under another sun

Anton around with Klaudia and Oskar early this morning, and after a while Lorraine, Betty and I took them to Drusillas Park . An ideal spot to take them (and Betty who loves zoos) as it was full of things to do for children. As well as all kinds of smaller animals, there were farm animals, an artificial cow to milk, little trail books for the children to stamp once they have seen certain animals, and a telephone box to go into and shout into enabling you to compare yourself to various animals. (Mine although not full throated was a disappointing 96 decibels, and only as loud as a Humboldt penguin). Bumped into Tom Norrell with his new baby at the zoo too. Much enjoyable mooching about in the zoo ensued. Luckily the children enjoyed it too, as there was also an adventure playground, a maze complete with clue spilling talking statues and parrots, restaurants, and a miniature railway that Lorraine and I squeezed into. In short the children were able to get a...

Rehearsals and Radio I had a productive day. Was called up by the BBC and I have been invited on to the local radio on Valentine's day to talk about the album. Nice to feel that some of the promotional effort I have been putting in is paying off. Also worked on poems in a way that didn't disfigure them. Lorraine working from home mostly today, and she had Rosie around tonight and cooked a mid week roast. But she also kindly drove me off to Lancing College, where an amazing floodlit Gothic chapel is visible for miles in the dark. Atmospheric to drive down narrow roads heading for this wonderful structure. The music rehearsal room was next to the chapel, and it was good to meet the boys there again: Tom, Adam, Cem and Glen as well as the choir. The run-throughs a little raw, but we are beginning to get into the zone for the concert. A lift from Glen and all the band plus Adam Swayne went to The Shakespeare's Head for a pleasant and cheeky beer. All feeding my secret fantasy ...

Recording day The morning of the day I became a recording artist sucked: beautiful sun triggering the release of pollen and other miscreant spores into the air making my throat sore. Then I felt like weeping with frustration as my computer, with its spanking new hard drive, failed again. Managed to start it and restore it to an earlier version (i.e. sometime yesterday) and it has been working since then, but I trust it as far as I can throw it, which will next be out of the window. To St Michael and All Angels for 3:30. Dr Simon Scardanelli our engineer already busy with a nest of wires and microphones. Matt seething as the priests told him that we would have to interrupt our recording for them to say prayers, something which nobody had mentioned until we arrived. This being England, we all had a cup of tea first, and there were quite a few nerves flying around, although there was a very supportive atmosphere. Simon really nice guy, who was veru reassuring to me. Adam and Tom assemblin...

Back in the band A wad of cotton wool in my head instead of a brain today, perhaps due to a slight cold. Worked on amends to the atrial fibrillation work, and a bit of time on poems, which are going amazingly well at the moment. In the afternoon going through the score of This concert will fall in love with you and feeling rather nervous about the rehearsal due to the aforementioned brain. Off to Sussex University rehearsal room to meet Matt. Was introduced to Cem Muharrem, who has replaced Ellie as she wasn't available for the recordings, but Cem seems to be an amazing violinist. Adam, Tom and Fingers Capra there too. Felt happy to be back with the gang. A little insight into the life of a musician, and the feelings of camaraderie that can go with it. For me all this is like being in a band for a few weeks, which as so much of my time is spent alone is rather nice. Rather sadly it makes me think of Yes, my favourite rock group, and helps me understand the stuff I've read abo...

Photos and poems Big steps forward with A Guernsey Double , Richard and I are close to agreeing a cover. I took myself out to the magic cafe in the afternoon and worryingly found about five things that needed to be fixed in the poems. The perspective of not looking at them properly for a couple of weeks. But I am comforted by WH Auden who said something to the effect that he never finished a poem, only abandoned it. Also popped in to see Adrian Turner's photos in an exhibition in Kensington Gardens in the laines. His seascape photos look fantastic at a larger scale. Lorraine came by this evening, and we occupied the gold sofa and did nothing, which was almost perfect as I am feeling under the weather. Below some shots by Jane Wrin of This Concert will fall in love with you Matt conducting, Glen on piano, Adam on vibraphone, Ellie on violin, me, and Tom on marimba. Lorraine third from the left singing.

Marimba magic Woke up after an hour our so and spent quite a bit of the night overtired, with my brain churning. Consequently was still exhausted and braindead today. Managed to go to some local open houses with Lorraine and her parents. Mostly tripe, but in one I saw some not for sale works in the house owner's private collection by Jim haldane. They were fantastic. Am going to find out more. Maureen cooked us a nice roast dinner, and that was me zombied. Slept some of the afternoon, and then Lorraine and I went to see a gig by Adam and Tom, the percussion duo who had powered This Concert... Great to be able to watch them without having to think about lots of other stuff. They were hugely enjoyable, and towards the end they also played Matt's Weelkes Despatched which sounded great. They rounded off their set with a storming Nagoya Marimba , a marimba duet by Steve Reich. Adam said Japan is full of wonderful marimba players. Completely uncharacteristically, Adam lost his line ...