under another sun

April fool's day. Another beautiful day, and a much better night's sleep. Nothing too foolish going on (if you discount world politics) and I am trying to be cheerful. Having sprawled around so much, my back has stiffened up and I managed to twinge it while pulling my socks on, so now my back hurst too. I was supposed to interview a Faber poet, but I bumped this and so his publicity people got in touch again. Spent a good deal of time reading my book of Gothic Tales, including re-reading The Fall of the House of Usher , by Poe. I find myself laughing lots reading these stories.  I received my copy of Supernatural Tales, with my story in it, the third ST has used. I read it through again, and felt quite pleased with myself as I think it is tight, unusual, well-written and quite scary. I usually just fixate on the typos. But this one almost error free. Some years ago Beth told me in some detail what it was like to wear a rabbit suit in one of her jobs working on a hop farm. I wan...

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...

Hot, close night. Brian miaowing with great volume, being deaf, outside the bedroom door. He is banished from the bedroom. Then me waking me up hearing Calliope yowling with another cat outside as my windows were open. I went down and stood outside at 3am. The sky was flashing with distant thunder beyond Seaford Head, and while I was there a few spots of rain started but soon stopped. Couldn't get back to sleep, and Lorraine wasn't there.  A nice day for me, however. An early breakfast, and working slowly on a few bits and pieces, and in the afternoon organising my other website, and I went to the gym again.   Best news of the day came as I was cooking a curry for when Lorraine got home. I received an email from David Longhorn at Supernatural Tales, who said he'd greatly enjoyed my story What's Inside and will publish it next spring.  I'm absolutely delighted by this. Texted Betty this evening to tell her, as it was her summer job some time when she wore a rabbit s...

5 am. The unmistakable sound of Calliope fighting a big black cat outside, I poked my head through a bedroom window, and skillfully spouted a little water from an indoor watering can onto the black cat, who was twice the size. Calliope then chased it off.  However when I got up later, there was no sign of Calliope. She is normally pestering me in the morning. I went around the garden calling for her, then outside in the street and the alley behind the house. I was beginning to think the worst but she appeared from some secret hiding place and all was well. Up late, Lorraine having to rush off to do StoryTime without a breakfast. I did more editing on What's Inside .  I also crossed the Rubicon, signing off my last business accounts, and closed down my business bank stuff. This felt liberating, more like a new beginning. I haven't ruled out making money in future, but no longer from freelancing for agencies. So ends my little writing business est. 2007. It did me well for 17 ye...

Rain most of the day, and just as we were dropping off, distant thunder in the channel. I worked all day, doing the penultimate edit on my new story What's Inside . But by the end of the day I ended up doubting it, because it is written in the second person, which is highly unusual. I think this adds weirdness to what is trying to be a horror story. I think it works, but I'm not convinced an editor would be prepared to give it a punt. Perhaps this is a legacy of having done all that advertising work. I am writing the story as if it were happening to the reader. Lorraine off to her personal trainer and seeing Penny. Matt the pond man came around and installed an additional plug for the pond to power the UV light in the filter. Standing with him in the rain for a bit. The pond seems clearer, and the fish seem happier too. Went for a walk along the seafront, but it was raining enthusiastically. I suddenly felt very anxious too. Luckily I understand myself much better these days.  ...

Up early this Monday morning, and working on What's Inside , my latest horror short story. In the afternoon Lorraine and I drove off to Newhaven Fort . It is closed to the public, being besieged by builders, but weirdly there is a picture framing business inside it that stubbornly remains open. We had to be walked through the site by a pleasant Polish builder, who told us they were, among other stuff, repointing all the brickwork in the fort. His building site English amused me.  Let me move this fucking stuff out the way, he said politely clearing our path.  He pointed us to framer behind an unmarked door, where he had his studio. We took some pieces to be framed by him, he came recommended. We strolled for little bit around the castle grounds which leads to a costal path I might take one day. Then I spent the rest of the afternoon in my study moving books around, and chatting with Lorraine who was finishing a lined bag with embroidery on it which looked very smart. She ...