under another sun

Lorraine and I eased ourselves gently into the new year. I was happy just to be spending quality time with my wife. Calliope seems somewhat improved today too, which is good. We went into town, in the rain and saw Star Wars The Next Jedi , just after noon. It was a good brainless hokum, with lots of spectacular zooming about in space and on distant planets, and various bits of Jedi malarky with light sabres. Of its kind, an excellent film. And it did manage to borrow a bit emotion too with the bits associated with Carrie Fisher, whose last role this was. I had an outburst of eccentricity before the show, was in the loo having a strategic pre film wee, and suddenly had a poem idea. Trying to record it on iPhone just outside the gents, muttering some guff about rotten fruit into my phone, gained me at least one funny look. As I was doing this, Lorraine bought teas. Tea the perfect drink for a film starting at 12:30. This done we emerged into the rain and decided to 5b it back home ...

This morning Calliope did not wake me up, nor was she sitting on my bedside table like an owl waiting to pounce on me the moment I showed any sign of waking. She remained curled up and sleepy, and didn't follow me to the kitchen for food in the morning. All abnormal behaviour for her. Lorraine and I went out this afternoon to Lewes. I had half convinced myself that my furry daemon  would be dead when I got home. In Lewes, Lorraine and I mooched about in antique shops, with half an eye for a wardrobe to put in the big bedroom. Quite enjoy the random multiplicity of objects you find in antique shops, of which Lewes has an embarrassment. Lorraine and I looked quite hard, but found nothing quite right. Flagging we paused in a cafe and then made our way home, the train containing supporters of Lewes FC. In the evening I learned that Lewes play in the Boston League South, the same league as Guernsey FC. Next time Guernsey play there, I must see them. Mum's birthday today, and we ...

Woke up in Edgware late, and went down to find Mum and Mas up after the talkative carer had been. Dawdled over breakfast of coffee and toast, chatting. Mas sharing his opinions about the badness of tattoos among other things. With weird weather over the UK today, lightning, snow up north and heavy rain down south Lorraine and I left at around noon, after fond farewells with Mum and Mas, and we left clutching a bag of Christmas goodies. A slightly different route home cutting out a congested slice of the M25 pie. Despite heavy rain and water on the surface of the M25 we got home safely and the journey was much faster. For the first time in my life I had a conversation with Lorraine almost entirely in motorway numbers... yes we follow the M4 for a bit, then onto the M25, and head south on the M23. One day I will be able to talk to men at parties. Once we'd had a cup of tea at home, said hello to Sonia and thanked her for the cake she left us, made to her Bulgarian recipe. We buss...

Off to Edgware today. The sky blue and cheery. Morning trying together Lorraine's iPhone fixed, to no avail. Fond farewells to Pat and Maureen, who are going to stay overnight and feed the cats. We had to stop off at Bolney on the way north, to pick up Lorraine's old phone. Then had a fast journey to the M25 where traffic crawled. Eventually we arrived cups of tea and pistachio nuts and slices of the very lemony lemon tart Beth had made, which was extremely nice. Good chats with Mum and Mas, and we swapped a few presents. Mas pleased with the padded shirt I had bought him. Mum bought Lorraine a nice scarf and earrings. Mas telling Lorraine about Hugo Hamlin, his dad and we found one of the songs he had composed on the internet called I'm Going Back To Chattanooga Tennessee . We made off in the car up to Bushey, where I had booked a table at the Horse and Chains, to have a little festive celebration and also celebrate Mum's birthday too. Food not as good as I rem...

Sian had left for London from Hove this morning. We had fun with her over the festive period.  Lorraine up early, then drove Beth back to her flat, then off to the station where she travelled up to be with John at his mum's in London. Then Lorraine had a regular check up mammogram. I had a blissfully slow morning, catching up with my blog and sorting stuff out in my study, while Pat and Maureen were elves tidying breakfast things down in the kitchen. A quiet day, weather not terribly inviting. Lorraine and I drove to Hove in the afternoon to collect Sam, still croaky and unwell, and Jade. Brought them home to feed them, Lorraine made ham and eggs and french fries, and Jade ate the last of the mushroom wellington with french fries. Then we took them to the station. Fond farewells with Sam and Jade. I had really enjoyed seeing them. Christmas was a success, and Lorraine was very happy to see everyone, as was I. Home and we sat with Pat and Maureen, watching TV and having a small ...

A slower start this morning, although we were Face Timed in bed, by Beth who wanted us to get up. Sam and Jade and Sian staying over at Beth's flat. After breakfast,  I walked up to the local co-op at Fiveways to buy some milk and a newspaper for Pat, drizzly when I left, it cleared up in minutes and on my way home, I paused to saunter for a while in Blaker's Park. The bright low sunshine, and fresh air blowing uphill from the sea gave me one of those fleeting, difficult to describe moments of utter happiness. Home saying that it was a glorious day, and after an hour or so Lorraine, Maureen, Pat and I got into the car and drove off to Hove, where we got out for a walk. This walk less well-starred. The sea was an angry khaki and cold stinging rain began as we got out of the car, just as Lorraine was dropping her iPhone and smashing its screen. At the seafront by the huts we came across a dog with a square head, menacing a boy with his father fending it off. It then ran ove...

A day of high industry, wresting the turkey from the shed where we had stored it overnight, and hurrying it into the oven, breakfasting on salmon bagels, a good deal of vegetable peeling etc.  I also phoned Mum. Then we began opening presents, which was great fun. Beth and Sam taking it in turns to be Christmas Elf. I'm particularly pleased with the year's membership to the Tate, which means I can delight in the Crane-brothers joy of going to the private members rooms at Tate Britain and Tate Modern, while non members mill fretfully in the galleries below. This done, more frenzying around till Pat and I went to the Preston Park Tavern, to be joined by Sam, for a drink. When Pat and I entered, the place was teeming with small children. As many children as there were adults. We sat outside, as it was mild and breezy, but with the outside electric fires on. An interlude of calm, then we sauntered home in the stiffening breeze to plunge back into the festive maelstrom. Enough C...

A day of zooming about in a pre-Christmas frenzy. A relaxed breakfast with Pat and Maureen, after I had nipped around the corner to pick up a large pork pie, and our big turkey from Choice Cuts. Beth off early this morning, as today was her last elf day. Lorraine, Pat and Beth went into town to see Beth in her last day of elfhood. Then Lorraine and I drove off to the Brighton Station where we collected Sian, and drove her to Beth's flat in Hove where she will stay with Sam and Jade. Lorraine and I then popped down to see Janet and Ken, and drop off a present for them. Hus and Bryn were there too, and I was given a very large glass of wine. Much admiring of Janet's sapphire blue Toyota Jazz parked outside on the street. Fond farewells, then we drove around the corner where I accosted Innis in the street and gave him our presents to him and Rosie. Innis, clutching the last bits of shopping for Christmas, said he had a job tomorrow doing a shoot on the beach. Lorraine drov...

The big cooking day for Beth and Lorraine, with the ladies purposefully getting on with huge amounts of festive cooking, Beth cooking an enormous ham, luckily she is feeling a bit less peaky than yesterday. Still lots of preparations of things to be done.  I went off into town, where I had my hair cut, and I mooched across town to pick up a few last bits, as well as a Radio Times, a festive prerequisite. Bus home, and then in the afternoon Lorraine and I fixed up the curtain in the big bedroom, ready for Pat and Maureen. Home again, I was feeling particularly shattered. After their marathon cooking session, Beth and Lorraine go to the station to pick up Pat and Maureen. Lorraine cooked chicken and rice and vegetables, and we stayed in chatting in the evening with Pat and Maureen. Toby texted me from the airport in Toronto, having had a ghastly taxi ride to the airport before his flight to Japan. It is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas is beginning now.

We didn't have to spring out of bed this morning, thank goodness. But once up, resolutely getting things done. Went to Tescos in Shoreham, to pick up a present ordered through Tescos direct, going to Homebase for new lights for our Christmas tree,  and things for the curtain rail and rings, and then Waitrose in Hove for food. These done, we collected a poorly Beth from her flat, and brought her home for Christmas. She had missed elf work as she went down with the spewing bug that had gripped the rest of her team.  She was a bit brighter than she had been the night before however. Home and added different lights to the tree, below, and Beth and Lorraine wrapped presents, while I slumped in a braindead fashion on the sofa. I love coloured lights on a tree. I suppose that's because the archetypical christmas tree of my memory, the plastic one owned by my Grandmother in guernsey had multicoloured lights.

Thursday, and Lorraine on holiday! Luckily the school business sorted out rapidly this morning. She has a bad knee, however, so is finding walking a bit hard. So I did shopping and zooming about and Lorraine drove us about doing various chores. Then being at home for the giant Sainsbury's food delivery. A fast spot of dinner, and then we jumped on a bus and into town because it was the Burning of the Clocks tonight. We watched the parade, joined by Rosie and Innis and two of Rosies mates and Emily and her twin girls Lyra and Phoebe. I always enjoy the clock figures more than the fireworks. This all great fun, and every year I see it, it reminds me of why I love living in Brighton so much. It is cool to celebrate the longest night too, with the world brightening up from here on in. Albeit slowly. After the parade we sought a place for a drink, rather than stand about for an hour till the fireworks started. Had a quick couple of beers in The Fountain Head. An entire office party,...

Into town to do some shopping today, but back in time for my Christmas wine delivery. Feeling ropey and sore throated today, which is not ideal when there is a lot to get done. Good news was that money was credited into my coffers today, and later in the day I told the balance of what is owed me by my Paddington pals, will be credited before Christmas. This means I shall start the year able to pay my tax bill, and have enough in the bank to feel a degree of security, as much as you can with a world led by the demonic Trump  in our island of blighted by isolationist imbeciles. Very happily, it was Lorraine's last day at school, and she did pilates on the way home. I fed her, however there was a problem on her last day, which means she has to make a phone call tomorrow to sort it out. This slightly delaying the onset of the total holiday feeling.  A wine delivery in the afternoon. The forces that make Christmas are assembling.

A few emails this morning then to Hove by bus. Feeling a mite less sore throaty and foggy headed, and relieved to receive confirmation on the bus that some of the doubloons owed me will tumble into the PK Ltd coffers tomorrow. In Hove I bought a box of cheap co-op crackers, and headed to The Bottom's Rest for the long-planned freelancer's beano.  An excitable Rosie giving me a big hug at the door. It was just 12:30 so the pub was empty, except for us. It filled up a small amount later.  We had planned the beano as a kind of works outing for freelancers, and it was a great success and I think we will do it again next year too. Sadly both Tanya and Innis were down with lurgies, so I was forced to soldier on with the beano surrounded with five amusing and interesting ladies (soon in paper hats and reading terrible jokes). They were Catherine, Rosie her lovely sister Emily plus their pal old friend The Original Rachel, and another friend called Julia. Catherine enjoyed meeting...

Up with a sore throat and under the weather. Really bad night's sleep for some reason, and Calliope waking me up at least twice my crawling onto me in the night. Lorraine had one of her periodic bouts of sleeping hiccups, which she is blissfully unaware of. My lovely wife brought me a cup of tea, and I manned up and got on with various chores of which there are many. Then I girded the PK loins and went shopping. It wasn't too busy, and I managed to go about a good deal of my business without going mental. I began to feel a bit dazed and had a disturbing incident in the men's loos. The main toilets in Churchill Square were closed, but there was a woman standing outside them whose job it was to point people upstairs to the ones just past Spud U Like . In the toilet was a high trough, with a man standing at the far end. I almost began before I realised only just in time that I was standing by a long trough-like sink and not a urinal. I must be going mad. Next I made my way...

A slow start. Lorraine somewhat fragile after drinking wine last night. I made us tea and a sustaining breakfast and we gradually repaired. It was afternoon before we got going, and we did things around the house. Some of these involved the dreaded DIY, and I found myself drilling holes in the wall so we can hang curtains. Every time I have used a drill in Brighton has been challenging. The walls are made of weirdness, various substances, everything from stones to air pockets, so drilling a simple hole in a wall becomes an adventure. Still, we managed it. Lorraine supportive and practical, which helps as I am not very confident at DIY person. This done, off to Beth and John's for a Sunday roast. Which Lorraine made, as Beth and John began excitedly decorating the spare tree we had brought over. A lovely meal, and then we all sat in the dark looking at the glowing lights of the tree appreciatively. Fond farewells. John off later in the week to be with his Mum and sister for Chri...

Calliope has been looking at me with one eye shut for the last day or so, and I took a look at it yesterday and it was sore and inflamed. She is prone to this. Phoned up for a vet's appointment which we had at 12.  Before this, Lorraine and I sprang up early for a weekend and drove back to Bolney, where we bought a non-shedding tree from the nursery there. Home, and before we'd even taken the cat carrier out of the dungeon, Calliope, usually like a Phillip Pullman daemon, hanging around me most of the time, had hidden herself. We fished her out from under the futon, and I carried her into the car wrapped in a blanket. Drove there with her trembling and yowling, which gradually died down as she weaselled inside the jacket I was wearing. She is totally calm in the vets, due to all the pheromones I suppose. Eye drops for the weasel then, and she is very good at having these put in. Lorraine and I then off to do some shopping, food and pressies. Home to sprawl exhaustedly on ...

A few bits of work this morning, finalising the last bits of things, and did my last bit of billing for the year. Felt as if I had wrapped up the year. I hope so. Walked to Hove this afternoon, to have a session with Helen on the Centaur project. Listening to more of  The Third Policeman  as I walked. She had written an interesting new section to go with the last lot of words I have sent her. We drank coffee and ate the lebkuchen I had taken around, and discussed the overall progress. She thinks the opera will be finished next year, so we have to think about trying to raise some interest in it. For me it has been an interesting learning experience whatever happens. I met her youngest son and his girlfriend today too. Nice people. Walked home. Lorraine's work party today, but I gratefully stayed indoors tonight. Bought some fish and chips from which Lorraine fashioned a chip butty before she drove off.  I was very grateful for a quiet night in with the cats on the sofa...

A good night's sleep, woke up and quickly made a note of things Lorraine was saying about her Carol Concert tonight, so she had a basis for her introduction. Then I worked a bit on the poetry. I had sent what is forming into a new collection of poems, called Sin Cycle , to Robin and Sarah, and both were very positive about it. Very pleased about that. Perhaps even more pleased that I was able to arrange for one of my invoices to be paid, the prospect of a fish finger Christmas is receding. However glee at this tempered by being told I had misspelled the woman's name I was dealing with in my thank you email. Things like that curl my toes. Mooching about to the post office, ordering a turkey from the butchers. Also felt very sleepy, which I put down to yesterday's massage. In the evening, I walked over to Anton's house, chatting to mum on my mobile. Hung out and talked all night with Anton as I'd not seen him since I did my poetry reading in October. Oskar had bee...

A day of calm, no beers and no curries. Doing laundry and business admin bits this morning. A text from Mark with a photo of the poem I had written for his wedding in 1989. Working on poems this morning, and sent some of the newer ones to Robin and Sarah. Robin liked them, which was reassuring. Emailing the agency in Paddington about payment. The boards at the bottom of the Kenny coffers are bleakly visible, as the wheelbarrows of Paddington doubloons have yet to be tipped in. The prospect of a cashless Christmas is slightly worrying. To sundial where Jewel gave me a massage at midday, which made me feel pleasantly boneless and sleepy this afternoon, ironing out all the back evils that accumulated from commuting and sitting at a desk on a broken chair for weeks on end. Went to the post office on the way home in a curiously mellow way. Then home, where I had a deep post massage doze for 40 minutes. Then coffee, and popped outside in the pouring rain. Then cooked and when a frazzled ...

A cup of tea in bed from Lorraine this morning. Worth its weight in gold. Working today for a few hours on stuff for Pat, and also clambering about the house getting on with stuff. Woke up early and in need of irrigation after yesterday with Bob. The weather growing less bitingly cold as the day progressed, but still hats and coats weather. Off to Lewes this evening, where I met my old school friend Mark in the Lewes Arms. After a couple of steadying pints of Harveys, down to Chaula's Indian restaurant for a rather good bite to eat.  Lewes quiet tonight, the Lewes Arms down to a handful of stalwarts when we left, and Chaula's empty when we left it. We had an absolute bloody final drink in the Gardener's Arms, where the solitary barmaid had already stacked up most of the stools and chairs. Lots to talk about, and Mark is a good raconteur, and was telling me about his new company, which has necessitated a few trips to India, among other places. Good to catch up with someone...

An unspeakable morning, with icy pouring rain. Much of the country covered in snow. Lorraine off to work, and after I sent a worky couple of emails I packed up my bag and headed off into the deluge. Outside my gate a man passed walking his dog, and said 'nasty weather' to me from under his hat, and he was right. Walked down to Preston Park. A South African businessman based in Australia started talking to me as we peered out at the rain that had some snow in it, but he soon began to enlarge on foreigners, the dangers of being 'overrun' and the glories of Brexit, I made my excuses and legged off to faux first when the train came.  Up to Paddington, where the rain was slushy. Into the Paddington offices, and dropped off the laptop they had lent me, and received a handshake from now recovered Daniel, and hug from my pal from other agencies, Yas, who was there and just about to go to Sri Lanka today, and from Harriet one of the team I had been away with in Austria. From P...

A stiff gale rattling the loose tile on the roof last night, and lashings of stormy icy rain... Lorraine and I sensibly stayed in bed till the afternoon, in fact it was virtually a duvet day, nipping out to supply ourselves with breakfast and cups of tea. Once up, Lorraine and I spent the afternoon emptying everything from the kitchen cupboards, and putting everything back again in what Lorraine said was more logical ways. My wife cooked an exceptionally tasty vegetable stew this evening, which we ate watching the last two episodes of Robot Wars . This show where people build destructive robots to do battle with one another speaks to my inner schoolboy. Seeing bits of metal flying off lovingly constructed robots and heavy machines being tossed into the air is great fun. The young guy who won the competition this season, had been watching Robot Wars all his life, and winning it was his lifetime ambition. To bed, not dreading the coming day, which was nice.

Lorraine is scared of few things in this world, but her hairdresser is one of them. We sprang out of bed, after I'd drip fed Lorraine some tea and made some boiled eggs and marmite toast Lorraine drove us off into town, armed with my Santa suit, to be returned to the folks at Beth's drama school, and two cylinders of CO2 for our fizzy water machine, which I replaced as Lorraine hurried off to Paul her hairdresser. A gorgeous morning, cold and bright. Lorraine phoned me a few minutes later, walking to Paul's knowing she was on time, and full of happiness, which was rather lovely. I ducked into city books, and found a cafe and sent a few messages and emails, then spoke to Janet and Ken and made off to see them, armed with nutty chocolate brownies, and stamps that I picked up for Janet. Nice chat there with Janet, among other things about being a Critical Friend to businesses and practitioners. As I had woken up in the morning thinking this might be a useful thing for me to ...

Up early and another day of working at home, dangling in vain all day for feedback for the work I did yesterday. However I simply got on with other things, such as writing a post on my other blog and went for a long walk in the afternoon. A cold, clear day. I was listening to an audiobook of The Third Policeman, and it was making me laugh aloud. It is a brilliantly intelligent and crazy book, and could only have been written in Ireland. I started it many years ago, but didn't get on with it for some reason. I am so pleased I found my way back to it. A lovely walk, in woods for a bit, then down the roads to Preston Park, where I had a cup of coffee in the cafe, and then walked home in the cold and long winter shadows, even though it was only three PM. Spoke to Sonia, who is going away on holiday again next week. Once I'd done everything, I called Mum for a FaceTime chat. Then I nipped out in the cold and ordered a curry from around the corner. Lorraine arrived home when I was ...

So up early and after Lorraine and I scarfed some porridge, I began writing copy about an unpleasant inherited medical condition for an app. No travel today, thank goodness. The weather ghastly outside, windy and rain. I thought I'd be done by lunchtime, but it took me till mid afternoon. Broke off for a short walk before it started pouring, and had a couple of coffees. After completing the first draft sent it off to Pat, and then began watching a documentary about Voyager missions. Fell asleep and woke up an hour later, with things to be done, but luckily Pat was going to get back to me tomorrow so my sudden narcolepsy did me no harm. Jenny, our next door neighbour popped in to say she was moving house next week. I like Jenny, though she is very shy. Lorraine came home early, and we caught the bus into Hove where we met Betty in the Paris House, after a hard day of elf-work in Churchill Square. Betty doing well as an elf, and has already had to step up as team leader. Apparent...

Off to Hampton this morning. A bit of train kerfuffle, trains cancelled and went on autopilot Victoria instead of Clapham, but all was well in the end. Basically spent the day with several of my old muckers. Went to the French Bloke, Perky and Pat's agency in Hampton by the river. Keith was there too, and I shared a desk with him. Briefed on the job by the FB sitting on a bench in the cold looking at the river. Michel interrupting himself by saying Oh look, a grebe!   Walked off to buy a pie with Pat and Keith at lunchtime from a shop in Hampton village. A saunter back. In the afternoon the FB strapped his headphones on and began squeaking his motorbike leather clad leg as he began to listen to some unknown tune. I mentioned to the others that it sounded like a teenager's bedroom, and a few of us snickered somewhat as the FB manfully squeaked on. Everyone left he agency quite early, and Keith gave me a lift to Kew in a nice little MG sports car, we  were laughing like dr...

Not much going on today. Fiddled with some poems first thing, and then chatted to Pat a couple of times about a job, which at the end of the day resulted in me having to go up to London tomorrow, for a day with my pals in Hampton. Otherwise a slightly limboish day waiting to find out what was happening with work. I walked into town to buy myself a moleskine diary. Not my normal scarlet one, but a sort of darker red with a bit of blue in it. This something of a revolution for me as my last nine years or so have all been the red ones. I half regret this breaking of the pattern, but there is something freeing about it on the other hand. Bizarre how much bandwidth the buying of a diary took up today. Nevertheless I enjoyed putting the first dates into the new year. 2018. What a science fiction year that seems. I think back to being a child and 2000 seeming to be unimaginably futuristic. Home again, and I cooked a pie, with a filling that Lorraine had previously made. She zoomed in and ...

I'd slept quite well, and woke up feeling that the weight of tiredness is abating a bit. I made Mas and I some tea, I ate some toast. Mason has soup for breakfast these days, but only fancied a banana to go as a side dish with his various pills. Quite a long chat this morning, and I left when one of his carers arrived, who seemed a nice. I walked to Mill Hill station, and trained slowly down to Preston Park, from where I walked home. On the journey I read again all the poems gathered by Sarah for the anthology. Home, and I made time for a bit of admin, including billing DDB which was nice as I sent them quite a hefty invoice. I have not yet been paid for what I did in October though, so wolf drool is beginning to splash the door. Off next to Lewes, to meet Sarah and Robin at the entirely sensible venue choice of the Lewes Arms. Really nice to see them both, and discuss the work with them over a slow pint, and how best the poems would fit. We were in the side room, where a woman...

A late start today, Lorraine and I finding it hard to get out of bed. Looking at deciding what needs to be done in the bedrooms we have just had painted. But not for long, as I had to start getting ready to travel up to Edgware. Lorraine dropped me off Brighton Station and the journey took a bit under three hours. Arrived at around 5:45 and I phoned for some Chinese food, which Mas and I scarfed happily, then watched a Spiderman movie that was on TV, Mas chatting about life in Hollywood for a while, and how all the actors who played bad guys, such as Ernest Borgnine who we happened to see as he was channel surfing, were friendly when encountered in coffee shops. To bed, early-ish after speaking to a tired Lorraine, who had been working on school stuff all afternoon. Below, Blackfriars Station.

Up and off to Bolney today. Once I was up and had a cup of coffee, I felt utterly brain dead and could hardly think for a while. Tiredness coming in waves, like it does with jet lag. Lorraine's school having its Christmas fair to raise money for the school, so lots of people setting up stands and parents and children zooming about. My part was to be Santa. I arrived early with Lorraine and then lurked in Lorraine's office, before changing into my Santa outfit. The clothes not too bad, but the beard, which had been bought separately was wild in a nylon way, with a odd rictus for a mouth. I was led by two elves around the school, ringing the school bell ho-ho-ho-ing it up, and then I was led to my grotto, and sat there for a couple of hours chatting to children in the character of Santa. This went remarkably well, and for the most part the children were chatty, one or two were dumbstruck by the large red apparition, but all went well. A couple of ontological debates around th...