under another sun

Breakfast with Lorraine. Claudia and Jonas, went off to see Pat and Maureen, and they spent the afternoon with them, and eating fish and chips for supper.  I however zoomed over to London Road station, and walked up to Osborne Road through Blaker's Park, now green again. I collected Lorraine's mobile phone which had been mistakenly delivered to our old address. Slightly cringing, as the last time we'd those people, I was having dark thoughts about them on the day of moving out. Our old house not much different, I knocked at the door I'd painted, and glanced into the house to see not much had changed since we were there. The new owner, very friendly, and said that they felt like proper five ways people now. I walked the familiar route uphill towards Hollingbury, then cut down Surrenden Road, across Preston Park and into town to get a haircut from Stacy. Felt like I knew every step of everywhere I went. I asked Stacy if he'd had any break from work this year, and it s...

Got up early and at my desk, but not terribly productively. Had breakfast with Lorraine, then later I took myself off to Brighton. I walked up from London Road station to Hollingbury Hillfort to my old haunts. A gorgeous sunny day. Then down again, walked along Osborne Road. Had forgotten just how much our old road rises. Was pleased to be going downhill. Then through Preston Park, where I stopped in the cafe for a large mug of splosh and a sausage roll. Then off to see Stacy to get a much needed haircut. Sat in the seat like Jabba the Hut and watched him perform his usual magic, coaxing the thinning hair on the top of my head into some kind of smooth pelt. Stacy and Mick the other barber saying they had the January Blues. Home and I cooked this evening for Lorraine and I and we were very happy to snuggle indoors on the gold sofa. I walked just under 14k paces not that much but my best for some while. Below the wall of Hollingbury Hillfort with two golfers ambling by, on the way down a...

The great Exodus today. I had a terrible night's sleep, barely sleeping, Lorraine little better.  But up before seven this morning and to work with a cup of tea and a rapid bacon sandwich. The removal people, Bearded Bros arrived on time, four guys with two big vans, a pleasant can-do bunch.  They got to work instantly and made great progress. We cleaned and hoovered as we went. Beth dropped by to collect some stuff for the tip despite having a stressy day. Then when the Bros had filled their lorries, they drove off to unload them and send one back. At 12 o'clock however the buyer's lorry arrived. An impasse. The waiting was stressing me lots, so I went for a short walk around Blaker's Park and by the time I returned the  new owners had arrived and they were bringing stuff in. Our guys turned up and at some points there were two lots of removal people, and the galling business of other people ordering people about in your own home. However, mercifully, this crossover wa...

Awake and marvelling at the view, seagulls thumping on the roof above us. Our cats looking down on the birds below them with carnivorous longing. We started painting my study today, as being able to get going on my work is a priority. However the crown white paint we bought on offer is dire and watery. The biscuit does not want to be beaten, and shows through sturdily. Then Lorraine and I started an experimental scraping of the bobbly biscuit wallpaper downstairs. Hearteningly some of this came away in big strips, and we'd managed to peel a good 40 percent of it off in an hour. Beth returned this afternoon, and later John arrived. Anton, Klaudia and Oskar dropped by, armed with cards and a bottle of bubbly. Anton going somewhat greenish at the view on the 4th floor, especially when we opened the doors and the children leaned over the rail. The children enjoying going into the walk in wardrobe, and then having the lights turned off on them. Later Rosie came for supper, armed...

Up just after six on the big day, Lorraine Betty and I drinking tea in our last unpacked cups before a final packing frenzy. The two amiable Ark removals guys Martin and Steve arrived to pack the stuff at 8:45. Cats locked into the bathroom, except Brian escaped when one of the movers opened the door, but I managed to snatch him back in the front garden. The van driven off, and we followed in the car. I was last out, with the hoover, after we had conducted a rearguard of rapid cleaning, and dropped Jo’s key through the letterbox. A brisk and unsentimental farewell to Haywards Heath and we drove to our new home in Brighton without incident, other than Calliopes weeing nervously out of the cat carrier. Fortunately away from Betty squished in beside them. Opened up Osborne Road and piled in, cats in the en suite bathroom on the top floor, and the removals guys Steve and Martin rapidly unpacking our skeleton belongings. Feeling elated to be here. Our new home does not disappoint, an...

More packing today, punctuated by calls from the Solicitor and the Estate agent saying the house purchase had completed -- and gleeful texts to Lorraine and Beth. Then a final walk through Hateful Heath off to the station this afternoon, and trained to Preston Park station, alighted from there and wandered off to the Estate Agents and, pausing only to marvel at the convincing nature of the humanoid replicants, signed for the key to our new house at 4:30. Stepped out of their office and as I crossed the road a sudden break in the cloud allowed me to glimpse the new moon. For superstitious reasons I had been trying not to see through glass all week, but had failed to see at all. This unadulterated new moon at such a time, seemed a good omen. A sense of unreality about the walked up  Preston Drove, alongside Preston Park (the other end of the park we lived near before) and paused in the Park View, a nice enough boozer, and availed myself of a pint of beer while waiting for Lorrain...