under another sun

Up and breakfast with Pat and Maureen.  Later Pat and Maureen spent time enjoying watching a Davis Cup tennis match on TV between Finland and Australia. We wanted the Finns. In the evening they were watching darts. They love games on TV. Sian came down from London. I collected her from Seaford station, and we sat about chatting. She was in good spirits, and we caught up as Lorraine cooked vegetable lasagne, using, among other things, a celeriac Lorraine asked me to dig up from the raised bed. Our celeriacs are big things, the size of large pineapples.  Lots of chatting with Sian, and then she and I walked to the Martello tower and Seaford Head, and we met Lorraine, Pat and Maureen there, who had a walk in the sun. A cold but beautiful day. Enjoyed chatting with Sian about all kinds of things. Quite a bit about the situation in Gaza. She had recent been on a protest that culminated outside the new American Embassy.  Home and we all had a late lunch in the dining room. A re...

A Sunday. Lorraine playing Star Dew Valley, I did some podcast editing and worked a little on a new poem, and read bits. Beth called around this afternoon, to hang out for a while before going off to London to see Shag Married Annoyed , a show that started with a podcast. Betty's new home buying seems to be progressing well.  Up to the hill fort this afternoon, listening to Bob Mortimer read his touching and funny book on my iPhone. Then home to collect Lorraine for another short stroll. Due to fuel supply chain problems, caused by Brexit, people have been panic buying petrol. Teachers are struggling to get into school tomorrow, and Lorraine will have to pick up one of them en route tomorrow. Luckily she filled her tank last week. Phoned Mum and Mas who had both their Covid booster and flu jabs yesterday. An hour before I called Mum had made Mas take his daily short constitutional, but his legs buckled and kindly neighbours a couple of doors down had to help him back. We went throu...

A slow start to Sunday, and Lorraine grateful for the fact that the clocks went back. Roused ourselves eventually to drive off to Sainsbury's and buy some vegetables. Then Lorraine took her car to be mended. Thought I had lost my wallet for a while, but luckily I had dropped it in the car. Spoke to Mum, and later on called Janet, but I guess she was at the hospital. I also wrote a chasing email to the agent who has my children's novel. The process of trying to get people to look at your work requires a resolute spirit. Beth and John came around this afternoon, and Lorraine cooked the massive shoulder of lamb that she had been given by the head of governors at her school. Obviously with my orc foot, which red meat sparks off, I was only able to eat a small amount of it. What I tasted was delicious. Lorraine made an apple pie afterwards, which was splendid. I like it when Lorraine gets serious in the kitchen. The other three forking into it with great abandon, and Beth took b...

Up fairly early this morning, and Lorraine, Beth and I off to see Pat and Maureen. Fun to hang out with them, watch darts on TV (which I really like watching) and to receive a stern education on the nature and practice of pie-making from Maureen, who made a delicious apple pie for us all. I am a great lover of apple pies, and was given an extra large helping as a reward. While we were there I FaceTtmed Mum to wish her a happy mother's day and she had a quick chat with everyone. A really nice lunch, which Maureen was pleased not to have cooked. Lorraine a martyr to hay fever, which she gets from tree pollen this time of year. Sneezing lots. But was still able to drive us about, and cook Sunday lunch with Beth when they got there. Poor thing had to do lots of work this evening, so Beth and I sat with her as she worked on the dining room table, and I caught up with social meejah stuff, and replied to a few emails and snickered about things with Beth and ate pieces of cake that Mau...

Lorraine and I off to Sheffield Park today for a stroll about. First we stopped by Trading Boundaries and almost bought a single curtain, but when we found it cost £160 we declined. Off then to  Sheffield Park and a nice interlude in the fresh air and a chance to walk and talk. A few early daffs, and snowdrops out, and one or two camillas. But mostly as the rain started, a reassuring English grey. In the afternoon home again, and Beth and I had a first script read-through the first early draft of A Glass of Nothing , and extracted a section for use in the auditions we are starting this week. Good feeling to get going on it -- and Beth pleased at where we're heading. A chat with Mum this evening, then I cooked a chicken and roast veggies, while Lorraine did Headteacher stuff on our new table. A reassuringly expensive free range blighter bought round the corner. Tasted good though. Remembered eating chicken out in Oum Hadjer, where the chicken, which we heard being slaughtered ea...

Up at seven and soon slouching towards London to be paid. A strange day at Tavistock Square, as they had no work for me, despite me having been booked. I had been told that the week would be intermittent, but wasn't expecting there to be nothing to do on the first day. As a consequence they asked me not to come in tomorrow. While waiting for a brief, I sat about surfing. It also gave me the opportunity to ask April, fresh back from the US, to sign the exchange of deed stuff which I then posted at lunchtime. I also had email with the incompetent leasing agents. Only a few more days of this hateful property-based soul-sucking and I will be free. The Buddha was right. Nice to chat to a few folks at work,  including Matty boy and Pat. Received some congrats and a kiss from Yaiza, who had seen wedding photos on Facebook. Also chatted to Mum, busy redecorating the house, as I mooched about the dripping Squares at lunchtime. Feeling tired, I was pleased to be able to leave work ten mi...

Interrupted by pie and thunder Thunder woke me, so up early and began straight away working on my poems in the light of yesterday's conversation - and seeing some instant improvements. What is slightly maddening is that several of them are reverting to how they were a while ago. There is a lesson in this, and I hope I am learning it. But thanks to Brendan a short collection of about 22 poems has suddenly revealed itself. At 10 I went off to LA Fitness and had a swim in the empty pool. I was reminded of the Westworld movie - with the gym being populated by a few unspeaking automata - but maybe that's just Sunday Morning. Something cold about this, but I prefer it to the thrashing about and child dodging of the public pool. Then a mooch in the damp flea market by the station but, apart from two sweetcorn cobs, nothing took my fancy. So I returned home for a very sensible lunch of brown rice, fish, veggies and a glass of sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon, and was just se...

To Kent A trip to Kent with Lorraine and Beth off to Lorraine's parent's home on the edge of Ashford. Met her brother, disconcertingly called Kenny Peter, and his two daughters, his partner and her mother. As Lorraine and Beth entered the front door, Beth turned to me and asked if I'd brought my pepper spray, which was funny. We all sat down to a proper English Sunday roast of beef and potatoes and parsnips, and beans and cauliflower cheese. This was followed by the triumphant bread and butter pudding Lorraine had prepared the night before. I have had a conversation with Lorraine to clarify that there are only three legitimate puddings: apple pie (which of course is proverbially nice: "as nice as apple pie") bread and butter pudding, and lemon meringue. Other than the unimpeachable Christmas pudding (at Christmas), liking other puddings, with their fripperies and foreign stylings, betrays moral laxness and ought not to be encouraged, especially among children and ...