under another sun

Woke up and made everyone teas this morning. A more leisurely day, although there was still plenty of food to be eaten. We all watched Gavin and Stacey during the day which was excellent. In the afternoon Anton and Anne came around and hung out chatting till the evening. Ate bits of cold meat and various foods, and played a game of Euchre which prompted  Anton to spend a time talking about Skat a German card game. Later, chatting upstairs, I heard a squeak from the kitchen and went down to find Lorraine on the floor and Beth taking care of her. Turns out she had slipped over on  some water that had come off a cucumber Lorraine had just washed.) She had fallen heavily on her wrist and was in some shock. Between Beth and I we got her to breathe more calmly and get over the sicky feeling that came over her. Eventually she got up and headed for the sofa with a bag of peas. Lots of debate about taking her to A&E but Lorraine did not want to go. Luckily her arm was not hangi...

Up for a couple of hours working on a new poem, then off to Lewes to have a long and cheery meeting with Robin for a couple of hours, planning the rest of the year's Telltale activities. A perfect blue sky and warm sun today.  Lewes doing its best to look lovely in the fresh light. Back to London Road station, and then walked into town where I was again unable to pick up the present I had ordered for Lorraine yet again, despite it being promised on Monday. Some phoning back and forth afterwards. I felt sorry for the woman having to try to sort out the problem, but the whole thing is galling and frustrating. I bought Lorraine some Sweet Williams for when she came back from work, and I will have to pick up her present later. Working in the garden with Lorraine late this afternoon. Feeling blocked and irritated, I sat about reading poems by Victor Hugo and Pascale Petit -- then cooked for us. Lorraine and I then went out after dark for a nice walk around the park, seeing familiar ...

Lorraine saves the day Coffee and toast and a long chat with Mum and Mase this morning. Made sure I had scored several jams before we left, as Mum's jams are rather splendid. Lorraine and Mum conferring about jam making and looking at old cook books. Then off to Brighton again, to meet Lorraine's mum and dad who were staying with Lorraine before flying off to Ireland to visit Lorraine's excellently named brother Kenny Peter. When we were driving along, I was struck suddenly by something that I'd never thought before: that the motorway was actually quite a beautiful thing. We were driving on a four lane motorway, and the cars were all travelling at the same speed, almost in formation. Not sure why it struck me as beautiful, but it did. Anyway, Lorraine parked the car at the road at the end of my Twitten and I popped in to feed Calliope and drop some bits off. Emerging from my house after a couple of minutes I saw a rather disturbing scene. Lorraine was between two cars, ...

A Sunday in Brighton Up surprisingly early today. Went on a reconnaissance mission to a local car boot sale where Anna had made £80 the week before. Not a single thing I wanted there, but nevertheless interesting. Time to eye up things that I might be able to get rid of, as I have a hoarding streak and not much space. Back to Lorraine's place to feed her cats Brian and Basil, one of whom had registered disapproval by being sick on the carpet. I checked Beth's aquarium. Then we walked down to the sea where dark clouds and patches of sun created dramatic light effects. Stopped at the meeting point for a cup of splosh, and a shared rock cake. Walking home past the clock tower there was a horrid accident just behind us. The sickening thud of a body going under a bus. We walked back as Lorraine wanted to check (as a former ward sister she may have been able to help) but there was someone there doing the right things. Normally in emergencies I try to help, but this one I'm ashame...