under another sun

Lorraine, Beth and I piled into the car and drove off to Ashford to see Pat and Maureen. A nice enough drive till Lorraine mentioned casually a few miles out of Ashford on the motorway that we might not have enough fuel to make it. We got petrol and made it. Collected Pat and Maureen and then off to The Blacksmiths Arms for a Sunday lunch and a few pints of Otter beer. I like this pub, which has a traditional feel to it, and being Kent has dried hops here and there. Had a nice time chatting with Pat and Maureen. This is Pat's pub and he goes there every Friday to play darts with a crew of blokes of all ages, which is a nice thing. Back home for fruitcake and cups of tea, and looking at a dozen or so photos of Maureen's family. I always like looking at family photos, and interesting to see one of Pat and Maureen in their younger days. Home then and dropped Beth off to Hove and we had a quiet evening. The news from Paris ghastly and brutal. Found myself feeling a bit nause...

Up early opening some excellent birthday presents from Lorraine. Something for my eyes, which was DVDs of the cult 90s SciFi show Above and Beyond , then something for my ears, which was a lovely murmury album called Coexist by The XX,  then something for my soul, which was a fossil fish about two and a half inches long and deep bodied like a hatchet fish. And finally a perfect Lamy ink pen. Working on poems in a bit of a frenzy this morning. In the afternoon Beth and her pal Olivia arrived, very cheerful and lively. I like Olivia, she's one of Beth's new besties from university. Facebook is an interesting thing. I had dozens of people sending me good wishes today. Facebook is excellent for this kind of stuff. Spoke too to Mum and First Matie. After Lorraine gave me a miniature chocolate cake with a candle, we went to The Basketmakers, where we met Anton, Dawn, Beth and Olivia. I hugely enjoyed myself. Some of my very favourite people in my very favourite...