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...

 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...

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...