under another sun

So another big breakfast, and packing this morning. Beth's lovely bestie Olivia came to the hotel this morning (she had a day off from working in the Leeds Dungeon).  Then all off to the station, there is an entrance a stones throw from the hotel. Sam surprised Lorraine as we dragged our cases through the gates. Hugs with him, before Pat, Maureen, John, Beth Lorraine and I set off for Kings Cross. Maureen had a migraine on the train and felt rotten, but she and Pat and her caught the Ashford Train at St Pancras, and they were met by Lorraine's brother Ken at the other end. Lorraine and I with John and Beth then got the Brighton train. Beth, Lorraine and I catching a cab from Preston Park home. Here Rosie and Innis, who had been looking after Calliope and Brian for the last few days, had cooked us a lovely meal and bought beers. Had a cheery drink and a meal with them, before Lorraine and I dragged ourselves off to bed. Beth, having done some laundry, went off to John's wi...

Up disappointingly early, commencing the day with sleep deprivation and a hangover. Creeping about the house, and trying to write but nothing happening. A mass breakfast cooked by Beth, after I'd crept out. My shopping list: bread, quavers and Robinson's orange squash. Lurked about with Beth, Olivia, Sam and Jade eating. Then Sonia came, and everyone melted away. With much hilarity Sonia told me a long  story she'd seen on Facebook posted by one of her Bulgarian mates about Greeks and their general laziness. The character on the story had a job studying wildlife on the moon. After getting up at ten and wondering why he had woken up so early, he drove to work with his window open so he could advise other drivers on how to drive, then at the end of a day of slacking he and his wife go to a restaurant because they couldn't be bothered to cook. His wife says, look at the moon tonight it is lovely, and the husband snaps back 'don't talk to me about work'. So ...

Final night tonight. Woke up early, wondering if I had to go to the radio station with Dylan, which I didn't because they just wanted a chat with him. The interviewer, talking about his hair and beard and how he looked older than 18 and so on. Dylan mentioned the play and us by name, so this all good. He did a good job. The day with less going on, so I could go about the important business of keeping calm, taking a much needed doze in the afternoon. I chatted to Mum and Janet too.  Then Beth came home with Olivia who is staying for a while.  Olivia telling us about a gecko (dubbed Gordon) she had brought back home with her after living in Spain for months. It had been in her suitcase and she found it in her bathroom. Then off to do the last show. Everyone in an upbeat mood pre-show. I was a little nervous because we changed the opening, as I made a little speech dedicating this last show to the memory of Ronnie Corbett, seeing as Dylan's grandmother Anne was there, along w...

A busy day. Once the girls were up, Lorraine and I fed them all a large breakfast, the Lorraine drove us off to Middle Farm where Betty, Olivia and Emily cooed over a multiplicity of creatures and kept up various comedy routines, voices and so on as they went. Olivia, not over fond of birds, was menaced and rushed at by free running chickens. Betty exiting rapidly from the milking shed as the smell of warm milk was making her go green. Then to buy some veg from the farm shop for our Sunday roast, and we also sensibly invest in some good cider from the barrel to take home. Home and Lorraine and I dug a new flower bed. I dug bits of it with my left leg not the right, and we were pleased with ourselves and it makes the back garden look more interesting. Then indoors to cook a big supper for everyone, and then watch the Baftas, which, being actresses, the girls naturally wanted to watch. Below Olivia, Emily and Beth in the back of the car. One of the things with a nice face. ...

A cheery day today. Lorraine and I walking down to look at some nearby open houses, and commission a glassmaking lady to make us a piece of glass. Guernsey's 70th Liberation Day today, and turns out the glassmaker's partner was from the Jewel of the Sea. We drifted about for a while, looked at some good art, and some art that was less good. On the way home we popped into Mrs Moles Flower Emporium to buy irises. Lorraine loves it in there and they are very friendly and chatty. My leg really has improved, and now I am at the point where I can now ascend Mount Beaky (Beaconsfield Villas, accompanied by Sherpa Lorraine) and gain the summit without personal injury. Betty in an highly excitable state when she got back from work as her University besties Olivia and Emily were coming down to stay. Emily arrived first and told us about her shop job and her acceptance to study to become a voice coach. And then Olivia arrived later in a cab, and Lorraine and I heard the girls squeakin...

A Spring like day, and a certain amount of cheery capering with cats this morning, when I completed the first two sevenths of the business book. A stern tightening it up read through and edit to come, and I will have a strong sendable sample of the content. Off in the evening up to Kingston by train to see Beth in a sketch show called Blondage written by one of Beth's friends Chloe Penycate, and featuring Chloe, Beth and her pal Olivia.  The one-off performance was Chloe's third year dissertation piece. The show went down extremely well with its full house, although there were a few in-jokes the show could have instantly transferred to a little pub theatre with no problem. Beth is turning into an outstanding comedy performer  -- she has made giant strides since we did Betty the Spacegirl together. Less self-conscious, she just goes for it now, and the result is exhilarating. The other girls were excellent too, and Chloe had written some lovely stuff -- lots around social m...

Up early opening some excellent birthday presents from Lorraine. Something for my eyes, which was DVDs of the cult 90s SciFi show Above and Beyond , then something for my ears, which was a lovely murmury album called Coexist by The XX,  then something for my soul, which was a fossil fish about two and a half inches long and deep bodied like a hatchet fish. And finally a perfect Lamy ink pen. Working on poems in a bit of a frenzy this morning. In the afternoon Beth and her pal Olivia arrived, very cheerful and lively. I like Olivia, she's one of Beth's new besties from university. Facebook is an interesting thing. I had dozens of people sending me good wishes today. Facebook is excellent for this kind of stuff. Spoke too to Mum and First Matie. After Lorraine gave me a miniature chocolate cake with a candle, we went to The Basketmakers, where we met Anton, Dawn, Beth and Olivia. I hugely enjoyed myself. Some of my very favourite people in my very favourite...