Poetic interlude Up early and happily working on my new poem, which is about a pebble and God and is set in Moulin Huet, which was a rather nice place to spend a poetical interlude. Also I explored more on my other concept, which is too new to talk about but is a kind of 'how to' book. I also briefly tweaked some copy for Amanda in NZ who has added game inventor to her list of accomplishments. Her new board game is called Komodo, and sounds great fun if you like storming at your relatives and friends. Off after lunch to show Gary, Lorraine's ex-husband, around my house in the Twitten. He finds himself in need of one, and although a slightly weird thought at first, this may prove to be an excellent and rapid solution to my renting situation. Lorraine working from home this afternoon before going off to a governor's meeting. I was called by Nicola this evening, and have three days work back up in the smoke starting tomorrow. Rather good for the Kenny coffers, bad for poe...
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Happy Monday Damburst of ideas, and the best part of a poem written first thing this morning, and the outline of another project down this afternoon. Slipped off to Sainsbury's to buy ingredients for supper, as Lorraine would be home quite early. Cooked sausages and a mash made from butternut squash, carrots and potatoes with a little parmesan grated into it, plus a gravy thick with leeks, onion and a smidge of chilli, served with peas. It was good comfort food for Lorraine who was feeling the Monday morning glums. Off this evening to The Coopers Cask pub where The Shakespeare Trio were doing a full set. As well as Dipak and Richard, were Richard's wife Maria Grazia and Steve Cartwright. There was a good guitarist in support. They asked me to do a turn, so I read Revolution of the Eagles , and The Trojan , which were both heard attentively. Richard and Dipak were excellent, playing lots of new material. Beautiful fluent stuff, and particularly enjoying Dipak's languidly ...
Sunny Sunday A beautiful day today, more like spring than November. Lorraine and I busy, loading up the car to take things to the skip, some last bits from the garden of the Twitten, and random clutter from The Old Church Hall. Stopped off at Anton and Anna's place to give them two lovely advent calendars that Maureen had made for the children. The sea was unbelieveably silver in the low sun as we drove towards the marina. Lorraine had Bexy (her car) cleaned as it is going to be replaced by a new cheaper model due to the dreaded cuts. As the cleaners were about their business, we repaired to Cafe Rouge for coffee and moules & frites. Then, in the aromatic clean car, off to the garden centre to buy aquarium plants and talk to people about lights, as those in Betty's tank have failed. As we left a thief in a motorised buggy for disabled people was caught red handed making off through the door. Home, and much cheery cleaning of aquariums, and a large sort out generally. It w...
Jelly babies and quiet beatles A terrible night's sleep. Had a vivid dream that I was on a plinth while a man in some sort of crow's feather costume loomed over me. Woke up rather sharpish from that one. Somewhat pale and wan today as a consequence, although orc foot improving steadily. Lorraine's and my missions of limited scope: we went in search of winter flowering pansies, and booze for the party we are holding next weekend. Bought a serious amounts of booze, and then found a garden centre over the downs where Lorraine happily nosed among the cyclamen and pansies, some of which we bought. We also bought some jelly babies, but these were the best jelly babies I have ever tasted. We guzzled an entire packet in the car. They were like the Platonic ideal of jelly babies bursting with fruit flavour and with a delicious texture all for £1.99 and made by sweetmakers of genius called Bon bon. I'm not one for sweets, but these were incredible. I need more. Home and both cra...
11/11/11 ... had no mystical or numerological significance for me, as it seems to have done for some people. My Orc foot somewhat better today, though I had to cancel a planned yomp through the countryside this weekend with Anton. An enjoyable stint in Tavistock Square and especially nice to work with Nicola again after a few years, as she'd given me a copy of A Prayer for Owen Meany . Trains screwed up from St Panrcas, which necessitated cramming into the tube for a session of claustrophobia exposure therapy across London in the evening rush hour. Once at Victoria got the fast train home. I have been carrying a small black stone from Moulin Huet in Guernsey around with me. I read something in Owen Meany about how the indigenous people of North America thought everything had a soul, not just people. I found myself posing the question 'what if this stone had a soul?' And ended up thinking stony soul thoughts all the way home. To the Shahi, where beer was drunk and a chilli...
Pass me my fez Off to the quack this morning as ankle still terrible. They are piping music into it the waiting room these days. I'm not sure Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin was exactly the right choiceand for doctor botherers. My very likeable quack gave me an prescription for gout pills, and Zapains (codine and paracetamol) and we laughed about them zapping the pain. After buying a gout stool, fez and smoking jacket, made off to London again. Work fine, loped alongside Nicola at lunch to score some food. She has leant me A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving which I began reading today. It is a wonderful book judging from the first 60 pages or so. One of Nicola's favourites. The character Owen Meany is tiny, and it is a rather fitting read as I am still working a bit on growth disorders in children. Home again, the Zapain working well, although making me feel vacant. Home to Lorraine, who had cooked a lovely meal, but had to go next door and babysit little Joe for half ...
Adam's ale Grim start to the day, foot extremely painful. Running late I set off armed with a hiking stick feeling tetchy and full of self-pity. Lorraine, qua rescuing angel, gave me a lift to the station. Sweaty on the train, next to a man smelling strongly of garlic, I tried to catch up on the concept work I could not do yesterday. Wet soap thoughts slipping away before I could grasp them left me wondering if I had lost 20 IQ points overnight, so tidied my stuff into my bag. Discovered that a capless pen had leaked all over my nice mushroom coloured trousers. Hobbled into work and drank four pints of water one after the other. Within two or three minutes my brain miraculously able to string thoughts together again, and I did more in the next ten minutes than I had done in previous hours. Clearly I had been badly dehydrated by painkillers and other pills I have been taking. Lunch a pleasant wander around the corner with First Matie to score baked potatoes. Helicopters roaring in ...
Mush head Orc foot in full flow now, making it painful to walk, and difficult to sleep. Really poor day's work: my brain utter mush. Trying to do concepts this afternoon around prostate cancer, and nothing of any virtue was emerging. Working with April, who is a nice woman from the US. Embarrassed and frustrated by simply not being able to think. Bumped randomly into Reuben as I popped out to score a baked potato. Talked to the property people who I've outsourced trying to find a tenant for my house to while I am working in London. They eventually called back as I was on the toilet. Being caught literally with your trousers down is not conducive to taking the stern line I'd planned with them (as they are proving useless). In pain, tired and fed up, celebrated homecoming by pesistently moaning to Lorraine, poor girl. Mood much improved as Lorraine had cooked a delicious chicken stewp (part soup, part stew). I had two bowls and, briefly, stopped moaning.
The return of Orc foot Bad night's sleep and woke to find the dreaded Orc foot had returned: I am hobbling again and grimacing with pain and a Sauron addiction. Cramped, uncomfortable journey into work even more trying. I like working in Tavistock Square however, and noticing as usual at this time the patterns made by the autumn plane tree leaves driven flat into the black road surface. Work fine, but the trains were doomed, which meant I had to hobble across town to take a different route home, thus galling ankle even more. Gah. The journey home was fine and I finished linished listening to I, Partridge, We Need To Talk About Alan , which was very funny in parts. Absolutely loving Just Kids by Patti Smith too. Delighted to get home, and revel on the gold sofa with Lorraine if only for an hour or so. And so to bed, feeling dead beat.
Recharging Felt a good deal brighter this morning, although my ankle is griping after the gym session. Really laid back morning, having a slow breakfast with Lorraine, and then we went food shopping. I enjoy shopping with Lorraine. Then home to chat to Beth and Kayleigh who'd stayed overnight. Beth back to college this afternoon so we four had a large Sunday lunch. It had been really nice to see her. After she left, Lorraine and I spent the evening on the sofa reading. I am thumbing through 'Just Kids' an autobiographical book by Patti Smith talking about her relationship with Robert Maplethorpe. I am really enjoying it, despite not really knowing either artist's work paticularly well.
Guy Fawkes Night Up just after 5am delighted the cats with an early breakfast. Lorraine had to go to a conference about leadership today, so I contented myself with trying to catch up with everything I've let slip over the last week or so, with only a small degree of success. Beth up and out without eating off to see Mark and other pals. Tired and an upset stomach, but I went to the gym thinking this would make me feel better. Working up in London has made me fatter within a week and a half. Went to Anna and Anton's. Watched Anna on TV in a programme about mackerel, filmed catching them and then making them into sushi, and giving a rather assured interview about her opinions about mackerel. Then the family and I drove off in Anton's swanky new BMW to Martin and Sam's place in Hove. Lorraine arrived shortly afterwards. Martin and Sam have a nice house, and there was lots of nice food and hot punch available. Klaudia was the only girl and there were six or eight boys run...
Friday at last Kept awake by the stormy night, and what my Hypochondriac's Handbook (a thoughtful recent gift from Richard and Jane) tells me is Chinese Restaurant Syndrome. Up hideously early walking through a rainwashed Brighton. Train slow this morning, crawling north. Work quite hectic. Agency Fridays are often a bit frenzied as everyone rushes to meet deadlines of one sort or another. Deafening fireworks near the office, then spilled out onto the street at 5:30 with The French Bloke, and had a lightning fast drink before I caught my train. The FB is growing a moustache for Movember , and it is making him look like Lemmy out of Motörhead. Straight to The Basketmakers. Betty, Lorriane, Matt, Wayne, Cath, Linda and Linda's mate Karen squeezed around two tables. Supped pints of seafarers and talked to all these friends for hours, before Lorraine and I with Cath walked home. Beth collected by Amy and Jamie. L and I bidding farewell to Cath outside bloody Ace pizza as I had not ...
Secret Squirrel Stole away from Mum and Mason's house in the morning, full of crumpets and armed with four home-made jams (2 crab apple and 2 wild plum)and off into London. A happy day today. Had slept very well at Mum's house and was full of beans. Off with Keith at lunch to buy a salad. And a very fast drink at the agency with Matt and The French Bloke before zooming off to Brighton where I had a secret squirrel mission. Met Betty at Brighton station at around 8 o'clock. Betty looking very slim, and she was in a day early to suprise Lorraine. Lorraine out doing some school govenor training, so Beth and I ordered a Chinese takeaway and sipped a cheery beer together in a pub just around the corner. Texted Lorraine who discovered me talking to a mystery blonde a few minutes later. Lorraine and Betty very pleased to see one another, after I had collected the chinese meal and we all forked it down with gusto. And so to bed, rain thundering on the velux windows.
Up to Edgware Whimpering quietly to Lorraine about having to get up at 6:30. How is it that 7:00 is fine, but 6:30 is unutterably appalling? L often gets up at this time, and so her sympathy was rationed. Listening, during my morning's commute to the tracks from the CD. It is a work of towering genius, even if I do say so myself. Into town and another pleasant day's work, including presenting work to Germans about flea collars and writing more about short stature in children. A brief lunchtime interlude with Keith and Karam in a pub. Karam talking about high and lofty things. In the evening up to Edgware to see Mum and Mason and rather nice bottle of wine, kindly provided by Toby and Romy. A good deal of cheery sitting about and eating with them. Afterwards Mum showed me her flat cats, and puma heads, which I thought were particularly fine. Phone call with Tash, Matty boy's athletic acting sister whose wedding reception L and I went to in the summer, about doing some work t...
The smiling beer London again, sans pinches or punches. Feeling quite cheerful, and reading the paper on my kindle. Particularly following the story about the anti-capitalism protesters camping outside St Paul's and the PR disaster for the Church of England this has turned out to be, who now appear to be siding with city fat cats rather than people who are trying to assert a moral standpoint. One protester contrived a placard which said 'What would Jesus do' which has prompted, I imagine, some soul searching in the Church. Work fine, and cheery to be working with people I really like. Working on growth disorders today. An interesting area. Found myself reading about psycho-social short stature, which is a condition where a stressed child does not grow in size. Apparently JM Barrie experienced this, which may have fed into Peter Pan and the idea of a boy who did not grow up. Gallingly I managed to delete the last couple of hours work as the very last thing I did before I lef...
Kindling enthusiasm Up at 6:30 today, which seems infernally early. Up to the smoke again, reading my kindle. Was gripped with the concept for one of those inspirational books about giving yourself permission to be creative, and jotted down the chapters and approach. This all before 8:00am. I always have my best ideas first thing. The working day was largely spent thinking about growth hormone deficiencies, which is an interesting area that I've never written about. Sat in a teleconference listening to feedback from qualitative research. Time in teleconferences is of a different order to usual time. Delighted to be working however, and nice to be in the same office as Matty boy, First Matie, The French Bloke and Keith to name but a few. Left work in the dark, but home refreshingly early before 8pm. Reading WB Yeats poems on my kindle on the way home. The formatting is poor, but it's great to be able to browse a library when you are on the train. Home and Lorraine in before me,...
Ticking boxes We heard Cath slip away early in the morning, and later I got up due to the persistence of cats and their infernal demands for prawns and food. Tidied away (with some disgust) kebab nastiness before Lorraine got up and we had a slow breakfast. Cats sitting like chess pieces on the paving stones outside as we drove off to the Twitten. Today emptied my house of almost everything, cramming Lorraine's car with yet more boxes, spades and various unlikely salvage. Called in on Anna to drop off the record player stand Anton had lent me, and had a chat with Mark and Hilary, and helped them carry sacks down the Twitten. Then the supermarket followed by a much-needed flop on the sofa. Lorraine cooked roast chicken and many delicious vegetables for supper, and we watched a fair amount of nonsense on the television.
White night Lazy morning with Lorraine. Then off to town. I went to Waterstones with the token Brian had given me for my Birthday and bought a book by Patti Smith. Then off to the gym, where I had a good workout. The structure of the weekend is beginning to change, as Chelsea were again beaten today, which means Match of the Day is to be avoided. Instead, however, a fantastic night out. Seems half of Brighton emptied out into the streets. Lorraine put on a pointy witches hat, spider earrings and a bat called boris dangled from her waist. I donned a grinning skull mask, and we set off into the night with Cath, and a pal of Lorraine's called Wendy. Walked down London Road and came across Klaudia walking along with a posse of her pals and Anna the Godmother. Klaudia dressed as a witch. Anna recognised me despite having a grinning skull mask. Klaudia giving me a hug when she saw it was me. Quite enjoyed wearing a mask, feeling in a tiny way I was adding to the fun. Then to The Basketma...
Low key Friday Queasy morning. Lorraine working at home, and nice to be catching up with my blog and so on as she worked next to me. To the Twitten this afternoon, to stand about talking to Mum on the phone as Jim the sparky sorted out the earthing business. Also James, a young pleasant chap from a residential letting agency come around and look at the place to disuss valuation and so on. As I will be in London next week it makes sense having someone to work on letting it, and show people around and so on while I am working on ailments. Lorraine and I celebrated the end of the week by popping into the local curry house. I opted for the extra chilli approach to gastric maintenance. Curiously, this worked a treat.
Snake boats Up to the smoke again in the dark. Didn't feel so shattered today, which was a big relief. Spent much of the day reading about growth hormones, in preparation for the week's work they are giving me. This fantastic news for the Kenny coffers, and due in part to Nicola, another former colleague who is great at her job, taking over the forward planning part of the agency. Lunch with Matt today, eager to hear about his experiences in India. He loved it, and told me about going to the Snake boat race in Kerala, where people were incredibly friendly and ushered them to a VIP place by the riverside. They discovered that each boat was crewed by members of a different religion. So that you'd have the Hindu boat, the Christian boat, the Jain boat, and so on. He also did lots of yoga, and felt very relaxed by the whole thing. A drink after work with The French Bloke, Matty, Nicola, Karam and others. Then the long schlepp home, falling asleep on the train and waking just be...