under another sun

A poor night's sleep, lying awake feeling worried about several things at once. Listening to the news this morning did not help: warring Russians, out of control global warming. The idiocy and malevolence of humanity is astonishing.    Read this from Carole Cadwalladr  saying that this invasion was a continuation of the First Great Information War the Kremlin has been waging over facebook etc for the last eight years. You only have to look at the proven Russian interference in Brexit and the election of Trump and so on to see that. They have successfully sown bitter division among their opponents, and contributed to the almost complete erosion of truth in the world.  Up early with a story in my head, however, and I wrote down the opening 500 words so as not to forget it.  It was the Poetry Business deadline for sending in a poetry collection, but this is exactly at the wrong moment in terms of where I am with my work. I tried to fudge it but after several hours,...

Jade had to be off early this morning, so we all got up and Lorraine drove her to the station. Lovely to see her again, albeit briefly. Once up, I wrote for a while. I am really pleased that a poem that I have never been able to make work despite it having some excellent lines, now suddenly works really well. Spoke to Mum who is bored and frustrated at trying to get ear pieces for Mason's deafness that don't fall out of his ears.  Later Lorraine and I took a bookcase and some boxes to storage. Amazing how much time there is during the weekend when you spring out of bed early. We managed to set off the alarms in the storage place. There are loads of cameras inside, and somewhere someone turned it off. I went for a walk this afternoon to my usual haunts. Lorraine had some preparation to do for school tomorrow. I roasted a chicken tonight, and lapped at some really nice wine. I really enjoyed staying in tonight. Below the sun shining on daffodils.    

We got up early, and took it fairly easy. Lorraine and I went for a walk along the seafront looking at a few hardy souls plunging in. Our original plan was Lorraine had been due to get a massage and I was going to saunter by the sea, but the woman who was going to give it was sitting in A&E, having been taken ill this morning. We enjoyed our walk together, and bought hot chocolate and coffee from the meeting place cafe.   Take two this evening: off with Sam and Jade to see Betty's play. We met James, and his mum Julie and her partner Eric there. First time Lorraine and I had met Eric. A cheery evening, despite feeling heart-sinky about sitting through the Crap play again. Jade laughing into her jumper at one point when there was a bit of wild dancing was plonked into the play. We all enjoyed Bull , however. I preferred it tonight, and Beth was excellent again. A good cast, and a simply structured play that worked neatly. Beth pleased after with how it had all gone.  Every...

Fresh as a daisy this morning, as Anton and I were restrained last night. Lorraine and I off to the tip this morning seeing as it was a beautiful day, taking sacks of garden rubbish and then pootled about in the garden centre. Also a bit of writing and business admin thrown into the mix. Jade home too. She has been on strike lately along with other university lecturers, whose payment and terms and conditions are being steadily whittled away.  Out this evening to Busby and Wilds where we met up with Adele and Patrick, Deana and Steve, Jane and Ian, and Kate G and Delores, a writing pal of Adele's. We had opted to get a cab, but as the city was weirdly gridlocked we were late. A quick bite and a mug of beer in the restaurant, then to the Spire theatre, to see Beth in Bull, a play by Mike Bartlett. It was a double bill and before Bull there was a play about Ulcerative Colitis called Kat's Bag of Crap by Katryna Thomas-Shell. Beautifully acted, but I felt the script needed to be cu...

Russia invaded Ukraine. I was completely wrong, and thought Putin was bluffing. Horrible business. Such a vacuum of democratic leadership he thinks nobody will do much.  On the domestic front, Lorraine and I enjoyably pottering about at home most of the day. We popped into Lidl for some shopping, and also went to speak to the people at the local storage firm called Cinch, and put down a deposit on a lockup.   I went for beer with Anton tonight. Met in The Park Crescent, a bit of a tucked away locals pub, where we had a drink on February 12th 2020, 743 days ago as Anton said, shortly before the first lockdown. A kind of reboot which felt fitting now that many of the special measures taken by the government have now been lifted. It even, to the delight of Anton, had an Avengers themed pinball machine, with the heroic pricing of a quid a game.  Lots to chat about. Headed from there to the Joker where we ate a really sloppily cheesy chicken burger, and then made off to the Fr...

Lorraine and I got hold of the day by the scruff of its neck and sorted out the front garden, which although only small, needed a fair bit bush trimming. We had dragged out the trug there too, and this we emptied. Then we took the car off for its MOT underneath the viaduct, and had lunch at The Signalman, one of our locals when we lived in the Old Church Hall. Enjoyed going for a beer, albeit a solitary beer, with my missus. A tasty chicken burger and a cheery barmaid. Then collected the car, which passed its MOT, and organised some storage for the general house declutter we are planning.  Home, and working on poems for a bit, and eating a sandwich supper. Watched The Rocky Horror Picture Show film, which I had never seen. I did of course see the original Royal Court Theatre cast performing it as a young teenager. My school, being an inner city sort of place, had mysteriously good arts connections, and so a bunch of us were taken on some kind of school trip to see it. I think I was...

Woke up to migraine aura spangles again. Little pain, but draining. A galling waste of a Lorraine at home day. A bit better in the afternoon. Lorraine and I went out into the back garden to assess things. I did a bit of copy for Germans, and tinkered surprisingly-productively with a poem. Had a nice chat with Toby this evening. He may zoom over again this year.  Also an actual letter from Richard dropping through the door was a pleasant novelty. Great to hear from him.  Despite my feeling the Russians weren't going to invade Ukraine, it seems they will. The news certainly not much succour in these times. Lorraine and I watched a film called The Lost Daughter, starring among others Olivia Colman. A lovely, beautifully acted and subtle film set in Greece. Want to hear the cicada again.

My best day for a while. Got up early, but not too early, had a chat with Keith about bid'ness and did some work for the Germans. Lorraine on half term today, and went off to help Beth tidy her old rented flat, now that she and James have moved.  Lorraine and I having proper discussions today about the next stage, with her retiring from Headteachering this year, and our house move. Writing lists about what needs to be done.  I went for a walk this afternoon, the first time in a while and felt I had energy too and this made me cheerful. A bright day. The photos look dark because I was shooting into the sun somewhat. The bottom one shows the curve of the Hillfort wall.  Tucked into cold nut roast and oven chips tonight. Curiously delicious. Spoke to Mum this evening. Lorraine phoned Maureen, whose Covid, like the Queen's, is manifesting as a cold. 

Storm Eunice today. Lorraine zoomed off to work early, and then closed the school. A rare red weather warning for the south of England. Really was very windy. On the top floor the water in the bowl of the toilet in our little en suite slopping about merrily. I went out for a very short walk armed with my camera. A big tree had blown down on Cleveland Road, which is on the edge of the Blaker's Park but it was all tidied away by the time I got there. Other than lots of broken branches strewn about, and rubbish bins blown over there was not much to see. Certainly blew the cobwebs out though.  Lorraine working from home again, having had a meeting and closed the school. I finished reading The Memory Illusion , did some writing and am now well into Metaphors of Memory by Douwe Draaisma.  Also finished reading what Gilbert Ryle had to say about it. Nothing remotely interesting to me. Sometimes I wonder if philosophers in the Anglo American analytical tradition deliberately fillet ou...

Much brighter mentally, and less stressed. Enjoyed a day of research, and also wrote a good first draft of a new poem to my revised memory brief. Finished reading  The Memory Illusion , by Dr Julia Shaw. Began Metaphors of Memory , A history of ideas about the mind , by Douwe Draaisma, a pricey purchase, but pure gold, and dipped into Gilbert Ryle's  The Concept of Mind  which has a few uninspiring pages about memory.  Lorraine at home as she has a headache and snuffles which as Sam has covid, has to be taken seriously.  Lorraine had to do a proper test so I went along too. Lorraine and I the only people in the test car park. Sam keeping to his rooms, and having conversations from afar. He is doing okay, and apart from being tired and sore throated, is not too bad. Pat still okay in Ashford. Thank goodness for jabs.  Really enjoyed having Lorraine at home, and talking to her helped me untangle my brain.   Planet Poetry went live today. Otherwise little...

Sam doing pretty well, and Pat okay too.  I however, had another lousy day. Got up early this morning, feeling wretched. Worked to completed the first part of the job I was working on. Felt really out of sorts, very stressed and not functioning well and unable to concentrate. That, added to the covid factor, I decided to bail out. This was graciously accepted when I said I would not charge for the work I had done so far. I slept much of the afternoon. At a personal nadir today. But Lorraine, bless her, very supportive.  

Message from Ken on the Woods family WhatsApp that Pat has covid this morning. Meanwhile Sam took a test this evening which showed the two lines of a positive result very rapidly. Lorraine and I both tested negative. But I'm feeling fairly calm about become positive if that happens. Sam had a very scratchy throat and was tired. Pat had a brief temperature which apparently reduced quickly. Lorraine talking to Maureen and it sounds like everyone is taking it in their stride. Luckily, everyone fully vaccinated.   Started a short freelance job today, but given a surfeit of irrelevant information, and no brief. Spent most of the day feeling confused about what was wanted of me. Chris, the art director I had been teamed up with, was very busy so I had little time with him. Although at the end of the day we had a brief chat about Gladstone Park which we found we both played in as kids.  Went for a walk in heavy cold rain at lunchtime, came home and had to change my sodden trousers. C...

Valentine's day. I got a card from my lovely. Annoyingly, I was only able to find the card I had bought for Lorraine two weeks ago, shortly after she had left for work.  Reading Poetry Nation Review and The Rialto to talk about on the podcast first thing, then Robin and met for an hour or so to record. Also a good chat about poetry. Listened to these later in the day after Robin had done some editing.  At clippers barbers I noticed, as Stacy took infinite pains on invisible hairs, a little plastic Speedy Gonzales on his bench. I didn't ask him about it, but enjoyed my private speculations. A bagful of wool on the floor after he was done. Walked back through Preston Park. The lightest of rain that dusted the area of concern also produced a fleeting but complete rainbow. A bit of freelance lined up for tomorrow. Good for the coffers, but not making my soul sing. My left knee is a bit swollen. No idea why, came on a few days ago. Reminding me of the feeling it had before I had my...

Another quiet one... Lorraine and I went to James and Beth's new flat on Saturday evening. It is bigger than where they were, and feels nice and homey. They seem delighted. A bit of a malarkey trying to drill holes into the wall, however. Only after it had all gone horribly wrong did I look at the new drill's packaging to see that it was not the sort you drilled masonry with. However, a lovely evening was had. A delivery from a Chinese restaurant. I don't remember eating Chinese food since well before all the unpleasantness started. Quite nice. Beth had been shopping for her new home, and showed us a variety of things, including a hooky stand to ensure bananas remain unbruised. Beth also getting ready for her play too. Sunday a good day for dozing indoors in the warm. I got up fairly early and did some recording with Robin. Later, leaving Lorraine deep in Star Dew Valley, I went for walk up to the Hillfort where the wind was making the rain sting my face.  Pleasing to get s...

A good night's sleep. Off to meet Mum and Mas in Elstree at high noon. Packed my bag, and caught the train. Settled into faux first and worked on poems for a bit, and tinkered with a short story. Quite enjoyed working this way as the countryside slipped by and turned into London. A change at St Pancras, and stayed on the same platform off to Elstree and Borehamwood. The Borehamwood football team, is called Boreham Wood FC and are in the fifth tier of English football. Wikipedia says that Boredom Wood FC have a strong local rivalry with St Albans City. Anyhow, rather amazingly, they are now through to the fifth round of the FA Cup and are playing Everton in their next match.  I mooched down to The Waggon and Horses, and was let in just after 12 and was enjoying a pint of Guinness on their favoured table by the fire when Mum and Mas arrived. Mason said he had been watching a TV programme about modern sniping. He was a sniper in the Korean War so had more than a passing interest in it...

A poor night's sleep. Eventually dropped off, but was woken at six by a text coming through saying I did not have covid. Dropped off and then woke up half an hour later, in a star spangled manner, to a migraine. Lay in bed for a further hour or so, dozing again, and got up at nine, feeling a tad wan, but the spangles were gone.  After a slow start, I worked through a list of tiresome things, and did some business admin and tinkered with some writing and so on. Also researching memory by reading books an' that. A walk this afternoon, feeling a bit better by then. Cooked experimentally with a mix of bulgar wheat, freekah and quinoa, who really ought to release a hip hop album. Added grilled halloumi and a mix of remaining vegetables and chicken. All good.

Continuing to be lifeless this morning so, while still in bed decided to book a Covid test. Texts with Keith. Luckily he is working this week, so my wussiness does not affect him.  Got up and gave myself a stern talking to about pulling myself up by my bootstraps. Lorraine, working from home this morning, taking my usual madness in her stride. Downstairs I took a lateral flow test which was negative, did a spot of German work, hopefully the last of the dribs and drabs.  Having booked a test, Lorraine drove me to Withdean before dropping me near home, and going off to school for the afternoon. Once home again, I felt like a complete time-wasting charlatan because I felt steadily better as the day wore on and actually did some good work this afternoon. Heard from First Matie too, and hope to see each other soon.  Anton said I was a wuss, when I told him I wasn't feeling well. He is probably right. Cooked for Lorraine and Sam. And felt much happier by evening. Texts with Yvo...

Woke up with plans, but soon developed a very sore throat and felt drained. Cancelled my haircut with Stacy, and my night out with my glass buddies, and simply had a gold sofa day instead. Beth called around this afternoon (after I had done a lateral flow test) and so Sam and I heard all about the new flat, and rehearsals for the play and so on. It's great to see her in such a happy time.   Read a bit. Sam cooked for us.  I continued to slump on the sofa when Lorraine got back from work this evening. 

Up early. Lorraine back to school, and me to my desk where I immediately wrote a new, and fairly complete poem straight off the bat, which was a great way to start the week. Also making notes of various stuff I am reading from  The Memory Illusion , by Dr Julia Shaw to poking my toe back into David Hume's A Treaties of Human Nature  for the first time in over 40 years.  Long chats with Mum, arranging to pop up at the end of the week, and Anton who had spent a happy weekend in a frenzy of game playing and pub visiting with his pal Dan.  A nice walk this afternoon in Pearly light, where I snapped a few snaps, and then failed in my attempt to buy kidney beans. Another Brexit shortage?  Cooked, a veggie chilli with mixed beans and fed it to Sam and Lorraine when she came back from her exercise session. Below someone walking on the hillfort wall, high above a pearly Brighton, a view of moss on a tree, featuring what google suggests is a cream spot ladybird, and a hil...

Up and slowly getting ready for the off. Breakfast with Rosie and Innis, with bacon and mushrooms and croissants which was all rather nice. Asking them about their early memories. Once packed, we left the Captain's Haven and made off north driving towards a rainbow which appeared to touch the road into the Forest. Had a bit of a squelchy rain-dodging scamper about through trees for a while with Pippi wearing a little coat and enjoying herself almost as much as Innis in his big wellies. From there to a pub, which turned out not to be open till the Summer, and Rosie had booked it online but the one she booked by the same name was near Bath. However a lovely woman, the future publican came out, and booked us a table at a nearby pub called The Gamekeeper, which was friendly and fixed us up nicely with Sunday roasts. Unexpected enthusiastic roaring at the France V Italy rugby game which was on in a big screen.  I enjoyed two pints of a lovely light beer called Horizon.  Fond farewe...

Up slowly to a large and tasty breakfast this morning. Innis and Rosie went off for a long walk, and Lorraine and I mooched happily about the town of Lymington, which had rather excellent shops. So excellent, in fact, that we bought an airplant in a glass bowl with arty decorations, and Lorraine discovered some nice clothes in a sale at Seasalt. We sat down on the waterfront for a while. Lots of boats with their wires chinking. I love that sound. Saw a cormorant eat what at the time I thought was an eel (but now think is a pipefish) which is something you don't see every day. The pipefish, taking umbrage at being eaten, wriggled about a great deal and the whole business took a couple of minutes. After this excitement, Lorraine shepherded me into a shop called Blueberry, where despite the irritations of world's most talkative salesperson ( people have worn that shirt on TV! etc.) I bought a really nice pale blue patterned shirt.  Home, and a cheeky nap, while Lorraine played Sta...