under another sun

A really nice day today, spent with Lorraine. We walked into town where I got a new tan coloured watch strap, to compliment the green face of my nice watch, and Lorraine looked at clothes and shoes and so on. As we were mooching about, I kept noticing young women with botoxed faces to give them trout pouts. To me this intervention makes otherwise attractive people look a bit gormless. We went to giggling squid together for a lunchtime snack and there was a frozen faced woman in there, whose lips were so bloated that she could only eat without her mouth open. In the evening off to Bolney, to the village hall, where a charity evening had been set up on behalf of Hope House Haiti . Bolney has a strong link with this charity. A fun night, with tropical flavours, and about 150 people wearing garlands, and tropical clothes. Really nice Caribbean food too, such as goat curry, ('made with lamb because we couldn't catch the goats'), rice and peas, jerk chicken, and a chilli hot an...

I made us breakfast in bed this morning, nipping out to the Choice Cuts around the corner, before heading back upstairs with Egg and Bacon sandwiches and more tea. Lorraine has a cold. Looking at the wallpapering that Cass has done in the big bedroom. I like the colour. Eventually we got up, and drove into town. It was raining. We bought some paint for the other bedroom, and then went to where Beth was teaching to pick up my Santa clothes for when I get home after being in Vienna. Then a spot of shopping, and returned home. An interlude of doing little on the gold sofa, before I caught the bus and went to visit Janet and Ken. I bought some brownies from a butcher's at the top of second avenue. Some amazing pies in there, and the brownies were great. A good chat cups of tea and brownies with Janet and I very pleased to see Ken at home, who seems in good spirits. Janet is about to buy herself a Honda Jazz. I like the idea of Janet driving about in a Jazz. Having seen Janet an...

Slept deeply and I woke feeling restored, and energetic, springing downstairs to feed the cats and return to bed armed with large cups of tea. After we'd dragged ourselves out of bed, we set about tackling aromatic laundry from our cases and taking hot showers. Weirdly for an August bank holiday, it was gloriously sunny and hot. In the afternoon Lorraine and I walked over the hill to Hove. A longer, hotter and sweatier walk than we'd anticipated. We found Beth and John basking on the beach. John, brilliant man that he is, produced two cans of cold lager. It was an absolutely glorious afternoon. Beth and John soon in the water, and having no swimmies, Lorraine and I paddled about a bit. The water was very warm at the surface. After this we found ourselves in The Giggling Squid in Hove, strapping on a Thai nosebag. Really nice food, and a cheery evening. Then after saying farewell to John, and the rest of us took a cab home. Below a shot into the sun with my phone; Beth car...

Up early on Saturday feeling the need to write something. Not much happening but the will is there. Returned to bed armed with tea later, and simply fell asleep again. A stormy night and morning in Brighton. The second story on my Guardian iPhone app after more on the Charlie Hebdo attacks, was that that two men had been swept out to sea at Brighton. At the end of the evening, Dawn contacted Lorraine to say that one of the men was their friend Helen's son Freddie. Lorraine extremely upset about this. Having met Helen several times I felt awful for her too. Freddie had gone into the sea to save a friend who was in trouble and they were both lost in what had been a force 9 gale. This a sad end to a nice day, Lorraine and I having returned from a date night locally in the Preston Park Tavern, having some food and a drink. I'd spent the morning pottering about, having slept fairly well and then went into town to meet Lorraine who'd got up early to have her hair done. As usual...

Second day of Lorraine's holiday, and lots of business to be done. I got up early and worked for a couple of hours quite productively on the book before we zoomed into town. The most important business of the day was to go to Brighton Town Hall to talk to the registrars and officially book our wedding, show birth certificates, passports, divorce papers and so on. Also had a separate interview to make sure it was not going to be a fake marriage. We also went to the venue for the reception and booked that sucker, then stopped in at the printers to get the wee invite printed. Also managed to look at a few hotels to get an idea of prices for potential guests. In The Ship Hotel we let a lady go before us at reception, a lovely older Welsh lady who was asking for a Bible in her room, as she had left her one at home. Also looked at wedding bands in windows, but by then I was getting a nosebleed and as there is so much choice in the Old Lanes it made me feel like my head was exploding....

Gingerly up after showering I wandered into the balmy morning around to Arkwrights to buys some bread and eggs. Stepping out an hour or so later, after Quorn sausage sandwiches and much conversation Jane, Lorraine were greeted by the first drops of unrelenting rain. Showing people around Brighton in torrents a familiar scenario dating from when Romy and Toby came last year. We walked into town, popping into St Bartholomew's church to wonder at the Italianate design and the vast upside down ark space of the church. Jane really liked this. Then to the Museum to see the Biba exhibition, which had been on there for some time and I had skilfully avoided. Actually rather more interesting than I thought it was going to be, especially when viewed with the perspective of how much the clothes reminded me of the work of Dr Seuss. Particularly taken with a hat with holes instead of dots. The clothes displays catnip to Jane and Lorraine. Off then to Specsavers where Lorraine and I picked up...

Lorraine off and having a haircut and made honey-coloured. Every time she goes to Paul her hairdresser at the moment, her hair is longer than it was before she went in. I met her in town and after some minimal shopping we made off to The Giggling Squid for light platters: Starving Squid and a Hungry Squid, neither of which had squid in it, but were full of tasty Thai loveliness anyway. We were looking down at a fat superman across the way smoking a disconsolate cigarette, as his Batman sidekick kept at it. They were chuggers, and we felt for them. Then off to collect two pictures we'd had framed, and home for a quiet but pleasant evening in.

July and the drought continues. Today the rain relented only for an hour or so, and Toby and Romy set off among the bedraggled denizens of Brighton. I joined them later at the Marwood for a cup of coffee, and then, taking advantage of a slight brightening of the clouds we scurried onto Brighton Pier where it began to rain again. Romy said that it reminded her of places in Japan. Then off to The Giggling Squid for a pleasant lunch.  It has been wonderful to spend a couple of days talking to Toby and Romy. Then rain dodging through the lush Pavilion Gardens to the Brighton Museum. Am really beginning to warm to its eclectic collection, we spent some time happily drifting in there. On the way home, Toby suggested we go into St Bartholomew's Church , which I'd never been to before, despite its huge and austere brick presence in the New England quarter. It has an extraordinarily lofty interior, making you feel ant-like (in a pleasant, spiritually-uplifting way) as you walk in. ...

A day's holiday Spent hours wandering about in the sun with Lorraine. Across to Hove town hall to buy parking vouchers. Sauntering through parks and backstreets while I told the lucky Lorraine the entire story of The End of the Affair . Under my straw hat, found myself feeling as if I were on holiday, and more relaxed than I have been for weeks. The summer suck may be over. We went into the Gallery cafe where Wayne was working, and as they weren't too busy spent time chatting to him sipping coffee and elderflower and apple juice, and falling into conversation with a Hungarian woman who was showing Wayne her art photographs. Wayne is one of those people who makes you feel at home and welcome, and as the sun streamed through the windows the impression of being on holiday was magnified. Milled back into Brighton, via paint shops, to The Giggling Squid Thai restaurant, laughing it up over a cheap and tasty light lunch. Then returned to the Old Church Hall where I shall be moving ...

Strolling about Mum, who had been drinking wine steadily last night as she chatted to everyone, was bright as a button this morning. Her #1 son in contrast felt rather shabby. Things improved with a large bowl of muesli and a refreshing walk by the sea. Stopped at The Meeting Place for a reviving cup of tea in the sun looking at the sea and dogs hurtling about over the pebbles. As we did this I completely forgot to help Betty remove the props from the theatre. Luckily she managed it on her own and forgave me. Later after walking back into Brighton lunched at The Giggling Squid. Rather nice Thai tapas and fruit juice, with an entertaining gurning baby on the next table. Home, and I escorted Mum back to the station (due to a Police request) and made sure she boarded the London train. In the evening strolled down to Lorraine's house. Let myself in to find Lorraine, Pat and Maureen all asleep on the sofa. Out soon for a curry (diet starts again next week) with Pat and Maureen, Lorrai...