under another sun

 Met Anton a little after noon, and went for a walk with him. Lorraine meanwhile went to meet the woman who owns the property liked by Maureen and Pat in Seaford.  I took Anton up the non-traditional paths over Seaford Head. He was wearing shorts and got stung quite badly but apart from cursing the gollum paths I had chosen, we had an enjoyable stroll down to Cuckmere Haven where the tide was low and lots of people were walking across the beach. So many of the people walking here appear to be from Korea and China. Apparently a famous K-pop singer did a video there, and it was also the picture used by Microsoft as an opening screen in the far east. A lovely day for walking, and great to be sauntering along with Anton in the wild again. We caught a bus opposite Friston Forest and made our way back to Seaford where we sat in the sunshine outside The Old Boot and had game of bones and drank some cold lager. Bad Anton farewell at the Station, then mooched home. In the evening Lorra...

A lazy morning, and breakfast. Chatted with Mum, before making off to Squirrel's End, what we have decided to call Beth and James's house. Sure enough as we arrived and looked out at the expanse of their back garden, a squirrel was obligingly sitting on its haunches in the middle of the lawn. Naturally lots of organising still to be done, but they are definitely installed now.  Lots of spiders in the conservatory, and Beth is no fan of our arachnid friends. I offered to wrangle the spiders next week if it was still a problem. James rallied, having felt peaky all week.  He was watching cycling in the background on TV as he got things ready. I must say I was quite getting into it. As today was Mother's Day, it was another Mum summit and treat for Lorraine and Julie, who arrived with Lorenzo and Andy. Beth had cooked up roast chicken and ham, and salads and roast small potatoes and so on. We toasted their new house and Julie and Lorraine with Prosecco. A cheery afternoon. I li...

Running about getting things ready for people coming over at 4pm.  Dawn and Paul came, which was great as we hadn't seem them since their marriage. We all popped open a bottle or two of bubbly to toast them. They'd been on holiday to Berlin, and Copenhagen and Amsterdam and so on. It was great to be able to celebrate with them -- they gave me a succulent plant for my study, which I liked lots. Beth and James here too. The house move which had seemed dead in the water, now might have some life in it. It's the hope that kills you. They gave me a 'to a great stepdad' card, and a pair of excellent slippers. Julie came too, and brought me some socks, chocolates and a bottle of wine.  Anton, who had arrived first, brought me my own game of bones, manufactured in the USSR, plus a book on barbecuing, and a book he has been raving about called Papyrus -- and also a Guernsey ten shilling note from the year of my birth, and a Greek note from during the Nazi occupation. Anton u...

Beth and James and Julie, James's mum, around for dinner this evening. Julie arriving with a large potted peace lily.  Lorraine cooked her special chicken dish with grapes and lettuce added to the stew at the end. Lorraine and I like Julie lots. A lovely, chatty and friendly person. James calls her 'The Goose' which is quite sweet. She and Beth get on really well too. All's well. Toby called during the evening. He and Romy are still a bit jet lagged as he said the sun shone today for the first time in Toronto today since mid december. Without the sun, reacclimatising is hard. 

Another night with no pain thank God. Still aware of my guts but they are no longer hurting, but very little energy. Lorraine off to get a massage today, she dropped me in town and I bought a present for Klaudia from Silverado for her 18th birthday. Makes me feel quite proud that my Goddaughter has reached that little landmark. Walked home via Sainsbury's where I bought some hot cross buns and sauerkraut to eat once the antibiotics stop nuking my biome.  Home and did a bit of business admin. Then a fascinating hour this afternoon talking to Liz the sudden cousin. A sign of the times, we met on a google meet page for an hour. Really enjoyed chatting with her. She is an interesting, well travelled, creative and thoughtful person. The hour passed in no time. Really nice to have met her, and we resolved to meet up if possible this year. Then Lorraine and I scampering about getting ready to be collected by Beth and James who drove us off to Eastbourne to meet Julie, James's mum, who...

So finally a smoother day. The train delayed this morning, naturally, but I made it into work only a bit late. Found myself relocated again, sitting next to Ana a designer I started on the same day with. Ana is from Mexico City and has eaten grasshoppers in Oaxaca too like I once did. Otherwise a day when I was briefed to write a newsletter report on an event, which obviously I did not attend. Piecing it together from various bits and pieces. Have been working on Schizophrenia this week, and it is an interesting area. One of the things featured at this event is a pod, into which you sit and have the opportunity to experience life as a schizophrenic, with visions and voices in your head. Lunch with Max, my erstwhile agency mentor and Julie from my old agency too. This was the highlight of my working week. We stole away to a pub restaurant and I ate a pie, chiefly attracted by the vegetables that went with it. The ladies having fish and chips. Great to see Max again, who I'd not ...