under another sun

By bus to Brighton just after noon. Unusually, it was not pouring with rain. I got off at the Sealife Centre, and walked along the front, enjoying the crashing heavy waves, and the seagulls flocking above the hardy tourists on the pebbles.  I cut up to The Hole In the Wall, the hidden local's pub Anton and I have managed to overlook over the years. Met Anton for a leisurely afternoon, setting the world to rights over several beers and a couple of games of dominoes. The woman behind the bar was wearing a teeshirt with skeletons on it, and I asked her about it, and she replied a bit warily as if I was trying to chat her up. As I payed for the beer I found myself saying, 'I like skeletons', confirming all her worst suspicions of me.      We moved on to another pub, then to The Hampton where we ate some Indian street food, and played another game of bones, at which I beat Anton like a ginger stepchild. Meanwhile I heard about his time with Camino in snowy Spain, and lear...

More on the story this morning. Nothing about the poetry competition. Two walks today, by the sea. Later at the end of the road I saw a tree where I counted16 magpies. Never seen that before.  The Boot tonight, not having been there for a few weeks. A cheery evening with Adele and Patrick, Carole, Mandy, and Matthew, who I chatted to lots, and learned he had lots of sailing experience, working on an Isle of Wight lifeboat among other things. I knew he lived on a boat, but didn't realise how deeply the sea ran in him. Adele and Patrick smartly dressed having been at a funeral. Mandy won a local photography competition so was pleased.  A mischief of magpies  

Woke up after a nightmare, where I had suddenly remembered that I had murdered two people, and felt (still in the dream) utterly horrified at myself.  Up and off to Melissa's drawing class... Another older male model. I tried something different: not taking my pencil off the page and trying to draw in a continuous line, and not be afraid to make mistakes. I quite enjoyed it. Off this afternoon to see Stacy, to get my hair cut. Raining of course, so I got home with wet hat hair. Stacy less stressed than when I last saw him. Happy to be staying in tonight, as the weather was foul again. Below some sketches keeping the pencil on the page, and Sydney Street in the rain.

To Edgware a  slow journey and an infernal wait at Mill Hill Broadway station so I didn't get there till almost one o'clock. Had printed out a hard copy of Kansas, and did some proofing and rewriting. Couldn't listen to anything as my earphones no longer work, having left the case on the bus yesterday.  The new key box outside Mum's house is up and working, and I confirmed on the journey up that the lifeline people had the code should they ever need it. All well. Also talking to Mum about the power of attorney business we will set up. She is going to ask Wynford and one other if they will witness it. Good to see Mum looking well,  her eye much improved now, and what's left covered up artfully by makeup. We zoomed off to The Waggon and Horses, where we had a bite to eat and a drink. One of the regulars, Tim, was there sitting in Paul's old seat. We chatted to him too as he was on his own and Steve and other pals were elsewhere. He told me he had thought about mov...

Up early, and a calmer start to a day of hosing rain. Lorraine off to her physical trainer. I slunk indoors. Still no news about the Poetry Canon pamphlet winners, now over a week late. Luckily I've got the Kansas short story on the go to distract me. Spoke to Mum to confirm I'm coming up tomorrow. Late in the afternoon, I bussed to Eastbourne to meet a cheery, if dripping, Robin in the Dolphin, which we quickly left for The Dew Drop inn across the road, for inexplicably the beer in the Dolphin was all off. I ordered a pint of Old Man, and it tasted like vinegar.  Over bags of peanuts and crisps bought with our meagre podcast profits.We chatted about the podcast and tentatively explored the idea of a new project over a couple of drinks.  Bus took me home in no time, and I was happy to be out of the rain and booting onto the gold sofa with Lorraine for the evening. 

Up at seven, feeling like starting the week with a good dose of early morning writing. By springing out of bed, I woke Lorraine up. This was fortunate, as we immediately got a call from Maureen saying Pat was on the floor having slipped out of bed. We drove around, and popped him back in, and afterwards enjoyed a spell by the seaside, looking at the lovely colours of the early morning. Home again, and I got on with writing more of Kansas . The first draft is almost done, but the end still needs work. It comes in at about six thousand words. I also called Mum arranging to see her on Wednesday.  A walk this afternoon, unremarkable, but I was listening to a the rest is politics interview with former labour leader Neil Kinnock, which was quite touching. I always liked him, and he seemed a man of principle and sometimes raw courage.  Lorraine and I in the warmth tonight, eating chicken stew I'd made, which was rather good. We are watching Dexter now, and enjoying it. Early to bed....

Running about this morning, as we were entertaining this afternoon. I zoomed to Morrisons, then spent the rest of the day drinking Prosecco with Guy, Tim and Tanya and tucking into the Guy's mushroom pate starter, and Lorraine's exemplary lasagnas (one meat, one veggie) and Tanya's almondy pudding. Catherine unable to make it, which was a shame. Guy and Tim have been travelling lots to Whitley Bay where Guy's mum died recently. Tim becoming prominent in the swimming club, Tanya indexing like fury and becoming expert in the economics of Singapore. A general sense of putting the world to rights, which you can with old friends. 

I was up fairly early, having dreamt that Enzo could speak, and that he said 'Harry Potter!' First time Enzo has been in one of my dreams. Spoke to Mum to remind her that a key box was being affixed to her wall today. They had given me a four hour window. They arrived literally at the last minute, and in the afternoon I spoke to the guy who was installing it and Mum.  Made breakfast. Yvonne came by to take me out for coffee, pausing to give Lorraine an excellent hand-me-down toy for Enzo, a sort of animal piano that when you press them make animal noises, it barks, and miaows, and oinks and moos, and is hours of fun.  Yvonne drove us off to Mamoosh in Newhaven, where we enjoyed coffee, and a chat, and I had a pain au raison. I bought one to bring home for Lorraine too, which she had later. Also managed to give Yvonne back the Santa beard I've had in my study for about 13 months. Then Lorraine into Seaford walked into Seaford where picked up my prescriptions, while Lorraine ...

My best night sleep in days. Woke up feeling chipper, made breakfast for Lorraine and I then slid off to Life Drawing class. A nice model called Sadie, it was her first time modelling so was a bit nervous. She was a history of art graduate, who was feeling her way back into work after having children. My drawings weren't as good as I hoped, but switching to coloured pencils again helped. I was drawing next to Adele, which was fun. Helped Melissa tidy up afterwards. She's a good egg and rather a kind person I think. In the late afternoon, Steve, Adele and Patrick arrived for a Shakespeare session. Today's play, All's Well That Ends Well . A pretty unpleasant play all round. With a little bit of comedy in it. Helena is in love with Bertram, who is high born and noble and barely knows she's alive. However, by managing to cure the King of France of his anal fistula, she is rewarded by her choice of men. She chooses Bertram who marries her, does not consummate the relati...

Joined the wide awake club at six, which was a tad peeving. Sat in bed watching TV drinking instant coffee, then showered and packed up. Decided to treat myself to a half decent breakfast instead of the grim hotel food, and found somewhere called Deja Brew. After I went for a fairly aimless mooch round and about, and another look at the Mersey. this is where the Manchester Ship canal starts too. I noticed lots of fire engines outside a low rise block by the river.  Hopped on a fairly empty train at Runcorn, and pootled down to Euston, then Victoria where I missed the Lewes train by a minute, and then home straightforwardly enough. Journey took about five hours in all, but was stress free. I arrived home at 4:30ish, replacing the Mersey with the Channel.  Very happy to see Lorraine and be at home. Lorraine preparing for her pottery class. I then spoke to Mum,  and deciding I was too knackered to cook, and went to trawlers for fish and chips. Scoffed these on the gold sofa....

In the hotel, the late jalfrezi with Carl, a fiery making itself felt through the night, but the bed was comfortable enough. Walked out into the murdery bit, and discovered my door had been slightly open all night.  Greeted by a scowling woman at reception, who demanded 'What do you want?' I explained I was staying there and wanted some breakfast. She was the cook, so blurted out I wanted scrambled eggs and beans. I watched one of the maintenance guys eating his toast over the meagre display of cheese and ham. Self service faux coffee, and toast with sunflower spread. To be fair the plate covered in rubbery scrambled eggs and about a tin of beans. Back to my room to do some work on Kansas.  Then off to explore the old town of Runcorn. Looked at murals under the bridge, which were really rather lovely, see below, and marvelled at the gorgeous gold of the Chedi outside of the temple, an exotic contrast to the Englishness of the scene around it. I then had a coffee in Costa, and ...

Kissed Lorraine, and made off for Runcorn. Felt unusually stressed this morning, not helped by clowns on the line between Clapham Junction and East Croydon causing delays. I relaxed once I was aboard the Runcorn train, which is only couple of hours from St Pancras. Tried to find the Campanile Hotel just by Runcorn Station but couldn't. Google maps had a breakdown saying, barking out, turn left, turn right, turn left, while I stood on the pavement. Turns out the hotel has new owners.  The reception area staffed by one person, the duty manager. She told me to expect a 'motel' feel. The room, when I got there, very basic but the sheets were clean. Outside was a bit of lawn, and a few trees and the roundabout. It looked like where a body is found in mysterious circumstance in an ITV crime drama. I went back to reception after a short cat nap and awaited Carl. The duty manger, a pleasant woman called Kit told me she had degree in law, and was very chatty. I said about the murder...

Peaceful day, although a bit low on energy. Counting our blessings though, which we do on a regular basis. A lovely marriage, a lovely house in a pleasant little town, lots of people we love and care about. Lorraine and I getting organised for our respective trips tomorrow. Spoke to Mum, who was on good form. In the afternoon we collected Pat and Maureen and brought them home, for a Sunday roast, and we put some in Tupperware for them tomorrow. Pat a bit more mobile, and the transfer from wheelchair to car to wheelchair to chair and back fairly smooth. Maureen enjoying a change of scene, and quickly boofed onto the gold sofa awaiting cups of tea. After dinner, we all started watching the Magnificent Seven as I have been thinking about cowboys lately.   Robin had got together an archive episode for Planet Poetry. I'd suggested we repeat the Danez Smith interview, given the Trump-inspired carnage in Minneapolis. Even Danez's 'Afropessimism' seems a missive from a more opt...

Sunny, pleasant day. Lorraine and I sorting a few bits out around the house. Beth and Enzo popping in. Lorraine went to see Pat and Maureen at tea time for a game of bingo, which I cooked at home. Pat given more claps when he came into the room, which is lovely.  We have lots of tiny black fungus flies in the house from flowerpots. Having researched it, we are going to buy some nematodes to put in the pots, which eat the larvae. Chatting to Mum we discussed the new problem of giant, mutated nematodes slithering out of the pots at night. Like trying not to picture a pink elephant, trying to ignore the wretched Live Canon pamphlet competition keeps being on my mind. Results are announced on Monday, but as I heard nothing today, I've obviously not got it as winners are usually tipped off in advance. I find being continuously shortlisted galling. A simple yes or no takes up less mental bandwidth. As ever it is the hope that kills you. Went for a couple of walks. I downloaded The Three ...

Writing Kansas this morning and using Chat GPT which I am using as a fast way of understanding the geography, and history of Kansas, then known as an Unorganized Territory, in the early 1820s. Now that I am a --ahem-- mature man, whose own life and recollections span the 20th and 21st centuries, the nineteenth century seems quite close.  Then I went to hang out with Pat, while Lorraine took Maureen for a blood test. Chatting with him, making him a cup of tea and laughing at an estate agent's haircut on some long running daytime TV show featuring  property developers buying down at heel properties and doing them up and selling them at a profit. Home again, and then Delores sent me some of the work she had been doing, on which I offered  comments and tweaks, which took a while and was an unpleasant return to copywriting. Then off for a longish walk to shake it all off. A pleasant evening in the Boot with today's cast of Adele and Patrick, Helen and Andy, and Andy. Talking l...

Up and off to life drawing. Melissa a lovely tutor as ever. An older male model. I enjoyed myself and halfway through took out some coloured pencils and then the whole thing felt therapeutic and fun.  Scuttled home and did quite a lot of work on Kansas, the story will be about 7k long I think. The only think it is lacking is a hair-raising end, but I am writing towards something, and it will be interesting to find out what happens.  Listening to a podcast about Mary Queen of Scots, managed to mostly dodge the rain. Wearing my waterproof over trousers. Spoke to Mum, who'd been to the boring club, which happens every Thursday. She also sorted out her car this week which had loose electrics and needed some adjustment to the brakes. Given that it had its MOT and passed with flying colours recently, one wonders what those clowns are playing at.  For us, a quiet night. Lorraine back from looking after Enzo, while Beth had an appointment. I enjoyed listening to Patrick on Crozie...

Walking, pressing on with Kansas off and on most of the day. Lorraine off to her pottery class tonight, and enjoying it. She made two pots today.  A site in my Facebook feed, allowing you to you upload cat pictures or family photos and AI dresses the people or pets to make it seem like a classic portrait. This is a picture of Brian and Calliope. Calliope a bit large. But I like their neckwear.   

A nice note from Charlotte about my shortlisting for Gordon Road, and then another forwarding some publicity from Bloodaxe, with a quote from me about one of their poets. I wish they'd chosen a quote that made sense, but you can't have everything.  So having sent off a story yesterday, I picked up another tale that I started about two and a half years ago, and now can see a way of resolving it. I was surprised when I reread it, how much I liked it. I need a few more short stories to complete a MS of short stories, the bulk of which have already been published. This one seems a good idea as it is historical, being set in 1822, so provides another dimension.

Made a Monday morning list of things to do this morning, and did some of them. Today is blue Monday, but I didn't feel blue at all. Not having to work really helps.  Longish chat with Mum. She is okay, and her face is less swollen now. I sent one of my shorter short stories, called The Merger to a new anthology of stories.  I'd not read it properly for a couple of years, and I liked it more than I did before. I also completed a bit of writing for a friend of Richard's called Phil Dunn, sending him a draft of his book blurb. I am not sure how I found myself writing this, but it's done. Went for a walk. Almost finished with the Inklings now, dealing with Joy Gresham's marriage to Lewes. This seemed to coincide with a coolness for towards Jack Lewes by his mate Tollers.  Live Canon release their shortlist today. There was a cast of thousands on it.  Mark Flowers came around and measured our hallway and stairs for our carpet this afternoon. It will be green.

Baby Enzo with us this morning. Lorraine brought him in to sit with us in the bed first thing. Sitting in bed with the smiley little boy was completely heart melting.   Beth arrived early, she and James had missed Enzo all the time. I find how James is so besotted by Enzo to be very endearing.  I went for a long walk in the winter sun, along the sea and at the bottom of Edinburgh Road, passed workmen moving the sea-strewn pebbles off the road. I also got to the end of the Inklings book. Lorraine and I made Sunday lunch and afterward played a simple cycling based board game, which I enjoyed, as its rules were straightforward. At tea time I received an email saying that Gordon Road had been shortlisted for the Live Canon competition I entered it for last summer. This is good. But also triggering: I have had so many things shortlisted without winning that it actually made my heart sink a bit. Crazy really. Beth and James left, taking the wee bairn with them. The house seemed qui...