under another sun

Up early today, thanks to the persuasions of Brian. I took Jonas and Claudia a cup of tea and Lorraine a hot water with lemon, then later we had breakfast. Jonas and Claudia enjoying Kenny farm tomatoes on toast with cheese. Then Beth came by with Enzo so Claudia and Jonas could meet him.  Then we made off to The Barn on the top of Seaford Head. Lorraine took them to where there was an art exhibition. Palo was there, and Lorraine bumped into Kate and Debbie too. As I was walking down with them, however, walking down I couldn't cross a bit of the hill where there was no cover or trees and felt frozen and overwhelmed by a feeling of exposure. I tried and failed several times to get across and then had to call Lorraine to say I wasn't coming down to the Coastguard Cottages. Instead I did quite a few of the day's paces walking enjoyably around other woody bits. I met them coming up, Lorraine striding ahead as she was worried about me. All was well, however, and we had a coffee ...

 Met Anton a little after noon, and went for a walk with him. Lorraine meanwhile went to meet the woman who owns the property liked by Maureen and Pat in Seaford.  I took Anton up the non-traditional paths over Seaford Head. He was wearing shorts and got stung quite badly but apart from cursing the gollum paths I had chosen, we had an enjoyable stroll down to Cuckmere Haven where the tide was low and lots of people were walking across the beach. So many of the people walking here appear to be from Korea and China. Apparently a famous K-pop singer did a video there, and it was also the picture used by Microsoft as an opening screen in the far east. A lovely day for walking, and great to be sauntering along with Anton in the wild again. We caught a bus opposite Friston Forest and made our way back to Seaford where we sat in the sunshine outside The Old Boot and had game of bones and drank some cold lager. Bad Anton farewell at the Station, then mooched home. In the evening Lorra...

Writing my story this morning, quite a good session and it is shaping up well. Lorraine doing lots of things today, going to her personal trainer, and visiting Sarah in Bolney, and going to see Coílín the dentist. Lorraine liked her lots too, and she was nice about me. She is certainly the most charming dentist I know. In the afternoon, I walked along the sea to splash point, and saw a seal there, and also fell into conversation with a man who said the birds were kittiwakes, and you could tell them by their cries. He was a bit older than me, perhaps, and said that he moved here when he was about four, and loves the place. Obviously spoiled by time and so on. He told me about how the level of pebbles and shingle had been raised all along the coast here in the 1980s by dredging.  I then walked by the side of the golf course, and up a woody path to the top of Seaford Head, falling into conversation again with another old geezer walking a dog. Once on top, I walked by the side of the h...

Felt really happy this morning. We got up early on a sunny day, and had breakfast and after a bit of gardening and other bits, climbed up South Hill Road with Lorraine, to the Barn and then down to the Coastguard Cottages at Hope Gap. We saw two exhibitions there, one with Palo Almond's work in it, and the other a smaller collection mainly done by people whose family were associated with that house. A gorgeous day to begin with, Spitfires flying overhead at one point as we were walking down to get the view of Seven Sisters but suddenly cooling a bit and looking cloudy. Had a chat with Palo, who I sent an email to later, with a poem sparked by her paintings.   Then we skirted the coast for a bit, before walking away from the coast up a little wooded valley, which was beautiful and took us back to the Barn again. I am gradually exploring Seaford head in my own weird way. Lorraine loved it there, and we noticed loads of sloes there which might be amazing for some sloe gin. While we we...

A bit of my own writing this morning. Having opted not to infect Mum and Mas with Pat and Maureen's bug, everyone of course was brighter, and the sniffles I'd sniffed last night turned into nothing. In fact everyone recovered enough that Lorraine took Pat and Maureen to the local mobility shop, where they bought some reclining chairs specially designed for older people's comfort.   I took myself for a long walk this afternoon, and made progress on being able to climb Seaford head. Walking south down Chyngton Lane, and up South Hill road to the barn. As I was walking along the unmade road of Chyngton Lane I had to keep stepping off as I was being passed by cars laden with funeral goers attending a wake.  I mooched up South Hill Road and up to the top and walked down to take a few snaps of the Seven Sisters, and then made my way to the seafront. A decent walk and am gradually overcoming my open spaces neurosis on Seaford Head. Walking there by the Martello Tower, Lorraine cal...

Lorraine off and zooming to see her personal trainer, and then meet Penny. I spoke to Mum this morning, and have arranged meeting up this Friday in Elstree with the Tobster. Apparently the whole pub sang Mason happy birthday on Sunday, and one of them paid for the whole meal, including Robert's too. Toby and I had a saunter through town, and up to the foothills of Seaford Head, looking back down at the town and the sweep of Seaford Beach towards Newhaven and putting the world to rights. Then back into town where we had a bite to eat in The Grumpy Chef. I had a vegan open sandwich, and only ate half the bread. Toby had some species of  halloumi surprise with lots of chips. I love just being able to hang out with him. Home and Lorraine zoomed off to a medical check up. All very strong, her blood pressure is brilliant, her cholesterol okay, and her BMI reduced. A healthy thing she is. Lurking in the glasshouse, we are about to have a glut of tomatoes which is exciting. And the aubergi...

A rainy morning, which we spent tidying the house.  Beth came around for the day. I left her and Lorraine deep in conversation and took a long walk, walked west along the coast and then doubled back. Walking on the path just inside the little park of the Salts Recreation ground, just down the road from us, I noticed distinct sea litter on the path, whelk eggs and mermaid's purses. I then continued along to Seaford Head, and lurked in its golf coursed foothills and explored the streets on the Eastern rim of my new town. As I walked I was listening again to the audiobook of The Trees by Percival Everett, which I am enjoying. Just great to get out and stretch my legs a bit. Home and after a shower, sat with Lorraine and Betty chatting for some time, and prepping a Sunday roast with loads of veggies. Had a nice chat with Beth, as Lorraine needed a power down for a while. Heard about her pal Olivia who knows she is having a baby girl, who is going to be called Margo. Apparently Olivia ...

Assorted admin this morning including a chat with Keith which quickly strayed into the importance of  cherry shrimps in tropical fish tanks. Keith a big advocate.  Met Anton at Seaford station at 12:20. Bumped into Joy from next door. She said the walk we were planning was short. Met Anton, and we caught a bus to the entrance to Friston forest, but didn't go in but instead and walked back across the water to to the Cuckmere Inn, then along a path towards Cuckmere Haven and the sea, passing a couple of houses that have not yet eroded into the sea.  Disappointingly I was feeling twitchy, and after a while of walking, I got to a point where I was standing by empty fields with a sheer drop on the other side. Ticked all my boxes for feeling too exposed, and so we did a u-turn. Anton kind about it. Especially as we had to go the long way back which after his knee operation is a bit testing on his walking. I shall conquer Seaford Head but next time I will choose another route, a...

Another Lorraineless day. Maureen stable in hospital but Lorraine there to join all the dots. It meant I could simply go to my desk early, and think about my poetry MS. Also cooked loaf that had been in the airing cupboard overnight.  Decided to go off to the gym, but when I arrived there, the emergency alarms were all going. The receptionist let me in anyway, but as the alarms did not stop, and eventually the building was cleared, and we hung about outside I decided to cut my losses and go for a longish walk instead. I began exploring some of the paths climbing up Seaford Head. Because of my reluctance to go where there is no cover, I must thread up near trees and so on. Stupid anxiety makes me feel weird in wide exposed spaces, especially on the tops of hills. So I have to learn how to climb Seaford Head my own way. But I did eventually get to the top, but immediately began scrambled down again. I was comforted by the fact there is a golf course there, because it reminded me of t...