under another sun

Slept much better, the deep tiredness still remains however and simple things feel like a bit of an effort.   Spoke to Mum however, who was cheerful this morning, and sent me the photo below of herself in the Waggon and 'Orses with a hat on. I went off at lunchtime to buy fish and chips, which Pat and Maureen tend to have for their Friday lunch. And in the afternoon, as the rain started, Lorraine and I went for a stroll around local streets, popping into a post office and then into a park called The Rec, where Lorraine and her brothers used to play as kids. We went for a long stroll, and into an underpass, with a man sitting silently in it, and then back over a bridge over the railway lines (including for the Eurostar). A lad rapidly tidying away his gear as we approached the stairways on one side, and having crossed, some harmless teenagers on the other smoking weed and drinking what was probably booze out of pop bottles. It felt a bit desolate in the rain. In the afternoon I sett...

A better night's sleep, despite the happy cats bedding down with us. We woke up earlier, and I had a meeting with Keith in fairly cheerful and philosophical mood. Emails with Robin about plans for the podcast. Charlotte told me that she had been ill yesterday, and others had to cry off the launch of Frogmore Papers 100th issue and Clare Best's book due to Covid. Robin told me later that it was a good night.   Lorraine drove us all off to The Outlet, which is oval of quality retail brands selling their goods from 'outlets' at bargain prices. I bought a new watch strap to replace my fraying one, and I bought Lorraine a nice Radley purse in sage green. There was a Le Creuset shop and we bought a bargain butter dish and some heavy but colourful mugs. We collected Pat and Maureen who had been shopping in the M&S outlet, and buying lipstick from another shop, and drove home. Pat and Maureen tend to eat in the middle of the day, so Lorraine made a very tasty vegetable chil...

Recovery day one. Our first morning in Ashford. Lorraine and I lay in bed, amid a pile of our boxes and cases, and sorted out the gas, electric, broadband, water and so on. Slowly up and a toast breakfast. More sorting of things, banks and paying Bearded Bros, and Lorraine chasing her pension people and so on, while chatting to Maureen and Pat. Lorraine and I went for a short afternoon walk down past St Mary's church -- where Lorraine's nan and great aunt are buried -- to pick up prescriptions for Pat and Maureen in the apparently badly run pharmacy. A slow long queue which Lorraine joined. We talked to a woman outside, who turned out to be Jenny Bickle, who went to school with Lorraine. A short amble through the green bits down by the little river, then home again. We are both feeling very weary after the exertions of the day. In the evening Lorraine, Maureen and I drove off to Tesco to do some shopping. This followed by a light supper and an early night.  A nice note from Cha...

The great Exodus today. I had a terrible night's sleep, barely sleeping, Lorraine little better.  But up before seven this morning and to work with a cup of tea and a rapid bacon sandwich. The removal people, Bearded Bros arrived on time, four guys with two big vans, a pleasant can-do bunch.  They got to work instantly and made great progress. We cleaned and hoovered as we went. Beth dropped by to collect some stuff for the tip despite having a stressy day. Then when the Bros had filled their lorries, they drove off to unload them and send one back. At 12 o'clock however the buyer's lorry arrived. An impasse. The waiting was stressing me lots, so I went for a short walk around Blaker's Park and by the time I returned the  new owners had arrived and they were bringing stuff in. Our guys turned up and at some points there were two lots of removal people, and the galling business of other people ordering people about in your own home. However, mercifully, this crossover wa...

A catless morning, which felt a bit weird but made things simpler. Breakfast then packing all day. Saw an imaginary Calliope twice during the day, once as a pillow and the other as a stump of wood in the garden. Carrying things made much easier without Calliope getting under our feet on the stairs and so on. Lorraine and I intensively focused and wrote lists and were methodical. Chatted with Mum, in between bouts of packing, whose car has miraculously made it through the MOT again. And to Anton, who is on crutches at the moment after his knee cartilage operation and a bit fed up. I maintain he should order some kind of parakeet or perhaps and African grey parrot to complete the look. We were always just on track, even after grappling with washing machines and garden pots and retaping boxes more solidly. By around 7pm we were done, with just a few bits of last minute stuff for first thing tomorrow. Enlivened, however, by slinking off to The Preston Park Tavern, where we had a brace of b...

My back steadily better, if somewhat sore still. A day of rest, so naturally Lorraine and I packing like a pair of maniacs. Beth popped in after her teaching for a quick chat, and a big mummy hug. Not having Lorraine in Brighton is a bit weird for her.  I spoke to the Tobster this evening, while sprawled exhausted on the gold sofa. He's pleased to be teaching again, even if education is being steadily dumbed down. Breezing home in a Tessla at the end of the day mitigates that a bit. Romy doing high-level Romy things with aplomb.  It's funny. It's the physical mess that does my head in. Living in a house where everything is upside down, and every drawer is emptied, and boxes and bags of stuff make walking across the rooms makes me feel a bit crazy. I wonder when I became a person who craves a bit of order as opposed to devil may care chaos.

Packing like maniacs. Innis and Rosie, bless their cotton socks, came by and collected a carload of stuff for the tip. At least a few of the more obvious white elephants to Timbuktu.

So up with fewer yelps of pain and curses than of late, and reviewed some work for mes amis in Paris, and sent it off, then after some technology wrangling, Sarah and I managed to record a good interview. Delighted, after yesterday's mystery shenanigans.  Sarah, once into it, was a relaxed and impressive interviewee, and her book The Thoughts , is excellent.  Then a couple of tweaks back from the client, and barring another Parisian tweak should they need it, I am done with work till after the move.   Then Lorraine drove me off to town, where I had a massage from Jewel -- probing painfully at times, and bits that were very sore indeed. Afterwards I said to Jewel that I had been in a fight, and she asked me if I had won it. I had because for the first time for six days I am able to stand up something like straight again.  Jewel, as noted on this blog many times, is a lovely woman and excellent at her job.  She had massaged Lorraine recently too so knew all about ...

Lorraine and I sleeping on the wrong sides of our bed lately, and this morning I was able to get out of the bed unaided, although Lorraine still had to help me with my socks bless her. I am a small smidge better. Lorraine working really hard getting things ready, while I faff crookbacked around the edges. Texting with Keith then did some work on a job for my French pals today. The job that was supposed to arrive eight days ago has finally turned up late this afternoon. But now I have to biff it because of the move.     Had set up an interview with Sarah Barnsley this morning, but we met some technology obstacle which I couldn't find a work around for. Sarah very good about it however. Emailed squad cast for help, and we will try again tomorrow on a different computer -- a bit of a waste of our time.  Got a copy of a magazine called The Alchemy Spoon with a poem by me in called Rehearsal Notes for First Contact . I feel bad because I was hassling them having seen someone p...

My back still wretched. Crept out of bed fairly early, after Lorraine brought up a cup of tea. Shuffled downstairs and had a meeting with Val and another colleague and took a small, but fairly unusual brief.  This done, and a bit of thinking about it afterwards, and I crept downstairs to watch the Queen's coffin being conveyed into Westminster Abbey for it was a bank holiday for us all to mourn. Obviously I can't abide being told what to feel. But it was undeniably magnificent theatre, and you'd have to have a heart of stone not to feel moved by the swirl of the bagpipes as the gun carriage neared the Abbey. The UK has gone through such an epic bout of self harm lately, exemplified by the deeply unimpressive Truss who delivered a pulpit reading with all the emotional resonance of the speaking clock. Perhaps this is the post covid catharsis people are craving.  Beth and James dropped by this afternoon to pick up some of Beth's bits that were still here. They were off to ...

Lorraine working at packing, while I crept around a bit uselessly with my execrable back. Lots to be done, and I am still able to do a few bits and pieces such as filling out forms for Bearded Bros. who are our removal company.  Sunday and Lorraine drove us off at lunchtime to see Jess and Andrew for a large Sunday lunch. They are thinking of going to southern Italy on holiday shortly, and Jess has been learning Italian over recent years. Heard about Jess's daughter Alice's recent marriage. Meanwhile Jess's other daughter Kate is our solicitor, so we are in good hands.  My first time out in a couple of days due to the evil back. A nice spot of roast pork and the crumbles that Lorraine had taken over. A cheery afternoon and we left after 4.00pm. Lorraine and I talking excitedly about our new house of course. Keep having waves of excitement, which is great. Home and a cheeky cheese on toast this evening, and a spot of TV watching. Not up to much more frankly. 

The big news of the day was that we were phoned by Kate our solicitor at around lunchtime, who said all the contracts were now swapped. A huge relief! Very happy about this, and assorted texts and calls from estate agents and so on happened. Thank God. Brilliant news, which we shared with everyone. My back however is in a dreadful state, and I am in a lot of pain and can't really walk or bend much. In the morning I went down to my desk for eight to have a meeting, and did a bit of work. And Lorraine went off to see Penny for coffee at Bolney Wine Estates, as befits a retired lady. Lorraine got back in time to deal with a man who was buying one of our beds too, that she had organised.   Then our great news. Sadly the back, not to mention a bit of a hangover, prevented us from partying like mad fools. But we celebrated by looking at the house again online. I had tried not to look at it much, as I didn't want to build my hopes up. Lorraine didn't abide by this of course. But w...

Just doing up the laces of my Vans shoes this morning, and my back went into spasm. I yelped and swore, a performance Lorraine slept peacefully through. Cats moaning at me to feed them, and I had to use a pair of kitchen tongs to lower Brian's food onto the floor, which Beth and Lorraine laughed at. Beth off this morning to work in Southend. She is enjoying her events job. With a twinged back I did desk-based stuff, and threw away loads of paper, and created a huge wedge of confidential waste. The job that was supposed to start on Monday seems to have vaporised.  Bob called me, he is a bit sad as his daughter Millie is heading off to University soon. She is going to Cardiff to study English. Thinking, I have twinged my back like this lots of times and usually you can walk it off, I loped over to The Batty hunched over like Igor Frankenstein's assistant. Back not good. Anton saying this was the last drink we would have together both being Brighton residents. We popped into The E...

Completed the first edit of the interview I did with Pete yesterday. One of the easier editing sessions as he was a fluent interviewee. Meanwhile the freelance work slipping out of control. A brief I was expecting on Monday, still has not arrived, and the presentation Keith and I were to give on Tuesday for another client has been biffed indefinitely. In the evening Keith called me to say he had been offered some work and could I do it... But as it falls across our house move I had to biff it.  At least it gave Lorraine and I some more time for a bit of packing, and I shuffled about in my office separating sheep from goats in terms of the books I will need over the next few weeks, and other essential stuff, before the ultimate Big Pack.  Anton called and told me that Baby Klauds arrived at her new uni in Birmingham, went out on the first night, and her throat grew agonising. She went to the campus doctor, and was immediately sent to hospital as she had quinsy. Anton expressing...

The brief did not arrive, and the meeting we were supposed to have this afternoon was cancelled so me and Keith not much of a revenue generating machine at the moment.  However this gave me time to interview Peter Raynard, a lovely bloke who had grown up in Coventry and just a couple of years younger than me so I could really picture the Coventry of the '80s that he was talking about. I also prepped the questions for Sarah Barnsley for our interview next week. Then we drove into town on a charity run. Went to three charity places to drop off things like books, clothes and sleeping bags gratefully received by the homeless charity. The woman in Martlets acting as she was doing us a favour taking our stuff, which rather irritated me. Lorraine lovely to everyone of course, so that was all right.  I also went to the Apple store and recycled my ancient laptop, and two old iPhones. For one of the phones I got a voucher for £65 which was a big win. Then Lorraine and I went across to t...

The Queen still dead, apparently, according to the BBC. Twenty-one years since 9/11. A happy day with Lorraine doing some packing, and in the late afternoon we drove over to Hove to see Rosie and Innis for a stroll along the sunny seafront (Rosie insisting that I as a dog-skeptic should hold Pippi's lead). Then we popped into The Better Half for a decent Sunday roast. We were sitting near the bar and when they brought out all the surplus roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings we were excellently placed to have some hobbit's second helpings. As usual, very nice to hang out with them. Innis sporting a majestically nautical beard at the moment.  Below a blurry picture of Rosie holding Pippi.

Fried tomatoes this morning for breakfast. Then quite a bit of time slowly getting organised and packing, and I started writing a long Things That Must Be Done list. Lorraine and I having a laugh while doing it. Still won't quite believe it till the contracts are swapped next Friday.  Off to Seaford this evening to a dinner party at Yvonne and Brian's house. Patrick, Adele, Sally and Marek where there and a curry was delivered, which was fine. Enjoyed the evening, and like everyone there lots. Pleased too to be able to finally have a date for moving. Patrick taking the opportunity to play his tunes over Brian's speakers. Chatting to Brian about his ideas for visual art, as he was an art student before he started his business life and is hankering to get back to it. Sally a bit down but both Lorraine and I had good chats with her. Adele and Yvonne both on cheery form. Yvonne said she had a funeral to attend, a marriage and a christening -- every stage of life being celebrate...

Working with Keith for about five hours finishing off a job today ahead of the deadline on Tuesday. I also broke off to have a chat with Sarah to prepare for her interview for Planet Poetry. Meanwhile Lorraine slipped out to meet Rosie for brunch, while Pippi was being groomed at somewhere called Woofmans. Noticing the emptiness of the house apart from the cats when Lorraine was gone.  Looking at people giving themselves black profiles on Social Media to indicate their grief. Interesting phenomenon who personally some people are taking the Queen's death. Sam texted to say that our friend that is the Camilla lookalike (Jane in Guernsey) may have lots of work soon. I hadn't thought of that. When Lorraine arrived home we did some packing away my books and so on in Sam's room. We just wanted to stay in this evening, and ate salad and bulgar wheat and quinoa with halloumi. All well in Deep Space Nine. On the BBC and other outlets filled with an awkward semi mourning Royal news. ...

Big things happened today in the Kenny household, and one national one. First was that Sam left. Lorraine drove him off in the rain to his dad's in London, in a car stuffed with his belongings. Gary will drive him up to Scotland tomorrow. Sam did very well as change is not his favourite thing and coped with the last minute packing and scrambling about very well. Lorraine was already turning the car around to face the right direction, and he gave me a manly hug, after saying a formal goodbye to Calliope and Brian, and then I watched Lorraine and Sam drive off in the rain. Although I feel it was time for him to start the next chapter of his life back in Scotland with Jade, I felt sad to see him go. In my empty home, I did a bit of tidying in my office, filing and so on, and went down to eat a Linda McCartney sausage sandwich and watch the Daily politics, and they covered the speaker saying that the Queen was unwell. A business meeting this afternoon, and Lorraine and I were driving t...

A quick meeting with Keith this morning, then off by train to Mill Hill to meet Mum and Mas in the Jolly Badger. Did some work on the podcast on the way up and had a chance to think. Have set up a podcast recording with Pete next week. There is something about being on a train which is quite conducive to thinking, in the way that being on a plane with its attendant existential terror doesn't quite match -- and even tinkered briefly with a poem. Looked at the BBC weather app before I went and it said there was no rain in London. Obviously it was raining but I managed to miss it when it rained hard while we were in the Jolly Badger gnawing on ribs. Good to see Mum and Mas. Their car is due its MOT and Maheena apparently offered to wash it, but it is only the complex life forms that are establishing themselves in the paintwork that are holding it together. Mas more mobile now, and clearly much better after his fall. He wandered about talking to people off and on, but he was having fun...

A bit more thunder last night, but I slept much better. Busy on podcast business this morning, writing to Rachel Boast, a firm no at last, a poet pal I knew in my early days, Mimi, and Pete Reynard whose book Manland I read and enjoyed. Also texting Mark Hartley, Helen Russel, Keith about work and speaking to Mum. Apparently Maureen looking forward to having us stay for a bit, as she can torment me.   Once up, and steadied, Lorraine doing bits of sorting and packing. She and I went for a walk this afternoon around Preston Park, and got back to find a second hand car door on an awkward pallet outside the house. Had to clear her car of stuff we were going to take to the charity shop, but then couldn't fit it in the boot so had to bring it inside. Sam methodically dismantling the evil pallet afterwards. Lorraine retreating into Star Dew Valley for a bit instead of looking at all the piles of things in the front room.  In other news, Sue sent Lorraine a bunch of flowers and three...

Felt a bit better able to concentrate today, as there is a concrete plan for the future. A meeting with Keith first thing. Then off with and Lorraine down to the Cynch storage place at the bottom of the hill to meet a man with a van. We ant-lined back and forth from our unit and did the same back into our front room. Having been to the gym more lately, I felt noticably stronger in my upper body compared to last time I was hefting this stuff. If our plan stays on track, we will clear the house into storage in three weeks, and be based in Ashford for a month, giving me plenty of time to torment  Maureen, my favourite mother in law. In the afternoon, I went to the gym. Lorraine went to her personal trainer in Bolney and then had a cup of tea with Sarah. She also told Michael the estate agent in Seaford what we had agreed with Angie and Richard of Seaford sellers. Michael makes our Brighton estate agents look thoroughly average.  

Practical things today such as fixing the step in the back garden, and then driving off to the tip to drop off bags of smelly garden rubbish and buy silicone from the hardware store. At home we -- wildly impressively -- resealed the shower tray after watching a video on YouTube.  After these triumphs we were momentarily sprawled on the sofa where Lorraine was called by Angie our buyer, who is now out of hospital after a nightmarish scenario of having been given a whole bunch of medications that then promptly disappeared. Most importantly for us, they confirmed they still wanted to move -- a big relief. We have agreed to give them a couple more weeks recovery, before swapping contracts -- for a move in late October. The relief  their end was palpable.  Obviously this is not ideal for us, but we felt there is light at the end of the tunnel. We'll see. A quiet, tea sipping kind of evening. All well. Below, Brian looking forlornly over the wall of our tiny front garden. ...

Finishing off the job this morning, chatting with Keith and having to tweak a mind map. Lorraine and Sam drove off to Basingstoke to see Glenice.   Anton and Bob's birthdays today. Off into town this afternoon to do some shopping, including a speciality booze shop where I bought a bottle of Linie Aquavit for Anton. A message to Bob and a promise of a meet up. Running about in a bit of a frenzy in town.  My background stress levels are absurdly high, with all this house uncertainty. However, our buyers are coming around this weekend so it will be good to see the whites of their eyes. In the early evening I sauntered around to Anton's place, and hung out with Anton and Oskar, who had been to Reading Festival and had a lively time and he was telling me about the music he liked. I impressed him a little saying I had met  Aitch  - who is a big hero these days - which surprised him.  Lorraine arrived, and Klaudia and Anne filtered downstairs too. A cheery evening. Kla...