under another sun

Although low on energy, I felt positive and got lots of stuff done. A lovely day, I sauntered around the park for bit, before popping in to the local Sainsburys, after a few hours of writing, and wandered into the walled garden. Noticed ruddy darters around the pond. It's good having looked things up in advance. There is a curious satisfaction to being able to think 'ruddy darter' to yourself when you see a dragonflyish thing zooming about. Worked in the garden today, and sorting out the Telltale reading. In the process of doing so picked up another reading for me to do -- in October 2017! Forward planning.  Also contacted about work and generally having the sense that there's lots going on or about to go on. Lorraine out doing her governors meeting tonight, Beth out too. I had been due to see Anton but he was unwell, so I guilty bought myself a bag of fish and chips from Jenny's down the road, and watched the movie Watchmen , which was based on a graphic novel ...

Mind maps and a mouse Chernobyl Downloaded an abridged version of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying and listened to it on the train. John Cleese reading it, as well as Sogyal Rinpoche the author, and others. I noticed John Cleese at the three day retreat I attended with Sophie, which was led by Sogyal Rinpoche himself. Listening to it is surprisingly cheering, and like a burst of sanity as you scrabble ratlike from the train platforms at Victoria down into the tunnels of the tube. Arriving at London I picked up a free Metro which had a false front and back page covered in stories about Watchmen . The movie is out shortly in the UK. I read the graphic novel last year while I was in Greece, and found Alan Moore's story intriguing. The advertising for the movie covering the Metro (usually only worth reading for the excellent translated Norwegian cartoon strip Nemi ) was very well done though, and true to the style of the original graphic novel. Interestingly Moore's name was...

Toby and the Turtle Lots of work on Skeletons first thing this morning. Only a few days away now from completing the first draft. Spoke to Mum, and talked about how I have more Achilles heels than a spider, and the rubbishness of art dealers, among other subjects. Just setting off for a swim when I heard a shout from behind me and there was Toby emerging speedily from the end of my twitten having arrived earlier than expected. So instead of a swim we went for a walk along the seafront and pier. It was incredibly windy and stormy this afternoon. In fact it was the strongest wind I can remember down here. The sea was white, and there was one of those winds you can lean into. We walked along noticing the Union flag in tatters over a seafood shop. Drops of spray and rain stung our faces. There were still people enjoying the pier, and certain rides, which was rather amazing. We hung off it watching very big waves rolling in. After this exhilaration, we repaired to the Mock Turtle for cream...