under another sun

Up fairly early this morning and after breakfast we drove off to Carolyn's house where she was having a gathering and seeing bits to raise money for her charity project in Nicaragua, The Forgotten Children of the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes. Had a nice cup of coffee made by her friend Martin Antonio Ruiz Hernandez in Ometepe Island, who gave her some to take back with her. Bumped into Lesley and Derek in Carolyn's gorgeous little garden, had a nice chat about Guernsey and other things. Enjoyed this morning. Then off to a garden centre where we bought some soil and a raised vegetable bedding container. This proved to be galling, as there was a problem with one of the bolts which meant we had to wait ages, and were given a discount but sold something with a dodgy bolt that we are going to have to replace or rectify. Felt pretty cross by the end of it. Late in the afternoon a burst of work in the garden, creating a new area for plants and stones. We had fun doing this, and it ...

Thank God for the weekends. Calliope had the decency not to wake me at 5:30. A slow morning. Lorraine fed the cats and made tea, and a little later I went round the corner to buy chewy brown bread and make us bacon and egg sandwiches to be eaten in bed. Then up and mooched into town, popping into quite an interesting Open House on London Road near the viaduct. One of those places that didn't have the 'me too' mindset of doing what everyone else is doing. In town we bought a camera tripod, from a cheery red haired youth at Currys. Then home in a taxi, where we snoozed briefly before we got ready to visit Derek and Lesley. A cheery night, where I ate lots of lovely food, and because I was in such nice and thoughtful company found myself in a bit of a loquacious mood. I really like Derek who has an encyclopaedic knowledge of various branches of folk music. As Lorraine and I walked through town passed some folks dancing outside the Brighton Tavern, and then discovered th...

Into town this morning to see the Children's Parade with Lorraine. Always makes me feel cheery and proud of Brighton when we see them do this. So much effort goes into this parade, and I could picture, this year better than previously, just how many unpaid teacher hours go into it. In the afternoon, Lorraine drove me down to the school where we are rehearsing for a couple of hours. After flying in the previous rehearsal, this one a bit of a reality check, and back to earth with a bump. But no reason to panic, as not having such a good rehearsal simply serves to focus everyone's mind's for the next few, and then the actual performance. Also showed up that the cast have a good team spirit. A fast drink afterwards with Betty, Kitty and Dylan. Then I bussed home. Ken, Lorraine's brother who lives in Ireland, had called round. It was only the second time I'd ever met him, and Lorraine and Ken were in the kitchen chatting. Good to see him. Ken had phoned me, not being...

A glorious spring-like day. The London legions issuing from Brighton Station when I arrived at Queen's Road for my massage from Jewel. Rather agonising it was too as my shoulders and neck were a dense mass of knotted evil. Later I felt as if someone had been pummeling my back, but I felt released: freer and loser than I have felt for months. I like Jewel, and hadn't seen her since before my wedding, and she was asking all about it in quite an interested way. After she'd finished the last stages where she manipulated my neck and so on and she left the room, I was so relaxed that I struggled for a few seconds before I could sit up. Floated home via Sainsbury's feeling swan-necked, and with the spine of a young grass snake. And then Lorraine and I took a constitutional in the park. We came across a convention of pugs and their owners, which was a Lowryesque scene, and stood laughing at the twenty or so pugs gambolling about. Into the walled garden, where we drifted happi...