under another sun

Little went to plan this morning. Met Sonia as I was setting off to my glass class. Her first client having accidentally locked her out. I showed her a photo that was on this blog of my glass work in progress, because she didn't know what I was talking about. Arrived at the glass class. Rang buzzer repeatedly. When the door was opened, I found the classroom a Marie Celeste. Searched the several storied building for the disembodied voice who had let me in. I found an officious man in a room marked 'office'. He phoned Ben, who said that the morning class was cancelled. A fact that surprised me. Off to buy Oskar's present for tomorrow. Zoomed to Argos and realised only then that I could only get it from Amazon. No laptop, so I had to go home.  Left home again a bit later, phoning Janet en route, to say that I couldn't fix the piece of glass she had given me. Bought birthday cards for my lovely wife and for Oskar. Realised then that the class was actually on this afte...

A long list of things to do this morning, including the creation of a wee poster for the play (see below), and a smattering of Telltale correspondence. In the afternoon off to see Helen in Hove to work on the Centaur project. Helen has been having a bit of a purple patch and was full of enthusiasm and ideas.  A very good session and we listened to the opening half an hour of the opera which has now an excitingly organically connected feel. Sitting at her table, able to glimpse a fishpond out in the garden. Helen has had an idea which draws on some of the philosophy that is woven into this from Parmenides to Heidegger and Sartre. Having to reach back a lot to remember my philosophical reading. A feeling familiar to me from talking to Sam and Jade last week. As a by product of this, she came to a point that will provide great drama in the piece. It also incidentally managed to pin down why I have enjoyed writing about Minotaurs, doubles and so on, and was for me a bit of a eureka...

Working at home on various bits of my own this morning, including poetry, which is feels like a wonderful luxury. Still having the odd wussy day which I can't attribute to much other than overarching hypochondria. Off this afternoon up to Goldmiths College in New Cross. Train fairly direct to New Cross, and I was early so I took refuge in a nice boozer Called The New Cross House and nursed a pint of IPA till Robin came and we went into the University where we found a room with Sarah in it getting ready for her reading. We hastily assembled our books, and banner and so on. Robin did an introduction to Sarah's reading, and I did the thank you and round up. Sarah did really well I think. Sold a good few pamphlets, and then afterwards hung about chatting to people and so on. Afterwards Robin and I went back to the pub I was in earlier. Had a quick drink in there and talked lots of Telltale business and other poetry gossip on a table next to a perky little dog, and a pleasant ow...

Seeking tranquility today and to get myself in the right frame of mind for The Nightwork pamphlet launch this evening. After running through what I had intended to read, I felt the Kenny pipes rasping somewhat as my throat has been sore for a few days. I drank loads of water, however, and this seemed to do the trick and it was much improved by the evening, and Beth suggested emergency remedies of steam baths etc. if it got serious. Like the literary Titan I am, I spent my afternoon waiting for a small roofer, who arrived late and sporting many tattoos of boxers and a humorous hinge in the crease of his arm. Making a meal of the work, he clambered about on the roof and hammered at the lead flashing and did other apparently helpful things 'for nothing'. These he described in tiresome detail. He relieved me of a decent chunk of cash, but did not receive the tip he also requested. Worse, he garbled and looked at his son when he was talking to me so I could only undersand part of...