under another sun

Jangling and nervy first thing. Good to be at home though, so wrote a list of things that must be done, and did many of them which made me feel better. Writing a list and doing the things on it is a kind of therapy really. To the gym at lunchtime, which also helped.  In the afternoon working on zines. Adele along with Kitty Oakley, an artist we have a print of, have set up the Seaford  Zine Fair. I have said I am going to be an exhibitor, so am frantically trying to design a zine or two in time for 17th October. It is outside my comfort zone, and there's no time. But plus ça change . Spoke to Anton and Mum and messages with First Matie. I felt calmer and more in control as the day progressed.

After Breakfast, Lorraine went to Pat and Maureen's place as Cyndy plus some of their other old Ashford pals were coming around. Beth took the wee bairn there too. I walked up to see Yvonne and Brian, who showed me his knee scar, and said the pain was still dreadful. Like having a terrible toothache in your knee, which is keeping him awake. Weeks of not sleeping are miserable. Otherwise he was mooching about a bit and looking good to me. Yvonne was doing well too, and we sat outside in the warm and had some coffee for an hour. Then their grandsons piled in, and I made an exit as this was lots of work. Then I went strolling towards Splash point, and I bumped into Kate and Carole on bicycles, and had a lovely chat with them. Kate said they'd been talking about Friday night at the Boot, and how nice this was. Later Carol texted Lorraine to tell her too. Lovely. I enjoyed a mooch in the lovely weather along the seafront and had done my cheeky ten thousand paces by the time I got ho...

A peaceful day on the Kenny estate. No springing early from bed, but a slow breakfast and time to do things like talk to each other and laundry. Also going down to harvest and freeze lots of our glut of tomatoes. There was wild talk about doing lots of art and pottery, but above thinking about Zines, as I have signed up as an attendee of the inaugural Seaford Fair, so actually making a zine or two might be a good idea. Otherwise I slept for an hour in the afternoon, and Lorraine and I stayed close to the gold sofa. Both of us felt better for a day of rest and relaxation. Below some non-tomatoes from the glasshouse, although it has been a poor year for cucumbers, we've had the odd one or two, plus some padron peppers, red and green chillies. 

Off to Hampstead to meet Mum. I got the earlier train, which turned out to have been a good idea as today's challenge was no direct train from Lewes to London.  I bumped into Mark at Lewes and we did part of the journey together, discussing AI and la poubelle, the French word for rubbish bin. I hopped off at Wivelsfield and caught a train that took me straight to West Hampstead Thameslink station, which was cool. Climbed up to Hampstead talking to Anton, who is now recovering from home. He has to avoid over exertion till his operation. I told him about Katie, who I also heard from today, and her pal Lou, who has been allowed out of hospital.  Mum on good form, and we cantered off to The Old White Bear and while there I booked her appointment for flu and covid jabs. There was a well travelled American woman on the table next to us, who we talked to lots. Mum also agreed a date for her to stay in Seaford with us soon, and enquired about the Parson at the bar, but the barmaid had...

Up early, but not exactly with a spring in my step. Lorraine off and collecting the baby boy for the day. He has a cough and is a bit under the weather, but still scooting about the place and learning how to climb stairs and so on.   Off to drawing class early, so that I could bag my rightful place. My rival for that spot didn't turn up today. Had fun drawing but I just couldn't seem to get in the right position without my shoulder hurting. I had brought my desk easel but the heights were all wrong. I am still rusty, only having had one session before this since June. Keeping the bodies in proportion seems to be my main challenge at the moment. Nice chats with Debbie, and Melissa and Kate, and the other man that goes occasionally called Mike.  Home and lurking about with Enzo and Lorraine. I had a sleep mid afternoon which helped everything.  Innis and Rosie arrived at about half four, and I made off with Innis to Splash Point. We bumped into Adrian and Laura en route, wh...

Called Mum and Anton to see if he wanted to meet me in Brighton for coffee. But he he had to travel up to London to have a medical procedure, poking a probe into his arm and up into his heart. He told me his valve is toast, and so he needs open heart surgery. Luckily Oskar had to go to London today too for a modelling job. And they travelled back together in the evening. I got my hair cut by Stacy. He took a perfectionist's age, especially as I just needed a bit of a tidy up as Innis is going to take my photo tomorrow for the cover of  One Day Forever . The talk today well worth the time as it strayed into the supernatural, after a friend of his poked his head into the barber shop and said something about a mutual friend of theirs called The Ghost Whisperer. Turns out this was someone I'd met last time Stacy had cut my hair, who was keen on dabbling in the supernatural. He then told me about a medium he'd visited with his mate years ago, who told him the last thing his dad ...

Up at 5:30, before the cockerel got going, and had a hasty breakfast and loaded up the cars.  I stepped in some dog poo and so had to wash my trainers before Lorraine and I left. Fond farewells with Charlie who I had liked very much. Beth and James having left a little before, Lorraine and I drove off into a beautiful morning and didn't stop till we reached  Dieppe. We drove on the toll motorway, and across the daunting bridge over the Seine. Arrived in Dieppe in good time, and was given the once over by French security with a hand-held machine. A pleasant journey, Lorraine and I ate some amazing quiche. Enzo on good form and we took it in turns to rolling him around the deck in his pushchair while he was sleeping. James buying lots of duty free bourbon, which is his drink of choice. Though sunny in Normandy and the UK, the channel had been very grey. I stood out on deck briefly, looking at far off blurs of rain. An easy journey once we reached Newhaven. Home in minutes. Cups ...

All of us up fairly early, and we made off into Sées for the Saturday market. Perhaps a dozen or so large stands serving gorgeous produce. If only the Seaford market was half as good. A table with bell peppers of all colours in the sunlight absolutely zinged out with colour. Lorraine and I bought and tested two jars of local honey, harvested in different summer months. There were two lists of the flowers the bees would have visited. We had small spoonful of each. They were absolutely delicious and very different. Beth and James and Enzo mooched about and went off to the Patisserie, while Lorraine and I joined a long queue -- it took ages to be served but nobody seemed to mind. We fell into conversation with a young Anglo-French couple who lived in Paris. In the wait I managed to assemble enough French to ask for trois tranches de biftek pour le barbecue. Beth cooked us a delicious meal this evening, with steak for the others, and some pork for me. A warmer day with lots of sunshine tod...

A slow morning. Lorraine and I had another cheeky game of boules, another close game. Breakfast, the little boy full of sunshine.  Lorraine and I had some time in Sées. A beautiful little town, or perhaps a city as there is a cathedral and a bishop. We walked about in the gothic Cathedral, built between 1210 and 1310. You feel a bit like an ant walking in there, dwarfed by the majesty of divinely-inspired architecture.  Some gorgeous glass in there too. I was looking at the a list of war dead, and struck by the word Disparus for missing.  Then across the road to a lovely Patisserie where we bought some pastries, and baguettes. I ate an apple pastry, buttery flaky pastry, with sweet cooked apple in the middle. Absolutely delicious. We nosed in several shops and then popped into the supermarket for assorted treats, and headed home.  Pleased with myself that I tried to stick to French. In fact later, we were talking to Charlie, whose English is worse than my French and ...

A poor night's sleep, probably caused by drinking excellent French boozes, a little local cider here (super tasty and only 3% proof, a few of what Beth calls stubby beers. Enzo had a poor night, possibly because of teething, so Beth and James a bit frazzled too. They took Enzo off to Seés the nearby town, and Lorraine and I played a game of boules in garden, where there is an excellent boules court. Lorraine it seems has played this game before, but I was able to sneak a win.  The sun hot when out, but a bit cloudy otherwise. We sat outside lots, Lorraine studying a large book about pottery glazes, while I plodded through a translation of André Breton's difficult, but sometimes rewarding, surrealist poetry.  I also mooched about the grounds taking photos on Canon camera. However I am unable to download these onto my laptop, and uploading them is intermittent. So photos later. First time for quite a while when I felt properly relaxed.  Wonderful news from First Matie, who ...

A decent night's sleep at Le Chêne, which translates as The Oak, though found myself awake in the middle of the night, with Lorraine sleeping peacefully beside me in a very dark room feeling like we were miles from anywhere.  Up and breakfasted, fortunately Lorraine and I brought our mix of seeds and nuts with us. Beth and James up with the larks with the baby boy, had gone for a doze as Enzo was sleeping. We were visited by three pea hens who came to the glass kitchen doors.   Best thing today, I messaged Ian and First Matie, who was able to respond, and is out of immediate danger. Very cheering news. Also spoke to Mum, who has talked to the bank and found that the US pension was paid in at the beginning of this month, and last, too. This all good news. Went back to the Intermarché with Beth and James. Bought lots of stuff, as we had more time. Even in this out of the way little supermarket, you can tell you're in a superior food culture. The locals smiling ruefully at the to...

Up at a hideous five thirty and dragged myself out of bed into a rainy world. We left at six thirty, but not before Lorraine had watered the cucumbers. Arrived at Newhaven a few minutes later, with James and Beth already in the line of cars.  Waited there for about an hour before we were allowed to drive into The Seven Sisters. I'd been a bit apprehensive as I knew the weather was a bit stormy, but the boat only rolled a little gently.  We all found ourselves a pleasant place to sit, and had a really enjoyable trans manche experience. I went outside as we left, standing on a piece of deck with one or two others, looking at Newhaven and the grey sea and sky. Nice to see Seaford Head and the Seven Sisters from the sea.  We had cups of tea and some food, but the game changer was a chocolate and coffee drink which suddenly made me feel perky. Also heard on the journey from Lou, who told me that First Matie was improved today, and the doctors were more optimistic, which made m...

Off this morning to Edgware. Trains somewhat slow I ended up going viaVictoria and tubing it. While doing this I got a note from Kate's friend Lou, saying that Kate was seriously ill in hospital with liver failure, and the doctors were not hopeful. Shocked by this news, which cast a shadow on the day. Lou was seeing her today, and said did I have a message for her.  Reached Edgware, and took a looked at Mum's papers, to sort out the US pension business. Turns out that payments were made in June and July according to the bank statements, and I am fairly sure the August one will show she was paid then too. So this is good, although proved that she'd not had a problem with her payments after all.   However Mum received a delivery of a protein product that she'd been conned into, so I followed this up, and hopefully have stopped this. Then to Mum's new local, The Plough. Her pals weren't there. It is a huge and rather nicely done new pub, but it was entirely empty o...

An organising day, running about a bit doing assorted jobs. Lorraine cooking little snacks for Enzo. I heard this as smacks at first, and the phrase opening a packet of smacks made L and me chuckle. You have to make your own amusement these days. They were peanut butter and apple smacks. A spot of clearing water weed. The pond needs some serious attention, but the two fish not eaten by the egret are doing well despite heatwaves. Plenty of domestic tasks, as well as finding passports etc. ready to head off to France.   Slipped off to the gym for a bit too.  Spoke to the Tobster and Mum. Toby's getting back into the routine of work, and had just returned with Romy from staying with Joan and Dick. Mum had been to church with Wynford this morning. There is free food there too, which Mum enjoys. Otherwise I cooked roast chicken for dinner, while Lorraine did some pottery. All well. Watched highlights of Chelsea vs Arsenal this evening. Chelsea lost. And so to bed.

Lorraine opened the door to see a Spiderman car with a man at the wheel dressed head to toe in a Spiderman costume. Lorraine called out for me to come and look. Very odd when he looked over at us, with his big Spiderman eyes. He told Lorraine that he was your friendly local Spiderman, and after a while drove off in his noisily powerful car.  We drove off less spectacularly to collect Pat and Maureen and went to the Tiger Inn at nearby East Dean. There we met Ken and Claire, over from Ireland, with their three Great Danes. A nice afternoon in the sun, chatting and having lunch, and soft drinks and puddings and so on. The dogs spent most of the time in the huge air conditioned van, but when out caused quite a stir. It was a complex modern ballet piece, for two people and three Great Danes, with their leads being skilfully being handed between Ken and Claire as the dogs tangled around them.  I let them smell my hand, and they seemed very benign. Not the greatest dog fan of course...

Friday. Lorraine off to take Pat to Eastbourne, and also do a spot of pottery with her tutor.  I made off this morning to meet Yvonne at The Grumpy Chef for coffee. She explained, rather emphatically, that she's not cut out to be a nurse. Poor Brian has been in lots of pain ever since his operation. Nevertheless Yvonne in good form, and we had a laugh over a coffee. She had to hurry back, and I pushed off to the shop a couple of doors away to discuss wheelchairs, pick up my prescription and go to Morrisons and so on. Back home I did a spot of writing, spoke to Mum and had a long chat with Anton some of it about his latest craze: horology. I'm pleased he has time for a new craze. Watch it! etc.   My latest craze is a band called Stereolab, who were active in the 90s that I knew very little about at the time. They have a compilation album called Serene Velocity , which is rather marvellous.  At tea time Lorraine and I made off to Debbie's house for the private view of her A...

Up early as Enzo was at home. Breakfast while the little boy crawled about and pointing at things and opening the doors of cupboards and draws. Meanwhile, life drawing class has resumed.  I hurried around the corner to find Mike, the only other bloke in the group, had taken my spot again. Peeving in a Pooterish way. Otherwise I enjoyed myself, despite being rusty. Somehow having my book accepted has reminded me that drawing's just a nice to have, not the main course. Adele not there, but nice to see Melissa and Debbie, and some of the others, especially Kate, who I normally sit next to, who is a retired art teacher with a brilliant style.  Home, and bounced the baby boy about and at lunch time, gave Lorraine a tiny break by feeding the boy with mashed up mango and guava and another fruit I forget. He nommed it down with gusto. He pulled a really funny shocked face when Lorraine poked in a spoonful of shepherd's pie immediately after. Then an Understory Session, having had to m...

A good day. Sent a message to Bob, whose birthday it is, and in the evening Lorraine and I scooted across to Brighton, where we met Klaudia and Oskar in the Cow to celebrate Anton's birthday. Anton arrived, having cooked his mum some dinner, and we scooted over to the nearby Murasaki where we strapped on a nice Japanese nosebag. Oskar adventurously ordering octopus ball starters, and an eel main course. Lorraine and I  loved spending time with my Godbairns and Anton, who was looking pretty chipper. We gave him a lovely edition of The Count of Monte Christo. Klaudia all set to start her MA, and Oskar planning his next assault on his modelling career. The two of them are lovely, thoughtful people.  Otherwise wrote today, and went for a walk this afternoon in Tide Mills. I've fallen out of the habit of long walks as it was too hot, having preferred the air-conditioned gym during the hottest UK summer on record. But now it is cool enough to walk. The hedges are groaning with black...

Lorraine off to her personal trainer this morning. I attempted some writing, and chatted with Anton who's  much brighter that that he's not shouldering a corporation's worth of stress. Spoke to Mum, and checked in with Brian, who is still in great pain.  Feeling a bit sluggish today, but felt livelier after going to the gym.  Lorraine returned from a good session at the pottery this evening with colourful with clay flowers to put on sticks in between the garden plants, and an excellent lidded pot. Then we watched the last of the Murderbot series on Apple TV and went to bed.