under another sun

Friday and Lorraine and I got up early, because Lorraine had arranged for folks to clear the remains of the built in wardrobe, and other garden rubbish. This was done in a friendly, efficient manner after eight in the morning rain. Then after breakfast I retreated to my study and had a spectacular day's writing.  The last section of the long poem now called Gordon Road is falling into place. Feeling emotional as I'm writing it, and as if some long buried key is turning in my head, making me think about my own life differently. Even if the poem turns out to be a bowser, writing it is doing me good on some level.  Lorraine not at the library this morning, because Dawn came for a visit. She was looking well and I enjoyed seeing her for a cup of tea. Then Lorraine took Pat and Maureen to the podiatrist and bought them fish and chips, and I continued at my desk.    L and I off to the Cinque Ports this evening where we met Steve, Brian and Yvonne who popped in for one, Ade...

Slightly more energy today. A wee bit of writing, before Lorraine went off with her walking heads today, and Yvonne came around this morning, and drove us off to Newhaven in her mini car, where we had a cup of coffee on the Harbourside in the sunshine from a cafe called the Mamoosh Riverside. She told me in some detail about having had a splinter of glass in her eyeball, which had my toes curling. Lovely to see her however.  Once home, I wrote for a few hours till my still not fully functioning brain needed a break. Had a short walk down to the sea and popped into Morrisons momentarily.   Feeling suddenly antsy this evening, I walked Lorraine to her book group, and then bought a pint of Director's bitter in the Cinque Ports pub. Reading a book-length essay called  The Weird and the Eerie  by Mark Fisher, which was quite entertaining and discussed H.G.Wells's The Door in the Wall which is one of my favourite stories (and I have a poem loosely based on it in the Maris...

Up early and Brian called round for me at 8:15 this morning, and we drove off to Friston Forest for an hour's walk. Brian, hardy soul, had already been for swim before he collected me. A lovely walk through the trees, with Marley the dog racing ahead and back again, and pleading with Brian to throw sticks for her.  Always a profoundly interesting conversation with Brian. We tree bathed in the beech forest, and talked about kindness, and responsibilities. Brian said I was a calm person, which I liked as I think of myself as a bit of a hysteric. We looked down at valley Brian told me was called Charleston Bottom. Beautiful sight, and suddenly dozens of birds in the sky over one of the far fields -- herring gulls and starlings and crows, and amid them a bird of prey, too far away for me to identify it, but obviously causing the commotion. Home and worked more on the seven new poems. Then joined in the frenzy of housework day. Members of Lorraine's book group were coming around. I ...

A bit out of sorts this morning, for no discernible reason. Got up early again, thanks to the atrocious Calliope whose mission since we have returned from Scotland seems to be to wake me up early each morning, and worked at the poetry manuscript, while sipping smoked Japanese green tea.  A nice breakfast with Lorraine, and then she made off to Ashford for the day. I did a few chores, and had a chat with Mum arranging a day next week to see her and Mas.  Then more writing, followed by a healthy lunch watching a soul singer called Lady Wray that Toby told me about, on YouTube.  Then a longish walk down the hill and a by the sea and back through Seaford. Loving the lichen yellow roofs against the blue of the sky. Also snapped a spitfire doing a roll over the town. Listening to a new audiobook, called The Other Pandemic -- How QAnon Contaminated the World as I mooched. A decent look at the unhinged conspiracy theories which have infected world politics.  In the evening I...

Got up early and did some writing of my own this morning. Lorraine off to her personal trainer in Bolney at lunchtime and then Ashford this afternoon. I went to the gym at lunchtime and loped home. Anton took a day off today, and ended a walk in Seaford -- his knee holding up well after its operation.  I met him this afternoon in the garden of The Old Boot Inn and then we went to The Cinque Ports where we played five games of pool in the back room. I mentioned Bob which I often do when thinking about pool, and Bob phoned mid game. Both of us had a chat with him. Went into Trawlers for a fish, chip and mushy peas supper. A cheeky in Steamworks, before Anton nipped onto the train. A fun afternoon. Lorraine off to Ashford this evening. I had a quiet night and went to bed early.

Up early and rushing about straightening the house for the open house day. Then nabbing Calliope and taking her to the vet, paid for more thyroid stuff and another blood test.Very pricey. She is not putting on any weight. The vet hinted at other issues.  Home and a frenzy of tidying, and then I showed the lady from the estate agent around. Sam, after quite a bit to drink last night, being extremely helpful, but he found having to rush off stressful. He went to stay with Beth for the day.  Lorraine and I went to the tip to drop off some rubbish. Also a few unsold Clameur CDs. We were quizzed about these, was it a business thing? Were we dumping commercial waste. But it was all okay thanks to Lorraine's persuasive charms.  Then back to Osborne Road to drop the car off and we went to a nearby cafe, Tilt, and we enjoyed a vegetarian brunch and looked at houses on our phones and made another appointment in Seaford. Mooched down to London Road station to catch the train, and on...