under another sun

Up and spent a few hours enjoying reading the poet Richard Skinner's work, and planning my interview with him, and emailing my suggested readings off. Meanwhile Betty and Lorraine went for a scoot around Seaford so Beth could get an idea of the place, for she and James are planning to move soon, and Seaford is one of the options. Beth signed up with some of the local estate agents, and produced a spreadsheet, which she talked me through this afternoon when Lorraine zoomed off to see her Bolney pal Jo and Yvrose, who is over from Haiti. Her husband stayed at the school and was attacked yesterday, threatened with a machete and a poisoned knife, and had petrol poured over him. Luckily they were out to scare him not kill him. But society is falling apart under the shocks and strains that have been visited on it, and it sounds a terrifying ordeal. Zooming about tidying and hoovering, then an interlude of calm. Steve appeared sporting a sunhat and carrying a wicker basket groaning with g...

A slow Saturday morning. I sprang up fairly early to feed the pesky cats, and took back up bacon and egg sandwiches and cups of tea. Sat in bed talking for hours. Eventually we got up and tidied the house and cooked as we had invited Sarah and Dan over and Lorraine decided to unleash individual chicken leek and tarragon pies which take some prepping. Sarah works with Lorraine, and is an excellent person all round. I like Dan too, who I've chatted two a few times too. He used to work in the police, but having retired from that has done other jobs, like work as a postie. I asked him which of the cop dramas seemed most realistic, and he said none of them. Lovely to spend an evening with Sarah, who I have known for years, without ever having actually hung out with over a few glasses of wine and excellent pies. A cheery night, and one to repeat I hope.