under another sun

The gull on the roof still giving me dog's abuse whenever I set foot outside the house. Lorraine heard some peeping noises of a baby gull this morning, however.  Lorraine and I went off to Brighton this evening to see a movie called The Salt Path , with Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson at the Duke of York's. Nice to be in the cinema, and we quite enjoyed the film, which had the protagonists walking the coastal path in Cornwall and Devon, in bleak circumstances. They had been made homeless, had no money, and the husband had been diagnosed with a rare brain disease. It all ends well though. Gillian Anderson is very watchable even when looking bleak. After we went to the Shahi, where we'd not been for a long time together. Lorraine, especially, given a Queen's welcome by one of the staff who still remembered our orders. Felt happy to be in there again. Lots of memories in that restaurant. Home on the train.  Gillian Anderson in The Salt Path. And a cucumber flower.

Up and writing my new story, Kansas, again. Then off to the gym at lunchtime for a brief workout. Listening for a bit to the book about Anxiety, which is based on CBT, and in thinking about it found several mental pennies falling into place. It was a weirdly exhilarating feeling. Shortly after I got home from the gym, Lorraine collected Beth this afternoon and they drove off to Basingstoke to see Beth's granny Glenys who is in hospital having been a cause of concern the family. I have met Glenys a few times and have always been struck by what a quiet force for good she is.  Hopped on a train, after a lengthy search outside for Brian, and finding him in our lounge,  and got off at London Road to meet Anton in The Signalman. After saying howdy to Anton, I sauntered inside to the bar and they had a help yourself jug of water there, which I drank and had a protracted bout of choking. 'That's what you get when you drink water,, said the young guy next to me. Had a good time bask...

Back and head pain abating. A walk with Bleak House, some writing of my own, and generally feeling a good deal cheerier. Really happy this evening to receive a takeaway from The Shahi which L and I ate with glee. Beautiful tender chicken.  Lovely feedback about the interview with Charlotte too, and she seems happy too. Chatted with Mum and and Anton.  The only good thing about Lorraine going into school, is the fact it does give shape to our week. And it is possible to feel quite Fridayish on a Friday. Some snaps from today, the on the golf course, and two others walking home towards the sea. The last one out of one of the kitchen window. I just liked the colours in the clouds. 

Both Lorraine and I in need of quiet recovery time. And the weather was very wet. I did some more work for my French client in the afternoon. Lorraine doing cross stitch, and listening to music. Spoke to Toby, who was sitting looking at his garden which now looks very nice indeed in the sunshine. He was good, and pleased to be able to teach virtually, a bit strange looking at the screen instead of teenagers, but all good. In the evening Jess and Andrew came around, and we had a delivery meal from the Shahi. Had to wait ages for the delivery though. An enjoyable night, and I seemed to want to drink beers quite a bit. Nice to see them, as we had not met up since February. Between them they now have three grandchildren, all of which have emerged into the world recently. Andrew lost his sister this year however.  News today that Donald Trump is in hospital with Covid 19 -- a precautionary measure. While I think he is the poster boy for evil, I can't bring myself to wish him dead. Altho...

Finishing off the bits and bobs of work I was doing with Steve, who I still call Slug from time to time, as this was his very old nickname. Also talking to him at one point about his decade's long secret project The New Cow  featuring a back catalogue of dark ambient, synthesiser albums with titles like The Sea of Knobs , and Gothic Grotesque . The music is perfectly purgatorial. I have downloaded one and am toying with the possibility of using it for one of my horror story recordings. Otherwise a toddle along around Blaker's Park is all I managed. Finished work at 5:30, and thereupon sat in the garden with Lorraine, who was listening to an audiobook, and I listened to a bit more of Michael Collins  Carrying the Fire , sipping a cold beer and browsing on peanuts. Then a curry delivered by The Shahi Tandoori. Delicious. I have put on weight this week though. That tide must turn, if I don't throw away my good work from the last year.

A Friday that seemed entirely Fridayish! Lorraine had to go into work again today. Awake and working early, I had finished my jobs by 4:30, chatted to Mum, then went for a walk around the block, which ended in the purchase of some beers from the shop nearby. Luckily if you time these things right, you can whizz in and out while maintaining good distance. A bit of a queue outside which soon dissipated. The owner a tallish, possibly Sri Lankan guy seems quite cheery. Home with a bag of beers, I washed them in dilute bleach, as they may have been standing around in the squeezy little shop for a while. Then Beth and I sat about on the balcony, in the warm sun having beer. Lorraine home quite early. Beth had been extremely helpful this week as my social media adviser. And after a hectic few days it felt as if these beers were deserved. After getting a takeaway delivered from The Shahi, we played another game of Trivial Pursuit -- it is a recently updated version so the questions are qui...

A day of being on holiday, but in Brighton. Weighed myself this morning, and found I now weigh less than when I started the holiday, so back on track. Lorraine and I feeling relaxed, headed into town. L got a bit of shopping, and I went into the barbers, getting Stacy who cut my hair before L and I were married. Lorraine came and waited in the barbers, prompting Stacy to be even more perfectionist that usual. After this we sloped about trying to decide on a bite to eat, and ended up dropping into the Basketmakers, where we had a quick drink and a meal. It was nice to be there, as it is definitely the pub with the most associations for us in Brighton. Joe the barman was on, although he said he was just doing a shift to help out as he had become a recruitment consultant. After this, a spot more shopping and then we wandered back to the Duke of York's Picturehouse to see One upon a time in Hollywood , the new Tarantino movie. Both of us entertained by this, although there was plen...

A day of work in the garden. Finished digging up the lawn. Finally perfecting my spade technique with the last row or so. Then dragging bags of earth up through the front of the house and into the car, and off to the recycling centre near the racecourse.  Hard work. Sacks of earth are not light. Who knew? Home and the main job finished, Lorraine and I had hot showers on our aching backs, and luxuriated in a bit of a doze. Spoke to Toby on facetime, who is in Boston joining Romy for the weekend, who is on a short and prestigious business course in Harvard. Lorraine and I then sauntered down to the Shahi where we had a cheeky curry there, for the first time in ages, and enjoyed a couple of lagers. Sabir gave us a warm welcome, and everyone still remembers our orders. Walked home then, for a spot of match of the day. Chelsea not playing today, but poor Brighton, the Seagulls, got thumped  0-5 by their visitors Bournemouth, and are now teetering near the relegation zone.

A bit of solicitor related stuff this morning for me, and a few phone calls. Lorraine off to the dentist, then to see Jane, Laura's mum, for more reflexology. This seems to have a miraculous effect on Lorraine, she is all happy and balanced when she comes back from it. Also she has noticed that since the reflexology started she has been sleeping lots better.  I suggested we put Jane on speed dial. In the afternoon, I fell heavily asleep. After we sauntered down to the Cinema and watched A Star is Born . Not necessarily my usual cup of tea but it had such good reviews it seems a good idea. Lorraine and I found it a wonderful film, really great performances, and beautifully directed. Just marvellous. Lady Gaga was the female lead, and was brilliant. Quite pleased for her as she was mentioned in A Glass of Nothing a few times. I can spot 'em. We left the cinema past a young woman hyperventilating with a panic attack, but we were waved away by her sister. Passing The Shahi, t...

Alarms bleeping this morning in our room. Although I'd not slept well and nor had Lorraine. Up and dressed, and carried our cases quietly out of Las Casas de la Juderia, and into the street. Just gone seven in the morning, but Cordoba still sleepy and cool. We walked to the station, through the park and the occasional violet carpet of Jacaranda tree petals.  Our baggage scanned again in the station, and soon we were zooming off to Seville again. The trains leave exactly on time, and arrive exactly on time too. We arrived at the station at 8:40 and our flight was 9:50 so we didn't hang about. We zoomed outside, and fortunately found a taxi driver who agreed to drive us, despite Lorraine greeting him with 'adios!' Into the airport, and I felt very relieved that we were all sorted and through security with time to spare. Lorraine and I bought some Iberian ham and cheese rolls, and then boarded our plane. We were at the back row crammed into the twitching tail, despite th...

Up early for cat business. A cat kidnap of Calliope and Brian in the cat carrier, and into the boot of the Qashqai from where Calliope howled. Both good as gold at Top Cats, and tolerated being injected. They appear to be in good health. Home, howling slightly less frenziedly, with worming pills. A relaxed day afterwards. Lorraine and I decided to loaf for a bit. I worked on poems. Lorraine went off to have her induction done at the gym. I sent some poems out to three magazines, one online. Amazingly, I heard back from the online magazine called Amaryllis that evening, with an acceptance, which cheering. A nice evening. Once Lorraine back from having been inducted, we walked down to Preston Circus where we met Beth, fresh from her pals Milly and Ainsley's baby shower. We found Beth in the Hare & Hounds and had a drink before strapping on the nosebag at The Shahi, welcomed nicely as usual. Enjoyed catching up with Betty very much, and enjoyed the curry and beer very much too...

Up and out today. A gorgeous sunny spring day. After collecting a phone charger Dawn had left at a pal's house, off to Steyning to collet Dawn and Lorraine drove us to Chichester. Went to the Cathedral there which has a few gorgeous windows, and a window by Marc Chagall , which I didn't like very much, but that may have been because it had little light passing through it when we were there. A cup of coffee and an eccles cake for me in the cafe, and enjoyed chatting with Dawn and Lorraine. Dawn cheerful at present and has been dating a nice man. Chatting later it seems by coincidence that he has exactly the same birthday as me. Then we went to The Pallant House Art Gallery  which has a lot of twentieth English Art in it, some of it quite interesting. Several pieces by Graham Sutherland, a Lucien Freud and this piece by Ceri Richards I enjoyed . There was a big exhibition of Leonard Rosoman's work called Painting Theatre , which was interesting but brought out my inner Pl...

Woke up in Edgware late, and went down to find Mum and Mas up after the talkative carer had been. Dawdled over breakfast of coffee and toast, chatting. Mas sharing his opinions about the badness of tattoos among other things. With weird weather over the UK today, lightning, snow up north and heavy rain down south Lorraine and I left at around noon, after fond farewells with Mum and Mas, and we left clutching a bag of Christmas goodies. A slightly different route home cutting out a congested slice of the M25 pie. Despite heavy rain and water on the surface of the M25 we got home safely and the journey was much faster. For the first time in my life I had a conversation with Lorraine almost entirely in motorway numbers... yes we follow the M4 for a bit, then onto the M25, and head south on the M23. One day I will be able to talk to men at parties. Once we'd had a cup of tea at home, said hello to Sonia and thanked her for the cake she left us, made to her Bulgarian recipe. We buss...

A slow start. But eventually up to make breakfast. Rosie arrived as I was grilling things with a small dog called Ivor, which was Shitzu cross. I suggested it was crossed with a disappointing circus. Cats unimpressed. Out and doing some gardening, I cut the ivy hedge, which made my nose stream, mowed our tiny lawn and Lorraine and I pulled up a few weeds and tidied up generally and discussed things we’d like to do in the garden if only we had time.  Then off to the Duke of Welly, where we had our traditional rehearsal room where, armed with a camera and new tripod, we shot some bits for Beth’s show reel and possibly to turn into some kind of advertising for the Edinburgh show, which is all too soon. While there I got the migraine spangles, but after 20 minutes of messed up vision, felt not to much the worse for wear. So much so that after we left the pub garden, populated by a girl with blue hair and fishbelly white skin, Lorraine and I walked back, and stopped by the Shahi, a...

Best news of the day is that Sam and Jade have now officially announced their engagement. Lorraine and I are really chuffed about this, and Beth is too. Sam and Jade are coming for Christmas, so it will be a double celebration. In other news, an overdue billing session this morning, and I finally got my invoices up to date. Then set off to Farringdon to meet Mum at Barts. Mason now out of intensive care, and in a room of his own, close to the nursing station. He is still very tired, and falling asleep mid-sentence and then waking up with a disoriented start. Mum and I sat with him for a couple of hours, and then left. Had a one fast drink in the Butchers Hook and Cleaver, posh Pie and Ale pub, and then we walked to Farringdon. Mum bearing up well with the travelling and visiting, though I am urging her to take a day off. A wearyingly slow train home, but Lorraine picked me up at a little before seven, as she had worked late, and we went home, and then walked down to a very busy Sha...

Working on the play this morning. It is progressing slowly but I think surely. Also did some billing. I have some French work lined up too for Monday. In the afternoon I sauntered down to the Plenty cafe at Preston Park, for a pot of tea and some writing. The cafe seemed to have a surfeit of older blokes with MacBook Airs like myself. I'm not sure how that made me feel. Then I dropped in on see Janet and Ken. Ken looking better than I've seen him for a while. Lots of good chats with Janet as usual, who is a beacon of clarity in a muddled world sometimes. We talk about politics a bit, she is quite keen on the idea of a progressive alliance that Caroline Lucas our admirable MP is trying to promote. Waled home listening to my audiobook, which is The Authorised Biography of the Beatles, by Hunter Davis. Am enjoying this. Home to another rejection, I sent out a big tranche of work in the late spring and everything from that batch has been batted back. The stars must have been...

Monday. Feeling a bit Mondayish and sprang up and sent off emails, and got to grips a little. Was offered a good chunk of freelance starting at the beginning of September, which is dead handy. Felt somewhat better. Lorraine and I then headed off into Brighton, received a poetry rejection email while out. Am on a poor streak at the moment with poems, stories etc. being widely rejected.  There are tides in the affairs of writers. Bah. However cheered up quickly, and had a fast haircut, while Lorraine waited in the cafe next door. We went off to look at coffee machines, having been inspired by the place in Collioure which had a coffee maker that produced some lovely coffee. An idea enthusiastically taken up by Betty. A spot more shopping, and Toby called, en route to Brighton. We met him at the station and cabbed home. Toby very hoarse of throat and feeling shattered. When Betty got home, and Toby had had a quick rest, we made off to the Shahi for a cheeky curry. Beth and Lorraine b...

Spoke to Mum in the morning and evening. She went to see Mas with Robert and Tanya today. He's doing pretty well, but understandably a bit tired. A heatwave forecast, but what we got was rain and thunder for a good part of the day. After a breakfast of tomatoes on toast, Lorraine and I dropped Beth off at the station in the rain so she could travel up to London to hang with her bestie Olivia. Once she got through the downs it was all sun. L and I went to experience the glories of Sainsbury's. Actually I like shopping with Lorraine, and we hadn't shopped together for a while. A restful day, but in the evening we sauntered down to The Duke of York's Picturehouse to see Sing Street , a highly enjoyable film about teenagers setting up a band in Dublin in the 1980s. But it was also about the power of the imagination and creativity to transcend the mundane, and brotherhood, and lots of other stuff. Lorraine and I really enjoyed it. Then as we'd not eaten, it seeme...

Off shopping with Lorraine today, who had a long list of things to buy for her new job and returned with none of them. I, in contrast, although unable to find a pad with yellow lined paper, managed to buy a new jumper and jacket for I am toying with the idea of making this year the year of the Peacock, in which I compensate for the scorns of time by strutting about in a gaudy new plumage. Home, and then Lorraine and I went off with Beth down to The Shahi where we met John, who we'd not seen since before Christmas and strapped on the nosebags, and were given a bottle of wine for New Year. Drawing to a close the official season of gormandising. Now for a season of self-restraint and health, if only so I can fit into my new jacket with more elan. John got me a Cinematic Orchestra album called the Man with the movie camera , which I enjoyed a great deal when he played it me recently.

Up early and free to work on my own stuff. Had the best morning's work I can remember. I got to grips with a poem I've been working on for ages currently called The door in the wall , based on the H.G. Wells story, and it really came together. After a while of this, I worked on on the opening to A Glass of Nothing . Feeling quietly elated by this progress. Physical energy however not so easy to come by, and by late afternoon after taking a stroll in the suddenly much colder weather, I needed a doze. The evening however fun. Met Jess and Andrew in the Shahi who are cheery company and easy going, chatting and forking down my traditional chicken tikka bhuna jaal with good cheer. Lorraine and I didn't have to cope with forgetting our keys this week, which was a great boon.  However once we got home, we heard about dreadful attacks in Paris, and watched the rolling news coverage on BBC news. Having popped over to Paris this year, and being pretty close to where the attacks h...