under another sun

Up really late this morning, around eleven. Foggy day in Seaford. Rosie and Innis called around in the afternoon, and we had a walk from Edinburgh Road to splash point. At one point Pippi joined a kind of cockapoo convention, with three or four cockapoos of several shades. Cold in the foggy conditions. Grateful when we called in on Pat and Maureen for a cup of tea, as Maureen was very keen to see Pippi the dog. She had not met Innis before and gave Rosie her approval. Home to eat pies that Lorraine had made from turkey and ham, and sit about the kitchen table chatting about books and stuff for some time. Lorraine also getting ready for the book coven where were gathering here tonight. I kept myself to myself while they convened downstairs. But after some welcome time in my study for a couple of hours,  I went downstairs and chatted and grazed on book coven snacks. There were Adele, just back from Ireland, Kate, Debbie, and Frances. A lovely bunch of people.  Below Rosie, Pipp...

Lorraine and I up, and after breakfast made a big mind map of house and garden projects. Lorraine lapped this up of course, but I forbade her to write on it because her writing is too big. Beth popped around at noon for a chat, and then in the afternoon Lorraine and I drove off to the top of Stanmer woods, where I used to walk lots, to meet Rosie and Innis. Rosie hasn't been out much as she lost her mother recently, and then followed this with a bout of shingles. I hugged her and she yelped as I had touched part of her back which was very painful. Good to see them, as it has been a while, and so nice to be in the great outdoors. Rosie very sad of course, and Innis has been extremely supportive. Lots of chatting, and then we drove off to The Bull in Ditchling, where we had a Sunday roast. Very busy there, and more like a restaurant than a pub. I had a pint of Harveys which was not particularly well kept. Innis full of book talk as usual, which is delightful for me.  Home and boofed ...

Lorraine and I, when we got up eventually, made off to Bolney to her work pal Jo's house, where there was a fundraising open house for Hope House in Haiti. I chiefly contributed by buying a large piece of strawberry sponge cake and drinking two cups of coffee. When I moved into the other room I discovered Lorraine lying on a sofa with a woman poking her hands up the bottom of her trousers and massaging her knees. Home again, and we went into town, did a bit of shopping and went to the Walrus where we were to meet Beth, Innis and Rosie, and Dawn and possibly some of Beth's mates to celebrate Beth's forthcoming birthday. Lorraine and I arrived first and I went to the bar where a man roundly abused me for attracting the barman's attention. It all got somewhat heated, and could have ended in a fight. I resumed my seat with drinks feeling a bit shaken. You don't expect that sort of thing in Brighton. Beth and Rosie and Innis arrived. Beth a bit disappointed that her ...

A call from Maureen saying that her sister Rose had died. Lorraine was out but called her back shortly. I met Rose only once, in Basingstoke four years ago. She introduced herself to me by saying 'hello sexy' and said she wanted to take me home. I liked her. Maureen naturally very sad. Lorraine off to school early to deal with boiler people and IT people -- and then have her hair cut in the afternoon. I simply re-edited The Merger , and sent this off to The Short Fiction Journal . Fingers crossed. I have also been learning how to use the PaintBox digital design package, and have sent off for a beginner's graphics pad so that I can draw directly onto the screen. Contacted about a job for next week by the same people who blew me out for a two week stint when I was in Sicily, will find out tomorrow if I have it. In the afternoon I walked to John and Beth's flat, to meet Lorraine who had sparkling new hair and was looking lovely. We went out to the sea, taking Bailey Be...

I felt vey tired today, and Calliope as ever no respecter of weekends and was climbing on me at at six. A full day once we did get up. Took a mattress to the recycling centre, then bought some hardboard to do glasswork on, and then went to a garden centre, and Lorraine bought a few succulents and bags of gravel and compost. Then off to Bolney village hall where there was a horticultural show of spring flowers. Lorraine's school had entered some, and the prize for the single tulip went to the school, which made me smile. Lots of snowy haired keen-eyed folk wandering about looking critically at daffodils and voting in boxes. If you were a member of the horticultural society you got a vote. Then a cup of tea followed by a talk on the Modern Kitchen Garden by Barry Newman, I enjoyed saying loudly to Lorraine that she had told me it was Gary Numan. Weirdly, as we are just planning on doing more stuff to our garden, we both enjoyed this talk, and Barry was an excellent speaker, and h...

A leisurely morning, or at least it would have been if not for Calliope waking me up by whiskering my feet. Up and made breakfast in bed. Did a few bits of work on the bovine poos work, and then we loaded up the car and zoomed off stopping off at Martlet's charity shop in Hove to drop some bits off, then off to Shoreham to Lidls for a bit of variety, and then to Sainsbury's. Dropped some stuff off at Beth and John's place, and picked up a chair they no longer need. Then home for an interlude before bussing it back to Hove where Beth preparing home made coleslaw, and couscous and bits of chicken and halloumi. with the help of Lorraine. John and I sat about listening to more far out bits of King Crimson. Beth bouncing back after a disappointing week, with not getting a part she was really after. I felt for her. Rejection is so much part of an artist of any stripe's life. A fun evening, and Rosie and Innis, just about to go off to Brazil next week, brought Pippi the do...

The tiler came and simply tiled the bathroom. The job that started 20 days ago has made a step forward. I went out this afternoon for a late lunch with Rosie, Innis and their pal Julia. Most importantly for Rosie, was a puppy called Pippi. I was told off for referring to Pippi as 'it'. Pippi was a rather gorgeous little puppy as you can see from below. Interesting chats with everyone, and interested to hear about Julia's trips to Sri Lanka with charities, and the hideous aftermath of the tsunami there. Apparently, there was a 'second wave' an unrestrained outbreak of rapes and attacks that has left a legacy of orphaned children, and 'bad' girls. Having been to Sri Lanka and met some of the people there in the past, I find this second wave of brutality difficult to imagine. We left The Better Half, a lovely pub in Hove I'd not been to before, and it was clear that Pippi hadn't got the hang of walking yet, and needed a few drags to get her going...