under another sun

Craig's funeral today. Strange surreal business of logging onto a webpage to see the service, and spot lots of friends there. Lovely service, without religion, really reflecting who he was and incorporating lots of people's reflections -- some of the music he liked and poems read by Matt and Sylvia. I felt bad I wasn't there, as there were many there I knew. Matt, The French Bloke, and Robbie among those carrying the coffin casket. Shed a tear in my room for Craig and especially for Mel, and wishing everything was different. Matt read The Road Not Taken by Frost, which was a poem Craig liked lots -- and I found it unbelievably poignant in the circumstances. The Government at last announced that pubs and restaurants should be closed today. I went on a long walk this afternoon, and passed three pubs, before the announcement, and all of them had a handful of people in them, almost all of them middle aged men taking what might prove to be their last few beers in a pub for so...

Staying with Mel and Craig A poor start to the day. I was feeling tetchy and self pitying, and didn't go to the gym which helps to banish such feelings. Luckily Lorraine was working at home in the afternoon so I could share this with her. Up to London in the afternoon and to Hammersmith to meet up with Craig and Mel in the Brook Green Hotel, a pleasant pub with grub served on slates that, when I knew it, was a rough and univiting dive. Really nice time chatting with Craig, and getting to know Mel better. She is a lovely woman, and an American like Craig. We ate at the Brook Green too, and enjoyed perhaps one or two too many drinks. But left the pub far more cheerfully than I had arrived. They had invited me to stay overnight as there would be an early start to Craig's stag day tomorrow. To bed at Craigs in their really nice flat. Great little garden too. It gave me the opportunity to learn more of the inside skinny on how Mel and Craig found each other, as they've asked me...

Phew what a scorcher! Matty, Craig and First Matie down for the day. Craig introduced us to Mel, his fiancee, who Lorraine and I warmed-to instantly. Mel is an American anglophile like Craig. The weather was in phew what a scorcher! territory. And half of London had emptied out into Brighton. We meandered through the Lanes, which Mel had not been here before, and popped into Casa Don Carlos for tapas, and from there to the cheesy delights of the pier, where First Matie joined us. Lorraine keen on the coin rolling game, and the arcade catnip to Matt, Craig and Mel. Personally I think those arcades have a dedicated ring of purgatory, so enjoyed the sun with Kate looking out to sea till they were done, Matt clutching a small furry orange and purple prize. Then a go on the dodgems, which I love, zooming about with Matty boy, Craig and Mel. Then the ladies went off shopping, while Craig, Matty and I repaired to The Cricketers for a couple of steadying beers. Heard how Craig had proposed t...