under another sun

Up and sauntered around the corner to buy bread for breakfast. A mainly restful day, although I had a couple of hours editing on the podcast to do. We watched with Sam a recording Lorraine had access to during the course of her work which was about autism. And Sam gave us his perspective on it, with the benefit of having a late diagnosis. Hearing him talk about it, with this context, was good. His kind, considerate nature and intelligence means I forget to take his different perspective into account sometimes.    After a spot of decluttering of the house, Lorraine I went with Sam to the Cleveland for a burger and a couple of pints of Harveys beer. Both very nice. Beginning to feel just like old times in the pub now, despite covid rates climbing again, although the notices about forthcoming price rises was a bum note. Having to ration my intake of Ukraine news, a technique I learned during Covid. Putin, always a bit of a thug, is clearly now mentally ill. The way this world is ...

A poor night's sleep, lying awake feeling worried about several things at once. Listening to the news this morning did not help: warring Russians, out of control global warming. The idiocy and malevolence of humanity is astonishing.    Read this from Carole Cadwalladr  saying that this invasion was a continuation of the First Great Information War the Kremlin has been waging over facebook etc for the last eight years. You only have to look at the proven Russian interference in Brexit and the election of Trump and so on to see that. They have successfully sown bitter division among their opponents, and contributed to the almost complete erosion of truth in the world.  Up early with a story in my head, however, and I wrote down the opening 500 words so as not to forget it.  It was the Poetry Business deadline for sending in a poetry collection, but this is exactly at the wrong moment in terms of where I am with my work. I tried to fudge it but after several hours,...

We got up early, and took it fairly easy. Lorraine and I went for a walk along the seafront looking at a few hardy souls plunging in. Our original plan was Lorraine had been due to get a massage and I was going to saunter by the sea, but the woman who was going to give it was sitting in A&E, having been taken ill this morning. We enjoyed our walk together, and bought hot chocolate and coffee from the meeting place cafe.   Take two this evening: off with Sam and Jade to see Betty's play. We met James, and his mum Julie and her partner Eric there. First time Lorraine and I had met Eric. A cheery evening, despite feeling heart-sinky about sitting through the Crap play again. Jade laughing into her jumper at one point when there was a bit of wild dancing was plonked into the play. We all enjoyed Bull , however. I preferred it tonight, and Beth was excellent again. A good cast, and a simply structured play that worked neatly. Beth pleased after with how it had all gone.  Every...