under another sun

Slept heavily after yesterday's massage. Another day on tenterhooks. Beth being induced and so on. Lorraine and I spent the day thinking she was going to go into labour at any moment. I can't really imagine what it will be like for Beth and James.  After doing some writing this morning, rather a good morning where I am having a few ahah moments. Pottered off the gym for a bit today, but having twinged my lower back earlier in the week I took it fairly easy on the cross trainer.  Very hot day and we are in a heatwave.  In the afternoon some work in the garage, and I built another of the metal shelving units. Only one more to go now. Pouring with sweat doing it. Then to meet Messrs H and H in the Evening Star. Telling them about the imminent birth. Lots of sagacious fatherly advice and a rather too graphic description of cutting the umbilical cord with a tiny pair of scissors from Peter.  We went to Fatto a Mano for a cheeky pizza, and went to the Green Dragon, a Brigh...

Otherwise Lorraine and I drove to Newhaven Fort again, conducted through the the rebuilding works by the same charming Polish builder, and picked up our framed pictures. These done very well by a man called John who also does framing for the Towner Gallery sometimes, so if it's good enough for them it's good enough for us. Popped into Lidl on the way back and then I spent the afternoon doing bits of faffing about and other stuff. The final podcast till October went live today at 4pm. I was immediately beset by a host of insecurities and cringing as I read three of my own poems in it.  Then to Brighton to see a well-looking Anton, we'd not met up since the beginning of June and I'd missed him. He'd been on a couple of much needed holidays. Lots to catch up on, and Anton had lots of amazing photos of his camino walk, and the Tories being stuffed in the election and so on. The coast of northern Spain looks green and gorgeous. We were heading to a pub where they served ...

Up early, and writing, while Lorraine made off to do Storytime in the Library. When she got back we caught a train to Brighton. We had a fresh and zesty lunch at Wahaca restaurant, and we drank some kind of fruity water with hibiscus, and lots of lovely bits of picky food. Lorraine popped off to do some lengthy bank business, I went to Caffè Nero and had a cup of coffee and stared blankly at my notebook.  I was thinking about something that Brian Eno wrote in A Year With Swollen Appendices , about the book you have already written.  I have several projects that are near the touchline, I just need to focus and do some hard work. I have quite a few published short stories, which I could collect for example. Lorraine found me and we mooched happily through the Lanes, ending up in a shop called Julian Stephens. Lorraine made magpie noises while looking at the shiny things, and soon I bought a nice ring as a late birthday present.  Then we walked up to the Evening Star where w...

Lorraine off to Ashford this morning, as Pat and Maureen unwell. Weather foul. I didn't go to see Mum today, due to chesty cough and cold, and not fancying a six hour round trip. I was unable to contact her this morning, and ended up texting Wynford next door -- who told me her car was gone. Mum had been out shopping and going to the bank and so on.  Wrote some of my horror story. Otherwise had a bit of a walk in the afternoon, looking at the sun on the sea, making a brief appearance. In the evening to  Brighton, as I wanted to give Anton, Oskar's 18th birthday present, which was his mixed martial arts gloves for biffing people. Lorraine and I will be in Scotland then. Nice to see Anton, and have a judicious beer with him in the Evening Star, which mercifully seems to have changed managers, and play a game of bones which he enjoyed greatly, storming from behind to enjoy a flukey win. He was bracing himself for another ghastly work week. Did me good to get out. Home and Lorrain...

Still feeling a bit sluggish, but up fairly early and fiddling about with some of my writing with a view to sending off some poems before the end of the month. Chatting with Mum too. Lorraine on the epic job of repotting the bazillion indoor plants in the kitchen. A stormy day, with high winds and rain.  In the afternoon, I caught the train to Brighton. The sea, seen over The Salts, full of big white waves, which crashed on the shore. The lighthouse at Newhaven as ever, dramatic with big waves breaking on it. To Brighton then, and I met Anton in The Evening Star. Seems ages since I saw him last, had a few beers,  lots of chat, and a few games of bones. His work has been draining to say the least. I told him about the funeral and so on. It's good to have a beer about such things. Despite its reputation as a 'sausage bar' (a bar that blokes go to and not women) we had to leave as there was a noisy hen party on the table next door. Then to the Batty, which has a new owner. The...

A splendid morning. My two poetry collections suddenly clicking into place. Felt a rare feeling of elation, clarity and faith in myself. Lorraine busy outside in the sun. I popped out a bit to be with her. She was jet washing the greenhouse, and having lots of fun doing so. In the afternoon Lorraine went off to see Rosie and I caught the train to see Anton. We met in the Evening Star in Brighton, and drank glassblower's lager, and played several games of bones and caught up a bit. First drink that Anton had (apart from one day at Stav's funeral) this year. I was not manhandled off the premises, which was nice and generally enjoyed being there. They were playing music over the PA. I don't remember this before. It was nice music, but all old stuff. Where are the young 'uns listening to unlistenable new fangled music? It's as if pub culture has always been targeted to people of my sort of age, and is aging with us. Back up the hill and Anton cooked his delicious pizzas...

Jade up early. and typically perky. Lorraine and I drove her to the Station as it was hosing down with rain. However the train was cancelled so Lorraine drove Jade to Lewes Station. Lorraine and I then did early food shopping in Morrisons and I picked up the turkey and a dozen sausages from the slightly stressed butcher at an eye-watering price. The bird wrapped in a clear plastic bag. Felt a bit odd carrying a large body through town. Poked it into the fridge in the Workhouse at the bottom of the garden. Sam left a couple of hour or so later to meet Jade in London and train back up to Scotland -- where they arrived late at night. We walked him to the station,  After some light tidying and organising, we drove off to Eastbourne, a beautiful drive, where we collected Pat and Maureen at the station, arriving safely after the journey from Ashford. Home again, Lorraine cooked a lovely curry and also wrapped presents. Off to the station with a big bag of pressies for Anton and his famil...

Recording bits with Robin and spending a few hours editing the podcast into final shape, and then taking a small but significant first step on getting my accounts ready. Lorraine working from home first thing. Viewing bookings for our open house pouring in today. Long chat with Mum, and then off in the evening down to The Batty to meet up with Anton, returned from a brief business trip to Spain and sporting an excellent Guernsey jumper he had bought from Le Tricolour on the island. Just lurked about very local pubs gossiping. At one point drifting into the Evening Star where I had a nice pint of stout, despite still being barred from entry and The Lord Nelson, where we had a pint of pilsner made by fine local brewer Harveys. Surprisingly, the pilsner was an affront to the tastebuds, but we struggled one down nevertheless before leaving for home.  Fond farewells with Anton, then I jumped on a bus and was able to watch a bit of Masterchef on TV with Lorraine, before we sloped off to ...

The day before Christmas Eve. Spoke to Mum, whose Welsh neighbours had invited themselves around for the afternoon. She had wrapped presents for Barry, and now couldn't find them which was frustrating. Some time as sellotape snipper for Lorraine who wrapped presents. Calliope plonked down in the middle of the action of course and got involved with ribbon and so on. Beth arrived, tired, but with a bit more clarity about when they are moving: probably February. She set to baking things with Lorraine. I floated about feeling a bit worn thin generally. I met up with Anton briefly. We snuck into the very empty Evening Star, from where I am banned for language. I encountered no problems, perhaps because I was with Anton who *looks* respectable. Sent a photo of myself there to the Beermonsters, saying I had been parachuted behind enemy lines and received messages of encouragement from the Monsters. I had missed the place.  Home again, and there were piles of sausage rolls, mince pies and ...

Calliope very unwell today, vomiting, felt hot to the touch, breathing rapidly and looking upsettingly distressed. Beth kindly came by this morning, in between working, to drive us off to the nice folks at Top Cats. We sat outside, while Calliope underwent several tests, and had an anti vomiting jab and antibiotics. Once home, Calliope she sat on the chair next to me all afternoon, looking poorly.  Otherwise I worked on a promising new story called Doctor Spotlight , and other bits and pieces. Made salmon stir fry which I ate with Lorraine, before mooching off into town. I met the Beermonsters, and we ended up sitting on a bench outside the Evening Star. Good to see them again, although obviously the whole scenario was abnormal. Felt quite drunk as I haven't been drinking much lately, and all was cheery and fun till it was time to go. I needed a wee, so popped into the pub. A masked employee who we had not been speaking to, stopped me, even though the pub was almost empty, and I wa...

Lorraine and I chatting in bed this morning, having tea and breakfast and discussing how we need to make more of the weekends again now that Lorraine is more on top of her weekends and has not worked on Sundays as standard any more. We resolved to go to the Sea Life Centre aquarium down by the pier today, and took photos of ourself so we could pick up passes. By the time we got there however, we were too late, as in January the last admittance is at 3 o'clock. Instead we went for a stroll on the pier, and were rewarded with the sight of murmurations of starlings as the sun began to slide towards setting. From there we made our way, via a brief stop at the Evening Star where some Brighton footie fans were just whetting their post match whistles after a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa. We fell into conversation with one of them briefly before we set off up the hill for an evening with Anton and Ann and (intermittently) Oskar eating Anton's excellent pizzas. Lovely time there as ...

Another foggy damp day. Lorraine up and more independent now that her arm is no longer in the heavy cast. I had no urgent tasks and I had the luxury of doing some thinking, and catching up with a few blog posts, and fiddling about with some writing. An old pal Chris Amies got in touch via Instagram to say he had read and liked The Inheritor in Supernatural Tales. Out with the so called Beer Monsters this evening, in our usual Evening Star haunt. Nick was there when I arrived, he is a mine of information about beer and brewing. We were soon joined by Steve and Richard, then two musician pals of Steve's discussing an upcoming Sumerian Kyngs gig. Later we were joined by Claudius, and who had with him a young rapper called Harrison who goes by the name of Aitch  who I asked to find himself on Spotify for me as he was leaving. He was a nice guy and very talented. Later we were joined by Monty Oxymoron  currently keyboard player with The Damned. When I grow up I want to be a wiki...

The thud this morning of my copy of Supernatural Tales coming through the letter flap, with my story The Inheritors in. Takes up 14 pages. Not taken up 14 pages of any meatspace publication before, and it was a very good feeling. Feeling cheerful, and far less queasy today. Working on some work for the French agency first thing, which was then cancelled as their client had decided to design the whole thing himself. Slightly despairing note from Val but I was able to support her a bit. Then able to do work on my own bits and pieces, and then I was sent with some stuff to do tomorrow. In the evening slipped off the desk manacles and walked off to see Anton for a cheeky drink at eight. We met outside the Shakespeare's Head, but there was a quiz night on so we went to a couple of other places, and ended up in The Evening Star, drinking beer similar to the kind he was drinking in Dresden recently. Anton liked the beer,  but didn't love the clientele of beardy and sandal-sportin...

Sat at my desk with a sigh of satisfaction this morning, able to work on exactly what I wanted. April Fool! Workmen instantly started hammering on the roof next door, a matter of feet from my study ceiling, so cue stamping, the dropping of bricks just over my head, shovelling etc. Sometimes I think there is a conspiracy against me. Worked downstairs on my laptop, and this was much better. Off then to London to meet Shaila by the Tate Modern. We sat in the cafe and chatted for hours. Lots going on in her life, including the death of her uncle who brought her up. Good to see her though. Seeing someone you have known since you were a spotty herbert at school is quite grounding. Then we walked around Southbank and around Waterloo, I was on the hunt for a bookmark featuring London that I had promised Maureen I would find. Unable to find one, so I have resorted to the internet and have ordered one there. Had a quick drink with Shaila in Vaulty Towers, where I have been with Anton...

Proper holiday today! Up to London early on a morning when flights were stopped at Gatwick due to a rogue drone menacing the runways. A bit before we reached Gatwick, I saw a Police helicopter hovering over woods, searching for the criminal masterminds at work.  A bit eery and peaceful to go through Gatwick on the train and see no planes arriving or taking off. I arrived early in Covent Garden, and found myself looking for a present for Lorraine, and finding one, which was an unexpected bonus. Then I met Mum for a cheeky two hours outside The Salisbury on St Martin's Lane.  The pub's website says it opens at 11 am, but this was a filthy lie. Instead we went for a walk around Covent Garden, and then were first into The Bear and Staff and as Mum zoomed into the loos, I spoke to the loquacious woman behind the bar. She said at Christmas her family has secret Santa as there are too many of them, and she had not 'got the dollar' for nine presents. Mum horrified by glancing...

A good day's work today. Looking again at what I have on my hard drive, and deciding to get this brushed up and sent off. Prompted by reading Jeremy and Louise's collections of short stories, I remembered I have had a couple of short stories published, and have a few more in the hard drive.  I imported them all into Scrivener, my writing software to see what I have, and was surprised at how good some of them were. So I am getting myself organised to get some of these sent out into the wild. In the evening, I dodged the rain and loped own to the Evening Star where I met Richard Gibson, Steve Cartwright, and their pal Nick for a few beers, and a young Irish guy whose name escapes me now. A cheery evening of real ale and chats about all manner of subjects. I always enjoy their company, and will make sure I do a bit more of this. Richard and Nick were drinking a third of a pint of some really strong brown beer that smelled of marmite. I had a sip of one of them, weirdly lovely. ...

A day of rest and socialising with folks, taking advantage of the half term. In the afternoon Lorraine drove us to the village of Fletching to the much vaunted pub The Griffin to meet Jess and Andrew. This is apparently a mecca for Sunday roast lovers. A nice drive through the country to get there, another beautiful sunny day, and a good old pub too. Lorraine had cleverly booked a table in advance,  but the pub was a shambles of disorganisation, and the staff were panicking. All the roasts were sold out, due to an unexpected influx of non-booking people. Lorraine and I ate fish and chips. On a Sunday, disrupting the natural order of things. We sat away from the stress of the main restaurant in a small side bar. And I enjoyed a couple of pints of Harveys, although had to remind the stressed young barman to give me back my change. Jess all cheerful on the birth of her first grandchild, and Andrew, newly retired and recovered from major heart ops this time last year, looked more ...

Liking the feeling that Thursday is the new Friday. Off to work in tired but happy mode, playing with poems on my laptop. The day okay, went for a mooch around at lunchtime and went to Moscow Road, where I used to go to the Moscow Arms back in the 80s, and now called the Phoenix. It was popular with all kinds of folks, including Aussies and Kiwis. I have a memory of going in there with friends I'd made when I worked at Casio Warehouse. One of the guys was a bearded Australian teacher on a gap year, who on entering the pub, which was rammed, simply had a pee against the fruit machine in the middle of the pub. I'd never seen anything like it.  Nobody seemed to notice either. Home and straight into The Evening Star, where I met Glen, over from Greece, and Richard and Steve, and a few other pals. A cheery evening, and my first drink in a pub for a few weeks, and fine real ales they were too. Good to see Glen and hear about Greek life. Also had a long and fascinating chat with Ste...

Hot as anything today. Woke to news of a nutter driving into a crowd of people outside a mosque in London, shouting that he wanted to kill all muslims. It is rioting weather. Spoke to Mum sweltering up in London. I worked on The Second Kind of Darkness then in the late afternoon walked off to the gym and did a sweaty workout. Obviously the air conditioning works a little in the changing room, but nothing in the actual gym. I did a fair workout though, and walked home again on the shady side of the street. Received a picture of a man pointing at a stepladder today from Beth, the caption being, you're not my real ladder!  In the walked back to the Evening Star (Lorraine stuck in a late meeting) where I met Glen, Steve and Richard, and Glen's pleasant brother and his pleasant girlfriend. Had all manner of nice chats and drank cold beer. I was not going to drink this week, a firm resolution that was dead by the end of the day. Richard plotting some new political bet, an accu...

In a strange state of mind, very tired and I look haggard, but poems are pouring out of me at the moment. Only time will tell if they are any good. Just had my head down all day.  Preoccupied with Mason at the moment too. Spoke to Mum in the morning and later. Was phoned by the hospital to say Mas was being moved from intensive care. In the evening, a delight, seeing The Shakespeare Heptet playing to a good sized audience, listening in rapt attention at St Mary's Church in Kemptown. Lots of chums in the audience, including Glenn over from Greece, we chatted to him and Steve Cartwright, and Maria-Grazia Richard's wife and Claudius. Lorraine also spreading out on the tables flyers for the Christmas play.  It was very atmospheric, and the band though a bit nervous at first played beautifully. They've also taken to projecting the sonnets onto the wall so you get to really dwell on the poems as you listen to the music.  Then Lorraine and I walked with Steve and Mari...