under another sun

Cream tea and a big ass turtle A busy day with Sprinkles. And in Brighton the weather did its best to put on a good English show, running the gamut from grey to rain. However I took Sarah off to The Royal Pavilion and revelled in its orientalist splendour. Sarah quite liking this. We took the telephone guide handsets and drifted about looking at the sumptuous Chinoiserie of the interior. Built by the Prince Regent, later George the IV. The place is crawling with dragons. The bad luck experienced by the Music room are even attributed to too many dragons. It was attacked by an arsonist in the mid 70s, and then just as the repairs were finished in 1987 the famous hurricane dislodged a huge stone globe from the roofing which then came crashing through the newly restored roof, so they had to start again. Then off to the Mock Turtle for a cheeky cream tea. Sarah liked this immensely, and we enjoyed tucking into their still-warm, freshly-baked scones. After his refreshment we wandered down to

A fairytale castle Off today to an English castle. Caught the train from Brighton (train journeys being a bit of a novelty to Sprinkles) and we shunted off westwards through Hove and beyond. Arrived at Arundel with its picture book castle, Sarah really liked straight away. I am really enjoying seeing England through Sprinkles' eyes, as she goes about noticing flowers, and cute little cars, and getting excited about crossing the little stone bridge past the ruins into town. I missed the castle entrance and walked uphill. This gave us the opportunity however, to rubberneck around Arundel Cathedral of our Lady and St Philip Howard. There were excellent gargoyles and the beautiful stained glass. Sarah took a moment to light some candles, and we sat for a while together in the big tranquil space. The Cathedral is fairly new, being opened in 1868 but built in a much older French Gothic style of 1400. St. Philip was also the 14th Earl of Arundel and became a Saint as he was imprisoned fo

Sarah Sprinkles jets in Up at the crack of dawn to get ready and clean the bathroom. Then off by train to Gatwick. Naturally I went to the wrong terminal first, and had to leg it to the right one. Fortunately for me I wasn't late as Sprinkles was being grilled by immigration and didn't pop out for another half an hour or so. Finally she toddled through and it was lovely to meet her in person after so many Skype chats. Big hugs and then off to the train, and we were quickly in Brighton. Sarah looking out of the window and loving the buildings and the green of it all was making her think of Wisconsin. Remarkably unfazed by her journey, Sprinkles didn't seem tired at all, which was good as the poor girl was plunged into all kinds of activities from the get go. We got home and had Bucks Fizz and sat in my yard. Later I cooked us both a big breakfast before we set off to the local park where there was a gathering for Oskar's first birthday. Forcing Sprinkles up the steep hil

Two weeks' holiday here we come Last day at work today, and all was well. The ideas that I have been sweating over for the last few days were accepted by the client. The day was tranquil and cheery - and I was able to leave work early, pausing only to goad the Gnome and others about my two weeks off. Got home at 5:30. Spent the evening getting my ducks in a row for Sprinkles' visit. Amazing how long tidying up can take. And once you scrape the surface how many other areas of chaos are to be found. I need servants.

Memories are made of this Sometimes the simplest-seeming briefs are the ones that sap your soul. I worked on the train this morning, and after an hour I thought I had cracked it. But got into the agency and the Gnome pointed out that I'd got the product name slightly wrong, which meant I had to start again. Going through a phase of making silly mistakes like this. Perhaps a couple of weeks off showing Sprinkles the delights of England will be the refresher my brain needs. In the office slogged against the clock till lunchtime with the Gnome and then we went for a pleasant walk upriver into Chiswick, stopping in the Black Lion for a few minutes where we glugged some sparkling mineral water and cranberry juice. After work, I met First Matie and Matty on the terrace of the Riverside Studios, as it is still unseasonably hot. We ate and had a quick drink, with First Matie and Matty drinking the infamous pink wine. We three, the FB and others all took part in the infamous Summer of Pink

Freecycling the recycler Work a bit of a slog today, but tubed into Soho this evening to meet up with the old Dell crowd. (We all used to work on the Dell account in times gone by, and it was so hideous that it forged long friendships). We met briefly in the crowded Crown and Two, and then we repaired as usual to the Delhi Brasserie to strap on the nosebag. We sat as we usually do in a small mirrored back room. A good evening full of gossip. Paula is now deputy MD of her agency, Marcella has been promoted to account director, and best news of all is that Ash and Phil have got engaged - so there will be a marriage to celebrate in the Dell posse. Meanwhile James told us about a terrible night in a cinema. He has a phobia about blood and gore. He was watching a movie with his girlfriend, and started to feel wussy when the film got bloody. He went outside to the toilet still feeling horrible and fainted. He came to, having fallen heavily into the tiled wall, in a pool of his own blood. He

Blank for special messages Before I went to work I was able to sort out how to edit material on the radio MP3 recorder. Turns out Anton and I had not recorded a single word of our Dragon Quest walk. It was blank. Discovering this made me want to boil my own head, or perhaps plunge needles into my own eye sockets. Especially as the only thing on the freaking recorder was Neil's voice patiently explaining how to use it. The good news, of course, is that we can do it again, and much better the second time as neither of us were loving what we had done the first time. And when Anton and I chatted about it this morning this was the only way of looking at it. Maybe this was what made me feel a bit tetchy this morning, not helped by sitting in a board meeting which as any fule kno is invariably a tiresome yapfest. Mood much improved at lunchtime, which was something of a replay of yesterday. Another walk along the river with the French Bloke, and talked about interesting things such as the

TV is big and clever Lovely day again today. Woke up early and got out of bed at 6:30. Managed however to miss my train, and had to catch a slightly later one. As I answered a call from Anton on the train to talk tiresomely about his new phone, and it was then I discovered I was sitting next to Pam and had a nice chat with her. She had work to do, and I returned to listening to the excellent The Time Traveler's Wife . It works fantastically well as an audiobook. Work fine. Had my lunchtime constitutional with the French Bloke, and we walked along talking authoritatively about wide ranging topics, towards Putney Bridge and back again. Walking in the sun by the river made us both feel very cheerful. Also got a call from Mad Dog as we walked who is doing well after being ill last week. After work I went straight home, swapping text with Sprinkles on the train, and cooked myself a quick stir fry before managing to find the automatic tuning menu for the digital channels. And biff! Sudd

Zooming about Up early and gave into a craving for melted cheese and coffee, then pottered about before speaking to the lovely Sprinkles at five o'clock in the Florida morning. It was raining there, and blazing here in soggy old England. Then Anna called and said she would come with me to buy a television. I zipped up the hill, and saw Klaudia drifting about in her purple dress (purple is her favourite colour which is why A&A's garden is bedecked with purple flowers) and sparkling pink shoes, and I held baby Oskar for a bit. He is such a tranquil thing. As we left, Anton called after us asking Anna to check that I had my wallet, and to make sure I hadn't dropped it. It will be some time before Anton gets tired of the losing things business after yesterday's microphone incident. Anna, a saintly woman, is the best person I know to go shopping with. As I learnt a couple of years ago, after sacking Anton as my personal clothes shopper, Anna proceeds with decisiveness an

The Dragon Quest begins Finally after lots of talking and no walking, I strapped on my walking boots this morning and Anton and I headed off by train to Littlehampton, which is a pleasant little town that Anton dislikes. We paused only at Marks and Sparks by the station (a.k.a. my larder) to buy sandwiches, and bottled water, and on the train we had to work out again how to use the sound recorder, as I had left the instructions at home. (At least I had written them down.) Arriving at Littlehampton we bagan a futile search for a ferry which didn't exist. Finally we ask someone and, had to double back through town. We crossed the river on the footbridge and trudged the half mile or so down to the pebbles of the West Beach, where the Dragon Quest walk officially begans. We spoke some words into the MP3 recorder and then began the walk to find the origin of the River Arun, as well as try to find the dragon in St Leonard's forest. Our direction was due north, inland, past Littleham

Cherry blossom and deleted time A fleeting Japanese moment this morning. Walking through the graveyard on the way to work and seeing the cherry trees plumb with pink blossom. The April page of my Japanese desk calendar given me by Hitomi has the boar sprawled under cherry blossom, with the legend "Cherry blossom viewing. Under the cherry blossoms, all drink and make merry till late in the night". Wondered what would be going on now in Japan with national reports of the cherry blossom line sweeping down the country, and felt really happy remembering how much I had enjoyed my trip there at Christmas. Although I didn't drink and make merry till late in the night, it was a very cheerful day. Young Dan, who I have always liked, had a leaving meal outside on the terrace at Riverside studios in surprisingly hot sunshine at lunchtime. And it was here I learned was that aviator shades are back in fashion again. Then back to work for the afternoon before the party continued on the

London parakeets and Sussex dragons Another incredibly relaxed day at work. Even had a chance to look at my poems in the morning, and then had another hour's walk along the river. Trace came with me again. Walking and talking is very nice with her, but if Trace does have a fault it is in the encouragement and love she gives to every unspeakable dog we encounter. In the evening up to Anton's place and scarfed some Chinese grub and talked about the Dragon Project and peered a bit at the map. The first leg, which we are doing on Saturday, starts on a fossil beach, goes past prisons, an abandoned canal, two sewage works, the remains of an Augustinian Priory and ends up at the lovely Arundel topped with its beautiful castle. Should make wonderful couple of minutes of radio, and a lovely walk too. Also talked about The Time Traveler's Wife which Anton read before me. Sloped home, quite tired, and had brief IMage with the lovely Sprinkles before beddy byes. She will be in England

Time travelling A pleasant day. Really enjoying listening to The Time Traveler's Wife which is a wonderful book by Audrey Niffenegger, it is essentially a love story with a time travel element. This throws up interesting perspectives on the nature of love, attachment, and memory. But it is a real page turner, or would be if I wasn't listening to it on my iPod on the train. Wonder what would happen if you sat on the train and mimed turning pages for an hour? Only light bits and pieces to do at work again today, and went for a pleasant walk and chat with The Gnome to Putney Bridge. And was even able to think about my own writing off and on during the day. After work I found myself having a few beers (they have just got in the bad Zywiec beers that I sometimes drink with Anton). I'm very fond of this beer, despite its strength, and always enjoy the picture of the gaily prancing Polish boy on the label and think of Anton who was forced by his dad to wear that garb as a boy. F

A toe in the water Off to work feeling untraumatised. Arriving at the office, I found there was little to do, and the Gnome still on holiday. So had two brief chats with Anton about Dragons, talked to Mum. And swapped emails with Aimee who has had lively time of it when her friend fell off a fire escape down three stories and broke lots of bones and bled heavily. She said that she went for a manicure the next day, and the manicurist was complaining about her dirty nails not knowing it was her friend's blood. Also First Matie who is under the cosh as usual, and Sprinkles who was having ideas for TV programmes. Spoke to the French Bloke who has also taken up gardening, with a chainsaw. Happy to sit at work, watching the red buses cross the river on the green and gold of Hammersmith Bridge every now and again. A lovely warm day and Trace and I had a walk for an hour at lunchtime talking about psychics. Little to do in the afternoon too, so I melted away early. Wonderful to be heading

Bee busy A Monday that had no evil in it. A long lie in followed by a full day. Skype with Sprinkles early on before she set off to work. She has her own exceedingly feminine-looking blog, and I have put a link to her site in my friends who blog section. Worked for several hours on my bits and pieces, and managed to post off a submission of two short stories. Also worked on my poetry collection which is very much taking shape. Also bought two chairs and a table for my back yard in Habitat from a pleasant lady called Jazz. Home sitting on a chair peering at the roses I had sadistically pruned the other day. They're reacting surprisingly well to the affront. Everything looks messier in my back yard than when I started, which wasn't exactly the point. But none of the things I poked in the ground seems to have died yet. After eating chicken and rice in the evening, I went for another walk and took the photos belown on the pier. Then home again, and a good chat with Toby who had an

Tea in the Twitten Languorous and warm Easter Sunday. Got started writing early, and have rewritten completely a poem which has been unfocused for years. And bingo! It works. When not talking to Sprinkles for hours today, receiving instruction in rather off colour Tagalog and learning a host of other things, I did gardening. I planted a climbing rose and swept and planted and pulled bits of rubbish in bags from one corner of my yard to the other. Got talking at length to my neighbours Naomi and Steve. They were also gardening. Steve made us a cup of tea and we had a really neighbourly chat. Their oldest little lad is not yet three, and later as he watched me pull bits from the flowerbed he had a long conversation with me about subjects ranging from Bob the Builder to snails and kangaroos. Amazingly good language from such a small thing. Then a long and lovely cyberdate with Sprinkles before blessed bed.

In the Lanes with Lakshmi The very nice Lakshmi came to visit me in Brighton today. She is a good friend of Aimee in Dubai whose excellent blog you can see in my friends menu. Aimee had a suspicion that we would get on. And we do. Spent a cheerful day mooching about through the the wonders of Brighton, its beaches, pier and lanes. Then strapped on the nosebag in a nice colonial-style restaurant. Lakshmi at one point diving into a bookshop to score some dusty PG Wodehouse books which are as treasures to her. Later we went to the splendid Mock Turtle for a nice cup of tea and cake. Where I had a tooth-endangering crunchy flapjack. We also found the international sweetshop, where she was able to buy something called Mountain Dew which she coveted from her time in the US, this shop alone she said was reason enough to come back to Brighton. Before her train left we popped into the Battle of Trafalgar and sat on a table next to some smoking transvestites to give her a final flavour of Bright

The smell of marigold roots Around noon, I got busy in the garden, pruning things and sweeping up the tiny front bit. It was surprisingly warm work. And later, in the afternoon, I squeezed in the car with Anton and Anna and the bairns and we all went off to a garden centre. Gardening, as mentioned exclusively here yesterday, is the new rock and roll. Anton getting magnetised instantly by bbq paraphernalia . Meanwhile I went a bit crazy buying several bedding plants a climbing rose, a Christmas cactus, a watering can and so on. Anton and Anna meanwhile were buying only a single colour of flowering plants for their garden. The colour purple was chosen by Klaudia in the morning. I got home around six, walking plants up the Twitten from Anton's car and singing Klaudia's Shoe Babies song to her through the hatch of the car. Then I was amazed by marigolds as I popped them out of the potting trays. I didn't know that they have such a herbal, distinct, but hard-to-describe sme

And relax... Actually remembered how to relax today, and that holidays are big and clevah. After chatting with Sprinkles, I got busy in the garden and found this very therapeutic and completely dissipated my feelings of creative frustration. Gardening is the new rock and roll. I painted the wall of my tiny yard white again, and pruned and trimmed lots of stuff from the back for several hours. Afterwards I felt like reading. Completing a moderately entertaining book I bought for my flight to Japan called Viking - Odinn's Child by Tim Severin. Then plunged into a short but refreshing snooze. In the evening had a few cheeky beers with Anton. We went to three nice pubs all within a minute-or-so's walk from where I live. Both of us wondering what Sprinkles will make of Brighton and its boozers. Anton momentarily glum because he won't be able to upgrade his speakers for a while. A few scraps of chats about our radio thing too. Anton has already planned what sort of speciality sau

The fascination of what's difficult My brain will not work. Been sitting expectantly in front of my computer and watching the tumbleweed and crows in the ideas department of my brain. Instead I want to sleep. This week was supposed to be about world domination, not narcolepsy. Grrr. Trying with the Ecstasy monologue but all my ideas are useless. Have come to an impasse on my useless poems. Just need to print off my reworked play about Thor but can't be bothered because it is useless. Keep thinking about those lines of Yeats: "The fascination of what's difficult/Has dried the sap out of my veins, and rent/Spontaneous joy and natural content/Out of my heart." Of course Yeats was a gloomy sod sometimes. That's one of the reasons I like his work so much. The sunshine, of course, supplied by Sprinkles. She sent me a musical card. It sings the "Yummy Yummy Yummy, I've got love in my tummy" song when you open it and lots of Easter themed sprinkles fell

Waiting for the Phoenix Woke after a succession of nightmares. However these soon dispelled after getting up late and speaking to a sleepy Sprinkles before she set off to work. Worked on Mum's artist statement/CV this morning and then in the afternoon went for a mooch about. Was thinking about Gwen my grandmother this morning and remembering being sent around the corner in Guernsey to Sampson’s store to buy Du Maurier cigarettes. The box was a design classic. Stopped in a shop called The classical longplayer and browsed about. My knowledge of this kind of music is sketchy. But I bought a CD of Stravinsky's work, including The Firebird which mum had and I listened to when I was a kid. Also prog rock legends (and my favourite teenage music) Yes used the bit towards the end where it all kicks off, as their intro music. The version I bought is conducted by Simon Rattle who has a name even I recognise. I love the idea of rising like a phoenix at the moment, I want to rise up from b

A happy Monday Lovely to sleep in until 8:30 this morning. I am feeling worn out and the prospect of being able to have a week of zzzzzzs in the morning is entirely wonderful. Woke up to some very interesting email from Sprinkles. Then Anton and I went to the local BBC radio for a chat and to be shown how to use a small MP3 recorder. We met Neil Pringle and Lanie Whiting of BBC breakfast team, and very nice they were too. Neil gave us some good, practical advice on what to record and what to think about when recording. Anton and I will do some recording on the first leg of the Dragon walk two Saturdays from now - and we'll see how it goes. It's all good fun. Both quite cheerful about this. Went off to a shop and got a cable to connect my iPod to my stereo, and a new phono stage which Anton assured me I needed for the turntable. Also looking at TVs as it would be nice to have one that isn't the size of a matchbox. Home and Anton kindly set up the equipment before having to g

Marmite and my mates April fool's day. But thankfully no trickery. My house has become fantastically untidy over the last few weeks, and so spent the morning tidying when not chatting at length to Sprinkles who gets up at five o'clock. This is a) handy for me but b) slightly disturbing as Cabal her dog insists on it. Today we discussed the glories of English food, such as Marmite. Their whole marketing strategy is based on the correct insight that people either love it or hate it. There was this viral film which is rather nasty but quite funny. In the afternoon Trace came down to Brighton and we had a long slope along down by the seafront. Really hot day and enjoyably Trace had a faux fur coat and hat on among people in teeshirts. In fact when I got home i think I had caught the sun. We stopped off at a seaside cafe where I had an eccles cake and a nice cup of coffee which quickly made me want to hurl, an effect which lasted for some hours. However lots of deep chats with Trac

Alice Russell Up early, and though not exactly fresh as a daisy, I was full of cheeriness. After walking out early to get fresh bread from the patisserie and a paper, I snacked on kippers and toast, then had an exceedingly pleasant chat with Sprinkles for about three hours. In three weeks we will be laughing over a nice cup of tea instead of the Atlantic. My groceries from the Internet shopping were delivered but I haven't quite mastered this yet, as I found a carefully wrapped single carrot, and a single banana. After talking to Sarah, I spent much of the afternoon making ineffectual attempts to tidy up. Anton came by in the evening with tickets to see Brighton's own diva Alice Russell. Anton was always playing Hurry On Now when I first moved to Brighton, and it gradually became the soundtrack to my first few months here. We met up with Rick in the St James in Kemptown and headed off down to Concorde 2, which is down by the sea, and is an excellent venue: not too big, and goo