under another sun

Slept peacefully in bed followed by a leisurely breakfast. I had a poetry idea, and did some writing, while Lorraine popped next door to see Joy and Jim, who had some baby stuff to give us. Then Lorraine and I went outside. I manfully wrestled with a compost bin, replacing it with a new larger one in the middle of bushes. I emerged holding a spade and the lid of the bin in either hand and watched an extremely big tan-coloured European Garden Spider crawl from my neck down my arm.  Then Lorraine and I had some quiet time in the Studio. I did a bit of colouring and playing with paints. Lorraine used a mould to make a dish from clay. We listened to music and chilled. Going down into the garden like this feels like escaping. Then we gathered ourselves to zoom back to a pub called The Half Moon, near the field and here we met everyone, plus Eve, Innis's daughter, and Sam came with Graham. We ended sitting outside eating a late Sunday lunch on a long table. Really lovely time. Innis very...

After breakfast I nipped out to Morrisons. Bumped into Steve on the way, and a swankily dressed Delores on the way back. The friendliness of a Small town. Innis and Rosie came around this afternoon with Pippi, and we had a walk in Friston Forest. Pippi springing about like a lamb. Went to a bit of it I'd not been to. Nice to get some fresh, cold air before a Sunday roast at home. Innis had a 'shout' first thing this morning, but it turned out to be a large piece of floating wood in the sea and not a person. I asked Rosie about her job to do with helping refugees integrate and learn English. She is doing good work. A cheery afternoon of talking about many things and swapping book recommendations.  Below a lovely view of Cuckmere Haven from a break in the trees, and the ladies walking ahead with Pippi.

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...

 Woke up feeling full of beans today. Had a pleasant breakfast and later Beth came to collect us to drive us off to Hove in the afternoon to celebrate Rosie's birthday. She gave me a birthday present too... A Christmas Jumper in one of the greens that suits me. Chuffed with it. Upstairs in the Jo and Co cafe, we met lots of friends, obviously Innis and Rosie, but also Emily and Graham and Sam, and Rosie's old pal Alice. We sat down on a large L-shaped table. Beth next to me but apart from that people I didn't know, but made friends quickly with two women Rebecca and Emma, both very creative people, and spoke to Rob next to me who we eventually established once studied philosophy and Law. Rebecca was a writer like me, and Emma showed Lorraine and I a complicated, and interesting picture, which made me think of the old Mouse Trap game, of decisions made and obstacles faced. A very cheery afternoon, and Rosie having fun despite the day reminding her and Emily of their Mum Susa...

Lorraine and I made six jars of plum jam today, from our own plum tree. Very industrious of us.  I also did some admin for the podcast, arranging for an interview. Then I had a two hour meeting with the Understory Conversation folks, which proved interesting and very useful for me.  I also received the absolute bloody final proofs of the Mariscat pages, they looked very good. Looks promising in the great Pat and Maureen move too... Hopefully they will be installed in Seaford in the not too distant future. Innis and Rosie around at tea time, having spent a good deal of time with this afternoon with assorted raptors, as a birthday present for Innis, sharing lots of detailed information about raptors and their ways.  Naturally this needed to be further discussed over a beer in the Boot, followed by noodles in Amie's kitchen. I had a phô which was rather nice -- I don't remember having one of those before -- and it was quite pokey in the chilli department.   Below Innis...

A hot and lovely day. Started off tinkering with some poems, but instead felt like doing stuff. This translated into hanging a couple of pictures on the wall, and tidying my study up while Lorraine sat at my desk filling in some hideous legal forms.  I then went to the gym, having decided to rejoin. I have become fat again after a year or so of being at the thin end of my personal spectrum, the hateful ventripotence is back. So I rejoined the gym today, and I am to return to more disciplined eating.  Off this evening to Hove, actually, by bus too. Seaford to North Street fairly quick, then another bus across to Hove, a purchase of cold beer from the co-op and then we sauntered down to the beach to celebrate Innis's birthday. Innis, Rosie, Eve and a neighbour friend called Rob and his two grown up children. Then Julia and Jess arrived on bicycles, triggering Rosie and Lorraine to join them in the sea. Innis's pal Phil turned up, who I'd gone to see Michael Kiwanuka with pre-...

Entertaining again,  Innis, Rosie, and their pals Sam and Graham came to visit. Due to the crimes of Brian, still in the doghouse, we were able to sit in our garden because it was sunny. I barbecued a whole chicken and some bangers, and Rosie and Sam had brought bits to augment the salads and dips Lorraine had made. We had assorted drinks and lots of chat. Luckily the sun was out for most of it and we ate outside on the big table for the first time this year. Pippi the dog keeping the Herring gulls at bay. I'd met Sam briefly a long time ago, and hadn't really hit it off with her. But this time I really liked her -- she is a visual artist who greatly to her credit lives well from her work - and she has a very recognisable style. I liked the way she put her hands into the fishpond and tickled the goldfish. Graham interesting too, someone who has written for theatre and TV and works carving memorial stones and doing busts of people. Always good to see Innis and Rosie, who lost h...

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 ...

A certain fragility this morning. In need of coffee and a square breakfast and a little quietness. Innis and Rosie drove over. Rosie's birthday the day after mine, but a difficult week with her mother being in hospital, among other things. Some horrible traffic bottleneck meant it took them almost two hours to get here too. However we went up to the South Barn, and walked back down towards the Seven Sisters, stopped on a bench and ate a cheese roll, then walked round where we collected lots of sloes in that little wooded valley leading back to the Barn. But not before Rosie and Pippi both got covered in burrs, which had to be picked out of their clothes and pelts respectively. We also picked lots of sloes, for some reason I picked a few elderberries thinking they were tiny sloes. Much discussion of the best way of making sloe gin.  Home to some chocolate brownies, which Innis and Rosie had brought, before they went home. Then dragging more furniture around in our bedroom, so Amanda...

Off this morning to Beachy Head. Beautiful drive, only about twenty minutes east of Seaford, and a lovely place to visit. While it made me  feel a bit exposed: my open spaces with no cover uneasiness, I still loved it there. Toby and Lorraine ambled about by the edge, and I found another route to explore nearby, snapping various views, passing the Beachy Head pub where Robin and I had recorded the last episode of Season 2 on flying ant day last summer.  Couldn't have been a better day for it. Then down the z-bends following the coast then back to Seaford. Installed Toby for a quick coffee and Lorraine and I did some shopping in Morrisons. Home and preparation for the barbecue. Innis and Rosie, came around, and somewhat later Beth and James. Toby and Innis had lots of book chat going.Toby liked James, who he'd never met before. James and Beth are making a list of must watch films, and Innis and Toby were keen to add to that. Toby suggested The Terminator among others. A fair am...

Writing a quick blurb for the Children's episode of the podcast, and kept myself busy this morning. I had a doctor's appointment. As I was making a new start with a new doctor, I had made an appointment to explained about my white coat syndrome. I always feel super stressed by having my blood pressure taken, and so the readings they have are of me being very stressed indeed. I took Lorraine as a character witness to assure them I wasn't a complete nutcase. Luckily my new doctor listened brilliantly, was deeply reassuring, explained that we are going to do another 24 hour test, like the two I've had already (both showed my blood pressure was okay) and do some tests to keep an eye on everything, now that I am over 60. She was clear, proactive and positive. Best doctor conversation I can remember having. Brilliant. Felt rather pleased with myself afterwards for grasping this particular nettle. Lorraine and I went shopping in preparation for Innis and Rosie coming round, wi...

My lovely Lorraine's birthday. I brought her tea in bed and quite a few cards and an ecard from Mum -- and a couple of pressies from me, a print by Charlie Mackesy and a book about food cultures. A cheery start to the day, Beth calling first thing, and Pat and Maureen called to sing happy birthday. After looking around at the garden, we mooched off into Seaford and bought a few bits, like flavoursome water kaffir from a stand, where Lorraine talked fermentation with the stand holder. Then into the supermarket to pick up some salty snacks for the afternoon. Luckily it soon became sunny as Anton, Dawn, and Rosie and Innis came round to celebrate. Anton bearing orchids, and Dawn bringing a chaenomeles and a cake. Innis and Rosie brought a marvellous flan a little greenhouse tin, and heart shaped plant labels, beautiful twine and a book about things to do in east sussex.  A clear theme. We sat in the back garden in the sun on our new garden furniture, having a drink and eating buffet s...

Up having been dehydrated overnight. Lorraine and I zoomed off and caught the train to Brighton in time to go to Komedia for before 12 where, sipping judicious teas and coffees, we met Innis and Rosie in Screen one. A gorgeous film, called Blind Willow Sleeping Woman , which was based on several stories by Murakami. Gorgeous animation. Found myself lapping up colours, a particular green tie worn by a downtrodden character fed my soul. Quite surreal moments and lots of enigmatic stuff -- but I loved it. After we sloped off to The Eagle, now refurbished, and serving Thai food. We had lunch there, Lorraine and I had a vegetarian massaman curry with peanuts and chickpeas. Pretty tasty, and washed down with a  hair of the dog cold beer. Rosie and Innis on fine form. Innis has begun to enjoy printmaking, and some of his prints will be in one of the open houses, and he has been doing more coastguard work too, which he is enjoying.  Home on the train which stopped at Falmer, by Bright...

Packing like maniacs. Innis and Rosie, bless their cotton socks, came by and collected a carload of stuff for the tip. At least a few of the more obvious white elephants to Timbuktu.