under another sun

The morning of the last day of the year was spent tidying. Lorraine adopted the Mari Kondo style folding I have been doing lately. I showed her my draws of teeshirts, socks and boxers, all folded so that you can see everything in the drawer at a glance. Deeply inspired by this, she did the same thing to her drawers (ahem) and it sparked joy in her, plus and a deep appreciation of me as a beacon of tidiness and order. Then breakfast. We had coffee and I felt in need of healthy things this morning, and had porridge and assorted seeds and frozen berries. We discussed the new regime for food starting at the beginning of January, and other plans and schemes.  It is warm for the time of year, but hosing down with rain and very windy. Lorraine and I walked down to the sea when the rain stopped for a bit, and loved the white horses and the wildness of it. Then a spot of shopping in Morrisons, and the health food shop where Lorraine bought some Tamari sauce having read about its existence ...

 Off up to Edgware first thing to see Mum on her 82nd birthday. Heavy downpour this morning, which made pumping the tyres up (and again to adjust in a car park) a drenching experience. When we were onto the M25, the rain stopped its lashing and we made it up to Edgware in good time despite all the traffic on the ring road. A cup of tea with Mum and Mas,  diverted Mason explaining his theories about Ukraine to Lorraine immediately on her arrival. We gave them Christmas presents and Mum her birthday presents She seemed very happy -- and loved a colourful cat scarf Maureen had bought her. The lovely Maheena arrived bringing a flower for Mum's birthday, Ben had phoned too, even the cleaner called. Then Lorraine drove us off to the Waggon and Horses. Today, cheerfully crowded with lots of people having meals. Mum had booked the preferred seat by the fire. People came over to say hello to Mum and Mason, the staff know them by name. One guy came over to say that there was a community...

Breakfast with Maureen and Pat, cereal and white toast with a molecule deep covering of Steve's  mirabelle jam. Off then after an interlude of getting ready, to Eastbourne. It's a lovely drive glimpsing the sea, over the water at Cuckmere Haven, passing Friston Forest and up towards Beachy Head and over with a view over Pevensy Bay of Eastbourne and Hastings in the distance. A spot of shopping in C&H fabrics -- a great favourite of Maureen's, which is sadly closing.  Then across the road to Starbucks to have a cup of coffee (as the cafe in C&H had been closed down already). Arrived moments before it began raining enormously. When this abated I hared off to M&S to buy some ready meals, and then we all mooched off to Eastbourne station. I noticed this time that Starbucks, which I went to lots in Brighton as it was a good place to write, has grim coffee.  Some confusion about which part of the train was going where. Maureen called the platform manager Sunshine! ...

Up early and off to Top Cats at Patcham, to pick up some new thyroid medication for Calliope as she was suddenly running out. Lovely people there. Calliope has to go in for another blood test but I explained that she has become really stressed by the drive and now we no longer live in Brighton the drive is even longer. They gave us a tranquilliser for her to eat a couple of hours beforehand to chill her out next time she comes in. Drove home quickly till we reached to Denton roundabout, near Seaford about five minutes from home. Lorraine sensed there was something wrong, then there were lots of blue lights and the road was closed by a police car. We had to take a half hour detour that took us through Alfriston to reach home, but even then the road was still blocked on the road they call the Seaford Bends. Steve came around this afternoon, for a bite to eat, and he enjoyed chatting to Pat and Maureen. Eventually Steve and I pushed off for a bit to have a cheeky beer. We popped into The ...

A slow start to the day, breakfasting and everything seeming much more relaxed than yesterday. It was a day of eating cold food and pickles. Beth and James, after eating brunch, made off for the next leg of their Christmas tour to Eastbourne to be with Julie, James's mum, and Lorenzo, James's brother. A peaceful day, here. Quite bright and cheery. We drove Pat and Maureen down to the sea for a quick walk, but the wind was biting so Lorraine took them back to sit in the car, facing the sea, while I walked for a short while and took a photo of Seaford Head. Not too much else to report. Lorraine and I cheerful and happy not to be slogging about like yesterday. Pat and Maureen cozy on the sofa, Maureen knitting and mostly well behaved.  Below a few snaps of the sea...

Christmas Day... Began with Beth bringing Lorraine and I a cup of tea in bed, which was rather spiffy. She said she had been up since eight. All down for breakfast, scrambled eggs and salmon. Then opening presents. All rather fun, and a good deal of rustling of paper. Beth and James being the Christmas Elves.  I got excellent presents, a beautiful green scarf, ear phones that don't poke into your ears, a book of an interesting local artist, new gym socks (my current gym socks are AT LEAST 30 years old). Everyone cheery. Also sipping wine that Mum and Mase brought.  Chatting with Mum this morning before they made off to the Waggon and Horses for lunch -- and then I called her again in the evening with Lorraine. Toby still stuck in Canada. Meanwhile in Seaford people hard at work. In men much preparation of Christmas Dinner with three generations Maureen, Lorraine and Beth at the kitchen table, preparing sprouts watching The Snowman and sipping Prosecco. Pat drafted in too. ...

A houseful today, proving that our new house is an excellent Christmas house. Pat and Maureen with us this morning, and Beth and James arrived early on in the day too. Although James had to immediately climb back into the car as he had forgotten to pack Beth's presents, probably somewhat preoccupied with having been able to drive Lorraine's new car door over, which had been in their garage over the summer. Beth officially stopped monitoring her phone at close of play today, after a very busy few work months for her. I spent the day at home with everyone, but seemed to spend hours shopping for a few last minute bits and also visited all three supermarkets.  Home to do a bit of wrapping, chatting with Toby who was supposed to have flown to Japan today, but a once in a generation 'weather bomb' created snowy blizzard conditions all through the eastern US, and sub zero temperatures as far down as Texas. Toby had one of those ghastly airport days, and ended up having to retu...

Jade up early. and typically perky. Lorraine and I drove her to the Station as it was hosing down with rain. However the train was cancelled so Lorraine drove Jade to Lewes Station. Lorraine and I then did early food shopping in Morrisons and I picked up the turkey and a dozen sausages from the slightly stressed butcher at an eye-watering price. The bird wrapped in a clear plastic bag. Felt a bit odd carrying a large body through town. Poked it into the fridge in the Workhouse at the bottom of the garden. Sam left a couple of hour or so later to meet Jade in London and train back up to Scotland -- where they arrived late at night. We walked him to the station,  After some light tidying and organising, we drove off to Eastbourne, a beautiful drive, where we collected Pat and Maureen at the station, arriving safely after the journey from Ashford. Home again, Lorraine cooked a lovely curry and also wrapped presents. Off to the station with a big bag of pressies for Anton and his famil...

Up early to do a few bits and pieces of work, then Lorraine and I assembled her new dressing table. A lovely thing it is. Then downstairs to be collected by Adele and Jane. Adele lending Lorraine a food dehydrater for Lorraine to make more of her dried orange slice ornaments.  I climbed into Adele's yellow car and we drove off to Poynings. We ended doubling back and going via Alfreston and then towards Brighton. Plenty of banter in the car, some of it centred on Jane's love of telling anecdotes. The high downs and fields beautiful and still covered with thin snow. Eventually we reached The Royal Oak -- a pub Lorraine and I have driven past on many occasions but never stopped at. Lovely village pub. There we met Sally, Frances, Rick around the corner, and Deana -- and had lunch which, as a non driver, I was able to wash down with a couple of pints of Harvey's Old Ale. Nice to see folks from my old glass class again. Ben unable to make it as he was -- rather mysteriously -- ...

Up hideously early to go to the dentist in London. Arrived at icy Seaford station at 06:50, but there was no train for over an hour -- either as a hangover from the strike yesterday, and later this week or the icy rails or both. There was no way I would make my appointment on time. Gah. I had to cancel the  appointment and sheepishly blame the trains. Home again, I took Lorraine a cup of tea up and decided make an early start on the concepting work for mes amis in Paris, plus writing the copy for the latest podcast which was uploaded today and featured an interview Robin had with Matthew Stewart, plus bloopers and other general banter. At my desk an overnight rejection from the agency in New York. No surprise there.  Working all day, but a very happy day. Sent the copy that Tim Relf had written for his bit about Planet Poetry in Poetry News. Lorraine up early and excitedly. A man came shortly after the sun rose, to assemble the glasshouse in the garden. He had driven from Nor...

Sluggish this morning, but soon perked up. Delighting in the fact that the year is coming to an end.  However Val called from Paris asking me to help them out on a job, and sent me a wee brief. I will do it because it is Val, and fairly easy for me as I can do it alone. I will start it tomorrow. Otherwise Lorraine and I feeling cheery, and clearing space on the concrete for the greenhouse to be built. Still bitterly cold outside. After this we sauntered into town, Lorraine nipping into the hardware store as is her wont. Wandering around the corner to Broad Street and Lorraine said, 'there's a car in the cafe'. Had no idea what she meant till I saw a car had crashed into the front of a little cafe. I had heard a helicopter earlier, and three had been taken away injured. People thought it was an older driver who may have had a heart attack. No fatalities thankfully. Went into a small men's clothes shop. Lovely corduroy trousers in there but they didn't fit me properly...

Seemed to have lots on this morning. Was briefly interviewed about Planet Poetry by Tim Relf for Poetry News. Also met with Keith, and sent off some Xmas business communications, and did some recordings with Robin this afternoon.  Drove off this afternoon to buy a Christmas tree, and then went to Morrisons to stock up on food, but ended up buying quite a bit of Christmas booze too: a bottle of rum, and some beers and ciders.  Gratefully home as it was very cold. Dragged the tree into the back garden and put it in a bucket. Battened down the hatches, ate fish pie and watched the Masterchef final episode in the warm. Toby called too, which was nice. Had a good chat -- he is very much looking forward to their holiday in Japan.

Very cold day, and Lorraine cancelled plans she had as the roads were lethal with ice -- although Seaford remains an island of no snow.  After a morning of doing mostly podcast type stuff, and a bit of light writing, I mooched (carefully) off to go to the gym this afternoon and felt disinclined to do much afterwards.   I popped out this evening to Steamworks, the little pub by the station, where Brian and Ian were having a drink. Joined them for an hour or so. Hadn't really chatted to Ian before. I liked him quiet and intelligent. Brian full of beans as usual, and excellent company. They went off for a curry -- and I slunk back in the cold sporting gloves and a cap and scarf and lots of layers and happy to be back on the Gold Sofa with Lorraine catching up on the last few episodes of Masterchef.

So a busy Sunday. Off to Seaford Station on the icy pavements, but the trains were delayed or cancelled due to ice on the third rail and there was no foreseeable train for at least half an hour. This country going to the dogs etc. So we got a refund on our tickets, and decided to drive instead. As soon as we left the station and were almost home there was the galling sight of a train arriving.  Nevertheless a pleasant drive to the University of Sussex where we met Paul and Dawn to see a fantastic French string quartet, The Quatuor Arod, The concert had been relocated from the usual concert hall to the Meeting House, a modern church building with effective stained glass in simple blocks of colour embedded in the encircling concrete of the round building. A lovely setting, although perishingly cold and everyone sat with their coats on, except for the four young guys in the quartet.  First they played Mendelssohn's Op.44 No.1 with sparking competence, but the piece itself left me...

Another fine frosty morning. I mooched off to buy some bread first thing, then a bit of light tidying before before Penny and Steve called around, looked at the house sans boxes, and had coffee. As we left for town, we spoke to David next door. His front garden is now a cheery tableaux of assorted reindeers, a snowman a polar bear and Christmas trees and lots of other lights.  After a short walk by the sea, we went into Amy's kitchen. Penny specified she didn't want it spicy, and I said I liked spices. Penny's was red hot with chilli and mine was as mild mannered. Nevertheless really tasty. Penny refusing to make a fuss about the her meal.  After fond farewells, Lorraine and I made our way to the Crypt where we met up with Steve and Robin and Nick for the open mic poetry reading, with a guest poet called Louise Taylor who Robin knew who is a performance poet who delivered poems about food, especially cake, and the uselessness of men. The Seahaven open mic poets were often i...

Decidedly cold again. A bit hungover and had a bacon and egg breakfast, then off to the outskirts of Steyning along Maudlin Lane to Paul and Dawn, who had looked after our garden plants for weeks.  We hefted most of them into the car including the two acers in big pots, and then were taken inside to be given cheese toasties and coffee, and sit near the fire for a bit. But as Paul was working, and Dawn had to go out, we were soon driving home, with the pots clinking and shifting about as we went round roundabouts and so on. Then home and more hefting, and then after a smidge of writing, with neither of us feeling particularly lively, we watched football, which I really enjoyed: Brasil losing to Croatia on penalties, and Argentina beating the Netherlands on penalties. The games looking great on our new TV.

Frosty roofs and lawns this morning, with ice in the bird baths and in thin plates on the little fish pond. I got up and toyed with a few poems, adding no value at all. Brain moving at gastropod speeds, but nice to be back at my desk at least trying.  This struggle soon interrupted by a man in a lorry, who arrived with lots of long heavy boxes and a good deal of glass, which will, when assembled by an expert next week, will create a greenhouse. We left the glass stacked, and took the rest down to what we are calling the work 'ouse. Lorraine's masterplan for the garden is taking shape.  We also moved geraniums etc into the summerhouse to stop them getting frosted again. Lorraine cooked us up a lovely veggie soup, and after I mooched off to the gym. Spoke to two people in the changing room -- one of whom gave me advice on repelling creatures that dig out your flowerpots: chilli powder apparently. Much friendlier here in Seaford, and to be in a gym where the average age isn't ...

A bit of writing first thing -- having woken up with an idea about a poem that has been on the back burner for ages. Improved it, but not there yet. My brain a bit sluggish, and not really in a very creative space.  Lorraine drove us off to nearby Newhaven. Our way blocked by the shipping bridge going up at 10:30 and then the railway barriers going down. We parked up and went to the little old streets in the little town centre. Those shops and streets are in want of love. We found the Boots chemist where we had our flu jabs, and chatted to an older lady who hobbled over and had chat about the strangeness of modern life, much stranger than wartime with the bombs and everything (she said she was born in 1936). She said she had broken her leg recently and ended up being put in the maternity ward. She made remarks about the dim view she had of young mothers these days. Reading Robert Hamberger's book A Length of Road. Excellent.  Lorraine and I, jabbed and fine, back to the car, ...

Appropriately nippy weather at last. In the morning we readied ourselves to experience Seaford Christmas Magic. Lorraine drove Maureen, Pat and myself the minute or so's ride into town, and dropped us off and drove back home. I walked along Broad Street with Pat and Maureen, quite fun, with cold looking people at stalls, and a man with a guitar and a woman singer in a cute Christmas get up, a stand with Sussex pulled pork, and others with mulled wine and cake and so on. Maureen got to the end of the street and said, 'is this it?' -- not having discerned any magic. And then said she wanted to go home. I called Lorraine who had just left home again, and we wandered back down the street. Meanwhile Lorraine had found a parking spot. Lorraine poked her mum and dad into a cafe, and we sauntered about a bit, and bought some cake, and houseplants and an octopus candlestick which Pat and Maureen had craved, having seen ours.   Then then went into Gallery Uno, where I stood about out...

A quick podcast email and a few bits first thing, before I readied myself head north.  Pat and Maureen here. But I went up to Elstree, to meet Mum and Mas in The Waggon and 'orses on Watling Street. A slow journey with lots of changes. Seaford to Lewes, Lewes to East Croydon, East Croydon to St Pancras, St Pancras to Elstree and then a pleasant stroll from Elstree. The platform at Elstree had grit and salt on it, and it was noticeably colder than Seaford was when I set out.  Mum and Mas happily installed in the best seat by the fire when I arrived at 12:25. Enjoyable time with them, warmed by the fire and sipping a decent pint of Guinness and telling them all my news. Mum and Mas are really well known there. The chef who calls them mummy and daddy appeared, and I shook his hand as his 'stepbrother' and thanked him for being so nice to them. He made a nice chicken soup for Mason, which was nicer than anything on the menu. I had a sip and it was spicy with nutmeg, and rather ...

The first day of my gym membership, but editing the last bits of the podcast recordings took hours so in the end I ran annoyingly out of time. Also did laundry too, hanging washing out on our rotary washing line, and then collecting it in soddenly a few hours later. Chatting to Bob too, saying how much fun Monday had been. And the Planet Poetry episode is a good one, featuring my interview with Sarah Barnsley, and Robin and I were happy with the episode.  Meanwhile Lorraine was driving off to see Pat and Maureen this morning, but en route decided to bring them back home with her. Maureen not feeling to bright with an infection, and Pat still recovering. One of Maureen's sisters is critically ill too, so Lorraine thought it would be nice to have them. The first time in our house too, and they liked it lots. They all arrived just as I had finished work, and I mooched out to Trawlers to buy fish and chips. I was the only person in there, and the woman behind the counter was really ple...

 Another really cheerful day. Lorraine and I caught the train into Brighton, and did a spot of shopping. I bought sunglasses, as mine had given up the ghost -- or should I say shade -- a few days ago. Then after a spot of shopping, and witnessing the Police unsuccessfully chasing a sprinting villain  down the centre of North Street we mooched into The Ivy, where Lorraine had a voucher for a £100. We had a meal there, which was nice enough. Lorraine had a cocktail called a Passionate Spritz (apparently a bit like a Porn Star) and I had a fancy G&T and a decent meal. The Ivy, because it is expensive and snobby, attracts the idle rich. The staff were professional and pleasant however. Then into the old lanes where I bought Lorraine her long-promised eternity ring -- which was quite blingy and has pinky red rubies and little diamonds in it. We were able to get it resized and done within an hour or so. We did a bit more shopping and then dropped into The Cricketers where Lorrai...

Up to London today, meeting Bob in Trafalgar Square. Met up and had a quick coffee and a roll in a Prêt. We discussed exhibitions to see, as is our wont. The cafe was noisy and he reeled off a list of options, including a fascinatingly postmodern one called 'Debussy and Freud'. I mentioned this seemed very interesting but it turned out this was actually Lucian Freud, which we went to see. But not before having a single pint in the Salisbury.  Thence into the exhibition. Enjoyable without being life changing. Freud's penchant for repulsive looking flesh tones always makes me feel weird, despite their obvious skill. On only one occasion did Bob point at a painting with his finger hovering three or four millimetres over the priceless surface, a habit that makes me, and assorted staff nervous. Thought provoking stuff. Then we mooched off to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese a long time haunt. Today we were able to get a seat in the little bar, where a Welsh guy began chatting to us. Then...

Cheery day. Lorraine and I went off shopping this morning. In the market we bought some iron wall hooks in the shape of hearts, and I bought a bottle of locally produced sloe gin. We nosed in a print shop, and I went to collected new reading glasses to replace the ones I left in the back of a Corfiot taxi, while Lorraine had the arms on her specs tightened. Then on impulse into the Library to join up -- I had no ID so will need to return. Then into the dry cleaner's for Lorraine to continue her charm offensive.  In the evening Lorraine and I took ourselves off for a six o'clock nose bag at the Moon of India, apparently Seaford's oldest curry house. Initial impressions were favourable. I ordered a Gujarati chicken, a hot, sour and spicy village dish apparently. Very sugary unfortunately, and Lorraine's chicken rogan was sweet too. which was weird. Nevertheless sauntered home having had a good time. After a bit I felt extremely dehydrated with a racing pulse, and drank pi...

Feeling free today. At my desk doing lots of poetry related emails one to Live Cannon, following up about a meeting before Christmas after my recently shortlisted collection.  Finding the advice that Sarah Barnsley gave me last week continuously resonating with me at present: be on your own side. Looked at my phone as I mooched, and my emails were all from poets.  Lorraine out to join Penny and another head teacher for a walk around Ditchling.  I went for a walk of my own, and signed up at the nearby sports centre so I can use their gym. Got a Christmas deal so I got three months for the price of one. Friendly place, and I got chatting to an elderly lady at reception who was off to do Tai Chi. From there I walked about for a bit, listening to the In Our Time podcast about Wilfred Owen.Wandered over to a bit of Seaford Head, wind surging off the sea in a way that makes you feel a bit roughed up and buffeted, which I liked a lot..  Home and had a chat with Mum, and arr...

Finished off a job with Keith. Had the opportunity to zoom out at lunchtime for a bit of a walk. Beautiful day, and when I returned home there was a rainbow over our road. Lorraine off again to Ashford to see how Pat and Maureen were doing. Pat at home now thankfully, and slowly recovering.  She got home at seven. Lunchtime walk... on the beach looking towards the Martello tower and Seaford Head, St Leonard's Church in the centre of town, and a rainbow over our road.

Monday. A grey rainy day, and cold. Working online with Keith and feeling cold in my study. We put on the heating in two or three one hour bursts to keep off the penguins. A meeting with Pat today too, meeting background kept making his long hair disappear and reappear as if flapping in a high wind   Happy to have Lorraine busying herself around the house, doing things with sourdough and sorting bits and pieces, it being her first morning home since Friday. Once done with work, Lorraine and I assembled a bathroom cabinet. Surprising how warming screwdrivers can be. Lorraine, not having been here for a couple of days, getting flashes of unreality about this being her home -- and it is not a holiday from which we will have to return. Cocooned on the gold sofa tonight, eating a warming chicken and vegetable stew and catching up with Deep Space 9.  Meanwhile in an alternative universe the football world cup started in the UAE. England won their first game 6-2, which was rather imp...

A bit strange to wake up in my new house on my own. Lorraine staying with Maureen. The good news was that Pat was improved today, and feeling a bit better. He has pneumonia but hadn't had the stroke that certainly we had first feared. Good for Lorraine to be there, and we spoke several times over the day. Lorraine had arranged for a tree surgeon called Gary to arrive first thing, arrived with his boy Henry. He and backed into the bottom of the garden from the alley and proceeded to feed branches into the chewing machine, and took down the remainder of the bough of the sycamore, and stripped a ring in the bark around the other one, which we discovered was actually supporting the fence, and was full of screws and nails. We are going to kill what is effectively an overgrown stump. I take succour in the idea that we are going to be planting more trees. Gary a nice bloke who clearly knew lots about plants and trees, and Henry, who was I guess 12 or 13 a surprisingly hard little worker. ...

All plans went awry. Maureen phoned to say that Pat wasn't able to move this morning. Lorraine set off almost immediately -- we suspected he had had a stroke. The paramedics had arrived shortly after Lorraine arrived in Ashford. Pat had a strange rash. By the end of the evening they said that he had pneumonia, and they were continuing investigations, but put in a cannula for antibiotics and paracetamol. Obviously everyone rather shaken. I spoke to Lorraine and Maureen during the day -- but Pat apparently cracking jokes and in good spirits.  Before she left, Lorraine had been baking loaves and so on, and after she left talking to her on the phone we realised they had been on the wrong setting, so I had to put them back in and monitor. Miraculously the bread was fine at the end. I biffed any idea of doing some writing this morning, and also decided to cancel seeing Keith after the dentist in case I had to zoom off to Ashford.  After the excitements of the morning I had miscalcul...

Took a brief with Keith this morning, from the old FB, Pat and Perky. Keith and I spent the day batting bits back and forth as usual. This against a backdrop of breaking off to man&womanhandle metal bed frames downstairs and other bits that Lorraine was getting on with.  In the evening I made off to Lewes to the Needlewriters poetry, where I heard Antony Mair read, a lovely man, plus Beth Miller read some prose and Frances Presley gave us some selections from her collected works.  A bizarre interlude where one of the staff of the John Harvey Tavern poked her head in, as Beth Miller was reading and the audience were listening attentively, and said to Janet and Rachel sitting by the door that 'you do know it's a £50 charge for the room don't  you?' Something apparently not previously mentioned in the years the Needlewriters have been meeting there.  I sat on a table with SJB, Charlotte and Stephen Bone -- who were giving me encouragement with pursuing the collectio...

Got up earlyish this morning, to work on some writing, or at least think about writing -- and did some editing during the day on the podcast. More wild wind and rain. Later L and I scuttled into town and popped into Seaford's branch of supersavers to replace the pair I lost in Greece. Served by a young automaton. Also Lorraine and I took pair of duvets into the dry cleaner. Lorraine charming the man behind there with talk about maths, and how he couldn't be so bad at it because he has his own business. The smell of bean-based goodness permeating the house. Not without incident, as the haricot and butter beans I had soaked overnight and boiled were too old.  I replaced them with tinned beans of the same persuasion, and it worked a treat. Posted the pictures on Facebook. Jenny Kendall Tobias calling me out for off piste ingredients such as garlic, a touch of celery, a bit of cumin and turmeric.  More progress on the house today. Including drilling holes in walls again, which wen...

Up to make a cup of tea, pausing only to clean up a pool of cat urine next to the litter tray, and back into bed. Sipping tea in bed, I opened my email from Live Cannon to say my manuscript Man Up had not won the prize for which I was shortlisted. I had tried not got my hopes up over the last six months, but still a disappointment. All is not lost, however, as I was told they were big fans of my work and would I be up for meeting to discuss it? But it took me a while to reach this point of seeing this gleam of optimism. I have failed at the last fence so many times it is hard to bear.      Shortly after, Brian arrived with his chainsaw -- which he has been trained and licenced to use -- bright as a button having already been for a swim in the sea to help us out in  the garden. He proceeded to cut down the small dead conifer, the diseased crab apple tree, and pollarded the sycamores, which I learn are unwelcome trees. Although I had agreed all this with Lorraine, I fo...

A busy and social day. A chat with Keith this morning. Today's delivery a double mattress for the spare room. Then Lorraine and I made off to the little cafe called Baca by the station, where we met Yvonne and Brian for coffee and a chat, then made off to the Crypt to see an open artist's Christmas fare. We bought a coat rack and various other bits and pieces. Brian sitting it out, outside.  We went our separate ways then, Lorraine and I doing a spot of shopping, Lorraine brought a little whisk among other things, and popped into the sewing shop and bought some stuffing for Mabel the rabbit, Loraine's latests knitting project.  Home and we worked in house and then slumped for a bit, before it was time to push off to The Boot, where we met Steve at 5pm, who was there with his pal Sarah-Jane her friend Justin.  Both lovely folks, Sarah-Jane who radiated enthusiasms, wanted to talk about podcasts. Drank some Harvey's old and then Lorraine and I went to Osborne Fish and Chi...

Lorraine off this morning to Brighton, where she picked up more thyroid mix for Calliope and then went off to Hove to have her hair cut by Paul, and then, from there zoom off to be with Betty for the afternoon, with Laura going too. I meanwhile, did an edit on an interview Robin had done, finally completed editing my chat with Sarah Barnsley. I also spoke with Mimi Khalvati this morning who I was due to interview, but she has a recurring problem with losing her voice unpredictably, and was on a whispery morning so we decided to bump it. Nice to chat to her though, as I'd not spoken to her in about 25 years I think. Late afternoon I made off to Brighton, this time on the train. Train pass wasn't working however, as I have updated my phone but the train app transferred sans data which is a bit galling. Reading a book on the train about poetry, which coincidentally included a couple of paragraphs on Mimi. Went to my usual pharmacy, stocked up on my prescription -- now I have the p...

A good night's sleep but still feeling a tad out of sorts with the sore throat and persistent tiredness that has been hanging about since before we moved in. Lorraine and I up and had breakfast, then conversations about the jobs that needed doing, hopped into the car and drove to Eastbourne to get our covid booster jabs -- a brace of fresh Pfizers. We were done quickly even though our bookings, made simultaneously online, were for half an hour apart.  Beautiful drive there and back, and we stopped off at the Chalk Farm nursery where we looked at fruit tree saplings and other plants. The paths there a bit like being a pac man in that they were blocked here and there by blown over pots. Home and Lorraine and I did solid work in my study, dismantling the little desk we'd inherited, so I had space for mine. We discovered some superficial mould (barely any character at all) growing immediately behind it.  Lorraine used vinegar to clean it and cut some of the wall paper away. The st...