under another sun

A spot of shopping with Lorraine in Seaford, plus a big supermarket food shop. I popped into Gallery Uno, and they were very friendly, and bought Lorraine a little ceramic heart thingy and also some earrings from another place, to supplement the presents I had bought her ahead of time in Brighton a week ago. This evening met Anton in Steamworks, to swap a bag of presents and have a cheeky beer. Trains not working, so he had to catch a bus over to Seaford. Really nice just to chill out a bit, right a few wrongs with the world and play a game of bones in the pub. After Lorraine had taken care of Pat and Maureen, we were joined by Lorraine, and together we mooched off to Spice Village, where we had a  surprisingly delicious curry. Felt very holiday-ish. Left Anton standing at a bus stop and sloped home. 

Lorraine zoomed off to the Chelsea Flower Show this morning. I did some recording with Robin, and spent the morning enjoyably writing.  A gorgeous day for walking. In the afternoon I sauntered around the Eastern edge of Seaford, and back down to the sea. Finishing, as I did so, my audiobook of The Moon and Sixpence by Somerset Maugham which Brian lent me, and I have read about half and half as a paperback, and as an audiobook. A very interesting book in many ways. Loosely based on the life of Gaugin, but the parts based in Paris much more interesting before it went a bit Tahitian. Home again, and more writing. Lorraine having a great time looking at flowers with Tanya and Guy. I went to meet her at Seaford Station and took the opportunity to drink a pint of American Pale Ale in Steamworks. Lorraine joined me for a half, and showed me several pictures of plants and gardens, particularly hostas and acers. Below over fields to the chalk cliffs and the sea, a military helicopter and ...

Very cold day, and Lorraine cancelled plans she had as the roads were lethal with ice -- although Seaford remains an island of no snow.  After a morning of doing mostly podcast type stuff, and a bit of light writing, I mooched (carefully) off to go to the gym this afternoon and felt disinclined to do much afterwards.   I popped out this evening to Steamworks, the little pub by the station, where Brian and Ian were having a drink. Joined them for an hour or so. Hadn't really chatted to Ian before. I liked him quiet and intelligent. Brian full of beans as usual, and excellent company. They went off for a curry -- and I slunk back in the cold sporting gloves and a cap and scarf and lots of layers and happy to be back on the Gold Sofa with Lorraine catching up on the last few episodes of Masterchef.

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 ...

Saturday. Glorious not to have to work. Obviously earning money is admirable and manly, but having to sit manacled to my precariously balanced desk all week instead of doing new house stuff, and roaming about in the new town was a bit trying. This morning, loved having the time to feel waves of excitement surging through me just being in my home and garden.   Lorraine and I had a happy mooch off to the shops.We looked at wardrobes and other bits in a deceptively large furniture shop nearby VR Flowers and Sons, as well as popping into the Seaford Home hardware and -- inevitably -- into Morrisons for some provisions.  At a little before two I sauntered back to Seaford Station to meet Anton, now sporting only the one crutch after his knee operation, and looking forward to ditching it completely soon. Seemed ages since we saw each other. He too had been a bit peaky this week, but had rallied magnificently to come here.  Walked him to the new home, narrowly avoiding an evil wh...