under another sun

Leg improving, thank goodness, although energy levels still lower than an earthworm's posterior. Up early writing things, but my brain not in rapier-like form, being instead buttery and unable to do much. Pottered about in my study and in the house. Pesky broadband not working well either. Beth and John around and cheerfully sorting things out in Beth's room. Sonya came by this afternoon, and we discussed at some length and earnestly if she could fit us in, in our new place. Looks like she will be able to rearrange things. Nice to see her, and she left us some cookies for Christmas and a card, which I found a tad embarrassing as I was empty-handed. Off this evening by taxi to see Janet and Ken. We were twenty minutes early, but we were forgiven. Janet had cooked Alaskan wild salmon (wild? it was furious! etc.) which was rather delicious. Ken rather low physically and spiritually in coming to terms with his daughter's death. My heart went out to my old friend. However we ...

Tsunami dreams last night. Managed to get lots done today, as well as have conversations with Mum and Mas (being propped up at the table on their iPad as they drank their morning coffees) and later with Janet. Sorted out broadband for the temporary home, filled in forms to do with establishing my Ltd company, worked on billing and other admin, and entered the National Poetry Competition as I am copying Robin and entering as many competitions as possible in a positive way. Last time of seeing Sonya till we get a new house. Had a laugh with her about how she takes good ideas from people's houses, and has advised her son what kind of shower to have so that it is easy to clean. Late in the afternoon began to feel nauseous, and had a badly upset stomach so felt pleased that I wasn't working in London. Finished The Guest Cat , which was nice. Toby messaged that he was reading the philosophy of Kant and finding it inspiring. I said he was made of stern stuff. Had a craving, de...

Up and off to London. Beautiful day, although there naturally the wrong kind of sun on the lines as train late. Caught a bus into work and noticed from the top deck a crowd of people with bags on their heads posing for a photo under Eros at Piccadilly Circus.  I spent the day rather unexpectedly writing tweets, which rather amusingly makes me a professional tweeter. All this emphasis on social media rather good though at the time, because I am trying to learn what I can about it social media knowledge. A poetry workshop this evening, which I had to miss getting home too late from London. Lorraine out singing with her choir when I got home. Lorraine however had picked up a the spiffy new vacuum cleaner we had ordered from around the corner. It is a Miele, which was highly recommended to me by Sonya, who my wife tells me, I always spell incorrectly.

Lorraine up and away for a hair cut. I idled the morning happily pottering, doing laundry, changing the water in the aquariums, watching an episode of Frasier and watching YouTube of a concert by Yes at QPR football ground I went to in 1975. It was the first time I saw them, and it was fabulous. The ticket to the concert was a pass into a different world. Then Lorraine back and we drove off to Worthing to her colleague's barbecue. I didn't know anyone there but had a few pleasant chats and consumed some of the most blackly carbonised sausages I have ever encountered. Several batches were made, all identical. Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Then home to change into into a suit and Lorraine into a long green dress, and thence to Peacehaven Golf Course where Sonya was having her wedding reception in the clubhouse looking over the fields. Felt slightly self-conscious in my suit as it all seemed quite casual. Sonya looked chic and chatted to us lots, considering it was h...

Just noticed that this is the 3,002nd post on this blog. Writing it has become part of life - and curiously good for my sanity. Best news of the day was that I got an email from Janet saying Ken is safely returned home, which is excellent. A a slightly trying (Mercury retrograde?) element to the rest of the day, which was earmarked for freelance work, but the day-long unavailability of my client to talk through the new brief meant I could not finish the job. I spoke to Seana, my glamorous accountant, asking her to chase the tax office once again. She emailed me saying the money owed me should now be on its way, and was delayed because they were waiting for one of my payments to clear. I said I'd actually paid this in at the end of December, i.e. several weeks  early . This earliness seems to have created the problem. Unbelievable. On a better note, had a poem Cicada accepted for The Frogmore Papers , a poetry magazine based in Lewes, a welcome acceptance after some recent...

Disgusting dream just before waking, tearing hand-sized, spidery, hermit crab-like things from my legs with a pair of those grabby, long-stemmed egg holders. Calliope doing clawing happy feet on me when I woke, which may have added to the dream's horrid realism. Caught up with Janet: Ken has improved a little she told me, and has lots of visitors. She said yesterday he told a joke and had sung a little. Decidedly more Ken-like behaviour. For the time being I am not adding to Ken’s exhausting guest list till the family, staying with Janet, have all visited, but will keep close tabs on Janet. I did some good, but tooth-grindingly slow, work on the business book. Progress of any sort hard to come by. In contrast, Lorraine’s long day was action packed, with her taking charge of the school she works part time at. She had the local press in, a flood, a powercut, and parent problems to deal with, as well as an important meeting after school, which must have gone well considering...

After briefing Francesca, a designer, by phone my freelance work for the year was done and dusted.  I busied myself with minor domestic chores, and making mistakes of one sort or another, discovering I had sent cards in the wrong envelops being one. Sonya came and I gave her a card and some extra money. She thought a present that happened to be sitting near the card was hers too, and I had to embarrassingly admit it wasn't, and she explained that the last people she saw her weighed her down with presents. Felt like a cheapskate after this. Especially as my card misspelled her name Sonia too. Freed from work, I spent much of the day listening to  Seasons in the Sun  by Dominic Sandbrook. Much of British political history in the 20th century seems a shambolic mess, and this is a really quite gripping tale. I am now reading about how the Unions forced down Callaghan's Labour government in the first wintry months of 1979 ('the winter of discontent'), unwittingly usherin...