under another sun

Wrote a sequence of seven interlinked poems exactly right for my new collection. Amazed and and delighted by one of those rare days when I was completely in a state of flow.  Only time will tell if what flowed out was any good, but that's a different matter. Meanwhile Lorraine up to London with Beth to see Moulin Rouge in the Piccadilly Theatre. They met Tobs briefly too, to hand over an errant jumper that had hidden behind a Seaford door, before he went off to see some of his Rabbit pals.  They loved the show, and Lorraine was listening to the show music this evening. Great news from Beth. The offer she and James have made on the house in Seaford has been accepted. It's all very exciting indeed. Lorraine very happy about this too.  I meanwhile, elated by my own brilliant day's work, also went to the gym so felt doubly good about myself.   

Off to Ashford this morning to celebrate Pat's ninetieth birthday -- which like Sam's is actually tomorrow on the 29th -- in a car full of cupcakes and balloons, and boards that Lorraine had painted, and covered with photos of her dad and his family through the years. We also stopped to buy some flowers en route. Sometime later, after following a couple of tractors on the way, we reached the Collingbrook Hotel in Ashford in good time, to discover Ken and Claire in the carpark with two harlequin Great Danes, who were coming to the party too. Soon there were lots of hands on deck prepping the room. It did look very nice. Soon there were thirty three of us. It's hard for me to keep track of Lorraine's family as they are many, but most people I had met before at least once.  Importantly Pat's children were all there, Lorraine, Ken who had hopped over from Ireland, and Derek who had travelled over from Finland.    A really cheerful affair, with Steve kicking off events b...

Lorraine busily getting ready for Pat's party tomorrow, and driving off to Hateful Heath to get the cupcakes which were going to be shaped into the number ninety tomorrow, and arriving home with drifty black bags with helium balloons in them. Then Lorraine and I hopped aboard the Seaford train and slowly made our way north to St Pancras, where we crossed the road and met Romy and Toby, up on the 10th floor open air bar of the Standard Hotel, which had fine views of London. We were surprised to find Mike and Zena there too. A merry reunion. Romy looking remarkably recovered from her flight which arrived yesterday. Lots to talk about with her. Mike and Zena have moved to Little Venice, and are loving the area.  Back to street level, and Zina and Mike melted away with promises to visit us. Then we four mooched off Merchant's Square, round the back of King's Cross, a stylish rebuilt area opposite St Martin's art school and canals. I knew a bit from having worked near there ...

Toby and I up with the lark after our lively night, but the fun didn't abate. To Seaford Station and off to Elstree today, to see Mum and Mason in The Waggon and Horses. We arrived slightly before them, and I thanked Waleed, the chef who calls them Mummy and Daddy for the way they take care of Mum and Mas who are rather famous in the pub, and a few people wandered over to say hello while we were there. Mason had been given a rousing Happy Birthday sung to him at the weekend. Mum cheerful to see Toby. I ordered carefully from the menu, with falafel and salad and a bit of squid, and had my best ever meal there. Toby ordered fish and chips and was given giant portions. Mas tucking into a Caesar salad and hot and spicy chicken wings. He also insisted we try the cheesecake that he was given there with a firework candle on his birthday. I had a glass of wine, and coffee.  Spent a couple of hours there, before Toby and I mooched back to Elstree station, wheeling Toby's wheeled case. H...

A mellow thundery Thursday. In the afternoon Lorraine zoomed us to the village of Alfriston, where we parked up and visited Much Ado books, a lovely bookshop with old and vintage books, rubbing shoulders with new ones. Lovely inviting space. I bought a hardback copy of The Wind in the Willows which was about 40 years old, Toby straying happily among the books. Somewhere new to lurk in repeatedly. Then we popped across the road to The Singing Kettle cafe, where we ate all unbelievably healthy salads. On the way back to the car, the thunder started and we drove back in wild rain and thunder over Seaford. Absolutely hosing it down when we arrived again. An hour or so later, Toby and I trained off to Brighton to lurk in The Batty with Anton. Toby and Anton not seen each other for quite a while. Had a few beers, and put the world to rights. Later we rain-dodged down to the Shahi, which although a bit chaotic and slow --was fun. Then up the hill to the Signalman pub for an absolute bloody f...

Off this morning to Beachy Head. Beautiful drive, only about twenty minutes east of Seaford, and a lovely place to visit. While it made me  feel a bit exposed: my open spaces with no cover uneasiness, I still loved it there. Toby and Lorraine ambled about by the edge, and I found another route to explore nearby, snapping various views, passing the Beachy Head pub where Robin and I had recorded the last episode of Season 2 on flying ant day last summer.  Couldn't have been a better day for it. Then down the z-bends following the coast then back to Seaford. Installed Toby for a quick coffee and Lorraine and I did some shopping in Morrisons. Home and preparation for the barbecue. Innis and Rosie, came around, and somewhat later Beth and James. Toby and Innis had lots of book chat going.Toby liked James, who he'd never met before. James and Beth are making a list of must watch films, and Innis and Toby were keen to add to that. Toby suggested The Terminator among others. A fair am...

Lorraine off and zooming to see her personal trainer, and then meet Penny. I spoke to Mum this morning, and have arranged meeting up this Friday in Elstree with the Tobster. Apparently the whole pub sang Mason happy birthday on Sunday, and one of them paid for the whole meal, including Robert's too. Toby and I had a saunter through town, and up to the foothills of Seaford Head, looking back down at the town and the sweep of Seaford Beach towards Newhaven and putting the world to rights. Then back into town where we had a bite to eat in The Grumpy Chef. I had a vegan open sandwich, and only ate half the bread. Toby had some species of  halloumi surprise with lots of chips. I love just being able to hang out with him. Home and Lorraine zoomed off to a medical check up. All very strong, her blood pressure is brilliant, her cholesterol okay, and her BMI reduced. A healthy thing she is. Lurking in the glasshouse, we are about to have a glut of tomatoes which is exciting. And the aubergi...

So a Toby themed day. He had a good rest overnight in the guest bedroom. Luckily the work next door is virtually complete so there was no workmen hammering things at 8am and he was able to rest properly.  We three spent much of the day sitting in the garden chatting, and catching up on lots of news. Lorraine gave him a guided tour of all the assorted vegetables growing in the garden. Lorraine with us chatting and knitting, and then melting away to prepare healthy snacks and food. Toby Taking photos of the strange puffy clouds in the sky, and silhouettes of the palm trees in the garden. Was contacted about some work this week by my Chiswick chums, but I turned this down. In the afternoon Toby and I went on a longish walk much of it along the seafront. I snapped Toby below. Gillian having recently given him lessons in how to have your photograph taken, and he looks splendid in this one.

Lorraine and I had an excellent afternoon with Dawn and Paul in Bramber, having super healthy food in their back garden, under trees. I stuck to a single glass of wine. They are getting married at the beginning of September. There have been some difficult times due to health issues in the family, and with Paul, but they are strong now as a couple, and Dawn seems very happy. Some time ago she randomly bought a painting of a view in a charity shop. When I looked at it some years ago I realised it was of Saints Bay and the dog and lion in Guernsey. Dawn had this reframed and gave it to us, which was incredibly kind of her. Lorraine gave her some rose gold earrings, and Dawn said that they had chosen rose gold for their wedding rings. All lovely. Home and a frenzy of tidying up. As there had been a change of plan, and Toby was arriving early evening. I walked to Seaford and met him on the station, and trundled home. Great to see him. He was a bit shattered from travelling, and is getting o...

Lorraine off to Chichester this morning to see her pals Carolyn and Leslie. I gathered myself slowly, then went off to Brighton to get a hair cut. I arrived a couple of hours early, as Anton wasn't free, I had an enjoyable time mooching about Brighton in the sun, and also sitting in the ideologically unsound Starbucks, where I read a poetry pamphlet by Ian McMillan and more of the Essays of Idleness by the Japanese monk Kenko. Enjoyed revisiting old haunts. Then a saunter to the seafront which was full of colour and busyness, the sea a bright blue green, and also looked at the fire-ruined Albion Hotel. Seeing an open door in the ruin, made me think that during the Blitz this sort of thing must have been an everyday sight. Lorraine on her way back from Chichester came down to find me in the Barbers, Stacy hard at work who was giving me his usual excellently perfectionist haircut. Toby called me when I was in the chair, and said he'd be down south on Monday. Back with Lorraine o...

Up alone, apart from the cats, and downstairs to have my healthy breakfast. A peaceful day, but I am finding it hard to shake off a persistent gloom. Worked on the thorny poetry MS. A distant roar and I glimpsed for a second a formation of five planes, probably spitfires and hurricanes, over the sea. Took my camera out for a walk in the afternoon, but saw no further planes, and the light washed everything out. I finished   The White Book by Han Kang, fluently translated by Deborah Smith. It is fiction, and I cannot remember reading a more beautiful book. Utterly brilliant. I took it from Janet's shelf after she died. I think it was in her to read pile. I ordered the two other books Han Kang has written that are easily available. Can't remember the last time I was struck so much by something I have read.  In the evening off to the gym and did another half an hour's trundling. Still falling short of where I was a month or so again, but gradually getting there. I am at least ...

Up early and phoned Mum to see how everything was. Mason fine again and so I zoomed off to the Jolly Badger to meet them as planned. Lorraine packed me a healthy seeds and yoghurt breakfast to eat on the train. Apparently the folks at the Waggon and Horses had been very kind to them, and Mum said people had been rubbing her back and giving her a free drink, and people really taking care of Mason. Mason said he was okay too, but was a bit tired out by yesterday's shenanigans. After they'd seen me, they drove to the pub to thank everyone. Everyone delighted to see Mason up and about again. Dehydration may have contributed. My journeys quite pleasant despite forgetting to pack my laptop. I got my paces up walking on the platforms while waiting for trains, and finished listening to The Other Pandemic by James Ball, all about Q Anon and the rampant conspiracy theories and misinformation. He makes several interesting points, one of them is that the people who have become infected ar...

Spoke to Mum this evening, who was just back from Watford hospital, Mason having difficulty walking as they were going into The Waggon and Horses. I planning to go up there tomorrow anyway, but Lorraine said she would drive me and collect Mas from the hospital and so on. However, the hospital got a taxi for him and discharged him in the evening.   Up not too early. A breakfast, and as we readied ourselves to go out, Lorraine discovered that the concrete dryad type statue, had been knocked over and broken by the kid I saw running off yesterday who was using it to scoot over the fence into next door's garden. We went around to see that Joy and Jim were all well, and this helped Joy solve the mystery of a a cigarette and a drinks can she had found in her garden. Nothing appears to have been stolen. Joy and Jim very friendly. A low flying Spitfire flew over the top of the street as we left Joy's house. Magnificent to see it so close. Then into the car to collect Delores, who fancie...

Morning of tidying up and hoovering. Delores came around for some lunch and a lunchtime glass of wine. She melted away in the afternoon as we were all going to the same party tonight at Kate and Andrew's house, which is near Blatchington Pond.  Kate is part of the reading group and she and Lorraine get on well, and on arrival Kate gave us each a written question to ask people, as there were lots of people who didn't know each other. Odd, and as I didn't have my glasses. But it proved a good icebreaker -- although I already knew the hosts and Adele and Patrick and Delores. Lots of nice folks there, and spoke to most of them. Enjoyed lurking in the garden despite the coolness, and saw some bats flitting about overhead. Apparently a night for the Perseids, but didn't see any. The first time I'd had a chance to chat to Andrew despite meeting him a few times in a group of people. And swapped numbers with a musician called Steve who is moving to Lewes. Had a really good t...

Some good writing this morning, and enjoying breakfast with Lorraine.  A walk this afternoon and found myself strolling along the misty seafront, empty and fairly mysterious. Passed one of the little seating huts, and met Delores who was sipping some wine out of a glass she had just bought from an antique shop. Sat with her for half an hour chatting, and looking back at the low cloud hiding Seaford Head. A misty murky day. Had a conversation about her recovering from the grief of losing her daughter, and how she has been very down but now is feeling lots brighter. Had a laugh with her, as the cross channel ferry slid mistily by. By chance Delores had arranged with Lorraine to come around for lunch tomorrow.  Struggling a bit still with the adjusting the diet business. Not so much eating differently, as it is not that much of a leap, but gloomy about my health generally and feeling I need to step up the exercise and really stick to this new way of eating to lose weight.  S...

So up. England Ladies playing Nigeria today in the World Cup. Penny had been texting Lorraine about it before she'd even got up this morning. I saw a little bit before sloping off to my desk, and came back down for the penalty shoot out, which England won. People saying Nigeria were the better team however.  Then had a cheeky AGM with Robin. She even sent an agenda. Useful and fun to chat about future guests and so on for an hour and a half. I have a lot to read. After this, I received my Zoe results. The tests proved told me that I am not good at dealing with sugars or fats. Luckily Zoe gives you a plan, and tells you what's good for you and what's less good -- and about balancing the bad with good.  Rice and bread are not good. Wholemeal pasta is much better. Unsuprisingly most veggies and fruits are good, as well as Fish and chicken, which is what I mainly eat, are fine, but not as good as nuts, lentils, beans, olives and so on.  It's a lot to get my head around, and...

Ahhh. A day at home. That doesn't mean nothing was done, however. We undertook a major project... Putting up three shelves, each a quarter of circle in the corner of the kitchen. A job achieved with a steady magnificence. It all worked and the spirit level congratulated us. Next, and we've not cracked this yet, came the difficult business of trying to decide what to place on them.   Not moved to do much. Lorraine and I watered the tomatoes and so on. Otherwise rain hosed down from the sky making any kind of foray unappealing. My joints, particularly an elbow has been quite painful recently, and I think I am a bit run down. Luckily there are no great demands on me at the moment so I sipped tea and coffee, and enjoyed my indolence while I could. Felt sorry for the folks in Brighton celebrating Pride. In the evening we watched the first Star Trek movie, which was several parsecs from good, but still enjoyable. And a bit of women's football from the world cup. Quite enjoyed thi...

A bit out of sorts this morning, for no discernible reason. Got up early again, thanks to the atrocious Calliope whose mission since we have returned from Scotland seems to be to wake me up early each morning, and worked at the poetry manuscript, while sipping smoked Japanese green tea.  A nice breakfast with Lorraine, and then she made off to Ashford for the day. I did a few chores, and had a chat with Mum arranging a day next week to see her and Mas.  Then more writing, followed by a healthy lunch watching a soul singer called Lady Wray that Toby told me about, on YouTube.  Then a longish walk down the hill and a by the sea and back through Seaford. Loving the lichen yellow roofs against the blue of the sky. Also snapped a spitfire doing a roll over the town. Listening to a new audiobook, called The Other Pandemic -- How QAnon Contaminated the World as I mooched. A decent look at the unhinged conspiracy theories which have infected world politics.  In the evening I...

Up early. Calliope persistent in waking me up, not helped by the gulls on the roof sounding like they are dragging corpses about. Did some writing this morning, and did a bit of this and that.  Then Lorraine left to see Chi for a massage at Bodyhaven, and I met Yvonne for a cup of coffee and an Eccles cake in the Salts cafe. Yvonne told me about looking after her grandchildren the day before. The oldest one is mad about dinosaurs and had spent the day roaring and ambushing Brian. He also likes crocodiles, which Yvonne wondered if it was genetic, as she had grown up with her father's pet crocodile. The baby, meanwhile, screamed continuously for about 12 hours, which was harrowing. In the afternoon Lorraine drove us off to Pelham Plants  just north of Lewes, where their Rose Cottage garden was open for charity. This is a nursery that Lorraine follows on instagram, we mooched about in the smallish garden which had lovely hornbeam hedges, and shared some bread pudding with the was...

No need to spring up and catch a train. Fiddled with the photos I'd taken, and my blog and tidied my office and the house and did a smidge of admin. Lorraine tiled the inside of a cupboard, and did some work on the curtains. Lorraine went out for a blood test, and I mooched out later to buy rice. We lurked happily indoors out of the rain, which fell fairly steadily for lots of the day.  

To Seaford station, looking at the sea, before zooming up to Victoria via Lewes. At Victoria a voice on the tannoy asking for someone with medical training to urgently go to the gate we were all crowding through.  Welcome to London. Tube to Embankment, and The Salisbury to meet Bob and Carl.  Excellent to see them both. Weird how quickly being together feels entirely normal. After some discussion we decided to go to the After Impressionism exhibition round the corner in the National. A decent exhibition, with some paintings that were new to me. I enjoyed seeing After the Sermon by Gaugin again, one of my favourite paintings. We enjoyably mooched around there, Carl in signature style not wasting time on work he didn't like much, Bob refraining from waving his fingertip three or four millimetres above the surface of the paintings so all well.  Then we tubed to Hammersmith and lurked along the river talking about old times and catching up some of the news while dropping in ...