under another sun

Lorraine had lots of prep to do today, so we got up early. Some of it I could help her with a bit first thing. She broke off at lunchtime, and we walked down to The Geese, and met up with Catherine and Tanya, Wayne and Tim. Rather a nice Sunday roast, and excellent company, good to talk to everyone. Among Catherine's many talents, she is expanding into some sort of financial coaching, and asked Lorraine if she could experiment on her. The pub was very busy, and after we'd eaten our really nice roast dinners, we had to move off. Lorraine went back home, and I went off to have ice cream with Tanya and Catherine. Tin and Wayne made off to The Marlborough, and were tempting me to go with them. But in the end I just wanted to be home again. I am finding that I only have so much socialising in me at the moment, even with people I like lots. Walked home in the balmy still too warm for the time of year day, and had a quiet evening with Lorraine. Below Catherine on her birthday. ...

A really good day's writing. On days like this I think that maybe I am onto something. Also been thinking and reading a little about winning. Asking myself what are the consequences of winning? I was reading something that said that if we win, we have to let go of every definition we have had of ourselves. Perhaps people actually cling to the familiar, to the not winning because it is safer. I find it difficult to win things, unless I am working in a team. When the winning is just about me winning, I find it very hard, and I wonder if it this is something I can reverse or at least put into neutral.  In other news, I was not shortlisted for the Brighton blogger project. Why bloody not? was my thought. A book through the post from Richard today: Jeeves and the Impending Doom , one of those slim Penguin 70s. The title made me feel very chipper for some reason. Out to the Duke of York last night with Lorraine, Dawn, Rosie and her new boyfriend Tim, who I rather liked. He has...

Uno in the Chancellors Travelled with Anton up to the smoke this morning. Busy till lunchtime when lots of us went to an old man's pub called the Chancellors, as a writer called Tim was leaving. Somebody had a card game called UNO and 15 of us were dealt in, and the game was played it with great deal of comic and noisy enthusiasm. The afternoon a blur of hurried work, then off to Shepherds Bush for Tim's leaving do. I'm only just beginning to get to know him, but he is urbane and funny so I'm sorry he's off. Little G, who is going out with another nice writer who works with me called Rob, was there too and I'd not seen her for some time. She has a new job and is mad for Rob so all is well. A lively evening talking to various creatives; made more so as Tim kept disappearing and returning with Champagne. I eventually escaped, feeling a middle aged bliss at stepping from the shouty, thumpingly noisy pub and climbing into the calm of a black cab to Victoria. Home...