under another sun

In horny-handed son of the soil hat on, I was pleased with the rain that fell all night and for quite a bit of the day too. The garden looking lovely this evening, with everything standing to attention. Feeling a bit sluggish today, and struggling to get work done. Wasted time this afternoon in my preparation to go to a writer's group and talk about advertising and poetry in Lewes. Made off to the appointed place, a pleasant pub in Lewes I'd been to once before called The Dorset and waited for everyone to turn up. None did, and a the nice folks behind the bar had no knowledge of the meeting. Nursed my pint of Harvey's for a bit (it seemed rude not to drink it as the brewery is a little more than a stone's throw away). Made my way home again after a bit and received an email saying I had been emailed about it. I hadn't. So rather a waste of time. But I'd quite enjoyed a little trip there and my pint, and the organiser Gilly was apologetic. Home, and a quiet...

A dreary rainy morning. All at Kenny Towers up early, however. Beth off to a day of children's performances, many of which she had directed. Lorraine and I up and doing work. Lorraine also rewiring an old standard lamp. I worked on the pitch most of the day, with little forays into doing some work for my French client. Lorraine and I did however make some time this evening for a walk, as the weather had cleared, into our favourite walled garden. Then we popped in the The Park View for a bite to eat this evening. They were playing extremely good music and the grub wasn't hideous, nor was the pint of Harveys bitter I gulped down rapidly. Later, at home, Lorraine and I drank some of the gin we'd bought in Guernsey airport, and watched the excellent Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Then I packed and got ready for tomorrow for I am going up to London tomorrow and will stay overnight at Mum's place. Below in the walled garden at Preston Park. Really beautiful. Finding ...

Up early and on with the book before having to break off to go to the quack. Blood tests reveal blood sugar and cholesterol fine. A medical student in the room which is a tad weird. Feeling stressed this morning, and having to wait ages in the doctor's waiting room looking at the blood pressure monitoring machine, amplifying usual white coat syndrome meant blood pressure was high. I suggested they do one of those 24 hour trials, which my doctor agreed to, this will happen in November. More shenanigans with the house, having to chase the letting agents as they have underpaid me by £380, meanwhile the purchase moving with the pace of an arthritic snail. Feeling calmer and more relaxed this afternoon. Doing a bit more writing. Lorraine home early and after chilling with her for a while, before we wandered off to the Battle of Trafalgar to meet Rosie, Betty and Matt. Dawn also popped in later in the evening. Good to see everyone, and settle my nerves thanks to good work done in the...

Rolling up the trouserlegs Up at seven, and a spot of admin and payment chasing, and writing for a few hours before Toby surfaced, enticed by a cup of tea. As Toby groggily regrouped, I went off for a haircut, where I mentioned that my brother was over from Canada. The hairdresser quizzed me as to whether he had come over for the Pride parade in Brighton this weekend. Saying that he hadn't, made me feel curiously homophobic. So I had to add perhaps over-eagerly that I for one would certianly be enjoying the parade, which wasn't quite right either. A few nasty moments this morning having discovered I no longer had my manbag and, much more importantly, my camera. I called Zizzi and after describing its ink-stains, was told they had it. Returned home fully manbagged again, Toby showed me his excellent Argentinian photos. Some beautiful images. Then I went for a massage, which was free - having introduced Lorraine to my back crackers. I had a huge knot in my shoulders apparently,...

Pleasantly floral In Brighton today doing business billing and chasing payments, (still can't think of that without thinking of rather good recent pop hit by Adele chasing pavements ) and avoiding confronting the stuff my accountant has sent me. Feeling much clearer mentally now thanks to Mum's big improvement - able to focus on tying down details about a new and very interesting interview piece, and talking at a conference (thanks to a Mex contact) in July. Snuffling with a cold off and on all day. Feeling paranoid that I will have given it to Mum. Things took an unexpected twist when my new friend and publisher Mike called and was in Brighton. As a sophisticated American francophile he is wrong-headedly dubious about pubs and pints. I took him to sit in the hot sun in the back of the Battle of Trafalgar and he ended up having some Harveys bitter, a splendid beer as I may have mentioned brewed locally in Lewes. He was surprised, saying "My! That's pleasantly floral,...