Life in Modern Britain Back up to London today to work with my chums in Tavistock Square. Listening to Andrew Marr's book History of Modern Britain on the train. Anton had recommended this accessible and interesting account starting just before the war. Fascinated by the late forties and fifties, which I am a little unclear about. Politically, it sounded increasingly grim and disillusioning, with the UK broke after the war and paying the Americans back, a process that didn't end until this century. Made me think what a strange little country we live in, but also how in some ways it has coped with the loss of power and influence it has experienced since the war. Work fairly enjoyable. Working for Kate today, which was fun. Went with Nicola to the King of Falafal for a species of wrap for lunch. Working on material to do with the eye health pitch that I had helped them win. All good fun. Home and Lorraine was home before me, hugged Lorraine and gratefully scarfed the food she had
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Lorraine is head girl Excellent news today is that Lorraine has passed her NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship) course. This is really good news, and the reward for lots of hard work. We will celebrate this later in the week.Lorraine home early and I cooked up a chicken with rice and veggies for us and generally felt very proud of her. I worked quietly on my business portfolio, which thank goodness is nearing completion. I say quietly but as The Old Church Hall is almost beneath the large viaduct which is undergoing maintenance. This means the occasional infernal road drill sound, but high in the air, plus the humming of cranes and generators and blokes shouting instructions. Meanwhile the agency called and said work would not be ready for me to do today. Popped out for a cheeky Monday night drink with Anton in the Shakey's Head, sat on the table with our backs to the bar looking at the list of speciality sausages while we talked. Below viaduct maintenance.
Venting Nice slow day with sunlight. Lorraine and I talking lots and going to Sainsbury's. It's strange but I really like shopping with Lorraine. I can torment her by forcing her to choose things quickly, and insist on pushing the trolly. Childish, I will admit, but fun. A slow afternoon. I watched a little football on TV, before I sloped off into town to meet Lorraine and Rosie who were hanging out in the Lanes. Discussions with Rosie about brilliant business ideas. I suggested Vindaloo Venting, which is a business where you hire yourself out to be taken for a curry and act as a ventee, listening sympathetically to your client's furious venting. As the Vindaloo Venting entrepreneur you simply walk away after an hour or so with a full & firey belly and a crisp £20 note. You read it here first! In the evening, I spoke to the Tobster in Toronto and discussed his plans for coming over in the summer. All good. And so to bed.
Cats and cauliflowers Cat business this morning. Off to the Top Cats at Patcham to get one of those calming pheromone plug ins as Brian has been spraying obnoxiously in the hallway. Repulsive beast. It is due to the evil black cat who peers in through the glass door at Brian and continually fights him, which makes him want to mark his territory more. The woman at the vets really pleasant as usual, and lent us a basket so we can bring all three cats in next weekend for their jabs and so on. Home and Lorraine and I played some pingpong with our new pingpong bats for a while, before we headed off to the shops where I failed to get a new phone deal, despite it being advertised on the Orange website, and in their catalogues. Lorraine and I had a nice cup of coffee in the Marwood Cafe, before heading for the sea to mooch in the beautiful sunlight. Home clutching a new wok and a large cauliflower, which Lorraine transformed into a cauliflower crumble which we ate with fish. Watched I Robot w
Fish out of water Called up by Nicola and there could well be some work for my pals in Tavistock Square next week, which is a boon. Otherwise found it hard to find much motivation towards much else today. Had a nice chat with Mum on the phone, and went to the gym and home via Sainsburys. Not long after Lorraine got home, Anton and Anna called around and we popped up to the Signalman for a swift beer before descending on our usual curry house. Anton bringing the pristine LP of Chris Squire's Fish out of Water which he ordered on his iPad from ebay for me. Importantly had a copy of the poster which I had on my bedroom wall as a kid. It is a lovely thing of a catch of fish dangling from a rope among irises, which looks like stained glass. Chris Squire was a major boyhood hero of mine.
Three old friends Up to London to meet Sophie at Victoria. We ended up going to a Zizzi restaurant and chatting for hours. Sophie has been under a lot of pressure lately but her business seems to be going well. I thoughtfully added to her to-do list by giving her another CD. Lovely to see her as always. I then popped over to Chiswick to see my friend Sarah, who I'd not seen for a few years and is freelancing as a teacher, editor and various other things. We had a chat in a cafe and generally caught up in a weirdly hot and sunny in Chiswick. Getting out of the station at Turnham Green felt like stepping into a different season. Then back into town where I met Mike Court my old art director in The Salisbury. Really nice to catch up too, as I'd not seen him for well over a year in which time he has separated amicably from his wife and moved into a new flat. He is still playing lots of guitar in bands, and his oldest son is following in his father's footsteps, and is now in a b
Redefinitions Another day mooching on with redefining my business, and working on a new portfolio, plus chasing up new agency who despite sending me papers to start working with them, have suddenly fallen into silence. I am however feeling much better about things, and am realising that my experience in my particular field of copy is difficult to beat. A note from my stepfather Gerald who is staying with Toby in Toronto and got in touch with me after many years in December. Met Matt after work, and had a drink with him in the Basketmakers, and I gave him the words for the new piece to be sung by choir in a shopping centre which I have been working on lately. We also discussed various bits of business, and had a cheery time for a couple of hours. Lorraine had a govenor training meeting in the evening, and I arrived home clutching the tasty evil of an Ace Pizza.
Monkeying around I've noticed that as soon as I start designing anything, time evaporates. Spent hours this morning moving things around by smidges, and endlessly rewriting copy. I was also sent some monkey business by Mandy in New Zealand. Her new game features excellent photographs of evil and wise monkeys, and I will write a wee bit of copy for it. In the afternoon I set off for the gym, bumping into Clare with young Aubrey. Had a nice chat and we were met by joined by Reuben and young Serge who had been into town to look around in the Natural History Museum, and do a spot of whale fancying. A mild-mannered workout today as I had a twinging back and sore throat. Lorraine home early and was able to supervise the pastry part of a layer pie I was making. I had no timings for this recipe but we guessed one and a half hours, and I felt quite proud when I sliced it open and it was in its layers of egg and onion (flavoured with mustard and thyme) and tinned pork meat and had set proper
Evening in the study Monday and back to the unglamourous business of sorting my business out. I am redefining what it is I actually do and offer the agencies I work with. It seems prudent to focus on what will continue to put bread on the table. Working late tonight and I - finally - noticed the blindingly obvious, which was a relief. In the afternoon I met Dipak in the Marwood for a coffee. I also made time to watch a documentary about Lucien Freud. I have been well aware of his work for decades, I knew little about the back story other than he was the grandson of Sigmund Freud. He was from a Jewish family who were able to leave Germany early in the Nazi period. I think I see the influence of Neue Sachlichkeit art in his work, which wasn't mentioned. Lorraine home late having watched a play Beth was in up in Kingston. Apparently Beth was rather splendid in it, and complimented by one of her sternest tutors afterwards. And so to bed. Looked at facebook to see that Max has (at last
Sunshine day Up early this morning and straight off to the gym, where I did some more rowing, which I am getting to like almost as much as the cross trainer. For some reason as I exercised I got in an increasingly bad mood. I am not sure why. Luckily this dissipated and I went on to have a lovely day. First off home to collect Lorraine and we went down to the the seafront and walked about in the sun, and met Rosie for a long amble by the sea. Eventually we met Rosie's sister Emily and her partner Tim, and their two wee twin babies Lyra and Phoebe. I liked the whole family sat outside having a cup of tea. Then off to Anton and Anna's for Sunday lunch. Really mellow afternoon chatting, eating delicious food, and listening to music, including psychobilly. Anton using his iPad to bid on an LP I wanted to have because of its fabulous poster. Lorraine really enjoying simply having a drink without feeling like she had to go home and do more work. Anton phoning me on the way home to sa
Birdwatching Lots of time this weekend as Lorraine had at last finished her course. She hardly knew what to do with herself. To celebrate we drove off to Woods Mill. On the way there we stopped the car to look at two tractors in a field surrounded by hundreds of seagulls. A Hitchcockian sight. At Woods Mill we sought out snowdrops and sat in the bird hide looking at various woodland birds, mostly great tits, blue tits, long tailed tits, chaffinches and a robin, plus two small reddish rodents. A quick walk about in the woods and then home again. In the evening off to see A Dangerous Method , about Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. I quite enjoyed the film perhaps because I wasn't expecting too much from it. Lorraine quite liked it, though was dubious about the casting and Ikea Knightly's Russian accent. We saw it at The Duke of York Picturehouse a few hundred hards from home, which is always a pleasure. Below gulls, they seemed in a great hurry to roost in the freshly ploughed ear
Ticking the box Up at 6:30 and up to London for a day of filling in for First Matie while she is at her sister's wedding. Lorraine meanwhile sitting her final interview for her headteacher business in Kent first thing in the morning. Texts from her later, and a chat at lunchtime confirmed it had gone pretty well, although Lorraine is already beginning to remember things she should have said. Up in London. Feelings of dejection revolving about the ratio of effort to results, and a conviction that the world is and always will be indifferent to anything I produce. This self-ingulgent gloom confirmed by The Argus not carrying a review of our concert, despite buying two copies, one for Matt, to read all about it. Felt good to be back in the agency, if only to be among some pals. A Pooterish moment... I was sitting next to Julian who was designing a poster about killing ticks. I asked him if it was a 'tick boxing' exercise. He even had the good grace to laugh. Journey home despic
Ducks in a row Back to the gym and not before time. Enjoying the rowing machine which I think is good for fat blokes and listening to a Melvyn Bragg podcast about the Kama Sutra. Also was booked for a single day in Tavistock Square tomorrow, which was nice. Cath called around this morning becore Lorraine left in preparation for an overnight stay before her big day tomorrow. Beth returned to University too. A quiet night in sorting out my portfolio and getting my unruly business ducks in a row, which seems only sensible.
Hard tasks Spent the day working on my business proposition and portfolio, and veering between wild optimism and gloom. Had a long chat with Mike (who I used to fondly refer to as The Gnome when he was for several years my trusty art director) about life and times. He had a big year last year with his marriage breaking up, and a house move and so on. Lorraine on the desk next to mine working steadily through her preparation for the interview first thing Friday morning. I can't wait for her to successfully finish it. Beth meanwhile doing hideous stuff on student loans, job applications etc. The three of us bent on hard tasks. I sloped out this evening to meet Anton for a cheeky beer. He is still looking thin due to what he calls his A-Plan diet (where A stands for Auschwitz). He also explained that what the Clameur piece needs is for the choir to break into the Jam's 'Down in the tube station at midnight' an idea I rather enjoyed but one I suspect maestro Pollard would
You've got mail Downstairs to make Lorraine and I a cup of tea and found a romantic and copious cat poo on the carpet courtesy of fat Basil. I fed the cats, which Brian sicked up afterwards. Between I gave Lorraine her Valentine's card and a scarf and rose, and received a nice card of amorous owls. A lethargic start to the day, but I had to quickly get my ducks in a row and walk in to the BBC on Queens Road. Alison Ferns, who is really nice, was visibly pregnant and hadn't a clue what was on the CD (nor did she have one to hand, luckily I had one in my manbag) which left me slightly wondering what I was doing there. Still I was grateful for the coverage and she played most of one track, which sounded a bit weedy in the studio, but fine on the radio. I came out feeling I hadn't done a great job, but listening to the interview it was not bad under the circumstances. I was in and out in ten minutes or so, and then walked down to the sea briefly, and went to The Latest Musi
Slugs and a lightbulb moment A sluggish start to the week. I woke up having slept the sleep of the dead. Neither Lorraine nor I felt the need to spring from bed. Lorriane on half term, but is spending the days preparing for the interview at the end of the week. I gradually felt more energetic as the day progressed. Popped out to buy a pressie and card and a wee rose which I hid out the back for Lorraine on Valentine's day tomorrow. Beth spent much of the day with Kayleigh and they went to see War Horse, which they both liked. I met Matt this evening briefly where we had a postmortem of the gig and then a rather brilliant idea for what we think may be a ten minute choir piece to be sung outside in Churchill Square during the festival. Both rather buoyed by this. Matt generally upbeat and full of drive. Matt off home, and I went home and waited with Lorraine, for Beth and Kayleigh to return before going for a meal in the Shahi. Cheery evening, and good fun.
And relax Woke up late due to cat plaguing. I got up eventually and made breakfast. Lorraine rather delicate. He simply made it to the sofa and complained about having problems with maintaining verticality. Mum--rather astonishingly--was bright as a button. Betty and her pal Laura appeared at around noon, and then after lots of cheery chat, ended up going upstairs and watching Harry Potter movies and sleeping. A nice roast dinner at four, after Lorraine had briefly rallied, and then I walked Mum off to the station. Back home and a verrrry slow evening and an early night. Talked to Matt who is fired up about working on the next piece. Some lovely comments and texts from people during the day.
Matt and Pete's Big Night Out So the day of the Pollard & Kenny Clameur launch. Betty back this morning full of pep, armed with gifts of an unusual beer, and for me a large letter P made of chocolate from her trip to the low countries. After breakfast, Betty and I popped around to Masquerade where I hired a smart grey jacket with tails (although Betty and I assessed several others including gold and red sequined affairs. I was rather drawn to these until I looked at Betty's face). A little later Lorraine and I drove off to collect Mum from the station. Mason still getting over his chesty cough and it was thought best not to brave the ice and long journey. The next few hours given over to preparation, shoe cleaning, shirt ironing, a strategic nap and so on. Off then to the Unitarian Church and rehearsals began. Thank God we had lots of people to help us. Lorraine and as usual helping everything happen. She is so unbelievably supportive of me, it makes me feel very lucky. Bet
iPad envy Still feeling rather rough. Not the ideal prelude for tomorrow, so mainly I sat about rehearsing with the recording or simply sleeping. In the evening, Lorraine and I babysat for Klaudia and Oskar. Oskar sitting with Lorraine and Klaudia showing me Anton's iPad. I love the iPad. We played lots of games on it including chess, a Hello Kitty Game, a Where's Wally game and a few others. Klaudia gradually got so tired she agreed to go to bed without a moment's negotiation. Anton and Anna home late with top hats somewhat askew having dropped into The Eddy on the way home from their school fundraising event. Thence we drove home and went happily to bed...
Queasy Gah! Ambushed by what I hope is a 24 hour nausea bug. Ankle throbby too. Not ideal, but better to get them out of the way now than on Saturday. Sent apologies to Matt with whom I was not able to celebrate his birthday and slept heavily this afternoon, with stomach surging. Sonia the cleaner around today, and I absented myself for a lurk in the park, where I sat in the cafe working on poems. Despite the nausea I felt suddenly famished. Found a small Cornish pastie, which I ate despite it being full of a despicable grey paste. I can't believe I ate it. Nice Cath Mattos came around from The Sussex Beacon at tea time brandishing a sealed bucket for donations to be made at the concert. A low profile evening whimpering piteously at Lorraine, before an early bed.
Rehearsals and Radio I had a productive day. Was called up by the BBC and I have been invited on to the local radio on Valentine's day to talk about the album. Nice to feel that some of the promotional effort I have been putting in is paying off. Also worked on poems in a way that didn't disfigure them. Lorraine working from home mostly today, and she had Rosie around tonight and cooked a mid week roast. But she also kindly drove me off to Lancing College, where an amazing floodlit Gothic chapel is visible for miles in the dark. Atmospheric to drive down narrow roads heading for this wonderful structure. The music rehearsal room was next to the chapel, and it was good to meet the boys there again: Tom, Adam, Cem and Glen as well as the choir. The run-throughs a little raw, but we are beginning to get into the zone for the concert. A lift from Glen and all the band plus Adam Swayne went to The Shakespeare's Head for a pleasant and cheeky beer. All feeding my secret fantasy
Cat in the doghouse Basil the fat cat in the doghouse this morning as it had pooped indoors for the last two nights. Basil won't or can't use the catflap and we have been poking her outside at regular intervals but this method seems not to be working. Lorraine not pleased to be coming downstairs to such a catastrophe. Nice to be sitting up on the mezzanine level with Lorraine, who was working from home this morning, as I laid out the programme, and other bits. Looking forwards to doing the concert and being able to fix some of the niggling things... like getting some more copywriting work so that Lorraine and I can have a holiday. In the afternoon I walked into town and spent a couple of happy hours tinkering with old poems in Marwood cafe. The work I did was stale but it is good to knock on the door again. I can work among hubbub or in silence or with ambient drifting music. Anything in between doesn't work. Lorraine home early and we went to Sainsbury's, where I tease
Poet and Piano Off this morning to Glen's house where Fingers and I got down to business right away rehearsing the new pieces which we are going to play on Saturday. These are Ophelia and Kafka, the second and third parts of "Three Portraits for Poet and Piano". Both short pieces utterly excellent, and Glen and I found our way through them quickly. Met Dipak for coffee this afternoon in the Marwood. Chatting among the eclectic and haphazard decorations and paintings. Often a young clientele so there is a fair degree of sitting about in a cool way which I enjoy observing. Then bits of admin, laying out the programme and all the other stuff that needs to be done. I can't help worrying about snow. I cooked using a Madhur Jaffrey recipe tonight and it turned out rather nice. Very simple. Lorraine and I scoffed it, then played cards and listened to an album by Lamb rather than stare blankly at the goggle box. Went to bed reading R.S. Thomas. What an amazing poet he was. I
Zen beans Living in a pocket of rain, for just a wee bit up the hill from the Old Church Hall snow had settled. L and I went for a drive today along the slushy roads to pick up wine for the concert next week. The Downs were snowy and whiting out in the distance. Rather beautiful. Feeling much improved today, less achy and with a good deal more energy. Lorraine doing some steady work. Calliope chasing the other two cats out of boredom, and I made a very successful beanjar. The Zen task of honing the perfect ingredients continues: today I cooked it with pork, fresh parsley, onions, carrot, haricot and butter beans, but also to provide depth of taste: small amounts of garlic, tomato puree, cumin, black pepper, mustard powder,dried sage, fresh bay leaf, mixed herbs and turmeric. One day I will cook the perfect bean jar. It is my life's work and destiny. Watched The Time Traveler's Wife on TV tonight. Not a bad film of a very enjoyable book. A piece about Matt and I on the Brighton
The big sleep Narcoleptic morning, achy and unable to get out of bed. Neurotic about being ill before my concert next week, I decided to hermetically seal myself indoors and take it easy. Lorraine, who of course is really ill, did the same. I also biffed a night out with the Music boys I had planned, which was a shame. A cheery seeming Cath popped by for a cup of cocoa and a chat. Lorraine spoke to Sam who fell off his bike skidding on black ice and has a badly bruised hip and wrist. For me it was a sofa day, watching Rugby on TV, and then Borgen, a well-acted Danish TV series about a woman prime minister. The rest of the country it seems had snow, but down in the valley of Brighton we had teeming rain. Lorraine and I and Calliope went to sleep listening to the lovely sound of it falling on velux windows.
Dreams and distant genes Woke up after an incredibly complex dream at around five thirty with the detailed basis for a completely new story in my head. Had to crawl out of bed to write it all down before it melted back into the ether. Lorraine working from home today, and it was nice to sit side by side up in the study. I had some agency work this morning, which I biffed through and then spent much of the day getting in touch with some old pals, including Michael Stone Richards who now is in Detriot and a Professor to boot. Really nice and encouraging note from Richard in Guernsey about Clameur . Sent off some more CDs and went briefly shopping in the freezing weather. Lorraine who is feeling a little better, cooked a delicious onion based curry tonight, which involved complex spice mixes and purees of garlic onion and ginger, and cooking onions in different ways. We snapped happily into this, and watched the recent movie Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which was well acted, atmospheric but
Sausages At my desk to do some agency work which was bumped at the last minute. After some general admin, oofed off to the gym for an intensive workout. I am definitely fitter than I have been but I remain a fat bloke. Poor Lorraine is still hoarse and coldy so I cooked for her and installed her on the sofa before I went in the evening off in the cold to see Ross in the Shakespeare's Head for a pointless beer. I like Ross. He is cheery and interested in all kinds of things. We availed ourselves of the Shakespeare's Head's sausage and mash menu and took advice from one of the chefs on the best sausages. We were recommended venison sausages, with garlic mash and a berry and wine gravy washed down with Tanglefoot Bitter. I learn from Wikipedia that the name for Badger Brewery's Tanglefoot came about when the Head Brewer drank "several tankards" and "fell on" a name for the beer. When buying a round I found myself asking for two Tanglefeet. Fond farewel
Toy museum Carrying on in much the same vein yesterday during the day, albeit more menaced at my desk by bored and puckish felines avoiding the cold outside. Later I found myself in Brighton's Toy and Model Museum on Trafalgar Street. Having lived about 100 yards away from it for many years it was about time I popped in, now that I had moved further away. More Meccano sets, Hornby model railways and so on than you could shake a stick at. Was trying not to snicker at a Erector metal kit, and its accompanying magazine Erector Tips from I think 1919. Friendly enthusiasts running the place. Came away thinking about the imagined futures some of these toys portrayed. Home and Mum had sent me some family history research gleaned by a distant relative. Turns out there is some Indian blood coursing through these veins. I like that idea. It makes me feel less vanilla. Lorraine going off to work feeling ill, and home sounding hoarse and feeling rough. Poor thing. Later I popped off to meet