under another sun

Up and a final listen through to the podcast before sending it back to Robin to upload.  Lorraine and I excitedly unboxing our drier, which we keep in the garage. Managed to do myself a stomach mischief while lifting it up though. Strained some muscle low down below my navel. But then the excitement of drying! Amazing to have dry laundry, without having to hang it about the house creating a miasma of semitropical dampness. In the evening a few beers a long chat and a couple of games of bones with Anton. Brighton quite quiet tonight. We also strapped on the nosebag at the Hampton. Ended the night nursing a couple of Guinnesses in The Crescent, which was absolutely empty, sitting by the fire. The young guy behind the bar put on a tape of music from around 1980 and we sat there happily shooting the breeze.  Klaudia's birthday today, and she was in Paris with her mates to celebrate. Hard to imagine that 21 years ago today I met her as a newborn.  Home at a decent time.

Lorraine unwell this morning, feeling drained and achey.  I was okay, although a bit lifeless. Did some shopping this morning, and making sure Lorraine was okay. Called Anton to make sure he was okay for me to come, and he said he was feeling a bit rough too, so not to worry.  So in the afternoon, I made off to Anton's house and with Anne, we taxied to The Connaught in Hove. Oskar and his girlfriend Niamh, who I liked a lot, and found an intelligent, thoughtful girl, studying design. Oskar has changed again. His hair is darker, and his voice deeper. Klaudia arrived slightly later with Anna. Klaudia fresh from all kinds of travels this summer. Thailand her favourite it seems. Nice to catch up with Anna too. I tried my best to eat reasonably to my new principals, and enjoyed a Caesar Salad. Then back to Anton's for presents and cake, and some sparkling wine. Lorraine and I had got him a print of the Seven Sisters, which he has been on lots in preparation for his Camino walks. I ...

Up late, and a hearty breakfast. Called Mum for a cheery chat. Lorraine and I mooching about in Seaford to pop into The Crypt to see an exhibition of works by folks in the Seaford Art club. A fairly decent standard. We spoke to Palo Almond who seems a lovely smily woman, whose work we like.  Kissed Lorraine and walked through the churchyard to head to the station. Had one of those moments of unexpected happiness. I like living here.  To Brighton to meet Anton for a cheeky afternoon beer. I worked at some poems on train and then scuttled through the rain to the Battle of Trafalgar where there was a bizarrely dressed stag do, lots of spangly cowboy stuff, including a beefy guy in a black hat who towered over me at the bar.  Anton arrived, but it was noisy due to noisy boys, so we sauntered in the rain down to the Evening Star, where I went unmolested, enjoyed good beer and played several games of highly contested bones with Anton, played on a bakelite made in the USSR in 1...

Feeling a tad brighter today, thank God, and did my best to be more cheerful and positive. Despite it being Sunday, I got up and worked for a couple of hours on the work I was doing with Keith, as I had been pretty poor last week. Able to focus a bit better. Lorraine much better now. And she is feeling positively optimistic which is lovely to see. In the afternoon Lorraine and wrapped up and went outside, as it was quite warmish and sunny. Ate sandwiches with tuna mayo garnished with sprouting seedlings. Tasty. We walked about talking about where to put the fruit trees that are soon coming early next week, and even spent some time weeding together. Later I did much of the cooking too.  Tobs called it had been dangerously cold with the wind on Friday, and that what compensation he would get for his cancelled flights over Christmas was still uncertain. Canada, eh?  Anton called, having had a good weekend of gaming and drinking with his mate Dan. They were debating which day of t...

Up at dawn and preparing to interview Robert Hamberger for Planet Poetry. When I interviewed him, I made every gaffe possible. I felt unfocussed and weirdly anxious. I may have been a bit dehydrated or something. Thank god for editing. Robert a bit nervous, but was warm and interesting. His writing is so human. Started a general planning mind map. I want to take a helicopter view on all my activities and Mari Kondo everything -- what sparks joy & what needs to be sent to the dustbin of history.  I interviewed Robert -- whose writing I like lots, but I made every gaffe possible. My brain was not working at all well. In retrospect I think I may have been a bit dehydrated. Thank God for editing. Robert interesting and warm.  Immediately after, I called Lorraine who was driving back from Ashford. Lovely to have her back, if only for 24 hours. We had a short walk by the sea, and stopped off at Morrisons to buy a chicken for a roast dinner tonight. I cooked while she relaxed on ...

Frosty roofs and lawns this morning, with ice in the bird baths and in thin plates on the little fish pond. I got up and toyed with a few poems, adding no value at all. Brain moving at gastropod speeds, but nice to be back at my desk at least trying.  This struggle soon interrupted by a man in a lorry, who arrived with lots of long heavy boxes and a good deal of glass, which will, when assembled by an expert next week, will create a greenhouse. We left the glass stacked, and took the rest down to what we are calling the work 'ouse. Lorraine's masterplan for the garden is taking shape.  We also moved geraniums etc into the summerhouse to stop them getting frosted again. Lorraine cooked us up a lovely veggie soup, and after I mooched off to the gym. Spoke to two people in the changing room -- one of whom gave me advice on repelling creatures that dig out your flowerpots: chilli powder apparently. Much friendlier here in Seaford, and to be in a gym where the average age isn't ...

Completed the first edit of the interview I did with Pete yesterday. One of the easier editing sessions as he was a fluent interviewee. Meanwhile the freelance work slipping out of control. A brief I was expecting on Monday, still has not arrived, and the presentation Keith and I were to give on Tuesday for another client has been biffed indefinitely. In the evening Keith called me to say he had been offered some work and could I do it... But as it falls across our house move I had to biff it.  At least it gave Lorraine and I some more time for a bit of packing, and I shuffled about in my office separating sheep from goats in terms of the books I will need over the next few weeks, and other essential stuff, before the ultimate Big Pack.  Anton called and told me that Baby Klauds arrived at her new uni in Birmingham, went out on the first night, and her throat grew agonising. She went to the campus doctor, and was immediately sent to hospital as she had quinsy. Anton expressing...

Finishing off the job this morning, chatting with Keith and having to tweak a mind map. Lorraine and Sam drove off to Basingstoke to see Glenice.   Anton and Bob's birthdays today. Off into town this afternoon to do some shopping, including a speciality booze shop where I bought a bottle of Linie Aquavit for Anton. A message to Bob and a promise of a meet up. Running about in a bit of a frenzy in town.  My background stress levels are absurdly high, with all this house uncertainty. However, our buyers are coming around this weekend so it will be good to see the whites of their eyes. In the early evening I sauntered around to Anton's place, and hung out with Anton and Oskar, who had been to Reading Festival and had a lively time and he was telling me about the music he liked. I impressed him a little saying I had met  Aitch  - who is a big hero these days - which surprised him.  Lorraine arrived, and Klaudia and Anne filtered downstairs too. A cheery evening. Kla...

Sticky night, and a hot start to the day. Up and sipping coffee and eating breakfast. Called Mum, who was being helped by Ben to fix the car. Mum and Mas certainly have angelic neighbours. Off to Anton for an afternoon barbecue. I sprang out of the taxi at seven dials to go to the Magduisa Polski Sklep to pick up some cold beers. Sweltering heat that was forecast. But the heatwave came to an abrupt end as the afternoon progressed and I did not once have to deploy my new Panama hat. Had a really nice time chatting to Anne and Klaudia and Oskar drinking Polish beers and eating paella cooked outside. Oskar finally receiving the present we had bought for him months before his birthday, a wallet with a bit of cash in it which he liked despite it being a bit old school in these days of cashless payments. I loved the way Oskar was calling Anton Father too with a mixture of affection and Victorian flavoured irony. Lorraine saying how excellent Klaudia and Oskar are when we got home early in t...

A much needed slumping day. As I am still in recovery mode. Slept and read this afternoon on the gold sofa while Lorraine played Star Dew Valley and listened to music. I had to apologise to Sarah that I wouldn't be there for her online launch of her marvellous book The Thoughts , which was tonight too.  Then off to the posh restaurant The Ivy in Brighton for  6:15 to celebrate Klaudia's 18th birthday. Lorraine and I bumped into Anne, Anton, Klaudia, Oskar and Anna as they were climbing out of their cab. Klaudia had been partying hard all weekend, as is only right and proper, going to London with a posse of her pals on Friday, and then having a party at home last night, then going out to The Green Door after midnight to stay out late. So it was a slightly wan and delicate Goddaughter who appeared tonight -- but she did very well considering.   A lovely meal, and Klaudia liked the silver bangle from Silverado I'd bought her and simply put it on straight away, and the m...

Up early, and got to work with Keith at 8:30. A bit of a slog for this early in the year. Tired by the end of the day. A couple of very brief walks in rubbish weather. In the late afternoon I had time to phone mum for a chat. In the evening, after Keith's Virgin had crashed again and I had faced the prospect of presenting alone to the Americans, all went fairly well. It makes me feel odd talking to Americans. A year on from last year's insurrection the BBC's Americast podcast was saying the majority of people who voted Republican last time, still believe that Trump won. Democracy in the US has been hanging by a thread. In fact sanity itself has been hanging by a thread. With QAnon and other conspiracies raging in the US, even down to our own Prime Minister telling  outright lies every time he opens his mouth, a sense of truth is hard to find. But for sentient Americans this must be an alarming time. Done with the Americas at eight, I flew downhill to the Shahi to join the c...

An enjoyable birthday, not overburdened by the usual existential crises. A busy day. Breakfast with Lorraine, and then an early morning coffee with Beth and Sam who got up too. Gifts of high-quality socks too from Beth, and Sam and Pat and Maureen. Lorraine is going to buy me a camera, and I am going to consult with Innis on a good one to get. I love taking snaps, and it would be nice to have an excellent camera.  Messages from Toby and a beautiful e-card from Mum. Maureen and Dawn both phoned me to sing happy birthday, and facebook full of nice messages too. A lovely text from Rosie. I took delivery of a box from Fortnum, which contained a small library of beers from Catherine and Tanya. Also a poem and a St. Martin's parish an old magazine on memories the Occupation from Richard and Jane.  In the evening after Lorraine had returned home with a birthday carrot cake with a candle, and I had put on some high quality socks, Sam, Lorraine and I drove down to the Shahi, where we m...

A curiously frustrating day, feeling stressed and unable to make progress in any direction.  Anton and I investigated the walking around Guernsey plan but the price the Barbarie were charging was too hefty so we have parked that for the time being. Also plane fares start at a very reasonable £59 each way, but as soon as you want to take a small suitcase with you, you can expect to pay an extra sixty quid for the round trip. Had another go at sorting out the Natwestisögur but failed. Was told my existing complaints person would get back to me.  Anton and Bob's birthdays today. I sent fond messages to Bob, and in the evening Lorraine, Sam and I made off down to the Shahi to have a celebratory curry with Anton, Anne, Klaudia and Oskar. A cheery evening, Anton on good form. We had got him a historical print of a map of Poland when we were in Hay on Wye.  Meanwhile young Klaudia very businesslike these days, having given up her job in McDonalds for a better paid gig on the Pie...

A storm of wind and rain overnight. The job that was mooted for next week definitely not happening now. Working through a list of to dos for Friday.  Was finally sent the log on details to my new business bank account (it has taken about a month) only to find someone had already taken funds out of it with a cheque.  I don't have a chequebook and so had to phone up the bank, and be passed from person to person for almost half an hour. Eventually I got through to the fraud department. After twenty seconds of talking to this bloke I was cut off. Repeat the process and finally, after well over half an hour I was refunded the money. It seems like it was a bank error, rather than someone trying to defraud me.   A lunchtime treat. I sauntered back down to the Open House and met Reuben for a bite to eat.  I had a vegan club sandwich which was incredibly filling, we also had a Guinness and cup of coffee. Just lovely to catch up. I hadn't had a proper chat with him for ages. J...

Friday and a long-postponed walk with Anton. Who called around for me at 9:30. We did about 14 or 15 miles eventually, walking up past the Hillfort, into Stanmer Woods, down to the Amex Stadium in Falmer, then up over the Downs towards the sea at Rottingdean, which I just looked up and means the valley of Rota's people. From there a brief pause, a snack and then along the seafront back to Brighton. It was a walk full of variety, from the iron age hill fort, crossing the bridge into Woodland at Stanmer Park, passing Brighton's new football stadium, designed to be in sympathy with the downs, and across farmed downland, and alongside the sea into the buzz of Brighton's seafront. Anton eyeing with approval the little powered scooters ridden by some rather well groomed men driving up and down Marine Parade.  Up the last haul up a hill to The Crescent Pub where we went into a pub together for the first time since February 12th. All sensibly run. Had to add your name and phone num...

Lorraine and I had a poor night's sleep, compounded by an alien cat getting through the cat flap and a howling fight breaking out at 3.00 AM.  Nevertheless pp early with Lorraine and competed the first draft of my new horror story by about noon. Still tinkering with the title. I will put this aside now for a couple of days. Right now I like its stalkerish creepiness. Then three small boxes of books arrived containing a few dozen copies of Magnificent Grace . I had been dreading the moment I opened it looked through a copy and found a howling formatting error or something. Luckily, I could find none and pronounce myself satisfied. There was something very satisfying about popping open a box of books and seeing this story finally realised in book form. Now there is the business of taking it into schools. Put out the standard box shot on social media, and had some nice attention -- even a couple of people saying they would buy it. Maintaining cautious optimism. Off to the gym for ...

Up feeling slightly fragile after a lively night yesterday. Off on the bus to Hove to see Rosie my near astrological twin, plus one day and a truckload of years, whose birthday is today. Innis, Eve, Emily and Tim, Phoebe and Lyra and Sue, Rosie's mum and Pippi the dog. Rosie and Innis house sitting for a friend and taking care of a chirpy little budgie that had a fly around at one point outside of his cage. There was also a bubble tank with a solitary red Betta Splendens in it. We had breakfast of pancakes and croissants and fruit and lots of coffee, and even a few sips of bubbly. All very pleasant. Made Lorraine and I both wonder why we don't meet people more for brunches. It is very civilised. Home again by bus, and a degree of snoozing and generally regrouping before we made off to the Preston Park Tavern, to meet Anne and Anton and Klaudia and Oskar. A nice roast there and a splash of wine and a Guinness or two. Lots of nice cards and presents for me, three books a...

Up fairly early to make Lorraine tea and breakfast, then I mooched off to Brighton Station where I met Klaudia. Unlike last year, we were able to simply hop on a train and get to London.  However the tubes from Victoria weren't working, and I didn't face going round Sark to get to Herm on the claustrophobic trains, so we simply hopped in a taxi from there to the theatre. This found, and our tickets collected, we popped into Byron burgers where we stuffed our faces with natcho starters, and then burgers. I had a C. Rex, some species of monstrously tasty and chicken burger, whereas Klaudia has started enjoying beef burgers, and fought her way through one of those. Sat next to a man with a booming voice, so it was hard to hear each other speak sometimes. Into the Novello Theatre to see Mamma Mia . We had seats right up in the top of the theatre, looking down on the glittery stuff below. We both enjoyed the show, having our traditional ice cream at half time, despite wanting to...

A beautiful Easter Sunday today. Lorraine and I working in the garden this morning, generally tidying and sorting things. Also assembling the table in what will be our craft room, and moving things about in there. I managed to drop a concrete paving slab on my ankle, giving my leg a scrape on the way down. No real damage done, although it hurt a lot and my anklebone ached afterwards. Showered and off in a taxi to Anton's house as it was Oskar's birthday today. He is thirteen. Did the usual reeling at the thought that my godbairns are now both teenagers. Good to see Anne too, who had been cooking up a storm. Anna there too, which was nice as I had not seen her for a while, and caught up a bit with her. Gave Oskar his pressie, and found him on fine form, and has recently joined the Army Cadets, which he seems to like a lot. It was entirely his own idea. He said he'd been learning hand signals for silent communication, and marching among other things. He is now noticeably ...

New Year's Eve. Lorraine much brighter than I have seen her of late, which was lucky as she had a meeting in Middle Street with Catherine. I walked into town to meet her afterwards, and we had a quiet coffee and made plans for the coming year. The buzz phrase is Iron Discipline . And both of us laughing about this but making plans to get more of a grip in 2019. From there we called around on Anton, still nursing his cold, and spoke to my Godbairns who both seemed in good form, Klaudia sporting the converse shoes we had bought her, and Oskar thanking us nicely for his present too. Anton, Lorraine and I then sauntered gingerly down to the emptyish Batty for a beer or two, and a good chat. Nice to be in the Battle of Trafalgar again. I am very fond of this pub, and very fond of Anton. And lovely to be out with Lorraine too, for the first time since before Christmas. Home by bus, and then later we bused to Hove where we went around to Rosie and Innis's place, where Beth and Joh...