under another sun

Much improved day. Got busy preparing for the interview this morning with Pascale Petit, down in Cornwall. Really enjoyed talking to her and, thank God, the interview actually recorded. Pascale has a new book out called Tiger Girl, and I sped read it first thing this morning, it is very good, and it was a real privilege to have her reading it to me in my study.  The results will be in the podcast. Had a chat with Robin afterwards, with lots of planning, she has been busy too. It is all quite exciting. Lorraine working from home today, but it is hard work accommodating changes for the new year, when the government's guidance is so poor. Outside a howling gale, Storm Francis apparently, and lots of rain. I went for a stroll around Blakers Park and the wind through a pine tree there was reminding me of walking at Icart Point in Guernsey. I really miss Guernsey. Luckily Tess was happy to go again on Thursday. This is great news. Felt much happier with life than I had done last ni...

Up early and working through a list of stuff. Returned to the criminals at HSBC with some identification, which was graciously accepted. My list also included me getting in touch with my old friend Mario Petrucci, with whom I had a conversation. I happened to be in the gym changing room at the time, the only place I could get any reception. Stood about for some half an hour there discussing the virtues of modernism, and other poetry, while being eyed uncertainly by the blokes in the changing room.  I also wrote to Pascale Petite, of whom I am a fanboy. Good to be back in the gym, not that I'm doing too much other than a bit of trundling on the cross trainer. I need it, as I am on the fat end of my usual fat spectrum. Enjoying the longer walk to and from the gym across Preston Park. Sonia here today, assuring me that I won't have to live in this house forever because it has too many stairs, and that I could have got a nice place if we hadn't insisted on Brighton. Sonia...

Lorraine full of purpose this morning, and we marched about the house doing things, such as replacing the existing cat flap with our one, which reads the cat's chips allowing only them into the house. This becoming a necessity as the bruiser of a Ginger Tom that squats like a malevolent garden Buddha under the laurel bush at the end of the garden, has infiltrated a couple of times making our cats exceedingly nervous. Betty having a duvet day today, but this did not prevent us bursting into Betty's room brandishing a rubber glove and a spanner to try to shift the radiator control. I at least managed to turn the radiator on. Lorraine sorting out curtains, and later ordering plants. We then did a top to toe survey of our house starting in the dungeon, and discussing what needs improving, and how we see the rooms evolving in the next few months. Lorraine began a new red notebook too. We were contrasting this with last two years of house move limbo. A much more exciting state of a...

Fresh pain today, with my knee suddenly painful and swollen, so back to hobbling. The cause is unknown, and I guess I will have to bother the doctor yet again. The last couple of months really have been undercut by pain and poor health. Luckily life is, in all other respects, pretty fine so mustn't grumble, eh? Worked on social meeja stuff today, and had a nice tweeted conversation with Pascale Petit my favourite of the T.S. Eliot award finalists. Also worked in trying to get my other sites up to scratch, especially this one  which has languished until now. Trying to pull myself up by my bootstraps. Calliope sat with me /on me most of the day, so at least I knew she wasn't self-harming. Anton swung by this evening, forcing L and I to listen to psychobilly music on his new headphones, eating fish pie that Lorraine cooked with Anton and I looking on and being repelled by vegetables. I used Anton's presence an excuse to drink a couple of gin and tonics. These my knee fee...

Lorraine still very upset about the news about Helen's son Freddie . As a consequence we tried to keep busy. Shopping for curtains and going to Sainsburys and so on. Lorraine fixed up a curtain over the front door, where something of a draft passes through. We were also able to go into the dungeon today, after all the spraying, and I opened the one dungeon window to air it out. Off this afternoon to go up to London to see the TS Eliot award readings , as Robin had a spare ticket. Met Robin and Clare Best in the bar as I arrived. A big of a nightmare journey there and back due to bus replacement services. But fascinating to be at this reading which showcased the work of ten poets -- a useful snapshot of what is considered to be good in British Poetry at the moment. Robin had secured a seat in the middle of row D so we had a brilliant seat. I liked all the poets, some more than others obviously. Particularly liked Pascale Petit's work but think the poised Arundhathi Subramania...