under another sun

The day started with a spot of good writing from me while Lorraine off doing Rhyme Time.  A sociable day. I met Yvonne for a quick coffee and a chat, before going home to meet Jess and Andrew. We four walked into town and went to Amie's Kitchen for some noodles, and a drink of Vietnamese Lime soda of some sort. Nice to see them again heard among other things about a nightmarish journey to Turkey with grandchildren, six hour delays arriving late at night and driving to somewhere you didn't have the address for and so on.   Later on, Lorraine made off to see Beth and Enzo, Beth under the weather. A bug passing between us all at the moment. A rejection from Long Poem Magazine, for the first part of Gordon Road. I've never been able to place work there. Having resubscribed to the magazine, I found the last issue a bit stuffy and dull, so I'm probably not in tune with their aesthetic. Rejections are always dreary and drain me of joie de vivre and confidence. Some rain tonigh...

Up early and the sun was out. A glorious brisk and breezy day. We met Jess and Andrew and walked along the seafront from Edinburgh Road to splash point and then back to pop into see Pat and Maureen, as she was keen to meet their little cockapoo dog. After a cup of tea I had to slope off to see Coílín to show her my broken tooth. She is brilliant, and we have a good laugh together. She put a temporary filling in it, made of an excellent Japanese substance and she polyfillered a bit of tooth. This is my worst tooth, mostly smoke and mirrors, made from unnecessary drilling done in my teens -- so it may have to come out eventually or be replaced by an implant, or involve elective root canal surgery, which I told Coílín sounded appalling and she agreed. I gave her a copy of Snow, as she is such a talker that we know loads about each other now, and she knows Lorraine, Pat and Maureen too. I think of Lucinda up on Strand on the Green as my ex -dentist now.  A much needed quiet afternoon a...

Up rather gingerly, after feeling so washed out yesterday. However it turned into a day of glorious and manly achievement shovelling 0.8 of a cubic metre of lovely topsoil into a wheelbarrow from the front garden into one of the raised beds. It took many wheelbarrow trips, and Lorraine had to do lots of raking at the other end, among all sorts of other jobs. I felt pleased with myself when it was done -- not least at how I could come from feeling so rubbish yesterday, to so good today.  After showers and so on, we lay about nursing our worn limbs for a bit before getting dressed up and going off to Andrew and Jess's joint birthday party in Cuckfield. Upstairs in a nice pub, with lots of grub and music. We sat on a table with Natalie and Trevor, two pals of Jess. I had met them years before. Trevor is a retired driving instructor, and Natalie is a headteacher. Trevor an interesting man, an orphan who was an undiagnosed dyslexic so was unable to read and write but nevertheless made h...

Lorraine working at packing, while I crept around a bit uselessly with my execrable back. Lots to be done, and I am still able to do a few bits and pieces such as filling out forms for Bearded Bros. who are our removal company.  Sunday and Lorraine drove us off at lunchtime to see Jess and Andrew for a large Sunday lunch. They are thinking of going to southern Italy on holiday shortly, and Jess has been learning Italian over recent years. Heard about Jess's daughter Alice's recent marriage. Meanwhile Jess's other daughter Kate is our solicitor, so we are in good hands.  My first time out in a couple of days due to the evil back. A nice spot of roast pork and the crumbles that Lorraine had taken over. A cheery afternoon and we left after 4.00pm. Lorraine and I talking excitedly about our new house of course. Keep having waves of excitement, which is great. Home and a cheeky cheese on toast this evening, and a spot of TV watching. Not up to much more frankly. 

A distinct Friday feeling. Woke up at 5am, and stayed awake. Did business admin, sent off three invoices to coax some doubloons from the ether. Had to upload passport photographs etc. to accept the job starting next week -- and had to call Keith who was driving off to do some camping.  Angie and Richard in Seaford called in a rather a worried state. The man next door to them is going to convert his loft, and they had got it into their heads that we would now not want to buy their house. They wanted to tell me themselves because they consider us friends now. Once I reassured them that this wouldn't change anything, they also said that the were going to shortly be able to move themselves, so the Seaford end of move is looking fine. Fingers still rigidly crossed for everything else. Had a nice chat with Mum while strolling across Preston Park and down London Road to the gym. She was going for a scan at Edgware General, and then was going to The Waggon and Horses afterwards. It was her...

Both Lorraine and I in need of quiet recovery time. And the weather was very wet. I did some more work for my French client in the afternoon. Lorraine doing cross stitch, and listening to music. Spoke to Toby, who was sitting looking at his garden which now looks very nice indeed in the sunshine. He was good, and pleased to be able to teach virtually, a bit strange looking at the screen instead of teenagers, but all good. In the evening Jess and Andrew came around, and we had a delivery meal from the Shahi. Had to wait ages for the delivery though. An enjoyable night, and I seemed to want to drink beers quite a bit. Nice to see them, as we had not met up since February. Between them they now have three grandchildren, all of which have emerged into the world recently. Andrew lost his sister this year however.  News today that Donald Trump is in hospital with Covid 19 -- a precautionary measure. While I think he is the poster boy for evil, I can't bring myself to wish him dead. Altho...

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 ...

So up, fairly early, and finished work on my pamphlet for the Cinnamon competition, and sent it off. Remembering Paul Valery: a poem is never really finished only abandoned. However at least I met my self-imposed target which was good. You never know your luck. While Lorraine was speaking at length to insurance people about the snowy sliding bumps in February, I spoke to Mum who had texted me that she had just found out that Spider Fred had died in December when she randomly googled him. I knew him as a child, as he was a great chum of Gerald my stepfather, and I was lucky enough to be taken out by him spider collecting. We drove out to a disused railway siding and put trays under bushes, and shook the bushes until the spiders rained down into the trays. These were then efficiently sucked up with a rubber tube with a glass end, and a filter made out of stockings material. A fascinating day. He had draws of spider specimens at home too. Once home I tried sucking up a large fly, but h...

So, so long Beast from the East. It slipped off northwards. Noticeably milder when I got up and fed the cats and made Lorraine and I tea and breakfast. I had a decent night's sleep too, which was splendid, and so I felt more robust than yesterday. The snow in the back garden, crisscrossed with fox prints and cat prints melted during the day. We stayed in bed till late, with one of the heaters breathing the smell of scorched dust into the air. Lorraine has constructed a big chart stuck onto the fridge called 'We can do it', plotting the year's weightloss. The plan is to drop half a kilo a week. Weighed ourselves again this morning, and we are doing well. I have lost about three and a half kilos in the last two weeks, quite remarkable considering that this last week, I did little exercise other than Olympic freestyle coughing. In the afternoon off to a Nissan car dealership and we bought a Qashqai. Nissan scorn the letter 'u' obviously. A car salesman who was ...

Lorraine a little sadder and wiser after enjoying fizzy wine at Beth and John's place last night. I however, was a little brighter, and bought some bread and took her up a breakfast in bed. Then I made off to Preston Park's Rotunda cafe. There I met Andrew, to talk about my accounts. On the next table Jess was having an Italian conversation lesson. I kept thinking it was a bit like a spy movie, bending over a pad, while Andrew did bits of maths, and I signed a piece of paper and took away another sheet carefully folded. Meanwhile their cockapoo scuffed excitedly between the two tables. Andrew and I then took a walk through the park, and shook hands near a parked car. All very suspicious. Enjoyed chatting with Andrew, and felt reassured about accounts and so on. He has a heart operation in Sussex Hospital in the next couple of weeks. He is understandably keen to get it done. Lorraine still in bed when I got home, but showing signs of life. A few cups of tea and coffee and Lorr...

Lorraine taking it easy this Saturday trying to get over a nasty chest cough and cold, and I wanted to look after her by bringing teas and breakfasts in bed and so on. My throat, ears and sinuses flared up again with gusto too, and by the time the afternoon came, all I wanted to do is sleep. I tried to do some writing. Then when Lorraine got up we did a few household chores done together,  Lorraine and I simply rested and slept on the sofa through the afternoon. Today was the story of things not happening. We were due to pop down to The Basketmakers in the afternoon to say goodbye to Irish Tom, who is permanently returning to Ireland, but didn't. We were also supposed to see Jess and Andrew tonight, but as Andrew has to go in for a heart operation shortly, and doesn't need to risk getting a cold. While I was slumped on the sofa, Lorraine cooked lots of nice things she would have cooked this afternoon. We both hen mindlessly slumped in front of x factor, and then repaired to...

I was awake annoyingly early, thanks to Calliope. But we got revenge as Lorraine drove us along with Brian and Calliope to Top Cats. Calliope complaining all the way.  Calliope needs some dental work, which will cost her two teeth and us an arm and a leg. Such a nice vet there, so gentle and charming. Home after driving into town to buy cat food and picking up a prescription. Home, and Lorraine conked out exhaustedly on the sofa and slept for hours. I don't think she is very well. I slept too, then stated reading the highly enjoyable Head On , a memoir by Julian Cope, I heard discussed on Radio 4's a good read. In the evening Lorraine, Betty and I off in the bus to Hove where we went to The Exchange where we saw John's band, Night Shift. Jess and Andrew came, and Rosie and Innis, and Innis's brother. Beth's pal Laura came too with her rather nice boyfriend, Brahim. I had to drag myself out tonight, feeling very tired, Lorraine was too, but actually we had a real...

Lorraine and up and out today. Off to talk to people about taps, as a tap in our bathroom is leaking, necessitating having to turn the pesky stuff off in the whole house outside in the street. However Lorraine and I had a really nice day. Walked into town and had a coffee together and chatted, I had a hair cut and later Lorraine and I went for a light tapas and some sparkling water. Then off to the cinema to see La La Land this afternoon.  A musical. And about Hollywood. I find Hollywood's self love, exemplified by the Oscars, to be pretty nauseating. I however found lots to enjoy in it, the music was okay, the direction, art direction and filming good. In fact I think I liked it more than Lorraine, but I think this was only because I my expectations were lower than a viper's paunch, despite the rave reviews. Then home again, and a quick turn around and we caught the bus with Betty back into town.  Lorraine and I off to an Italian restaurant in Hove called Buon Appeti...

Up fairly early this morning and Lorraine and I drove off to Bolney's St. Mary Magdalene church where they had their saints day service. Nice folks there and a pleasant enough service. I find I am not at ease these days in church, and being told stuff like St Mary Magdalene is the patron saint of hairdressers, perfumer makers and reformed prostitutes. Why reformed? Are unreformed prostitutes then outside the ambit of God's love? Now they've made me think about God, I want silence not to be forced to imagine the theological conversations that went on somewhere about what she'd be patron of.  I want silence not to be forced to mumble through Anglican hymns. Though I do not doubt for one moment the sincerity and faith of the people who go there. Some middle eastern food afterwards in the Church (a definition which included at least two  kinds of quiches).  I like the church and enjoyed looking at its windows and talking to members of the congregation and Father Martin. T...

Lorraine off early in sports gear, as it was Sport Relief day at school. Tackled a few time consuming admin bits that I'd been putting off, as well as tinkered with a couple of poems. Sonia very chatty today, telling me about her mother, who sounds quite a character, a burly ex-army woman who thinks of herself even now as a great beauty, and has a new boyfriend. Which goes to prove, as Sonia says philosophically, it's what you think about yourself that's important. It's hard to disagree. Otherwise a quiet day, even reading in the afternoon, sauntering off to the post office. Saw a large fox in the garden endlessly scratching itself in a flea tormented fashion. Felt rather sorry for it.  Lorraine home late and then we turned right around and drove off to Cuckfield to Jess and Andrew's house. They'd recently returned from a trip to India and Jess, who is an excellent cook, brought back lots of spices with her and cooked up a storm of gorgeous food. Sat in ...

Up early and free to work on my own stuff. Had the best morning's work I can remember. I got to grips with a poem I've been working on for ages currently called The door in the wall , based on the H.G. Wells story, and it really came together. After a while of this, I worked on on the opening to A Glass of Nothing . Feeling quietly elated by this progress. Physical energy however not so easy to come by, and by late afternoon after taking a stroll in the suddenly much colder weather, I needed a doze. The evening however fun. Met Jess and Andrew in the Shahi who are cheery company and easy going, chatting and forking down my traditional chicken tikka bhuna jaal with good cheer. Lorraine and I didn't have to cope with forgetting our keys this week, which was a great boon.  However once we got home, we heard about dreadful attacks in Paris, and watched the rolling news coverage on BBC news. Having popped over to Paris this year, and being pretty close to where the attacks h...

Received a text from Betty wishing me "a happy (evil step) father's day", which was kind of her. Neither of us was feeling particularly ebullient, but we rallied to visit Jess and Andrew in Cuckfield. Had a barbecue outside in their excellent lawned garden, with Winnie their cockapoo dog hilariously zooming about after footballs and tennis balls. A highly relaxing way to spend an afternoon with lovely people and eating a good amount, we went for a short walk into the country with the Winnie, who almost, almost  converts me from my lifelong prejudice against dogs, but not quite. Home late in the afternoon, and went straight to bed and slept for two hours. Then in the evening watched the excellent sixth and penultimate episode of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell , which was a cracker, followed by an episode of the rather good Humans .

Awoke with Brian treading on my head, and discovered I had what I suspect was a hangover after last night's liveliness in London. Nevertheless I roused myself to get up and off to buy some bread for an unashamed bacon and egg sandwich. In the afternoon Lorraine and I drove off to Shoreham for we had M&S vultures from Mum and others and they were beaking through our pockets. We came home with the booty of a nice quality duvet cover and pillow cases, and a table lamp from Next. Home, and Jess and Andrew came around for meal and have a look at the house. Lorraine cooked her acclaimed chicken, tarragon and leek pie, and I gave the ladies gin and tonic in teacups. We all sat about chatting and drinking wine.I like Jess and Andrew a lot, and find them sensitive and easygoing company. Went to bed, discussing diets again. Lorraine had first thing this morning watched a programme on BBC one about dieting and answered complex questionnaires about why you eat and so on and came up wit...

Day spent waiting for the exchange to happen, phoning solicitors and estate agents and so on.  We're all ready to go, and this afternoon the estate agent told us the vendor is also ready to go. The last lines of Waiting for Godot  are apposite. Vladimir: Well? Shall we go? Estragon: Yes, let's go. They do not move.  I made my final futile call at 5:30 to the solicitor. No exchange made. They do not move.  When I wasn't wandering in this hall of mirrors, I searched for pieces of paper that have the information Andrew needed for my tax return. When I wasn't doing this I was failing to write. All this inbetweenness is rubbish for writing in. So I finished The Fall by Camus which I enjoyed a good deal, in an existentialist kind of way: a bloke in a dark cafe harping on about how terrible life is and what a terrible man he is. In the end it turns out his endless but fascinating monologue has all been addressed to himself, or at least to his double. When Lorraine ret...

Our bid on the messy house was unsuccessful, someone had bid the same amount as us, but was able to move more swiftly. Lorraine and I press on remorselessly, however, into the next ring of House Move Hell. I might suggest it to Amanda as a new board game, so, mad-eyed, I can slam meeples around the board in endless circles. Otherwise admin and waiting for many hours for a bit more German work to turn up, and sending and receiving emails to Robin plotting next Wednesday's poetry beano/pamphlet launch in Lewes. Turns out that famous and successful poets, who I met a couple of times in a very former life, John Agard and Grace Nichols are having an event in Lewes at the same time as us. The two parties are apparently to meet up in the Lewes Arms afterwards, so I can keep my achievements in proper perspective. Beth home in the afternoon,  sitting on Lorraine's desk and printing off comedy skits for her class tomorrow. After I had phoned lots more estate agents I dragged the body...