under another sun

Up to make a cup of tea, pausing only to clean up a pool of cat urine next to the litter tray, and back into bed. Sipping tea in bed, I opened my email from Live Cannon to say my manuscript Man Up had not won the prize for which I was shortlisted. I had tried not got my hopes up over the last six months, but still a disappointment. All is not lost, however, as I was told they were big fans of my work and would I be up for meeting to discuss it? But it took me a while to reach this point of seeing this gleam of optimism. I have failed at the last fence so many times it is hard to bear.      Shortly after, Brian arrived with his chainsaw -- which he has been trained and licenced to use -- bright as a button having already been for a swim in the sea to help us out in  the garden. He proceeded to cut down the small dead conifer, the diseased crab apple tree, and pollarded the sycamores, which I learn are unwelcome trees. Although I had agreed all this with Lorraine, I fo...

Woke up a little bleary after arriving at Gatwick not long before midnight. Sam had waited up for us and it was nice to see him, all tanned from his holiday.  Up naturally early as we are still on Greek time, two hours ahead of the UK.  Pat and Maureen are here, having stayed for the two weeks to enjoy being in Brighton, and looking after the cats. Sam taking great care of them, and took them to the pier with Beth while we were away.  A few work and podcast matters to get on with, getting in touch with Keith and an agency pal to indicate readiness for work pencilled in, and with Robin about podcast matters.  At lunchtime we drove to Eastbourne with Pat and Maureen. Maureen wanted to do some shopping in C&H fabrics, and we each had a pot of tea and a scone in the C&H cafe. Lorraine and I also bought a fish jigsaw. Maureen, who I had spent a good deal of time joking with, quite ribald over my misshapen scone.  I saw them into their train at Eastbourne, and...