under another sun

Heard from Carl this morning that Jayne was in hospital with Covid. I spoke to him during the day, and it seems she had another infection. It wasn't anything to do with lungs, so that's good I guess. He has covid too, but fairly mildly having been vaccinated.  Leaving the cats in the capable hands of Sam and Jade, Lorraine and I made off to see Sue and John. Into the car first thing, and drove off. A free and easy drive, which we both enjoyed, stopping for tea and sandwiches at a service station. Saw dozens of red kites from the M6, I'd never seen so many of them. Lovely impressive raptors.  The feeling of escaping from Brighton was excellent, as I have been feeling a bit hemmed in and fed up lately. Arrived at Sue and John's while it was still light. A nice cuppa and some Christmas cake. Whiskey the dog, sporting her Irish tricolour collar, springing about enthusiastically as Sue told us Whiskey now has an Irish passport. Lorraine and Sue went off to get eggs from a fa...

A relaxed Boxing Day. Lorraine and I enjoying chatting and hanging out in the morning with Sian and Jade and Sam.Christmas bubble and squeak for lunch,  I did a spot of work preparing for my next podcast interview, and afterwards took myself off for a walk up to the hill fort to get a breath of air, Jade and Sian having mooched off to the seaside, and Lorraine enjoying Star Dew Valley. A big day on the cyber farm as she found a dinosaur egg. I enjoyed my walk despite a superabundance of dogs and played with my camera.  We all played played Yahtzee a dice game in the evening, which Lorraine won and Sam was in his element.  Watched the film Don't Look Up late, a satire of modern life and Ecological destruction. A giant meteor is hurtling towards Earth but the scientists fail to elicit a response from politicians or business which will allow the world to be rescued. A bit heavy handed, and not as funny as it thought it was, but still worthwhile I thought. Took shots facing ...

Christmas Day. Up fairly early and feeling relaxed, and no present opening to cram in  Making breakfast with Lorraine, scrambled egg avocado and smoked salmon. Anton walked round in the rain, to drop off some pressies which included a lovely volume of Tolkien paintings, which surprised me with their quality, and lots of spoiling foodstuffs.  As we were quaffing a cheeky bucks fizz with him Beth and James dropped around, before heading off to see James's mum Julie, who he calls The Goose. A brunch of cheeses pies and pickles and so on left over from the spread, and then we had a proper Christmas Dinner in the evening. Sam, Jade and Sian are currently pescatarian, so we cooked vegan haggis for them, and had a spot of roast pork for ourselves, not fancying turkey.  Lorraine and I chatting with Mum and Mas. Mum and I chatted for a qood while, and I was sipping a wine, and it was almost like being together. Sian, Jade, Lorraine and I watched a film called Happiest Day, a lesbi...

Christmas Eve and everything happening today. Lorraine and I pottered about getting things ready.  Sian arrived this afternoon, and Beth and James came around. The now traditional spread, with lots of salmon which was nice.It was decided that presents should be opened on Christmas Eve this year, continental style. James, Sam and Jade, Lorraine and I swapped presents (continental style) on Christmas Eve as Beth would be at James's mum's place. A cheery time, with Sam wearing the Santa hat and distributing presents.  After the presents done, I amassed many socks and a pair of excellent trousers a book about smugglers pubs in Sussex, among other bits, we played a game of Cards Against Humanity which was ribald fun.   

The day before Christmas Eve. Spoke to Mum, whose Welsh neighbours had invited themselves around for the afternoon. She had wrapped presents for Barry, and now couldn't find them which was frustrating. Some time as sellotape snipper for Lorraine who wrapped presents. Calliope plonked down in the middle of the action of course and got involved with ribbon and so on. Beth arrived, tired, but with a bit more clarity about when they are moving: probably February. She set to baking things with Lorraine. I floated about feeling a bit worn thin generally. I met up with Anton briefly. We snuck into the very empty Evening Star, from where I am banned for language. I encountered no problems, perhaps because I was with Anton who *looks* respectable. Sent a photo of myself there to the Beermonsters, saying I had been parachuted behind enemy lines and received messages of encouragement from the Monsters. I had missed the place.  Home again, and there were piles of sausage rolls, mince pies and ...

A day without freelance work, which was good. Although I had some bits and pieces to do. Lorraine being careful, and taking daily PCR tests, in case she picked up anything nasty from school. A walk in the Knepp Estate with Dawn and Paul, and Rosie and Innis, staying outside by way of avoiding Omicron. Paul told me he had links to the place, and knew the ecologist there and gave talks with them. A long walk for Lorraine, but it was fun. It is a large farm that has been rewilded and has cranes and beavers and ancient looking cattle with meaningful horns. Also large lakes.  Ate food outside on a little wall, where Lorraine quietly scoffed all the cheesy biscuits Rosie had brought with her. Paul and Dawn getting on very well, which is good to see.  The estate has an old eel house, which made me think of a poem by Janet Sutherland from her collection Home Farm 'pools where eels still hide trapped in a storage well,/somersaulting, tumbling and unbalancing.'

An email at 7:30 with a load of amends from the Germany job I thought was done and dusted. Felt fairly irritated by this, but my irritation focused itself into a tight beam of action, and I got the job done sent off in time to mooch down to Preston Park where I saw some of the glass folks. Adele, Sally, Frances, Deana, the two Kates, Rick around the corner and Ben. Weirdly warm this morning, and we sat outside drinking coffee and swapping cards and Secret Santa presents. I had a mad scramble to get this ready beforehand. It was my first Christmassy thing of the year. Cheery to see some friendly faces.  Back home and a few work bits to sort out, and then a bit of a walk taking me over ten thousand paces for the first time in quite a while.  Struggling a bit to feel at all Christmassy yet, which makes me feel a bit sad as I usually love this time of the year.  Lorraine's last day at school till the new term. She came back with bags of presents from the kids, as well as a Ch...

More detailed, tedious German work this morning. Then a recording session and meeting with Robin. As the day wore on I had glimmers of feeling more Christmassy and cheerful after a fairly depressive sort of week. Lorraine off to work in Christmas-themed clothings. Spoke to Mum trying to count our blessings. She said Tobs called her yesterday and spent time showing her around where he was in Tahiti. Lorraine has one more day to go before the Christmas break. Beth called around for a coffee at lunch, and Sam, Beth and I had a nice time hanging out in the kitchen for a bit. Beth being very funny as usual. Took a walk this evening and a short one during the day. Contrary to yesterday, the sky was clear and the lights of Brighton twinkled down far below the Hillfort.

Very pleased that Lorraine got her booster today, and seemed to suffer no effects afterwards. For me: boring and detailed stuff for the Germans. Nice folks though. My soul failing to soar. Chats with Anton today.  Meanwhile in the "real" world Omicron is beginning to explode in the UK as Johnson launched Plan B amid the usual tangle of lies and mixed messages. He is the worst PM in my lifetime. Meanwhile stories and photos keep leaking out how while the rest of us were locked down there were boozy parties going on in No 10 -- not one but several. What a shower of hypocrites and liars.  Meanwhile Richard is sending a stream of Anti-vaccine material to the beermonsters WhatsApp. Making it even more difficult to message him to say I wasn't going to the pub with him tomorrow to celebrate his birthday (Steve did the same) because of omicron. With Lorraine only vaccinated today, I didn't fancy an evening in a crowded pub incase I brought home more than the smell of Harvey...

Beth at home today and hanging out with Pat and Maureen. Maureen has not brought her hearing aid so this a bit trickier than normal. We ate one of Lorraine's famously delicious chicken and leek pies for lunch, and did crackers to wear Christmas hats. In the evening, Beth drove Pat and Maureen to the theatre and went into with them to see Riverdance the Irish prancing festival. Apparently loud, so Maureen could hear. Lorraine and I picked Pat and Maureen up afterwards from the theatre. A man there very helpful at the door and allowed me to nip in and sneak up behind them as Maureen was pushing her tricycle into a lift. Below people with strange faces. Beth with one of her trademark dinosaur jumpers. Sam demurred.

A step forward today, with Lorraine venturing out of the house. We toddled off to five ways and bought some veggies and Lorraine lurked in her favourite gift shop. A big step forward. Home and Lorraine's brother Ken brought Pat and Maureen over from Ashford. Spoke lots to Ken about cameras, and he showed me lots he had taken. His photos of a model railway were featured on a website recently and he is entering lots of competitions.  Nice to see Pat and Maureen who are very happy to be somewhere different for a few days. 

A pre-dawn message from mes amis in France wanting me to do a smidge of work. When I couldn't find a quick fix, I gave up. Off to see Stacy this morning for a haircut. Almost an hour. The last ten minutes is given to cutting stray hairs invisible to the the eyes of muggle non-barbers. Back via Sainsbury's. Lorraine quite a bit brighter, although still coughing. I decided to bump my jolly with Bob next week in London. My estimation is that Omicron is passing like wildfire through the population. I would be very surprised if lockdowns don't start just after Christmas. Lorraine only gets her booster on Wednesday, and will be going back -- gradually -- to work, but I don't want to share crowded train germs with her.  Calliope split Sam's lip by head-butting his face in the night. It's a sign of affection.  Met Anton late afternoon. He looks remarkably well considering his probable TIA. He is on medications and going through further tests. Anyway good to see him and ...

A weirdly decisive and productive day. Got up early and working on my One Day Forever manuscript, and even sent it off to a particular publisher as a work in progress. Lorraine sitting with me in my office as dusty dolls did their business.  A longer walk for me this afternoon, taking my new camera with me on a learning walk with it. Love how it can zoom into an aspect of the landscape. Walking along I had an encounter with an amiable carrion crow, who came very close to me, and hung about pecking at things, and gripping some chalk as I snapped it. If I had stayed there long enough it might have written me a message. A dog walker and I chatted about the crows briefly. She says a man goes there to feed them, which is why they are friendly. A crow feeder would be something to snap.  Home and feeling pleasantly aired out. However politics at the moment is unbelievable. Boris Johnson's Number 10 it appears was partying with no social distancing, while closing down Christmas for th...

Lorraine a little perkier this morning, even getting up early and bringing me a cup of tea. Beth came around and we sat having a bit of breakfast. Then the rest of the morning devoted to the luxury writing my own work -- having a proper bash at getting a first running list for what I am optimistically thinking of as a collection. The working title is 'One Day Forever'. I proceed because this is what I do, rather than with any optimism. Broke off this afternoon to mooch up Hollingbury Hill to blow the cobwebs off. An actual storm blowing today, and I felt properly buffeted and pushed about. The rain started lashing down rather than merely raining, and my trousers were utterly sodden and sticking to the front of my legs when I walked back into the wind. My legs frozen when I got home, but a quick change of trousers (and underpants which were also soaked) and a hot cup of coffee and all was well.  Chatted with Mum this afternoon.  Sam back from tired after a long journey from Sco...

Starting a week which seems mercifully free of freelance work. However before I got wearily out of bed I had an offer of a few days working with my German friends, starting next Monday, which helps to keep the Kenny coffers a chinking.  I gave much of the morning to tinkering with poetry, and looking after Lorraine, who while a bit better, is still nowhere near right. After dinner I made off to the Battle of Trafalgar, for my first visit to a pub for what seemed like ages. Met up with the Beermonsters there. Good to see Steve as always. I am going to lurk with him in Seaford soon. Nick in a cheery mood, and becoming almost lyrical telling us again about hang gliding in the Himalayas. He said there was something called a red zone, that it was important not to fall into, as you would be unlikely to be found for weeks. Richard has chosen not to be vaccinated for his own reasons. His problem now is that his employer is the NHS, and the Government are saying it will become mandatory for...

Lazy Sunday. Looked after my Lorraine who continues to slowly recover. Breakfast in bed. Later I had a bit of an ah-ha moment talking with Lorraine that I realised that the new slew of poems I have been writing were actually a separate group. Otherwise I made a rather excellent fish pie under Lorraine's supervision.  Chatted with Mum and with Anton, who recommended a programme about brewing, (he described it as the Great British Bake off but for blokes) where teams around Europe are tasked each week to come up with a new beer to a brief. Also watched some footie on Match of the Day. Football is a consolation. Weather horrid, so the great outdoors untroubled by me at least. 

Rosie and Innis round this afternoon. Innis drove me off to Stanmer House. I'm really lucky as I am getting advice from an real photographer. I'm learning about using the shutter speed, and how depending on the speed a fountain -- as our example -- would look completely different. I did a snap on a fast speed, and caught all the droplets frozen in time. A longer exposure gave me lines of water. I took a few photos, but somehow managed to lose them probably by pressing the wrong button, but managed to take a few afterwards. Nice that Innis is finding explaining it to me really reminding him of why he loves photography too. Home in the min, where Rosie had been chatting to Lorraine, stretched out on the gold sofa. Rosie had come armed with bits of brownie, including a sort of hybrid mince pie brownie. Lorraine quite drained after chatting. She is still not anywhere near recovered. We watched Final Score and Match of the Day despite Chelsea losing a game, and surrendering the top ...

Up fairly early, meeting with Keith that stretched on and off all morning, while we sent some emails, and discussed various strategies for work and did bits and pieces for a couple of hour. The job stopped in its tracks last night, but will be picked up next month. To be honest, I am quite happy not to be slogging on another brief. I am very low on energy at the moment, and I want to put what I have into poetry instead for the rest of the year. But making plans seems futile, because every time I make one something else happens. Anton off to the stroke unit first thing, and they are pretty sure that he had a TIA the other week, although why is not he had it is not clear. Spoke to him on his way home -- and it is a lot to process. Sam left Kenny Towers for Scotland this morning so Lorraine and I have the house to ourselves for a few days. SadlyLorraine still ill with her chest infection, and now with a very sore eye. She spoke to her doctor again this morning, and will be off next week t...

Off colour and coughing this morning. Hard to separate the hypochondria from reality. I returned a dab of poo through the post to the bowel screening folks. It seems rude really. Keith and I started what was supposed to be seven days work with Americans this afternoon. The job was only confirmed at noon, and we were given a briefing late afternoon, on a particularly depressing medical matter. We were asked to reconvene at 10pm and where -- announced as good news -- the project was biffed till January. Somewhat galling as we had both put off other work to do this project. Business dealings in the last week or so are chaotic.  Lorraine at home, and officially off sick. She did, however, conduct a Governor's meeting from bed this evening, where it was officially confirmed she was going to finish in the summer. Otherwise she seems a mite brighter today. Sam prepping his trip up to Scotland tomorrow, and went out shopping and bought Lorraine chocolate and treats. I uploaded the new epis...

Lorraine went to work today, not feeling well at all. There was an enormous traveller funeral in the church next door. Horrible tragedy of a young entrepreneurial guy killed in a freak accident by an exploding truck tyre. Lorraine has organised more time off work as she has a bad chest infection, and after work saw her doctor and collected antibiotics. She will have to postpone her booster too unfortunately, which was for this weekend. I met her outside her surgery is just across the park.   As for me... Up early and doing final edits on the podcast, and then recording the intro with Robin. We had a laugh as usual. A bit of Santa banter on Tomorrow's episode. Had wanted a haircut today, as my barnet has tipped into its chaotic phase. Stacy was alone in the barbershop, and cannot do me till next week. I walked into town nevertheless. Spoke to Anton has to go for more check-ups on Friday.  Freelance a zone of confusion and uncertainty as usual. The job that was supposed to start...