under another sun

 Lorraine and I off on the train to Brighton at lunchtime. Walked down through town to meet Penny and Steve in Mowgli, a restaurant with good quality Indian street food. We had things like bhel puri and gunpowder chicken, and home lamb curry, sat on seats with ropes for backs. Some seemed to be actual swings. A savage price for beer, but luckily I only had the smallest bottle of  Cobra I'd ever seen. Interested by Steve telling us about the paper he is delivering in Japan about synthetic rubies discovered in a sunken ship called the SS Persia -- sunk without warning by a dastardly U-boat in the Mediterranean in 1915.  After lunch, and fond farewells, Lorraine and I walked up towards the station, through the back alleys and my old Twitten, Camden Terrace. We went to the Batty, where we met Anton for a bitterly contested three-way game of bones, and a few beers. The Batty on the brink of change, the regulars fear for it.  Lorraine and I sloped home to cheese on toast. ...

Rick who is a friend of all our Seaford pals, came around this morning to look at the rooms and talk about decorating. He called us from outside while we were still in bed, so I was hastily dressing when he arrived. He was full of good advice, and a chatty nice guy.  Lorraine happy to be home. I went to the gym. All well.

Woke up at ten past five, just falling asleep again and some infernal bird, a gull or a crow, began beaking at the skylight causing Brian to stand under and miaow. So I got up just after six to make an early start on some my own writing.   Annoyingly, I was too bleary to think clearly. Later on, however, my brain clicked into some kind of gear and I embarked on some experimental writing, about a thousand words worth.   Robin and I have been invited by Lou Tondeur to talk to University of Brighton students about Planet Poetry. Paid too... Very flattered. Also offered some freelance, but my enthusiasm for this required an electron microscope to detect.     Waited for someone to talk to about painting the house, who didn't arrive. Collected some stuff from the pharmacy... Very busy with people queuing outside probably because of the bank holiday. A call from Anton, wondering if there was some time for a game of bones this weekend, and an email from Simon.    F...

A poor night's sleep. I have been waking up really early recently, and when the cats spot I'm awake they make sure they keep me that way. Made tea and woke Lorraine up -- and eventually we sprang out of bed at nine. As we were preparing breakfast a delivery woman arrived with a box of live bees. However it seems there is a Salisbury Road in Eastbourne too and she had to reluctantly -- as she seemed rather nervous of them -- take them away again. I had a virtual coffee with Keith at ten. Freelance offers are few this month. He is a bit twitchy about it what  with inflation and the country going to the dogs and so on. Then I wrote the blurb for the podcast and a few last minute tweaks. Lorraine downstairs working on the sewing machine to help Beth with a job. After this for the next two or three hours I wheelbarrowed most of the second tonne of earth from the drive round the side of the house to the second raised bed. A windy and overcast day, but I finished listening to The New ...

Up to Elstree today, to the Waggon and Horses to meet Mum and Mas. A charmed journey, and I found myself outside the pub waiting for the door to open at 12 having walked along the former Roman road beside the fields to the pub.  I ordered a Guinness, and not long after I had begun sipping it, Mum and Mas appeared. Lovely to see them both on good form. I amused Mas by telling him that I have never been more manly than when sawing and bolting things together in the garden. Mum wearing her colourful jumper and very well colour coordinated. The barman knew what Mum wanted to drink, and Mas ordered a lager and some extra hot chicken wings and spring rolls, which was probably enough. But we had main courses too. I had a bean burger. Mum had a box for leftovers which the birds eat. Mum gave me a pressie for Lorraine.  The Waggon and Horses was extremely quiet today, it was as if we had the place to ourselves for most of it.  After a few hours, it was time to go home. Mum and Mas...

Recording with Robin all the bits and bobs of the Clare Best episode this morning, and then editing for much of the day and feeling slightly under the cosh getting it all ready. Lorraine off to her personal trainer this lunchtime, and I mooched off to the gym for an interlude of fitness. Lovely day, and I went at it all a bit too enthusiastically. The stomach at the moment is very disappointing. Still it was good to be doing stuff. Home and more editing until I was able to send the first draft of the episode off to Robin -- who emailed to say she could see a few bits that needed tweaking.  You always get to that point where you can't hear the leaves from the air. A quick chat with Beth, who popped in today to see Lorraine and do a spot of shopping. Also received a beautifully bound hardback book today of Richard's selected poems. 

So up early on a Sunday, as we got ready to go to the races. An unlikely turn of events, but thanks to Plumpton Races members Adele and Patrick, we were treated to an excellent day. Adele drove us off to the racecourse and they patiently explained the betting and so on, and looked at the horses thundering around from a series of vantage points... The finish line, by the side of one of the jumps, from the stands, from the members area, and in the bar. Lorraine and I had £20 each to bet. Lorraine made most of her £20 back on an each way bet. The last race before we left, I put my last fiver on Jersey Lady. This is the nag that Patrick backed too, and he seemed curiously certain it was going to win, and win it did. I got £55 back for my £5 outlay which was rather miraculous. Who says nothing good comes from Jersey?  Great fun hanging out with Adele and Patrick for the afternoon. Surprisingly busy and full of entertainments... Singers in the bar, a place where a child had a Madagascan ...

My lovely Lorraine's birthday. I brought her tea in bed and quite a few cards and an ecard from Mum -- and a couple of pressies from me, a print by Charlie Mackesy and a book about food cultures. A cheery start to the day, Beth calling first thing, and Pat and Maureen called to sing happy birthday. After looking around at the garden, we mooched off into Seaford and bought a few bits, like flavoursome water kaffir from a stand, where Lorraine talked fermentation with the stand holder. Then into the supermarket to pick up some salty snacks for the afternoon. Luckily it soon became sunny as Anton, Dawn, and Rosie and Innis came round to celebrate. Anton bearing orchids, and Dawn bringing a chaenomeles and a cake. Innis and Rosie brought a marvellous flan a little greenhouse tin, and heart shaped plant labels, beautiful twine and a book about things to do in east sussex.  A clear theme. We sat in the back garden in the sun on our new garden furniture, having a drink and eating buffet s...

Up early and doing a few bits of life admin and a bit of editing of the interview with Clare Best I did earlier. A bit of a disrupted week work wise of course, but nevertheless a busy and fun week. I popped into town to get a card for Lorraine's birthday tomorrow, and one or two other bits. Lorraine happily drifting about in the garden, and I planted some replacement raspberry bushes, as one of our originals was dead on arrival, while the other original one has flourished. In the berry department of our agricultural enterprise we now have strawberries, raspberries, goji berries, blueberries and gooseberries.  Lorraine met a slow worm in the back of the garden too, in a bit she was preparing for planting peas and beans, in a bit near the glasshouse we already call bean alley.  I got in touch with my old university pal Simon recently. He sent me a link to a story on the BBC about a drive by criminal throwing tomatoes out of cars in Eastbourne. Sent a few quid to Oskar lad as it ...

 Up and I made a large English breakfast of mushrooms, sausages, bacon, toast and Lorraine's finest scrambled eggs with coffee. Explained to Sue why we call her benchmark Sue. Then the four of us off to mooch about by the sea again. We had the idea of going into the Seaford Museum in the Martello tower, but we found this is closed on Thursdays. We had a coffee, and then Lorraine and Sue did some shopping -- Sue looking sparkling jewels. She has is all about the bling, with three eternity rings. I am worried she is a bad influence on Lorraine. Meanwhile John and I went back to sit on a bench and talk about politics and populism and so on. It was a sunny day, and we both really enjoyed the interlude.  We met the ladies in Amy's kitchen... Vietnamese, even though they have just returned from there. Enjoyable. The restaurant empty except for us until right at the end. Mooched back home, and they zoomed off at four. A really cheery interlude with them. A quiet night, of water sippi...

A busy morning. I finally was able to record the interview with Clare, after technical gremlins nixed our session yesterday. Also I sent off the work to mes amis in Paris.  This interspersed with frenzied tidying and housework this morning in preparation for the arrival of Sue and John. Sue, or Benchmark Sue, as we sometimes thin of her, someone we aspire to in terms of keeping a tidy efficient house. We're not there yet.  Sue and John drove down in their electric car from Bromyard. John told me later that they had solar panels so it seems the car trip was powered by his own sunlight. Naturally he has an app that monitors how much power they are generating and so on. Sue on good form. Both seem so much more relaxed having now both stopped working. We walked down to the sea, for some fresh air, and then dipped into The Old Boot Inn for a cheeky drink. Then home where we simply sat in the kitchen catching up with all the news, a recent trip to south east Asia, Cambodia, Vietnam...

Up just me and the cats as Lorraine was in Ashford with Maureen and Pat. The main business of the morning was recording an interview with Clare Best... However Clare and I could see one another, but as soon as I clicked record,  Clare's sound died, making it impossible to record. Tried to find workarounds for 40 mins until we gave up. We will have another attempt tomorrow and she will use another computer. I emailed Squadcast to ask for advice and keeping my fingers crossed for tomorrow. Only connect... As E.M. Forster said. At lunchtime I took a brief from my old pals in Paris and did this in the afternoon. Lorraine home this evening around eight. All well.  

Got up early and did some writing of my own this morning. Lorraine off to her personal trainer in Bolney at lunchtime and then Ashford this afternoon. I went to the gym at lunchtime and loped home. Anton took a day off today, and ended a walk in Seaford -- his knee holding up well after its operation.  I met him this afternoon in the garden of The Old Boot Inn and then we went to The Cinque Ports where we played five games of pool in the back room. I mentioned Bob which I often do when thinking about pool, and Bob phoned mid game. Both of us had a chat with him. Went into Trawlers for a fish, chip and mushy peas supper. A cheeky in Steamworks, before Anton nipped onto the train. A fun afternoon. Lorraine off to Ashford this evening. I had a quiet night and went to bed early.

A less arduous day. Upper body feeling like I had been doing a big workout. I spend several hours preparing for my next Planet Poetry interview this morning and emailing my questions off. Beth and James came around separately. While I was working Beth arrived, and she started making a Sunday roast for Lorraine, as an early birthday present. James meanwhile had cycled to Eastbourne and then back here.  I called Mum this morning, while she was talking to me puffs of smoke were emerging from Ben's house. Turned out he was having a small garden fire.  Happy afternoon, sitting in the garden and sipping some wine and eating roast pork and chatting with James about the aerodynamic qualities of his bike, and about Napoli where he and Beth are going soon. I am liking James lots these days. To my surprise, Beth brought me a late Christmas present, which was a picture of a cat in an Elizabethan ruff and top. The cat looked very familiar, but it was only when Lorraine told me that it was ...

Up rather gingerly, after feeling so washed out yesterday. However it turned into a day of glorious and manly achievement shovelling 0.8 of a cubic metre of lovely topsoil into a wheelbarrow from the front garden into one of the raised beds. It took many wheelbarrow trips, and Lorraine had to do lots of raking at the other end, among all sorts of other jobs. I felt pleased with myself when it was done -- not least at how I could come from feeling so rubbish yesterday, to so good today.  After showers and so on, we lay about nursing our worn limbs for a bit before getting dressed up and going off to Andrew and Jess's joint birthday party in Cuckfield. Upstairs in a nice pub, with lots of grub and music. We sat on a table with Natalie and Trevor, two pals of Jess. I had met them years before. Trevor is a retired driving instructor, and Natalie is a headteacher. Trevor an interesting man, an orphan who was an undiagnosed dyslexic so was unable to read and write but nevertheless made h...

Another day where Lorraine and I worked like demons in the garden. All around us buds popping open and the trees almost visibly coming into leaf. Lorraine was on a mission, while I mowed the lawn, planted rhubarb which Lorraine's pal Jo had brought round, and emptied a huge heavy pot full of a rock hard rootball of a dead bush, and most importantly bolted together the last two frames to make our second large raised bed. This last thing a tough and manly thing to have done, and it took a long time because the drill kept overheating so had to let it cool right down so had to do it two coach bolts at a time -- in half hour intervals having to finish twisting them in by hand for which Popeye forearms were needed. We now have three raised beds, one in the glasshouse, and the two main ones. The ground had to be arduously prepared, which Lorraine did, transplanting things away, such as a find of dense patch of chives, and moving daffodils and bluebells, of which we have an abundance. She ...

Spoke to Mum this morning before Lorraine and I began our epic Easter garden mission. Taking Sarah's advice I took out lots of oxygenating elodea from the fishpond, as it was so abundant it crowded out the fish. Then building the first of the big beds. Lorraine held things steady and I drilling in the guide holes, then putting in the bit that fit the end of long thick coach bolts and twisting those in with the drill. Some of them went in sweetly, others had to be twisted in manually while grunting and cursing. An unusual sense of accomplishment at having finishing the first raised bed at the end of the day.  In the afternoon Dawn and Paul called by, and we sat in the sun (on our new garden furniture) living the dream, sipping tea and eating fruit cake that Dawn had made. Also later we sat in the summer house -- a first with guests. Paul is recovering from a health scare but is now cautiously optimistic that everything will be fine. Dawn and Paul are getting married later this year....

Up early, snatched a small breakfast and loaded up the car as Beth and James arrived. Then Lorraine drove the four of us to Ashford to celebrate Maureen's 85th birthday. Thanks to Betty we used google maps navigation which is more up to date than Lorraine's on board sat nav. We shaved plenty of time off on our journey back this evening too. We arrived at noon, to find the birthday girl in cheery spirits, and she enjoyed opening a few more presents, loving the pressed flower picture Beth had bought her. Then Lorraine, with me helping, warmed up the meal of peppered beef curry, and veggie curry and we just had to make the rice. Washed down with a glass of bubbly.  After lunch, a cheeky bout of shopping. Lorraine drove Beth, James and myself off to the Ashford Outlet, where you can buy various brands at cheaper prices. Beth and James wandered off on their own missions, while Lorraine came with me while I bought two nice Barbour shirts and a pair of Nike gym shoes. Then back to Pat...

Podcast upload day. Listened to the episode first thing this morning, and made a couple of last minute tweaks before Robin uploaded it and I wrote the blurb. Also, happily, I secured my next guest. Sarah called around to see Lorraine and have a spot of lunch. She brought a pot of sweet peas with her. Lorraine loving showing her around the garden. Sarah, whose koi have bred, suggested there was too much weed in our fish pond, so I will remove even more. Lorraine's Bolney friends are proving to be trusty mates even now Lorraine is no longer the village head teacher. Lorraine spent some of the evening cooking in preparation for going to Ashford. I however, slipped off to Brighton, where I met Anton at the station, he having just returned from a work trip to Leamington Spa. Turns out that at lunch he had gone to a pub that I am fairly certain was once The Commonwealth Club -- where I did my first ever poetry reading just shy of 41 years ago.  Good to catch up. Anton had been on work re...

Got up and did some recording with Robin this morning.  As I was doing so, I was contacted yet again about the job that won't go away. Had yet another meeting with my client, and I became extremely impatient with him and told him so as he moved the goalposts yet again. Did the work and sent it off. Our difficulties compounded by working across two languages, and he is a nice chap but I have had enough and let him know. This sort of thing anathema to freelancers of course. Left me feeling irritable for the rest of the day. Lorraine meanwhile had been to her personal trainer, and had bought a stand mixer and been to the garden centre. 

Up having been dehydrated overnight. Lorraine and I zoomed off and caught the train to Brighton in time to go to Komedia for before 12 where, sipping judicious teas and coffees, we met Innis and Rosie in Screen one. A gorgeous film, called Blind Willow Sleeping Woman , which was based on several stories by Murakami. Gorgeous animation. Found myself lapping up colours, a particular green tie worn by a downtrodden character fed my soul. Quite surreal moments and lots of enigmatic stuff -- but I loved it. After we sloped off to The Eagle, now refurbished, and serving Thai food. We had lunch there, Lorraine and I had a vegetarian massaman curry with peanuts and chickpeas. Pretty tasty, and washed down with a  hair of the dog cold beer. Rosie and Innis on fine form. Innis has begun to enjoy printmaking, and some of his prints will be in one of the open houses, and he has been doing more coastguard work too, which he is enjoying.  Home on the train which stopped at Falmer, by Bright...