under another sun

Brighton beginning to fold in on itself. Beth and I drove off this morning to the Sainsbury's local down the road and came back with little but the Christian offerings of wine and bread. No pasta, flour rice or toilet roll etc. It's what you get when you live in a country that has been told in all kinds of ways that there is no such thing as society. Now people are going to have to wake up and realise that, actually, it's all we have. I did a little on Grace 2, stimulated by a note too from Tracey who reminded me to keep pushing on with the book online. Otherwise I mooched off to Hollingbury Hillfort in the afternoon. Was walking around the ring of the fort, clockwise for a change, when I saw Rick, who lives around the corner, doing the same thing but counterclockwise. He told me he was self isolating, so I gave him a wide berth. Big of a chat up there, standing on the wall of an iron age fort, which felt slightly surreal. This wide berth thing is something I find I am ...

Tile rattling high winds this morning. A chair in our back garden was flung several yards into the garden from the decking, and a tree came down in a nearby road, lucky I suppose that all the leaves aren't out as there would have been more. Up fairly early, and scanning some ancient sample material to send to the MD of the company I will be talking to on Monday. It is only the second time in all the years I have worked for myself that I have had to prove to anyone I can write, and this despite the fact the MD's right hand woman was someone I worked with closely for a few years. Sent what I have off. Then Lorraine and I had a slow breakfast with Trace, then more chats till we drove her down to the station. Whenever I see Trace I always feel that a good deal of proper talking has been done. L and I squeezed her at the station and wished her will in Scotland. By coincidence Lorraine booked some train tickets up to Edinburgh for us to see Sam and Jade. Looking forward to this a...

Luxuriating in bed this morning. Got up and bought some chewy brown bread, and made breakfast in bed. Then we walked down to Brighton Station to meet Tracey, and spent the day with her, mooching about in the North Laine having coffee, and popping into infinity foods. Then down to the sea and along the pier. A stiff wind blowing. Home and then we all hung out chatting for hours in the kitchen, with Lorraine cooking vegan food for us. Trace is just about to have a few months in the Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland. A change from working as a social media manager in California. She is born under a wandering star. Trace helped refresh my thinking on my writing projects, which I was in dire need of which was excellent, she is as ever interesting and interested company, and keen to hear about Lorraine's nursing experiences. To bed, Lorraine rather tired today, Trace to bed early, and I watched Match of the Day before bed. A cheery day.

Up and working early. Unnaturally hot blue day again, with our weather streaming up from the equator. Worked on the horror project somewhat, also a day of friends getting in touch, messages from Adele and Yvonne, Shaila, Chris Williams, and emailing Trace. After I went to the gym in the afternoon, I bumped into Neil Noon in Sainsbury's and had a half an hour chat about writing. He told me about a podcast that specialises in horror which was useful. Neil had a play on the BBC radio a couple of years ago, which I heard. He referred to his producer several times, which was impressive. After the gym, home in the sunshine to some more writing, then cooking, and chatting to Lorraine. We watched an episode of Endeavour, the TV series which is prequel to Morse, and is set in the sixties. I have a soft spot for this programme, which is completely targeted at people of my age and above which is rather worrying. In this episode, a complex story of murder, a girl's school and the histo...

I spent the day quietly working, having at last been given a brief from my pals in Chiswick. A tricky job but work nevertheless. Only one day of it. However there is more next week apparently. Meanwhile my lovely French client Valérie phoned me from a sunny Paris with a wee job to do tomorrow. A sense that small cogs are turning. Managed a couple of hundred words on my story before the brief came in. News from Trace saying she is moving to the Isle of Mull for a while, and we will see her before she goes. Lorraine home all day and pottering about at home. We went for a walk at lunchtime, to fend off desk DVTs. I worked till 6:30 and we had a quiet night in. Lorraine working on a fiendishly difficult jigsaw. I sat with her for a bit after work, staring at the pieces but after 20 minutes had not managed to fit a single piece.

Up fairly early, and left Lorraine to snooze after bringing her tea. Trace up shortly followed by Lorraine. Pleased to see they got on well right away. We sat chatting in the kitchen, then immediately after 11am, which Lorraine wanted to mark in silence, we made off down into Kensington Gardens to a cafe called Iydea, for a rather delicious vegetarian breakfast (Trace had a vegan one) and we discussed all manner of subjects including the idea (or should that be the iydea) of vegan cheese as Trace has a hankering to own a vegan cheese shop. This followed by a spot of looking in shops, and then we walked Trace up to Brighton station, had a final cup of tea there  and said fond farewells. Lorraine really liked Tracey, which was nice. Sauntered home through the park, and then I read a Robert Aickman story, and had a Sunday afternoon snooze on the gold sofa. Lorraine had some pesky work to be getting on with. I cooked for us. In the evening was a remarkable film on TV by Peter Jackson...

Lorraine up early and off to the school for a morning event, then in the afternoon she travelled up to London to go to a reunion of the people she started nursing with back in the early eighties. I however, did a few bits of writing, and emailing folks including Robin, who had sent me a copy of her booklet A Guide TO Getting Published in UK Poetry Magazines, which is a generally good wheeze. then sauntered down to Brighton Station where I met Tracey, who I had not seen for some ten years, she having been living lately in California, and dodging wildfires. Talked about a good deal with her, such as her time in Hawaii, and working for an IT startup in California, and experiences working for a non-profit organisation there too, and colourful descriptions of the characters she met there. She is now back in the UK for the time being. We spent the entire afternoon and evening just talking. Tracey on the hunt for CBD oil, which was found in Infinity Foods, then we walked down to the sea, ...

Like a hermit today. All grey outside. After working on some poems first thing, I spent most of the day organising my workspace. The Big Sort Out as I am thinking of it. There is still work to be done, but there are increasing outbreaks of space and order. It feels great, and I feel the clearing out being reflected inside my head.   When in doubt, tidy up, as the Oblique Strategy cards say. Otherwise little to report. I spoke to Janet who said she has long had a 'one in, one out' policy on books, of which she has many. I do frequently refer to my books, but only about twenty percent of them. Many of the others I have carried around in boxes for decades, dormant and never to be read again, quite a few of them yellowed and dusty and bought second hand in the first place. Why are they still in my life? This is not my usual way of thinking about books, but I am finding it very liberating. More than that, I am sieving out nuggets in the rubble. A biblical email from Trace in Ca...

An annoying day. Typing this at 11:45pm and still waiting for something to come through for me to sign off for work. At least I negotiated doing it from home. Only another ten days of this in a row. Gah. Nothing other than work and getting home late and waiting for work today. A nice walk in the drizzle at lunchtime. Passed under a bridge with three noisy boys smoking weed, and accidentally got half a lungful. Nice notes from my pal Tracey today. Beth much spoiled by John today. Lorraine tired and still coldy. A walk along the Grand Union Canal at lunch. A snap as it passes under the west way.

Worked from early in the day on the Skelly MS. In the afternoon Beth and I started looking at material to do with Edinburgh, and also I got in touch with Ruth, Matt's pal in Edinburgh. Lorraine sore throaty this morning, and I have been a bit underpowered. However I forced myself to to the gym, if only to keep the routine going. I did a bit of stuff there, showered and had a cup of coffee in Starbucks and finished a long letter to Tracey in California. Then to the Joker to meet Anton for their three-for-two Wednesday plates of Woof-Woof wings. The place quite crowded. Good to see him there, and chat about books, and life and so on. I also learned that the Lush voucher I'd bought Klaudia necessitated him having to spend hours on Boxing day buying bath bombs and stuff with my lovely Goddaughter. And the book on film making I bought Oskar went down well too. Anton taking a photo of the Viper Wall of Flame. The Vipers have become a bit of a legend with some of his pals.

A drop of sunshine Sunny Monday. After a poor night, was woken at five thirty by the cat writhing around my head like an atrocious weasel. Once up and about, I felt curiously relaxed. Perhaps it was because Betsy placed a huge smiley face on the wall in front of me today, and had invited people to add things to it. I added a kiss curl (which was "improved" by Betsy) and eyes. Also worked with Anna, a nice kiwi designer who has just won a freelancer of the year award. Surgical site infections again today in between conversations about cannibalism. At lunch I popping out to buy some hummus and cat food. I walked through the ghastly Frank Banfield Park. This, however, had some crocuses, which my eyes greedily sucked at as I hurried past the knots of schoolkids in headscarves tucking into fast food. All of us drawn out by the yellow face in the sky. A long and funny email from Trace today, recalling her recent adventures: "But to cut a potentially long story short, I then wo...

A lull Realised on the morning train that I had left my wallet at home today, and my stupid oyster card had run out so had to beg a free ride on the tube from the guy in the ticket office. To my amazement he agreed. Not much happening today. No word back from the agency about an offer for me. Made time for quite a good swim at lunchtime. Finished Saturday by Ian McEwan, which was fine, though not my favourite of his books. And came home for a relaxed evening, catching up a bit with my blog. And generally chilling out. Heard from Trace today. She is back in Blighty.

A lively hore Off to work listening to Alias Grace again by Margaret Atwood - which I gradually getting into. A beautiful woman in prison for being a murderess, with various Victorians studying and commenting on her in various ways. Grace has amnesia so doesn't know if she was party to the killing or not. Fairly intriguing stuff. And set in Toronto but I'm finding it a bit slow. Much more relaxed today than for some time, but very disinclined to work. Puzzling note from Trace in Hawaii, especially when speed read first thing in the morning. It said: " Dont know what ele to tell you that doent involve tale of how I'm befriending wild pig or teaching the hore not to run away when I try and catch him." All of which I thought had a colourful 17th century feel. Closer inspection revealed that her keyboard has a missing s key. Spoke to Bob today to cancel an evening out, due to feeling tired, but I woke myself up a bit by going for a swim, then left at the regulation h...

Getting my fingers back Woke up in Matty's place on Strand on the Green, had an enjoyable half an hour before he got up having made myself a cup of tea, playing his guitar. I have had my worst ever bout of rheumatism in my hands in the last week, but this now much better and I have my playing fingers back. Funny to be walking off with Matt to Gunnersbury station, which was my local tube for many years. Amazing to be in Hammersmith and ready for work in a few minutes, compared to the hideous slog from Brighton. I stopped at Marks and Spencers to buy some fresh underpants, socks, and a shirt and changed into these at the office. Work demanding again today, but managed to slip off for my third swim of the week at lunchtime. Worked late, then found myself, unaccountably, taking advantage of the agency's monthly free bar and doing lots of worky gossip and networking. Anton and Anna have lent me a new Frasier DVD and watched a couple of episodes before bed. He's my hero. Replied ...

What is this toad work? Big presentation to a major client this morning, despite a few hours sleep. A Curate's egg: good in parts. Except for the part that was the result of the last two week's of the Gnome's work. We'd been misbriefed and so we looked quite foolish for a bit - but the digital work I'd been doing went down very well so this helped. I went straight from that to a teleconference with a tetchy client who needed appeasing. Worked through lunch and, shortly after, the silence about my part time work was resolved. They've asked me to postpone it till September to cover for one of the creative directors. Because they are being so nice about letting me work part time in the first place, I readily agreed. And I will have to abate this gnawing sense of urgency. I suppose two months isn't too bad, but it is going to be stressful and very hard work. But it is also very nice to feel needed. Trace off today. She was crying a bit. Someone gave her a book ...

A pussy posse in the dark At last, a better day at work - although still crushingly busy. But out of the blue, a breath of fresh air in an email from Joan - including a photo of some of her intrepid cats padding through the gloom, as they accompany Joan on one of her walks in the forested land behind the farm in Ontario. This makes me laugh every time I look at it. After hours there was a free bar at work tonight, which coincided nicely with Trace leaving, and another friend called Anita too. A nice party downstairs (smoke free which was top). Trace is literally running away to join a circus collective in Hawaii, and flies off on Monday. This is strange, but true. I am going to miss her very much. Matty boy came by too, and after sipping copious amounts of boozes with agency folks, Matt and I repaired to an Indian restaurant for some knife and forkwork and a chat. This resulted in me creeping home again really late yet again. Below The fabulous Pinkie, Tommy Bananas and Pinkie's s...

A sucky day Got up really early so me and the Gnome could finish off the work we started last night. Working on the train up to London. Unpleasant day at the agency, with some redundancies, including my pal Trace. Went for a conciliatory lunch coffee, and then a drink after work, and ended up being very late home, having yet another horrible homeward journey, this time drunk and hungry. Arrived home at 12:45. Below Trace.

London parakeets and Sussex dragons Another incredibly relaxed day at work. Even had a chance to look at my poems in the morning, and then had another hour's walk along the river. Trace came with me again. Walking and talking is very nice with her, but if Trace does have a fault it is in the encouragement and love she gives to every unspeakable dog we encounter. In the evening up to Anton's place and scarfed some Chinese grub and talked about the Dragon Project and peered a bit at the map. The first leg, which we are doing on Saturday, starts on a fossil beach, goes past prisons, an abandoned canal, two sewage works, the remains of an Augustinian Priory and ends up at the lovely Arundel topped with its beautiful castle. Should make wonderful couple of minutes of radio, and a lovely walk too. Also talked about The Time Traveler's Wife which Anton read before me. Sloped home, quite tired, and had brief IMage with the lovely Sprinkles before beddy byes. She will be in England...

A toe in the water Off to work feeling untraumatised. Arriving at the office, I found there was little to do, and the Gnome still on holiday. So had two brief chats with Anton about Dragons, talked to Mum. And swapped emails with Aimee who has had lively time of it when her friend fell off a fire escape down three stories and broke lots of bones and bled heavily. She said that she went for a manicure the next day, and the manicurist was complaining about her dirty nails not knowing it was her friend's blood. Also First Matie who is under the cosh as usual, and Sprinkles who was having ideas for TV programmes. Spoke to the French Bloke who has also taken up gardening, with a chainsaw. Happy to sit at work, watching the red buses cross the river on the green and gold of Hammersmith Bridge every now and again. A lovely warm day and Trace and I had a walk for an hour at lunchtime talking about psychics. Little to do in the afternoon too, so I melted away early. Wonderful to be heading...

Marmite and my mates April fool's day. But thankfully no trickery. My house has become fantastically untidy over the last few weeks, and so spent the morning tidying when not chatting at length to Sprinkles who gets up at five o'clock. This is a) handy for me but b) slightly disturbing as Cabal her dog insists on it. Today we discussed the glories of English food, such as Marmite. Their whole marketing strategy is based on the correct insight that people either love it or hate it. There was this viral film which is rather nasty but quite funny. In the afternoon Trace came down to Brighton and we had a long slope along down by the seafront. Really hot day and enjoyably Trace had a faux fur coat and hat on among people in teeshirts. In fact when I got home i think I had caught the sun. We stopped off at a seaside cafe where I had an eccles cake and a nice cup of coffee which quickly made me want to hurl, an effect which lasted for some hours. However lots of deep chats with Trac...