under another sun

A cold morning. Lorraine and I drove off this morning, leaving Pat and Maureen stocked up with meals, to see Mum. Even when we arrived a couple of hours later, Mum was still uncertain when -- and if -- he would be sprung. But after about twenty minutes, an ambulance parked up, and Mason was wheeled in on a wheelchair. He'd obviously hadn't enjoyed his time in hospital, and still sporting a chesty cough and gave a lively account of his time, including a few unlikely bits.  Eventually he settled down, and Mum sent off for some pizza -- and Mas was truly delighted to eat something with a bit of taste. He settled down to dozing though soon after, as is his habit, even without the ghastliness of being in hospital and waiting for a lift home. One good thing was that Lorraine were able to spend the day hanging out with Mum who is a full time carer these days, and receives precious little thanks for it.  Lorraine and I discussing with Mum ways we can support her. There is care now bei...

After talking it over with Mum first thing, I decided to go up tomorrow. Nobody was sure if Mason was going to be released and driven home today. Not much to be done other than support mum from afar today. Lorraine and I will drive up tomorrow and collect Mas.  Mum waiting for news all day, and in the end heard that Mason would be driven home tomorrow morning. Understandably, she isn't too convinced that this will happen.   After a couple of meetings I was able to get the job I'd been working on out of my hair this afternoon. Luckily my clients seemed quite pleased with what I had delivered. This made me feel good, that I could just concentrate on zooming up to Edgware tomorrow. Popped over to see Innis this afternoon in Brighton for a couple of hours. Had a chat in the Nelson about books and life and so on. I arrived a smidge early, and he sent me a live location, so I was able to track his progress on the map as he mooched across town. I know this technology is old now, but ...

A difficult day. Up early and working early. Through a tiny gap in the curtain, the circle of the sun projected onto my bed where I had been sleeping.  Stressed by my glacial progress, I felt I was already late delivering the job, which was one of those despicable mixes of extremely complicated plus very boring.  Eventually I was able to send something off to them at the end of the day after being thrown off course a bit by Mum, who contacted me at noon to say that Mason had been in hospital since Monday morning. Mason had fallen over a couple of times, and Mum had to call an ambulance. It seems he has got the nasty chest virus that Mum had, and this had weakened him. The hospital were supposed to be phoning her, and she wanted to visit but didn't know what ward he was on, but she didn't want to use the phone. We spoke on FaceTime and then I called the hospital and spoke to some helpful folks in his ward. Mum was able to visit, and I spoke to the physiotherapist a couple of ti...

A really bad night's sleep for some reason and waking up repeatedly.   A day of increasingly joyless slogging. Glacial progress on a complex and boring job. I told my client the work would be ready today -- but it just wasn't. Meanwhile, Valérie, my original French client got in touch and I'm going to do some work for her at the end of the week and early next week. Spent the day fruitlessly manacled to my desk and ended up in a very poor mood. Went for a walk in the evening, Lorraine, Pat and Maureen had gone to Marks and Sparks and to drop in on Beth. It was already dark. A quiet night in, eating fish curry, and watching TV and reading The Vegetarian , a novel by the South Korean woman Han Kang, my new favourite novelist. Lorraine came back with new socks and two thermal vests for me. Maureen very pleased with her purchases and showing me them. To bed early, to read a little more of The Vegetarian.

Up and breakfast with Pat and Maureen.  Later Pat and Maureen spent time enjoying watching a Davis Cup tennis match on TV between Finland and Australia. We wanted the Finns. In the evening they were watching darts. They love games on TV. Sian came down from London. I collected her from Seaford station, and we sat about chatting. She was in good spirits, and we caught up as Lorraine cooked vegetable lasagne, using, among other things, a celeriac Lorraine asked me to dig up from the raised bed. Our celeriacs are big things, the size of large pineapples.  Lots of chatting with Sian, and then she and I walked to the Martello tower and Seaford Head, and we met Lorraine, Pat and Maureen there, who had a walk in the sun. A cold but beautiful day. Enjoyed chatting with Sian about all kinds of things. Quite a bit about the situation in Gaza. She had recent been on a protest that culminated outside the new American Embassy.  Home and we all had a late lunch in the dining room. A re...

So up and working on the freelance job from eight. Had a cup of coffee, with Keith on line at ten. Lorraine brought me in a boiled egg and a cup of coffee, and he was highly envious. He had a job on, but confirmed my feeling that the freelance is a bit dead in the UK.  A meeting at lunchtime. Turns out that yesterday's brief which I'd spent hours answering, was not what was wanted at all. So a re-brief. They find it easier to say what they don't want, than what they do. It is hard for my main client, because he has to say everything in a second language. Worked through the day till four-ish.  Then, after chatting with Lorraine, I made off to Seaford Station and met Anton in the Batty.  Anton exhausted by all the events he is running. Loads of travel and responsibility, mainframe computers made out of glass and lego, and worst of all, and having to talk about business with attendees. New landlord in the Batty, who plays heavy metal and rock. Not very Brighton at all. A boo...

Up at dawn, and went to my desk. Everyone else still abed. Looking at my poems, and one of those days where you look at every poem you have in progress and see only drivel.  Meanwhile Robin did yet more edits on the episode. This episode has taken ages to edit.   Received an email in French this morning, inviting me to a briefing this afternoon. Pleased that some actual work had solidified out of the miasma. I went for a walk along the seaside briefly at lunchtime. Then hurriedly in half an hour wrote the copy for the podcast episode, just as I was completing it Robin uploaded a photo and I lost the lot.  Then took a fragmentary and confused brief, with at points, people talking very loudly over each other in French.  They want me to sort it out for them. It might take some time. The sensation of being paid quite nice though. Planet Poetry's new episode finally uploaded at 4 o'clock on schedule. It features me interviewing Martyn Crucefix, who I liked a lot.  Ke...

A desk day. Up at 7:45, after a fairly decent night's sleep. A sunny morning and breakfast with the cats hanging around. Then recording with Robin for the podcast to be uploaded tomorrow. Had to edit out Calliope's purr, as she was sitting on my lap for some of the chat.   Spent much of the day editing, before sending it off to Robin for fresh overnight ears. Nothing from the client in France again. I have a feeling this job is going to disappear like a puff of Gauloises smoke -- just as the last one did. I could do with a few days freelance before Christmas. Housework. Lorraine arrived with Pat and Maureen in the afternoon.  Everyone okay. Happy to have Lorraine home with me again.

Lorraine off to Ashford, via personal trainer and seeing two of her Bolney pals.  Robin and I had a recording session this morning. I wanted to get most of it done, as I was supposed to be taking a brief from a client this afternoon. This did not materialise: tomorrow maybe, or Thursday I was told.  For once this actually really useful, as I could do a good day's editing. Lots to be done. This episode has needed lots of work for some reason.  In the afternoon, I took a long walk along the sea, speaking to Lorraine, by now driving to Ashford. Then via the supermarket, and then lots more editing.  In the evening I had a long chat with Anton who is wearing himself out, hosting events around the country.  I watched a the first episode of Inside our Autistic Minds presented by Chris Packham on the BBC, which I found moving and was able to binge on Family Guy, before talking to Lorraine and going to bed. Loving the skies here.   

Both up early. I weighed myself this morning, and my holiday made me increase weight again slightly. Back to normal food now.   Reading some of  Changing, poems based on the I Ching by Richard Berengarten en route to see Mum and Mas in the Jolly Badger.  I arrived just as Mum and Mas were arriving. Mas somewhat unsteady on his feet even with a stick these days. Mum also getting over a cold and with a nasty cough. Mum said she had a scrape in the car yesterday too, following hard on the heels of the car suddenly conking out in the middle of the road last week, which was really stressful. Otherwise a pleasant enough bite to eat.  Helped myself to large salad portions, and had some chicken and rice. A kind server. Mas quite tired after a bit, and Mum took him home.  I walked back to Mill Hill station, and had a decent enough journey home. I shall go up again soon. Nice to be home, and to be home for the rest of the week. Below a snap from Seaford Station platform...

For the second time this week, woke up at about seven, having migraine spangles. And as before I fell asleep, and woke up later feeling okay.  This is happening quite often at the moment. I don't know what's triggering it.  Pottering about the house this morning, and Lorraine and screwing a bathroom cabinet to the wall, and wiring in the plug inside it. Lorraine, who had thought she had turned off the electricity, receiving a nasty zap, but was okay luckily.  Off to The Ram in the village of Firle to meet Beth and James to celebrate Beth's birthday tomorrow. Really nice Sunday roast, I had pork, Beth and Lorraine shared lamb, and James had beef. I opted for a bit of cheese, but the others had nice desserts. Heavily overcast sky, and the pub seemed cozily dark as we ate, with little fairy lights and fires.  Talking excitedly about their Seaford move. They are in that hideous waiting bit, where nothing seems to happen. They both are taking tomorrow off, and will spend ...

After breakfast, Lorraine off to meet Dawn in Bolney. Afterwards she went to Brighton to hang out with Rosie. I spent till 1:30pm laboriously concluding my edit of the most recent podcast interview -- took ages for some reason. Sent it off to Robin. In the afternoon and when the rain abated, I went off to the gym for the first time since I had injured my back. A quarter of an hour only on the cross trainer, and my back began to clench up. But this a big improvement on where I had been. I did some of my trademark mild-mannered weights and left. Still it felt good to have walked to the gym and back, and done something at least. Saw on Facebook that a copywriter I worked with twenty odd years ago, Barry, had died. Lots of people leaving messages. Lorraine home early this evening, and changed immediately into her PJs. Later in the evening I popped out to the Boot at nine, and saw a band there for an hour.  The bassist and harmonica player Stuart also play with the Sumerian Kyngs, so St...

Got up early to work on editing the podcast interview. Did this for a few hours. Lorraine zooming about with energy this morning doing lots of jobs. And after a few hours I tore myself away from the computer, and did some work in the garden with Lorraine, as it wasn't pouring with rain. Of limited use, as I'm still not able to bend very well, but enjoyed hacking at a rogue buddleia and moving some plastic water tanks which Lorraine filled with compost and so on. I also knelt, with great care, by the fishpond and removed overgrown weed, and leaves. The water felt cold.  After a spot of lunch, I mooched off to Baca, a little cafe nearby, to have coffee with Yvonne, who was nailing down details of me being Santa for their little grandsons. Yvonne said Brian had done it last time, but with his black moustache and false glasses he looked too sinister. The plan is that I shall slip over and Brian will take me into the shed to secretly try on their Santa outfit.   In the evening Lorr...

Yippee... A day at home with no travel. Woke up after a sound night's sleep with Calliope purring into my face. She has been very clinging since we returned from our trip up Norf. Brian recovering, but a bit subdued because of the painkillers and antibiotics he is taking.   Read more of  Essays on Idleness by Kenkō first thing, then sprang into action and after breakfast spent much of the day editing a recent interview for Planet Poetry -- by the end of the day still hadn't finished. Unbelievable how long editing an interview can take and wasn't anywhere near finishing after I threw in the towel. Also tinkered with some of my own writing. A mooch around town at lunchtime, into the Library, where Lorraine asked about volunteering to help children with reading, or adults with IT. Nice chat with the Librarian there, and we bumped into Lorraine's pal Helen. Went into the little craft show they had in the Crossways Church. Talking, among others, to a man and a woman on a na...

Surprising the sparrows, Lorraine and I sprang up at six nasty and left at 7am for Ashford, driving into the rising sun. Lorraine brought breakfast with us, which we ate in Ashford.  Lorraine then drove Pat to his medical appointment, and I enjoyed chatting with Maureen and Claudia who over from Finland with her boyfriend Jonas. Jonas had never been to England before, but was able to speak English well.  Maureen on top form, and there was a comedy routine with boiled eggs for Claudia and Jonas, whose egg tops wouldn't come off with knives and spoons. Maureen hammering on them, and explaining to people how to eat boiled eggs -- Claudia laughing lots.   Lovely to see Claudia, for the second time this year. She and Jonas had flown over yesterday to Heathrow, and she had taken Business Class because she had inherited an airline card from a colleague. She said there was a Finnish minister on board, and an eccentric software multimillionaire from Finland who is called the Elf, ...

Calliope sleeping on or around me all night.  Lorraine and I up early and eating our healthy seeds, berries, nuts and live yogurt etc. for breakfast with glee. Lorraine off to the doctor's first thing. Then to her personal trainer. I lurked at home, catching up on this blog and gradually getting my act together, Calliope insisting on sitting on my lap all the time. In the afternoon Lorraine and I took Brian who had a poorly paw off to Top Cats in Patcham. Another drive in teeming rain. He had a painful sore claw that was digging into his pad, and becoming infected. We came away with his paws sorted out, nails removed (with some blood) and antibiotics and painkillers to administer. A nice vet called Henry. I am always amazed at how a good vet can handle an animal without them freaking out. Brian was already much perkier by the time we got home. And it wasn't as eyewateringly expensive as we had feared.  Had my reading in Lewes confirmed for Thursday 11th January,  in the J...

Monday, and up and moving. Downstairs for another nice breakfast -- the owner chatting to us. A lovely woman. Then after paying we mooched our gear into the car, and then went to see Matt in Acorn & Pip  where Reuben works. It's a toyshop, with excellent educational toys, sells clothes, and has some tables for coffee and teas. Reuben's boss stopped to chat too. A lovely bloke. Said cheerio to Reuben, then Matt walked us to our car. It had been brilliant to see them both. Off then driving up across the high hills and down into valleys, including the one where the filmed Last of the Summer Wine, until we made it onto the M1 after being rerouted due to an accident. A fairly miraculous journey home, with few slow bits, and even the hideous M25 behaved itself. The time went fairly quickly, we did a crossword, listened to music, and so on. We were home in Seaford at about ten past four, but drove to Morrisons first to get a bit of shopping in.  Having spent five hours at the whe...

A nice English Breakfast and coffee, then off to meet Matt and Phoebe to go for a walk. We also went to his house, crossing the little river, where a heron was standing immobile in the water, and climbing up a hundred steps. His house is on the Manchester Road. The front of the house is close to the road, but view from the back windows is all of the treetops of the wooded hillside we climbed. Then along the Manchester road, and cut down to walk by the side of the canal, to the next little town called Marsden. Apparently it is where  Simon Armitage our current poet laureate was born. An inspiring valley surrounded by high moors. We had a good canal side walk in the bracing Yorkshire rain, and ended up having a cheeky cup of coffee in a cafe before catching a bus back to Slaithwaite.  Here we went straight to Hillside Harmonies, where Reuben had been holding the fort, to meet old pals of Lorraine's Lesley and Jeremy, who live in a town not too far away called Diggle where we sta...

Up and had a decent breakfast in the Beefeater, and then faffed about getting ready. Then at noon we set off, stopping off at immense shopping centres in Warrington and St Helens, as Lorraine was in search of something which proved unobtainable.  Then to Yorkshire, where people speak their minds, to Slaithwaite not far from Huddersfield. We drove on the M62, which went over windy hill, near Denshaw, apparently the highest point of any motorway in England. Some breathtaking countryside as we neared Slaithwaite, descending steeply down narrow roads of a valley from the high ground, with some amazing views. We parked up near our bed and breakfast, and carried all our stuff into a perfectly pleasant room. The owner Mike et us in and showed us to our room, and his wife, when we met her later was welcoming and friendly.  Slaithwaite is one of those places pronounced very confusingly. Locals pronounce it Sla-wit, and our hostess at the BnB pronounced it Slath-wait (which Matt told us...

So up and a cheeky poached egg breakfast with Sue and John. Fond farewells, with Whiskey the dog springing about squeaking its toy, which John said made the sound of a bitten rat, we left Bromyard. Lorraine drove for half an hour to see Lorraine's lovely cousin Maxine, where we were warmly welcomed, and spent a couple of hours sipping coffee, nibbling on fruitcake while her dog, Zippy contentedly gnawed a large bone under the coffee table. Heard about Tay and Emilia -- now studying away from home and doing well. Simon was working in Liverpool today, but Maxine was on a day off from work, so I think she was pleased to have some visitors.   Fond squeezes goodbye with Maxine, then we drove mostly along the A5 road through some absolutely beautiful Autumn countryside on either side of the Welsh border. The Shropshire hills, which I had never seen. They were stunningly beautiful. The tiring bit, for Lorraine, was that as we were driving, partly through Wales, then towards Merseyside, I...

Woke up in At Sue and John's in Bromyard. Whiskey the dog bouncing excitably about the place. Luckily she did not attempt to steal my watch again, as she did the last time we were together. After a lovely breakfast John drove us to see Hereford Cathedral.  Some rather glorious glass in the place -- one fairly contemporary piece, blue, but with splinters of red, celebrating the SAS, based nearby. Who Dares Wins, their motto, nearby. I didn't have enough time to view them in great detail, but had a sense of loveliness. Red and blue always pop in glass, but I love windows when the use green, which is rarer.  We visited the Chained library, the combination of ancient tomes and chains, was visually fascinating, and was filed away in my head to be used in a horror story. The Mappa Mundi , which I learned all about from an old friend Fraser who tried a children's story about it, was fascinating. Before you got to see it, there were replicas, one translated into English, and so on....

Set off to Sue and John's around midday, after a good deal of faffing around and packing a month's worth of clothes etc for our few day trip. The drive there requiring lots of focus, loads of rain and surface water.  On the M25 at one point a small car sprayed our windscreen so much we could not see out of it at all for a couple of seconds. The further west we went, however, the weather improved. Lorraine, as ever, a trusty driver and got us to Bromyard in Herefordshire safely.  Happy to see Sue and John. They had just got back from a vacation that day, but even so Sue had rustled up a veggie Lasagna for us all to eat. John saying he was pleased that Chelsea had beaten Spurs the other day -- and that the poem I had written for Sue about her dad had gone down well. A very cheery evening catching up on all the news John slipping me a couple of bottles of the excellent Butty Bach  to enjoy. Told Sue that we refer to her as Benchmark Sue, as she is so organised and clean and ...

A weird motivation bypass, despite getting up early to write, but after a while ran out of steam and started editing an interview. Lorraine getting ready to go off to see Pat and Maureen. Shortly after she set up, she turned around and came home again, as she was feeling queasy and off colour. She had a gold sofa day.  I went for a nice walk along the seafront. The heavy trucks were redistributing gravel over the beach, which is used to protect the town from flooding. Quite a spectacular sight. I'm not one for machines, but there was something quite stirring about the big trucks making great grooves in the beach pebbles with their wheels as they went about their Sisyphean task of moving stones from one end of the beach to the other.  Home again and sat with Lorraine reading, but then fell asleep.  Below redistributing stones on the beach. Oddly fascinating. And one of those stop and stare moments that I suddenly feel more able to do.