under another sun

I had rather a brilliant morning's work, despite chatting with Sylwia and Simon who is doing up our summer house and having to cope with ants. A nice chat with him. He's had a remarkable one knee and two hip replacements. He was also an olympic wrestler. Mostly I was cutting and being incredibly decisive on the manuscript. I cannot remember a time when I could see the problems and solutions so clearly. Lots of things falling into place in the manuscript. Early afternoon I went off to the gym, and did my physical jerks. Unfortunately I forgot to take my neoprene knee thingy, and my knee hurt quite a bit on the way home. Still all well.  Lorraine and I went off to The Old Boot where we met Steve, Delores, Patrick and Adele and Patrick, Chris and Julie. All very jolly. Lorraine and I ate salads and had some beer. I felt like I was celebrating having such a great day's writing. This sort of thing is hard to explain, but leaves you feeling rather elated.  

An early start at the poetic coalface. Then breakfast with Lorraine, and she went off to do Story Time. Sylwia here, very cheery she is. And Lorraine and her always kiss when she comes in. I melted away to the gym, hoping to get some physical jerks in before it got too hot. En route I called in at Melissa's to hand her a sketch back. I had daubed a D minus watercolour on a piece of paper she'd handed me, to discover  as I turned it over, I found there a sketch of a dog called Benji, a much loved hound Melissa has been commissioned to do a painting of it. Then bumped into Delores on the way to the gym, as she was entering the bicycle shop 'Hello darlings!'  I spent some time in the gym, then sloped home feeling cheery, and end of term-ish.  Lorraine and I made off to the Boot where we met, Steve, Guy and Barbara, and Yvonne. Brian on a pilgrimage walk with his pal ending up at Canterbury. God knows what his knees will be like. Finding myself enjoying the company of Guy a...

Lorraine off to do Story Time, I did some writing. Then Lorraine arrived with Beth Silwia still here and delighted to see the baby. We hung out in the garden for a while. Young Enzo well behaved and when not sleeping eating constantly.  Good to see with my own eyes how well Beth is doing. Later, I went out for a longish walk in the afternoon. A beautiful day, and I walked at northern edge of Seaford, sometimes on the edge of the fields. Gorgeous golden corn and a beautiful blue sky. In the evening, off to the Boot for food and. few drinks. Today Chris and his friend Julie, Andy, Guy, and Carole were there.  Below Enzo being burped, and the blue and gold of corn in glowing black and white.

Friday at last. However faffing about with the podcast, and Robin and I were only finally done with it at 5pm. Went for a bit of a walk down to the sea at some point. Also chatted with Mum. By the end of the day I was very grateful to see the end of it. Not all well however, the poet interview was a bit marred by the sound quality and sibilant esses. I did my best by adjusting the EQ on the Audacity program. The poet is a bit miffed that I did not choose to re-record parts of it. So felt like I had worked all week for not very much.  Stil... publish and be damned.  However it was Friday night and we went to The Old Boot. I had reserved a table but they had screwed it all up and we had to skip between tables, this compounded by a fair amount of rudeness from the staff. Very unusual there. All made me rather cross. Still we had a good night, and lots of pals turned up. Delores, Andy, Steve, Patrick, Debbie, Yvonne and Brian, and Chris -- recovered now from a scare yesterday caus...

Breakfast. Lorraine zooming off to do Story Time at the library, and take Pat and Maureen some fish and chips. A bright pleasant morning. Tobs and I went into the garden, and then went for a decent stroll by the sea. Passed Maureen and we waved at her. Then continued to Splash Point. There the sky, which had been steadily darkening, unleashed hail and icy rain on us quite enthusiastically. Stood dripping in a shelter for a bit, but ended up legging it back into town and going to a small cafe, one of those time travelling moments where you feel you have stepped back into the 1960. You are waved away from the counter, and when the person arrives, her first question is will we be paying together or separately. A quick beverage there, and then off to Pat and Maureen's place, where Lorraine was. Maureen on sparkly charming form, and both of them happy to see Toby. I don't think they've met him before -- but Maureen seems to think so. After a bit, Lorraine Toby and I made off and...

Worked really hard on the poem this morning, and in rewriting managed to completely wreck one of the sections. Felt somewhat cheesed off by this. I will have to give it a break and revisit when I can see the wood for the trees. Feeling a bit drained this afternoon. A cheery evening in The Old Boot Inn, however, celebrating Steve's 71st birthday in the Boot. Brian and Yvonne, Delores, Matthew, and Steve's Cameroonian pal Gilbert, who I met a couple of years ago. Gilbert had some interesting takes on politics. While I was there Toby called from DC. Following the news over here in Blighty, it seems what's going on in the US sounds like a dystopian novel. 

Able to do lots of my own writing -- and had some clear ideas to incorporate. Lorraine off to do Storytime, and see Pat and Maureen. Lorraine and I went out tonight to the Boot where we met, Steve, Patrick, Yvonne and Brian. An interlude of jollity and cheer. Lorraine and I ate there and then sloped home, leaving Patrick and Steve. A nice way to round off the week. The full moon over our house, when Lorraine and I got home.

Had an exceptionally good morning of writing, got up again at sevenish and went straight to my desk with a cup of tea. Wrote the first draft of a poem, I was very pleased with. Off in the car with Lorraine, after she had done with story time in the library, and we drove first to a house in Seaford, where the rum and gin distiller guy, and came away with a large bottle of rum for James's birthday, which is this weekend. Then to Portslade, to a gorgeous art shop there to buy a present for Adele whose birthday it is today.  Off to Dawn and Paul with Lorraine for lunch. There is a lovely country lane near them called Maudlin Lane, which I love the sound of. Sat outside in their lovely sloping garden in Bramber. Dawn and Paul seem really happy together -- and this is very heartwarming. Had a lovely and very healthy lunch, and then sat at the bottom of the garden, near their summerhouse where Paul does his meditation. We went off, Dawn giving us lots of cucumber plants she'd been giv...

Up in Edgware, having slept quite heavily. Breakfast with Mum, and I replaced our Friday list of things, with a new list of Mason related tasks now with fewer things on it. I researched couriering ashes to California. Eye-watering expenses, and nothing can be done till the death certificate is issued anyhow, and that won't be for months potentially. We drove off to Edgware and took seven big bags of clothes to the charity shop. While Mum finds this sad, there is at least the idea they are going to a very good cause. From there back home, and thence to The Waggon and Horses, arriving a bit later than usual, had lunch and some Guinness. Steve and Paul at the bar chatting to mum and I cheerily, and inviting her to sit with them next time she comes. Mum made me laugh mishearing on of the staff talking about duck wraps, as lab rats. Fond farewells with Mum, then I set off at 2:30. With assorted rail problems, having to go via Brighton, where I had to change to bus travel, it took me fou...

Up and Mum and I had breakfast and coffee, thus fortified, we contacted an administrative part of the US embassy with the notification of Mason's US social security ID and so on to turn off his pension. Mum, we think, will still get something from the US as his widow. Then we pottered about doing some sorting out in the kitchen. Wynford from next door popped in for a chat. At lunchtime, mum drove me to the Jolly Badger from where I walked to Mill Hill Broadway station. I watched mum zoom around the roundabout there with some elan.  Long journey home, feeling a bit braindead. No trains to Lewes, so had to go via Brighton. However the trip enlivened by discovering I had won a small pamphlet competition run by Hedgehog Press. It is a collaboration with Palo Almond -- four of her snowy images, and four poems from me in tanka style that were provoked by her work. I called it, perhaps in the spirit of calling a spade a spade, Snow . It's excellent as these little tanka poems don'...

Up early and preparing, then recording with Robin. Had lunch and felt very tired still, and my eyes a bit photosensitive. Decided to pop up for a nap, and woke up two hours later, feeling generally repaired.  In fact I rebooted the day... Lorraine and I off to The Old Boot Inn to celebrate Steve's birthday. He was there with his pal Mike from  the Netherlands. We had a couple of beers and strapped on the nosebag in the pub. I had a very decent chicken salad. We were joined later by his pal Gilbert -- a former lodger of Steve's back in his Brighton days, from Cameroon and a lovely bloke who now lives in Seaford. Then we were joined by Steve's pals Russell and Alison. A cheery evening. Lorraine left a bit earlier than me, to prepare for Rhyme Time tomorrow, and to be with Pat and Maureen. Home at a sensible time, with my top hat on fairly straight and true to watch a couple of episodes of Family Guy . Brian a trial at the moment. He is taking sneaky wees and the occasional po...

After breakfast, Lorraine off to meet Dawn in Bolney. Afterwards she went to Brighton to hang out with Rosie. I spent till 1:30pm laboriously concluding my edit of the most recent podcast interview -- took ages for some reason. Sent it off to Robin. In the afternoon and when the rain abated, I went off to the gym for the first time since I had injured my back. A quarter of an hour only on the cross trainer, and my back began to clench up. But this a big improvement on where I had been. I did some of my trademark mild-mannered weights and left. Still it felt good to have walked to the gym and back, and done something at least. Saw on Facebook that a copywriter I worked with twenty odd years ago, Barry, had died. Lots of people leaving messages. Lorraine home early this evening, and changed immediately into her PJs. Later in the evening I popped out to the Boot at nine, and saw a band there for an hour.  The bassist and harmonica player Stuart also play with the Sumerian Kyngs, so St...

Got up early to work on editing the podcast interview. Did this for a few hours. Lorraine zooming about with energy this morning doing lots of jobs. And after a few hours I tore myself away from the computer, and did some work in the garden with Lorraine, as it wasn't pouring with rain. Of limited use, as I'm still not able to bend very well, but enjoyed hacking at a rogue buddleia and moving some plastic water tanks which Lorraine filled with compost and so on. I also knelt, with great care, by the fishpond and removed overgrown weed, and leaves. The water felt cold.  After a spot of lunch, I mooched off to Baca, a little cafe nearby, to have coffee with Yvonne, who was nailing down details of me being Santa for their little grandsons. Yvonne said Brian had done it last time, but with his black moustache and false glasses he looked too sinister. The plan is that I shall slip over and Brian will take me into the shed to secretly try on their Santa outfit.   In the evening Lorr...

Got up early and did some writing of my own this morning. Lorraine off to her personal trainer in Bolney at lunchtime and then Ashford this afternoon. I went to the gym at lunchtime and loped home. Anton took a day off today, and ended a walk in Seaford -- his knee holding up well after its operation.  I met him this afternoon in the garden of The Old Boot Inn and then we went to The Cinque Ports where we played five games of pool in the back room. I mentioned Bob which I often do when thinking about pool, and Bob phoned mid game. Both of us had a chat with him. Went into Trawlers for a fish, chip and mushy peas supper. A cheeky in Steamworks, before Anton nipped onto the train. A fun afternoon. Lorraine off to Ashford this evening. I had a quiet night and went to bed early.

Working with Keith again. Another day I found stressful. Lorraine off to her personal trainer in the afternoon, then went around to see Rosie and had dinner with her in the Giggling Squid. Steve, who has been ill ventured back into the world today. I met him for an hour in The Old Boot Inn after work. Nice to throw off the desk manacles over a cheeky pint of mother in law. Steve mainly repaired. He blames the convention of harmonica players in Brighton he went to recently at the Brunswick, where he spent hours in a darkened room with lots of people wheezing through their mouth organs. Many were ill afterwards apparently.  Home at seven, and Lorraine arrived later. To bed, cheered by the idea that I have only one more day on the current job. Arranged to meet Anton on Friday, which I am greatly looking forward to. Star Trek Voyager with Lorraine, then bed.

Up early and working with Keith. Presentation at lunchtime went fine, despite us being a bit apprehensive about it. A fairly cheery afternoon. Finished work and Lorraine and I went to Morrisons and then we went to The Old Boot Inn for half an hour. I had a single beer there -- it was enough as I was quite shattered. But it was an important landmark, the first time I had been to a pub for two weeks. Felt a bit weird. Home and Lorraine made courgette fritters, and we had a sort of mezze with lots of picking bits. We watched an episode of Happy Valley, which is miserable and stressful, but well written. Just so happy that it is the weekend now. 

Japanese tea in bed, followed by English tea with milk and honey. Eventually we got up for breakfast and with a large side dish of grown up conversations about which plumber to use to replace our boiler. Then to the concrete bit at the bottom of the garden to bolt together things inside the glasshouse -- the bench and the metal frame to be used as a bed inside the structure. Still just above freezing, so lots of clothes layers needed. After an avocado based lunch,  Lorraine drove back to Ashford. Sorry to see her going again. I kissed her goodbye then went into the kitchen. The Alexa speaker suddenly came on of its own accord, with a voice talking about gut health. I opened the front door to say she was haunting me, but she had already left.   A walk along the seafront. Mixed feelings. A bit fed up that our January has not gone according to plan, and Lorraine and I have spent much of it apart. However, I decided to focus on the good things, such as being  grateful for bei...

Lorraine off to Ashford to see Maureen. When she arrived, having bought fish and chips, she discovered Maureen unwell, and took her off to the hospital. They spent the rest of the day there, but ECG and other readings were okay -- but eventually she was kept in overnight. A long day for Lorraine -- and Maureen disappointed not to be released back into the wild. I pottered about at home, had a chat with Mum, and then mooched off to Adele's house, via Morrisons to buy soft drinks, and the jewellers who replaced my watch battery for a mere £5.  At Adele's there was quite a collection of glass mates who had all brought food and so on - and as the event was a Secret Santa with people swapping gifts they had made -- Adele had put some Christmas music on. Adele, Sally, Rick (no longer) around the corner, Frances, Deana, and Jane. I found myself at the end of the long table, and the secret santa presents were distributed. Rick was on my left and started first and Deana who was on my ri...

Bright sunshine this morning. Made a huge difference. Lorraine and I got up and travelled off to the other side of town... In reality not far, but we walked down some back alleys and then caught a 12A which dropped us off near the cemetery. A bit of an adventure as we didn't know where the bus went. Picked up Lorraine's car, with its replacement door and drove back home. A pleasant sunny sort of day, mainly spent tidying the house. This house takes a lot of tidying. Lorraine talking to all sorts of family, and the hospital ward and so on. Maureen sounding more chirpy today, thankfully. In the evening we went to The Old Boot, where we met Steve for a quick bite of a decent, and decently priced burger, and then Lorraine and I went to the Seaford Film Club, where we met Adele and Patrick, Yvonne and Brian and watched Elvis by Baz Luhrmann. Where we sat with our pals on the back row. The theatre is called The Barn, and was completely full with about 100 people in the audience. Adel...

Another fine frosty morning. I mooched off to buy some bread first thing, then a bit of light tidying before before Penny and Steve called around, looked at the house sans boxes, and had coffee. As we left for town, we spoke to David next door. His front garden is now a cheery tableaux of assorted reindeers, a snowman a polar bear and Christmas trees and lots of other lights.  After a short walk by the sea, we went into Amy's kitchen. Penny specified she didn't want it spicy, and I said I liked spices. Penny's was red hot with chilli and mine was as mild mannered. Nevertheless really tasty. Penny refusing to make a fuss about the her meal.  After fond farewells, Lorraine and I made our way to the Crypt where we met up with Steve and Robin and Nick for the open mic poetry reading, with a guest poet called Louise Taylor who Robin knew who is a performance poet who delivered poems about food, especially cake, and the uselessness of men. The Seahaven open mic poets were often i...