under another sun

Woke up irritably this morning after stressful dreams. Then looked at my phone and realised after tracking the delivery of my new phone, they were about to deliver it to my old address despite having provided the new one. Gah. Up and sorted this out. Then did things like billing, arranging a dentist visit, writing to my accountant etc. Felt a bit better for doing these small things.  Then sorting things out in the house with Lorraine. Then Lorraine off to her personal trainer and I made off to Brighton for a haircut. As there was supposed to be a train strike today, but was recently revoked, trains were not running from the Seaford today.  I jumped on a 12 bus and it took me along the coastal road, through assorted havens and deans till we reached Brighton. Amazing colours over the stormy sea. Khaki with white foam near the shore, then green then steel blue towards the horizon.  First time in Brighton since the 27th September -- seven weeks. Stacy in a miserable mood, but...

Got up not too early, and had breakfast of scrambled eggs Lorraine's sourdough loaf, which despite being a bit burnt on top was something close to spectacular, and tasted brilliant. We did a bit of stuff around the house. I hung some pictures, and Lorraine and I emptied boxes and brought a smidgeon more order to chaos. We cooked a Sunday roast and berry crumble as Beth and James were coming around for a roast lunch. Much merriment made of passing food through the hatch into the dining room. Had our first meal in our dining room, which was fun. James abstained but the ladies drank wine and I nursed a couple of cans of lager.  Lorraine's former colleague from her last school Rebecca came around to get the tour. She liked it lots, and is pleased Lorraine is here as her Mum and Dad live in Seaford too. After chatting with Rebecca I joined Beth and James in the other room where James had downloaded a sports channel and was watching some muddy looking cycling in Belgium. Beth surpris...

Saturday, and raining heavily. Lorraine and I got up and started to potter about doing a few things. Steve came to the front door in waterproofs and a hat, bearing gifts as discussed at teatime in the pub yesterday.  Kefir  grains -- according to Wiki a symbiotic matrix of bacteria and yeasts, which is freak white alien life form that has to be fed. We fed it a bowl of milk and if left to its own devices will produce kefir drink in a few days. What with that and the mother sourdough culture that Lorraine has been growing in my study, I am beginning to wonder if I should be writing another horror story about this.  Steve also brought a bag of chard, and a Mirabelle plum jam he had made. We drank coffee and shot the breeze and showed him around the place, which he liked a lot. Eventually, as he had things to do, he forged back into the rain.  Lorraine and I had a quiet afternoon till, when the rain had stopped, we walked down to the sea, via The Crypt to dip in to see ...

A blessed morning of not having to spring out of bed and stare bleakly at Keith staring back at me.  Instead Lorraine and I had a cheery day making bits of progress on the house. Lorraine's pal Carolyn called around for lunch, and to offer all kinds of useful gardening advice. Carolyn is planning to move to Scotland to buy a place with her man Ron. In the afternoon off to a nearby garden centre to buy soil and so on, and we started to plant some of the 350 bulbs Lorraine has ordered. Meanwhile Anton called to talk about the ghastly week he had running a business event.  Lorraine and I hurried off to The Boot at 5pm to have a drink with Steve. It was full of folks, and Steve greeted us very cheerfully at the bar, and the staff all joined in asking when we had moved and so on. All very nice. Soon were quaffing pints of Harvey's Old ale from the tap. Bloody lovely, and very nice to see Steve again now that we are neighbours. Better still was actually having a beer in a pub with L...

Up at dawn this morning, and a quick shower and then finishing the first edit of the podcast, which I then sent to Robin to review. Much to my delight we managed to get the podcast up on time today, with Robin doing a final edit. Then at 8:30 back with Keith slogging till an afternoon presentation and a later meeting. However, the work was done, and Pat released me gently back into the wild. Enjoyed working with Pat and Michel again but at the end of the day I was mightily relieved to be done, the job finished satisfactorily, the podcast up, and finally a bit of time just to be in Seaford in my new home. Chatting with Mum after work. Ben was round helping them set up the new television they bought today in Borehamwood to replace the lightning-fried one. All rather dramatic but they are both okay, luckily.  Rosie and Innis came around today. Sadly, as I was working, I was only able to spend a bit of time with them -- they were liking the new house lots, and brought me a late birthd...

Another day manacled to the desk looking at Keith in a window on my screen and trying to come up with ideas -- and then discussing them with Pat last thing in the afternoon.  Recording with Robin immediately work was done. Lorraine and I drove off to our nearest Sainsbury's, in Newhaven. Not terribly exciting in itself but fun to be away from my desk. Lorraine working hard but happily in the new house. She found the bulk of the cutlery today which had the words Garage and other incriminating things written on the box in my hand.   Shocking news from Mum: a lightning strike that hit Kings Drive and knocked out their TV, and did the same to Ben's TV too. Mum's wifi is fried too -- as is Maheena's I think. Mum okay but having to organise BT people for the wifi and think about new televisions.   Back to my desk, and I almost finished editing the podcast by nine. Enough, and I came downstairs and sipped a single bottle of beer and watched some TV with my lovely wifey. Befor...

Lorraine off to Ashford to see Pat and Maureen, and go with them to see Lorraine's Auntie Doris -- she didn't get home till late in the evening, in a car full of houseplants, my shoes, our duvet filling, and other bits that Maureen had been taking care of for us. The cats missed Lorraine which meant Calliope plaguing me at my desk. One of the boons of having Lorraine at home is the cats get distracted by her.  Most of my day from 8:30 manacled to my desk, dreaming up concepts with Keith. A slightly surreal interlude with a piano carefully delivered by two taciturn Polish men at lunchtime. They were very efficient but despite that it reminded me of that Laurel and Hardy movie. The piano was Penny's but she didn't want it, and sold it to Lorraine at an attractive price. Later a lawn mower was also delivered. The outside world fairly uninviting with rain. After work I met Robin online and we recorded some banter for the podcast, which I then immediately edited. Robin in go...

The clocks fell back, and I took advantage of wakefulness and a lovely morning to go for a walk by the sea before I started work. Just as I reached the sea, Jane one of my new Seaford friends pulled up in her car and sprang out. Another nice moment. Then I mooched along the coast towards Newhaven and then found a way of doubling back home. Just a half an hour or so, but bracing. Then a briefing with my old chums Keith, the French Bloke, Pat and John Perkins -- and Keith and I spend the rest of the day thinking about stuff. I had a short walk at lunchtime walking away from he sea, up some nearby streets for half an hour. First time I have had the opportunity to do that. Curious feeling to leave home, and then almost immediately begin walking along streets you have never seen before. Below the view towards Newhaven, and the view towards the noble profile of Seaford Head from the same spot. 

A day of just being at home. Obviously this entailed carrying bookcases up and down stairs, and using the trolley that Lorraine had bought to move things in and out of the workhouse (pronounced workahhhse) which is what we are calling the double garage at the end of the garden. With Lorraine's help, as I am impatient, sorted out a wifi extender so that my study gets the full benefit. Otherwise, I spent hours trying to sort things out in my study, too many books and not enough room for the bookcases as they are at the moment, even though the space is larger than my previous study. Happy doing this.  Spoke to Mum and gave her a virtual tour of the house, which she liked a lot. I would love her to see the place. I popped out to buy a few bits in Morrisons before we cooked. Lorraine busy all day in the other room sorting clothes out steadily -- plus doing magical temperature dependent things with sour dough mother culture, and ending the day baking bread and courgette bread in the same...

Saturday. Glorious not to have to work. Obviously earning money is admirable and manly, but having to sit manacled to my precariously balanced desk all week instead of doing new house stuff, and roaming about in the new town was a bit trying. This morning, loved having the time to feel waves of excitement surging through me just being in my home and garden.   Lorraine and I had a happy mooch off to the shops.We looked at wardrobes and other bits in a deceptively large furniture shop nearby VR Flowers and Sons, as well as popping into the Seaford Home hardware and -- inevitably -- into Morrisons for some provisions.  At a little before two I sauntered back to Seaford Station to meet Anton, now sporting only the one crutch after his knee operation, and looking forward to ditching it completely soon. Seemed ages since we saw each other. He too had been a bit peaky this week, but had rallied magnificently to come here.  Walked him to the new home, narrowly avoiding an evil wh...

I spelt fairly well again last night, sleeping most of the night for the first time in a couple of weeks. It is Friday... Keith and I finished one job with Pat and the French Bloke, and Perky today, and will be doing another next week. Everything went well however, and people pleased with what had been done. Lovely to be working with such old pals. Very drained by the end of the day.  After work Lorraine -- who had been heroically sorting stuff out in the house all day, and I hurried off to Trawlers to meet Yvonne and Brian where we had a meal of very nice fish and chips again, but this time with a bottle of beer. Really enjoyed seeing them, and after we paid (some confusion here as I paid for everything and Yvonne assumed I had just paid for Lorraine and I and gave the man some cash who gladly accepted it as a humongous tip.  We walked back to our place, with a woman opening a door of the pub to kiss Brian through it. Brian (and I) were quite tempted to go in, as it look...

Lorraine and I so happy that there was no major ordeal today. Great to have slept in our own bed, but I was awake lots with this pesky cough that we both got from Pat. Beth and James this morning. Beth burst into tears not long after being here, seeing how happy it had made Lorraine feel, which of course made it all feel more real for us too. They loved it -- Beth already envisaging what Christmases would be like here.  After they went -- Beth having to work away from home for seven days starting tomorrow, Lorraine and I spent the afternoon unpacking steadily and taking frequent rests and working out what went where and so on. A knock on the door and our next door neighbour, a friendly strong looking man called David who has a building company, introduced himself. Nice guy. We sloped off to Morrison's, the nearby supermarket, and bought food, cooking a roast chicken  and trying out our oven for the first time.  Even going to the supermarket feels like a bit of an adventur...

So up early, in our amazing new house, braced to receive lots of movers. We prepared ourselves to receive all our belongings, and were ready at nine. The delivery was delayed, however, and the removals people didn't arrive till 12:20 as they had staff issues. Friendly bunch as before, one talking lots to Lorraine, who sat outside on a chair in the street and told them which room to put everything in and discussed trading an aquarium for a fridge freezer with one of the movers. I faffed about indoors, unpacking kitchen stuff, and pointing and so on. They were finally done at five-ish and the cats were allowed out of the utility room, and we finally closed the door on the day. Marvellous, and bloody tiring. We are now surrounded by innumerable boxes and objects in the what feels like the world's largest Tetris puzzle.  Dawn popped by -- a very welcome distraction, and our first guest. She brought us a happy new home card, a vase and some roses, and also a birthday card and a pres...

So the big Friday! A sense of tiredness and unreality, this morning, even a strange twitchiness even though we were contacted early by the solicitor to say everything had gone through. Lorraine and I pottered about packing the car, and then locking everything up, as Pat and Maureen were in Devon for the wedding of Louise and Will and cramming the cats into the car. Brian in the back, and Calliope on my lap. We set off at about one pm, and then ignored the sat nav and drove the route we always thought would be the best along the motorways. However, this proved to be a bit of a mistake. All a bit stressful with Calliope howling continually for two hours on my lap. We pulled up Paradise Park garden centre where Lorraine nipped out to get some cat litter, and treats of new bowls and a catnip toys each. Then to Seaford, where Lorraine parked near the estate agent, and passing the hot potato of Calliope over to Lorraine, I legged out and got the keys. From there a one minute drive to park ou...

A bad night's sleep, then a bit of plotting and scheming with Keith this morning, then a bit of work and admin... billing mes amis in Paris. While Lorraine went with Maureen to get her other ankle injected. A smidge of planning with Robin. Then Lorraine and I drove back to Canterbury to try to exchange Maureen's new trousers for another size (a failure), and did a smidge of other shopping. We had fun just driving along and going shopping though. We are counting the hours till our homelessness is over. Home again, feeling excitable about everything. Mum called Maureen, and it was odd to hear Mum chatting to Maureen and not be involved. Lorraine and I cooked a cheeky curry for our evening meal. Otherwise a quiet but cheerful night -- Pat and Maureen having packed for their granddaughter Louise's wedding near Plymouth.  I became sucked in by the political dramas of the day. The odious Suella Braverman quit her job as Home Secretary today, following a breach of ministerial code...

Off today to Mill Hill to see Mum and Mas. The journey from Ashford on the high speed train into St Pancras -- around 35 minutes -- is revolutionary compared to the journey of over an hour and a half from Brighton to St Pancras on Thameslink. Mooched to The Jolly Badger in good time.  Lovely to see Mum and Mas, although the Jolly Badger has slipped a bit. Where once it was deeply average it is now nudging dire.  An irritating manager type running about when I arrived. Have you booked? he said as we asked for a table. Literally three other people in the restaurant of about 80 covers. Our server the familiar silent one, who speaks  only with deep reluctance. Meanwhile some kind of power tool carpentry project going on around the corner in the restaurant. Mason, quite chatty, however, about a plan he has for Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Ukraine, and the Waggon and Horses, before wondering off to chat with other Jolly Badger patrons.   Mum and Mas kindly gave me a hedge st...

A fun day... Chats with Keith first thing, then all of us off in the car to Canterbury. I have never been to the centre of Canterbury before. I liked it lots, and as Pat and Maureen melted slowly away to do some shopping, Lorraine and I went to visit the Cathedral. A lovely place, and photogenic. I took my camera out, but the most interesting shots were to be had down in the Crypt, but here photos were not allowed. We mooched about there, looking at the tomb of the Black Prince, and where Thomas Becket was given a good stabbing in 1170, and so on. Also mooching about in the grounds, where privileged school children from the private school walked. Back out of the grounds. Passed a statue of Chaucer, and saw a ducking stool and had a light lunch and a cup of tea before catching up with Pat and Maureen again and driving home. At tea time Lorraine drove us into the country a little to visit Matt and Isy and their three excellent bairns. We arrived before it was dark, and Matt showed us aro...

A short drive to Appledore, a village nearby, where we went into an antique shop by Appledore station called Station Antiques. Very pricey but solid furniture there. We drove into the village proper, and having parked behind the village hall, noticing an old howitzer shell awarded to the village in thanks for war bond purchases in 1914-1919. However it is now a memorial. Walked along a street called The Street, and into The Black Lion where we had a very decent lunch, and I had a pint of rather nice dark beer called -- I think -- Marsh Midnight from the Romy Marsh brewery, to wash down my delicious chicken and ham pie with lots of vegetables. Lorraine ate a halloumi burger with sweet potato fries washed down with cranberry juice and soda.  From then drove to the centre of Ashford, and had a wee mooch about. The bones of what must have been a lovely market town still poking through occasionally. Lorraine walking about reminiscing a little. She had a troubling dream about a sinister ...

Lorraine lying low with a chesty cold, although rallied magnificently to prepare a gorgeous vegetable lasagne.  I went to the pharmacy to collect Pat's medications. They are hopelessly disorganised and I had to wait an hour for them to be ready. Told to sit on the wall outside for 15 minutes (this is after having queued for 20 mins already, and that someone would come out to let us know it was ready. Chatted to two people who were in the same boat... Turns out that they did not come out to call us, and that the names of the prescription were simply muttered behind the counter. When I barged in with the woman I had been talking to half an hour or so later, they were still not ready. Okay for me because I had nothing else to do, but I pity the poor old folk who are treated like this. Then to the post office where a bloke was telling the owners about secret shoppers who were doing the rounds asking which was the cheapest packet of fags. I finally made the woman there smile, when I ask...

My birthday. First thing I saw was an ecard from Mum and Mas, involving a cute cat. Then our own cute cats... Lorraine brought me not one but two cups of tea in bed. Feeling a bit ancient this morning. Lorraine began discussing wills, as we had been talking about them for a while. Nine days from Seaford now. The countdown continues apace. Pat still coughing, and Maureen and Lorraine coughing now too. They all tested for covid but nobody was positive. Cards from Lorraine, and Pat and Maureen -- a recorded piano and voice rendition of Happy birthday from Robin and Nick, and from Dawn and Paul who had Maureen's address plus messages from Toby and Romy and Betty and James and Sam and Jade plus dozens of kind and lovely messages from friends during the day. A recording session with Robin at 10:30 this morning, which was fun. Lorraine made me a delicious sourdough bacon and egg sandwich. I spoke to Mum, and Anton. As did Bob, however this was during the big excitement of the day. The dra...