under another sun

Russia invaded Ukraine. I was completely wrong, and thought Putin was bluffing. Horrible business. Such a vacuum of democratic leadership he thinks nobody will do much.  On the domestic front, Lorraine and I enjoyably pottering about at home most of the day. We popped into Lidl for some shopping, and also went to speak to the people at the local storage firm called Cinch, and put down a deposit on a lockup.   I went for beer with Anton tonight. Met in The Park Crescent, a bit of a tucked away locals pub, where we had a drink on February 12th 2020, 743 days ago as Anton said, shortly before the first lockdown. A kind of reboot which felt fitting now that many of the special measures taken by the government have now been lifted. It even, to the delight of Anton, had an Avengers themed pinball machine, with the heroic pricing of a quid a game.  Lots to chat about. Headed from there to the Joker where we ate a really sloppily cheesy chicken burger, and then made off to the Fr...

Valentine's day. I got a card from my lovely. Annoyingly, I was only able to find the card I had bought for Lorraine two weeks ago, shortly after she had left for work.  Reading Poetry Nation Review and The Rialto to talk about on the podcast first thing, then Robin and met for an hour or so to record. Also a good chat about poetry. Listened to these later in the day after Robin had done some editing.  At clippers barbers I noticed, as Stacy took infinite pains on invisible hairs, a little plastic Speedy Gonzales on his bench. I didn't ask him about it, but enjoyed my private speculations. A bagful of wool on the floor after he was done. Walked back through Preston Park. The lightest of rain that dusted the area of concern also produced a fleeting but complete rainbow. A bit of freelance lined up for tomorrow. Good for the coffers, but not making my soul sing. My left knee is a bit swollen. No idea why, came on a few days ago. Reminding me of the feeling it had before I had my...

More slow and steady progress on the book, then a quick go in the gym. Didn't get so swimmy headed this time, and even had a conversation with a man in the changing room about locks. Lots of eastern Europeans at the gym in the last month or so. Had a new stair carpet laid, by two guys that came around when they were supposed to, charged a very reasonable price and did a good job. Weird when that happens. When the carpet people were here, I was listening to the World at One on Radio 4, and growing increasingly alarmed at the news about the Crimea. There is quite a strong chance of deadly trouble with Russia over this -- and I can't think when I have been more alarmed by the news. As I happened to be briefly on Facebook as I was listening I put something on there to this effect. Only one person commented, Robbie, who made light of it saying it was like Gibraltar. Facebook is not a medium for debate. Back to the Nightingale with Lorraine, who'd had a long week, in the even...