under another sun

Cat business this morning. Lorraine and I off to Top Cats with Brian and Calliope in the cat carrier. Calliope very vocal in the car as usual, and even got Brian joining in. It's a mark of how well these cats get on that they can be squeezed together with no fur flying. Curious how the cats become entirely calm once they are at the vets, perhaps because the walls have absorbed years of pheromones. A new vet this time, who I think was German or Austrian, pronounced Calliope and Brian in good health, weight and so on. Brian overseeing Calliope's examination from a the top of a work surface. Apparently Calliope is a very calm cat, and her heart rate was bang on what it was supposed to be, despite being out of her normal place. He said Calliope had great teeth too, which I attested to having been endlessly bitten by them. Then after restorative cups of tea, Lorraine and I off to the Twitten to collect two of my heavy wooden chairs and table. We met one of the new tenants, a pleas...

A variety of minor missions this morning. Off to Pembertons in Seven Dials to discuss renting the Twitten, to the jewellers to collect the adjusted necklace I'd bought Lorraine for Christmas, down to the Cinema to let myself in through a side door and wander about till challenged and I could retrieve my cap, which I'd left on the floor yesterday. Luckily it was the first item that came to hand in a box behind the main desk. Then to Sainsbury's, bumping into Anna, Klaudia and Oskar in the street, and stopped for a chat. The barins back at school tomorrow, and Anna looking well. Still feeling woefully underpowered. Mum called saying that Toby and Romy have returned from their south American travels. This time they were in Bolivia, home of the famous marching powder. The Tobster had glossed over their destination to Mum in case she would worry about him being kidnapped by stare-eyed drug barons. Watched a documentary about Delius this evening, as Lorraine has rejoined th...

Large sausage sandwiches this morning, and then off into town with Beth and Lorriane for an Xmas Shopping Spree. We split up and I did some fairly painless shopping, including going into the Lego shop, which is a beautifully designed store. On my travels encountered in New Road members of the a band called The Voodoo Love Orchestra playing a vaguely New Orleans influenced style, playing drums and brass and clarinet, and one woman singing through a loud hailer. All wearing skull-faced makeup. A clip of what appears to be the fuller Voodoo Love Orchestra here . Then a rendezvous with Lorraine, Beth, Rosie, Matt and Wayne for lunch in the Foundry. We were sat near an open log fire, which because of the wind, was emitting dragonish puffs of smoke into the pub. Rather nostalgic being in a smokey pub again.  Oh for the carcinogenic boozers of yesteryear. Nice to see everyone, albeit briefly, and a reasonable roast lunch, which Lorraine and I just had time to finish before...