under another sun

The extra day of the year. Lorraine and I up late today, but managed to drive off to the Book Nook, where she picked up a box of children's books, and then we went down to the sea. It was deliciously rough, and looked wonderful with the lowish winter sun.  We stopped off afterwards for a cup of coffee and toasted sandwich in the Flowerpot Cafe, before heading home. Soon out again, however, off to St Annes Wells where there was a memorial evening held for Glen. Quite a few folks Lorraine and I knew there. Richard, Claudius, Adam Bushell, and Ellie Blackshaw who played on This Concert Will Fall In Love With You with Glen. Ellie also played at  Lorraine and my wedding. Good to see Maria Grazia too, and I spoke for some time with the composer Barry Mills. Such  a nice man. A humanist conducted the serious part of the evening, and she did a splendid job of it, weaving together various accounts of Glen. His daughters and first wife were there too, and it was very sad and t...

Up and working hard on my French work this morning, before hurrying down to Preston Park in the rain, after a quick chat with Mum, off to Haywards Heath to be met by Lorraine in an unfamiliar car as her one was being serviced. We zoomed off to Bolney and spent a happy afternoon with eight children who were among the strongest writers in the school. Read them a little from Magnificent Grace and gave them task to use something they are familiar with and add something magical or unexpected. I am always impressed by children and how good they are. Lorraine working with me so it was quite fun to be calling her Mrs Kenny. The school staff always friendly to me there. One of the perks of being Mr Kenny. A quick book signing, which was great fun, and then off to the garage to pick up Lorraine's real car, and then back home. Beth at home, and we went to The Cleveland Arms where we had a bite to eat and a few beers. I was drinking old and bitter, which I find curiously delicious. After s...

Battering on with the French work today. Lots of mind maps and thinking. Doing this all day, apart from taking myself for a couple of rain-dodging walks. Spoke to Toby on FaceTime. It was snowing in Toronto. Coronavirus dominating the news. I feel a sense of dread about this.  I was supposed to meet up with Madeline, Annie Lamacraft and Hus at lunchtime. Hus has just returned from Northern Italy which has just had rocketing infection figures. I declined to meet up figuring that as I am seeing literally hundreds of children in the next week or so, I didn't want to risk anything. Probably being paranoid, but rightly or wrongly I erred on the side of caution. Spoke to Bob today, while he was walking his dog around Salisbury. Not seeing so much of each other, as neither of us are going to London much now. Below a snapshot of the Guardian's most read stories today.

Up with Lorraine, then working quietly on the job from Paris, it's a branding job so there was a fair amount of mind mapping and thinking involved. In the 'd'oh typical' department was offered some work next week by Pat, but had to decline due to my school visits. The news dominated by coronavirus, making me wish, not for the first time, that I wasn't a hypochondriac. In the evening I met beermonsters Steve and Nick in the Evening Star, and then we sauntered down to see Silvana and Richard playing as Bossa Love in the sparsely populated, slightly melancholy Dorset.  I suggested they need some portable lights as they were poked unlit in a dim corner. Toasted Glen's memory as it would have been his birthday today. Cheery talking to my pals though. Home for cheese on toast.

A very good day. Wrote over two and a half thousand words of the first draft of Grace 2, something of a joyful experience, and I found myself guffawing in my office as I wrote dialogue for my new villain, currently called Ernest B. Seediman. Later Valérie in Paris briefed me on a small but interesting branding job which, with excellent timing given the untroubled dust at the bottom of the Kenny Coffers. I start tomorrow. Discovered this amazing review of my Sin Cycle poems on Robin's blog . She had put it there in Jan, but I only just found it. Also chatting with Dawn who has organised a school visit for me to Downs School next week. So this Friday I am at Bolney, Next week Skelton Yawngrave is at Downs, Balcome and Balfour schools.  Skelton Yawngrave is getting amazing exposure thanks to my lovely wife and to Dawn. I went for a longish walk after lunch up to Hollingbury Hill and beyond between the rainstorms, and listening to and absorbing podcast by  The Good Friends...

Teeming rain, and I got up and ordered more books as I look likely to sell quite a few shortly.  I borrowed some money from Lorraine to stock up, and can pay her back soon. Then a morning's work, followed by a walk in the rain to the gym. My gym has many Chinese students attending. Although this does me no credit, I have avoided a sweaty environment with folks who may or may not have recently returned from Chinese vacations. But this I decided is little different to idiots avoiding restaurants selling Chinese food in the UK. So I had a word with myself. Turned out that there were no Chinese students in the gym when I went there. The one guy who did arrive came and worked out on the machine right next to my cross trainer. Made me laugh at myself, how did I even know if the guy was Chinese. I am being xenophobic and that is horrible. Walked back in the teeming rain full of fresh post-exercise ideas about Grace 2, and worked on this again. Also talked to Dawn about National Book Wee...

A foul morning in which Matty boy had run half a marathon in Brighton. Lorraine and I went to meet him at the top of Muesli Mountain for a lunchtime beer. Beth drove us there and collected us, which was great. Lovely to see Matt and chat with him. He looked fresh as a daisy after running through gales and rain, we chatted about Craig obviously, and about seeing First Matie last week, and meeting Ian. As ever Matt had assembled several friends, including Lara his sister in law, who we had met in the Summer and Lorraine had a long coffee with as she is a newly-qualified teacher. I also chatted with Steward and Jonathan at the bar, two likeable chaps. The pub was around the corner from one Lorraine and I had gone to a year and a half ago to see Glen and Eleni, where there was a man throwing glasses at the bar, which as I was standing nearby I intervened in. Apparently Stewart knew the perpetrator, who remains barred. Home and played cards later on with Beth and Lorraine, and ate roast...

Another wet and blowy day, with lots of fine rain. Lorraine and I chiefly had a big hoover and tidy up of the house, and then simply relaxed. Beth home after a sleepover with pals, and laying low, beset by cats. Lorraine doing jigsaws, sewing and reading, and me finishing stories by H.P. Lovecraft and Nathan Ballingrud. A brief interlude between rain where Lorraine pruned the rose bush in the front garden. We watched The Death of Stalin, which had Armando Iannucci's brilliant portrayal of political chaos to the fore. Lorraine cooked her amazing Persian rice, Chelsea beat Tottenham. All good. I received a note today confirming my day at Balfour School on important Skelton Yawngrave business. Balfour is on Balfour Road, which is parallel to Osborne Road where we live, just one turning down the hill. Also planning with Lorraine a creative writing masterclass with some of the Bolney bairns there. I'll be doing it with Lorraine, which will be great fun.

Bad news about Craig's health this morning. I would like to go to see him but was advised by his closer friends that he and Mel have too much to deal with at the moment, and treatments and so on are all being sorted. Lorraine and I in contrast, were able to have a relaxed Friday, and count our blessings. I did some writing too on Grace 2. Lorraine and I went shopping in Lidl, but our journey back was delayed due to a bomb scare of a suspect package on a street. This turned out to be nothing. Began reading the book that Sarah Barnsley bought me called The Happiness Trap , which is rather a good book I think. I also read some H.P. Lovecraft for a bit of horror -- starting a really good story (thankfully without his obnoxious racism) called The Whisperer in the Dark . Lorraine and I had a nice supper at home, and then popped over to The Cleveland, where we played cards in what may be in danger of becoming our new local, dog strewn as it is. Said hello to Stacy from the barbers. ...

Had a vivid dream about clarifying a brief, which was 'what separates people from each other?' I woke up, went downstairs fed the cats, made Lorraine and I some tea, and then wrote a chapter of my new story in bed on my laptop. It was a major breakthrough on Grace 2 some penny had dropped as I slept I think. Collected prescription today in the pouring rain obvs. In the evening Beth, Lorraine and I cabbed off to The Lion and Lobster, to meet Rosie and Innis for a fondue and fizz evening. Essentially we had a cheesy fondue to share with bits of food on prongs to dip in. A cheery evening. It was at six, so we were done by eight. We all walked along the seafront to Innis and Rosie's place, collecting Pippi from Eve's place en route. At Rosie and Innis's home we played Exploding Kittens again, while listening to a Betty playlist which includes a great deal of Lizzo, who she likes very much. Lizzo makes me think of Toby, who was listening to her songs when we were in Si...

Left to my own devices today as Lorraine at working in the School and off to pilates this evening. When I wasn't working, or sending emails I went for a walk in the drenching rain to pick up a prescription that hadn't arrived earlier in the week. This time they said there was no record of me ordering it, despite the fact the doctor phoned me for a chat having received it.  Home and also found the invoice I had sent to the The French Bloke's agency had disappeared into the ether too. They only intermittently receive my emails, which is perplexing.

Lorraine back home, and we spent an afternoon of healthy luxury at her health club, we lurked in the gym where we did various weights and I did half an hour or so on the cross trainer, and swum a bit in the pool, and then bobbled about being jetted in the jacuzzi before heading into the steam room. I like the jacuzzi as if you get your back aligned on certain jets of water, it can be a very pleasant kind of pummelling. I find the steam room a bit of an endurance test, but I'm sure it does you good. A coffee and a snack before zooming home in the endless stormy rain for dinner and lurking on the gold sofa.

A few emails from pals about the party which is nice. Spoke to Mum, and ordered more copies of Magnificent Grace copies for the sessions I am sorting out in schools and pushed on slowly with Grace 2.  Lorraine drove off to Ashford to see Pat and Maureen this morning, and didn't return till late. Nasty weather still. I had a bit of a walk listening to a story from North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballungrud. I like the collection, gritty and disturbing. I lay low.

Sunday and luckily none too hungover. In fact I felt a good deal brighter than I had the day before. Lorraine and I in decent form and after breakfast with Dawn, how had crept up to bring us tea this morning. Send out some thank yous. A note from Sarah who said she had continued to dance in the kitchen this morning. A note from Robin too suggesting that we do Sin Cycle as a Telltale pamphlet, which is a marvellous idea. Off to meet First Matie and Ian in the Basketmakers. Rainy day and the dregs of storm Dennis still doing its bit. Had a nice beer in there and a Sunday roast. Good to have the chance to get to know Ian better, who is a very decent man indeed, and is clearly exceedingly fond of Kate. Lovely to see Katie, but our meeting was overshadowed somewhat by news about our friend Craig, who is going through a very tough time. However we managed to have a good catch up to and it is always a happy thing to be having a drink with First Matie. A bit worried about the Basketmakers...

A quiet day. Lorraine up and off to the hairdresser, Beth to work. I mooched into town and then back again. Feeling really under the weather, so worried that I would be limp ragging it.  Dawn came around then we got ready for the party. My party in fact! We three bundled into a cab with Lorraine looking fab in a new dress and fresh haircut, Dawn and a big bag of helium balloons. Got to the venue at Grand central and while others sorted things out I stood about twitching. First Matie and Ian came first, armed with a present. Amazingly they had bought it quite randomly, but it turned out to be a book of Marianne North paintings. When I lived in Kew I went to this gallery many times, and loved the pictures in it. My musician pals Richard, Nick and Silvana arrived early and got their gear set up as Jazztastique, with Steve sitting in with them. Claudius came too but sadly sans flute. Beth arrived looking splendid in a kind of cape affair, with Innis and Rosie. Anton there of cou...

A few loose ends to sort out for The French Bloke's agency, then I did more on Grace 2. In the afternoon after chatting to Sonia, I sauntered into town and got my hair cut. Reassuringly pleasant chat in the barbers about beer and pies. From there I went to the Starbucks I often go to, to do a bit more work and to have a bit of a text back and forth with Craig whose health is suddenly of concern to friends. Beth and I zoomed off to the Cleveland Arms all work having been done. Lorraine liked it lots once we were there. There were visible owner and it had a generally friendly vibe, including Stacy one of my barbers. Lots of dogs however, although this was a plus for Betty and Lorraine. It was Valentine's Day so it was hard to get food there, so we simply picked up a curry on the way home. Very happy that Lorraine was now on half term. A cheerful dinner at home and a party to look forward to tomorrow. Below a seagull and a chip on a building site.

Jaded this morning, but continuing with the sequel to Magnificent Grace codenamed Grace 2 at the moment. Just bits and pieces of scenes at the moment but it is wonderful to be back in that space. I have been asked to visit a nearby school in Brighton, and talk to around 240 nippers, and hopefully sell them quite a few books. I was offered a job that would take eight days this morning, and had a brief glimpse of being on top of my day to day finances. Snatched away, sadly, as their budget was a tiny -- I would effectively have been working for free for five days so had to decline. The French Bloke called me this afternoon to chase some amends I had been given on Monday. I had done it on Monday evening, and sent it there and then. But it had languished in their spam folders. Then sent me some feedback on a smidge of stuff to do tomorrow. Went for a walk into town to buy a card for Lorraine and do some shopping. Passed a bloke with a facemask in what is the coronavirus capi...

Lorraine working from home this afternoon, feeling a bit under par,  end of termish and in need of chocolate. Good to have her at home however. Off in the evening with Anton for a drink. Anton's new philosophy is to walk such long distances between pubs so that your drink is calorie neutral. He met me at The Cleveland Arms. This is a pub that is very near to me, but the last time Anton and I went there was with Lorraine on a December 31st 2016.  It had a weird banjo-playing/Deliverance kind of atmosphere and we didn't tarry. Now three years later it feels very different. Had a nice beer there and then set off on our travels. Had a half in the Open House, and then found a pub called The Park Crescent. This was a real find, tucked away in a street I had never been in. It was raining pretty heavily as we approached it. Inside there was good beer, a pleasant atmosphere and Al's Pies. We didn't eat them, but were deeply impressed with the menu. The pies looked exemplar...

Shocking text from a friend this morning, who has had an unexpectedly horrible diagnosis. Rather set the tone for the day -- although I simply got on with my own business as best I could. Not sensing much joy in the world today.

A terrible night's sleep for some reason. It was blowing a gale. Lorraine off to work however, and I got started with my fresh list for the week, written in blue in on yellow lined paper, as I always do. Feeling rather pleased at not having to commute. It's a terrible time to be a hypochondriac in Brighton. I am alarmed by the UK's coronavirus cases, the majority of which are in the in Brighton due to a 'super-spreader', a bloke from Brighton who had been on holiday in Singapore, flew into france for some skiing, infected people there and then came home all without suspecting he was ill. A medical centre has been closed a bit north of here due to a locum, one of the spreader's mates, being infected. I saw something on social media only about someone being isolated in one of the campuses but this has not reached the news. If coronavirus breaks out in Brighton will they try to isolate the place Wuhan style. People seem fairly blasé at least in public about this,...

Up and off, albeit carefully in the car, as Storm Ciara struck today, bringing rain and extremely high winds. We drove to Anton's to collect him then went off to Steyning, where we had a delicious brunch in Dawn's little cottage, including a very tasty Italian aubergine and parmesan dish. Anton meanwhile has been on an almost no-food diet, and has lost lots of weight. He brought Dawn a banana cake he had made this morning, but did not eat it. He also said he was having around Chinese takeaways to try to catch Coronavirus to get time off work. Dawn said that she had changed her mind about going to Devon for the time being, and was enjoying Steyning more having been to extinction rebellion meetings and the local book club and making friends. We left in the afternoon, and Lorraine drove us steadily in the buffeting near hurricane back to Brighton. We dropped Anton off and zoomed home. The wind was extremely strong, and the rain when it came was torrential.  Betty went out in t...

I was feeling bright and cheerful today. Lorraine and I did several things and sprang out of bed fairly sharpishly for a Saturday. First we drove to the Book Nook in Hove. As a headteacher,  Lorraine receives a box of books to take into school, they go through them, and return any unwanted ones and only pay for the ones  they want. Then we drove to Bolney Village Hall, where there was a small exhibition from the Bolney Historical Society. They also showed a video that was shot ten years ago, and featured Sarah who works with Lorraine, and John, the previous head who I used to go for the occasional drink with, and to see his band The High Sides. Chatted to several Bolney worthies. Then we impulsively drove off to Leonardslee Gardens as it was a sunny and beautiful day. The gardens were almost empty and we loved walking down by the tranquil ponds and through the empty gardens. There was a little cafe there too, and we had a pot of tea and scone each. Next to Horsham where we...

Was thinking about the via negativa and St John of the Cross on the way to work this morning. For it is only once you have given up any hope or expectation that a train to Hampton will arrive will a train to Hampton arrive, albeit slightly delayed. A fine end to the week. Arrived at the agency on time. Had another nice day, Keith was there, and Pat and the French Bloke and Perky and working with Carolyn, a very pleasant account person. It was in the afternoon that I had one of the best calls of my writing life, when I spoke to young Elijah  Max and the FB's exceptional son. He wanted to talk about Magnificent Grace, and we chatted for about twenty minutes. He loved the book, and I was tremendously cheered by his response. He found it funny, and loved the way it combined magic and politics and generally gave me feedback that made me feel that someone had read the book and completely got it. Wonderful feeling of vindication. Also spoke to Max, who it was lovely to chat to her too....

I was thinking about Zen Buddhism on the way to Hampton this morning. The Shepperton train to Hampton was again cancelled but instead of raging about it, I was suddenly aware of the Buddhist notion of the gateless gate.  It crystallised as: the way to reach Hampton is not to travel to Hampton. Armed with this clarity, I was able to reach Hampton by travelling to Hampton Court station on the other side of the river, and simply walk. Obviously the Hampton Court train was delayed too, as the trains were passing through quite thick fog.  However, I was only slightly late to arrive. A pleasant day today. Pat had brought in his Staffordshire terrier called Alice, it having had an operation recently removing something nasty from its face, and this thing barged happily about the office. At lunchtime I accompanied Pat as he walked about Hampton with Alice. At one point a charming young woman sitting on a bench fell on Alice, and chatted happily to Pat.  Afterwards I asked Pat ho...

An email from the Tobster this morning about a possible visit to Canada, and an email from a Polish poet called Michal asking me to review his pamphlet. Revelling in the luxury of not travelling this morning as I had been given a pile of copy to write, and was able to do it from home. So no hateful three hours of delays and cancellations. I had done three hours work by 10:30. Only one stressful interlude which was failing to join a videoconference. The FB called me afterwards, and I showed him the inside of my ear, until he explained that he had FaceTimed me. Finished at five, and FaceTimed Mum, cooked a shepherd's pie of sorts with a turkey mince which was lapped up by Lorraine and Betty. A tranquil evening.

Devil trains part two today. Lorraine dropped me near the station early today, and I was able to catch an even earlier train from Brighton. Arrived at Clapham to find it in chaos. Obviously the all the Shepperton trains I catch to Hampton were cancelled, but so were those to Kingston. Spent almost an hour there before being able to catch a train in the right direction. Arrived with exactly the same lateness as yesterday, but with the earlier start that was well over three hours. Work again fine. Pat there too today. Went to the pub at lunchtime with The FB, Pat, Keith and Joe, where we sat around the bar in the Jolly Coopers, and unlike yesteryear, I had a shandy and a fish finger sandwich, before repairing back to the agency. The FB bought a signed copy of Magnificent Grace from me which I signed for his boy Elijah.  Left with Pat and caught the train with him, and again was home easily. I had been briefed with lots of copy to write, so it was agreed I could work at home tomo...

Woke up early, and alone, apart from cats. Up and off to Preston Park. A nightmarish journey to Hampton followed. My train was cancelled, then the next one delayed, and standing room only. At Clapham Junction the train to Hampton was cancelled, waited half an hour and so was the next one. A railway employee explained that the trains often simply skip Clapham Junction. Caught a train to Kingston, and then caught a bus. Sitting on the bottom deck I misjudged where I was and leapt out, already half an hour late, and found I had a mile to walk. Seething and wretchedly late by the time I arrived at the agency. It had taken three hours door to door. Once in the agency, all was perfectly pleasant. Nice to see the French Bloke, and Keith, Perky and others. The FB telling me that he had bought himself a plasma cutter recently. Made me laugh that he and I live in such utterly different worlds. A saunter to the bakery with Keith at lunch, and worked happily till it was time to slip off. His ...

The first of Feb. Lorraine and I mooching into town today, going shopping for clothes. Lorraine treated me to two shirts. We looked at lots of ladies clothes too in many shops and Lorraine bought a dress. All fine and I tested a few sofas and chairs used by gentlemen while their ladies are cursing softly in changing cubicles. However we did reward ourselves by going for a coffee in Trading Post coffee roasters. The coffee was excellent, and the samba drummers that suddenly exploded into action outside the cafe were certainly diverting. After a few more shops of one description or another (one Lorraine called the Floaty-floaty shop due to the nature of its clothes) we repaired to the Basketmakers for a couple of beers and some definitely tasty fish and chips. Thought of Matt there, and Lorraine texted him. A bus home afterwards and played some cards with Beth who had been with her pal Laura in the afternoon after work -- before a fairly early night for a Saturday. Below some drumme...