under another sun

Working on the French brief about cat vaccinations all day. My old pal Keith called me, and we may be doing a wee bit of work together one way or another soon. Out this evening to see Anton, at his house. Just catching Lorraine for a bit, before I left.  Walked there in the teeming rain, but I had a big golf umbrella so was fine. We just hung out drinking a few beers and eating Anton's amazing pizzas. A board game set up, based on the Lord of the Rings, and Anton had spent forever painting each character individually and there seemed to be hundreds of them, everything from Oiliphants to Orcs, Nazguls to Hobbits, all painted in meticulous detail. More surprising than this, that after listening to some tunes and eating till I felt like bursting, was that Anton got out his Tarot pack and did a tarot reading. Just writing that last sentence makes me feel I have fallen through a tear in the fabric of reality into another world. Lovely cards though. And also he had an oracle pack, where ...

Pleasantly busy. Up early reading a new brief from my pals in Paris, then prepping for a recording with Robin this morning, which we finished at 11:30. A text from Pat asking about my availability next week too, which was welcome. Off then for an early saunter over Hollingbury Hill.  Went into some woods I have only been in a couple of times, and snapped some burnt out car parts that had been dragged in there. I know where there are some others. I might take soon. Reached my 10k paces. All afternoon on a job for my pals in Paris about cat vaccinations, then a quick coat of mould-resistant paint on the ceiling of the bathroom, and started cooking when Lorraine returned home. She brought with her a thank you note from one of the parents, with two face mask gifts. Her son Dexter, is a Skelton Yawngrave fan, and chose a day of the dead themed pattern for me.  Below the field I saw the falcon over the other day. Down in the woods at the bottom of this pic, is the wreckage. On my w...

Some work arrived from Paris this evening, which means I shall have some gainful employment this week. Had billed them this morning, and also followed up with my pals in Paddington, who contacted me last week to ask about availability. When I said I was available, I heard nothing more, which is par for the course. (I feel I can employ golfing metaphors crossing through a golf course more days than not these days). Otherwise a bit of writing of my own stuff, and a bit of reading. Also filling the holes in the ceiling in the bathroom, after a spot of consultancy with Anton having sent him some pictures. Listening to a lecture course about ancient Mesopotamia. I am beginning to get an overview of how Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Sumerians, Cananites, Jews, Nubians, Romans, Greeks, Persians and the rest fit together a bit now. Helpful when you realise that Mesopotamia is just Greek for 'between two rivers' -- and is situated between the Tigris and the Euphrates.  Lorraine home, and ha...

 In the afternoon, Lorraine off to buy bras and trousers with Beth. I chose to mooch up over Hollingbury Hill again. A cool wind blowing and halfway through had to break out my wet top for warmth. I simply walked today, without listening to anything, and this was great as I fell into a bit of a meditative state  mooching along, and was a little more attentive to what was going on around me. Loved hearing the wind in the trees, and delighted in a falcon flying out of the trees in front of me, and stationing itself over the newly mown field east of the golf course.   Home to coffee and a read of poems by Katerina Angelaki-Rooke, a Greek poet who my late friend Tim Gallagher admired immensely who died earlier this year. Wonderful work in her selected poems translated into English:  The Scattered Papers of Penelope . 20th century Greek poetry is so good, even in translation. Lorraine home, with new bras and trousers in a bag. We spent some of the afternoon in the kitchen...

Up, eventually, for a breakfast of Kenny farm fried tomatoes and bacon on toast. Rather excellent. Lorraine keen to spend time cross stitching, which finds very soothing, and also when she does it at night, prevents her from playing with her phone, and may be helping her sleep better too. A mooch about Blaker's park this afternoon with Lorraine, and we ducked into the shop she likes at Five ways too.  Lorraine cooked this evening, a pasta sauce with fresh Kenny farm tomatoes. Felt good to just pull our horns in and relax. Watched a lightweight Netflix film tonight, Enola Holmes with sixteen year old Millie Bobby Brown as Sherlock Holmes's kid sister with a detective bent. It was lightweight nonsense, but Millie Bobby Brown has a wonderful screen presence. 

 Edited the interview with Elizabeth this morning, and chatted a little with Sonia. She told me about seeing a young homeless guy in a doorway crying when the rain started, and how she felt helpless to help. She has altered her time to come, to avoid the children on the bus. Made off to see my glass buddies at 12. There had been a conspiracy led of course by the huge hearted Adele to surprise Ben with a thank you present from all of us, partly because there can be no class this autumn. There was a card, and a tee-shirt with an eleven pointed star symbolising the eleven people involved in the glass group. I had to get there early to inscribe a, ahem, poeticalish thank you in the card.  Best of all three of them, Adele, had created windows with the letters B E & N on them. Ben was a bit overwhelmed I think. We had gathered in our usual place in the park, and there was a very cold wind and so on, but it was a lovely thing to have a small part in. Afterwards I came back home, ...

Cold in my office and a chilly, rainy day. Autumn has arrived with a bad attitude. Interviewed Elizabeth Murtough, a southern Californian woman living in Dublin, who has started a magazine that is to do with environmental concerns.  Then off to Bradley the back cracker, which I used as an opportunity to get a six mile walk in. Shortly after I stepped outside, an absolutely foul deluge for about five minutes, luckily I had a wet top but my trousers were soaked to the skin. Once I arrived, dry again, Bradley assured me that I am showing more flexibility in my neck and back. As the end user of the spine, I am not so sure. He is now wearing surgical gloves as well as a face mask as he was telling me about going to the pub quiz the night before. He tried to 'release' the stiff part of my spine, which did not work. Back again, listening to my Old Testament lecture series. Near the end now. Left wondering, in contrast to the lecturer who I find hard to love, how humanity has managed t...

Rain and greyness today, and getting a bit nippy. A stressed and tired Lorraine working from home this morning, Dawn came by to put some sealant underneath the doors in our bedroom. Carl phoned, telling me about Ellie starting her new business selling prints of her music star pencil drawings. Anton called, saying his meeting had been hideous, several people very far apart in a room all wearing facemasks, making it difficult to hear anyone. Lorraine back into work. I spent the much of the morning working on the branding for the new podcast, none of which was liked by Robin. Then worked on a new scene in Invisible Grace. A short walk, then painted the second coat on the bathroom walls, and did some more writing.  Lorraine back home and after being fed with salmon and stir fry went straight into a virtual governors meeting. Among other discussions,  it was been agreed that I will reprise my Santa role this year, but just calling out to them from a distance, and with my mask on --...

First day of autumn. Up early as usual. Porridge breakfast again. Up and struggling with podcast names. I can't believe how difficult this is being, given that I have named a many products and services as a copywriter, and that Robin and I are both poets to boot. Prepped questions for Elizabeth, an editor based in Cork. Also worked on the new Grace book, and had a quick squint at the idea for the short story I blurted out yesterday.  Since saying I was open to persuasion about doing some work with my pals in Paddington, an entirely predictable absence of response.  Watched Boris Johnson in the commons at lunchtime, announcing 6 more months of restrictions. Not sure what else he can do really.   Then I prepped and painted the downstairs bathroom walls, a lighter shade of grey than they are now -- lots of nooks and crannies -- I did not go for a walk today and I have to balance productivity with the psychological boon taking myself out for walkies gives me. Listened to an i...

Monday and finished off a mind map about the podcast branding and sent it to Robin. Also had an idea for a short story, which I had to get down too. It was partly brought about my one of my frustration dreams, and an incident in a Kafka story I read at the weekend. I have never been able to finish either The  Trial or  The Castle , as they make me feel incredibly anxious. I finished re-reading Metamorphosis at the weekend. This is such a perfect story in so many ways. It seems to me so many of the anxiety dreams I have been are absolutely Kafkaesque.  Tinkered with the plot of Invisible Grace, which is the name of the follow up kid's story. I am going to keep going. A chat with Anton this morning, on his way into an actual office for the first time in months. Sugar soaped the bathroom downstairs in preparation for painting it tomorrow.  Received an email from Lynne in Paddington wondering if I had any availability this week for them. I said yes. They were not askin...

Woke up at 6:50 with a load of stuff in my head which needed writing down in the form of a mindmap, so simply got up and did so, before returning to bed with tea. Read another essay by Hélèn Cixous from the Stigmata collection which was a cracker. What a writer. However in a get up and go kinda mood, so we leapt out of bed and fell on some kippers. Then had a bit of a mooch around the Blaker's Park, talking about how Lorraine needs to prioritise work and self care.  Betty called around for coffee a bit of brunch later, and to rumple Brian's head after he brought her a catnip fish to say hello.  This afternoon Lorraine taught me how to make crumble for the bag of rhubarb she had been given, and she also made some of the weirdly wonderful courgette bread, which is sweet like banana bread. Also we roasted a chicken and then watched our last episodes of Schitt's Creek, which was fun and touching. It turns out it won loads of Emmy awards tonight too.

Lay in bed this morning reading an essay on a picture of Bathsheba by Rembrandt, by Hélène Cixous which was utterly brilliant. It was so full of ideas it was hard to finish, because it made me want to go away and write things. Wonderful. Sauntered off through the streets to see Catherine and Tanya this afternoon. We met in the Open House, which is fairly well run, with booths outside, and minimal interaction. High quality chat about all manner of things. They were telling us about a place they stay in which is like a residential library just over the border of North Wales. They made a week of reading in a gorgeous library, and as Catherine said, opening your beak three times a day and being fed, they made it sound brilliant. Sadly they were unable to go this year.  A couple of beers here, and home again for an undemanding evening with my lovely wifey.  Below Lorraine spotted this tiny rubber person, on the road surface. Also flowers in our back garden.

Another night of  frustration dreams.  Although quite chirpy once up. Having decided exactly what needs doing this week, I have been slightly side tracked by poems, a bit of a novelty as I have not really written them much this year. Sometimes a few of them will blurt out in a row. A chat with Maureen this morning, as Lorraine heard her loaf tin for baking banana bread was not going to be delivered. Chirpy she was.  Mum chirpy too this evening, as their car miraculously got through its MOT again, and Mason got his expensive hearing aid adjusted for free.  Sonia back today having been in Bulgaria for months. Her husband Barry wanted to stay out there. A luxury to have a clean house without having to do it yourself.  I made off to the park at lunchtime to hang with my glassmates. Adele brought me a loaf baked with cheese and marmite. The new Rule of Six says we should not gather in groups of six even outside-- however it being a rule from Boris and his idiots ther...

Last night's dream: I was due on stage -- some kind of big break -- but was let through a door to reach backstage but instead I found myself on the street outside, and couldn't get back in to the building. Dreams like this most nights at the moment.  Up and after going outside to check on the tomatoes, which makes Lorraine laugh, had breakfast and after Lorraine left, I sat at my desk, where the keyboard was decorated with Calliope's Dreamies vomit. Fortunately this was dry. Worked on podcast, the poems that have suddenly emerged, and the children's story. A lunchtime walk over Hollingbury in the sunshine.  Lorraine home at a decent time, and we had a pleasant evening eating chicken and corn on the cob. She is doing cross stitching patterns all the time, and is finding it incredibly therapeutic, and she is getting really good at them. Lorraine wanted to watch Death in Paradise again, which I'll admit to being curiously comforting.

Up early as ever with Lorraine. A productive day, working on the plot outline of the second Grace book, among other bits.  Off at three to meet Robin the Preston Park Tavern. Meeting in the middle of the afternoon, meant that we could get a beer from a woman behind a screen, and then walked out into the garden, where we were completely alone. The booths were hung with plastic sheets to separate each one from another.  We had a big podcast catch up, much better face to face that online, and discussed a bazillion things that needed discussing, and did a little recording -- not to mention quite a bit of general goss. Robin cross with the fact that people are allowing fear to dominate their lives, which was a bit weird as I reached that same epiphany at the weekend. Of course do everything to protect yourself and other people, but don't let fear ruin your remaining days on the planet. The podcast itself feels really purposeful, and good to be working with her again.  Walked h...

Not so productive today, which was a bit peeving. Fighting a losing battle, I instead made off in the afternoon to get my hair cut. I had to book in advance and leave my name, and the two remaining barbers there called me by it several times, not having known it before. Had a long chat with Stacey, who cut my hair shortly before my wedding day, and did a really good job today as then. He told me most of the regulars are not coming back still, and it has been a thin year for barbers. He was still cheery though, and happy to be working. There were two on today, and there was about six metres between me and the next chair. Stacey was wearing a facemask so it felt pretty safe. My hair looks the best it has done all year. Home via Sainsburys. Working till Lorraine came home, and we cooked, and Lorraine nested on the sofa and watched some TV.  Struck by this stick man today. I can't explain why.  

Up early with Lorraine, and I felt focused on work, and knew exactly what I was doing. However was ambushed by three (!) poems, or at least starts of poems, that came to me before 8.00am.  Felt that the rest of the day was a bit of a bonus after that. Looked at a job application that Betty was preparing, chatted to Mum, went for a few brief walks, and began to pick up the threads of the new Skelton book. Richard agreed to me using a Shakespeare Heptet tune to introduce the podcast, which was cool of him. Wrote to Helen who seems chuffed with the last scene for The Centaur.   All in all, not too bad really. Lorraine in good spirits tonight, and things a mite easier than last week.  One should remain on my guard and be sensible about Covid. However, it seems there is a choice between being sensible and feeling continually anxious, or being sensible and remaining calm and getting on with life as best you can. I have chosen the latter.

Up early this morning, as Lorraine had a date with Paul her hairdresser. She returned with lovely sleek hair. Off this afternoon for Sunday lunch at The Cleveland, where we met Innis and Rosie for the first our booze since February. A really nice roast lunch, and then Rosie suggested we move outside to sit in the sun. A gorgeous day, and lovely to catch up. Innis still a bit shellshocked after the death of his good pal Groll, who he had been with through his last months. Things that would normally be extremely tough, are just made worse by general 2020ness. A good laugh however, and it did us all good I think. There are so many friends  Lorraine and I have barely seen this year. A quiet evening, with a piece of melted cheese on toast for supper. Below Rosie and Lorraine, Innis and moi, Rosie being peak Rosie with a tequila, and a dog and a buddha that Rosie spotted.

Up and at em today, wearing my new teeshirt.  We had planned to have Jess and Andrew around today, but they had to cry off having been exposed to a grandchild with a temperature. Otherwise did general tidying and so on. Lorraine needing a bit of a recharging day. Beth and her new pal James came around this evening. Beth wanted lager, and as we had none, I popped into the off licence nearby, telling the owner through my facemask that I was pleased it was warming up again (it is going to be warm for a few days) as there is a race between me and the snails for my tomatoes before they ripen. The bloke at some distance behind me said his money was on the snails. A cheery evening. A Shahi curry delivered, and played a bit of Euchre. James, not really a card player, was a bit bamboozled by the right and left bower business -- as it has bamboozled many before him.  Pow! Me with mad hair and a powerful new teeshirt.

The backdrop of life is getting twitchy again, with the infection rate rocketing, not to mention the UK government prepared to break legally binding agreements it made with the EU.  However, I stopped off for a quick chat with my glass pals meeting in the park this lunchtime. They sat, as usual, in a fairy ring of chairs near the rotunda. Adele gave me another mug for Lorraine, which was very sweet of her.   Making my excuses, I made my way to Anton's house where I was put to work on the back of the house where I scrambled up the scaffolding where I gave the back of the house another coat of paint. I find painting quite therapeutic, and it was lovely bright day for such work. Then around to the front to paint his front garden wall and entrance. A brief chat with Anna, who stopped by to drop Oskar off, I'd not seen her for ages.  This done, it was one of Anton's famed pizza nights, and Lorraine and Anne joined us in the kitchen as Anton made pizza, played records from the ...

Up just after six, as Brian and the black and white cat where having a fight outside the back door. I got up and scared the bejesus out of the B&W bastard, fed the cats then made tea for Lorraine and I. Another hard day for Lorraine today. Someone phoning her late in the evening about work too. I wish I could do more to help. I, however, simply finished the the French work this morning, and some podcast editing. Also sent off the Centaur words, finally, to Helen. These were the last words in the last scene of the opera, and I am hoping she likes them. I made the action operatic as possible.  In the afternoon a walk, listening to The Other Side of History, and this time about life in Britain after the Romans left, and it made me think we were living at a time when civilisation is waning too. Time to bury the precious things in hoards for the barbarians are coming. However, it was lovely to be out on the edge of the countryside, looking at fields and walking in scraps of woods an...

Sending Lorraine off to the front line, while I simply do some work for my French client and editing podcast material. Also was sent a lead on possible business from a pal, which I followed up instantaneously. Dawn came by this evening, and she had dinner with Lorraine, while I made off to The Caxton. For my musical pals the beermonsters had convened for the first time since February. Jolly good to see them, although The Caxton not our usual haunt, but we were able to sit outside, and soon we were able to move our reserved table to one far away from anyone. I long for the times when you can simply have a beer in a pub with your mates, without neuroses.  Trying not to talk too much about Covid and so on. Alarmed to hear about Richard's strange nerve problem in his back, which means he is limping somewhat and unable to use one of his arms well enough to make a barre cord on his guitar. Apparently temperature triggers the effects, and it came on when he dived into the sea in the heatw...

Drawbridge up. Finalising the words for the last scene of the Centaur project ready to send to Helen, and then editing a bit of podcast chat. And a note from Val with a smidge of branding work to do tomorrow. Watching a series on Netflix called Away  which, while rather slow, at least looks good, and has Hilary Swank, who I don't think I've seen in anything, but is one of those actors blessed with a watchable face. Having to control my apprehension about the new wave of Covid.  I detest this government, but I can appreciate that this is a fiendish situation to manage -- having to factor in the economic damage, the unemployment, the loss of learning for children and so on -- and a self-inflicted no-deal Brexit.   What would also help immensely is if Trump is voted out in November, turning of the slimy tide of moronic populism that is lapping at our ankles here too. What helps is a couple of walks to get me up to my 10k paces, listening to The Other Side of History, ...

Lorraine and I up early, Lorraine off to work. And me prepping for a chat and recording with Robin about the podcast. Nice to chat with her, and have a bit of a laugh while recording things. Then spent time editing the four interviews I have done so far. After a beans on toast lunch, an afternoon stroll up to the Hillfort and beyond. Walking back through the woods, school kids in gangs larking about, and the nearby playground for little kids crammed with older ones. There is zero social distancing in this age group -- nor among the younger one's mums chatting in groups on the streets. The return to schools, the government encouraging people back to work in offices, and the universities going back shortly are all factors that will strap a jet pack onto the already rapidly escalating figures. I find this situation quite nightmarish -- as if you could see the tsunami rushing in off the sea, but everyone else seems to be ignoring it. But then most people aren't hysterical hypocho...

Lorraine getting calls about school, and the pressure for her is on. All I can do is be as supportive as possible. One way today was by proposing a walk at the top of Stanmer woods, which was particularly nice, as there is already (in this mad year) a touch of autumn about the leaves.  We sat in a field looking at the rolling Downs, and the blue sea on the horizon and at times could barely see a soul, and although we drove up to the woods, this is still walking distance from our front door. Living near the edge of town is something I am beginning to treasure. Later in the afternoon, Lorraine did some school work, and I did bits of my stuff, in preparation for meeting Robin (virtually) tomorrow. On my prompting too, Lorraine cooked an Anton's pears, apple and blackberry crumble, which was utterly fine. We also ate a Kenny farm large tomato for breakfast, and some Kenny farm mini potatoes for dinner. These were particularly tasty. We will be continuing our potato experiment next ...

Woke up noticing my hands were still covered in wood filler, particularly one of my nails. Made some tea than had to gallop downstairs as there was someone at the door. It was Rick from around the corner, with a little box containing what Adele had said was an early xmas present for all our glassmaking friends, me included. Took this up to bed, and was somewhat gobsmacked to discover that it was a mug, in green, with the words I had come up with the other day for Jane's birthday on it, and a picture of my stained glass piece. Turns out that Adele had made one for everyone. Felt a little embarrassed but very touched by this. Thanked Adele by text profusely. The legend says 'May the lead in your life always keep your colours together'. Lorraine needing a day of recovery. Into the garden we went, and had some adventures. Harvested some of our potatoes from sacks. Some were little bigger than peas, while others actually looked like small potatoes. In the evening we ate them...

Up early, and shortly after Lorraine left for school, I sauntered over to Anton's house to help out for a day. Anton and Oskar not there when I arrived, however. When they came, and we all worked on the front of the house, doing and I did sanding and filling the wooden window frames with a noxious smelling wood filler all day. This enlivened by listening to lectures on the fate of slaves in ancient Greece. Anton rustled up a fine lunch of french fries, and bratwurst, and it was nice to chat to him and Oskar, whose look now includes a small rucksack to be worn indoors as well as in transit. Lovely to see how encouraging Anton is with Oskar, and how hard Oskar has been grafting. Anton took him back to Anna's house early afternoon, and we did a bit more before drinking a couple of cold beers in his back garden. Tormentingly there were a couple of spits of rain, but luckily no deluge to wash out the rendering Anton had been doing all day. Anton pretty exhausted, rendered speechless...

Took control today. Checked that I was okay with my French client, as I had sent them some work I felt might have been rushed yesterday, but they were happy. Wrote to Helen, who I owe words for the final scene of the Centaur piece,  but worked productively on them.  I feel I am at last making progress and getting organised on it. Also edited interviews I had done for the podcast. I am listening to a series of lectures called The Other Side of History, daily life in the ancient world , by Prof. Robert Garland. Lorraine home, and needing a glass of gin after the first day with a full school again today. Apparently the staff were all sat numbed by the experience in the staffroom at the end of the day. Poor thing was shattered and made off to bed very early.

Up with Lorraine and was at my desk at 7:30 when Lorraine left. Feeling anxious this morning, like there was a fire alarm going off in one of the rooms but you can never get to it. However I managed to take Pat and Maureen some tea in bed, then nipped around the corner to get some chewy brown bread for Maureen to take back with her.  Plumbers due between 10 and half past, so making sure they were breakfasted before then. The plumber and his mate were late, of course, and meanwhile I had been phoned by Val with an urgent job to turn around. Managed to do this while the plumber was raging his innocence "100%, on my kid's life" etc. on his speaker phone, taking repeated calls about a job that hadn't gone quite right before. Sent back the French work rapidly, then immediately wished I had spent more time on it. The plumbers finished their job, replacing a radiator in the kitchen, and all was good. Beth had come around, as she had been to Lorraine's school to receive...

Lorraine and I back to work this morning. Lorraine off to school, while I, with a good deal of doomy trepidation, went back to my desk to consider the hostile future. Freelance work has been very thin this year, and my other projects have stalled or are on ice, and I urgently need to find a way of pulling myself up by my bootstraps. First however, a few wee bits that have been hanging around on my desk that I simply must finish this week. Nevertheless, there were teas to be brought to Pat and Maureen in bed this morning. Maureen said she was going to deliberately disturb me, and she crept into my study at one point and sang lustily for a couple of minutes, grinning at me naughtily all the while. I bring it on myself, as I torment her lots too. Betty came by at lunchtime and took them out in her car to do a spot of shopping in Brighton. I went for my regular constitutional up to the hillfort, listening to my new audiobook, another in the great lectures series, about life for ordinar...