under another sun

Up fairly early and a last breakfast at La Barbarie: scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and some toast, plus cereal fruit and teas. Back to the room to pack and pay up. A lovely stay, and we were very sorry to go so quickly. Then a slow toddle to Icart, and sat looking at the sea, still fairly calm. Walked around the clifftop and took in views of Moulin Huet bay and the Dog and Lion and Saints Bay and then headed back to the hotel. Had a last sandwich there, thick ham, Guernsey butter and English mustard, plus a pint of Liberation. We had been made to feel extremely welcome at La Barbarie. A slightly amazing journey back. The travel Gods firmly on our side. The taxi was early, the Auringy plane took off ten minutes early, the flight smooth and fast climbing up eastwards from Guernsey so that I could look out on St Martin's Point and Moulin Huet Bay one more time before we slipped up above the low, still layer of clouds. Before we knew it back at Gatwick and were shortly on a train to Ea...

Lorraine and I up at seven thirty and after breakfasting and poking an antibiotic into Calliope's mouth etc. off to Ashford. As we were driving through Rye, Lorraine noticed that the van behind us was from the removers. We got to Pat and Maureen's house a little before them. A father and son removal team from Seaford, the son suffering from kidney stones, which is a bit grim, and the dad not much younger than me. Luckily not too much to move from Pat and Maureen's house.  Lorraine knew what to take and what not to take. I dug up a rose in the garden that had been given to Maureen by her sister. I felt something end-of-chapterish about leaving Pat and Maureen's house, and of course for Lorraine it was the family home since she was a little girl. However little time for sentimentality,  we  zoomed off, back the almost two hours to Seaford eating peanut butter sandwiches en route.   More complicated to unload stuff at Stratheden Court, and take it up to the second floor...

Up and editing this morning. Lorraine off to do Rhyme Time. Apparently very well attended today, including by Yvonne and Gabby and grandchildren, and then Lorraine drove off to Ashford to take Maureen to a medical appointment -- which was cancelled at short notice.  Robin arrived, and we did some location recording at Splash Point for our season Finale episode. She was not long back from a few days in Italy. Very hot there apparently. By Seaford Head, a hazy sky and we sat on the fish shaped seating and chatted a bit, against a backdrop of waves and seabirds. We then walked back to Seaford, and ate a snack at the Lanes Eatery, my new cafe, and did a little bit more recording. Robin, bless her, is going to edit all the live stuff. Then we walked back home, and she zoomed off back to Eastbourne. I worried at the interview Robin did with me, and then went out for another walk to get my 10k paces done. Home and an early dinner as I was hungry. Then a bit more work on the podcast, befor...

Up and Mum and I had breakfast and coffee, thus fortified, we contacted an administrative part of the US embassy with the notification of Mason's US social security ID and so on to turn off his pension. Mum, we think, will still get something from the US as his widow. Then we pottered about doing some sorting out in the kitchen. Wynford from next door popped in for a chat. At lunchtime, mum drove me to the Jolly Badger from where I walked to Mill Hill Broadway station. I watched mum zoom around the roundabout there with some elan.  Long journey home, feeling a bit braindead. No trains to Lewes, so had to go via Brighton. However the trip enlivened by discovering I had won a small pamphlet competition run by Hedgehog Press. It is a collaboration with Palo Almond -- four of her snowy images, and four poems from me in tanka style that were provoked by her work. I called it, perhaps in the spirit of calling a spade a spade, Snow . It's excellent as these little tanka poems don'...

An excellent morning's writing today, and a happy afternoon pottering about with Lorraine, doing a bit of gardening, and pouring buckets of our remaining rainwater into the fishpond which has evaporated lots due to the strong wind and cloudless skies. A day for talking about life and meditation. I have had a few 'ah-hah!' moments about the mental ruts I have found myself in recently, and am now able to find ways of escaping them. I feel happier than I have felt for some time. We have some peas growing, which Lorraine was very excited about.  In the evening, we took ourselves off to the Little Theatre in Seaford and saw a local production of Twelfth Night. We met Adele and Patrick there, and members of Lorraine's cheery book group including Kate and Delores who I have met before. I enjoyed it enormously, and felt absolutely refreshed in the cascade of beautiful and funny language. Every line a zinger. The direction fairly good too, and the actors did well enough. I don...

Antsy and finding anything requiring application or concentration hard. Every time I thought about doing my own work, I had the image of two magnets having their wrong ends pushed towards each other. Although I spent a few hours editing the podcast. Happily, Maureen was released back into the wild today, but will need Lorraine to the be there at least until the weekend. It has shaken up everyone of course. All I can do is be supportive from a distance.  The rail strike means I can't pop over to Ashford -- or up to London or even Brighton. I need a haircut, but am not yet ready to trust Seaford with my lustrous mane of follicles.   The cats are missing Lorraine, and sometimes the pair of them follow me from room to room like disgruntled dogs.  Blew the cobwebs off by taking my camera for a walk alongside the sea and on the lower bits of Seaford Head. But the wind so strong there it was literally hard to stand up. Very white sea. Few people about, but some were standing clo...

A proper January day, grey and raining and despite the unseasonal warmth, it felt cold too. Woke up just before seven and realised I was alone. Calliope having melted away in the night, having reasserted her rightful place when I fell asleep. Spoke to Lorraine through the day. Maureen has a takotsubo heart condition, and the crisis was brought about by stress, not blockages. However the event has reduced her heart function and she has been told she will need lots of rest. She is in fairly good spirits however, and is pleased with the care she is getting. Lorraine also said the ward sister was excellent. Obviously this will mean changes in future, but she seems not to be in danger. Lorraine will continue to stay with Pat and take him into the hospital -- and is now the centre of a family WhatsApp group.   As for me, a low excitement day. I did some podcast editing, housework, and in the afternoon I made off to the gym, and picked up my prescription. Also spoke to Mum who had talked ...

Sluggish this morning, but soon perked up. Delighting in the fact that the year is coming to an end.  However Val called from Paris asking me to help them out on a job, and sent me a wee brief. I will do it because it is Val, and fairly easy for me as I can do it alone. I will start it tomorrow. Otherwise Lorraine and I feeling cheery, and clearing space on the concrete for the greenhouse to be built. Still bitterly cold outside. After this we sauntered into town, Lorraine nipping into the hardware store as is her wont. Wandering around the corner to Broad Street and Lorraine said, 'there's a car in the cafe'. Had no idea what she meant till I saw a car had crashed into the front of a little cafe. I had heard a helicopter earlier, and three had been taken away injured. People thought it was an older driver who may have had a heart attack. No fatalities thankfully. Went into a small men's clothes shop. Lovely corduroy trousers in there but they didn't fit me properly...

Frosty roofs and lawns this morning, with ice in the bird baths and in thin plates on the little fish pond. I got up and toyed with a few poems, adding no value at all. Brain moving at gastropod speeds, but nice to be back at my desk at least trying.  This struggle soon interrupted by a man in a lorry, who arrived with lots of long heavy boxes and a good deal of glass, which will, when assembled by an expert next week, will create a greenhouse. We left the glass stacked, and took the rest down to what we are calling the work 'ouse. Lorraine's masterplan for the garden is taking shape.  We also moved geraniums etc into the summerhouse to stop them getting frosted again. Lorraine cooked us up a lovely veggie soup, and after I mooched off to the gym. Spoke to two people in the changing room -- one of whom gave me advice on repelling creatures that dig out your flowerpots: chilli powder apparently. Much friendlier here in Seaford, and to be in a gym where the average age isn't ...

Appropriately nippy weather at last. In the morning we readied ourselves to experience Seaford Christmas Magic. Lorraine drove Maureen, Pat and myself the minute or so's ride into town, and dropped us off and drove back home. I walked along Broad Street with Pat and Maureen, quite fun, with cold looking people at stalls, and a man with a guitar and a woman singer in a cute Christmas get up, a stand with Sussex pulled pork, and others with mulled wine and cake and so on. Maureen got to the end of the street and said, 'is this it?' -- not having discerned any magic. And then said she wanted to go home. I called Lorraine who had just left home again, and we wandered back down the street. Meanwhile Lorraine had found a parking spot. Lorraine poked her mum and dad into a cafe, and we sauntered about a bit, and bought some cake, and houseplants and an octopus candlestick which Pat and Maureen had craved, having seen ours.   Then then went into Gallery Uno, where I stood about out...

Woke up irritably this morning after stressful dreams. Then looked at my phone and realised after tracking the delivery of my new phone, they were about to deliver it to my old address despite having provided the new one. Gah. Up and sorted this out. Then did things like billing, arranging a dentist visit, writing to my accountant etc. Felt a bit better for doing these small things.  Then sorting things out in the house with Lorraine. Then Lorraine off to her personal trainer and I made off to Brighton for a haircut. As there was supposed to be a train strike today, but was recently revoked, trains were not running from the Seaford today.  I jumped on a 12 bus and it took me along the coastal road, through assorted havens and deans till we reached Brighton. Amazing colours over the stormy sea. Khaki with white foam near the shore, then green then steel blue towards the horizon.  First time in Brighton since the 27th September -- seven weeks. Stacy in a miserable mood, but...

Up at dawn this morning, and a quick shower and then finishing the first edit of the podcast, which I then sent to Robin to review. Much to my delight we managed to get the podcast up on time today, with Robin doing a final edit. Then at 8:30 back with Keith slogging till an afternoon presentation and a later meeting. However, the work was done, and Pat released me gently back into the wild. Enjoyed working with Pat and Michel again but at the end of the day I was mightily relieved to be done, the job finished satisfactorily, the podcast up, and finally a bit of time just to be in Seaford in my new home. Chatting with Mum after work. Ben was round helping them set up the new television they bought today in Borehamwood to replace the lightning-fried one. All rather dramatic but they are both okay, luckily.  Rosie and Innis came around today. Sadly, as I was working, I was only able to spend a bit of time with them -- they were liking the new house lots, and brought me a late birthd...

I spelt fairly well again last night, sleeping most of the night for the first time in a couple of weeks. It is Friday... Keith and I finished one job with Pat and the French Bloke, and Perky today, and will be doing another next week. Everything went well however, and people pleased with what had been done. Lovely to be working with such old pals. Very drained by the end of the day.  After work Lorraine -- who had been heroically sorting stuff out in the house all day, and I hurried off to Trawlers to meet Yvonne and Brian where we had a meal of very nice fish and chips again, but this time with a bottle of beer. Really enjoyed seeing them, and after we paid (some confusion here as I paid for everything and Yvonne assumed I had just paid for Lorraine and I and gave the man some cash who gladly accepted it as a humongous tip.  We walked back to our place, with a woman opening a door of the pub to kiss Brian through it. Brian (and I) were quite tempted to go in, as it look...

So up early, in our amazing new house, braced to receive lots of movers. We prepared ourselves to receive all our belongings, and were ready at nine. The delivery was delayed, however, and the removals people didn't arrive till 12:20 as they had staff issues. Friendly bunch as before, one talking lots to Lorraine, who sat outside on a chair in the street and told them which room to put everything in and discussed trading an aquarium for a fridge freezer with one of the movers. I faffed about indoors, unpacking kitchen stuff, and pointing and so on. They were finally done at five-ish and the cats were allowed out of the utility room, and we finally closed the door on the day. Marvellous, and bloody tiring. We are now surrounded by innumerable boxes and objects in the what feels like the world's largest Tetris puzzle.  Dawn popped by -- a very welcome distraction, and our first guest. She brought us a happy new home card, a vase and some roses, and also a birthday card and a pres...

So the big Friday! A sense of tiredness and unreality, this morning, even a strange twitchiness even though we were contacted early by the solicitor to say everything had gone through. Lorraine and I pottered about packing the car, and then locking everything up, as Pat and Maureen were in Devon for the wedding of Louise and Will and cramming the cats into the car. Brian in the back, and Calliope on my lap. We set off at about one pm, and then ignored the sat nav and drove the route we always thought would be the best along the motorways. However, this proved to be a bit of a mistake. All a bit stressful with Calliope howling continually for two hours on my lap. We pulled up Paradise Park garden centre where Lorraine nipped out to get some cat litter, and treats of new bowls and a catnip toys each. Then to Seaford, where Lorraine parked near the estate agent, and passing the hot potato of Calliope over to Lorraine, I legged out and got the keys. From there a one minute drive to park ou...

The big news of the day was that we were phoned by Kate our solicitor at around lunchtime, who said all the contracts were now swapped. A huge relief! Very happy about this, and assorted texts and calls from estate agents and so on happened. Thank God. Brilliant news, which we shared with everyone. My back however is in a dreadful state, and I am in a lot of pain and can't really walk or bend much. In the morning I went down to my desk for eight to have a meeting, and did a bit of work. And Lorraine went off to see Penny for coffee at Bolney Wine Estates, as befits a retired lady. Lorraine got back in time to deal with a man who was buying one of our beds too, that she had organised.   Then our great news. Sadly the back, not to mention a bit of a hangover, prevented us from partying like mad fools. But we celebrated by looking at the house again online. I had tried not to look at it much, as I didn't want to build my hopes up. Lorraine didn't abide by this of course. But w...

Fried tomatoes this morning for breakfast. Then quite a bit of time slowly getting organised and packing, and I started writing a long Things That Must Be Done list. Lorraine and I having a laugh while doing it. Still won't quite believe it till the contracts are swapped next Friday.  Off to Seaford this evening to a dinner party at Yvonne and Brian's house. Patrick, Adele, Sally and Marek where there and a curry was delivered, which was fine. Enjoyed the evening, and like everyone there lots. Pleased too to be able to finally have a date for moving. Patrick taking the opportunity to play his tunes over Brian's speakers. Chatting to Brian about his ideas for visual art, as he was an art student before he started his business life and is hankering to get back to it. Sally a bit down but both Lorraine and I had good chats with her. Adele and Yvonne both on cheery form. Yvonne said she had a funeral to attend, a marriage and a christening -- every stage of life being celebrate...

Woke up a little bleary after arriving at Gatwick not long before midnight. Sam had waited up for us and it was nice to see him, all tanned from his holiday.  Up naturally early as we are still on Greek time, two hours ahead of the UK.  Pat and Maureen are here, having stayed for the two weeks to enjoy being in Brighton, and looking after the cats. Sam taking great care of them, and took them to the pier with Beth while we were away.  A few work and podcast matters to get on with, getting in touch with Keith and an agency pal to indicate readiness for work pencilled in, and with Robin about podcast matters.  At lunchtime we drove to Eastbourne with Pat and Maureen. Maureen wanted to do some shopping in C&H fabrics, and we each had a pot of tea and a scone in the C&H cafe. Lorraine and I also bought a fish jigsaw. Maureen, who I had spent a good deal of time joking with, quite ribald over my misshapen scone.  I saw them into their train at Eastbourne, and...

Off to Bolney today for their village day. This is the last time I will feel the need to trail behind Lorraine like Dennis Thatcher smiling at local worthies, parents and children. Lorraine ran a little stall there where children threw tennis balls at a pile of painted cans, and into buckets. I ran around collecting balls and cans. I also judiciously had a pint of beer in a plastic glass. Two very pleased with themselves and annoying men who did all the announcing last year and for years before were banned last time for scuffling, so Posh Bob, last seen by me delivering a pub quiz in the Eight Bells, did the announcing for the village dog show, the maypole dance, the tug of war and so on. Said hello to various folks, the local vicar, folks at Lorraine's school including Zoe and Sarah and Dan, and the parent of kids who have now left Lorraine's school who was on mastermind.  From there we drove off to Seaford where we parked up near the sea, and scrunched down the pebbles toward...

Gradually getting ourselves together. Laundry to be done among other things. Bought myself a rail pass, and tried to download it into an app, which would not work and after struggling and re-downloading, I ended up phoning the helpline and they said it was a problem with the app itself and try again in a day or two. Gah. Plus they have siphoned off what I have paid quite happily. The afternoon off to Seaford, to meet Richard and Angie again, who took us around what will hopefully be our house in the not too distant future. Richard was showing us how everything worked in some detail, and also filling in a form about what he wanted to leave or take.  Lovely to look around the place again but I have become such a pessimist that I am trying to keep a tight lid on my enthusiasm till we know we are over the line, whereupon I shall caper like a spring lamb. We arrived at 2pm and left at a quarter to seven, having been given bread and cheese and tea and cake. They are incredibly hospitable...