under another sun

At work on Gordon Road first thing. Lots to digest and think about after my conversations with Charlotte and Steve but feeling optimistic that I could sort it. Lorraine zoomed off to Eastbourne to do a morning's pottery. At elven I was collected by Yvonne and we hopped into her mini and went to Mamoosh in Newhaven. A good chat and some coffee. She's full of good advice about grandchildren and the importance of dinosaurs. Apparently her two grandsons do a good deal of roaring when they come back from the Dinosaur Safari, at nearby Paradise Park in Newhaven.  In the afternoon Lorraine and I pressed on with sorting out the spare room, so it works as a guest room and  as Lorraine's knitting and sewing domain.  In the evening to Brighton where I met Anton at the Signalman. And a curate's egg of news to catch up on. We also talked about AI. Anton apprehensive about how it will develop. Then we nostalgically popped into the Joker and had some chicken wings -- sadly not the ...

Russia invaded Ukraine. I was completely wrong, and thought Putin was bluffing. Horrible business. Such a vacuum of democratic leadership he thinks nobody will do much.  On the domestic front, Lorraine and I enjoyably pottering about at home most of the day. We popped into Lidl for some shopping, and also went to speak to the people at the local storage firm called Cinch, and put down a deposit on a lockup.   I went for beer with Anton tonight. Met in The Park Crescent, a bit of a tucked away locals pub, where we had a drink on February 12th 2020, 743 days ago as Anton said, shortly before the first lockdown. A kind of reboot which felt fitting now that many of the special measures taken by the government have now been lifted. It even, to the delight of Anton, had an Avengers themed pinball machine, with the heroic pricing of a quid a game.  Lots to chat about. Headed from there to the Joker where we ate a really sloppily cheesy chicken burger, and then made off to the Fr...

Up early working on some stuff for my French pals, on the pitch I have been working on them with for the first few hours. Lorraine having a lie in this morning, still feeling a bit pants. She went in later, after I went with her to the costume place and picked up the Santa costume for Saturday. I pushed on with some of my own writing, and did a few more bits of my own work.  Lorraine was at a Governors meeting tonight, and Betty working late. I met Anton in the Joker and had some wings (alas, no longer woof-woofs) and then had a couple of drinks in the Battle of Trafalgar, gradually putting the world to rights. Told Anton about The History of English podcast I have been listening to having been tipped off on it by John up in the Cotswolds. Very absorbing. Listening to bits on the IndoEuropean roots of English. Excellent. Below. Myself in the costume place trying on a Santa hat. Red is so not my colour.

Lorraine enjoying not getting up. I sprang out of bed at a modest 6:30. Running down the hill to commute, tinkering with poems about Chad still. Work. Stroll at lunch. Work, but home early as there wasn't much to do.  Robbie, who is working in the same office as me sporting black eyes having been head butted in a pub at the weekend. He seems philosophical about it. Met Anton and Lorraine in the Joker. Slow service and no longer woof woof wings, but we still had a nice time chatting and fell hungrily on the food when it arrived. Nice to be out with Lorraine too, and weasel Anton out, who appears to be living a hermetic life at the moment. My Godbairns have been bought a dog by their mother. Anton a famous loather of dogs. Fond farewells, then Lorraine and I walked home and soon into bed. A brief stroll in Hyde Park under a spitting overcast sky at lunchtime. Spring seems overdue now. Hadn't noticed these bear cubs before near the Italian Gardens.

A bit of a lie-in this morning. Both of us with a backlog of tiredness. The more I feel I give into it, the more tired I feel. The answer is to do things. Lorraine and I went off into town doing a bit of shopping, and generally pleasantly drifting about in town. She bought a matching top and trousers, from the shop opposite Gars where we had been yesterday and were lured by a sage green top. Before that Lorraine had to return something in Primark. I have only been in there a few times, although everyone seems to go there these days, with varying degrees of irony. Then we went into C&H fabrics where Lorraine looked at fabrics, and I looked at judgmental plastic horses in the small toy section. After our shopping done, and a cup of coffee drunk (a freebie, as Lorraine had a Costa card given to her at school), Lorraine and I went to The Joker. Here I spoke to Mum, and Lorraine and I and ate some woof woof wings and had a long chat, before we slipped into the Cinema to see The Ghost ...

Cold this morning on the platform, and very reluctantly off to work today. Finished listening as an audiobook to  The Imaginary Girlfriend , a short memoir by John Irving today. Lots of stuff to do with wrestling in it. Then started listening to The Power, by Naomi Alderman, who is friends with Margaret Atwood and it is rather a good novel. Went into work this morning like I was entering a ring. Unexpectedly, however, the day was fine, and the vileness of yesterday abated, and Keith and I were simply allowed to get on with our work. I walked around in Russell Square at lunch and called Mum, who could hear as I was talking to her a strange cacophony of squeakers, a vuvuzela and drums from over the hedge when I was there, and it turned out to be a security guard's protest outside the university. Was able to leave work on time and meet Anton in the evening at The Joker for some beers and woof-woof wings and generally to put the world to rights. Great to see Anton, though much w...

Worked from early in the day on the Skelly MS. In the afternoon Beth and I started looking at material to do with Edinburgh, and also I got in touch with Ruth, Matt's pal in Edinburgh. Lorraine sore throaty this morning, and I have been a bit underpowered. However I forced myself to to the gym, if only to keep the routine going. I did a bit of stuff there, showered and had a cup of coffee in Starbucks and finished a long letter to Tracey in California. Then to the Joker to meet Anton for their three-for-two Wednesday plates of Woof-Woof wings. The place quite crowded. Good to see him there, and chat about books, and life and so on. I also learned that the Lush voucher I'd bought Klaudia necessitated him having to spend hours on Boxing day buying bath bombs and stuff with my lovely Goddaughter. And the book on film making I bought Oskar went down well too. Anton taking a photo of the Viper Wall of Flame. The Vipers have become a bit of a legend with some of his pals.

Lorraine and I finding it difficult to get up this morning. The sore throat from hell seemed to be trying to stage yet another comeback. However Lorraine and I had a really nice day. A bit of gardening, mowed the lawn and Lorraine poked in a few plants. We then sprawled about doing little. I slept heavily for an hour this afternoon. At tea time we walked down to the Joker (in the rain obviously, berghaus lost in Bedford) where we met Anton, Anne, Klaudia and Oskar as a belated celebration of Anton's birthday. Got off to a bit of a sticky start as when we arrived a party of 56 French people had turned up and so every seat was taken. They all left after about half an hour, mercifully so we were able to get seats and baskets of wings. I had the usual woof woofs. Heard the astonishing tale of Anton's head injury while in Bulgaria with Anne and Klaudia and Oskar. He'd been going down complex slides into the various pools of the resort all day. On the last go, with Klaudia th...

Up early and off to Brighton station in a cab with Beth. I went there to meet Anton and go for a walk, Betty off to London to celebrate John's mum's birthday. We got there early, but Anton was earlier of course. Got the train up to Balcome, bemoaning Brexit and so on. You'd think a July walk would be sunlit and warm, but a low drizzling cloudy rain accompanied us for our walk of about three hours. A nice walk it was too, and only one incident when one our various phobias were triggered. This time it was Anton avoiding a field packed with fairly solid looking cows. We walked along the field next to it, but eventually had to return to the cow field. I simply walked through the gate and had to coax Anton through it who was already getting entangled in  barbed wire having sought an implausible route through a hedge. Rained finely but steadily durning the walk, which ended up around the Ardingly Reservoir, which was full. The last time we'd passed there I think was just ...

Heard from Mum today that Mason has been released back into the wild for a while, before he starts  his operations in a week or so. Must be great to be at home after being in a Kafkaesque limbo for so long. Up fairly early this morning as Lorraine had a hair appointment. I went off to the gym (pausing at the Brighton Tavern to hand back a Stars and Stripes that Lorraine borrowed for a Beth performance) where I did manly sweaty things for some time, and had a shower there. Then to the Starbucks to work for a bit. Starbucks is reprehensible for all kinds of reasons, but it is the place I find easiest to work in. Then I met up with a sleek haired Lorraine and soon we jumped on a bus to Fiveways where Lorraine was drawn like a bee to a flower to the shop called Preloved , a posh second hand shop full of designer ladies clothes. They sat me down and Lorraine ended up buying four items. Rather good stuff there. The rest of the afternoon rather slothful, before we roused ourselves to ...

Keeping in touch with Mum today as Mason is in hospital, Mum and Mas having phoned up 111 and being advised to go to accident and emergency. He seems reasonably relaxed about it all, and didn't want her to visit. Obviously a bit worrying, but he's in good hands at least. I went to the gym and spent the day working on things dictated by the great mind map of destiny. Speaking to Betty today about the play, and her pal Sarah apparently loved it, and wants to direct Beth in it. Things like this are making me feel good about the play. So pleased Beth and I got the ball rolling on this. In the afternoon a nice interlude with Anton in The Joker, eating our 3 for 2 deal on woof woof wings, and sinking a few beers and generally putting the world to rights. Anton showing me stages of the great coastal walk he is embarking on, and assuaging Mum's concerns that it won't all be walking. Fiery-mouthed we walked up to the Shakey Head for another quick beer, as we'd not be...

Up early and working at my desk. Still feeling a residue of edginess which is abating slowly. It is one of those rare moments in life when all I want to do is work on poems, and lo! I have time to work on poems. If only life was this simple more often. Started working on the poems I'd started about Chad, but I have such negative feelings (after the recent Nazgûl's wing work episode) that it's not easy. To the gym this afternoon, and quite enjoyed myself on the cross trainer and rowing machine. The last few times I've been listening to podcasts. Actually listening to music is much better. My mind wanders and relaxes, and the beat makes me go at more of a clip. As I was leaving I met someone who'd been at the poetry workshop, in one of those awkward, I now your face but this is the wrong context so I have no idea who you are moments. The second time this month this has happened to me. The noble Kenny visage is easily forgettable it seems. Chatting to Beth this after...

Another fruitful writing day, and also tweaking the script a bit with Beth. Gingerly off to the gym for another a small sesh. Am getting back into it very gingerly, and am feeling very unfit. A man came this afternoon to assess the damage caused by our flood. Went round the house talking into his phone, and said that of course the insurance doesn't actually cover the thing that leaked only the damage caused by the thing that leaked. A nice chap, but I have a deep distrust of the insurance business, and tend not to bother with it, figuring that when something does happen, it will never repay the amount of money you pump into the insurance in the first place. Didn't see much of my wife today, who had a lively day in school with one of the children taken off in an ambulance (but was okay later). All grist to the mill for a head teacher I suppose. In the evening went down to The Joker to meet Anton and consume copious amounts of woof woof wings and a surprising amount of beer...

A happy day. Re-hanging pictures in the main room. L & I using calculations and precise measurements. Time to take in the carpet, which we are both well pleased with in terms of colour. It also makes the room noticeably warmer and larger seeming. A few other bits and pieces done, a much needed low-key day. In the evening Dawn came around and we sauntered down to the Joker to meet Anton. Feeling suddenly stressed and horrid when I got there, but a chat with Anton and a glass of beer soon rectified all this. Great to see Anton and Dawn although the Joker a bit elbowy and busy it being January payday Friday. Although Dawn assertively got a free round of drinks while we were waiting and also got the DJ to turn down the music. Takes some skill to be able to select only mediocre soul music from the 70s. After we had sufficiently burny mouths (Anton and I had Woof Woof Wings), back to the Preston Park Tavern for an final drink before going home.

Working from early this morning on DRTV scripts, and pinging these off by midday. Loafed about a bit early afternoon before walking off to  pop a prescription into the quacks, where the friendly nurse there said she was pleased to see I'd survived Chad, and pop into see Janet and Ken. Nice to see them and be able to colourfully describe my recent adventures, as well as discuss the recent Canadian election. I suspect that in a few months, my exploits will have reached novel length and my heroic part in proceedings will loom large. As I was there consuming my own bodyweight in shortbread and biscuits their upholsterer arrived, and I ended up helping him carry in their sofa completely recovered and as good as new. Walked back home again, doing more walking than I have for some time. Then, in the evening, off to The Joker to have some Woof Woof Wings and a few cold beers with Anton, who came straight from work in London. The Woof Woof Wings provided a pleasant burning sensation, wi...

So up bright and early this morning, and down to Preston Circus to meet Anton, dapper in his grey and black walking gear. Onto a bus and into the country. Anton had selected a PK pleasing route of mild mannered woodland walks to break me back into it gently. Lovely to be back in the beautiful English countryside near Lower Beeding and hear the wind blowing through the trees. I love that sound, and it always makes me think of walking to Icart Point. Naturally the second we set off on the path it began to spit with rain, but this cleared instantly and it was a perfect walking morning. We stopped in a pub after an hour or so, had a bottle of sparkling water, and shared an exemplary sausage baguette Anton had made. Then more walking, Anton who has been weirdly running most days lately, springing up hills like Tumnus the Faun as I laboured after him. At one point we passed some shifty looking men and a little boy crouching by a pond with a rife and silencer, illegally after ducks. Event...

A quiet day at Kenny Towers. Lorraine and Beth rebooting the diet and involved in lengthy mathematical discussions about targets, calories and weights and driving off to buy special foods. I indulged in the luxury of yet another afternoon sleep. This pesky chest infection is very draining. In the evening however I rallied magnificently and sauntered down to the nearby Preston Park Tavern where, eventually, I met Anton, both of us in the pub for ten minutes without actually seeing each other. Excellent to see Anton of course after his trips to the US and Bulgaria and ours to Greece. He bore dispiriting news, however. He has taken up running. He takes every opportunity he can to run everywhere now. He goes down to the seafront to run every morning, he runs to the bakers and the shops. He was looking fit and springy and tanned, from a enjoyable holiday among friendly, hospitable Bulgarians on the Black Sea coast. All the silent sullen ones must have convened at the Hotel Kamelia. From...

Another poor night's sleep, but slept in a little. Downstairs for leisurely cups of tea and coffee with Mum and Mas. Over breakfast, I was sent a lead from a friend for a client I'd love to work with, but as I followed it up during the day the opportunity had evaporated, still an interesting new contact. Ate toast chatted to Mas about his latest project which involves desalination of water, and mum gave me a lemon scented geranium, and drove me off to Mill Hill Station. The plant smelling lovely all the way down to Brighton. Home fairly straightforwardly and back to work this afternoon, but not before eating a bowl of miso and noodle soup in the garden. There is a purple lilac tree at the bottom of the neighbour's garden which overhangs ours, and it is scented and gorgeous. The plants we put in the other day have survived, thanks to Lorraine putting in cat baffles such as circles cut from plastic bottles into the ground. Lorraine and Beth both out this evening, so when ...