under another sun

Lorraine and I started the day in a frenzy of list-making and assigning ourselves tasks, which eventually after doing bits and pieces ended up with us nesting on the gold sofa till the evening, when Lorraine and I walked down the hill and up another one to Anton's house. Rumours of a possible Brian appearance were confirmed, and it was great to catch up with him. Anne and Anton, as traditional, had assembled an top notch feast. Fingerfood starters, then a fish course of prawns, crab and salmon lox, followed by a fantastic steak au poivre with fries and asparagus spears. This was the first time I have eaten a steak in several years, Anton dancing about with steaks and making the sauce, which really was melt in the mouth stuff. This followed by puddings and cheese, all accompanied by wines and so on. Lorraine and I really enjoyed this evening of lovely food, and cheery company. Klaudia and Oskar managing to stay awake till midnight, for a spot of Auld Lang Syne-ing in front of th...

Called Mum to wish her a happy birthday, just as our card to her was being shoved through the door.  Otherwise a day getting a grip on things in preparation for the new year. Lorraine and I went off to see the latest Star Wars film for a spot of facemasky, spaceshippy fun.  The Force Awakens at the Duke of York's picture house. A perfectly enjoyable movie that ticked all the Star Wars boxes without bringing much new to the franchise, but was directed with brio and pacing, which I suspect was what most Star Wars fans wanted.

A busy day on Lorraine business. We disposed of the waste and high tailed it to Bolney to see Lorraine's new school. There was one teacher doing some prep there, and the caretaker. I don't think I've walked about an empty school out of term before. Lorraine taking notes while walking about and looking in all the rooms and learning the layout of the place. Looking in store cupboards and so on. One had a direction post with Back of Beyond, and Front of Beyond on it. To Horsham to dispose of Mrs Kenny's confidential waste in her office. Strange being with Lorraine in a busy office.Then off to drop her laptop off at her boss Chris's house. We were invited in and had a nice chat with Chris and his wife and daughter. A bright cheery room, and very pleasant people. In the evening, Lorraine and I sauntered down to The Joker, where we met Anton, Anne and my Godbairns plus Christiane (Anton's cousin and also Goddaughter) over from Australia. Lovely to see Christiane a...

Fond farewells to Pat and Maureen this morning, who made it back to Ashford successfully. Beth off to get her foot looked at, which has started, infuriatingly to give her gyp again. Otherwise, a day of getting organised, and shifting things about in the house and in the dungeon. I also had time to sit down and read in my new reading chair. Mainly a collection of bracing essays by by Robert Hughes called Nothing if not Critical: selected essays on Art and Artists.

All gathering in the kitchen this morning for a final big breakfast. Then Lorraine drove Mum, Mas and myself to Horsham where we dropped Mum and Mas at the station. The trains disrupted over the holiday so this was the nearest most sensible station. Nice to be zooming through the countryside, and Lorraine showed Mum and Mas her school. We saw her name painted on the board outside, which was exciting. Fond farewells to Mum and Mas, who managed to get home although it took quite a while. Lorraine and I drove back home and had a relaxed afternoon. I had a snooze, as my penchant for drinking rum and coke in the evening hasn't been helping me sleep. Bubble and squeak this evening, with turkey and pickles, which was yummy. I haven't had a thought in my head all day about writing, or reading or poems or work or anything. I think it's the vacant time my brain needs. So pleased that Lorraine is resting too. Lorraine and I took a quick walk this evening, as she is using the fit...

Up and breakfast with everyone. Spoke to Toby this morning, in a luxurious Japanese Ryokan, already night there. Good to talk to him.Mum and I walked down to Brighton Pier where we met Lorraine, Mason, Pat and Maureen for a stroll along the blustery pier, and we went to Horatio's bar for a cup of coffee. As soon as we'd arrived the TV was turned on and blasting out the Stoke versus Manchester Utd game. This would have been pretty annoying, except that Stoke scored two goals. Lorraine Mum and I walked to the end of the pier past the ghastly The Booster fairground ride at the end, 150 foot high of existential horror and looked out to sea. Having collected Mason from Horatio's where he had fallen into conversation with some people ordered french fries etc. everyone else drove home, but Mum and I walked back again. Felt good to walk after eating for England and to have a chance to chat with mum. A certain amount of eating and drinking, rounded off the day and in the...

Christmas Day started with Beth sitting on the end of our bed and excitedly delving into her Christmas stocking. This done, everyone congregated downstairs to have breakfast, mainly of scrambled eggs, toast and smoked salmon. Then to the living room for a strange interlude of people wearing the strange animal faces that Lorraine had been given as a Secret Santa present. This preceded the opening of presents, with Beth taking centre stage as Christmas elf. My main Christmas present had already arrived, and was my study armchair, but Lorraine bought me the perfect cushion to go with it. Mum got me a small statue of a howling wolf, which I liked very much, and Maureen and Pat had searched hard to get me a scarf like the one I liked so much but lost. Sternly admonished this time not to lose it. Then much shifting of tables and chairs to get things ready for Christmas dinner, before Lorraine, Beth and Maureen went to Beth's room to peel Brussels Sprouts, drink secret proscecco and o...

Before breakfast I decided to pick up the turkey from Choice Cuts around the corner. Hopelessly disorganised in there as usual, and this process took the best part of an hour. Was given coffee while waiting though, which was nice. Lugged the big turkey home with a loaf of bread and home to eat some bacon and eggs fashioned by my lovely wife. A cheery start to the day with Pat and Maureen. Lorraine and Beth front loading the festive period cooking. Beth made her own chicken liver pate, gammon was boiled and then roasted in cloves and marmalade, a whole salmon baked, a goats cheese and spinach flan, to be eaten with salad, new potatoes and salads and so on. Mum and Mas arrived in the afternoon after a long journey from Edgware. But soon we  had installed them in the spare room and we were enjoying a large spread of ham and salmon and home made pate. In the evening a bit of a Wallace and Gromit festival which Mas opted out of for a while. Later he went out for a walk but was almos...

Slightly fragile after an evening with Anton. Lorraine cheery as her work was all done. Then Lorraine and I off to Sainsbury's to do more Christmas shopping, and I went into hoovering and tidying mode as Lorraine and Beth did some shopping, and then collected Maureen and Pat from the station.  Baking tonight, sausage rolls made by Maureen. Sternly rationed by her too. Plus mice pies. At some point I also managed to fall asleep on the sofa. Christmas is definitely here. In the evening Lorraine, Beth and I popped next door to see Clem and Caroline for a festive drink, and to meet their two new kittens (a purchase inspired by our Brian) their kids were playing with. A nice time and we got to meet two other neighbours Andrew and Sumera who I liked a lot. Then walked back home in our sippers to join Pat and Maureen.

A weird start to the day, having slept like a baby, was the idea that I didn't have to do any work, apart from answer a couple of emails. Lorraine finishing off her last report on a school today. After a while, however, I decided to go into town to do some last shopping. I enjoyed to be wandering about, a rare  treat to be enjoying Christmas shopping. I saw something on Facebook this morning, a shot of a man from behind with shopping bags, the caption read December 22. Only two days before men start shopping . I contrast I feel unusually organised. Lorraine off in the evening to do pilates and noticeably cheery having almost completed all the work on her old job, while I was collected by Anton, who dropped off the present of a dark magnolia tree, just like the one I have long admired in his front garden. Then we drove to his house, where I had the chance to spend some time with my Godbairns. Klaudia is shooting up rapidly. Nice to chat to them and to Anne. Then Anton and I wen...

Lorraine and I up early to eat healthy porridge, Lorraine off for her final morning of work, and I went to my study to complete the last smidge of freelance work as well as returning my signed tax form to Andrew. The last bit of worky work I am going to do till the new year, God willing. A few muffled yippees in the Peter Kenny The Writer Ltd. nerve centre at this point. Beth and John up later, and Beth cooked me a hobbit's second breakfast of a bacon sandwich. Jade and Sam got up later still. I walked to the post office and, having posted my tax stuff off, stood on top of Blakers Park looking down at the pencil grey sea and feeling a lovely moment of freedom. Fond farewells to Sam and Jade, and to Beth who were all travelling to London. I waited with them outside as they smoked cigarettes waiting for the taxi. The rain starting with gusto as they clambered in. Calliope bolted through the open door in a willful show of independence but then bolted back chastened by the weather....

Sunday a restful day. Lorraine and Beth busily involved in cooking. One way Lorraine expresses her love for people is by cooking for them, and it was a special occasion so the food was fantastic. As Sam and Jade don't eat meat, Lorraine cooked a delicious Wellington, packed with mushrooms, cheese and spinach and the world's nicest red cabbage dish as well as other fixings such as Dauphinoise potatoes and so on. After this festival of gormandising, we had one of Sam's favourite sweets, profiteroles -- and then some cheeses last thing. John came around too, full of praise for a band he'd seen last night called The Aristocrats. We all drank some wine, played euchre and sat down to watch Love Actually , which Jade was particularly keen on. A perfect Sunday evening near Christmas watch. I like this film, sentimental as it is. I remember when I first saw it, and it makes me think how much better life has become for me since then. Below a snap Jade took. Lorraine beaming ...

A slow start to the day. I sloped off to the butchers, to buy cheese and bread and to enquire about chicken livers for Betty. Betty a big glum as her heel, which felt a good deal better after her last intervention by the podiatrist, is suddenly worse again. After a large breakfast Lorraine and I bussed into town with Sam and Jade. Nice to chat to Sam, who is in the throes of getting his PhD application approved, and may stay at Leeds to do it, or go to Glasgow or Birmingham. His proposal on the philosophy of language has met an enthusiastic response which is good. Then we melted into town, Lorraine and I mooching about the busy Laines, buying a nice scarf from Gresham Blake for Sam among other bits. The piano player dressed as a muppet, the bird whistle seller, and other Brighton characters all firmly in place in the festive bustle. Weirdly warm though. Later we reconvened with Sam and Jade in the Basketmakers which was extremely busy and noisy. But is the family's pub, and whe...

Up early and working on a film script for the charity, then off to London to meet the Matt and the folks from the agency in the Duke of Sussex  in Chiswick. Sat along from the actor who played Mr Norrell in the recent BBC Series Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. I also had to fend off an offer for work over Christmas as I went. The pub's big back room which now is used as a restaurant area, and it was full of tables with a big office party on it. Ours was smaller. A good meal (duck for me) and cheery company.  I couldn't help thinking of Bob, also known as Mad Dog who gained this nickname in this pub in the days of yore, when it was a pool room, and he was charging about it with a pool cue champed in his teeth. A pleasant meal, then off to another quieter pub to have a quick drink with Matt, with Jo and Dave before I answered the call of the seagull and headed south. Also phoned up the doctor's surgery. The tests were back and all were clear, as I'd come to expect. T...

Up early and working for an hour before I went to the quacks, and I had a blood test too.  Then lurked about in Starbucks with a large cup of tea and a skinny blueberry muffin, writing the rest of the script I was working on for the charity, and getting a new battery for my watch from a jewellers in Churchill square, who were both rude and inefficient, and buying a couple of pressies for my lovely wife, over which a veil of discretion must be drawn. Before returning home to put my nose to the grindstone.

Up at six (an ungodly hour) and off to Teddington this morning to have a meeting with the folks in the Charity. Good to see them face to face. Discovered that one of the people I travelled to Africa with has had sudden gut problems and we were told this might be to do with gut parasites. Alarmed by this I arranged with my doctor to have a precautionary stool sample taken, as my guts have taken a long time to settle after returning. Unfortunately this matter had to be discussed in loving detail with my doctor on the train back to Brighton. I collected the poo paraphernalia from my surgery, and returned home to work. When the evening came, another colleague contacted me to say that parasites had been ruled out, but texting Matt I decided to go ahead with it anyway. Other than this, the best day of the week so far.

Lorraine with lots of work to do trying to finish off the work from her current job in time to start her new one.  I had some stuff to do too including, applying with Beth to get a venue for our play next year, which appears judging by the email we received back already seems to be successful. Also slept this afternoon very heavily. I feel that the end of this working year can't come fast enough. Off in the evening to Dawn's house, all lovely and cozy underneath the Downs. Dawn has her place already seeming lovely, with her wood burner blazing merrily and we nipped a glass of sherry and then were fed with an excellent roast. Lots of chatting and Dawn, Lorraine and I plotting about how Dawn and I might do some more work together next year, around the of teaching children about how to decode adverts and political bias in messages. Home again, and I spoke to Toby in the Creamer Cafe, and sent a work email off having received a call from Jerry and then repaired to bed. Below ...

Up early because it seems that Christmas is here at last. Felt decidedly unChristmassy this year so far. Christmas is usually my favourite time of year. We drove off to drop Betty off at where she teaches drama to kids, and then plunging early into the business of Christmas shopping. I also bought some presents for myself, such as a pair of slippers and an amazing bargain in M&S. I don't normally go there for shoes, but I discovered a honey coloured pair of suede brogues that were suprisingly chic. Turns out they were end of the line, and I got them non-returnably for a mere £9. A bobby bargain. Later L & I stopped off at Foodilic and had a two small savoury tarts and shared a surprisingly delicious beetroot salad and a coffee, before re-engaging in the shops. I found myself enjoying it all somewhat. Home and rather tired several hours later. Luckily there was time to do a bit more shopping, so Lorraine and I sloped up to Fiveways. When we John came around, and after open...

A gradual improvement in the slogging work stuff today, I am working with very supportive people, particularly Matt. A long while since I have experienced such  copy rage  so called by Reuben, First Matie and myself when, working in the Copy Shop. Nice chats with Anton and Mum though during the day. I was particularly pleased to reach five o'clock where I took Beth to the pub, soon to be joined by Lorraine - where we enjoyed talking about Christmas. I found myself somewhat drained, and after a rapid foray into a snowy topped pint or two simply wanted to come home again. We arranged for a delivery Shahi curry too, so all in all a rather pleasanter end to the week.

Lorraine up very early with loads to do. I got up and started work on a few bits. For reasons I can't go into here, today was a fairly disastrous day, with an event I've not experienced in decades of working as a writer. Saying I am pretty cheesed off by this, is an understatement. I did have the opportunity however to go for a couple of walks, and get out of the house. I bought a new red (it has to be red) moleskine page to a week diary for 2016. (2016 - we live in the future). Beth lurking on the sofa waiting for her heel to recover from being injected yesterday. Lorraine home earlier than expected, tired and unable to discuss the results of the inspection but to a husband's eye  decidedly cheery. Below  I picture the prize-winning Mr Richard Fleming, having learned from Jane (who was pictured in yesterday's post) that Richard has done it again, winning two more prizes: one for short fiction and the other for poetry in a competition run by Pennine Ink. You can rea...

Simply a desk day, starting early and going on late. The vast Kenny brain on good form this morning, however, and quickly sorted a thorny problem. I did however go for one walk to buy a small chocolate cake. Beth returned this morning from Barcelona having enjoyed her visit to stay with her bestie Olivia. Otherwise work all day till the evening. John around to see Betty and we celebrated his birthday tomorrow with sausages and mash, and the small chocolate cake with candles in it and a few pressies. Lorraine had a good day, however, as the school she is about to take over next month has an ofsted inspection. She spent some time with them today, but this means the school should be subject to an inspection again for a while, which means Lorraine can get going for a couple of years before another inspection. On a more exciting note I forgot to mention about Jane's latest Camila-alter ego shenanigans , this time for Costa Coffee. Here she is on the left. 

Slept very well and up for breakfast with Mum and Mas. At the table horrific tickling on the back of my neck and something rushing into my hair. A large spider which I brushed off myself with some alacrity onto the carpet. Mum yelling don't kill it , not that anyone was trying to, and chasing it under the table before taking it outside. Way too much excitement before a gentleman's first cup of tea. Mum gave me a lift to the station, then I went back to the Turnham Green office. Bumped into Matt briefly, who glows happily when talking about his new baby Harry. Meanwhile Stephen's dad died, (he was in his 90s) the same day as Matt's son was born. Even though it wasn't unexpected, he is still sad about it. I spent the day working with Jerry an art director I've worked with occasionally. Nice to catch up as we designed some old-school direct marketing mailpacks. Mooched cheerfully with Jerry at lunchtime, as he compared the virtues of Co-enzyme Q10 products and go...

Up to London, the trains all delayed or cancelled but managed to make it just in time. A man of Indian appearance with strange metal Jewellery walking angrily along the length of the tube train (one of those new ones that have no walls between the cars) barking to someone (possibly imaginary) on his phone, using the word Hitler at one point, pausing by me with a bulgy rucksack, make me feel apprehensive in a way I never have on the tube before. A day's work in Turnham Green with Dave the art director, to design a folder, then off to Stanmore to be  collected by Mum and Mas to go to the Wetherspoons for a bite and a pint. Mum doing some kind of art business with the loud-voiced one-armed man. Mason asking about the Chad trip and so on. Then home to have a fiddle with Mason's new phone and programme in some addresses. Supposed to be a simple phone. It may be simple, but intuitive and user friendly it ain't. Some of Mum's apple crumble then an early night for me. Facet...

A headache today, which put a dampener on things and made me just want to hang about with a hurty head, and sit around in my new chair. Lorraine and I surged off to Sainsbury's however, and there I got a call from First Matie, currently back in the Forest of Dean. Good to hear from her, sounding quite upbeat. A difficult year for Kate, and she has now closed the Hull chapter on her life. Checkout man, who Lorraine and I quite like, saying he likes working at Christmas Eve as he likes seeing people lose their tempers. A Sunday eveningish kind of Sunday evening, with lots of work looming over Lorraine and myself.

A slowish start to Saturday, Lorraine and I lurking in bed till Lorraine had to zoom off in in haste or face the wrath of her hairdresser. I spent a few hours working more on A Glass of Nothing. Beth up to London for her cousin Maria's 21st birthday celebrations, including a trip to see Mama Mia . Lorraine and I then in the afternoon went off in the very strong winds off to Trading Boundaries where we got a comfortable reading chair for my study. Absolutely delighted with this, is perfect for my room, very comfortable but not slouchy. Perfect for reading in, in fact. Amazing how excited I got over a chair. Lorraine and I then drove back with it in the car, and stopped off for an early dinner in a pub called The Rainbow Inn outside Lewes, which we happened to drive past. A pint of perfectly kept Harveys, and I had pork vindaloo, one of the specials of the day, Lorraine had a traditional pub favourite of gammon, egg and chips. My curry was exceedingly mild mannered but fine, and ...

Feeling significantly brighter and more alive as the day progressed. Even had time to look at  A Glass of Nothing this morning, after doing some billing and admin. In patches the characters are starting to talk to each other and I am simply writing it down, which is always good place to be. A couple of short walks, and feeling slightly less wussy.  Also chatting to a guy who is developing a product for the pharma marketplace and was put in touch with me by the French Bloke. Sonia around, and happy having bought a dream home in Bulgaria, where she's from, at a snip. In the afternoon a spot of agency work to lead me to 5.00pm. A cheery night at home with Lorraine and Beth. Lorraine quite bouncy having arrived home with a badge from her new school which says Mrs Kenny, Headteacher on it.

Still under par and in need of sleep. I hate this. Still, I made the most of the day, tinkering a little on poems this morning, and so on. Reading books this afternoon, and sleeping again heavily. I finished off a book called The Idle Traveller, that Rosie got me for my birthday. Quite an interesting read, although the second half was mostly a retelling of ideas he had from reading other books. I also read The Story of Kullervo by Tolkien. I have a nice new first edition hardback of this from Anton as a kindly given birthday present. The tale itself, based on Finnish folklore, is unfinished and uncorrected. So for example the same character has different names. It is the first draft of something that Tolkien decided wasn't worth finishing. Although it was a stepping stone towards later marvellous stuff and so for Tolkien completists is a must have. There are also two versions of the same talk he gave about Finish folklore, which is slightly more worked up in the second version, w...

Feeling rough today, achey and totally without energy. Working this morning, by midday I had decided I was officially unwell, so stopped working, cancelled tomorrow's meeting up in London and repaired to the sofa, where I slept heavily. Had to cancel going out tonight to visit Dawn in Steyning. A quick foray out to buy fish and chips for myself and pie and chips for Beth in the depths of a rich and full cough, from round the corner in the evening. Ate them, felt too full. I try to steer clear of politics here. But impossible to avoid today, watching with gloom the Lilliputians in the UK government decide to bomb Syria. Through out history we have seen how bombing people into peacefully agreeing with us always works. I'm pleased too that the Russians will be in the same airspace going after different targets to the US, France and UK. What could possibly go wrong? Delighted too that nobody's accidentally already shot down a Russian plane to escalate tension. Proud of Hilary...

Up early and working on a poem or two before getting down to work. A couple of older poems, never quite finished to my satisfaction when approached in a ruthless spirit of cutting dead wood, suddenly shaped up a bit. Satisfying. Worked till around three on video scripts for the charity then walked into town to get a haircut and just to walk having been manacled to the desk. The barber's empty so I got a protracted cut with the barber pacing about my head and peer at it as if it were a snooker table. Got a bus back as I am feeling wan and depleted of energy. Worked till quite late, doing a variety of bits before I cooked a curry and then went to bed early with Lorraine who is having a hard week.