under another sun

Monday and still feeling a bit meh, adding a touch of a cough to the general throaty tiredness. Lorraine very much on mute first thing, croaky and whispery with the sore throat.  The Tobster's birthday. I'd had a good chat with him yesterday, and wished him happy birthday then.  Mum, and she said she had spoken to him too. Both sympathetic about all the balls he is juggling. Mum told me that Ben across the road is depressed because of this wretched garage he had built several years ago. There is now an open forum on the local government website - as the building has retrospectively been contested - where one or two neighbours, like George the genius that lives next door -  are saying horrid things. We decided me going up tomorrow probably not the best idea, I will aim for later in the week because I don't want to saddle mum with my wussy throat.  Excellently, although I didn't have enough brainpower to write, but I did have enough to do my books and send them off to ...

Another great couple of hours working on poetry first thing. Poetry of some sort is flowing out of me at the moment. It may all be rubbish of course, but you never know. Lorraine working at home this morning till eleven thirty. After about ten I worked on my accounts, and by the end of the day I had got everything ready to send off to the accountant. Otherwise the podcast domain name still not mapping. New bank account still not showing up, although I have now received a bank card. The quality of the time is that if something simple can move at snails pace it will.   Betty called me sat in her car waiting to pick  up Tilly from school but had been ambushed by a heavy nosebleed, which was a bit alarming. All well in the end. Clem next door called me at lunchtime and came around and began fixing up the decking. This as great but it necessitated me having to shovel things in the garden, and move and carry stuff, and make tea and so on rather than carrying on with work.  Jade...

Lorraine doing school work from home, and zooming off midday as there had been a recall notice on the car, something to do with a child lock in the back. I spent the day getting spreadsheets ready for the my accountant. Fairly dispiriting stuff, but a big relief to get it done and sent off.  Mid afternoon, I managed a rain dodging walk. Reached the far side if the hill fort when big spots of rain, began and my lightning tracker app rumbled in my earphones. Sloped home through the woody bits in soaking rain. Happy to be home, and sit with Lorraine on the gold sofa as the rain poured outside.   Before the rain, walked past these starlings. I liked how a single bird is taking wing.   

Monday, and no early start as it was half term. Lorraine celebrated by going off to do work in the empty school and meet her pal Penny, who she had invited in to help her organise her office. I did a bit of this and that, replying to Janet related correspondence, and then walked down through Preston Park and had a haircut in town, and then simply walked back again through the cheerful sunny park armed with a chewy brown loaf. In the afternoon I virtuously prepared my accounts for my accountant.Weird how such a simple thing can present such a mental hurdle. Only took a couple of hours or so. Then I went for a short walk in Blaker's Park and nearby streets to make up my ten thousand paces. Much colder now, with the approaching full moon brooding on the horizon, I loped Mr Hyde-like through the streets in my Guernsey jumper. A cozy night in with Lorraine.

Chatting to Matty about our charity clients this morning. Then the rest of the time totting up travel tickets and so on to send my income and outgoings so Andrew can do my accounts. Another deluge most of the day. Having finished my unaccountable labours, Beth and I sat together scheming about Brighton Blonde Productions staging of A Glass of Nothing for next year. Beth off to stay with Mum and Mas tonight as she is being an extra on Holby City for the following two days and they shoot it up near Borehamwood. Lorraine and I watched Holby City for two minutes tonight. It was plenty till it turns into a game of Betty spotting. Loving listening to music at the moment with our new Mu-so system, using Spotify to discover gems from artist's back catalogues. Delving into John Martyn's early work over the last few days. Some gorgeous stuff such as the sweet-as-honey song Head and Heart below.

Hopefully a day of recovery as Lorraine still not feeling well. Beth and John home today, and Lorraine did sewing and cooked a delicious roast with a cheesy leek and breadcrumb dish, roast potatoes and so on, which we forked down happily for Sunday lunch. I worked most of the day on various bits and pieces, including starting on my accounts.  Betty back up to London, and I bought a ticket for next week at the station. Feeling under energised, and the foreboding sense of having a tiring week ahead.

A day when things started to unblock. The exchange of contracts on the twitten looks likely for this week. While Talib, who photographed our wedding only to become silent and not reply to my email, got in touch. And I ended the day with a virtuous glow, having completed the preparation of my accountants, something which made me feel light and airy, as well as stern and efficient.  I also did some preparation for the gifted and talented session I am doing on Thursday with Dawn. Contacted too by my chums in Tavistock Square, and may be covering for First Matie next week. Meanwhile I also cooked a Guernsey beanjar, harbinger of winter and delicious beany aromas. I started it in the new slow cooker, but it soon became apparent that it wasn't cooking properly, and had to be transferred to the beanjar. The clue's in the name really. Additionally I baked some bread which I'd not done for a few years, and we ate some in the evening with our beanjar. Also drank fresh coffee this e...