under another sun

Up blearily early thanks to the cats. Unaccountably worried that I had offended people with the play. But realised that I was simply being paranoid, and experiencing the post show weirdness. Quick catch up with Mum.  Then made breakfast for myself and Lorraine, then we had to get up to drive to the Marly to collect the props. Some scuffing about there, before I walked uphill across town carrying the hatstand and two chairs, trying not to lance shoppers in the North Laine. Not something I'd recommend with a hangover. Dropped them back to the Duke of Wellington with thanks and sauntered gingerly home. Devoted much of the rest of the day to doing as little as possible. Lorraine off having her hair cut, and then doing a spot of Christmas Shopping. In the evening off in steady rain to meet Anton and Mari for dinner in the Sussex Yeoman. Braved one of their nice burgers. Lorraine and I really enjoyed meeting Mari again, and having a relaxing evening. She has managed to expose Anton...

Less nervy today, although naturally nerves started at around 5pm. A taxi with James and Lorraine to The Marlborough, which was packed and had people conducting some kind of a Christmas Gift auction downstairs. More people tonight, and the room felt very full.  Catherine and Tanya and Steve Cartwright, Rosie and Innis were all there. A big day for Beth as Gary was there with Sophie, having been unable to see her during the Festival.  Emily and Eliza, two of her university besties came too. John came tonight too. The show went excellently. Less nervy than yesterday, and always fascinating to see how different audiences react to the same play. They really tuned into the dark side for the final section of A Glass of Nothing . Beth really on point tonight. Spectacular. Very proud of her and Dylan, Kitty and James. I couldn't have asked more of them, and they consistently did better than I imagined they could. Sad that we were done after just two nights. I have to get my thinki...

A bit of a limbo during the day. I slept this afternoon for an hour, and otherwise pottered about not doing too much of anything, other than wasting time humble bragging on Facebook, in an attempt to get more people through the door tonight. Lovely Lorraine arrived home early and she, James and I cabbed down to The Marly for six. Dylan, Beth and Kitty already there. Lurked in the green room a bit, and then as soon as we could get into the theatre, boshed in and set up rapidly. Bloody great white flats left in the room, and we had to dissemble them with the help of Marly folks before the seats could be done. A bit of nervous hanging around beforehand. Went to sit in the bar, nursing a half-pint. I met Ptolemy who Beth has taught, and had brought a posse of his drama A level class with him, having seen A Glass of Nothing earlier in the year. He congratulated me on the writing, and Beth says he can recite bits of the play. A very promising 16 year old I think, who clearly has marvellou...

Up early and doing few bits in a somewhat unfocused fashion. Then the afternoon spent in our last rehearsal in the Duke of Welly, before walking across town carrying a hatstand, (kindly lent us by the folks in the Duke of Wellington) down to the Marlborough. A supper of sorts in Starbucks, because it was near and we needed food, then a first dress rehearsal in the Marlborough. Spoke briefly to David and Tariq who were both there. First time I'd been in the theatre there for some time. The stage has been enlarged, and the old sticky carpet taken up and it's come up trumps. A good rehearsal, and we finished up at 9:45, and had a quick drink downstairs in the Marlborough's bar with Beth and James, having a wee in the urinal of the gender-free toilet. The Marlborough is mainly a lesbian pub serving vegan food, and has a good atmosphere, but I can't help feeling a bit of an interloper there sometimes, but I must remember this is the third time I have written stuff which ...

Cavorting at the Marlborough After popping by Matt's place this morning to collect a turntable for Sam's birthday, off to the seafront this morning with Mum and Mas, where we had a big breakfast outside at the Meeting Place cafe between Brighton and Hove. Beautiful sea with white horses, and striations of darker blue under the clouds. An effect I was enjoying till Mason pointed at the darker horizon and said this is exactly what a tsunami would look like. Then to an art shop in Hove that Mum knew of. She floated happily about the aisles and I found myself buying some oil pastels, which I have never used before, imagining fondly that I would have time to use them. At lunchtime the changing of the guard, with Maureen and Pat arriving from Kent. And Lorraine and I took both sets of parents off to The Battle of Trafalgar and a jolly little drink before it was time for Mum and Mase to return to London. Shortly after I went to the theatre. Everyone more calm today. Beck...

Bowling along Calling mortgage people this morning, gathering information about my next moves. Otherwise there seems loads to be done and for one reason or another I can do none of it and am feeling very frustrated. Lorraine working from home on the desk next to me which was nice though, despite me feeling I was sending out waves of tetchiness. In fact I was in a poor mood all day, although I had a pleasant interlude walking through Preston Park to Brighton bowls club, sat on a little bench by a sunken bowling green and watched as four highly-competitive games were in progress between the home team and a visiting one. Something almost zen-like about the bowls rolling gently up and down the green, and the sagacious nods and murmurs of the uniformly grey-haired players in their bowling whites. In the evening off to the Marlborough theatre, left the costumes there and Mark, Beth, Callum and Becky sorted the lighting out, with the stylish Tarik clambering up ladders to tweak the li...