under another sun

A busy Friday, still absorbed by Andrew Rawnsley's End of the Party on the train. Makes you realise what a shambles the business of government is. Meanwhile much of the media still going on about Thatcher. Into work, and an almost unremittingly busy day. However did manage some lunch with others of a gourmet fish finger sandwich, sitting chatting with Karam, Sarah and First Matie. Then back to an afternoon of business and finding that the hour between 3pm and 4pm seemed to last for 200 minutes. Soaked by a downpour as soon as I left work. Train delayed, and stuffed full of smelly dripping people, though at one point I saw a rainbow against the bluish grey clouds. Home at last, and capered across to The Shahi to find Lorraine, Jane and Cath already in place, and a cold lager brought to me as soon as sat down. A fun night talking with everyone, and feeling very buoyant to have finished the week's work. Cath left early, being rather tired having flow in from surfing on the wes...

Foul weather. Two things from Amazon The End of the Party, by Andrew Rawnsley, which is an account of the Labour government from Tony Blair's re-election in 2001 to the end of the Brown government. Also Laura Mvula's first album, just released. On the album, she sounds like the middle ground between Nina Simone and a sedate Bjork. I'd not heard of Laura Mvula until a week or so ago, but she is splendid. Lorraine and I up and about. Drove up to the racecourse where there is a garden centre and tropical fish place. After a big Sainsbury's shop, Bought some plants and fish food, and I spent the afternoon happily pottering about with buckets, cleaning the tanks and planting. Lorraine off rehearsing with Hullabaloo. I also finished Arthur Schnitzler's Dream Story . Very dreamlike it was too, and Freudian. I finished it in bed this morning, and then told the whole story to Lorraine. In the evening off to meet Anton to talk about books and hear how he is painting the A...

Up early and working on some freelance, which is proving peskily difficult to complete. Lorraine also working on job applications, which made her feel miserable. Eventually we stopped doing this and made off to Hove for a walk for an hour in the cold by the dour-looking sea. More bad weather is on its way. We enjoyed our walk and talk however, and stopped off to buy lots of food on the way home. Home, and Lorraine doing lots of work, when she wasn't practicing her singing and chatting to Dawn. Lorraine cooked rhubarb crumble today, and showed me how to make the crumble part. It was delicious, and just the thing for a winter's day. Spoke to Mum to wish her a happy mother's day. She has a busy week this week, which may include a trip to Paris. Mason off for a small operation. Never a dull moment, eh? A wonderful new singer has emerged into the world of pop music. Her name is Laura Mvula, from Birmingham. I have listened to a few of her tracks and am really blown away. P...