under another sun

Stormy rain this morning, and bloody cold again. A wretched way to start a Monday. However my journey was smooth as anything, and I started work on a new theatrical idea. Sitting on the same table as another woman muttering irritably at her emails. This woman didn't have the excuse of noise cancelling headphones. Lidya, Spansh art director said the weather was 'very disgusting and uncomfortable', which made me laugh somewhat. Into work, kicking my heels all morning, then a meeting just before lunch, which meant I had a mere 20 minutes walk, and then a dispiriting meeting afterwards, which looked again at the work I'd done last week which everyone loved, and now the goalposts are all moved, and we have a day and a bit to come up with new ideas, when we have squandered days on doing things that weren't quite right. Nobody's fault, but a tad galling. However, I did find out that plans are afoot to pay one of my invoices, which is deeply welcome news. Left

Up after sleeping in late, and had breakfast with Sue and John, and sat about shooting the breeze for a couple of hours before they set off. We had really enjoyed seeing them. Chatted to Clem our next door neighbour, and he is going to come to talk to us about decking next week. A chat on messenger with Toby, who has bought made to measure jeans, as he read in an aeroplane magazine that every stylish man should have two pairs. Late the afternoon I walked to Anton's to drop off Oskar's watch with a blue face, which was his birthday present. He was at his mum's however. Nice chat with Anne and Anton, who had just seen The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society film. And quite enjoyed it too. Mixed feelings about this. Walked home, through the park where two men I had spoken to earlier were still thrusting at each other in their jabby fighting HEMA, which is historical European martial arts. I had asked them earlier if I could take a shot, and they looked surreal in t

To Sainsburys and the Japanese mini market this morning, with Lorraine, before John and Sue arrived having driven down from the Cotswolds. After restorative cups of tea, off into Brighton, mooching about in the lanes, the ladies disappearing into various shops while John and I stood about chatting outside. After a while, we went into the Basketmakers and we managed to get a table. It became a bit crowded and shouty in our corner.  We met Matt there, who sat with us for a bit, after he left the seat nearby was occupied with a very loud Yorkshireman, with one of those penetrating voices. Stepping out of the pub was something of a relief. We had an ice cream and a saunter down by the sea, where it was suddenly quite sunny and pleasant. Peering up at the i360. Walked along, and then cut up into Hove where we grabbed a cab to the Preston Park Tavern, for a quick drink. Home, and we sat chatting for a few hours evening, till it was time for everyone to creep off to bed. Below a low-sunn

A happy day. Up with Lorraine, and spent the morning preparing a few poems to send off to Magma, who are planning a climate change issue. Walked to town in the rain, to pick up Oskar's birthday present, the pond in the park full of tadpoles and newts (obvs. there was small one I thought of as 'my newt'.) Revelling in being at my own desk, and having a laugh with Sonia. I was due to see Helen this afternoon to discuss the Centaur project, but she had to call off after a traumatic night in hospital with her son, with suspected appendicitis. This freed me to the point I even watched a couple of Brooklyn 99 episodes before Lorraine came home. We made off to the Preston Park Tavern to meet Betty and John, who is still in the middle of arranging his father's affairs after his death. It is a tough time for him, but he is doing well. We four had an enjoyable evening, had dinner and a few beers before everyone a bit tired and after fond farewells made our way home. Felt li

Zoomed off to work, tired, but cheery. Feeling a sense of accomplishment about the TRUTHS and the way Telltale ended, and my poems in the anthology, and all the things I gained from the associations I made through it. Looked happily at the printed version. Has some splendid poems in it. Bumped into a former colleague Bob, in Victoria, a brief discussion about his next foray to view former European battlefields with Slug and Pat. Nice to see him. Quite cheery into work, but longing to get the day's work over, however, and extremely pleased to be on my way back to Brighton. Trying to read The Crying of Lot 49 on the train, but am in the wrong mood for it. Met Innis for a cheeky beer in the Battle of Trafalgar, a while since I'd been in the Batty. Then popped into the Lord Nelson, then had a bag of chips and drank another beer in The Eagle. Innis is very well read, and generally very good company. We were also chatting about photography, and how he is seeking a new subject and

Train by the skin of my teeth, then to work in a much better frame of mind. Busy in the agency. A brief walk at lunchtime, chatting to Mum as I escaped... First wearing sunglasses, then slinking between cover in the rain. Left work 40 minutes early and the journey all smooth to sleety Lewes, and despite showing people my return to Brighton made it through without having to pay any extra. Lorraine, Robin and Nick were already at the John Harvey Tavern, along with little clusters of poets having snacks. I had a small pork pie and a pint of Harveys before I joined Robin upstairs, moving things about. A plethora of proper poets tonight. Everything went swimmingly, I introduced the night, with a passing reference to Plato. Sarah and Robin continued both on excellent form. Robin tying up Telltale nicely, at the end with a speech as this was the final publication from us. A highly enjoyable evening, with the anthology proving to contain lots of wonderful poems, in the readings that were gi

Brain fug. Hard to think today, after expending all my brain on working on poems this morning. Suddenly saw how a poem, which I've had knocking about forever, could fit together. Made it into work without incident this morning. Two presentations during the day, neither of which went well, and generally not on it at all, what ever 'it' is. Fed up and tired, but a nice enough walk at lunchtime. Homewards grouchily.  Lorraine picked me up in the street as I was speaking to Mum. Home and some grub, before we went out in the car again to pick up Beth from a nannying job, who handed me the bag of drugs she'd picked up for me from the pharmacy. Car chats with Betty, then home to lurk on the gold sofa before bed with Lorraine. Much cheered by the company of my wife. Watched Netflix Swiss Family Robinson, remake of the sixties series. Good special effects but stupid as anything.

Sitting diagonally opposite a woman eating with her mouth open and smacking her lips obnoxiously like a Gollum on the train to Victoria. Then as she went through her emails, cursing and making all manner of weird noises. The classic signs of someone wearing noise cancelling headphones. Slouched off. Trouble on the Circle Line and it took an entire hour to get to Paddington. Then at work, my computer didn't work. Frustrated by this, despite not wanting to be. A bit of a stroll about at lunch. Home. Lorraine late so I cooked fish and veggies. Gold sofa with my lovely, then bed. Monday. Bah to it.

Lorraine's birthday today. A happy day, up after Lorraine had opened her cards, we had breakfast in the back garden, and then we drove off to the bluebell wood and walked through the gorgeous place smelling the aromatic, peppery air. Also stumbled across some strange bee-like creatures that I learned later turned out to be bee-flys. After this we stopped off to have tea and scones, then drove back to Brighton. Got caught briefly in a traffic jam, people surging into Brighton due to the lovely sun. Soon after we got back, a cool sea mist started lurking in from the sea. Lorraine and I repaired to the Park View, where we had a decent Sunday lunch. Lorraine then had to go to Bolney for a parish meeting, and I decided to mow the lawn. The lawn mower however was rusted jammed, and however much WD40 I put on it, it refused to move. Quite pleased however to have a poem called War diary in 1/72 scale accepted in an anthology provisionally called an Outbreak of Peace due out to coincid

A blazing day again. Lorraine phoned her hairdresser to arrange a hair appointment, only to discover that she was due there in an hour or so. I walked to Hove Park listening to a football podcast about Arsen Wenger who is about to leave Arsenal. Outside Nandos opposite Hove Park, I met my godson Oskar for today he is celebrated his 12th birthday. He arrived in the convertible driven by Anton, with Klaudia and Anne. Anna came too, which was nice as I'd not seen her for a while. We all surged in for a 'cheeky Nandos' as eating Nandos always must be. It is hard to argue with chicken in peri-peri sauces and chips with various other bits. I enjoyed a bottomless Sprite zero calorie drink too. I apologised to Oskar for not having his present yet, but gave him a lenticular card that had a picture of the Mona Lisa on it, that when you tilted it, showed a skeleton underneath, which he liked. I liked it too. He was having a good birthday, having played football in the morning, and w

Little went to plan this morning. Met Sonia as I was setting off to my glass class. Her first client having accidentally locked her out. I showed her a photo that was on this blog of my glass work in progress, because she didn't know what I was talking about. Arrived at the glass class. Rang buzzer repeatedly. When the door was opened, I found the classroom a Marie Celeste. Searched the several storied building for the disembodied voice who had let me in. I found an officious man in a room marked 'office'. He phoned Ben, who said that the morning class was cancelled. A fact that surprised me. Off to buy Oskar's present for tomorrow. Zoomed to Argos and realised only then that I could only get it from Amazon. No laptop, so I had to go home.  Left home again a bit later, phoning Janet en route, to say that I couldn't fix the piece of glass she had given me. Bought birthday cards for my lovely wife and for Oskar. Realised then that the class was actually on this afte

Go up hideously early this morning to go to work. Luckily Lorraine decided to get up at a similar time too, and dropped me at the station in time for the 6:44. A gorgeous morning. Got into work an hour early to do some urgent work, only for the computer I have to use not to work. It was finally fixed by a nice IT man called Dexter an hour later. Managed to get what I needed done. Presentation to a pleasant client. I was not leading this presentation, so this felt odd to me.  Slogging all day. Went out to get a sandwich at lunch, and it was like stepping out of the building into Greece. 29 C, some kind of weird bulge of heat up from Africa apparently. Scarfed a flatbread salad and tuna on my feet watching a swan bully a pair of Canada Geese, then back into a briefing. Out of the building like Usain Bolt at 5:30. However there was more devil train travel carnage at Victoria and I didn't get home till 8:45. I am beginning to understand why people voted for Mussolini. Cooked

Needed to do some work on the train this morning, but missed my train, and wasn't able to work not he train I eventually caught. Instead finished Back in the Jug Agane . Richard had given it to me in Guernsey. It was a Molesworth book that I didn't realise existed, and it made me laugh aloud a couple of times. Laughs that I frankly needed. Work okay apart from IT issues affecting lots of people, including me. The time I have wasted at that agency through IT nonsense is quite large. The people are very nice though. Lovely weather. I had a walk along the canal, having brief chats with Betty, who was on her way to be with John, and with Mum. Came across two police frogmen glooping about under a bridge with handers doing things with ropes. I didn't feel right photographing them, so I did so hurriedly and badly. Left work and as Lorraine was out with some buddies, I decided to meet Anton at Waterloo and have a quick drink with him and go home. Sprang out of work on time, b

Heard this morning from Betty that John's dad, Peter, had died overnight. He had been ill for some time.  I had never met him but naturally we are feeling sad for John and his sister Jo. Also Beth too, as what affects John affects her. Otherwise for me it was all about work, but I am still feeling the benefit of a week off, and had some energy. A walk at lunchtime, where for some reason I took a photo of a blocked up door.

Back to work. And lots of jobs scheduled in for me, so quite a busy time. At lunchtime I managed to escape for a walk, and as I did so, I could almost blank out what I was walking through and I was able to imagine strongly that I was walking in Guernsey instead. At work I was phoned by Bob, who happened to be in town. So after work, I hared out and caught the train to Kings Cross. He had a couple of hours before heading up north, so we had a couple of pints in a proper old London pub downs some backstreets where the two middle-aged men working behind the bar were both drunk. Beer was good though, and great to see Bob unexpectedly and put to right many of the wrongs of the world and discuss seeing Carl next month for Carl's birthday. Then we trundled back to Kings Cross. I caught a tube (bravely for me) to Victoria, while Bob headed north. Home at a fairly reasonable time too.  A nice surprise, and it made me feel slightly holidayish too.

Last day, unfortunately. After lots of dieting, we have put on weight again thanks to belly-busting breakfasts and boozes, so maybe a good thing that we are leaving. After leaving our cases with reception, we made off down to Moulin Huet again. By the time we reached the sea the sun was out, and the sky was blue. I spent much of the time walking about in bare feet in the water, and Lorraine did a bit of the same, and we soaked up the sun. Words can't really describe how much I love that place or how it makes me feel. Along with La Gran'mère and Icârt Point, it is one of the spiritual centres of my universe, so lovely that Lorraine loves it so much. Eventually though, we had to leave. Stopping for a cup of tea at the tea garden, which was quite busy. Taxi was early at the hotel, and we made off to the airport. I have an app on my phone which goes off if there is lightning nearby, I looked at its map and south of Jersey and on the French mainland was quite a bit of stormy weath

The first day that Lorraine and I spent on our own, and we really enjoyed walking from Moulin Huet to Jerbourg. Sitting on benches here and there just to listen to the birds singing on the wooded parts of the cliffs. Felt very relaxed today. At Jerbourg after looking down at the foghorn in its little white building, blasting out its mournful note, which echoed off the other islands, we had some coffee in the hotel there, and then caught the bus into town. Went a bit mad and bought myself a new Guernsey jumper, a traditional navy blue one. Lorraine went into East, which is closing down, and I went to the Guernsey Press Shop, where I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple of Guernsey Doubles still clinging on by their fingernails. Wandered over to East and was instructed by the manager to go downstairs, to find Lorraine, who was busy in the changing rooms, and came away with a load of bargains. Caught a bus back home, while we waited I peered into some of the parked buses to see if

All up early, to have breakfast with Beth and John before they left. The island still foggy, but luckily everyone got away okay. Sam and Jade left later on, and we had a chance to walk with them on the cliffs again, and have a bite to eat at lunch. Jade's Auntie Lynne kindly came to drive them off to the airport in the afternoon. I mooched off to do a spot of shopping in St Martin's, and said hello while I was there to La Gran'mère, It felt quiet with everyone having flown the coop, luckily we had plans, and were picked up by Richard at seven and taken back to have one of Jane's delicious suppers. As we drove through town, we saw the woman who is in the Guernsey film, being photographed between the Town Church and the pub opposite. Lots to discuss with Jane and Richard. Their travels, and not to mention the publications of Guernsey Legends , and Stone Witness since we last saw each other. Great to see them, and hear how Jane's book launch was going. I also lea

A large breakfast, and fairly briskly up and off on the bus to St Peter Port. Bought some tickets for the Herm boat, and mooched about in town for a while. A lovely day, cool breeze over the water but sunny. Nice hop across the Little Roussel to Herm, where we disembarked at the Rosaire steps as the tide was low. We sauntered around the island to Shell Beach, which as the wind was in from the East was quite blowy, but the beach was white and lovely and pretty empty, and we wandered about looking at shells, eating our various lunch snacks bought from M&S in guernsey. and John and Beth did a scramble on the rocks, and we had drink at the little cafe, and L and I had a slice of gâche. We all walked to Belvoir bay, and Lorraine and Sam walked back towards the Harbour. I went with Jade, John and Beth and walked around the bottom, cliffy part of the island. Beth spotted a swing in the trees, and they all had a go on it laughing a good deal. I felt that I would snap the branch if I did

End of the day spent in the Rockmount, but diving across the road to look at the stages of the sunset. Below Lorraine, Jade and the gorgeous sunset.

Sam and Jade managed to stay up talking to Ravis about communism till something like 3 o'clock. Sam and Ravis, who was on breakfasts, both looking a little worse for wear. Ravis left a pint of water at Sam's place with a straw in it. Generally cheeriness over our varieties of Guernsey breakfasts. Sian arrived this morning and eventually we wall set off to walk down to Moulin Huet. A bit of an overcast day, but the sun peeped out briefly. We spent some time down on the beach, Jade, Sian, Sam and I all having a paddle. The water did make your bones ache, but then I had glowing and refreshed feet for some time afterwards. At one point, Sam stripped down to his boxers and started wading in, but wisely decided against it as his feet were cramping with cold. John and Betty scrambling up rocks, and Lorraine found  a rock to sit on and watch the sea creep in and go into a meditation. A visit Guernsey photoshoot going on the stairs at the top of the beach, which I found a tad annoying