under another sun

Up early. Sent a long poem into Island Review. Did house stuff. Worked on book proposal. Then off to Hove to meet Madeline at Janet's house. We tidied the place up, and went through boxes of documents to see what was what. Lots of academic papers Janet had written, and lots of stuff for making embroidery. Tried to make the place look welcoming and inhabitable. Then Madeline brought me lunch nearby, in a lovely tapas-style meal in Fourth & Church. Nice to get to know her a bit better. Then back to the house, and pleased that it gave such a better feeling when we walked in. The man from Uden called around for a valuation, one of three Madeline is obliged to get. Anton had recommended him as being a gentleman. A bit more tidying and identifying things in boxes. Sad to be going through Janet's stuff like this and coming upon photos of her and Ken in happy times. Fond farewell with Madeline and then home to continue work. Spoke to Betty about possibly doing some cleaning in ...

Last day before the plumbers arrive. Email working today, as I will need to be on hand for workmen for the next few days, a long walk this morning. Then lots of tiny tasks such as proofing my poem War diary in 1/72 scale, replied to my accountants, chase an unpaid invoice and other tiny tasks. A longish call with Janet, understandably feeling sad after her sister's death. I arranged to go around to see her next week. Finished The Anatomy Lesson , and begrudgingly admire it. Next up  from Roth is  Portnoy's Complaint,  but only after I finish several other books. I consulted the I Ching this afternoon, which I have not done for some time. It gave me the most positive reading I have ever had from it over several decades. Irrational thought it is, I felt quite boosted by it. Just because something is irrational, doesn't mean it is meaningless. Football this evening, England taking on Colombia, and amazingly enough beating them in the penalty shoot out. It was a...

Lorraine's birthday today. A happy day, up after Lorraine had opened her cards, we had breakfast in the back garden, and then we drove off to the bluebell wood and walked through the gorgeous place smelling the aromatic, peppery air. Also stumbled across some strange bee-like creatures that I learned later turned out to be bee-flys. After this we stopped off to have tea and scones, then drove back to Brighton. Got caught briefly in a traffic jam, people surging into Brighton due to the lovely sun. Soon after we got back, a cool sea mist started lurking in from the sea. Lorraine and I repaired to the Park View, where we had a decent Sunday lunch. Lorraine then had to go to Bolney for a parish meeting, and I decided to mow the lawn. The lawn mower however was rusted jammed, and however much WD40 I put on it, it refused to move. Quite pleased however to have a poem called War diary in 1/72 scale accepted in an anthology provisionally called an Outbreak of Peace due out to coincid...