under another sun

Spent much of the day prepping for the poetry reading at the Wellington Hotel, while Lorraine zoomed off to Hove to see Paul. Came back looking glossy and glamourous. I decided to go slightly outside my comfort zone and try out some new stuff, including a bit from Gordon Road. A full moon (in Libra). I felt the right amount of nervous pre-reading. Lorraine popped in to drop something off with Pat and Maureen. I got there early and chatted to Chris Goode the organiser from Seahaven poets. Drank shandy.   Lots of Seaford friends turned up, and in the poet corner Robin and Stephen Bone. Robin gave me an advance copy of  The Mayday Diaries , her first full collection from Pindrop Press. It looks excellent, with a cover designed by Robin too. Of Seaford pals were Steve, Andrew and Kate,  Delores and her brother Dave and newer rebooters, Matthew and Andy, and Carole from the book group, and Helen and Andy.  The evening started with an open mic reader who threatened to...

Lorraine off to her personal trainer, and then taking Pat to the doctor's this afternoon. I worked productively on the Long Poem this morning, also listening and slightly editing Robin's latest interview. We are getting things done early, as she and I are both away over the next couple of weeks. Heard from Chris at Seahaven poets, and he said he would give me a reading in Seaford soon, which was kind and something to look forward to.  Went to the gym today, and felt good and have now got back to doing half an hour on the cross-trainer, and a variety of mild mannered weights. Cooked this evening, and felt fairly virtuous and healthy. Early to bed tonight, where I read a chunk of Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury, and Lorraine was reading a crime novel. Parts of Dandelion Wine seem very familiar, I probably read it when I was in my early teens. He had a lovely use of language, and it is full of nostalgia for a lost childhood. I remember reading Bradbury when I was a kid, and think...

A bit out of sorts this morning, for no discernible reason. Got up early again, thanks to the atrocious Calliope whose mission since we have returned from Scotland seems to be to wake me up early each morning, and worked at the poetry manuscript, while sipping smoked Japanese green tea.  A nice breakfast with Lorraine, and then she made off to Ashford for the day. I did a few chores, and had a chat with Mum arranging a day next week to see her and Mas.  Then more writing, followed by a healthy lunch watching a soul singer called Lady Wray that Toby told me about, on YouTube.  Then a longish walk down the hill and a by the sea and back through Seaford. Loving the lichen yellow roofs against the blue of the sky. Also snapped a spitfire doing a roll over the town. Listening to a new audiobook, called The Other Pandemic -- How QAnon Contaminated the World as I mooched. A decent look at the unhinged conspiracy theories which have infected world politics.  In the evening I...

Another fine frosty morning. I mooched off to buy some bread first thing, then a bit of light tidying before before Penny and Steve called around, looked at the house sans boxes, and had coffee. As we left for town, we spoke to David next door. His front garden is now a cheery tableaux of assorted reindeers, a snowman a polar bear and Christmas trees and lots of other lights.  After a short walk by the sea, we went into Amy's kitchen. Penny specified she didn't want it spicy, and I said I liked spices. Penny's was red hot with chilli and mine was as mild mannered. Nevertheless really tasty. Penny refusing to make a fuss about the her meal.  After fond farewells, Lorraine and I made our way to the Crypt where we met up with Steve and Robin and Nick for the open mic poetry reading, with a guest poet called Louise Taylor who Robin knew who is a performance poet who delivered poems about food, especially cake, and the uselessness of men. The Seahaven open mic poets were often i...