under another sun

A cold bright morning. Anton had his operation first thing. I'd planned to call the Hospital at 4pm, but Anna called me early with the good news that he was already in recovery. Felt my shoulders lifting and a huge wave of relief. I contacted Camino who was obviously delighted and relieved too. We had the little boy with us and we took him out for a saunter by the sea and in the park.   Late afternoon, I met Robin on platform two of Lewes station  and caught the train to Victoria and then bussed to Covent Garden and the Poetry Cafe at Betterton Street, for a double book launch for Tim Relf, 'Not Even October' and Mary Mulholland 'The Dodo Stories'. There were also readings from Lisa Kelly and Jane Commane.  Absolutely rammed downstairs, and strong readings from all. I particularly enjoyed Tim's poems. Bumped into Charles Lauder, and Richard Skinner, both of whom I'd interviewed were both friendly and warm. I mentally compared tonight with going to the Trouba...

Anton checked into the hospital for his op first thing tomorrow. He had the idea that he would walk to hospital, but it was raining miserably so he hopped on a bus. He was nervous, but you'd be a bit mad if you weren't. Generally though he's done brilliantly, and in rare half full mode said maybe it was good he had so much to sort out recently, as it stopped him thinking about the op so much. I did no useful work this morning. But I forced myself to the gym. Showering at home, I got a call from Steve Davis telling me Mum was going to sell her car. He seemed  surprised I knew about it. Apparently they -- probably Steve-- paid for an uber to take her home this afternoon. He's a good man. L and I to Gino's this evening with Brian and Yvonne. They are excellent company and we had a good laugh. I had a diavola pizza. Then we popped into Steamworks before home and bed. Had felt rather preoccupied this evening wondering how Anton was, and hoping he'd at least get a goo...

Awake early, and thinking about Anton. After breakfast I went to Brighton to hang out with him. He's being remarkably resilient and has got everything as much under control as possible, and Oskar was still in his room upstairs. A coffee and a chat about last arrangements. Fond farewells. Next time I see him, he'll have had his operation, and will be beginning a new lease of life. I am looking forward to that. I sloped down to a charity shop on Western Road to drop off a bag of books. Anton keenly feeling the need to get rid of stuff, having dealt with a good deal of his mum's things over the past week or so. I mooched briefly about in Brighton for a bit, but the wind had gone out of my shopping sails. Trained it home again. In the evening, while Lorraine was at pottery, I nipped over to Lewes, for another quick meet up, this time with Robin. Raining hard. We had one drink in the Lewes Arms, then another in the Elephant. Just a catch up, and a talk about the podcast. We are ...

Up to Hampstead to meet Mum. I was early and the journey straightforward. Walking up from West Hampstead down opulent sidestreets carpeted with fallen leaves. All rather lovely. Was early for Mum, and we toddled off down Flask Walk to the Old White Bear. Had a nice time, and got talking to a woman who was waiting for a friend who was in the The Royal Free. She was an interesting woman who worked as a tour guide in Kent, and was writing notes towards a book based on her family history. Very frank and open. The Polish woman who runs the pub stopped by and talked to us too, as she always does.  Chatted with Anton on the way home, struggling to get everything done. The trains were kind, and I was home fairly easily, and was back by six. Needed little encouragement to boof onto the gold sofa and chat to Lorraine. Reds and golds in Hampstead on an mostly grey day. 

A more vertebrate day. Proud of our spines, we did gardening, and going to Morrisons, and a bit in the studio, and cooking, and buying house insurance, laundry. Before any of this, we listened to music from Keith Jarrett's album The Köln Concert which is a revelation. A live recording made in January 24 1975, all improvised on a dodgy piano that made him play differently. It is, I learn the best selling piano recording of all time, as well as the best selling jazz solo album. I think it's amazing. Lorraine off to her book club, which was unusually held on Sunday night. I listened to Keith Jarrett.  

While snorkelling in Greece I have often seen sea cucumbers, lying about on the sea floor, moving slightly in the current. I mostly emulated those marine invertebrates today. Apart from a burst of activity around lunchtime, when Beth and Enzo came around with Lucy and little Perdy, who is was born the same month as Enzo but can walk about quite well. They were traumatised from a Christmas craft sale in the Women's Institute building around the corner, which was very busy. Beth won a giant teddy bear but didn't want it, saying she was never giong back there because it was too awkward. I emulated the marine invertebrate, by lying about on the gold sofa. Watched football, a first round FA Cup game featuring Altringham and Notts County, played in the fog, so much so that the TV cameras couldn't see the other side of the pitch. I also finished The End of Everything by M. John Harrison, very puzzling and opaque but with an air of greatness about it too. It is literary SF, and dea...

Trying to shake off my lethargy, and get organised. Contacted Robin, and potential podcast guests, and making one of my lists of things that an ideal Peter Kenny would be hard at work on. Next week looks pretty busy. Spoke to Anton, who has sorted out a funeral director now, which is a big step forward. Told him how resilient and strong I thought he was being. Chatted to Mum too, Ben apparently washing her car so that it can be sold. Mum said he is going to help in this matter. I'm going to see her on Monday.  Maureen here today helping Lorraine do some knitting. Delores called around too just to hang out. I lent her a Carlo Rovelli book.  In the afternoon Lorraine drove me to Peacehaven where I got my flu jab. In contrast to last time I was there, nobody there and I got my jab but in the minute this took, I came out and saw three blokes of about my age there. I looked at them and thought:  gomers . Sometimes a word can make you laugh in a way that's hard to explain to so...

Up and Lorraine off to get the baby boy, who arrived with the snuffles and a cough.   The last life drawing session of the year in the WI building. Fun session with a woman to draw for a change, always a boon. Home again and soon I was doing the Understory Conversation, nice to see those poets.  After these things, and playing cars with Enzo for a bit, and riding in the back seat with him on the way home, tasked by Lorraine to keep him awake on the short drive. Not the easiest thing as his eyes started closing as soon as Lorraine began driving. Intense games of peekaboo for five minutes kept him going.  Spoke to Anton, who has sorted out a funeral directors and seems to be slowly getting on top of things. No booze now till Christmas day he reckons.  Lorraine cooked a magnificent soup tonight with beans, a kenny farm squash, and assorted root vegetables. Find myself able to look at the news of Trump's bloody nose.   Below Enzo for breakfast.

Reading lots this morning. A new translation by Phillip Terry called Unnamed Pleasures  of Baudelaire's poems.  Really well done, I think.  I found an old Penguin edition I already own which has both English and French text. Enjoyed reading the French, followed by the Penguin translation made in the 70s and Terry's new version. I surprised myself by being able to puzzle out about half of the French. Perhaps my French skills are less dismal than I think they are. Baudelaire more marvellous than I remember though. A long chat with Bob at lunchtime, very sympathetic to Anton. Hoping to meet before Christmas. Then off to the gym where I did a decent workout. Having finished this I went back to the changing room. Three boys were having about. Two left leaving one, who seemed to be willing me to leave. I got myself sorted in my own good time. Until he left, huffing. I went to wash my hands and saw a coat projecting from the toilet bowl. It was so surreal I took a photo of it. M...

Wrote the first draft of a poem, for the first time in weeks. Then after fleetingly seeing Lorraine back from her personal trainer and went to see parents and do pottery. I saw Stacy and got a hair cut, him taking infinite care as usual, razoring hair of my neck and even lifting my teeshirt and going to the top of my back. The area of concern is ambitiously annexing new territory, and is becoming a small slap-head continent. One day my whole head will be an area of concern.  Met Anton who was very weary from having a cold, needing his valve operation, and mourning his mother. He told me he had a load of jigsaw pieces with no box top. We played a game of bones in the Evening Star,  comedically bitter when I kicked him while he was down and won. We discussed lots for some time though, which I hope was helpful. It's all so hard for him at the moment. But hopefully once the op is done, things will brighten steadily. Back in Seaford at 5:50, and I went straight to Trawlers and boug...

Lorraine feeling a bit strained this morning, taking phone calls from someone delivering a new turner to get in and out of chairs for Pat. She went over as usual, and Maureen feeling very sad, telling Lorraine that she just wanted to be with her mum and other cheery stuff. They drove off to Newhaven together, but Lorraine stopped off home, and I went to the car to speak to Maureen, who was crying. She cheered up a little later though, thankfully. Her hearing aid broke and she is going to the audiologist later this week. I don't think not hearing anything helps. I spoke to Mum who is already taking steps to sell her car. I agreed not to go up this week, but will zoom up next Monday or Tuesday. She can be very resilient sometimes. Also I chatted with Anton, who told me he is quite enjoying having some alone time to just process everything, or wallow, as he put it.  At the gym I did about 70% of a normal workout. Quite enjoyed it though, and the lats machine free when I went in, which...

A pinch and a punch. A couple of hours of tidying up post breakfast. It's not even beer badger stuff, where the kitchen is left messy after a night out, but a deeply sedimented untidiness. We made good progress.  Then what I think of as a reset day, where you get put back to your factory settings. Lorraine melting happily away into the studio for a few hours of pottery. She'd been frustrated with not being able to get on with it, and came out feeling pleased. I pressed on with my new M John Harrison book, The End of Everything . Also slept again, still needing extra rest after October's nasty bug. And put up one of my zines here . I also tried to think about drawing or writing. But I don't have much of anything that's ready to be said, and I don't seem to be in the right frame of mind. First day of not having my blood pressure taken by Lorraine. We will send off the week of good readings on Monday. A relief. For dinner we cooked ribs in the air fryer. I don...

Up and after breakfast, up and tidying up and laundry and so on. Lorraine and I went into Seaford, and looked again at the exhibition at the crypt. We spoke lots to Chris Ford who becomes more interesting the more we talk to him. He did a PhD in the development of frog eggs. Lorraine and I talking to Anton who seems to now have a bad cold.   From there I dragged myself off to the gym, where I did a reduced workout doing a little of everything, not been all month due to feeling under the weather. Home again, and fell asleep on the sofa for an hour.  In the evening off to Andy's house where we lurked in her garden for a halloween party. It backs onto a little bit of sunken field called The Buckle, so we were looking down on a patch of darkness, with stars in the sky close to the sea. We had discussed symbolically burning something to be rid of it. So before Lorraine and I left I'd printed off some slips of paper on which I'd printed Good Riddance -- I send this to the flame...

Up and spent two hours tidying up the kitchen, and studio and making breakfast and so on. Then to my desk for the next three and a half hours talking to Mum and applying for insurance. Went with one of the leading comparison websites, and after filling out all the forms, being on facetime with Mum getting her driving liscence number and so on, and getting a very expensive quote from the cheapest provider,  the site would not process the transaction, and said we should phone. They said there was a problem with an unreported issue, and showed me to the government site. Finding this I found a lapsed speeding ticket from three years ago. I called back to say I had found the details. The quote was then increased by over a half, to three and a half thousand pounds. We discussed this, and Mum decided that it was too much to pay for car insurance.  This is very difficult, as it means mum's independence is compromised. But after hours of pursuing it, this seems the policy of insurers t...

Up feeling tetchy and tired. Enzo around first thing and full of beans. Blood pressure done, by Lorraine then off to drawing class, which cheered me up somewhat. Another male model, nice guy, but I prefer drawing women. Enjoyed chatting with Melissa after class, and John and another woman I don't usually talk to who had been a technical writer.  Home to be a monster chasing Enzo as he crawled up the stairs, which made hime squeal happily a few times.    Off this afternoon to Brighton, to see Anton. He met me outside the station, a Frodoish air about him of weariness and having seen too much. We walked down to the Hole in the Wall, and talked lots over a couple of slow drinks, after toasting Anne. He is being extremely resilient. His operation is November 11th. Obviously there will be a funeral for Anne of course, but this is likely to happen afterwards. Old pals are good, and we reminded each other of the various crises that have come and gone in our lives, and we've been...

To Edgware. Mum's car insurance had run out, and I needed to sort this out. A hundred relevant papers spread out on the table, and eventually I worked out that her existing insurance company allowed her cover to lapse, so that when she reapplied they would not have to take her on due to her age. I spent two and a half hours contacting insurers and the best offer we had was slightly below four thousand pounds for the year. We didn't take this up, and I discussed with her that it would be cheaper to take a regular taxi ride than pay this, and for the upkeep of her car. Obviously this is difficult because she loses independence. We walked into Edgware and had a meal in somewhere called Jenny's. No sign of any booze on the menu but they were happy to give mum a glass of wine. Friendly little place. Then to the bus garage. My bus came, I paused to give Mum a kiss goodbye and it left instantly before I could get on it. Long journey home, missing a train by seconds at Mill Hill et...

Anne died in hospital this evening. Anton's obviously exhausted and numb, having visited her every day for the last 25 days while himself awaiting heart surgery. We got a call from Anton this evening. We offered to go around, but understandably he was just shattered and wanted to go to bed. My day started with Lorraine taking my blood pressure. Turns out after several attempts my blood pressure reading was actually pretty good, and this evening too. I looked at a screen with some blossom blowing in the wind while a soft  Irish voice said calming stuff about breathing. This seemed to counteract the usual raging white coat syndrome. Lorraine is brilliant, and she did it three times in a row, and each time the reading dropped. It's the opposite when someone else does it. Otherwise faffing about not achieving much other than domestic chores and telling Mum I'd visit tomorrow. While Lorraine off at her pottery course, this evening I went to the Tidelines show in the Crypt, whic...

Lorraine and my thirteenth wedding anniversary day today. A rainy Monday, but we had some nice time together this evening. We'll bank our celebration for a bit later, but when I got in this afternoon, I brought some chocolate and flowers for Lorraine, who devoured the chocolate with relish. I'd been to Brighton this afternoon to see Anton, and find out how he's doing and what we can do to help. He will probably have his heart operation next week. And we discussed what needs to happen after this. Meanwhile Anne is still holding on in hospital. It's all very hard for him at the moment. Home and Mum needs to sort out car insurance, so I will pop up this week and do this. Can't wait to shake off this post-covid tiredness. Just little or no energy all the time. Began reading the new book by M John Harrison called The End of Everything just before bedtime. It was splendid. Below... Thirteen years ago.  

The clocks went back last night. Maureen phoned to say that someone had been in her flat and tampered with all the clocks, and demanding to know what time it was. Meanwhile Mum had got up an hour early, and was wondering why Wynford wasn't ready to go to church. When I spoke to Mum in the evening it seems that George next door is in hospital, and that Wynford had gone to visit him. Wynford is something close to a saint. Texting with Anton today. Anne is still hanging in there. Unbelievably difficult time for him.  Beth and James both struggling with the bug we had, had a terrible night with a teething Enzo, so Lorraine zoomed around and collected the bairn. Breakfast with him, and lots of playing with trucks and so on. Later Beth and James came around, both shattered with the bug, and lack of sleep. Meanwhile Enzo on the cusp of walking, and saying words like yes, and bird, and car quite clearly now. It's like waiting for a present to be opened. Watching Enzo tottering between ...