under another sun

Lorraine  off to Basingstoke this morning to see family and collect Beth. I sloped off to the Christmas Fair at St Nicolas Church. Janet had a stall the first one you saw on entering selling some of her fabric work. Spent an hour or so lurking with her and Ken, and catching up on gossip, drinking tea and nibbling at a star-shaped biscuit as people milled about in the church, and prize draws were conducted and a father christmas made an appearance from time to time. Sloped down the hill into town with the idea of doing some shopping. Matt called and so instead I found myself in the Foundry drinking a creditable pint of Landlord with him. I have been avoiding boozes, however I decided to throw caution to the wind. Good chat with Matt, who is in a period of creative flux. In the evening off to the Great Eastern to meet Anton. The pub was very crowded, but there were wafts of astonishing reek. I knocked someone's jacket from the back of a barstool as I squeezed through and picking ...

Excitement at Sticky Mikes Feeling more cheery. Worked hard sorting out my accounts so I can fish around for mortgages armed with up to date accounts. Turns out in the last tax year I earned a reasonable amount of money. This means lots of tax to pay this year though, which has been a bit leaner. Did a spot of work for the agency too. The French Bloke's younger sister died. He put a note on facebook and I duly sent my condolences. He knew it was coming, but that makes it no easier. Put my own peeves into perspective. In the evening, went out. I met Anton in the Great Eastern. Anton helpfully told me to put my deafness down to old age. And from there we set off jauntily to a club called Sticky Mikes. The Hi-Sides were playing there, and it was good to see John, Rick and Pete and see that their sheer exuberance of playing still communicates itself. Having a deaf ear was almost an advantage in the noise of the club when the rock bands started. After the Hi-Sides there was a young thre...

Survival Skills Read a chunk of Skulduggery Pleasant and felt relieved that it is a long way away from Skelton Yawngrave. But it's good to know what the Derek Landy book is doing to overcome objections. Working on the Skelton short story, but my writing brain is slightly scrambled. Very hard work, but I am getting there. Off to the gym this afternoon, which was a good antidote to the slight frustration that was building up in me. Richard on BBC Radio Ulster this evening. He read his exellent poem Survival Skills from A Guernsey Double and plugged the Guernsey Literary Festival. Felt proud of him. Popped up the road to talk to Anton this evening, who has had an idea about pub maps. Also nice to hear a few tracks from The Hi Sides CD. Nice to hang out and chat, and when Anna had returned, we popped out for a mug of ale in The Good Companions . This now a nice pub, once having been a horrid one. Home and Lorraine was staying having been out with her singing Hullaballo pals. An earl...

A small escape Up early to write some advertising copy for the region of Alsace. I make it sound top, must go there one day. Then back to skeletons before going off to the gym. I have been working 14 hour days the last two days, so I needed an escape from my desk. Help was at hand. Lorraine and I went down to the seafront to score our The Great Escape wristbands, which you wear for three days, and they give you entrance to dozens of venues in town. Tonight we went to a club called Digital where we met a cheery Sam. Had a couple of cans of Red Stripe beer, feeling rather rock and rollish, especially when we bumped into Rick and Pete from the Hi-Sides who'd come to see Evan Dando. Enjoyed hanging with popstar mates (and got a small insight into First Matie's early years). Not talked to Pete before, a likeable guy from near Boston. Lorraine meanwhile in her element. She likes nothing more than going to gigs. As for the bands - This Tawdry Affair were unsigned and had an interest...

Blindsided by The Hi-Sides. A chilled day. Cat perfecting a new waking technique, which is simply to lean heavily on your head rather than stand on it. First day for ages in which I had not had to work, apart from preparing a couple of invoices, which is simply cheery. Had a bit of hangover this morning. I am a terribly lightweight drinker these days. Off this evening with Anton and Lorraine to see The Hi-Sides at The Hope. This is the band formed by Rick and Jon who I met a few years ago through Anton, plus a bassist called Pete. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but they were hugely enjoyable and seemed to mean business. Lots of good songs written by Rick, and the on-stage chemistry between them was great. Jon thundering away at the drums radiating sheer pleasure. They were at the foot of the bill because they have only just started but well worth checking out. See the The Hi-Sides myspace site. I find it really inspiring when people I know get up and turn it on. Brilliant stuf...