Up to Edgware Whimpering quietly to Lorraine about having to get up at 6:30. How is it that 7:00 is fine, but 6:30 is unutterably appalling? L often gets up at this time, and so her sympathy was rationed. Listening, during my morning's commute to the tracks from the CD. It is a work of towering genius, even if I do say so myself. Into town and another pleasant day's work, including presenting work to Germans about flea collars and writing more about short stature in children. A brief lunchtime interlude with Keith and Karam in a pub. Karam talking about high and lofty things. In the evening up to Edgware to see Mum and Mason and rather nice bottle of wine, kindly provided by Toby and Romy. A good deal of cheery sitting about and eating with them. Afterwards Mum showed me her flat cats, and puma heads, which I thought were particularly fine. Phone call with Tash, Matty boy's athletic acting sister whose wedding reception L and I went to in the summer, about doing some work t...
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Phew what a scorcher! Matty, Craig and First Matie down for the day. Craig introduced us to Mel, his fiancee, who Lorraine and I warmed-to instantly. Mel is an American anglophile like Craig. The weather was in phew what a scorcher! territory. And half of London had emptied out into Brighton. We meandered through the Lanes, which Mel had not been here before, and popped into Casa Don Carlos for tapas, and from there to the cheesy delights of the pier, where First Matie joined us. Lorraine keen on the coin rolling game, and the arcade catnip to Matt, Craig and Mel. Personally I think those arcades have a dedicated ring of purgatory, so enjoyed the sun with Kate looking out to sea till they were done, Matt clutching a small furry orange and purple prize. Then a go on the dodgems, which I love, zooming about with Matty boy, Craig and Mel. Then the ladies went off shopping, while Craig, Matty and I repaired to The Cricketers for a couple of steadying beers. Heard how Craig had proposed t...
Sunny Sunday afternoon Off to the Abergavenny Arms today to meet Matty boy and First Matie for lunch. Also Tasha, Matty boy's sister, and Steve fresh from a holiday in Jamaica, with Tasha sporting an engagement ring, so it became a bit of a celebration, with Matt buying some bubbly. An afternoon outside in the sun in the country. Blue sky with a few puffy white clouds, and us on a wooden pub table, eating a lovely Sunday lunch, with Puffin Kate's dog, plus Tasha and Steve's two hounds tangling about around us while we caught up with the gossip: First Matie about to move but she's not sure where yet, Matty boy embarking on an MA in Psychology part time with the Open University, and of course Tasha and Steve's plans. Then home via the train station with Beth, to send a PK mugshot to Richard who has cunningly got us into GBG, Guernsey's glossy lifestyle magazine. I am hoping they can photoshop us to glamour. Tough one. Now girding my loins for more London journeys...
Matty in the Batty, then ratty A rainy an uninviting day. Went to Sainsbury's early, and returned to cook breakfast for myself and Lorraine. Matty called to say he was coming down to Brighton, and then to say he was in the Battle of Trafalgar. Met up with him, First Matie, Tash and her relatively new boyf Steve, and two friends of Matt called Matt and Jenny. Ended up having yet another rather boozy afternoon. After everyone had left to go to a party, Lorraine and I were possessed of the idea of having a curry, failing to persuade First Matie to join us, we grabbed a taxi. Nice meal, but I banged my head on the ceiling of the toilets in our usual restaurant. This was followed about ten minutes later by an undignified altercation in the street after a man walked into me for absolutely no reason. I invited him to fuck off, and was told to pack it by some bouncers outside a nightclub. Thus chastised Lorraine and I managed to make it home with no further adventures, and instead watche...
Beers and friends Up early this morning and writing, before Lorraine and I had a large brunch. I had just about got around to finally fixing my aquarium up, when I was called by First Matie. There was a posse heading Brightonward. Before long Lorraine and I were in the Battle of Trafalgar, a difficult 20 yard trek from my door, with First Matie, Matty and Craig. Some Twittering and iPlayering from the boys. Soon to be joined by Matty's sister Tash her nice new boyf Steve. Then Betsy texted and said she and her pal Paul were in town too. Soon there was quite a crowd of us in the back garden of the pub and a fair amount of ensemble chatting. After some time this group broke up, and Lorraine and I took the skippy Betsy and Paul on a lightning tour of Brighton before heading to the Cricketers pub to meet Craig and Matty again. From there off to our usual curry house for a decent bit of snap. It was good to see Craig, who I'd not seen for some time. His career has taken a good turn ...
To Lewes Slunk lazily out to buy fresh bread and the newspaper, which Lorraine and I ate toasted, munching happily on the gold sofa with the cat sitting happily between us. Only the thought of putting my cheque into the bank motivating me. However once in the throngs of shoppers in the North Laines felt energised and very cheery. Managed to buy several presents quite quickly, so suddenly I feel in control of Christmas shopping, which is a fine & dandy feeling. Lots of music in the lanes as usual, including one excellent and funky group of drummers and percussionists lurking by Infinity foods who appeared to be busking for the sheer joy of it. Sometimes Brighton can lift you up like no other place I've lived in. We bumped into Anton and David, his father in law. Anton briefly insulting my beard before we moved our separate ways. Later in the afternoon went to Lewes, and the Lewes Arms to have an enjoyable drink with Matty boy and his nice sister Tash. I have mentioned the Lewes ...
A night with the day trippers Tremendously enjoyable day, which I started rather sluggishly coughing and explaining to Lorraine just how wussy I felt. However there is a new cure in town: alcohol taken liberally with your mates. The mates in question were Kate, Matty, Craig and his new girlfriend Eva, who had come down from London. Lorraine and I met up with them in the Battle of Trafalgar and then as every last one of them had a camera, we took them down to the seafront where there was a good deal of semi-comical snappage. There was a brisk wind, and so we were soon compelled to find another pub, and we had several drinks in fine Brighton boozers such as The Cricketers, and The Caxton and one or two others. Sensibly we broke off for bags full of fish and chips which we ate with wooden forks in the dark by the sea. This is where Tash, the very nice Matty's very nice sister, and Dunc her boyfriend found us. In the Cricketers Nick, an old pal of Katie's who I'd met a few tim...