under another sun

Up early, feeling fairly and feeling far healthier this week than I have done for a long while. I went to the gym for the third day in a row. The sunshine helps too, it does't feel right to be indoors. So after working at various adminny bits to do with the play this morning, I went off to the gym in the afternoon, then called in on Janet and Ken having picked up a few bits and bobs in town for them and had a cup of tea and a chat. Good to see Ken at home, much happier in himself and looking a good deal brighter. Home, and chatted to Mum on FaceTime, then made my lovely wife a curry to eat and ate this with her before zooming off to The Warren which was opened tonight. Beth and I were expecting an intimate gathering of performers, but actually it was a formless free for all. Still, we drank a couple of beers that needed drinking, and distributed some leaflets and chatted to a few people, including Dave Bramwell who is a pal of Dawn's and wrote the Cheeky guides among other ...

Teeny popper Up early hearing Lola bouncing about with Mindy in the next room. She really is a charming child, with only Calliope, whom she followed about the house remorselessly, having mixed feelings about her. Back for a coffee and a walk along the seafront before we returned home, and they left. Mindy is looking very well, despite having a recent breast cancer operation and other difficult relationship times -- but is looking forward to doing an MA and writing more. Did some work on poems after they left, and later I was called by Matt who was drinking in the Tavern with Wayne and others. Arrived and was informed that there will be individual cupcakes for attendees of the concert. Lots of general banter, and it is a very friendly place. Good news is that Matt and Wayne are moving back to Brighton, about two minutes walk away from me. Also met Lorraine Bowen again, who is probably the funniest woman in Brighton, and her partner who is a likeable painter. She advised me to use a micr...

Frak! Woken by South London gangsters pelting down the Twitten with police in pursuit, wheezing directions into their walkie talkies at 4:30am. What a way to earn a living. Wasted lots of time faffing about. Did a mindmap of things which helped a bit. Went to the gym for a session of the Hulk legs machine, and uphill loping on the treadmill. I am enjoying it, and look forward to going to the gym. My God, what is happening to me? Lorraine has almost finished Skelton Yawngrave and is providing lots of good feedback. She's a gem. A cheery interlude this afternoon, when Anna came around for a cup of tea and to show Klaudia and Oskar my fish. Oskar particularly fancying my gold sucking loach, and pressing his nose against the glass. Zombied out this evening watching DVDs of Battlestar Galactica . This is the series made in 2004, and frak me it's good. Having chewed through my phone recharger wire, necessitating a wire wiggling nightmare just to half recharge my phone, Calliope has ...

A night in the Tavern So Saturday, felt a bit downcast when I read my emails and discovered another from the big pharma client with more changes to the references of the website: the vision of my weekend evaporating was depressing. I went for a much needed haircut and as the sheep wool disappeared, I came to a brilliant solution: that I would take Monday off from the agency. Phoned Betsy and explained. Then on returning home, set to work writing up the interview I did yesterday. Noticed with alarm water coming out of my shower unit. Some species of new plumbing horror, but it is only slowly dripping at the moment. A splendid evening out with Lorraine, also newly haircut. Her pals Matt and Wayne were celebrating Matt's birthday party in the Brighton Tavern. We had a really nice night out, with lots of interesting people and a really good atmosphere. In the general melee, I was delighted to meet Lorraine Bowen , (I urge you to visit her site) the hilarious lady with the ironing board...