under another sun

Up and at 'em this morning, submitting two short stories. I've had a big burst of writing lately, and felt like my brain needs refuelling.  I have half an idea for another story.  Lorraine took Pat to Eastbourne and then did Rhymetime, about a dozen babies and their adults this morning. Beth had to go to physio briefly this morning so the little lad was with us for a spell around lunchtime. Off to the gym this afternoon, and then home to chat to Mum who was quite chipper, and off to see her pals up the road this evening. I assembled a salad for supper for Lorraine and I. Sat on the gold sofa chatting for a while.  Then to the Cinque Ports to meet Steve, who'd been in Leicester for much of July as his mother is recovering from a broken leg and a broken foot on the other limb. While we were in the pub, the jukebox played a song by Yes, called South Side of the Sky. I have never heard anything from Yes's classic period played in a pub before.   Then to Steamworks. Weird...

Up early and into my study with a new sense of purpose. Began looking at a story that was rejected last week, but with a highly encouraging note from the editor. Also the idea that if One Day Forever is being published, that tidies away quite a few poems, leaving room for the new project.  Being me, my mind is busy creating a thousand reasons why it will all go wrong, but I just have to ignore them. I have been contacting people slowly, as I feel superstitious about it. But today I let Carl and Bob know.   Penny came round this morning, to spend some time with Lorraine. I spoke to her for a while. Her mother died recently, and she is naturally still sad. She was very kind and congratulated me on the book. They made off into Seaford, for a bite to eat, and I had a much-needed gym session. I seem to have put on weight since Monday.  Spoke to Mum, who was fine, although there is a small problem with the car that Ben is helping her with.  In the evening, when Lorraine w...

Very hot. Enervated by the heat, and not up to much. Wished Romy a happy birthday. I did stuff about the house and garden first thing. Carrying compost and moving the withered potatoes out of the sun. Then as Robin had sent me some useful feedback on my full poetry collection, I um-ed and ah-ed about this for a while. The working title for a while has been Did This Happen? and I've been increasingly disliking it. Robin agrees it doesn't do it justice. So I am putting it into the airlock and opening the space doors on it.  Into the studio this afternoon. Lorraine pottering about. Me experimenting with things. Had a bit of a funny turn sitting by the window, when my eyes suddenly had double vision. Drank lots of water and everything came quickly back into focus. Naturally I thought the worst, but Lorraine was on hand to radiate calm. It was very hot in there. Drank lots of water afterwards and felt right as rain. Rebooting tonight, we spoke to Adele and Patrick, Guy, Debbie and R...

Very nice not to be on a train this morning. Felt full of beans and cheerfulness all day, it was a beautiful sunny spring day and I'm beginning to wonder if the months of rain and overcast skies had undermined my mood more than I thought.   I woke up at six and got up at seven, sat at my desk writing for an hour or so, then returned to bed with cups of tea. Lorraine off to Storytime, and then see Pat and Maureen. I went back to my desk and at last finished the first draft of Kansas . It was only this morning that the end, which had eluded me til now, fell into place. The draft is in a fairly finished state. It's just under seven thousand words but will soon be tightened.   This done, I went for a walk around Tide Mills, trying another new path. Home again at a little after two, and Lorraine and Beth were at home. Enzo having been left at the nursery for half an hour without problems, and Beth feeling steady about it. Lovely to see her, and the baby a bit later.   Arranged...

My best night sleep in days. Woke up feeling chipper, made breakfast for Lorraine and I then slid off to Life Drawing class. A nice model called Sadie, it was her first time modelling so was a bit nervous. She was a history of art graduate, who was feeling her way back into work after having children. My drawings weren't as good as I hoped, but switching to coloured pencils again helped. I was drawing next to Adele, which was fun. Helped Melissa tidy up afterwards. She's a good egg and rather a kind person I think. In the late afternoon, Steve, Adele and Patrick arrived for a Shakespeare session. Today's play, All's Well That Ends Well . A pretty unpleasant play all round. With a little bit of comedy in it. Helena is in love with Bertram, who is high born and noble and barely knows she's alive. However, by managing to cure the King of France of his anal fistula, she is rewarded by her choice of men. She chooses Bertram who marries her, does not consummate the relati...

Lorraine doing Story Time in the library first thing. Later I joined her at Seaford Station, still hobbling and loping due to the back, which is not clearing up as fast as usual. We trundled off to Lewes to meet Dawn and Paul at Cafe Vegu. When we arrived there was a large queue outside, so we sauntered back towards the station and into Haru Izakaya for some Japanese style food. The service was non-Japanese, being abrupt and a tad rude, but the food was not bad.  A 'bento box' more like a balti of  rice and katsu chicken, endame beans and a spot of kimchi etc. Tasty enough for sure. I had it with green tea, which I enjoyed. Lovely to see Dawn again. She is going to become a grandmother this year, which is exciting. And a chat to Paul who is always interesting. He advised me to use the tens machine for my back, which I did later and it helped. In the evening off to the Boot, and had a few beers. Also good for my back, as it relaxes all the muscles in spasm. Good to see Steve, w...

Beth and James at hospital all morning, with Enzo. Beth had lots of tests but has been released back into the wild, thank goodness. Didn't do my 10k paces today, and frankly felt a bit better for it. A peaceful day for me. Sylwia here this morning. I fiddled about doing a bit of writing. I also uploaded the photos of the Stone Age tool I discovered on a Facebook page devoted to that sort of thing. One expert said it was simply a stone, another regular poster called that into question. Learnt a new phrase today... Bulb of Percussion, a telltale sign that a stone has been hit and worked.   In the evening off to Steve's house, for the reading of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew . A delightful evening, and a fun play to read, although deeply problematic from a feminist perspective. We read it through, and then ate the delicious venison casserole Steve had cooked. A cheery evening, that manages to be both a good laugh with some mates, but also improving at the same time. Lorrai...

Up and breakfasted and off to see Mum. Just before Haywards Heath the driver announced there was a bad problem at St Pancras and to stay on his train and go to Victoria instead. Only a minute later we pulled into Haywards Heath and were all told to get off the train, as someone had died on the track towards Gatwick.  Both situations were going to be at least two hours to sort out, so I called Mum and told her I'd come to see her later in the week. I felt sorry for the dozens of dispirited people outside trying to get cabs to go to Gatwick Airport. I simply caught a bus to Brighton from around the corner. This journey soon became a misery as I was desperate for a wee and every stop in the middle of nowhere was a torture. Eventually hared off at Preston Park to the park toilets.  Then I walked across the park up to London Road station, where I discovered there wasn't a train for 50 minutes. Realised then that I had also lost my ticket -- the third thing I have lost in the last w...

Early again this morning. Lorraine zooming off to Beth's. Enzo having his first jabs today. I made off to the life drawing class. Again not quite feeling at the top of my game while drawing. Making lots of mistakes, and drawing lots of constructive comments from Melissa. Our model today was excellent, Lorraine Yu from Hong Kong who is also an actor.  Kate, one of the others who attends there, brought me in lots of coloured paper, as I was admiring her work, where she makes marks with coloured pastels directly onto coloured paper. I might have a go at that. Someone was handing out leaflets for a Poetry event in Ardingly, then began saying that when she taught poetry in schools they rhymed and had strict metre and so on. Everything else was -- and I am paraphrasing here -- degenerate rubbish. Luckily I took no bait. T.S.Eliot for example, published The Wasteland in 1922, which didn't wasn't in strict metre and didn't rhyme -- and that was over a 100 years ago.  Was feeli...

Had another excellent day at the poetry cliff face. Sent a MS to a publisher with several newly buffed up poems in it. Very pleased with myself. Off to the gym, and then I zoomed to The Grumpy Chef where I met Lorraine with Pat and Maureen.They had been shopping and bought Pat what is being termed a mobile seat -- a wheelie with a seat on it.  I had a cheese and ham toastie. Not had one of those for some time, and it was rather delicious despite being told off by Maureen for eating it too quickly.  Then home and a certain amount of faffing about, before Lorraine and I drove off to Adele and Patrick's for a Shakespeare evening with them and Steve. Looking at Adele's new studio, which is rather marvellous. Then after some snackage we commenced on the main event. Twelfth Night. Interesting if enigmatic comedy, with elements of doubling, and mistaken identity and cross dressing in it. We saw a local production of it recently in Seaford. Paused after act three for some lovely grub,...

An early start at the poetic coalface. Then breakfast with Lorraine, and she went off to do Story Time. Sylwia here, very cheery she is. And Lorraine and her always kiss when she comes in. I melted away to the gym, hoping to get some physical jerks in before it got too hot. En route I called in at Melissa's to hand her a sketch back. I had daubed a D minus watercolour on a piece of paper she'd handed me, to discover  as I turned it over, I found there a sketch of a dog called Benji, a much loved hound Melissa has been commissioned to do a painting of it. Then bumped into Delores on the way to the gym, as she was entering the bicycle shop 'Hello darlings!'  I spent some time in the gym, then sloped home feeling cheery, and end of term-ish.  Lorraine and I made off to the Boot where we met, Steve, Guy and Barbara, and Yvonne. Brian on a pilgrimage walk with his pal ending up at Canterbury. God knows what his knees will be like. Finding myself enjoying the company of Guy a...

Knee still at me and hurt overnight. Otherwise a happy morning, free of eye pain, and free to do what I want. I called Mum and had a nice chat with her, and I am going to go up and stay over with her next week.  Excellent news from James, who had landed a good job project managing AI and cybersecurity for a telecoms firm after a protracted search, and he won't have to start till a few weeks after the baby's born. Very relieved and pleased for him and Beth. He told me that he was pleased to get this job as it was somewhat future proofed. Now is a great time to get to know about AI. I pottered at my desk, trying to grope my way back into a flow state, but not producing anything concrete. Also reflecting on how useful Steve's feedback had been on Gordon Road. Lorraine had a bit of well earned down time, sitting in the garden, after sorting out a few bits and pieces. At tea time, Steve reappeared, with Patrick and Adele and we polished off the remainder of Richard III. A comple...

Monday and back to my desk. However a lot of stuff to be sorted out first, so didn't get down to anything that might be described as writing. Lorraine off to take Pat and Maureen to Eastbourne for medical stuff and a shopping trip.  Having cleared up my study, I took myself off to the gym at 11:30. Trundled on the cross trainer and did some of my normal mild mannered weights. Walking home thinking I need to put more time in at the gym, then at home, while eating a salad and chicken sarnie, I noticed my knee was a bit swollen and sore. I'd felt no twinges in the gym. However I can walk on it, and pushed off to see my dentist Coílín, friendly and lovely as ever. Lorraine, and Pat and Maureen use her and everyone likes her. Luckily my teeth just needed a short clean.  Home, and shortly after Steve came around to discuss Gordon Road over a cup of tea. Many of the things he said were spot on. He had been apprehensive about giving me feedback, but he did a considered and thoughtful ...

Recording with Robin this morning, and a bit of to-ing and fro-ing with this episode's guest poet, who I later sent the interview to.  In the evening, Patrick and Adele and Steve came around for the reading of Richard III, we started a bit too late sat in the garden reading the first act, eating crisps and having a beer. Then had dinner, and repaired indoors. But at around ten, we'd only got through about half,  so we decided to reconvene next week to finish it off. A strange play, where Richard is made to seem absolutely obnoxious, he gets a poor press.

Friday and some time this morning to finalise what I was going to read tonight and collect together a few books and so on. Lorraine really busy, shopping with James for the shower tomorrow, doing the last stitches of the secret project, ferried Pat and Maureen from the pub with their new friend also called Maureen. After a wee snooze, I caught the half five train to Lewes, and sauntered over to the Elephant and Castle and sat quietly for a bit and drank a shandy.  Today was the launch of Robin's The Mayday Diaries  and she had been kind enough to ask me to read with her. She also asked Catherine Smith to join us. We discussed beforehand that we wanted to make it fairly informal, and a bit chatty like the podcast. When Nick and Robin arrived, we went upstairs and Robin and I arranged the chairs for the reading. Palo arrived early, with two prints which we put on chairs to be seen. I joked to Palo that she was my show and tell. Soon people were turning up. Many of the audie...

A tad wan this morning. Despite that, to the Boot this evening. Tonight's assembly included Matthew, Delores, Steve, and Pat and Maureen. Maureen loves Delores, who brings out the naughtiness in her. And everyone loves Matthew's wee dog Rumi despite the fact he growls ferociously at larger dogs. Most dogs are larger. Nice to get to know Matthew a bit better, a really interesting guy, and a cheery evening. Had a burger there, which was perfectly decent and served with lots of salad.   After a lively night in Brighton with Anton, I drank a non-alcoholic Guinness just to see what it was like. Actually very similar and I enjoyed it despite Delores mocking me somewhat. I did wash it down with a Proper Job beer afterwards. Home very early. Below Maureen with Rumi on her lap.

Cold nights, and beautiful sunny days. Wrote this morning, and having one of those days when I am feeling very positive about Gordon Road. Also sent off for Mason's death certificate, now finally available after the inquest, which took almost a year to get around to conducting. The registrar sent me a link for this after I wrote to them.  You have to pay for them: £12.50. Spoke to Mum this morning while I was finalising this. World news continues to be unutterably horrible, and I feel very pessimistic. The likelihood of Russia invading Europe, China invading Taiwan and Trump doing yet more evil seem more likely by the day. I am consciously reducing my news consumption, rather like I did at the beginning of Covid. Doomscrolling only makes you feel utterly impotent.   To the gym at lunchtime, where I pushed myself a bit. Walking home I was phoned by the doctor's office saying they needed to tweak my blood pressure pills as my latest readings were still high. This made me feel an...

Went to the gym again this morning, but as soon I got going on the cross trainer I had to stop. The mischief I'd done myself a few days ago struck again. I felt a sudden tightening band from hips to below my navel with the raising of my legs on the trainer. So I had to content myself with a little upper body stuff, but amazing how much seems to gripe those lower muscles. I seem to be fine with walking. Lifting things immediately in front of me, such as large drying machines, not so much. All a bit frustrating though, as the cross trainer is my favourite way to exercise and I still have lots of weight to lose.  Home and Lorraine was outside doing some weeding so we did a bit of this together, which was nice. Then a supermarket shop. Lorraine off to her book coven's Burns Night, Lorraine taking some chranachan. I popped off to the Cinque Ports for a quick beer with Steve, we also popped into Steamworks, which was at its best. Good to see Steve, not having seen him since Christmas...

Another good writing morning for me. Lorraine busy and off to her personal trainer this morning, then some shopping. Shakespeare's Henry IV part two at Adele and Patrick's place this evening. We started at 5.00pm and finished around ten having taken a large break in the middle, where Patrick took Steve up to his studio and we ate dinner. The play itself not one of the bard's finest four hours, but still well worth reading. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, being the one quote that leapt out. Falstaff business, Adele who drew the Falstaff character, had a busy time of it. The comedy parts were obviously great fun at the time, and still brings a smile or two. A cheery, tiring but improving evening. Below Falstaff with Doll Tearsheet in the Boar's Head tavern, illustration to Act 2, Scene 4 of the play by Eduard von Grützner 

Christmas Day a tad lively. It started calmly enough with Beth phoning, and me taking teas into Pat and Maureen and Lorraine. There had been a problem with Pat's catheter overnight, which meant some sorting. Then Maureen got a bit het up and needed her heart spray. Everyone soon right as rain, and we got on with a perfectly nice day. Lorraine and I started cooking, and then opened some presents. I got a brown corduroy jacket and a collected George Seferis from Lorraine. Lorraine liked the necklaces I bought her.  Anton got us a bonsai tree, which Lorraine loved.  Chatted a couple of times with Mum. I was pleased she had been invited to her friends Emma and Gail down the road to have a Christmas meal in the evening.   Steve came around a bit after mid day, bearing a bottles of wine, and a game tureen and gravlax salmon with delicious sauces of his own invention. Really nice to have him with us. He is very good with Pat and Maureen, and he was very cheery company. Our Chris...