under another sun

Lorraine and I working today. Lorraine with loads of school work, and me doing various bits of admin for my business, and writing a press release for Edinburgh. Both feeling a bit grumpy about having to work at the weekend. However Lorraine and I went off to walk in the bluebell woods we always walk in this time of year, somewhere near Burgess Hill. It has been a very dry couple of months for this time of year, but they were still out in force and the smell was lingering in a lovely way. Spots of rain while we were walking about. We heard a woodpecker knocking on a tree and then I saw it disappear into a hole in another tree. We spent some time peering at this hole to no avail, however. Home again, and after a bit of a rest, we walked up to see Anton, and hung out with him, Klaudia and Oskar. Had a nice time, and I enjoyed seeing my godbairns as usual.  Oskar showing Lorraine how to do animations on the program he had, so she can do it at school. Nice to chat to Klaudia too,...

Thank God for Saturday, Lorraine and I had the luxury of lying in bed, and eating bacon and egg sandwiches. Then, eventually, off into town. We spent some time in Specsavers, ordering new glasses for Lorraine. Something about the chaos of Specsavers on a Saturday makes Lorraine fighty. Spent a load of time in there. We decided after this to repair to the Basketmakers, our favourite Brighton pub. We arranged to meet Matt who happened to be out and about. Great to be back in the Basketmakers with him, where we had two drinks. Then we bused home, and had an early dinner in the Preston Park Tavern. Quickly, home, both quite tired, to sprawl on the gold sofa.

Woke up at six thirty at Mum's house, and immediately started work in bed on the  stuff Keith and I were rebriefed on yesterday. A quick porridge breakfast and coffee with Mum, and said hello to a sleepy Mas before I zoomed off to work on the tube, having walked to Stanmore. Got there early. Keith and I slogging to mid-afternoon, and a couple of meetings. Then a quiet canter into the long weekend.  I snuck out of work early, and managed to train it down to Lewes in good time. On the train I got an email saying my first invoice had been paid by the agency, so I was officially solvent again. A wave of relief. Tried to explain to the woman at the gate that I had a season ticket to Brighton and needed to pay to get to Lewes, but she cut me off and simply opened the gate without charging me. I walked up the hill to the Lewes Arms, had a pint of Harveys and helped Robin sort out the room. A Telltale and Friends night, with Siegfried and Sarah reading, and Katrina Naomi and Ma...

Up on my own, as Lorraine on a course in Hove today, so no need to spring from bed. Feeling more cheerful today, and up to London, listening to The Power , and enjoying it.  Also texting Sarah Barnsley about the Telltale Stand, texting Betty who was working near Kew Bridge and had sent me a photo of herself with a Shetland Pony, and Lorraine who kindly agreed to drop off the stand to Sarah's house. Work fine-ish for most of the day, then the creative director drifted by in the afternoon smelling of beer, and simply moved all the goalposts of the work Keith and I had been doing for much of the last week. Obviously this now has all to be done rather urgently. More digging holes and filling them in again. Absurd stuff. Working a little late as a consequence. Then tubed off to Stanmore, and walked to see Mum and Mas. Spent the evening chatting, and eating spaghetti, although I went to bed early as I was yawning my head off.  Both of them tired too. They have ordered a new bathro...

Cold this morning on the platform, and very reluctantly off to work today. Finished listening as an audiobook to  The Imaginary Girlfriend , a short memoir by John Irving today. Lots of stuff to do with wrestling in it. Then started listening to The Power, by Naomi Alderman, who is friends with Margaret Atwood and it is rather a good novel. Went into work this morning like I was entering a ring. Unexpectedly, however, the day was fine, and the vileness of yesterday abated, and Keith and I were simply allowed to get on with our work. I walked around in Russell Square at lunch and called Mum, who could hear as I was talking to her a strange cacophony of squeakers, a vuvuzela and drums from over the hedge when I was there, and it turned out to be a security guard's protest outside the university. Was able to leave work on time and meet Anton in the evening at The Joker for some beers and woof-woof wings and generally to put the world to rights. Great to see Anton, though much w...

Into work feeling optimistic and cheerful. However the day turned vile, and extremely stressful. Keith and I found ourselves dumped on by passive aggressive idiots. We spent the afternoon at an editing suite fixing the short films which suddenly seem to have become our responsibility. After, I walked back to Blackfriars in a hateful black mood, and was very pleased to get home to Lorraine, who had gone to a Charleston lesson after work with Dawn, and was skipping about in the kitchen when I got home. Which did a great deal towards cheering me up. Watched a wildlife programme which had a section about birds, and Calliope suddenly got very interested, and started looking behind the TV for them once they had disappeared from the screen.

Up to London early today. Caught the seven o'clock train, and listened to the birdsong on the platform slightly enchanted by it and thinking of Edward Thomas's lines: "And for that minute a blackbird sang Close by, and round him, mistier, Farther and farther, all the birds Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire." Enjoyed seeing a hot air balloon, decorated as a huge union flag, drifting about near the low sun. Got off at Blackfriars and walked alongside the Thames and up through Leicester Square to a place called Jungle on Villiers Street, where I had to meet production person Nadia, and sit in on a voiceover recording this morning, and have a conversation about editing afterwards. Nadia only three years out of university, but very switched on. I was able to add a bit of nuance here and there to the voiceover. Then back in a cab to the agency, to hook up with Keith and do some work on a pitch and other headless chicken panicky stuff about the short films in the aft...

A slowish Sunday. A bit of happy pottering about in the gardening, mowing the lawn, watering the plants and so on. We went to Sainsbury's and this felt a really happy thing to be doing with Lorraine. I miss my Brighton life at the moment, and can't wait to get back to it. Also a good deal of recovering from a full on week, and Lorraine girding her loins for going back to School. Generally a lovely weekend.

Up early (thanks to the unwanted attentions of Calliope) and made tea and later brought Lorraine breakfast in bed. She opened cards and a few pressies, and once we were up (not particularly early) we caught the bus down the hill into the North Laine. Had a much needed haircut, then met Lorraine and we looked at watches, and then looked at some more, and then had coffee and had a discussion about whether you could have a group of minus four beetles for a surprisingly long time. Then more shopping, and at some point we bought some sketchers shoes. I have never tried these on before, and it is like walking on air or fleecy pillows. I also picked up a pressie for Oskar, whose birthday it was yesterday. Then we went back to the original shop where we bought a watch for Lorraine's birthday. Home briefly (I was blinking tired) and snoozed on the sofa, as Chelsea played a cracking FA Cup semifinal with Spurs. Fortunately Spurs were Spursy about it, and happily they lost 4-2. Lorraine a...

Still feeling cheerful. Helped by not having to work on the train first thing. End of week-ish and a bit braindead. Bought tea from man on the The Daily Grind stand, and shunned my sweetener as more news this morning that artificial sweeteners in soft drinks increase your risk of dementia and stroke. Listened to the football podcast. Brighton a.k.a. The Seagulls, are about to be promoted to the premier league, which sets up the potential for loyalty dividing Chelsea V Brighton football matches. A gleam of various ideas of things to write, as I walked from St Pancras to the office.  Noticing things again. Keith and I were given quite a bit to do. After takeaway sushi lunch, there was the usual agency Friday afternoon crisis, with work that needed doing urgently at 5pm. We pulled it off, and I still managed to catch the 18:08 from St Pancras. Another drunk on the way home, in a very smart suit in his early 40s, who sat down heavily on me then, having muttered in apology, lolled ...

Everyone up with the larks this morning. Lorraine up before me, and driving John and Beth off to hospital, where John was having a small op. I felt like I had emerged from a dark tunnel today, suddenly feeling happier than I have felt in some weeks. But the work unrelenting. On the train this morning, then a full day of Keith and I digging holes, only to be told to fill them in again, and then home to see my lovely wife, eat stir fry and then start work again till gone ten.  I have heard nothing from lovely French clients, however, so that was my last piece. Cramped on the train going home. Beth called me, bored as John slept off his anaesthetic. Sitting next to a man of the train who was furtively tucked into several cans of beer from his case. He crushed them all into the waste bin before he left, and walked down the platform swigging mouthwash. I finished the evening with a whisky with my wifey, and then bed. Tomorrow is Friday. All is well.

French work first thing today, as I travelled into London. Then a full day up in the smoke. Had sushi and poetry rejection for lunch. Felt beset by gloom. Bob called me to say that he was feeling gloomy, but I gloomed at him before he could gloom at me. Keith confirmed I was a bit gloomy today, which makes you feel even gloomier. Snuck out ten minutes early to get the early train just in time to pass a clot of my new colleagues. Train delayed obviously. I worked on the train a bit, and happy to get back to Brighton, and enjoying  the walk back from the station, looking over my shoulder at the colours of the low sun. A cheery supper, with Beth and John, who is going to hospital tomorrow for a quick op. Hearing about their recent awake break in a hotel. Then upstairs to the no rest for the wicked department. Sent off another idea to Paris. Then chatting with Lorraine, and talking in bed till late, which was a bit crazy as we both had to be up with the sparrows. A non-gloomy sho...

Up at six fifteen, and off into the cool but sunny morning. Into town, and sloping into work. Several talks about work we might be doing, without too much being demanded today. My lovely French clients, however, spoke to me which meant I had to work on the train and at home. All a bit of a long slog. Lunchtime, I spoke to Mum and Mas while sauntering in Russell Square. Mum slowly getting herself organised. I put off inflicting myself on her this week, and will pop up next week. Walked to Waterstones bookshop, but delayed buying lots of books till I can actually afford them, which will be soon I hope. Stuff from the Edinburgh people about get in times, which luckily Beth was on top of. Also emails with Sarah Barnsley, who I like a good deal, about the Telltale Anthology. My inner Charles Pooter was appalled that the lovely vegetarian chilli Lorraine had cooked wasn't ready for me as soon as I got home. Normal roles reversed, Lorraine was aghast. Very happy to be home, on the g...

Slept like a baby, apart from the attentions of Calliope this morning. Fed her and Brian, made tea and sat in bed with Lorraine and I caught up with my blog. Then up as Dawn came around for coffee. I left the ladies chatting and worked on my French stuff for a couple of hours, sending some ideas off to Paris. Spoke to Mas a couple of times. Mum now back home, which is good. Heard from Richard, and his new collection is going to be published by Blue Ormer, which is splendid. I needed an afternoon of indolence, feeling tired and depressive. Lorraine and I went for a walk around the block, then zombied in front of TV. We watched the Anchorman The Legend of Ron Burgundy , film, having never seen it before. Mildly amusing. Then all of the recent BBC adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's Decline and Fall which was very well done, funny and well paced. A brilliant adaptation I thought. And so to bed, setting my alarm for 6:15 tomorrow. As Nigel Molesworth might say, Chiz.

A dreich day, rainy and grey. Met Sam in the Cafe 33, where we were told it was going to get colder next week. I had a full breakfast, which included black pudding, and Lorraine and I talking about a diet of lettuce when we get home. Sam caught the train with us to Stirling, and after sad farewells had left in search of an airbed. In the cafe I was able to get through to Mum, who sounded bright and said she was on the mend, and hoping to go home in the next day or so and was now able to eat and drink and was on her third bag of water. She had had pancreatitis after the recent biopsy and had been unable to eat or drink and had been in a lot of pain. I felt happier having talked to her. Sad to see him go, and as the train pulled off it seems that Bridge of Allan was a long way from home again. To Edinburgh, then the airport by tram. Uneventful time there, and the flight home slightly less obnoxious that the first one, but cramped and trapped doesn't help. I like the signs over th...

A lovely bright day. Lorraine and I met Sam and did the Darn Walk , much of it alongside the River Allan rushing through the woods, and then skirting a golf course down to Dunblane. A beautiful walk. One favoured by Robert Louis Stevenson, and a cave by the river is said to have inspired Ben Gunn's cave in Treasure Island. Then into Dunblane, which seemed a very pleasant quiet town. Terrible that for outsiders it still is most famous for the deadliest mass shooting in UK history where tiny children and a teacher were massacred by a crazed gunman in 1996. Seeing the little town makes you think about the trauma it endured. Everyone must have known someone who was directly affected. We had a nice hobbits' second breakfast there (having eaten a banana first thing) and then went down to the little station to go two stops to Stirling.  Enjoyed seeing a poster for the trains with the headline, 'Your ticket to fun filled places, and excited wee faces' . Into Stirling, al...

Breakfast in cafe 33 (which we are think of unfairly as cafe 666) again this morning, and a bit of a ditto day. Sam went off to do some work at the University, and I went back to the hotel and worked in the quiet of our room on the thorny French brief. In this tranquil atmosphere, with Lorraine playing on her iPad quietly on the bed, I soon got to grips with a couple of ideas and felt happier enough to stop working. Lorraine and I then had another afternoon constitutional, this time at the top of the town, with rather nice views and gorgeous house-envy inspiring houses. We saw what we thought was a bullfinch attacking a parked car's wing mirrors, and then pecking at its darkened windows. Obviously spring making it feel territorial to the point of fighting itself. It had grown quite chilly, and Lorraine looked into some charity shops, and then we had an afternoon coffee and a scone in a busy cafe restaurant called the Jam Jar. After a snooze, we met Sam and went to Bridge of All...

Bridge of Allan then. Up and off to the local Cafe 33, where we met Sam and had a good breakfast, including black pudding. The place was empty at first, but it soon filled up. Very popular place. With lots of signs on the wall with signs such as   Service may vary according to my mood and your attitude and SORRY yesterday was the deadline for all complaints . Lorraine and I committed a faux pas by asking for more coffee when we'd already had our free refill, we were given some stonily, but without   milk. Back to the Royal Hotel and we stayed downstairs in the almost swanky bar area, I made small progress on work for the French brief, and Lorraine did some sewing and tried in vain to change a password on a phone account. We had light bite, a bowl of soup for me, and then we went outside for a walk. A bit spitty with rain from time to time, but we walked about on the backstreets of the Bridge of Allen, unremarkable, but good to get some air. Then back to the hotel for a larg...

Up and packing this morning, then Lorraine and I set off by car to Gatwick, after fond farewells with Beth, Pat and Maureen. To Gatwick on time, and then by SleazyJet to Edinburgh. A hateful flight, packed in like battery hens, Lorraine was claustrophobic, and I was entertaining the usual gamut of neuroses.  Off at Edinburgh. Lorraine and I found our way out of the airport and onto the Tram which took us to Haymarket station from where caught Dunblane train, to Bridge of Allan. Dominating the landscape from the train was the beautiful  Wallace Monument . I want to try to get a better look at this. We arrived in the town on a sunny day, and it looked very pretty. We crossed a little bridge over Allan water passed the Chip Shop, and found the Royal Hotel, and went up to our room with a creaky floor, along an uppy-and-downy corridor in the part of the hotel which is just about to be refurbished. Nice enough place. Then along the main street to meet Sam in a pub restaurant calle...

In the no rest for the wicked department, spent the day kicking against the pricks of a particularly thorny brief. My lovely French client Val had told me yesterday the brief was hard, and  mon dieu  she was right. Broke off to chat to Mum, or do the laundry or go for a brisk walk. But compared to last week's salt mine experience, this feels like a holiday. Lorraine and Betty went off to London to meet Jade and Sian for an exciting pre-wedding shopping day. Pat and Maureen off by bus to see Janet and Ken. Maureen much impressed with Janet and Ken's new place, and she particularly loved the windows. Cooked with Maureen, where I learned a lesson not to put too much milk , and hung out with Pat and Maureen watching TV till Lorraine and Beth returned with their booty, including swanky shoes for Beth and a mother of the bridegroom dress for Lorraine. Although Lorraine's fascinator went back with Sian in a box, to be unleashed on an unsuspecting world in August.

Yippee for a Monday. Up fairly early, took Lorraine breakfast and tea and went into the nerve centre of my office and caught up a bit with things. In the afternoon was briefed by Val in Paris. Had an idea and got this down, but not the easiest brief. But overwhelming feeling of happiness not to be  cramped on a train. I went for a walk, which felt marvellous and freeing. Simple pleasures. Lorraine took Maureen and Pat and Beth off to an exhibition which featured some of Lorraine's pal Carolyn's work. Maureen came back with with an embroidered broach.

A slow start to the day. Eventually we all climbed into the car and drove towards the sea. This hampered somewhat by the marathon that was going on by the seafront. Eventually, after all kinds of complications we arrived at the sea in Hove and sat on a wall and had icecreams and soaked up the sun. John arrived a little later, and splendid boy that he is, he brought us a tins of cold lager. I'm still feeling wan and out of it, but being by the sea was nice. Touched by how supportive the crowd that spread all along the seafront were to the marathon runners. Must have been exhausting for them in this unusual heat. Then eventually home again, having caught the sun, despite breaking out my straw hat for the first time of the year. Beth stayed with John, and we trundled home. I spoke to Mum and then we ate a nice supper. Weirdly Lorraine and I got sucked into watching the culmination of the Masters Golf final with Pat till all hours. I quite enjoyed it. Below some beachside scenes....

Pesky cats seem not to understand that this is the weekend. Calliope waking me at six by sitting on me and passive-aggressively purring. Fed the beasts and returned to bed, then bought chewy brown bread and a Daily Mail and white bread for Pat and Maureen. The man in the butchers demanded to know if I was having a barbecue today, as it was so hot and blue skied. We didn't. Instead, a day of regrouping. Lorraine coughing and not well, me worn thin and sore throaty still. Lorraine off to get her hair cut, Pat and Maureen off to meet meet Beth to eat a McDonald's and do a spot of shopping. I chose to sit outside  under the little tree looking at my poems and drinking coffee, all in preparation for a heroic afternoon sleep of two hours or more. Then in the evening we all watched a movie about the life of Florence Foster Jenkins, which was oddly touching and enjoyable. The business of watching brave and noble Chelsea on Match of the Day , another victory and then bed. 

Thank God for Friday. Up to the smoke one last time, feeling cramped on the train but working a bit on my collection of eight line poems, which has the working title of 'Everything nobody wanted me to say' . A gorgeous day again. At work, a morning of faffing around talking to people, till Keith and I were given some work to do urgently which made the afternoon go quickly. I just couldn't wait to escape, feeling weirdly stressed all day, despite the fact it was my last day till after Easter. Free at last, for a week if not being fully released back into the wild. I got to St Pancras with a few minutes to kill before my train left. Bought myself a can of cold lager at M&S, and went to the platform. Popped open the can, set it beside me and promptly knocked it onto the floor, and watched it gout out around my ankles. I managed to save about a quarter, which I drank from the dented can surrounded by a puddle. Sigh. Onto the train, and then eventually home, and dumped m...

Poor Lorraine really struggling with a cold this morning. But went to work anyway. I tried to write on the train this morning, but the pesky new Thameslink trains are designed by people who hate commuters, and there is no space for your knees nor any tables other than in first class. However a cheery Danish singer sat next to me at Gatwick and, not knowing the rules, spoke to me. She was here for the premiere of a film, where her voice was used on the soundtrack. Walking along Tavistock Place (where Carl once lived) and enjoying the proximity, just one door between them of houses where the whimsical Jerome K Jerome author of Three Men in a Boat, fame, and V.I. Lenin founder of the USSR lived, sadly though not at the same time. Keith and I given work only sporadically today. Went to the pub at lunchtime where I heroically had sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon. Warm sun today, and we stood upstairs on the roof of the building drinking coffee for a bit, looking down at our shado...

Porridge and toast with Mum and Mas, then I sauntered in the sun to Stanmore, thinking about the meaning of a dream I had had the night before about meeting a powerful goddess. A quick and easy journey into work. Then a bit of stressy slog this hump day with Keith. Rushing out to buy some takeaway sushi again for lunch. We were focused on getting things ready for a presentation we had to make at the end of the day. This went fine, and our stock still good at the end of it. Home looking at my poems a bit on the train. I seem to have accumulated a collection of two dozen eight line poems, mostly very new. Up the hill from Preston Park station, still listening to Julian Cope music. Home to find a very coldly Lorraine and Beth sitting in their pyjamas on the sofa watching Masterchef. Happy to be home, and watch the tail end of it with them, and be mobbed by Calliope. Lorraine just two days away now from end of term, which is fantastic. Early to bed again. It is the only way to survive....

Feeling more lively today, and decided to visit Mum and Mas tonight, without risking giving them the lurgy. Into work and finally told what to do (not an actual brief obviously) and simply got on with it, which was a relief. Off at lunch to buy takeaway sushi, then eventually able to slip away up to see Mum and Mas. Had a turkey steaks and a good chat with Mum and Mas, plus a few glasses of wine. Talked about lots of things, including Gerald, whose funeral Mum had been to recently. Mason's new hearing aids are brilliant. The television is on quietly, and he can eavesdrop on people when he's out and about, discovering that where he was in the street nobody was speaking English. Best of all, when I put my head into the front room to say goodnight to him after chatting with Mum, he yelped and jumped out of his skin. To bed and slept like a baby, apart from when a police helicopter hovered over the street for ten minutes or more at one o'clock.

Feeling a bit sweaty and achey today. Lorraine coughing and sniffing somewhat. A day of paracetamols again. Back to work with little enthusiasm, but trying to do some of my writing on the train. Reading my children's novel and making tweaks but quite happy. I also had to turn down other freelance work for the week, which is always slightly twitch inspiring. Spent all day waiting to find out what they wanted us to do next. Attended a meeting where this was discussed, which naturally started at 5pm. I simply walked out of this some time after six, as I wasn't going to let muddle stop me from getting home.  Feeling sweaty and grumpy didn't help. Home at last. Spoke to Mum and arranged to stay with her the next day. Lorraine and I creeping into bed as soon as possible, in all work and no play mode.

Anton around this morning to discuss Educational matters with Lorraine, and help himself to a couple of enlivening coffees. Once he'd zoomed off the pottering began. I did some in the garden. I mowed the lawn, that was moist and long. Lorraine and I pulled a few weeds up, and trimmed back a few plants, and sat in the hot sun in the corner of the garden drinking coffee watching a snail progress at speed towards the vegetation. The the first mongol of the ravaging horde. Then I did some business admin stuff, and Lorraine did a bit of headteacher stuff. Spoke to Mum and Mas. Had a delicious Sunday roast dinner and then headed for bed early, after a spot of ironing. The very stuff exciting blog narratives are made of.

A rather glorious day today, where Lorraine and I decided to have a fun day, and drift about as the mood took us once we'd got up. We walked into town, had coffee, went shopping for a few bits and pieces. I bought a new pencil case. Last of the big spenders. Then we walked down by the seaside and along slowly to Hove. A bazillion people all sunning themselves by the sea.  The beach front a bit of a building site at the moment though, with areas being rebuilt. Found out that one of my poems will be on the Guernsey buses this year. Then we walked up to Hove, popped in to see Wayne, and arranged to see him later, then walked down to find Janet and Ken in their new home. I didn't know the address, but we tracked it down fairly easily, having seen a photo of it, and noticing Janet's car parked outside. They had moved in on Friday, and were still adjusting. A lovely downstairs apartment, big and roomy with loads of light today. A quick cuppa, and walked back towards Brighton ...