under another sun

Walked off with Lorraine this morning to be picked up by Max and driven to school, and then she was to go to the Isle of Wight with a coach load of nippers for the week. Beth then drove off in Lorraine's car a bit later to stay with Rosie, and sort things out at her old flat. This left me home alone. There was plenty of work to be getting on with this week. Went to the gym at tea time, where I spoke to Lorraine to hear they had all arrived safely. Went to bed shepherded by cats, spoke to Lorraine, and read some horror. Popped out to the garden to snap the flowers that have come out now that the rain is utterly torrential.

A day of reading. I read Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise an excellent essay by Katherine Rundell that Rosie had recommended I read. Really stout defence of the value of children's literature and why adults should read it too. A couple of pleasingly anxious short stories by the horror writer Shirley Jackson, from my new collection The Lottery and Other Stories . I finished a group of four short stories by Thomas Ligotti called In a Foreign Town, in a Foreign Land. At one point I went to the laundrette and started The White Book by Han Kang, a book which I took from Janet's things last time I went to her flat with Madeline, as nobody had wanted it. There was a one-armed older man in the launderette.  I felt bad that I had nipped in and, without realising, used the only free drier before he had finished. A woman helped him load and unload the tumbler at one point, which was good. He pointed out I had dropped a  sock, and I wanted to...

A quiet day, weather raining or thinking about raining all the time. Lorraine and I mooched across the park this morning, and on the way back bought tasty but dear Sussex produce from a little stand and vehicles that appear there on Saturdays. In the evening Dawn, Innis and Rosie came around for dinner and a few drinks. Lorraine cooking an excellent pie made with filo pastry and spinach and feta cheese and sun dried tomatoes -- and bread and butter pudding! (One of the allowable puddings.) Lorraine and I had a really nice evening catching up with everyone. Rosie, who is steadily recovering from her horrid time in hospital, being very encouraging about Magnificent Grace , and about getting me into schools with her to discuss writing and so on. Very happy with this. Lovely to see Dawn of course. She has had lots to cope with recently too, the death in a year of both her parents, and the breakup of a relationship. But she is unselfish and lovely woman. Innis seemed in good spirits. Em...

Working well today, had a nice chat with Beth this morning, and a good chat with Sonia before I loped off to the gym where I had a decent session. Think I have sorted out the cover using the image I got from my secret squirrel artist. Happy to be mooching off to the Preston Park Tavern for 5:30, where I met my best poetry buddies Robin, Sarah, Charlotte and Stephen for a beer and long chat. Lovely to see everyone. I always feel uplifted and reassured by these folks. Having other writer chums essential if you are not to go mad. Not much actual poetry discussed, as we mainly talked about life. Stephen, arriving a little later said he had already read The Dream House in Frogmore Papers, and it had scared him, which pleased me lots. I told him how much I liked his erotic curry poem too. We all got stuck into a drink, and Beth and Lorraine joined us a couple of hours later as the poets were beginning to think about melting away. A happy evening all around. Will be seeing the poets again...

A quiet morning working on my new story and writing emails. Wasted time putting together an email about Janet and Ken's interment on 28th October, and when I emailed Caroline to get some details, she said she was sending one out today. Then to the gym which I enjoyed,  while Beth was seeing an acting student. After I sat in a cafe in the park down by the newt pool and started drafting a poem. I had not done this for months. On the way back I bumped into Simon in the park, and had a chat with him. He is still looking well and keeping really fit after a major heart attack a couple of years ago. Home and I watched The Daily Politics, as I ate my post gym sandwich. Shameful scenes in the reconvened House of Commons yesterday. Fuelling the kind of crap I saw when I strayed onto a pro-Brexit page today on facebook: Greta Thunberg a poor retarded girl being exploited by socialist parents, (global warming naturally all lies) Corbyn, Sadiq Khan and Diane Abbot hate figures. People wanti...

A poor night's sleep, so happy not to have rush off anywhere. I caught up with various bits of my own work this morning, looking at the cover for my kindle painted by my secret squirrel cover artist on canvas-like paper. Flattening it now, as it arrived curled up in a tube and has been painted on a canvas like paper. Very pleased with it. At lunchtime off to meet Madeline at Fourth & Church in Hove, for a long chat over a glass of wine and a delicious bite to eat. Madeline was saying that the seasons always remind her of previous ones. Then we went into Janet and Ken's house to read the meters and tidy things up a bit. With the Brexit crisis the viewings have been thin on the ground and the price keeps dropping. Personally I have no skin in the game whether it sells or not, but we did decide to clear the fridge and freezer of stuff that was left over from Janet and Ken's time, as well as remove assorted medications that had been left in the bathroom. Year old food and...

Horrid nightmares last night. Up early and had a shower. Lorraine off early to go to the gym. I opened the front door into a deluge at 7:05 this morning. Ducked back in for my golfing umbrella and then walked down to Preston Park in diabolical horizontal rain, and a crack of thunder overhead as I was threading past tall trees holding my metal rod aloft. The gutters rushing like brisk mountain streams. I bought a cup of tea from The Daily Grind by the station, and the woman next to me said, 'this is like the end of days', which made me laugh. Everything in my rucksack soaked, luckily my laptop still worked. Even after reached Hampton, (slightly late due to train delays obvs.) my jeans weren't dry till about two o'clock in the afternoon. A pleasant enough day, although the client had moved all the goalposts, thus reducing the amount of work to be done.  Nice chat with Keith, and with Bouncy Max,  who was financial controlling for the day. She is in good form as ever. My...

Simply manacled to my desk and writing stuff to do with ecologically sound coatings. Happy to be working, but my brain a bit sluggish and I made heavy going of it. Monday passed fairly unlamentedly. All at Kenny towers to bed early. Lorraine and I hearing an unclassifiable shrieking in the back garden, which we told each other was foxes. Quite a good backdrop to the Thomas Ligotti horror horror story I was reading though.

I got up before seven this morning to do a couple of hours work for my French clients before taking Lorraine breakfast in bed. There was a street party on Osborne Road today, but we had other parsnips to butter heading up to Edgware to see Mum and Mas. An easy drive up there, and we arrived fairly early shortly after 12. Mason showed me a video for a mansion that had taken his fancy in California due to a Great Gatsby style video being shot in it, to promote the sale. I phoned to secure table in the pub, however managed to phone one in some other part of London with the same name. I mentioned Mason and they said they knew him. I put in the postcode for this pub by mistake, which resulted in us getting lost en route. But we sorted it out eventually, but only after we had gone around a roundabout three times. The Waggon and Horses nice enough, and we were able to get a seat in it. We had a decent roast in there, and a quick drink. As we were leaving I saw a large spider, with a body ...

The Frogmore Papers arrived today, with my horror story in it The Dream Home . Lots of time wasted struggling to get a speaker working, trying to connect it to the wifi and so on. Galling when it has worked perfectly until recently. A hot day. In afternoon Lorraine and I went into town and I collected my new glasses from Specsavers. One of the pairs looks a bit Harry Potterish. Then Lorraine bought me a much needed new pair of shoes as an early birthday present, and found a pair for herself that fitted the shoe rules. We passed a cafe that had little cannoli in it and we bought three, one of which was a lobster's tail. A message from Val in Paris needing some urgent help. Then we mooched down to the seaside and sat on a bench in Hove looking out to sea. It was high tide. The Labour Party Conference is being held in Brighton, and there was a gathering of Labour politicos listening to amplified speakers talking mainly about climate change, and how this was woven into the strugg...

A heads down no nonsense copywriting day, working on stuff to do with eco friendly paint products from home. Sent Keith some early concepts, FaceTime video conference with Pat and Keith. Sonia back again, nice to chat to her a little. A jalfrezi curry for me this evening from Red chillies around the corner once Lorraine and Betty were back home. An oddly tiring week. All shuffled off to bed early. Lorraine and I watching a TV show about the band Fleetwood Mac.  

All up with the larks in Kenny Towers. I sauntered down to Preston Park, and tried to buy a season ticket with the nice lady in the ticket office insisted cost £165. Computer says no. I refused to buy it saying I had got it for much cheaper before and got a single instead. Tweeted Southern rail to ask what it should cost, and was told £105. Turns out I did not actually need a weekly ticket in the end once I learned I would be working at home on the project on Friday and Monday. But the fact that buying a simple weekly ticket at the right price is too much of an ask is quite damning. To Hampton then, mercifully without further incident. Pat updating me on the latest goings on riverside with the swans and other waterbirds. Mallards drown each other apparently. It's all red in web and beak down there. Keith and I were briefed this morning. The agency were all off for their summer party in the afternoon. The French Bloke wandered in towards the end and asked me if I wanted a pint. I ...

Quiet day, and I am a bit in-between projects at the moment. Had another look at my new story, The Hounding , but have decided to park it for a bit before I make final changes. Waiting on the cover before I can upload Magnificent Grace. Went to the gym again for the third day in a row, which felt good. I and was asked by Pat to come in and work on a project tomorrow up in Hampton, which is excellent, and good timing too. Chatted to Beth this morning, and took her coat off to be dry cleaned. She is being resilient and getting out seeing friends and making a few new ones. Wish I had a magic wand to make it all better.

Everyone at Kenny towers up early this morning. Beth up and off with the sparrows,  and Lorraine too on her new wheeze of going to the gym before work. I pushed on cheerily with The Hounding , which I am very pleased with. Beth back mid morning and we had a nice chat. Anton called me describing the most appalling plane ride to Spain in an Easyjet flight full of stag and hen parties. The pilot attempted three times to land, and couldn't because the worst storm in Spain's recent history was happening. Meanwhile Anton's fellow passengers spewing. They had to fly to a different airport and try again. Meanwhile Anton's uncle John, who was driving to the airport to pick him up, was caught in floodwater, and had water in his car, and then was trapped in the airport. Even Anton was scared in that flight, expert, as he is, in air disaster scenarios. I made off to the gym again, and had a fairly productive afternoon too. A good day. I cooked a nice chicken stew, and Laura pop...

Lorraine up very early this morning, which meant I was too. Horrid dreams all night. At my desk by 6:30 however, and transforming the story I had started last week and making it more about dogs. It is now called The Hounding, and is coming on very well. By the time noon arrived, I found I had worked for over five hours already, so I sloped off through the park to the gym. A surprisingly good session there, as I am feeling so much better than I have been. Walked back through the park feeling one of the strange feelings of well-being and happiness again. Full of a sense that I am happy to be alive. Got back to work for a bit, and then cooked. Lorraine and Beth arriving late. Early to bed. Reading a story by Thomas Ligotti from his collection of short stories, Teatro Grottesco .  Lorraine not wanting me to read her these stories.

Happily no great price to be paid for yesterday's fun. Happy not to have to spring out of bed, and the most excellent Lorraine brought me breakfast and a cup of tea in bed. Spent some time telling her all the news. Lorraine and Beth had spent some time yesterday tidying up Beth's flat, and sorting clothes. A cheery sunny day. We did some gardening and went shopping for some concrete in a tub, but when it came to it it was the wrong sort. We also bought a lattice for the wisteria in the front garden to attach to the wall, but I had a lapse of confidence about drilling holes into the brickwork on the top of a ladder while holding trelliswork. A bit of a gardening fail, but still a lovely day. Chats with Bob and texts from Carl. Everyone managed to return home in one piece this morning, as they had both stayed in London. Carl was off to a Hozier concert in Birmingham tonight. A chat with the Tobster today too, about his and Romy's trip up to the North of Canada. They had...

A leisurely start chatting to my lovely wifey before before I walked to Brighton Station and trained it to Hammersmith for a long planned meet up with Bob and Carl. As I was a little early, I walked past the offices I had worked at while at what had jokingly been called the 'Glamoursmith agency. For years I looked down from my office onto a large bit of fenced off empty land. This is now all high end housing. I met Carl and Bob standing by the river wall outside the Blue Anchor. It was a hot sunny day, and we decided to sit down inside for a drink, the first of many. We fixed on a policy of swapping beer for regular soft drinks so that despite going on a long pub crawl we were drinking sustainably. We sauntered from pub to pub along the river: the Rutland, The Dove, Black Lion, then cut inland to go to The Tabard, The Duke of Sussex, The Packhorse, and then finally to the Anarkali restaurant in Hammersmith for a fairly decent curry. During this eight hours we spent hours talking ...

Friday the 13th. As a budding horror writer this should be an excellent day, and in a weird way it was. Up and off to the quack this morning, the last stop of my dedicated health week. It is now in a different building, and was not my normal doctor. A nice young doctor however. Apparently I have otitis externa aka swimmer's ear which I have had for a couple of months at least. I think I got it from wearing my earbuds all the time while exercising and walking.  For this he has given me a spray, combining mild steroids and antibiotics. From there to the nearby boots to get the spray, and the pharmacist told me that next month I won't have to pay for my prescription, which is astonishing. Home feeling rather pleased with myself, as I had completed my week of medical things and come through unscathed. Ambled home through the park, and felt curiously happy. Working on the new story today too, which was fun. The cover for Magnificent Grace also coming on well. Also feeling physi...

Continuing my health-themed week. Walked down to Specsavers for a nine o clock eye test. I told the optician that I had seen white lines in my eyes so she insisting on a full retinal scan with those eyedrops that make you look like an opium addict. I had two  pressure tests, long bouts of examinations, the pinpricks of light to test peripheral vision (100%) I was told. Luckily, it seems my eyes are perfectly healthy and I have an unusual but benign area of pigmentation around one optic nerve. Quite fascinating to see photos of inside your eye. Nothing to be done about all the floaters in my eyes though. She said she could see I had loads of them. I chose two pairs of new reading glasses as I needed a slight prescription change, but dazzled as I was I could have chosen anything. At least I was better than the man who I noticed who had been agonising a full 40 minutes as.  Dracula-like I was released at 11 am, flinching from traffic lights and the brightness of the 11am overca...

Up to London after a spot of early morning work. Finished The Haunting of Hill House on the train. A satisfying book.  Met up with Mum in Waterstones, and then mooched to the Wellcome Collection where we strapped on the nosebags, had a chat before we looked at shrunken heads, a shrivelled Peruvian mummy, a Chinese torture chair made out of blades, fetish objects and ranks of hideous medical forceps and knives and so on. Needless to say we both really enjoyed it, Mum even more than me. We will return, if only for fodder for horror stories. All this excellent preparation for a trip to see Lucinda the dentist. Zoomed off to Chiswick. I am always amused by the wildlife films scrolling overhead to distract from the dentistry and drool management. Watched lion cubs feasting on a gory hole in the side of an antelope for a couple of minutes. Pleased that my teeth are okay though. In Brighton I made for The Evening Star, where I met Nick, Richard and Steve to talk about Glen and hear a...

Still not feeling quite right. Worked at my new short story reading a full first draft. It is called Lithops and based on an idea I have had for ages. The idea of a flowering stone is lovely.   I have become aware that some of the ideas that never really made it as poems, were really ideas for short stories, so I have many I can write. I made more arrangements for the cover of my Kindle book. Also chatted to Mum and will see her tomorrow. In the afternoon I commenced my health themed week strolling through park down into town to see Jewel at Sundial House for a deep tissue massage, my first in over a year. Quite painful at times, but you know it is doing you good. Walked home, had a nice chat with Caroline our next door neighbour. A quiet night in tonight. I cooked salmon and a stir fry. Lorraine tired. Beth home late after working. Early to bed, where I read another chapter of The Haunting of Hill House , an excellent horror story by Shirley Jackson. Lorraine reading throu...

A rainy Mondays. Began work on a new story called Lithops which had formed in my head waiting to be written. Betty staying with us for a bit. And Lorraine home early from work for a change, which was lovely to see. Have briefed an artist to redraw the kindle cover of Magnificent Grace .

A slow Saturday. A lie in for me, although Lorraine got up and gave Beth a lift to work. Anton called and cancelled plans for a barbecue this afternoon as he had a horrible cold. Lorraine returned home and brought up in breakfast in bed. Marvellous I was feeling lethargic again, I took my temperature and found I had one. Both of us pretty tired. We did zoom off to the different planet of Bolney's horticultural show, where we met Dawn. Looked at various flowers in pots and prizewinning cakes and so on, said hello to pleasant Bolney folks like Sue, and Sarah and Dan, and had good natter with Dawn, who is still coming to terms with her dad's death a year after her mum went. We told her about Glen too, who she had known. Still it was very good to see her, and he was my secret weapon in making the horticultural show even more fun. Lorraine's school had entered a few veggies in the show, and the potatoes won first prize, and third prize in the longest runner bean category. ...

Beth staying with us at the moment, and in some need of a bacon sandwich and an extended watch of Bake Off this morning. I intermittently chatted with her, and worked steadily on the book cover for my kindle story. But having struggled with it all week, I am not happy with it. Lorraine thought it was not good enough either, so I will have to think again. Chatted to mum this morning too, who was double checking on a phishing email among other things. I was tired today, felt for Lorraine having to go into school after driving for hours last night. I went for a walk in the park this evening, then popped into The Park View where Beth and Lorraine joined me for food, and we played cards before repairing home. An earlyish night for all. The sky lovely this evening as I mooched through the park.

Up after not a terrible night, considering it was a strange bed. Had tea in bed, and then scrambled downstairs for a full English with Ken. The owner telling us she had a stroke last year, but gets up at five and clearly does lots herself. Two couples chatting to each other from different tables. Breakfast was fine, with lots of tea, although I had a weird outbreak of twitchiness. We went back to our rooms for a bit, and Lorraine and I did a plum village meditation, which made me feel excellent. I called Mum for a chat, and made an appointment for a massage, which I have been meaning to do for about a year. Then we drove a couple of miles out of Hereford to Aunt Rose's house, where Pat and Maureen had been staying overnight. The house next door is where Maxine, Lorraine's cousin lives with her husband Simon and 14 year old twins. Met Stephen and his Sarah. Stephen, is Lorraine's cousin and Aunt Rose's son. All really nice people. The service was in the afternoon, and ...

Pottering about getting things done today, and then after five, I fed the cats and zoomed off to Burgess Hill where Lorraine picked me up and we began the long car journey to Hereford where we were going to attend Lorraine's Aunt Rose's funeral. No traffic jams luckily, because it was a very long drive drove into the setting sun, as we were heading west. By chance Ken, who was driving up with Pat and Maureen, happened to text us from the Reading service station, just as we happened to be approaching it. We all met up for a bit and ate some KFC, for the first time in years. Then to the remainder of the drive, using the satnav, and the AA recommended routes, and the way Ken had suggested. Drove west  as night fell, and through the dark countryside, with Ken tailing behind us lots of the way. Then he drove Pat and Maureen to stay at Aunt Rose's house, with Lorraine's cousin Maxine, and Lorraine and I found the Holly House hotel. More importantly, we had been fantasis...

Quietly industrious day's work. Little to report, nice to hear  from Amanda in NZ who may be going to Sicily next year. Gingerly back to the gym. Getting better at the Sketchbook software. Ordered a new electric toothbrush Innis posted a link on facebook to a photographer with a wonderful fairytale quality to his work -- Pentti Sammallahti . Cooked small bits of salmon and a stir fry with Lorraine tonight. Meanwhile Boris's Government of fascist clowns decisively lost their first vote and their majority, as with comedic timing, a Tory MP walked into parliament with his new Liberal Democrat homies, and sat down on the opposition benches. Later, the loathsome Rees-Mogg sprawling on the Government front benches with all the insolence of privilege. Boris revealed as the odious danger he is, under the fool's motley. Terrifyingly misguided politics, but also just repulsive people. This is just day one of a long conflict. I enjoyed Tories lead by former chancellor Philip Hammond...

Lorraine's first day back at work, off to run her inset day. I spent my day happily working on organising Magnificent Grace to go onto kindle. Hoping I can get it all done by the end of the week. Getting to grips with Sketchbook, the drawing app. Sat outside in the sun in the bottom corner of the garden at 11 having worked for a few hours, and listened to the wind under the tree and meditated for a few minutes. Not abounding with energy today, and felt hungry all day. A friendly note from Sita, one of the nice people I was working with on that debacle of a job last week. Anton and Bob's birthdays today. I messaged Bob, whom I am going to meet with Carl in a couple of weeks. Lorraine and I cabbed to the Cow, which used to be the Tin Drum where we first clapped eyes on each other, in seven dials. Under new ownership, and now seems very friendly. We had a birthday Thai with Anton, Anne, Klaudia and Oskar. My godbairns make you say things like My! You've shot up , etc. a...

A bit more life in this old dog this morning. A few chores around the house and Lorraine and I drove off to the tip to chuck some bits of hardcore and a palette and so on, and pop into Lidl to buy some Sicilian Nero D'Avola wine at a knock down price. Then home, by which time I was rather bushed. Lorraine snuck off to school to make some last minute preparations for tomorrow. I spoke to Mum. Watched Fantasia tonight. I had never seen this film before. It is delightful. I was particularly transported bythe fairies. Possibly not the most butch thing I have ever typed, but there you go.