under another sun

Lorraine and I up early this morning, and drove off to Stanmer Park for a pottery workshop. I was slightly hungover but it was quite therapeutic pressing bits of plants into white earthenware clay so that they left an impression. Our efforts will be fired and will be collectible in a few weeks. There were about 16 of us on the course, and I was the only bloke. At one point I melted away to the gents where I fell into conversation with the man cheerily cleaning it, who told me he loved his job. He also told me about his passion for being a DJ playing Turkish Psychedelia aka Anatolian Rock. Back to the class lead by a smily woman called Sarah. After we finished, it was only a two and a half hour thing, which passed in a flash, we mooched about in a maker's market and Lorraine got talking to a woman about fabric and buttons. This woman said to me that buttons have history, and it was all I could do not to write a poem called A History of Buttons on the spot. Home for a mid afternoon p

Up with a desire to get on with things, and even made a surprisingly long list, but  managed to side-tracking myself from achieving much of it. Reset with a sunny walk this lunchtime. Lorraine off to get her hair cut in a glamorous fashion this afternoon in Hove and also to see Innis and Rosie. Innis sent me a Happy National Poetry Day text, which was nice of him. Personally I am a bit humbuggish about it. Every day is a blinking poetry day round these parts etc.  This afternoon two hours of the Understory Conversation, which never fails to be interesting. One of the poets, called Emma Jones has such a distinctly convincing voice in everything she writes that I'm greatly in admiration of her. Lorraine and I watched an abominable film called The Sphere . A-list cast in an underwater turkey. Spoke to the Toby for an hour this afternoon, also to Mum too.   

A long pre-hibernation sleep last night. Today the last day of September, and a grizzly morning with lashings of rain. Lorraine and I stayed in bed till 10:30am, unheard of for me on a Monday morning.  Up and did some decent writing with what was left of the morning. Addressed yesterday's sudden bout of vertigo by reinstating the Brandt-Daroff exercises, I've done before. They work by loosening crystals in your ears, and you have to hold your head at 45 degrees in thirty second bouts. Felt floaty and lurchy for a time afterwards -- to be expected -- but it settled down.  At tea time, I hopped on a train to Lewes to meet Messers Hoibak and Hartley in The Lewes Arms. Crept up the hill and explained with some pathos that I was still feeling a bit post-covidy, which turned into a recurring joke through the evening. We sat for a bit putting the world to rights in the Lewes Arms, a deeply excellent pub unchanged Mark says since he's lived in the area. I've been there over a c

Sunday gardening for an hour or two. I was looking upwards for some time starting to strim a bush using Beth and James's strimmer called Rambo, and I was ambushed by a bout of vertigo, probably because of the angle I was holding my head. Luckily there was a garden chair handy, and I sat there feeling like I was on a boat in a rough sea for a minute. It settled down fairly quickly,  and Lorraine took over the strimming and I confined myself cleaning up the patio. Lovely to be out in the fresh air, however, and it felt pretty good to be exercising.   I have been being interviewed by Charlotte for the Understory Website, in a kind of letter swap format.  In answering her questions I found myself writing about experiences during meditation, and accessing a deeper level of creativity than just your subconscious. Not sure what Charlotte will make of that!  Pat and Maureen around this afternoon, and Lorraine and I cooked up a roast chicken dinner, Maureen very complimentary about my roast

A rest and recuperation day for me. A cheery Beth calling in this morning, later she and Lorraine went off to see Laura to celebrate Layla's first birthday. Meanwhile I finished reading the Weird and the Eerie by Mark Fisher, pottered about putting the outside seating away for the winter, and did a bit of fiddling with a story. Chelsea won today, beating Brighton, with the remarkable Cole Palmer scoring four in the first half. Watched the movie L.A.Confidential again.  Below Chelsea's 22 year old boy wonder, doing his trademarked cold gesture which he often does after scoring. 

I learned from Julia that her and Bob's mum had died yesterday. Messaged Bob of course.  Happily working at my desk this morning. Generous amounts of rain hosing from the sky. Spoke to Mum, who was not enjoying the weather and was off to the Waggon pub later, for a bit of fun. She'd gone to another meeting in Edgware where they were playing Bingo which she thought was a bit of a pointless game. Also spoke to Anton, off this weekend taking his Mum to stay with Uncle John in Spain.  Sylwia here for a few hours making the house look spick and span. Lorraine at Pat and Maureen's to take a doctor's call with Maureen. At lunchtime I mooched around to Osborne's fish and chips, picked up a pensioner's box with two fish, and more fish and chips and Mushy peas and  had lunch with Pat and Maureen and Lorraine in the flat. The sea less lively today. I love how Pat is enjoying seeing the ferry come in and they both get quite caught up by all the goings on, like a yacht race

Up early, and making strides now on the long poem about memory and time and have found a form for it. Feeling quite pleased with myself and that I am doing good work. In the afternoon we went off to a garden centre near the village of Laughton called Merchants Gardens and Nursery. Here we looked at a few plants and bought some. While we were there a big tree emitted a creaky crunch and a large branch was dramatically broken off by the wind. Not long after a Spitfire flew over. The sky is full of Spitfires in East Sussex.   We came away with a box of plants. Home and some courgette cake made by Lorraine and a cup of tea. Went out for a walk but turned back quickly realising I was dehydrated. Drank two pints of water and then recommenced. The sea dramatic and lovely. The wind and sea very lively. Sort of end of days-ish feel to it, but gorgeous Meanwhile Lorraine playing piano, then working on curtains. I cooked on my return, and we lurked happily indoors in the stormy weather. 

Up to Edgware. Nice to see Mum, not having been able to see her for a few weeks due to covid and so on. A smooth journey there, though I was struggling with my lightning app, which makes a thunder noise when there is a nearby storm. The train passed by the edge of a big storm, and my trousers kept ominously rumbling. Fine in London. I was sporting my new coat, and was warm. To Mum's, then off to the Waggon and Horses. Some upstart in our seat, however, so we sat at a table near the men in the corner, Steve, Paul, and Jim who has just lost his wife, and the Bailiff whose name I don't know. They were their usual cheery selves and chatting to Mum lots. I asked Mum about coming down for Christmas, or a bit of a break. But she worries so much about Felix being left on his own, that she can't do it. Felix was treated horribly as a kitten and is easily spooked.   Back to Mum's. A van is parking outside her house in her spot, but Wynford was there and said she could park in his

A day of getting stuff sorted. Lorraine and I booked three nights at the Barbarie in Guernsey in November, this felt great as I am desperate to get back there. Also got on top of the diary which seems weirdly crammed -- partly as a result of covid putting a lid on all activities. An appointment for the quacks about blood pressure (again). Chased poets about interviews and generally got organised. Walked into town with Lorraine this afternoon, then had a long mooch by the sea. Not windy today, but the sea choppy. Although warm still, you can sense Autumn is about to pounce. I love this time of year.

Pat and Maureen, and Beth and James around for a family Sunday lunch today. Lorraine and I cooking up roast pork and lots of veggies. And Lorraine had made carrot cake. All rather delicious. We all played Uno before dessert which was fun too. James amusingly competitive. Drank some wine at lunch. Beth and James drove Pat and Maureen home. Sleepy later. 

A pause to restore my energy. Tired after a day out in London, this last covid bug has made me feel like I aged ten years in a couple of weeks. Hopefully this isn't permanent. A bit of pottering in the garden. Lorraine had borrowed a large strimmer from Beth and James (which they call Rambo, on account of it being a bit of a beast of a machine). Lorraine had been busy yesterday trimming hedges and so on with it.  Took delivery of five teeshirts for the more generously-proportioned gentleman about town, which were in a sale.  Below is a comma, a butterfly I snapped in the back garden. Gorgeous innit. Also look at the size of this courgette! 1.44 kg and no mistake.

Up to London with the sparrows, to meet Carl by Waterloo Bridge. Was an hour early and so sat in the RFH nursing a coffee and scribbling in my notebook. The cafe full of excitable graduates in mortar board hats and members of their proud families. Good to see the building used in that way. Met Carl, as he had crossed the Hungerford footbridge. And we went back the RFH for another coffee. Loads to catch up on as we sauntered along the South Bank and had lunch in Gourmet Pizza at Gabriel's wharf, sensibly sharing a pizza and sparkling water. (Where Reuben, Kate and I used to take copy shop favourites). Then to the Tate to see the  Expressionism exhibition. When we are together, and with Bob too, we all automatically want to see art. Carl particularly fond of Expressionists. Lots of Kandinsky, who I've never much liked, until I saw them in the flesh today. Carl doing his trademark brisk flitting, and poring over certain things, and pointedly ignoring others. We fell into a convers

Sylwia came to clean for us for a few hours this morning. She did an extremely thorough job on the kitchen, and it was delightful to walk about in clean and tidiness not having done it yourself. Lorraine of to do rhyme time. Me struggling with a long poem. Later I went to the Lanes Eatery to see if a change of scenery would help me. But it didn't much. Then I met up with Lorraine, Pat and Maureen for a bite to eat at Harry Nats. A cafe we first noticed shortly after arriving in Seaford, because a car had driven through the front window.    A cheeky cheese and ham toastie in there. A nice enough place, but the fact that there was no salt or pepper, or sugars on the table lent it a parsimonious air. Poor  Pat and Maureen much perplexed by the mystery of having lost their keys, despite letting themselves into their home with them. They and Lorraine have torn the place apart looking for them.   Low energy again this afternoon. I had promised to see Robin's poetry reading in Seaford

Slightly more energy today. A wee bit of writing, before Lorraine went off with her walking heads today, and Yvonne came around this morning, and drove us off to Newhaven in her mini car, where we had a cup of coffee on the Harbourside in the sunshine from a cafe called the Mamoosh Riverside. She told me in some detail about having had a splinter of glass in her eyeball, which had my toes curling. Lovely to see her however.  Once home, I wrote for a few hours till my still not fully functioning brain needed a break. Had a short walk down to the sea and popped into Morrisons momentarily.   Feeling suddenly antsy this evening, I walked Lorraine to her book group, and then bought a pint of Director's bitter in the Cinque Ports pub. Reading a book-length essay called  The Weird and the Eerie  by Mark Fisher, which was quite entertaining and discussed H.G.Wells's The Door in the Wall which is one of my favourite stories (and I have a poem loosely based on it in the Mariscat handful

Lorraine and I had a slow start to the day, then walked off to meet Pat and Maureen, and Pete and Charleen in the Wellington for lunch. Enjoyed chatting with Charleen who I don't know too well. She surprised me by saying she had been with a friend to Auschwitz recently on a visit to Poland. Pete and Charleen with lots to sort out, but things going well. Pete fully qualified as an electrician too recently. The Welly's owner Simon came out and was being very charming to Pat and Maureen.  Pete dropped off Pat and Maureen here and they had a snooze on the sofa and Lorraine drove them home again. Pete and Charleen went for a walk up Seaford Head. I lay low. Chatted with Mum and generally enjoyed a quiet evening. Not feeling tremendously energetic still. 

Low energy still. This afternoon Mariscat put up The Sampler on their website . But off this evening (after a judicious afternoon snooze) to Eastbourne, collected Pat and Maureen, and Delores and Lorraine drove us off to the theatre to see Vagabond Skies a musical about the life of Van Gogh.   We met James and Julie there too.  Lorraine and I had seen it as a kind of work in progress a few years ago, but now it was a full musical-length production. It really worked I think,  and the cast, directed by Sarah Dormandy did a great job. Richard Lock, playing Vincent, was excellent and the songs were strong. Obviously all our eyes on Beth, who played a prostitute, and in the second half had a solo as a Nun who was looking after Van Gogh. She did this really well. It is so great to see her on stage, doing what she loves so well. Home, and dropped off Delores, who had already seen it earlier in the week. She loved it, and was very kind and friendly to Pat and Maureen. Pat and Maureen had enjo

Lorraine tested negative this morning, thankfully. And much more cheerful as a result. I tested again, negative too. Despite starting similar symptoms a day before Lorraine, I never had a positive test. Maybe I imagined it all, although Lorraine insists I did, and my throat remains stubbornly sore. At lunchtime, after we'd potted about,  Lorraine dropped me at Osborne's fish and chips where I bought a pensioners fish and chips, two small pieces of fish and a tray of chips. Good value. Took this to Pat and Maureen who evidently enjoyed it. I sat in the window looking at the sea, Pat telling me to use the binoculars to look at everything. This is I can imagine endless fun, and Pat likes it.   In the evening, briefly to The Old Boot to see Steve and Freja who is briefly over. The pint of Harveys, my first pint for 11 days, smooth and soothing on my throat. Freja seemed in good spirits. Then we went home early and lay low. Still a long way to go before I feel my bounce returning.

A one step back after two steps forward day. Woke up at five, excited by the prospect of feeling better and being able to get on with things. Was at my desk at 7:30 and fiddling about with my writing, but I soon felt increasingly tired and sore throaty as the day went on. After a late breakfast, I sloped off to Morrisons and brought food for us. Felt a bit washed out afterwards, read more of my book A Natural History of Ghosts , which is a fairly fun. Also slept heavily this afternoon. Lorraine meanwhile, a bit frustrated as she tested positive for Covid again this morning but was feeling perkier at the end of the day. More The Silver Chair this evening, with the pessimistic but endearing and ultimately courageous character Puddleglum, a marsh-wiggle. It was a Puddleglum sort of day

A lovely card today from Janet Caulfield, thanking me for choosing her painting and subequently buying it. She said it was a big boost to her confidence. The painting fits in so well with what I am writing about at the moment, that I should be thanking her. Feeling decidedly more on the ball at last. Luckily so I interviewed a rather excellent American poet, Danez Smith, this afternoon over in Minnesota. I really liked them (Danez goes by they/them pronouns) and hopefully our conversation will turn into good interview when edited. Very relieved to get that one in the bag, for some reason it turned into a big deal in my head, and feeling washed out still made me a bit apprehensive. Lorraine much more energetic too although in danger of over doing it, in a  bit of a tidying frenzy, and playing piano and generally getting busy. She made sourdough for the pizza bases, and a tomato sauce for the tomatoey stuff, and she led the making of pizzas this evening, using olives and anchovies and ca