Little news: Halloween but I was unhaunted. Quite a quiet day at work, which was welcome. This gave me the opportunity to slip out at lunchtime for an enjoyable swim. In the evening met the old Dell crew Ash, Phil, Arno, Emma, James and Marcella in Soho. Queen Paula missing however through illness. We met in the Crown and Two Chairmen, and then went to the usual curry house. Left early but had another poor journey home. Reading Lamia this morning which I can't remember reading before. As ever Keats' descriptions resonate... Found myself loving this, which had me imagining reflections in marble: While yet he spake they had arrived before A pillar'd porch, with lofty portal door Where hung a sliver lamp, whose phosphor glow Reflected in the slabbed steps below, Mild as a star in water...
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Woke up early and it felt enjoyable and familiar sitting in my room with the window open to the grey and rainy morning, drinking instant coffee and writing yesterday’s entry. After a large breakfast, Sophie and me went for a walk in the teeming rain and lurked about on the campus. Then back to Scarman to dry off before the taxi to Coventry. Gallingly realised at the station that I had left my ticket in the hotel. Sophie on the train getting in the Buddhist mood. Arriving at Euston we went straight to Friends House to join a Rigpa event. Rigpa is a Tibetan word with connotations of the innermost nature of the mind as well as intelligence and awareness . It was a two day event but we were able to sneak in for the last quarter – with several hours of teaching by Tibetan Buddhist Minguyur Rinpoche who was 29 and had a funny as well as a wise old soul. He spoke in English, with a translator to help with the trickier bits. Although I am no expert, one of the things I love about Buddhism is
Today was the day of Martin Warner’s official retirement. At Euston I met Sophie with a case containing enough clothes and belongings for two weeks. Off to Coventry – and loads of news to catch up on; it was extremely nice to see her again. At Coventry we visited the Cathedral which was far more beautiful than either of us remembered. We sat for some time looking out at the remains of the old fourteenth century cathedral, destroyed in November 1940, through the beautiful window full of etched angels, loving how the light collects in them. (Below only a small section as the angels go up to the roof. ) Regeneration is a big theme for Coventry which was bombed to destruction in the war. The new cathedral was consecrated in 1962. I also enjoyed seeing Graham Sutherland tapestry of Christ in Glory which is also wonderful. Thence off to eat and wander about town dragging Sophie’s case with us as she did some shopping. I also made Sophie and MJ talk to each other on the phone for a bit. Then
Unwilling and unable to drag myself out of bed this morning. Fabulously and unapologetically late into work, an effect only enhanced by learning en route that we had won the first pitch. A fact that makes both me and the Gnome officially big and clever. Probably psychological, but very tired today after slogging for two weeks at work. Decided to work in small bursts. Went for a swim too in the afternoon where I stood before the mirror slapping my thighs in a cloud of chalk dust: for the sumo thing is happening again. Spoke to MJ on the way back from the pool. She and Weezer are still fighting about mullets. Did some work with the Gnome but he was looking a bit rubbish having slept at the hospital a few days this week as his son is still needing observation. Began to write to the message board about about great bees in history, such as that great bee general Honeybal who crossed the Alps with elephants in 210 BC but the bee muse fled. Perhaps this is the end. Hilarious and complicated d
Late into work where the Bees reigned again. Feeling end-of-pitch-ish and prone to hysteria which give way to tiredness. Today's post on the agency intranet was this: Dear Noticeboard Still broodin' about bees. Wonder if you can help? (When I refer to bees, of course I mean Apis mellifera or the common honey bee, not filthy and depraved bumble bees such as Bombus subterraneus or Bombus ruderatu .) Anyway. Does anybody know if London Wasps RFC, now based at Causeway Stadium High Wycombe, has a bee team? I need to know. Buzz buzz! Large regards Peter PS: Thank you to the people who pointed out that Hepatitis b was actually a medical condition and not a dangerous insect. Imagine how stupid I felt! In short I was in a fairly absurd mood. I looked out of the window and saw half a dozen parakeets flying by the building -- there are a few exotic colonies of them in west London -- as I have noted before on this blog. I pointed at the window shouting parakeets! but not one soul be
Bee-tastic day today. Kate started it by sending me a cleverly targeted joke about what kind of bees make milk... boo bees. This set the Gnome and me off into a bee-based joke frenzy which lasted quite a while, fuelled continually by Kate -- and MJ too. The Gnome a bit of a joke factory when he gets going. There is a new intranet at work where you can paste messages. Inspired by the excellent Timewaster's Letters book Kate gave me the other day I decided to post this: Dear Message Board Never mind about bird flu and sneezing sparrows. Its well known that the most dangerous creatures in the world are hepatitis bees. Just wanted to clear that up. Large regards Peter In other news my darling MJ has been conducting investigations into the meaning of 11:11 numbers which are cropping up in her life. Turns out she is not alone! There are people out there who believe that seeing these numbers is a way for extra-terrestrials to get in touch with us. All quite alarming. Feeling stabs of jea
Windy today and enjoyed a brisk and breezy walk along the river at lunch. Pitch work coming to a conclusion too which is a relief. My positive thinking regime is working well for me. I am now definitely enjoying work more than I have done all year. Today MJ taught me a song called "Mr Turkey" sung to the tune of Frère Jacques which is to be sung at Thanksgiving (apparently an American celebration of how large birds were first bludgeoned in New England in 1620) and involves jawlike snappings of the hands. I look forward to vigorously participating in this one day soon. First Matie has started a blog. It is called Shiver me timbers and as our paths cross quite frequently it could be interesting to read her take on the same events. After work saw Simon, currently eluding a stay in the Tower of London over his dispute with Prince Charles and other local worthies about his plan to have a wind generator on his land. Someone put a sign on his land which said "No Wind generato
Poor night's sleep. Got up at four o'clock and emailed MJ and Weezer. Later...a proper Monday morning. Rain, darkness and grey and me yawning and tired but my positive attitude still in place. Spoke to Simon today, who has not yet been dragged to the Tower for his stand against Prince Charles. I am going to see him tomorrow. Also booked my ticket on the Martin Warner retirement do at the weekend up in Warwick. Spoke to MJ tonight for the first time in what seems like ages but is in fact only a couple of days. Missing her horribly. Wild and windy night tonight in the Twitten. I like it!
Left work on Saturday and travelled up to Edgware to see Mum and Mason. Feeling pretty tired but had a very good time there. Mase excelled himself cooking nice Thai style food as Mum and me had a brace of G&Ts. Mum has been knitting socks with bamboo needles. I will append a picture of one of the socks which is scientifically engineered and has many colours. Mum and Mason also gave me a wealth of socks as a very welcome present. But this had me again pondering socks. If there is one item of clothing that can reduce me to a rage it is socks. Where do they go? You put them in the washing machine. You take them out and dry them all within your own house and yet I would estimate that some 12 of them have disappeared this year alone. But never in pairs. Slept deeply and soundly on Saturday night, and had breakfast. Over breakfast Mum posited a theory about how some people were louder than others because like certain dinosaurs they have chambers in their head which resonate, allowing th
Not the usual joyful Friday spring in the step yesterday as the work continues now. I am sat at work again. It has been a long week, with me and The Gnome, and others hard at it at. I was so busy yesterday that I forgot my back-cracker's appointment too, which I will still have to fork out for. Pat, the boy Robbie and me off to Froody's leaving do in Putney after work. Froody is a Tiggerish person, cocky and maddening but also bracing and fun too. Some ex-agency people there to catch up with. Home late, sleeping on the train. Jack's birthday yesterday. Sent a copy of My Family and Other Animals to him which should arrive soon. His party a great success according to my darling MJ. Meanwhile my birthday month continues unabated, with a Bill Evans Jazz LP arriving from the US, which I listened to this morning and is cool.
I feel the need to confess. There's something about Milly that's not quite right, and that's because she is an invention. I have been playing about with her for a while. Quite an interesting exercise to get people's feedback on her. I need to adjust her slightly so that she doesn't come over as being mentally ill... just lovably eccentric. Mary Jane is the Queen of my Soul. But she is scaring me as she wants me to have a mullet. Weezer is a rock on this important issue for I would rather plunge a Mohican of daggers into my own skull than sport a David Hasselhoff. Meanwhile, as I always suspected, Anton wants to date me. Tonight in the Eddy he revealed his long-nurtured plan. Him and Brian have agreed that we three are going out in Kemptown for the evening. For Brian is going on a manhunt and Anton and me will chaperone him as a couple. According to Brian I am going to be a bit of a bear, which I think is a good thing, but I am not sure. Anton mentioning the Area of
Brainwashing CD on the train. Work considerably better than yesterday, despite the simultaneous pitches. Late lunch, sloped off to Chiswick where Nicki cut my hair in the time honoured fashion. But as she held up the mirror to the back of my head I again noticed the Area Of Concern . Spoke to MJ as I wended my way back to the office. Afternoon doing a certain amount this and that, which it included a chat about a Christmas version of my hospital ad. Thunderstorm over the office with pelting hailstones, and I watched a seagull high up being battered earthwards by the ice. Working late again tonight. Ended up having a quick drink in the bar before commencing the long slog home. Reading more popular poems on the train... Always loved the beginning to Ode to the West Wind from Shelley, which is suitably autumnal: O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing, Yellow, and black, and p
Not sure, in balance, whether work today was more vile or tiresome. Plus I had to work late too. However in the short times I was not working life was good. Loving the misty fields in the morning, and was able to vividly imagine what it was like to be outside in the country rather than speeding towards London. Even the crossword I found myself doing had words like "briar" as answers. Also enjoyed talking to my beloved MJ. Every now and again I get this overwhelming urge to look at a particular colour, and today I found myself drinking the pink from a felt tip pen, which took me straight back to childhood. This receptive mood continued and I ended up buying a poetry anthology to on the train. Had forgotten all about this from Bill the Bard... Where the bee sucks, there suck I: In a cowslip's bell I lie; There I couch when owls do cry. On the bat's back I do fly After summer merrily. Merrily merrily shall I live now Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
Into London again. Snatched a bit of lunch with the FB and Phil. Otherwise talking to lots of people who were irrationally demanding work of me. One quote today from Leo: "Good is the enemy of Great". Got an email from Simon last night which mentioned that he was planning to put in a wind turbine near Garnshiel Lodge. Text today from him saying to look at tory rag the Daily Mail . There was an article about how Price Charles, ecologist that he is, doesn't want it in the backyard of one of his retreats. The paper carried an aerial photo of Simon and Lindsey's place, and the nearby "Teapot Cottage" where the Prince of Wales lurks when not slinking around looking for grouse to slaughter. A note from Andy today who has come through his "rebore" operation last week and is back at home. Home and conversations with my lovely MJ and Weezer. Bungy, missing feral(ish) cat has been found by MJ, after disappearing when they left their house, which is nice. It
Coffee and sausage sandwitches with MJ for breakfast. MJ pointing out the skull and crossbones mysteriously acquired by the Marmite label. Then MJ packing and us zooming off to Gatwick. A spot of shopping and a brace of smoothies at the airport and then the ghastly goodbye part. Sadly watched MJ walk throught security and off into the distance. Mum called me as I was leaving the airport, which cheered me up a little. Home to Brighton, and felt rather tired and a bit miserable. It started to rain. However cheered by speaking to Toby for a while, telling me about the cats and so on. House rebelling again. I have to sort my toilet out. It is only flushable now using a bucket as the valve in the cistern has come free and snapped away from its moorings. Later Anton came around and we went out for a couple of beers and then sat at home scarfing the Chinese food that Anton had ordered for 14 and listened to the new album from Brighton-based soul diva Alice Russel. Baby Klauds and Anna now TV
Talking half the night, and all morning. MJ and me seem to have a great deal to say to each other. Eventually I cooked us a large English breakfast. In the afternoon went out for a walk near the church where we bumped into Milly , who seemed preoccupied. Down to the sea again, because it was a beautiful day, with some people even swimming. The seafront still busy and active. MJ found a necklace made from mother of pearl which she liked. Later went to Bill's to meet Anton and Anna and Klauds where we had some rather tart smoothies. Klaudia was busy empting the shelves of speciality goods, and carefully handing them to Anna and MJ. Heading home, Anton failing to persuade me to take over pushing the pram just before we turned left and started the long climb up the hill. Home and a quick turnaround before the five minute walk to see Ken and Janet, and for MJ to meet them. Ken particularly on excellent form and making MJ laugh with renditions from snatches of arias to nautical favourit
A late start, but scouring the lanes for food, opted for the speciality pie shop where we ate pie and mash and drank ginger beers. MJ had a nice pie of chicken and butternut squash but balked at mushy peas. Thence to the jeweller to collect the ring. The nice jeweller very accomodating, and took MJ into the back of the shop to show her pictures of him and his sister in Central Park. The new stone is sparkly and is nicer that the first one. MJ really happy with it, and it feels good to have this all sorted out. Just like the first time, we went from the jeweller back to the Quaker garden and sat there cheerfully for a few minutes till meanaced by a cloud of gnat-style bugs, and two small spiders. From there to the sea, and onto the Pier where MJ had her fortune told by a man called Ivor lying in wait inside his gypsy caravan. Enjoyed watching MJ and the seer looking keenly into each other's eyes like two chess players. Ivor was extremely good value: a tremulous voice given to occa
Off to work... work fine although I was wanting to fast forward it! Went off site with Mike to focus on a couple of pitches. Left at 4:30pm however as MJ was waiting for me at home. She had cleverly found Brighton, the keys, the chocolate milk, and chocolates and had slept deeply and was waiting for me bright as a button when I got home. Extremely happy to see each other indeed. Off into the Lanes and ate a feast of tapas and drank a couple of glasses of cava. Lots of fun, although MJ a bit disturbed to discover that she was sitting under a pig's trotter projecting from a basket near her head. She'd thought it was a stick of bread before I helpfully indicated its toes. Home, and lots of catching up to do, over which a veil of discretion must be drawn. Very relaxed and happy, even watching some TV with MJ enjoying the differences.
My 46th year to heaven. I suspect it is going to be a lively one. Things have been very lively of late. Felt somewhat sluggish after last night's enjoyable feast in the Anglesea. But nevertheless cheerful. Off to work. A busy day but went off with Mike for a slow pint of Guiness in the Blue Anchor at lunchtime. We sat in the window looking at the slightly murky weather over the river, discussing how to be more positive at work. Getting on well with Mike these days. Got emails from Romy with jpegs of Meatball and Lucky Jim, who are two kittens who have arrived from Deviation Road with their belongings tied in hankerchiefs on sticks, and are now stealing hearts at Romy's place. Joan also emailed which was lovely. Also called by Mum. Variously kissed at work too, and felt surrounded by affection. Home journey a bit gruelling with a fatality on the line earlier in the day dragging my home commute out to 2.5 hours. However reading The Timewaster's Letters that Kate gave me and
Onto the train with a few seconds to spare and discovered Anton. Chatted all the way up to London where I had an enjoyable day at work. Mike and me are starting on two pitches, which is usually fun. Wonderful suprise in the afternoon... Got a plane schedule in my inbasket -- MJ booked a ticket and will be here on Thursday morning. Fantastic! I can't wait to see her. In the evening as the day-before-my-birthday celebration, went to the gastropub the Anglesea Arms with the FB, Max and First Matie. There we enthusiastically embarked on beer, oysters, venison and wood pigeon and the like. Kate gave me a book for my birthday... The Timewaster Letters by Robin Cooper which is very funny. Journey home excellent. Got onto the train at Victoria and put my head on the headrest and woke up 30 seconds outside Brighton station with the sensation of no time having passed at all. Got home to a card from Mark and a tunefully barking puppies e-card from Weezer. Quick message conversation with MJ
Misty this morning as the train was moving through the fields. I love the faint margins and edges of trees in mist. Listened again to my brainwashing CD and felt very relaxed and motivated by the time I reached the smoke. Walked by the river at lunchtime in the sun talking to MJ and Weezer, who are persisting in their "anthropological studies" and asking detailed questions about things like garden gnomes. Left on the dot and went out for a walk in the very mild evening down by the sea for an hour. It's nice there, with a little wind the old moon slightly blurred by high cloud. Standing by the sea I saw further down the beach a man juggling with fire in the dark, which was quite an arresting sight. Then I walked along the out-of-seasonish pier, which looked a little sad and quiet in comparison to the bustle of summer.
Really nice day today. Woke up fairly early and pottered. Pottering is one of the noblest human activities wherein I did a mountain of laundry and ironing, and then engulfed a small shoal of health-promoting kippers. House is on the brink of rebellion: alarming but so far irregular banshee screetch coming from the boiler. And the toilet too is no longer flushing properly despite protracted (ah-hem) ballcock fiddling. I feel a call to John the Plumber coming on. Off with Anton and Anna and Baby Klauds to Sheffield House Gardens, a gorgeous national trust property. We had a small picnic and wandered about by the ponds and lakes and waterfall and through the manicured autumn garden. Wonderful colours from bright cerise through dusty reds and golds. Struck again how orientalist these gardens are in their aesthetic. Perfect placement of things, water and so on. Almost like willow pattern designs. Learnt today that Anna is expecting again next May. This is excellent news. Baby Klauds being v
I had a really nice day today. Spent the morning doing bits of writing, and enjoyed pottering about at home. I talked to MJ first thing who had been a bit down in the dumps, but soon got in back in touch with her inner cheekiness. Best thing was going to the jewellers and seeing MJ's new diamond which is exceedingly sparkly. The jeweller said he was going to put lots of work in it to make it even more lively. What was potentially a difficult situation has resolved itself in a spirit of friendship. In fact I was in there for a good twenty minutes chatting. Turns out he is Hungarian, and he escaped with his father during the failed revolution leaving the mother behind in Hungary, who he then didn't see for years. His sales colleague (and clearly good friend) is Swiss. She had a similar situation to the one faced by MJ now. Lots of chat and left on good terms with me picking the diamond up shortly. I will safeguard it by sporting it as a blinging nose ring till MJ gets her marmose
Scandalously late in for work today and discovered that, after the Oktoberfest, much of the agency quite subdued in the morning. Mum and Mase have returned from Toronto. Spoke to mum and caught up with some of the latest news. Including Mase losing Toby and Romy's address en route and having an adventure with an angelic Sikh taxi driver who put him up for the night. Mum also visited Joan and Dick down in Deviation Road and really enjoyed herself. Tobs and Romy's place sounds excellent and I am looking forward to seeing it. Otherwise, for me, it was a day of two Maxes. Went out for a late birthday lunch for bouncy Max and some of her posse at The Old Fire Station in Hammersmith, which fortunately is no longer a fire station but a bar and restaurant. Very themed, even down to the urinals which are red fire buckets. The FB unable to make it due to work commitments. I was sitting next to Max who was making me feel her baby when it moved, and when it didn't she was jabbing at i
Felt very cheerful and optimistic today. And a joke I told yesterday in the all-day-meeting gained some currency. We were asked to think about something that obsesses us, and few were invited to share their obsessions with the floor, which tended to be things like football teams, rugby, and holidays. I said that for me it was silence, "and here's one of my favourites". I then looked at everyone hard for a while before carrying on with an explanation. Turns out the joke had a life of its own, and the hallowed board meeting the next day was opened with a mention of silence. Also led to my chairman and me having a long chat and him printing off my A little quiet time story and showing me some of his drawings. Mike and me are doing some tiresome work at the moment necessitating a slope off to another agency in Paddington. A meeting, and some chat before I was forced to abandon Mike there as I couldn't bear it. Arf arf. The agency had a small Oktoberfest in the evening. T
Two days of listening to the reprogramming CD on the train. This is quite relaxing and has led me to start the morning feeling positive. Although one time I did fall asleep and wake up with a violent jerk that startled the woman next to me who was reading a Christian magazine. Yesterday briefly saw the French Bloke and then met Marja, who I'd not seen for a year or so, in the Thistle hotel in Victoria. Much news back and forth. Poor Marja has had a very difficult year, but it was extremely good to see her. Asked her if she could take me in a month or so to the Finish pre-Christmas market which we went to once in east London. Lots of unusual foods and Christmassy bits and pieces to be had. Funny how last time I went there with her I felt nostalgia for a place I have never been. After a drink in the hotel we went for a curry. Then home to Brighton arriving at midnight, but finding strength to email Weezer, replying to an email she had sent me about cyclamen. Work today given over mos
Lovely morning in Brighton. Late into work via the doctor and the pharmacist which was just opening. Several guys waiting anxiously for their methadone. Work tiresome. Trains disrupted on the way home so had to stand from Victoria to Brighton. Arrived home feeling glum, but soon cheered up talking to MJ about W.B. Yeats among other things.
Had a nice Sunday morning. Went to Bill's Produce Store with Anna, Anton & Baby Klauds for breakfast. It has just opened, and reminds me a little of a larger version of a place I went to in Barcelona. Interesting food too. I had something called a cheddar buck rarebit, which was cheese on toast with added bacon and egg. You walk through the fruit and vegetables to a cafe section where the walls lined with enjoyably petty bourgeois goods including pickles, vinegars and oils, expensive honey, Anna even found jars of pollen. Creates a good backdrop however to the noshpit. Bumped into Spooner and Ali who were off to the aquarium with their nippers to find out what sort of noise seahorses make. Anton off to the airport this afternoon to fly to New York today on business, staying in Time Square. Hopefully he can meet up with MJ. Spoke to MJ who gave a poetry reading yesterday afternoon, and then returned for a meal for an early celebration of Troy June's birthday. Weezer told me