under another sun

Showering Lorraine this morning, which requires taping up her arm in plastic bags, and standing in the shower and shampooing her hair and so on. I am becoming exceptional at putting on bras. Looked at a lovely book which Rosie had bought for Beth for her birthday. It is called T he boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy a cartoon book which is selling by the truckload at the moment. I can see why. A lovely drawing style combined with simple wisdoms. It is a lovely thing. A quiet afternoon, Sam and Jade going out. Lorraine and I grabbed a bit of quiet time before girding our loins for the evening when  Anton and Oskar came around. Beth, Sam and Jade we were a merry company. Lots of games played, like charades and Funemployed  and beers and bubbly drunk and snacks consumed. Oskar having fun I hope, and soaking up a few red bulls. A cheerful way to see in a new year and definitely one of my favourite new year's eves. Quite some time after midnight, Anton a...

Up early after bringing my armless wifey a cup of tea and a bowl of porridge in bed, and off to Edgware to see Mum on her birthday secure in the knowledge that Beth would take care of her. Quite enjoyed the journey sitting in faux first to St Pancras. It gave me a chance to scribble down some schemes for the new year. The train pushed through the odd misty bit, but it was a warm and sunny day. What strange times we live in that a warm Winter's day makes me feel anxiety about global warming. Still reached Mum and Mas at 1pm, having walked from Mill Hill. Good to do this after Jabba the Hutting about the place in recent days. After cups of tea and Mum opening bee themed cards and wee pressies from Pat and Maureen and Lorraine. And the special makeup we bought in Debenhams the other day. Turns out this is a secret weapon of makeup, to be painted into facial lines to bounce light and reduce the signs of lines. Mum said she gave a masterclass in makeup for the more mature lady the o...

Lorraine and I on our own all day, and Lorraine's arm hurting and she was feeling a bit antsy with the cast and so on. It will force her to rest however. Dawn came by with a bunch of flowers in the evening. Having had a nasty fall off the side of a mountain onto her wrist, she was full of sympathy. For me it meant helping L on with clothes, and doing all the jobs that require two hands. I rolled pastry, under Lorraine's supervision, and we made a really nice turkey and leek pie and many sausage rolls. A peaceful day, and evening spent on the gold sofa.

Up and helping Lorraine on with her clothes and into socks and so on this morning. Pat and Maureen off home today, but before that we were all driven by Beth into town. She did very well despite being stressed by having what she calls 'precious cargo' in the back.  Into various shops with Lorraine, Pat and Maureen. I bought present for Mum, after phoning her and her first saying that she wanted a box of time. Lorraine managing to buy a pair of jeans despite being one armed. We had coffee in Debenhams, which Maureen said was a nice sit down. Then home, in a cab and Pat and Maureen were collected by Lorraine's nephew Pete, who came in for a bit of a chat. Fond farewells with Pat and Maureen.  Pat has acquired a new coat from somewhere, but nobody knows where it came from. Beth off to see pals overnight, leaving Lorraine and I to a little quiet time, nesting alone on the gold sofa, and watch a film adaptation of The Turn of The Screw  and a couple of episodes of Wisting,...

Up fairly early this morning, and Lorraine and I sauntered across Preston Park where she showed her wrist to the doctor, who told her to go to A&E, which is what she had hoped to avoid. We cabbed to the hospital even at 11:30 in the morning it was standing room only. It was a hellish scene with someone lying on the floor vomiting into a bucket, a teenage lad wailing in pain having dislocated his shoulder in his sleep, and assorted other poorly people, and kids with saucepans on their heads and so on, and a man sitting next to me who stank of stale urine. It was an hour before Lorraine was seen by the triage nurse. More time passed and the sister came out and said that they were nine nurses down today, and that the waiting room was so full that only if you were an actual accident or emergency that you should go, and also friends and relatives should go too to make room. Lorraine persuaded me to go, and I set off walking home, as I was halfway home she phoned me to say she was al...

Woke up and made everyone teas this morning. A more leisurely day, although there was still plenty of food to be eaten. We all watched Gavin and Stacey during the day which was excellent. In the afternoon Anton and Anne came around and hung out chatting till the evening. Ate bits of cold meat and various foods, and played a game of Euchre which prompted  Anton to spend a time talking about Skat a German card game. Later, chatting upstairs, I heard a squeak from the kitchen and went down to find Lorraine on the floor and Beth taking care of her. Turns out she had slipped over on  some water that had come off a cucumber Lorraine had just washed.) She had fallen heavily on her wrist and was in some shock. Between Beth and I we got her to breathe more calmly and get over the sicky feeling that came over her. Eventually she got up and headed for the sofa with a bag of peas. Lots of debate about taking her to A&E but Lorraine did not want to go. Luckily her arm was not hangi...

Christmas Morning, and Beth up very early making the roast cabbage dish. Lorraine and I up and after cups of tea, we opened some presents. I got a bottle of Vera Wang for men, and the lovely satchel I had admired when we went to Wakehurst Place for the lanterns from Lorraine, and a nice sweatshirt from Beth and I got a great wifi speaker from Anton, and some glasses from Anne. I spoke to Mum this morning, who was getting ready to go out with Mas to the Romanian neighbour. With only five of us this year in Kenny Towers the food prep was fairly manageable. Pat and I went off for our now traditional pint in The Preston Park Tavern. It was like a summer's day, with people spread out on the tables outside, and the usual complement of children. Once we had been served, Pat and I sat outside in the back garden with a heater on overhead, and drank a couple of nice pints. People in very friendly mood and Pat chatting to several folks. Even the older woman who had been very grumpy in fro...

Christmas Eve and quite of bit of blue assed flyness. In the afternoon Lorraine drove Pat and Maureen and I off to Anton's house to drop off presents. Klaudia upstairs unseen with festive tonsillitis, chats with Anne and Anton and Oskar, as well as the consumption of individual pies, before they all left for Anna's house. Home again and the traditional Beth-led Christmas Eve spread. She excelled herself as usual. There was lots of lovely food to be eaten, and some TV and games and a few drinks too. Bags of fun for everyone.

A festive tidy followed by picking up Beth fresh from being in London, for a big food shop in Waitrose, for a more bourgeois style of elbowing. Three of us zooming about was fun. Then home again, and unpacking and tidying, and the day was done.

Saturday morning, and gradually got ourselves ready and headed off to Edgware, as the flooding that had caused travel misery to many yesterday flooding a train tunnel at Balcome and closing the M23 had subsided, and we were able to get to Edgware, although the M25 was very congested. Heroic driving from Lorraine, who had quite a bit more than normal to drink last night. To Edgware, and a cup of coffee at Mum's before we zoomed off to The Curry Centre for three o'clock. Mum and Mas used to go there a lot. They were very friendly there, and Mas was talking to them, and the business has stayed in the same family for decades. The food was surprisingly delicious too. I had a lovely Chicken Hyderabadi and Mas was briefly silenced by a chilli in his Jalfrezi. Had a long and leisurely meal, and then headed home, Mas enjoying talking to the staff there about the art in the restaurant. Once home, Lorraine had a much needed snooze, and Mas sleepy too. I sat with Mum in the back room c...

The deluge like rain continues. Saw a tweet from Reuben who said that Brighton was basically an island this morning. No trains to London, and the motorway blocked. Thanking my lucky stars I was not commuting today, as in days of yore.  Instead I tidied up a few bits, and went to the gym for the first time this month and did a small spot of shopping. Lorraine's last day at school. The End of Term!!! Beth at home today, having finished her various jobs too. Lorraine went to her work's Christmas do in Brighton. Anton and I met in the Shakey Head and had a few drinks there and tried their beer battered gherkins, which were interesting, although neither of us was in a rush to try them again. Then we sauntered down to the Hampton, where Beth came to meet us having seen some pals. Lorraine came too, with her top hat slightly askew from her work do. Had a good laugh there, which was great fun, before I taxied home with Beth and Lorraine. Lorraine straight off to bed, Beth decided i...

Up early and sent off two manuscripts, finished some work for my pals in Hampton, which then boomeranged back twice during the day. Ran to the post office, did laundry, including Beth's jeans. She and Lorraine had caught a cab back from Brighton last night after meeting Sam, and Beth had sat in some wee in the cab without realising it.  Into Brighton, bought a few xmas bits, collected a prescription and paid nowt for it, which still surprises me. Rain dodged generally, received vast Sainsbury's delivery, Amazon packages arriving, and found time to slump on the sofa to watch an episode of my guilty Netflix pleasure: Colony. Then cooked for Lorraine, and went around the corner to Rick's house to collect him and Ben and went to the Park View for a festive beer for a couple of hours. Nice time. In between various gossiping,  Ben saying he was about to start a course on Sacred Geometry and would use this to inform his own work. He said the flower of life, below was an example...

Off to London today, after doing a few bits at home. Nostalgically mooched around some old haunts, and did a bit of shopping before meeting Matty boy and the folks from his agency in a pub called The Footman in Charles Street Mayfair. The man who manages it used to run The City Barge on Strand on the Green, which is where Matt knows him from. Half a dozen police cars outside it when I arrived, but it was nothing to do with the pub, which was full of lairy loadsamoney Tories. One of whom fresh from the party room we had been in was ironically wearing a Jeremey Corbyn teeshirt and Labour rosette, in crowing style. Hard to love, and Lucy fell into an animated conversation with him. Lots of nice folks arrived for our party, which was up in a private room which we went to a bit later on. Nice to see old pals like Slug, Karam, Steve Buckley, Dave the art director, as well as newer chums Lucy Silver, who is also a talented young poet, and Helen who I worked with from time to time who had th...

A much needed day on the waggon. I biffed a former colleague's beano in London today, and got on with the job I had from my pals in Hampton that I was doing from home. This done I spoke at last to my accountant, and managed to get a bit taken off my tax bill which was a bit of a result. I am in a far better position than I was this time last year, so that is a big bonus. Despite the country going to the dogs, I am quietly optimistic about my various projects next year. Mooched into town this afternoon, rain-dodging naturally, and did a spot of fairly cheery Xmas shopping and then hopped on a bus as the cold rain began again. Good to have a night in sipping mineral water and teas. Lorraine come home early for her and we made vegetable pie and wee bit of mash. Lorraine making me laugh telling me about a four year old child mooning during the rehearsal for the school nativity play.

Up early today, and working on the job sent through by pals in Hampton, did this pausing only to phone and email my accountant. Suddenly realised it was 12:40 and that I had to be in Hove in twenty minutes for the Freelancer's Beano. Grabbed a cab and had a nice afternoon with Beth, Emily, Tim, Innis, Rosie, Tanya, Catherine and Julia in The Better Half . A few drinks and some fairly decent grub. All kinds of chat on everything from intersectionality to whale milk. Beth on funny form. A very hospitable barman/waiter who sat down at our table to take orders and chatted lots, with little freelance business being discussed, as it should be in a Beano. Beth and I went with Innis and Rosie back to their home, and Lorraine came from school, where there were Nativities today, and drove me home, which was great as the rain had started.

Up with the sparrows on a Sunday, took my lovely some tea and then rain dodged off to Brighton Station where I met Anton, and we trained up to Waterloo South Bank to meet some of our old IBM pals at 12:30 in what had been billed as a direct marketing reunion. We were a bit early and stopped in a pub across the road from Waterloo called The Auberge where I have often been in the past. £7.50 for two halves of lager, blinking daylight robbery. Anton and I soon off to Studio 6, at Gabriel's wharf, a trusty old venue. And soon in and hugging lots of old pals, my old boss Jackie, Sue, Brian, Reuben, Marja, Andy Fitzgerald, Sarah Freems, Terry and Jax. Basically sat about having a bite to eat and a few drinks and catching up. Felt really normal to be chatting to them -- and I still have a lot of fondness for those folks. Interesting how many among us had stayed at IBM: Sue, Andy, Anton and Jax. I took an opportunity too to thank several people for their help in former times, and told Ja...

Low energy. Lorraine up early however, off to Paul her hairdresser. I went to meet her later, and was given a piece of chocolate and allowed to watch Lorraine's final hairs being cut, apparently in groups of two or three. No wonder it takes two hours. Then we mooched about doing some xmas shopping, eventually winding up in Foodilic for a late all you can eat bite of things like mushroom casserole.  I then mobbed onto a bus with the bags, and Lorraine did a bit more heroic battling. Home, and a bit of much needed downtime.

Friday 13th. The day after the election and general wound licking and horror at the future abounding.  In my day to day life, things not quite joining up. Snufflingly back at work. An  email with an urgent job from my pals in Paris went astray this morning, resulting in a bit of a frenzy half way through the day. Then a letter from my accountant, with a steeper tax bill than I had hoped for. Looking again at the information I sent them I found an anomaly so I am hoping the figure will be revised downwards.  Another agency got in touch and told me that my reply about my availability had gone into their spam folder. Then there is the mystery double payment into my business account rumbles on, and the French agency says was a bank mistake.   Met Chris Williams for a coffee this afternoon, which was nice. A good chat with him, but then looked at my phone and some emails that needed action.  A smidge more work coming next week, however, which is go...

A cold, rainy general election day. Vile cold improving. Now frustrated by wanting to get on with things, but having no energy and unable to concentrate. Mes amis in France paid me twice for the same job, and I had to sign a bank form to reclaim the money, and I ventured out into the torrent to post it. When Lorraine back early from School, she drove Beth and I off to the polling station, and we all voted in what was a hight turnout. Voting for Caroline Lucas a bit of a no-brainer in Brighton as she is the candidate guaranteed to beat the Tory, but also.... It's the climate stupid. Lorraine had a Christmas Tree from Bolney with her, and after we got home we inserted this into the stand, but the lights from last year refused to work, or worked momentarily then went out. All a bit mysterious and Beth mentioned  Stranger Things where Christmas style lights are linked to a sinister underworld called The Upside Down. Stayed up till ten, the exit poll predicted a massive...

Another gold sofa day, but a little better. Greatly boosted by a text this morning from Lorraine saying one of the kids at school is reading Magnificent Grace and apparently can't put it down and is already on Chapter 10. Spoke to Mum and things are a bit more settled at home.  I loafed about and was grateful not to be able to recover without having to schlepp to London or attempt to meet some hideous deadline, but still managing to feel a bit galled at this waste of time. Watching a Netflix series called Colony which isn't too bad.  Beth out tonight, and very happy to be with Lorraine at home on the sofa watching Masterchef and going to bed early. Lorraine working at reaching the end of term before she reaches the end of her tether, bless her. Only a week to go. A rainbow glimpsed from my office this morning.

Definitely the cold Lorraine and Beth have had. A long time since I felt so bad with just a cold before. Spent the day on the gold sofa, streaming all day. Santa stuff to be returned, which Beth did in the car bless her. Otherwise listened to podcasts, dozed and watched TV till Lorraine came home, and she cooked for us and, after Masterchef, pushed off to bed.  Lorraine and I restless, so listening to a Plum Tree meditation before we slept.

Feeling rough with a streaming cold. Did a couple of hours first thing, and mooched off to buy some more paracetamol, some bread, and post off a letter containing a photocopy of my passport and a utility bill to Ken's solicitors, as I am to receive a small legacy from the dear old thing. This done, all my energy evaporated, and I spent the rest of the day like a sea cucumber on the gold sofa, rallied to tidy kitchen, cook a soup, to which Lorraine served up and added cream and other bits when she got home. And so, snufflingly, like a rough beast to bed.

Lorraine and I off to Lidl once we were up, which was only at around noon. At home Lorraine and Beth cooked a lovely roast, and Innis and Rosie came around. Innis recently returned from a photographic job in Portugal. After eating, we made off to Wakehurst Place, to go on the Glow Wild 2019 lantern walk. Magical stuff, and so pleased I we went. The moon was out and so were a few stars, very windy. Walked about in the dark carrying lanterns, and looking at the beautiful arrangements of lanterns and candles and also a gorgeous projection of the life cycle of a tree on the side of Wakehurst Place itself. All rather magical, and a lovely experience. In the shop, Beth showed me some weird teddy bears style things. One was a cuddly croissant with arms and legs. Bizarre. My snaps do it little justice.

Off to Bolney today, for the second time this week, this time for my annual stint as Santa. Lay in bed with Lorraine hastily googling the names of Santa's reindeer, which came in handy later when I had to indulge in Santa banter. Noticed signs outside, and that Santa charges £2.50 for the privilege of being seen. Lorraine running around as the Christmas Fair set up in the school hall, after a bit of sitting quietly in her office reading Intersectionality by Patricia Hill Collins and Sirma Bilge, I stole upstairs and changed into my gear. I only had a teeshirt and boxers on but the boots, hat trousers and jacket, belt, lined Santa cape, beard and so on were utterly sweltering. Led out by Heather the elf as in previous years, and deployed the bell to deafen people, and bellowed my ho-ho-hos and Merry Christmases in a slightly Brian Blessed style. I always feel slightly apprehensive beforehand, as if I am about to go on stage, but enjoy talking to the children a great deal. A size...

Tail ends today. Feeling ropey and disinclined to work. Did as much as I could this morning, and then plodded around for a walk this afternoon, feeling a bit glum for some reason. I blame astrology, as it is now the last few days of Saturn square my natal sun, a gloomy influence which has been coming and going for over a year and will depart for 29 years. Of course it is mad, but knowing it is about to pop off in a week or so feels good. I am getting festively plump again, much better than I was this time last year, but still not good. I am not feeling very well, so am disinclined to go to the gym.  I told Sonia I was going to be Santa tomorrow and she said that I would be good at it, and then rubbed her stomach.  Blinking cheek, but made me laugh as usual. Nice chat with Mum, who was off to her pub this evening with Mason, and what could have been a chaotic week now seems to have ended on a more normal footing, thank goodness. Another hard day for Lorraine, and we had a q...

Up early working on some stuff for my French pals, on the pitch I have been working on them with for the first few hours. Lorraine having a lie in this morning, still feeling a bit pants. She went in later, after I went with her to the costume place and picked up the Santa costume for Saturday. I pushed on with some of my own writing, and did a few more bits of my own work.  Lorraine was at a Governors meeting tonight, and Betty working late. I met Anton in the Joker and had some wings (alas, no longer woof-woofs) and then had a couple of drinks in the Battle of Trafalgar, gradually putting the world to rights. Told Anton about The History of English podcast I have been listening to having been tipped off on it by John up in the Cotswolds. Very absorbing. Listening to bits on the IndoEuropean roots of English. Excellent. Below. Myself in the costume place trying on a Santa hat. Red is so not my colour.

Lorraine back to work today, despite not feeling well. She drove me into school too, as I was doing another presentation to a class of children about my story. Quite a few familiar faces in there now, and I was in Rebecca Burton's class, and she is very good, and I have been in a class with her before. I felt much more relaxed this time, as the kids were known to me, and so was the school obviously. Managed to get through the hour or so without making too much of a buffoon of myself, and read them the first chapter of the story. At one point I ask the children what pseudonym they might choose, and what kind of books they would write. Excellent children. Met Mark there, our next door neighbour who drops into Lorraine's school with his lovely dog Flo, to whom some of the children read, and Flo is supportive and uncritical. Nice to chat to Mark again. Unscathed, I returned to Lorraine's office, and found Dawn had texted about another school visit in Jan. It's all...

Up early and down to work. Lorraine still poorly, and off work fortunately, although doing bits on her laptop until exhausted.  I have felt hot, scratchy-throated, and drained but luckily this never amounts to anything. Spoke to Mum who said Mas would not be unaccompanied on his trip, should it go forward. A walk this afternoon, as I was yawning my head off. Went up to Hollingbury Hillfort, and it was so clear I could make out the Isle of Wight. Home, and after chatting to Lorraine, I read a story from Black Static magazine, where I want to get a story. The writer of the rather good story, called Other Houses , Sean Padraic Birnie lives in Brighton. A page or so into the story, I found I was reading about Hollingbury Hillfort, and where I had just been walking. Spooky. But then I guess that is the idea. After all this fresh air, and horror reading I conked out (see hypochondriacal moan above) on the sofa for half an hour, and fell deeply asleep. A pleasant night in, taking ca...

Up early to do November billing, and get on with work. A bit of a strange day as Lorraine was home so it felt like a holiday, despite her being ill. Looked after her as best I could, taking her a porridge breakfast, and nipping out to buy medical chocolate and lemsips. Mes amis in Paris paid my invoice same day, which is rather brilliant. I walked into town, still somewhat drained of energy, and bought next year's diary. Was able to find the right coloured Moleskine Semainier in Waterstones, thank goodness. No busses home so I walked back too, collecting my first over 10k day for a while. Home and I talked to Mum. Mason planning an imminent business trip, which is worrying her.  Then I received some late French work which I did through till seven. Lorraine had struggled up off the sofa for long enough to cook, before wiping herself out again. Beth very cheerful about receiving some clothes in the post with dinosaurs on them. One with a fetching green glittery T Rex. Also, we ...

Lorraine with stinking cold today.  Beth recovering now. I felt under par myself, so it was a gold sofa day when I wasn't taking care of Lorraine. This peppered with a few movies, and discussions of what to eat over Christmas. I slept in the afternoon. To bed early, Lorraine, already has decided not to go into school tomorrow as she is too ill.  Watched an episode of His Dark Materials tonight. Very enjoyable. Then BBC's remake of The War of the Worlds, which was a dog's dinner again. It is over now. I had been really looking forward to that series, but it was a stinker. And so to bed with an ill wifey.