and may be covering for First Matie next week. Meanwhile I also cooked a Guernsey beanjar, harbinger of winter and delicious beany aromas. I started it in the new slow cooker, but it soon became apparent that it wasn't cooking properly, and had to be transferred to the beanjar. The clue's in the name really. Additionally I baked some bread which I'd not done for a few years, and we ate some in the evening with our beanjar. Also drank fresh coffee this e...

Zen beans Living in a pocket of rain, for just a wee bit up the hill from the Old Church Hall snow had settled. L and I went for a drive today along the slushy roads to pick up wine for the concert next week. The Downs were snowy and whiting out in the distance. Rather beautiful. Feeling much improved today, less achy and with a good deal more energy. Lorraine doing some steady work. Calliope chasing the other two cats out of boredom, and I made a very successful beanjar. The Zen task of honing the perfect ingredients continues: today I cooked it with pork, fresh parsley, onions, carrot, haricot and butter beans, but also to provide depth of taste: small amounts of garlic, tomato puree, cumin, black pepper, mustard powder,dried sage, fresh bay leaf, mixed herbs and turmeric. One day I will cook the perfect bean jar. It is my life's work and destiny. Watched The Time Traveler's Wife on TV tonight. Not a bad film of a very enjoyable book. A piece about Matt and I on the Brighton...

A wooden horse called Peter Began work this morning at eight on dragon-related stuff. Anton came around for a cup of tea at lunchtime and we had some dragon-related chats, and as I type this I am waiting to go off to the Eddy with him to further discuss this and other important matters over a pint or two of Harveys bitter. Otherwise still busy planting seeds for next year's income. Talked to another headhunter and have made an appointment to see my accountant on Thursday. Also chatted to The Gnome to see how he was getting on, and talked to Sophie, and emailed with Katie who sent me a useful contact. Cooked a beanjar today so was able to warm the house from the oven and fill it with herby and comforting beanjar smells all day. Took myself for a couple of walks. I am becoming slightly obsessed with the pier. I started writing something the other day that is set on it, and so have been drifting back to check the details. Something about places that are out of season that I love. Some...