under another sun

Up and after two days of pubs, I prepared breakfast and thought about living in an enclosed monkish life contemplating and praying quietly. Lorraine a bit snuffly and coldy. Having eaten and doing some laundry we repaired to the garden and lurked in the open air. Another hot day, but the forecasts say rain is likely in a few days.    In the afternoon I went to Morrisons, bought some jam sugar with pectin, and a bar of chocolate for Lorraine, and then made off to various places where I'd seen blackberries on my travels. I picked a kilo of them, which doesn't sound much but takes plenty of time. The berry gods took their payment in thorn tips in my hands that are impossible to get out, and my shins being stung a good deal by stinging nettles. There is a glut of fruit this year, all a month too early and many of them dried up due to the climate crisis of a summer we have been having. So far August has seen 1% of the average rainfall for the south east of England. I noticed big ju...

Woke up having had a significant dream. I have had lots of work related dreams lately, but in this one I was happily handing over the job to a vague but pleasant newbie. My desk had two old and battered cupboards on it, one said Metaphor and the other Healthcare. I had a feeling of cheery release as I spoke to my replacement about what an interesting job it had been. Both Lorraine and I rather sluggish after last night's reggae shenanigans. We sat in bed sipping tea for some time. An early text from Sam arrived saying he was travelling down today from Glasgow put Lorraine in a state of excitement. I also discovered my trousers had called Toby amid the fiercest of the skanking. L and I had breakfast, and did Wordle, which we do every morning over a boiled egg, I got it in two goes for the second time this week. Lorraine also does Murdle which is a murdery logic problem.  Over breakfast I also learned I hadn't been placed in a recent tiny booklet competition by Hedgehog. I had co...

Up and after eating scrambled eggs on toast Romy had made, we packed as the others went for a short walk over the dunes. Later we drove in a convoy slightly southeast Henne Kirkeby Cro (Cro translates as Inn in Danish). A beautiful place in its own grounds, with a big garden at the back where many of the  fruits and herbs and so on were grown. A lovely restaurant room, tasteful minimal decoration, crisp white tablecloths, artfully selected flowers, and interesting Danish recent art on the walls. I was looking at two pictures of the backs of heads. A meal of many little courses, all exquisite sweetbread, mackerel, cod, little crumpets served with cream and caviare, sauces with wonderful delicate flavours, lemon and herbs for example, all served with style. As we were three drivers we drank kombucha in different flavours (mine a lovely cherry flavour. A cheery meal and good to get to know Nori and Verna better. Romy and Toby treated us to it, to say goodbye to us, and hello to Nori a...

An electrician came around first thing this morning, we have two lights on the blink, and are going to replace the hob as it has a tendency to spontaneously turn itself off. The electrician instantly got my back up by talking over me when I was talking to Lorraine. Lorraine smoothed it out a little, but I suspect that particular sparky and I will never be close.  After breakfast, Lorraine off to her personal trainer. I wrote a little, but found myself not able to concentrate so I went to the gym which helped, and I was able to focus a bit better later.  Beth went into hospital today, and was kept in to be induced. Lorraine especially a bit on tenterhooks because of this. However by the end of the day there was no news. But Beth cheery and comfortable, and James with her. The Tobster's birthday today, he's off to a Brazilian restaurant this evening and sounding cheery. He was rather attracted by the idea of Beth having her baby on his birthday. She didn't however, and was ke...

Up fairly early, and a proper breakfast with Lorraine. Then Lorraine went off to do Rhyme time and I interviewed the poet Richard Scott. I really liked him and his work. Toby called shortly before this from Japan. Later I spoke to Mum and arranged to see her next Monday. Also Carl called, having got home at 1.00am last night. I did a few bits of tidying, and putting suitcases back in the loft but was generally quite shattered and confined myself to listening to a podcast about my favourite horror-type writer Robert Aickman. Very happy to be at home today, and potter about getting stuff done. Lorraine zoomed off at tea time to Eastbourne and collected the pottery she'd made. Lovely stuff and I was proud of her. Lorraine experimenting with new highly healthy recipes with beans and pulses and veggies and feta and so on. A few episodes of Frasier and an early night. We're almost on the final series now. Boo. Lorraine's first ever pots...  

Toby flew back to the New World. I spoke to Mum this afternoon, and we were sad he'd gone.  However, sunshine drew Lorraine and I out into the garden. I moved the garden furniture back to the patio, and we even had some lunch outside. I had lots of things I should be getting on with, but preferred to be outside. I even caught the sun a bit on my neck. Especially as Amanda was decorating and I'm easily distracted. She started painting some taupe today. I haven't often been excited by taupe, but I am now.  Arranged to interview a Faber poet in a couple of weeks. I paused at one point to snap this daffodil. I had to fight off the urge to drink a cold beer in the sun, I need to lose more weight before I can put it back on again.

To Hampstead this morning. A smooth journey, did a little writing on the train, and read a couple of entertaining chapters of Headlong Hall by Thomas Love Peacock. A star spot: Romy Madley Croft (of the group The XX) getting up from a seat near me as the train pulled into St Pancras.  Walked up from West Hampstead tube to to meet Toby and Mum in the cafe in Waterstones in Hampstead proper. After a coffee we decided to hop up the hill to The Holly Bush, a pub I've not been to since deep in the twentieth century. We had some lunch there and a drink, and it was all very pleasant. First time we three had been together since August 23. Toby bought us lunch there which was kind of him. We walked back to Hampstead Station, but the trains were kaput, so we had to bus to Swiss Cottage where Mum went north to Stanmore, and Toby went south to see Mike Sassarini. I had a smooth journey from West Hampstead to Seaford -- with no wait between trains longer than five minutes. Home and Lorrain...

Breakfast with the Tobster, before walking him off to Seaford Station early this morning, as he was meeting friends in London at lunchtime. After yesterday's liveliness a quieter day.  I watched a bit of rugby, the last day of the six nations, where England routed Wales in Cardiff, and France won overall. Then Lorraine and I set about sorting out the spare room, and began peeling wallpaper off in preparation for Amanda coming next week to decorate followed by the carpet fitting. Beth dropped in with her old pal Emily, who was down to spend the day. I'd not seen her for years, she looked very well and is engaged. 

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...

I had a Understory conversation this afternoon, discussing poetic matters with other poets. Linda, one of our number who has been in hospital, restored enough to attend, and it was nice to see her. They were kind enough to allow me to talk about the long poem for  a bit, before I left halfway to collect a perky looking Toby from Seaford station. Spent the rest of the day and evening talk and lurking about eating a satisfying curry Lorraine cooked for us and then watching a couple of Fraziers before a fairly early bedtime. Everyone a bit tired, especially Toby who had seem some of the Rabbits the night before.  It always amazes me how quickly having Toby around becomes utterly normal. In under five minutes it's like he's here every day, except with lots to catch up on. Hearing how Romy's doing, and trips to see Joan and Dick, and zipping off to Japan, and visiting Danny and Heidi a few days ago. The Tobster, as ever, born under a wandering star. In other news, Adele had put ...

Printed out a full first draft of the long poem Gordon Road now. Some of it still a bit sketchy and prosaic, but the overall shape is there. Now it is just a case of buffing away at the clunkily prosaic bits. Saw the cover of Supernatural Tales for the Spring issue.  What's Inside  is the first story in the issue, and so my name was top of the list. I felt rather smug about this.  I was also contacted by Chris from Seahaven poets wanting a photo etc. for promoting my reading in Seaford in April. Imposter syndrome unusually low today.  Meanwhile Lorraine got one of the gardeners back to deal with a few bits that were missed the other day.   She is so good at dealing with people.  Lorraine spent some time with Pat and Maureen. Then sent my blood pressure readings off to the surgery (being a wuss I have outsourced this to her). Next she and Beth and James drove off to Basingstoke, to stay overnight before Glenice's funeral tomorrow. Shortly after she left, B...

Woke up after a good night's sleep at Mum's, and had breakfast. Mum had bought some avocados so I had a cheeky avocado on toast. Once teas were drunk and chats were had, then we had a photo session trying to find the idea spot to take a photo of Mum. This surprisingly difficult, and we tried several locations and arrangements of lights and so on. Once done we filled out the online forms for her to renew her passport. Mum said she was looking her age. But I think she looks fantastic for her age. Then we made off at lunchtime to the Jolly Badger, and its lovely kind waitress who remembers exactly what Mum wants, and prompted me to use my app to get money off too.    The weather showery and overcast. And we sat looking out of the window trying to imagine what sunshine might look like.  Fond farewells to Mum, and then I mooched to Mill Hill Broadway, and was home a few hours later. Nice to be back on the gold sofa with Lorraine, with Brian affectionately pulling a hole in my ...

Up late, having got up at 4:45 my head buzzing with stuff on the poem and having to go to my desk and write it down for half an hour or so. Then back to bed, and didn't get up again nine. Lorraine seeing assorted pals and her personal trainer, so I had a day to myself. This mainly meant writing, and then the gym. As I did so I listened to various politics podcasts, all fixated on Trump. The idea that they would re-elect a fascist who has already inspired a lunatic insurrection beggars belief. These events are like those in 1930s Germany, that people after the war looked back on in bafflement.  I watched a documentary on iPlayer called Total Trust: Surveillance State  about state surveillance and digital social control in China. Completely Orwellian, and terrifying. It reminded me of a Black Mirror episode, where you literally score points for conforming and lose points for thought crimes.   Spoke to Toby this evening, finally having returned his car to Canada where crossi...

A phone call around 5:15 from Maureen who was not feeling good. Lorraine immediately got dressed and drove around. I woke up a bit and walked around in the dark, on pavements sparkling with frost. I got there just as the paramedics arrived. Maureen's ECG was okay, but they recommended she go to hospital for a blood test -- to check if there had been a cardiac event. Lorraine drove Pat and I home, and then drove to Eastbourne to be with Maureen. Thankfully A&E was quiet, and Maureen was later released back into the wild after what had been a bout of angina. At home with Pat I made him some breakfast and we listened, with Pat singing along, to my crooners playlist on Spotify. Touched to see him singing along to  Unforgettable by Nat King Cole. Then a bit of a Death in Paradise marathon, watching several episodes till lunch. Then Beth and James called around early in the afternoon.  Not long after they arrived I got a call from Lorraine on the way home with Maureen.  A...

Getting back to my preferred pattern. Up at eight and at my desk. It felt good and I began to make some small progress. Reading the first three sections of the Kenniad, and being fairly pleased with them after not having sat with them properly for a while. At around noon  Lorraine and I dismantled our plastic Christmas trees and decorations. After a bite to eat, I went for a walk by the sea, in a strong buffeting wind till I had walked my 10k paces. Finished The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge by Rainer Maria Rilke.   I found it confusing but occasionally the writing was exceptionally brilliant. I am making it my mission to finish all the books I have started in the last year or so but not completed. Read it sitting on the sofa with Lorraine, listening to relaxing music and while Lorraine was industrious or played her game. She spent much of the afternoon with Pat and Maureen. I cooked a delicious chicken curry. In other news Toby and Romy arrived back in a snowy Washington ...

Apart from a pre-breakfast lope to Morrisons to buy breakfast eggs and a later foray down to the sea to take a spare key to Lorraine, who'd contrived to lock herself out of the car parked outside Pat and Maureen's place, I happily drew all my tentacles into the house and lurked indoors. All I wanted to do is read The Sea by John Banville which is a magnificent book. I had no desire at all to go out and party, and it was a wild night too with strong gales roaring into Seaford. Instead Lorraine and I preferred to stay indoors and count our blessings. During the day I had a go at writing this blog in a kind of an accounting for the year way. But it ended up being like one of those cringy letters people send you inside Christmas cards. Enough to say that I'm not entirely sorry to see 2024 slink off. There were lots of events: Mason dying in February and me spending lots of time with Mum. Pat and Maureen and Beth and James are all now settled in Seaford. I ended my copywriting ...

To Edgware by car with Lorraine today to see Mum on her birthday. A decent drive up there. We stopped for a cup of tea, and to give her some presents. The throw and pillows had already arrived, and we gave her some new pots and pans, to replace the venerable ones she uses. Lorraine drove us to The Waggon and Horses where we got a seat by the fire. Curtis, behind the bar, and Mum's crew, who call her a geezerbird, all cheerily greeting her and Steve shaking my hand and wishing me merry Christmas and happy new year. Just after we'd eaten Toby called  from Bali fresh from a yoga session-- thinking that we'd be together. So Mum got to speak to him on her birthday too. Very cheery in the Waggon, and Lorraine had a chicken shish like me, and was surprised at how genuinely excellent they are there. Home again and we sat by her fire in the living room. Neighours Emma and Gail dropped off some presents for her, and Wynford dropped in too with a gift. He sat chatting with us for a wh...

Ahh... And relax. A call from the Tobster in Bali while I was fishing through the bones of a turkey stock. Other than taking a walk for an hour or so, I did little. Lorraine making a bag from fabric, I finally finished my book A Natural History of Ghosts -- 500 Years of Hunting for Proof , by Roger Clarke. I also read Che -- A Graphic Biography by Spain Rodriguez Anton had got me for Xmas.  Made a large of turkey soup made with assorted peas and pulses and vegetables, with the thick and meaty turkey stock I made last night. Surprisingly delicious dinner, with Christmas pudding again afterwards. My tongue tingling with the almonds afterwards but it was worth it. An interesting character, who had trained as a doctor, with an interest in leprosy.

Got up early and spent the morning prepping an interview I am going to do next Monday with Ruth Padel, rereading the poems formulating questions, and listening to a recent broadcast on R4 she was on. This done by one o'clock. Spoke to Anton this morning. Will see him next week all being well. Lorraine and I rearranged the living room for winter, we also fiddled with radiators, some don't seem to work despite twiddling the twisty things.  A good chat with Toby this afternoon too. He's feeling more settled in D.C. and looking forward to some holidays. Then off to Lewes this evening, and starting a book called Feline Philosophy  by John Grey that Catherine and Tanya bought me. A philosophy book about cats. Purrfect.  Sauntered up the hill at Lewes to the Lewes Arms where I met Mark. We were soon joined by his friend  Keith A Pettit , who Lorraine and I are fans of, and I have a print by him over my desk Lorraine bought me as a present. I found him a deeply interesting g...

Up and looking at my poem for a while, then breakfast with my lovely wife, and a spot of recording with Robin. Shortly before I started, I heard workmen replaced the entire streetlight outside. I looked out at one point, and saw one of them leaning into the side of the lorry, having a crafty wee. His doing this dressed head to toe in hi-vis clothing made me laugh. Had to record on Lorraine's dressing table due to the noise in my office, but all was fine. Then Lorraine and I drove through the glorious morning to Marchants Hardy Plants, which was having a closing down sale. We selected ten pots of things, several interesting grasses, a fern and other delights for the garden. Very nice to be there mooching around, such was the glory of the day, bright sun, blue skies, autumn in full flow. We stoped off at Alfriston on the way home, fuelled by talk of being spontaneous. We went into the first pub we passed, called The Star. We were expecting pub grub, but found ourselves in what has th...