under another sun

Most of today taken up with the podcast one way or another. Up early prepping for my interview with Rishi Dastidar. When I worked in Hammersmith, he actually worked in the same agency as me but a few years afterwards. A long chat with him, lasting over an hour, and another half hour after we finished recording. Nice to get to know him a little. In the afternoon, more recording with Robin, proceeded by some hasty more hasty research. All fine, and good to chat to Robin. In the evening, off to the Batty, the new home of the Beermonsters. About five minutes into my walk, a big spots of rain pinged off the area of concern. I walked on gradually getting wet. The monsters already in the Batty when I arrived, and soon after, just as when we all last met, it began thundering. Nice to see these gents. Richard with two pieces of interesting news, that he watched a youtube video about huntergatherers in Africa, who were asked about three things that made them happy. The answer was meat, and then ...

A day, unbelievably, of two pubs.  Quite a bit of work and fiddling around with infernal things this morning. And possible new bit of freelance, but there are many rivers to be crossed first. I walked off to the Royal Sovereign on Preston Street where I went INTO a pub, and had a quick drink with glassmates, Adele, Ben, Rick around the corner, Kate and Fran. It turns out that it had been Adele's birthday recently, which had passed without me remembering. I felt a bit bad about this, as Adele is one of the kindest people I know.  The group ordered Thai food, but I just ordered some nachos with bits on them. Everyone's meal came except mine and eventually as we were all going I ended up having to cancel it and get a refund. However, I did enjoy two pints of  a local brewery's Casual Pale ale.  Then returned home and sent a few more emails, cooked for Sam and Lorraine, and went down to the Open House for  5.00 where we had a table booked. Nick already there, and St...

Sending Lorraine off to the front line, while I simply do some work for my French client and editing podcast material. Also was sent a lead on possible business from a pal, which I followed up instantaneously. Dawn came by this evening, and she had dinner with Lorraine, while I made off to The Caxton. For my musical pals the beermonsters had convened for the first time since February. Jolly good to see them, although The Caxton not our usual haunt, but we were able to sit outside, and soon we were able to move our reserved table to one far away from anyone. I long for the times when you can simply have a beer in a pub with your mates, without neuroses.  Trying not to talk too much about Covid and so on. Alarmed to hear about Richard's strange nerve problem in his back, which means he is limping somewhat and unable to use one of his arms well enough to make a barre cord on his guitar. Apparently temperature triggers the effects, and it came on when he dived into the sea in the heatw...

No mental energy. Out of sorts and unproductive. Worked at Skelton Yawngrave stuff, and another minuscule smidge from my pals in Hampton. Lorraine working from home, which is good.  Another walk up to the hill fort today. My attention caught by a plastic bag bellying with wind in the branches of a tree. Nick Fuller of the beermonsters thoughtfully sent a photo of his yeast head today, in his brewing. 

Back to a more normal routine today. A much cooler day than of late. Lorraine in school this morning, but returned at lunchtime. Beth looking after little Tilly again. I uploaded the new episode onto Skelton Yawngrave TV, and recorded tomorrow's one, and quite a bit of the Thursday's too. A couple of minuscule scraps of work for my amigos in Hampton. Went for a walk up to Hollingbury Hill at 4 o'clock while listening to the Lord of the Rings . Very beneficial in maintaining my sanity. Home and pressed on again for a bit, spoke to Mum. Had supper with Lorraine and then I repaired to my study to have a drink over zoom with the beermonsters. Nice to chat to Steve, Richard and Nick. I sometimes forgot I was sitting in my study staring at a screen with a few tins of beer. Nick drinking all kinds of superior home brewed drinks. Steve self isolating as much as humanly possible as he has asthma, Richard meanwhile has just released the third CD, by the Shakespeare Heptet, which is...