under another sun

Lorraine off to Hove to get her hair cut today. I finalised the pamphlet-length MS and sent it off. It contains poems that mess with the fabric of reality, they are very marmite. I hope they like marmite. Then off to Brighton to meet Mrs Kenny, with her lovely glossy hair. We mooched up St James's road, and stopped in the pub called The Saint James, where we went on our first date for a quick drink before heading to the restaurant that used to be across the road. A chaotic, but friendly pub these days. A large blue and yellow macaw had pride of place on a tall stand at the back of the room, and apparently had form in stealing people's earrings. Someone having their photo taken with it, while their dog barking continuously at it. Another dog joined in and there was an ear splitting cacophony. Meanwhile a bloke sat on our tabletop to look at the racing scores. The pizza we had ordered to share took an age to come, but was excellent when it did. We drank some lemonade shandy there...

Now that the One Day Forever material has been swept away for future publication, a pamphlet's worth of funnier material is miraculously assembling. In Brian Eno's A Year With Swollen Appendices , he reports advice given to him by his friend Stewart Brand: 'Why don’t you assume you’ve written your book already, and all you have to do now is find it?’ I love this thought.  After a morning of enthusiastic work, we made off for the beach this afternoon, going via Morrisons. We ended up near Splash Point end, where we met Rosie and Innis, Adrian and Laura. A jolly afternoon barbecue, with several drinks and splash in the channel. I barely screamed at all getting into it, as it was the warmest channel dip I'd ever taken. Still quite refreshing. Utterly relaxed this afternoon. Now I know Adrian and Laura better, I'm really liking them. Home and Lorraine and I watched the last two episodes of Babylon 5. Lorraine and I bereft now. It was a brilliant show. Five (including P...

Enzo's birthday today. It hardly seems possible really. Funny how a little thing who has only been part of everyone's life for a year is so established and loved as a little person. Innis and Rosie came around, and we all made our way around to Squirrel's End where the garden was being made ready for a teddybear's picnic. So we had to take teddybears. I took my monkey knitted for me by Maureen. We left Pippi in the kitchen. Julie and Andy and Lorenzo were there already, helping in the gazebo. Innis had brought his bubble machine and set this up, and several pals and other relatives arrived. I particularly enjoyed seeing Laura and Braheem, and their gorgeous daughter Layla now four, and Suzie, who I caught up with about the shows she and Sarah have put on. I told her what I'd seen in Trafalgar Square with it being roped off for shows, and she told me all about it.   Most importantly Beth and James were delighted with how the afternoon went.  Enzo was of course was hi...

In good shape this morning, and commended myself for sensible drinking yesterday.  We began packing up from Pretty Vacant, our room, and made off to have breakfast, the room full of wedding goers in fine fettle. Lorraine and I, arriving late, had smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and toast. Once we'd checked out and loaded up the car. We joined in the efforts with friends and family of Rosie and Innis to take down the arch of branches, and carry things to their car etc. The newly weds were going to stay another night at the Bell.  Their room was called The Love Nest, was round and hobbity, and excellent, with a nest like exterior and once you climbed the stairs a fine terrace. They were going to swap for another one for the night.   Lorraine and I, in no hurry to rush back hung about at the Bell, hung out with Innis and Rosie, and the charming Peter and Sam Kenny. Hugging and saying goodbye to lots of folks. We sat outside under an espaliered tree canopy, had a slow lunch, a ...

So today was the big wedding day. We were woken by an excitable text sent by Rosie at 6am. Luckily Beth, who had been up already, was texting her back from home. A couple of hours later, an excellent breakfast, the breakfast room packed with wedding goers who we talked lots too. Graham pointing out that there was a signed Tracey Emin print nearby. The Bell is full of art, and fascinating posters and objects. A full English breakfast this morning with lots of coffee. I felt a tad hung over from last night, and still making efforts to hydrate as it was extremely hot again.  Much scampering about, Innis looking dapper popping into the room, next to ours, where Eve and her boyfriend Harry were staying. Eve was Innis's best person. Meanwhile in Pretty Vacant, Beth and James and Enzo arrived. All changing into Wedding gear.  I managed to fit into my suit. Lorraine went off to pick up Laura and Adrian from nearby, then we all made off to the room where the ceremony was being held....

Off to Ticehurst this afternoon, to stay at The Bell, where Innis and Rosie are to get married tomorrow. Arrived and found our room, in its own little structure, called Pretty Vacant. A very cool and stylish room. The buildings full of art, prints from Picasso, to signed Tracey Emin prints, while managing to retain a village pub ambience. A marvellous place for a wedding, and just generally to stay. Went outside for a pint in the excellent pub garden. Bloody sweltering again. Drank a nice pint of lager and it instantly went to my dehydrated head. Drank a mix of judicious beers and pints of water from then on, but never quite caught up. Really hot today.  We had a pizza in the beer garden, where we hung out with Simon and Nicky and their son Ted, and said hello to many wedding guests. Rosie and Innis had a family meal and after this was over, I had a final cheeky beer with Innis and Tim before heading back to Pretty Vacant.  Below the pub urinals, snaps in our room

A quiet morning. I went for a walk down to Tide Mills, hurrying home as it was threatening rain. In the evening Lorraine and I trained off to Hove, where we went to a nearby pub called The Watchmakers, where Rosie had booked a table. A very cheery evening, with Rosie and Innis who are getting married two weeks from today. They also had their friends Adrian and Laura with them. We liked them very much, which was lucky as they live one street away from us in Seaford.  Heard from Innis all about the ghastly business this week he had been involved with, the three women lost at sea. He was the first responder from the coast guard to arrive at the scene, and had the nightmarish business of attaching to a rope, having to wade into the stormy sea to try to recover a body. He was soon joined by another colleague and they were able to recover the body. Another two people were found. Innis had brought a change of uniform with him, and once dried off, he then continued work on the beach, which...

To Morrisons with Lorraine, and then food prep before Innis and Rosie visited with Pippi. Lots to talk about, especially with them getting married this year. Off to Friston Forest for a short walk among trees, Innis telling me about plans for his not a stag stag do. I had privately vowed never to go to a stag do again, but what Innis proposes sounds creative and interesting. Then home to have a couple of drinks and some casserole and bread and butter pudding made with hot cross buns. A fine way to spend an afternoon with a good deal of talking. Telling Innis about reading Raymond Chandler, and he said I should watch The Big Lebowski as it sort of based on The Big Sleep .  In the evening to Seaford Rugby club (they're known as The Scarlets) as it was Debbie's birthday, and she had a big bash there. Among people I knew Kate and Andrew, Andy and Delores who got Andrew  to film them in their TV pitch. A fun evening, with a cracking ska inflected band with a female horn section. T...

Slept soundly and sprang up fairly early, and made off back to Lewes again. Excellently, we also picked up Beth and baby Enzo en route. James had a Very Important cycle race to watch. We met Innis and Rosie in a car park in Lewes, then walked along the river Ouse for a while. Innis pretty busy these days with his bird retrieval work, not to mention the coast guarding he is doing, often needing hours in the middle of the night. Rosie's job, which she loved, is coming to an end, and she is wondering how to deploy the skills she has learned.  Great to have Beth with us, and Enzo looking like the best dressed baby in the world. Nice to catch up with Innis and Rosie, and Pippi zooming about happily. Then we drove off to The Ram at Firle and had a happy couple of hours, eating a good Sunday lunch, and tucking away a few tasty 'Inclination' beers from Burning Sky, a brewery just down the lane.  Fond farewells with them all.  Thence home, and a bit of a doze. I then dragged mysel...

Breakfast with Lorraine, then Simon arrived to finish off the Summer House and I mooched off to meet Anton for a quick coffee in Seaford, his starting point for a longish walk to test how his knee is doing. He gave me a present for baby Enzo, which was sweet of him. A little black baby grow with The Clash logo in pink.  Anton made off for his long walk, and I got a text from him later after walking for hours, that he thinks he'll go ahead with the op. Home and Rick and his son Luke came around to look at our exterior wall which is letting in some damp. They seemed to know what they were talking about. We also zoomed over to Gallery Uno, to see Adele, and see Patrick who was playing old Irish songs in the gallery. Hung out with them for a bit.  Lorraine who had been cooking a vast veggie chilli for much of the day, which I had helped with, and we drove off in the afternoon to a farmer's field near Plumpton with enough chilli for 12 on board. Here Rosie and Innis and family and ...

A little rain overnight. A little time in the garden for Lorraine, and in the studio I picked up my pencils and did some drawing for fun. Innis and Rosie came around this afternoon, dropping off Pippi, and going around to see Beth and James. Lorraine, Pippi and I went around to Palo and Martin's house, to look at their lovely garden, which they had opened for the day, and Palo's lovely paintings. Lovely to see Palo again, and I really liked some of her new work.  While mooching in the garden, I was holding Pippi's lead, and surprising how many people start talking to you because you happen to be sporting a nice cockapoo. Soon we were back home and Rosie and Innis were sitting in the garden. We drove off to the Plough and Harrow, for a late Sunday lunch. I decided to eat Sunday lunch like an Englishman. Roast beef washed down with a couple of pints of Long Man, from the brewery across the lane. Very nice food. And lovely to catch up with Rosie and Innis. My lightning app goi...

Dawn and Paul due for lunch, but Paul had to pull out at the last moment. Always a treat to hang out with Dawn however. She arrived looking so sweet with the most beautiful colour combinations. Lots to catch up on with her, but I also I left the ladies to it for a bit so not to harsh their buzz with my Y chromosome. In the evening in our crammed schedule, off to Hove to see Innis and Rosie. Lorraine cooked for us, and we were just about to tuck in when Rosie clarified that we were round there for our dinners too. A cheery evening, me in a novel move, bringing round some alcohol free lagers. Innis and I had a proper beer then one of alcohol free ones, which to my surprise was lovely and crisp. Lovely dinner. Innis saying he is very busy zooming about collecting dead birds to take them to the laboratory to check whether they have bird flu -- one of his jobs, when he is not being a coastguard and photographer. Rosie full fun and energy, more so than I have seen her for a while since her M...