under another sun

Nastily cold day. Woken by Calliope and Brian offensively early. Up and let Chris in at 8:30 to continue replacing the boiler and water tank and so on. Then I spent hours in my nest editing my most recent interview for Planet Poetry, and cringing around the heater. Chris and I left at about the same time. I met Steve at the station and we caught the train to Brighton, now at last upgraded and with on board toilets as if it were the 21st century or something, where we went to the Battle of Trafalgar where the beermonsters were assembling for the first time in many months. A full complement, with Nick, Richard and Claudius too. Claudius now living in Senegal most of the time -- although back for a few weeks. He really likes it in Dakar which is an up and coming place, and is taking French lessons. Richard was on excellent form, looking happier and healthier that for some time, and was just starting a few weeks vacation. Nick, always cheery, telling us among other things about the wonders...

Starting a week which seems mercifully free of freelance work. However before I got wearily out of bed I had an offer of a few days working with my German friends, starting next Monday, which helps to keep the Kenny coffers a chinking.  I gave much of the morning to tinkering with poetry, and looking after Lorraine, who while a bit better, is still nowhere near right. After dinner I made off to the Battle of Trafalgar, for my first visit to a pub for what seemed like ages. Met up with the Beermonsters there. Good to see Steve as always. I am going to lurk with him in Seaford soon. Nick in a cheery mood, and becoming almost lyrical telling us again about hang gliding in the Himalayas. He said there was something called a red zone, that it was important not to fall into, as you would be unlikely to be found for weeks. Richard has chosen not to be vaccinated for his own reasons. His problem now is that his employer is the NHS, and the Government are saying it will become mandatory for...

Dreaming about my own death last night. Not great. Crept out of bed to try not to disturb Lorraine. She drove off to see Pat and Maureen and had a good time with them and Ken.  A torrid day's work which began before eight. Presented eight ideas to the CD at lunchtime in what was supposed to be a work in progress meeting.  The CD, who is generally a good egg but is rather under pressure on this job, began judging them as if we had had a two week to work on them rather than a day and a half. He was hostile to a beautiful  idea that we had come up with and Keith had created gorgeous image for. A bit preciously, I lost patience at this point because the stated demand at the beginning of the brief was for originality, freshness and creativity. I said I was sick of coming up with original work to meet the brief, and when what is actually wanted is just more of the same. In retrospect, I quite enjoyed the fact that Keith had to step in to play good cop for once.   We slogge...

A day, unbelievably, of two pubs.  Quite a bit of work and fiddling around with infernal things this morning. And possible new bit of freelance, but there are many rivers to be crossed first. I walked off to the Royal Sovereign on Preston Street where I went INTO a pub, and had a quick drink with glassmates, Adele, Ben, Rick around the corner, Kate and Fran. It turns out that it had been Adele's birthday recently, which had passed without me remembering. I felt a bit bad about this, as Adele is one of the kindest people I know.  The group ordered Thai food, but I just ordered some nachos with bits on them. Everyone's meal came except mine and eventually as we were all going I ended up having to cancel it and get a refund. However, I did enjoy two pints of  a local brewery's Casual Pale ale.  Then returned home and sent a few more emails, cooked for Sam and Lorraine, and went down to the Open House for  5.00 where we had a table booked. Nick already there, and St...

Sending Lorraine off to the front line, while I simply do some work for my French client and editing podcast material. Also was sent a lead on possible business from a pal, which I followed up instantaneously. Dawn came by this evening, and she had dinner with Lorraine, while I made off to The Caxton. For my musical pals the beermonsters had convened for the first time since February. Jolly good to see them, although The Caxton not our usual haunt, but we were able to sit outside, and soon we were able to move our reserved table to one far away from anyone. I long for the times when you can simply have a beer in a pub with your mates, without neuroses.  Trying not to talk too much about Covid and so on. Alarmed to hear about Richard's strange nerve problem in his back, which means he is limping somewhat and unable to use one of his arms well enough to make a barre cord on his guitar. Apparently temperature triggers the effects, and it came on when he dived into the sea in the heatw...

Another blowy day but a bit of sun. Uploaded one video and in the afternoon, as it was a short episode, I completed and uploaded tomorrow's episode too. Also went for a walk up to Hollingbury Hill and another cheeky stroll around Blaker's Park at sixish. Spoke to Mum, who was telling me about her pal who had cut the hair of his dog and then his whole family. They all have the same haircut. Investigating government handouts, I have made a little money recently, which means I won't be eligible for anything for a while. I am a Ltd company, which makes things a little complicated. My accountant proactively wrote to me about it the other day, which was good. Had to overcome feelings of gloom over the future. At the moment, however, we have been very lucky and lost nobody dear to us due to C-19. At the moment it all boils down to that. In the evening a beermonsters zoom call, nice to see everyone's faces. Zoom calls are okay but it is certainly not like going to the pub, ...

Back to a more normal routine today. A much cooler day than of late. Lorraine in school this morning, but returned at lunchtime. Beth looking after little Tilly again. I uploaded the new episode onto Skelton Yawngrave TV, and recorded tomorrow's one, and quite a bit of the Thursday's too. A couple of minuscule scraps of work for my amigos in Hampton. Went for a walk up to Hollingbury Hill at 4 o'clock while listening to the Lord of the Rings . Very beneficial in maintaining my sanity. Home and pressed on again for a bit, spoke to Mum. Had supper with Lorraine and then I repaired to my study to have a drink over zoom with the beermonsters. Nice to chat to Steve, Richard and Nick. I sometimes forgot I was sitting in my study staring at a screen with a few tins of beer. Nick drinking all kinds of superior home brewed drinks. Steve self isolating as much as humanly possible as he has asthma, Richard meanwhile has just released the third CD, by the Shakespeare Heptet, which is...