under another sun

Poor Lorraine still suffering. In fact she got up in the night and ended up sleeping on the sofa, after having a hot herbal tea. She went to bed again in the morning, and I took her up tea and so on. I don't think she should go back to school this week. I feel happy I can take care of her, and am not bogged down with work this week. Had a meeting with Keith and his lovely daughter Ffion who was on the call as it was take your daughter to work day at her school. Keith works in his kitchen mainly, so it probably wasn't the most exciting thing for her. She likes writing, however, and when I asked her what kind of thing she writes, she replied 'Books'. Shows ambition. Later we spoke briefly again, to screen grab us talking for her school report. Otherwise sent off work to the mes amis in Paris, faffed about somewhat ineffectually on my own writing. I did some editing on my interview with Alireza Abiz. Thank God I can edit out some of my more idiotic moments before it goes t...

More podcast recording with Robin this morning:  the what we are reading section, and reaction to Charlotte's interview. Robin talking about La Vita Nuova by Dante, and me chatting about audiobooks by John Cooper Clarke and Joy Harjo. Robin is not interviewing her next victim till tomorrow, and so we decided to go with Charlotte for this week, so it means I'm leading on this episode again, so quite a bit of editing to do in the next couple of days.   Charlotte saying she so wanted a beer with me, Robin, SJB and Mr Bone. That would be a fine thing. A proper Blue Monday this year. Not that I heard anyone on the radio mention it. Doing my best not to feel bleak and mid-winterish, but glum dissatisfaction now settling on me and my own writing like a flock of malign birds. I have so many promising ideas, that I slowly prune to death; a reductio ad absurdum.  A news clip of folks enjoying life in Guernsey, with no social distancing, made my personal little heaven seem even more...

Rain and greyness today, and getting a bit nippy. A stressed and tired Lorraine working from home this morning, Dawn came by to put some sealant underneath the doors in our bedroom. Carl phoned, telling me about Ellie starting her new business selling prints of her music star pencil drawings. Anton called, saying his meeting had been hideous, several people very far apart in a room all wearing facemasks, making it difficult to hear anyone. Lorraine back into work. I spent the much of the morning working on the branding for the new podcast, none of which was liked by Robin. Then worked on a new scene in Invisible Grace. A short walk, then painted the second coat on the bathroom walls, and did some more writing.  Lorraine back home and after being fed with salmon and stir fry went straight into a virtual governors meeting. Among other discussions,  it was been agreed that I will reprise my Santa role this year, but just calling out to them from a distance, and with my mask on --...

Continuing my health-themed week. Walked down to Specsavers for a nine o clock eye test. I told the optician that I had seen white lines in my eyes so she insisting on a full retinal scan with those eyedrops that make you look like an opium addict. I had two  pressure tests, long bouts of examinations, the pinpricks of light to test peripheral vision (100%) I was told. Luckily, it seems my eyes are perfectly healthy and I have an unusual but benign area of pigmentation around one optic nerve. Quite fascinating to see photos of inside your eye. Nothing to be done about all the floaters in my eyes though. She said she could see I had loads of them. I chose two pairs of new reading glasses as I needed a slight prescription change, but dazzled as I was I could have chosen anything. At least I was better than the man who I noticed who had been agonising a full 40 minutes as.  Dracula-like I was released at 11 am, flinching from traffic lights and the brightness of the 11am overca...

Pootering on unremarkably. Slipped on the desk manacles at 7:30 and worked on the rabies stuff, (known in France as la rage ) sending concepts off to Paris at lunchtime. Heard back that they were happy, and they will get back to me in a few days. Went for a couple of brisk walks to exceed 10k. Had scales delivered to replace the others which speak with forked tongue. Chatted to Anton, who I will see tomorrow. Started doing final edit of the Children's book, but found I was in the wrong headspace for it and mucking it up a bit, so I simply stopped and will start freshly tomorrow morning. At a loose end late this afternoon I watched The Sky at Night , the monthly astronomy show, which was talking about efforts to return to the moon, of which there are many going on now. I find my interest in astronomy rekindled lately, and The Sky at Night has always been pitched in the right way, clear and not condescending or slow. The programme has been going since 1957. Lorraine home tired a...