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...