under another sun

A busy day for Lorraine, and for me a day to write and think, and to walk for a couple of hours, still listening to the Jung autobiography. Thinking about yesterday's inability to cross the empty space on the side of Seaford Head and wondering what Jung might have made of it. Perhaps the inability to walk from A to B  symbolises a decision I can't make. But the only thing that seemed relevant was the MS I have been working on, which is dragging on never quite seeming to be ready. I have had these sort of events all the way back to my childhood so it's not abnormal for me. Today's walk enjoyably uneventful. Lorraine meanwhile Pat and Maureen, and Claudia and Jonas to Eastbourne. Maureen had a hospital appointment, and after the Finns off to TK Max to look at clothes, having sat with Pat during a long wait for the scan.   In the afternoon I spoke with Tommy, the life model, who is writing a play which includes something about advertising. He wanted to know more about how ...

Up early today, thanks to the persuasions of Brian. I took Jonas and Claudia a cup of tea and Lorraine a hot water with lemon, then later we had breakfast. Jonas and Claudia enjoying Kenny farm tomatoes on toast with cheese. Then Beth came by with Enzo so Claudia and Jonas could meet him.  Then we made off to The Barn on the top of Seaford Head. Lorraine took them to where there was an art exhibition. Palo was there, and Lorraine bumped into Kate and Debbie too. As I was walking down with them, however, walking down I couldn't cross a bit of the hill where there was no cover or trees and felt frozen and overwhelmed by a feeling of exposure. I tried and failed several times to get across and then had to call Lorraine to say I wasn't coming down to the Coastguard Cottages. Instead I did quite a few of the day's paces walking enjoyably around other woody bits. I met them coming up, Lorraine striding ahead as she was worried about me. All was well, however, and we had a coffee ...

Lorraine and I walked down to Pat and Maureen's, with a card for their 68th wedding anniversary. There we met Lorraine's cousin Stephen and his wife Sarah who had been staying in Seaford after a wedding.Turns out Sarah's brother lives a few streets from us. Lorraine's nephew Pete had also arrived. Maureen enjoying having people around, and telling Steve that he went to school in a bow tie, which he seems not to remember. Maureen going through the whole gamut of family names when talking to anyone.  Pat and Maureen married 68 years today.  Pete doing well, and loving living with Sharleen in Pat and Maureen's old house -- which was his home too for years. Pat a little confused again, when I took him to the loo to empty his bag and he never remembers he has a catheter. But he enjoyed having people around I think. Maureen a bit sad when they all left. So I was sent out to Morrisons to get P and M some lunch, and Lorraine did a bit of tidying and straightening. When I re...

Pat's 92 birthday today, and Sam's birthday too. We'd intended to have lunch in the Plough, as there was a wake going on in the Boot. But Maureen wasn't feeling great this morning, and ended up needing antibiotics for an ear infection and Lorraine had to zoom over there first thing.   Pat and Maureen, Lorraine's Uncle Steve, and Beth and Enzo came around to our place instead for lunch, and Lorraine and I zoomed off to Osbourne's to buy really nice fish and chips for everyone. A jolly time, drinking tea and chatting. Steve particularly good with Enzo I thought, and radiating cheeriness. Maureen much happier as the day wore on. Pat pleased to be with everyone. After a couple of hours, Steve had to leave for the long drive home, and Beth and Enzo left, and we took Pat and Maureen home. In the evening Lorraine and I went to the pub, where we met Adele and Patrick and Chris for a cheeky beer. Patrick encouraging me to search ancestry to try to find someone from Irela...

Woke up having had a significant dream. I have had lots of work related dreams lately, but in this one I was happily handing over the job to a vague but pleasant newbie. My desk had two old and battered cupboards on it, one said Metaphor and the other Healthcare. I had a feeling of cheery release as I spoke to my replacement about what an interesting job it had been. Both Lorraine and I rather sluggish after last night's reggae shenanigans. We sat in bed sipping tea for some time. An early text from Sam arrived saying he was travelling down today from Glasgow put Lorraine in a state of excitement. I also discovered my trousers had called Toby amid the fiercest of the skanking. L and I had breakfast, and did Wordle, which we do every morning over a boiled egg, I got it in two goes for the second time this week. Lorraine also does Murdle which is a murdery logic problem.  Over breakfast I also learned I hadn't been placed in a recent tiny booklet competition by Hedgehog. I had co...

After breakfast with Lorraine, I set off to Brighton this morning to visit Anton at the Montefiore. Just a lovely hospital. As I arrived two nurses were wheeling him away, and I sat in his room for a while. Really calm, and loads of space. The boon of having a job which includes health insurance.  Anton in good spirits and had been climbing stairs and so on. We chatted for about an hour or so, then I melted away. Tried to buy a new fleece, but after going into TK Max as recommended by Anton, I got bored and caught a 12X heading off to meet Lorraine and Pat and Maureen.  Sat at the top at the back where the seats in front face the back. A woman got on with a squirming black dog that repeatedly licked my leg. In Seaford Lorraine called, and she was in the car in front of the bus, so I hopped off. We collected Pat and Maureen who were licking ices on the Seafront, and drove off to the Pump Barn on the edge of Friston Forest. Adele was exhibiting there and was in the gallery, lots...

Had another excellent day at the poetry cliff face. Sent a MS to a publisher with several newly buffed up poems in it. Very pleased with myself. Off to the gym, and then I zoomed to The Grumpy Chef where I met Lorraine with Pat and Maureen.They had been shopping and bought Pat what is being termed a mobile seat -- a wheelie with a seat on it.  I had a cheese and ham toastie. Not had one of those for some time, and it was rather delicious despite being told off by Maureen for eating it too quickly.  Then home and a certain amount of faffing about, before Lorraine and I drove off to Adele and Patrick's for a Shakespeare evening with them and Steve. Looking at Adele's new studio, which is rather marvellous. Then after some snackage we commenced on the main event. Twelfth Night. Interesting if enigmatic comedy, with elements of doubling, and mistaken identity and cross dressing in it. We saw a local production of it recently in Seaford. Paused after act three for some lovely grub,...

A new batch of poems, which are quite light of touch and ironic. Six of them, all being decisively hewn into shape. One particularly pleased me as I hadn't been able to get it right for years, and I fixed in minutes, changed the title, cut a bit out and bingo. Pleased with myself when this sort of thing happens. The poem is called A Kibble of Love . However this could not go on. I went with Lorraine, and we picked up Pat and Maureen, and drove off to Drusilla's which is a small zoo with children's rides on it too. I'd not been there since we took Klaudia and Oskar there when they were kids. We took Maureen there in her wheelchair, and got another one for Pat. We met Tom and his wife Emma, who I'd never met, and their children Finlay and Una nine and eight respectively. The family live in Dubai now, and were home for a visit, and they'd wanted to see Pat and Maureen. Good to see Tom again. Emma, delightful and very chatty. Young Finlay a bundle of non-stop energy...

Took my poetry admin by the scruff of its neck. I write my poetry on the Scrivener program, and have done for some time. For various reasons I ended up with duplicate files and occasionally different versions in various folders. By the end of the day I had pretty much de-duplicated, and saved everything into its latest version. It's quite a long process. I how have a giant folder containing poems that have been published, another which is work in progress -- assorted unfinished stuff -- and the current big collection MS I am working on. Feel all clean and in control now. Everything simplified and up to date.  Lorraine off with Beth and Enzo this morning to go to Marmoosh to have some time together, and get Beth out of the house. Then at lunchtime Lorraine brought Pat around and drove Maureen off for a hospital appointment. Beth and Enzo and Pat sat in the living room. Lorraine gave me a snack from Marmoosh I nibbled at during the Understory Conversation, which really was thought pr...

Up early editing the podcast, and then writing the blurb. Felt great for Robin and I to have got it done early, and with little stressing. Lorraine doing Rhymetime.  At tea time we went to Pat and Maureen's place. A fireplace surround had been delivered, and Lorraine and I screwed it all together, and slotted in a fire-effect heater in there, which Maureen put on. We are of course in the middle of another heatwave. We had brought our sturdy metal trolly with us, and wheeled away the old storage heater, and the extremely heavy bricks that are inside it. Maureen worried that it all would be too much for the car, but we were fine.  In thanks for this, Maureen paid for Lorraine and I to have a meal, which was very sweet of her. We went to Lin's Sushi , which, unusually, specialises in both Japanese and Chinese food. We had a few pieces of good sushi then switched to Chinese for  Singapore noodles, with lemon chicken and shredded beef which were really delicious. Lorraine thou...

Pat and Maureen taken by Lorraine to see Enzo. Obviously they loved seeing their little great grandson. And the fact that Enzo's middle name is Patrick after Pat, also wonderful.  Otherwise a day in the studio and garden with Lorraine, and in my study this morning. Photos taken by Beth.

A morning of action. Got up early, and sent off the first two parts of Gordon Road , to Long Poem Magazine. Then had breakfast with Lorraine, looking at my mail, which included the last two copies of the Sampler One from Mariscat with a nice note from Hamish the editor. Another letter told me how to claim my state pension, and my replacement Lamy pen arrived.   Had a good morning's work. Lorraine off to see Pat and Maureen, and brought them back for lunch. Then Lorraine went to the dentist, with Maureen as they both had appointments. I went for a long walk this afternoon, taking some photos with my proper camera. Spoke to Beth briefly, who'd seen the midwife today. All well.  Home, and Pat and Maureen in the garden. Maureen told me very sweetly that the best thing that ever happened was Lorraine and I meeting each other.  Later Lorraine and I mooched down to the seafront again, stopping at Osbourne's fish and chips en route. We ate fish and shared chips in the evening sun...

Up and doing last bits on Gordon Road this morning, I want to make it good, but I don't want to tweak it to death. Then I took myself off just after noon to the gym, and did a fairly decent workout there. Lorraine brought Pat and Maureen back to sit in the back garden, and Beth came too. Today was her due date but she's relaxed about it, and doesn't want to get into the mindset that the baby is somehow late.  I prepped a little bit for the reading, had a catnap and a shower. Robin came to collect me, but only after Maureen had told me off for having dirty glasses, and cleaned them for me. Took some tupperware with food in it, and Robin parked on the little bridge in the middle of Arundel, and we had a sort of picnic on a little green by the river looking at black headed gulls, and a man with a very old dog. I had forgot to pack a fork, but felt a wave of love for Lorraine as I opened it up to find she'd packed one. Robin and I walked through the streets of Arundel, whic...

A great night's sleep. Tidied the kitchen, made breakfast, then prepared for a recording with Robin, discussing poetry about vampires, John Keats, Hope Mirrlees, and Father's Day. All went well and we had some fun. The publisher's publicist wrote to me about the Vampire book, wondering if we could delay covering it till a bit later in the year, but it was already done by then.  I am going to be a last minute replacement reader, in a poetry reading in Arundel with Robin next Monday, which is Beth's due date. Then I sloped off to Pomegranate to meet Lorraine and Pat and Maureen for an early lunch. Maureen ended up giving me half hers, luckily she had the same,  sourdough bread with smashed avocado with smoked salmon sprinkled with seeds and chilli flakes. Actually a prefect little lunch. Maureen always takes her hearing aid out in the cafe, so we communicate with her by pulling faces and bellowing. Then back home to work on Gordon Road -- a really good session and made a ...

My lovely Lorraine's birthday. She opening her cards and a few pressies in bed, many of them pottery focused, and after breakfast zoomed off to Caroline's place with her gym gear on and did some exercises.  Then we went off to Mamoosh by Newhaven harbour for lunch. Had fun chatting and planning over a delicious plate of falafel and all kinds of salads and pickles and chilies and chickpeas and hummus and leaves, and flatbreads baked there. Marvellous and incredibly healthy. Then to Pat and Maureen's place for a cuppa, and Maureen suggested she look after Brian while L and I are in Scotland. A solution nobody had thought of. Maureen is so happy in their flat these days, and has made so many new friends and acquaintances it is lovely, Pat has settled in really well too. Home and after a sleep (I'm still tired and a bit brain foggy) we pottered about in the garden, watering the parched plants. (A few hours later it rained all night) and planting some new biggish plants for...

A tad wan this morning. Despite that, to the Boot this evening. Tonight's assembly included Matthew, Delores, Steve, and Pat and Maureen. Maureen loves Delores, who brings out the naughtiness in her. And everyone loves Matthew's wee dog Rumi despite the fact he growls ferociously at larger dogs. Most dogs are larger. Nice to get to know Matthew a bit better, a really interesting guy, and a cheery evening. Had a burger there, which was perfectly decent and served with lots of salad.   After a lively night in Brighton with Anton, I drank a non-alcoholic Guinness just to see what it was like. Actually very similar and I enjoyed it despite Delores mocking me somewhat. I did wash it down with a Proper Job beer afterwards. Home very early. Below Maureen with Rumi on her lap.

Writing this morning, fairly peppy after a late night training home. So much so that I finished Gordon Road's hopefully penultimate draft with a genuine sense of accomplishment. Officially pleased with myself. To finally be done with it, will be feeling of lightness and wonder. This afternoon, as part of family manoeuvres, I went to Stratheden Court to hang out with Pat while Lorraine drove herself off for a knee X-ray. Beth drove Maureen off for a heart check up. Pat and I sat watching afternoon TV, something I never do, which I found unusually fascinating despite feeling a bit brain dead: people buying antiques, people looking at houses in Wiltshire and (this one a revelation) people being helped to improve how they make and market their bespoke pottery and furniture. One thing struck me with force: they were making money. Make some token money from my artistic wits, sounds like an interesting challenge.  Maureen returned heart satisfactory, and Lorraine after dropping off some ...

A glorious Spring day. Up early, Lorraine doing rhymetime. Amanda here for painting and decorating. I did assorted bits of writing and admin for a couple of hours before, unable to concentrate much, I headed off to the gym. On the way back I met Lorraine with Patrick and Maureen in Pomegranate for lunch. They are very friendly in there, and excellent with older folk. I wolfed down a very passable sourdough with smashed avocado and a bit of smoked salmon. After I crossed the road with Maureen to Specsavers, staying on to translate the incomprehensible phrases the young Specsavers woman was saying to Maureen. 'Are they alright for yourself on the bridge' etc.  I left her entering Peacocks saying she was going to spend money. And went home and made snail's progress on the big poem. Lorraine off to pottery tonight, delighted to be throwing clay on a wheel. I had a chilled evening.   Below, blue skies and Blatchington Pond on the way to the gym.

Breakfast. Lorraine zooming off to do Story Time at the library, and take Pat and Maureen some fish and chips. A bright pleasant morning. Tobs and I went into the garden, and then went for a decent stroll by the sea. Passed Maureen and we waved at her. Then continued to Splash Point. There the sky, which had been steadily darkening, unleashed hail and icy rain on us quite enthusiastically. Stood dripping in a shelter for a bit, but ended up legging it back into town and going to a small cafe, one of those time travelling moments where you feel you have stepped back into the 1960. You are waved away from the counter, and when the person arrives, her first question is will we be paying together or separately. A quick beverage there, and then off to Pat and Maureen's place, where Lorraine was. Maureen on sparkly charming form, and both of them happy to see Toby. I don't think they've met him before -- but Maureen seems to think so. After a bit, Lorraine Toby and I made off and...

Poor Lorraine's Sunday started with me raging after weighing myself and finding, inexplicably, that after plenty of exercise, and moderated eating and drinking. I seem to have added weight. A later post-raging breakfast with Lorraine. I finished reading Peter Daniels book Old Men , which I enjoyed, and selected the poems and so on for the interview.   Then Morrisons to get our food and Pat and Maureen's stuff. Then after I dropped their food off  Lorraine drove us all home. Beth arrived soon too.  I went to the gym, and hair shirting it, pushed myself vindictively.  Then home, and helped Lorraine prepare food etc. for roast Sunday chicken dinner with Pat and Maureen, and Beth and James. I had very controlled portions of roast chicken etc. We sat at the table and all played a game of UNO which was fun.  Then Lorraine produced a sensational hazelnut frangipane and pear tart, which I had to have two pieces of.  Nice to see James, who I'd not seen for a bit. A...