under another sun

Extremely windy. Storm Bert. Problems with the train, so Lorraine and I made off to Brighton by bus. We met Penny and Steve in the Dishoom Permit Room . The food very nice but the restaurant very popular and a bit cramped. Also noisy. Now I am an old codger I enjoy a bit of tranquility while strapping on the nosebag. However, we enjoyed ourselves and caught up with Penny and Steve, both recovering from colds, but otherwise chipper. My main from the 'Ruby Murray' section of the menu was a Dishoom Chicken Ruby, lovely it was in a rich satisfying sauce with a lingering peppery warmth.  After lunch, Lorraine made off back home, and I lurked in Brighton for a bit, being happily buffeted on the peir the sea was white and the wind, especially when it funnelled down the street leading onto the seafront enough to blow people so that they were staggering along.  Met Anton in the Hampton and we had a cheeky drink there, and Anton ordered some food, which I picked at. Lots to catch up on,...

Back up to London. The train wouldn't start again at Seaford, but then all well, and a good journey, unremarkable other than a dog leaning with heavy fondness on me and licking my hand in one train. Got to Mum's exactly at 12:20 and after a cup of tea and a chat, and we sorted out a couple of bits like reloading Facebook on her iPad and sitting a heavy pot back on its feet etc. Her new wifi working well, although she doesn't like the little phones so much. We looked at a few old photos and then made off in the car, now parked outside on the newly-tarmacked street as the old disabled markings are gone, so she can park outside her own house without being given a ticket by Kafkaesque parking wardens.  To the Waggon on a fine, but coolish day. A few of the folks in the corner, all saying hello to us, especially Mum. The Bailiff guy was in, with two dogs which he told to sit on two chairs and they did, all the time he was there, even when he had to go out to move his chair. When...

Up in Edgware, having slept quite heavily. Breakfast with Mum, and I replaced our Friday list of things, with a new list of Mason related tasks now with fewer things on it. I researched couriering ashes to California. Eye-watering expenses, and nothing can be done till the death certificate is issued anyhow, and that won't be for months potentially. We drove off to Edgware and took seven big bags of clothes to the charity shop. While Mum finds this sad, there is at least the idea they are going to a very good cause. From there back home, and thence to The Waggon and Horses, arriving a bit later than usual, had lunch and some Guinness. Steve and Paul at the bar chatting to mum and I cheerily, and inviting her to sit with them next time she comes. Mum made me laugh mishearing on of the staff talking about duck wraps, as lab rats. Fond farewells with Mum, then I set off at 2:30. With assorted rail problems, having to go via Brighton, where I had to change to bus travel, it took me fou...

Up early, made coffee and tidied up a bit. Hideous apocalyptic dreams -- nuclear weapons exploding and other such restful stuff. A cheery morning with Mum. Sorted out her nectar card problems, did some tidying in the kitchen on hand and knees in a food cupboard, and so on. Mum fairly cheery, people being steadily supportive. She also had emails from her friend Jana who is planning to visit her which she is looking forward to. Fond farewells with mum, and I mooched off not long after noon by foot and bus to Mill Hill Broadway. Bought a ticket, bought a cup of tea, and jumped on a train. As my posterior touched the seat, the driver announced there had been a fatality on the line ahead, and the train and the ones further down the line were going nowhere. He advised us to get off and find another way into London. A slow bus to Kingsbury Circle, talking to Anton and Lorraine on board, then trained down to Victoria where I struck lucky and caught a train to Lewes which was almost ready to le...

Hosing it down this morning. A filthy day. Many of the trains weren't running thanks to industrial action, including those I take to get to Mum, so I called her first thing and rearranged a visit to next Wednesday.  A suprise visit from Matt, who had come to Seaford to see his grandfather, and get his wee boy William to meet him. Lorraine cooks us some soup. William was delightful, and extremely well behaved. Great to see Matty boy again, last glimpsed on Chiswick High Road in the summer. Good to have a catch up on some gossip, but also to see Matt being such an exemplary dad. All heartwarming.  Then later in the afternoon, Lorraine and I set off to Brighton by car, to catch the train to Victoria. Arrived in good time, bought a snack from M&S and caught the tube to Embankment and walked up through the festive throngs to the London Coliseum  St Martin's Lane, where we saw Max Richter lead the performance of his piece Voices, based on the Universal Declaration of Human ...

I was thinking about Zen Buddhism on the way to Hampton this morning. The Shepperton train to Hampton was again cancelled but instead of raging about it, I was suddenly aware of the Buddhist notion of the gateless gate.  It crystallised as: the way to reach Hampton is not to travel to Hampton. Armed with this clarity, I was able to reach Hampton by travelling to Hampton Court station on the other side of the river, and simply walk. Obviously the Hampton Court train was delayed too, as the trains were passing through quite thick fog.  However, I was only slightly late to arrive. A pleasant day today. Pat had brought in his Staffordshire terrier called Alice, it having had an operation recently removing something nasty from its face, and this thing barged happily about the office. At lunchtime I accompanied Pat as he walked about Hampton with Alice. At one point a charming young woman sitting on a bench fell on Alice, and chatted happily to Pat.  Afterwards I asked Pat ho...

Devil trains part two today. Lorraine dropped me near the station early today, and I was able to catch an even earlier train from Brighton. Arrived at Clapham to find it in chaos. Obviously the all the Shepperton trains I catch to Hampton were cancelled, but so were those to Kingston. Spent almost an hour there before being able to catch a train in the right direction. Arrived with exactly the same lateness as yesterday, but with the earlier start that was well over three hours. Work again fine. Pat there too today. Went to the pub at lunchtime with The FB, Pat, Keith and Joe, where we sat around the bar in the Jolly Coopers, and unlike yesteryear, I had a shandy and a fish finger sandwich, before repairing back to the agency. The FB bought a signed copy of Magnificent Grace from me which I signed for his boy Elijah.  Left with Pat and caught the train with him, and again was home easily. I had been briefed with lots of copy to write, so it was agreed I could work at home tomo...

Woke up early, and alone, apart from cats. Up and off to Preston Park. A nightmarish journey to Hampton followed. My train was cancelled, then the next one delayed, and standing room only. At Clapham Junction the train to Hampton was cancelled, waited half an hour and so was the next one. A railway employee explained that the trains often simply skip Clapham Junction. Caught a train to Kingston, and then caught a bus. Sitting on the bottom deck I misjudged where I was and leapt out, already half an hour late, and found I had a mile to walk. Seething and wretchedly late by the time I arrived at the agency. It had taken three hours door to door. Once in the agency, all was perfectly pleasant. Nice to see the French Bloke, and Keith, Perky and others. The FB telling me that he had bought himself a plasma cutter recently. Made me laugh that he and I live in such utterly different worlds. A saunter to the bakery with Keith at lunch, and worked happily till it was time to slip off. His ...

Go up hideously early this morning to go to work. Luckily Lorraine decided to get up at a similar time too, and dropped me at the station in time for the 6:44. A gorgeous morning. Got into work an hour early to do some urgent work, only for the computer I have to use not to work. It was finally fixed by a nice IT man called Dexter an hour later. Managed to get what I needed done. Presentation to a pleasant client. I was not leading this presentation, so this felt odd to me.  Slogging all day. Went out to get a sandwich at lunch, and it was like stepping out of the building into Greece. 29 C, some kind of weird bulge of heat up from Africa apparently. Scarfed a flatbread salad and tuna on my feet watching a swan bully a pair of Canada Geese, then back into a briefing. Out of the building like Usain Bolt at 5:30. However there was more devil train travel carnage at Victoria and I didn't get home till 8:45. I am beginning to understand why people voted for Mussolini. Cooked...

Needed to do some work on the train this morning, but missed my train, and wasn't able to work not he train I eventually caught. Instead finished Back in the Jug Agane . Richard had given it to me in Guernsey. It was a Molesworth book that I didn't realise existed, and it made me laugh aloud a couple of times. Laughs that I frankly needed. Work okay apart from IT issues affecting lots of people, including me. The time I have wasted at that agency through IT nonsense is quite large. The people are very nice though. Lovely weather. I had a walk along the canal, having brief chats with Betty, who was on her way to be with John, and with Mum. Came across two police frogmen glooping about under a bridge with handers doing things with ropes. I didn't feel right photographing them, so I did so hurriedly and badly. Left work and as Lorraine was out with some buddies, I decided to meet Anton at Waterloo and have a quick drink with him and go home. Sprang out of work on time, b...

To London. Lorraine and I left early, she dropped me at Preston Park. I had left with bags of extra time, but the train was cancelled, the next one slow and delayed. At Victoria the District line so crowded that everyone was kept outside the station. Some days the travel gods are against you and there's nothing you can do about it. After about 25 minutes people, led by a particularly aggressive  woman, began hectoring the young woman on the gate. Then at last we were let in. Late, I still scraped in just before the big meeting with my chums in Chiswick. A new client, and quite a nice one. An interesting project; a lengthy brainstorm and a working lunch. I managed to shun Maltesers, M&Ms etc. that others were picking at during the morning. Nice to see my Chiswick pals again. And one particularly nice client. All done by early in the afternoon. A fairly smooth journey. Lorraine home on time having picked up a stomach bug from school. She spent the evening curled up on the sof...

Both Lorraine and I feeling sluggish still. However up and a kipper based breakfast and off to see Janet and Ken for morning coffee. Also collected some bags of fabric that Janet is kindly giving to Lorraine's school. We also discussed the new house Janet and Ken are moving into, in Hove. It looks good, a roomy ground floor apartment. Felt quite excited for Janet, and she'll have some garden too. Then back home, dropping a book off with Rosie, who is in the next street to where Janet lives, and driving past Janet and Ken's soon to be new home. A Sunday lunch, then Lorraine drove me off to Brighton station, and I trained up to Blackfriars, without incident and attended the T.S.Eliot readings at the RFH. Southbank looking rather nice as I walked along, a stretch of river that is very familiar to me having worked at IBM's building there for a few years. Met Robin, Charlotte and Jess. The first phase of these readings is always the same, gathering in the long bar befo...

Mas had his neck operation, and is okay. I thought they were putting a stent in but Mum things they didn’t. It was successful however. Up blearily with Lorraine, who drove me to Preston Park my train was on time. But the delayed earlier train arrived at the station a few minutes before, broke down and so when the train came it had two trainloads on it. Had to stand up as far as Farringdon, for over an hour and a half.   However I used this time, squidged half into a the luggage space to have a word with myself about everything. Decided that the only thing I can control is my own conduct, and had better look to it, and decided to preachily share this on Facebook.   You can be the change you want to see. Work fine. Still enjoying working with Fernanda. With the growing amount of people at the Tavistock Square agency, I find the whole process has become more complicated, and instead of being able to drive things along I am asked to do not too much.   Curiously this ...

Missed my train having woken especially early to get the early one. Later trains cancelled so arrived late at work yet again. Work draggy with people (not me) getting heated and the long thing I am writing having all the goalposts moved again. My eye twitching off and on infernally, making it seem like I was winking at people who don't know me from a doorknob. Bought an actual book of To the Lighthouse which I finished this morning on the train. Brilliant stuff. Left work after seven and hopped on a bus which instantly became gridlocked. After ten minutes I got off and walked back to the tube station and went to Victoria via the rattling coffins of the Victoria line. At Victoria, just missed my train, and instead caught a crowded train to Hove as the ones to Brighton were delayed.  I politely asked a woman to let me sit in the chair she was blocking. Unfortunately she was a madwoman, which I had failed to spot. She began muttering and swearing and it emerged I had offended he...

My lovely wife made me a flask of tea to drink on the train. I however left home without drinking the tea nor remembering the flask. A dispiriting scene at Brighton station, as there were problems further up the line. Eventually one left late, and crammed, for London but luckily I was a mere 20 minutes late to work. My place had been moved overnight, and the computer on my new desk wouldn't let me in. This eventually resolved, I got a fair amount done this morning but was forced to idle in the afternoon away as there was no brief. My mood much better too. At lunch I took a stroll around the neighbourhood, thinking of Bob who I have met in this area quite often, except at night and punctuated by refreshments. I lurked under the looming British Telecom Tower, and into the grand Fitzroy Square, where the wind blew fallen gold plane tree leaves from the large private garden in the middle. London is a leafy place. Left work early at 5:45. But caught the world's slowest bus ten m...

Another dreadful night's sleep, strange devil trains dragging along the viaduct in the small hours, cleaning the lines and shining bright lights through the Velux windows. Lorraine up early so I was too being cat-plagued and keen to make progress. Calliope especially sees it as her mission to wake me still. I got to Sainsburys at opening time to buy some muesli for me and prawns for Calliope, and started work at 8:30. Got cracking on the business book again, which I enjoyed. This stage is all about metaphor and the darker arts of advertising. Found that my hardback copy of Aristotle's Poetics seems to have vanished, but downloaded one for my kindle (albeit an old translation). At noon I was called by the Tavistock posse and asked to work in the afternoon on some copy for them, however, which added some cash to the day's equation which is always welcome. Claudius came around for a business discussion, related to The Shakespeare 'Heptet' as they are now known. ...