under another sun

Apart from a pre-breakfast lope to Morrisons to buy breakfast eggs and a later foray down to the sea to take a spare key to Lorraine, who'd contrived to lock herself out of the car parked outside Pat and Maureen's place, I happily drew all my tentacles into the house and lurked indoors. All I wanted to do is read The Sea by John Banville which is a magnificent book. I had no desire at all to go out and party, and it was a wild night too with strong gales roaring into Seaford. Instead Lorraine and I preferred to stay indoors and count our blessings. During the day I had a go at writing this blog in a kind of an accounting for the year way. But it ended up being like one of those cringy letters people send you inside Christmas cards. Enough to say that I'm not entirely sorry to see 2024 slink off. There were lots of events: Mason dying in February and me spending lots of time with Mum. Pat and Maureen and Beth and James are all now settled in Seaford. I ended my copywriting ...

To Edgware by car with Lorraine today to see Mum on her birthday. A decent drive up there. We stopped for a cup of tea, and to give her some presents. The throw and pillows had already arrived, and we gave her some new pots and pans, to replace the venerable ones she uses. Lorraine drove us to The Waggon and Horses where we got a seat by the fire. Curtis, behind the bar, and Mum's crew, who call her a geezerbird, all cheerily greeting her and Steve shaking my hand and wishing me merry Christmas and happy new year. Just after we'd eaten Toby called  from Bali fresh from a yoga session-- thinking that we'd be together. So Mum got to speak to him on her birthday too. Very cheery in the Waggon, and Lorraine had a chicken shish like me, and was surprised at how genuinely excellent they are there. Home again and we sat by her fire in the living room. Neighours Emma and Gail dropped off some presents for her, and Wynford dropped in too with a gift. He sat chatting with us for a wh...

Up really late this morning, around eleven. Foggy day in Seaford. Rosie and Innis called around in the afternoon, and we had a walk from Edinburgh Road to splash point. At one point Pippi joined a kind of cockapoo convention, with three or four cockapoos of several shades. Cold in the foggy conditions. Grateful when we called in on Pat and Maureen for a cup of tea, as Maureen was very keen to see Pippi the dog. She had not met Innis before and gave Rosie her approval. Home to eat pies that Lorraine had made from turkey and ham, and sit about the kitchen table chatting about books and stuff for some time. Lorraine also getting ready for the book coven where were gathering here tonight. I kept myself to myself while they convened downstairs. But after some welcome time in my study for a couple of hours,  I went downstairs and chatted and grazed on book coven snacks. There were Adele, just back from Ireland, Kate, Debbie, and Frances. A lovely bunch of people.  Below Rosie, Pipp...

Ahh... And relax. A call from the Tobster in Bali while I was fishing through the bones of a turkey stock. Other than taking a walk for an hour or so, I did little. Lorraine making a bag from fabric, I finally finished my book A Natural History of Ghosts -- 500 Years of Hunting for Proof , by Roger Clarke. I also read Che -- A Graphic Biography by Spain Rodriguez Anton had got me for Xmas.  Made a large of turkey soup made with assorted peas and pulses and vegetables, with the thick and meaty turkey stock I made last night. Surprisingly delicious dinner, with Christmas pudding again afterwards. My tongue tingling with the almonds afterwards but it was worth it. An interesting character, who had trained as a doctor, with an interest in leprosy.

Spoke to Mum, who was bright as a button and pleased she could now picture our house in Seaford. To Brighton this afternoon, Lorraine off to see Rosie, while I enjoyed a few beers and lost three games of bones to Anton in the Brick on Preston Street. Turns out he has been watching YouTube dominoes channel to refine his game. Walking to the pub, having been dropped off by Lorraine I passed the i360, known by local curmudgeons as the iSore, which is now closed leaving the City of Brighton with a large unpaid debt from the people who ran it.  After Lorraine collected me, and a turkey leftovers nestling on the gold sofa. I also made another stock with Turkey bones for a soup.

Boxing Day. A more relaxed start. Up and preparing turkey stock this morning, and then Lorraine put in the Turkey crown. At lunchtime, Mum arrived, having been driven down my Monika and Octay. A really cheery afternoon with them. Finally able to show mum around new Kenny towers, even into the garden despite the slippery paths. Monika and Octay brought lots of food, homemade Czech Christmas cookies, stollen bread, wine, open sandwiches and so on. They are lovely people, and very kind. We sat chatting int he kitchen. Pat and Maureen in the other room. Today's excitement. At one point there was a cry from the living room, and Lorraine went in and called me. Lorraine was putting Patrick into recovery position having found him on the floor with his eyes closed, and Maureen crying out about her leg. Turns out Patrick had a bit of a light headed moment standing up from the sofa and fell down, fall partly broken by Maureen. We picked him up and he was right as rain, and Maureen's leg w...

Christmas Day a tad lively. It started calmly enough with Beth phoning, and me taking teas into Pat and Maureen and Lorraine. There had been a problem with Pat's catheter overnight, which meant some sorting. Then Maureen got a bit het up and needed her heart spray. Everyone soon right as rain, and we got on with a perfectly nice day. Lorraine and I started cooking, and then opened some presents. I got a brown corduroy jacket and a collected George Seferis from Lorraine. Lorraine liked the necklaces I bought her.  Anton got us a bonsai tree, which Lorraine loved.  Chatted a couple of times with Mum. I was pleased she had been invited to her friends Emma and Gail down the road to have a Christmas meal in the evening.   Steve came around a bit after mid day, bearing a bottles of wine, and a game tureen and gravlax salmon with delicious sauces of his own invention. Really nice to have him with us. He is very good with Pat and Maureen, and he was very cheery company. Our Chris...

Mainly getting ready, collecting Pat and Maureen, doing some last minute shopping in Morrisons. Lorraine doing cooking. I made off this afternoon to Brighton, to deliver Anton the pressies that hadn't arrived in time. Quite enjoyed the interlude on the train, sipping a cappuccino on the way home to liven up a bit.  Home and Beth and James had arrived. We had a simple dinner, there was a present swapping. I did rather well with nice pressies from Beth and James: a sharp new cap and bottles of beer and a book of AI written horror, a bizarre and fascinating prospect. Happy now that all the pre-Christmas scrabbling is done, and Christmas is here.  I love this photo I took of Beth holding some Christmas decorations Lorraine had made; Maureen, Pat and Lorraine as Pat opens some socks, James brandishing his Christmas stocking.

So Lorraine and making ready this morning for Christmas, which included a spot of Santa business. Once I'd got into the gear, Lorraine drove us to Brian and Yvonne's place. We parked outside and phoned Brian, and then we had an interval of speaking to our old friend Brian Bell, before we phoned Brian and Yvonne and we went inside to Ho Ho Ho with Brian and Yvonne's grandchildren Jude and Sebastian. This great fun of course, and even Sebastian got over the shock of a giant red man coming into the room to approach me.  In the afternoon off to Brighton to buy a few cards for Anton and my Godbairns, and then I met Anton in the Evening Star for a few games of bones, a long overdue catch up and some beers. Anton handed me a bag of presents but mine in return were meagre, as some hadn't arrived yet. I will pop to Brighton tomorrow to deliver them. Fond farewells with Anton, then I hopped onto the Brighton train and was home in no time.

In bed, and plotting the day when Lorraine heard that Delores had just discovered that her lodger had died overnight.  Lorraine nipped up the road to support her, and soon Kate and Andrew arrived too. It is heartening that there is so much kindness to be found in Seaford.   I stayed at doing assorted house cleaning laundry etc. And when Lorraine got back we did some more sorting of the spare room. Dog tired again today. Rallied after a delicious soup Lorraine made.  To St Michael's in Lewes this evening to see The Lewes Singers , directed and conducted by Nick Haughton, Robin's other half. Robin sings alto with the choir. As well as a fine choir, there was a chamber organist and a string quartet led by Julia Bishop . By some fluke Lorraine and I got to sit in the front pew, with Lorraine about a yard away from Julia Bishop, who led the performance of a barnstorming Winter from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Nick an excellent conductor. I particularly loved their version of The L...

After the longest night, Lorraine and I lay in bed sorting out things for Christmas (thank God for online shopping) and had breakfast, making lists about food and so on as the sun slipped into Capricorn for the winter solstice. Spoke to Mum whose conjunctivitis seems improved, and her eyes no longer photosensitive. Vampire mode off. Then Lorraine and got to work in the spare room, and I did the loft clambering. I made some lunch and we were just digesting this when Lorraine had to go and help Pat and Maureen. I tried some yoga style stretches and so on from an app I bought in bed this morning, and slept for an hour. Lorraine when she came home with fish and chips. I am festively plump at the moment, with all the socialising. Already part of me is looking forward to getting back on the Zoe waggon after Christmas. In the evening we made off in our Christmas jumpers to the Welly for beer and carols with Yvonne and Brian, Beth and James were supposed to be there too, but Beth was shattered...

Another bright morning. Bumped into Chris at Seaford station, who was off to Nottingham, and chatted with him as far as Lewes. Then trained up to Mill Hill, and bussed to Edgware reading A Natural History of Ghosts by Roger Clarke. I put it down for a few months, halfway through. Enjoying the second half much more than the first.  Tired by the time I reached Mum's house a little after noon. I found Mum in vampire mode, unable to stand light, and with irritated sore eyes. She has conjunctivitis, and she had eyedrops for it, but had only taken one dose. She insisted she was okay to drive to the pub, and when we arrived in the pub she made for the darkest corner and I went to the car to retrieve the shades she had found in the car en route. Briefly she sat there in exactly the way a vampire would. However, after half a cider things improved and her eyes no longer stung so much. We left the dark corner and she sat happily with her back to the fire, and much more cheerful. We had lunch,...

Up early and the sun was out. A glorious brisk and breezy day. We met Jess and Andrew and walked along the seafront from Edinburgh Road to splash point and then back to pop into see Pat and Maureen, as she was keen to meet their little cockapoo dog. After a cup of tea I had to slope off to see Coílín to show her my broken tooth. She is brilliant, and we have a good laugh together. She put a temporary filling in it, made of an excellent Japanese substance and she polyfillered a bit of tooth. This is my worst tooth, mostly smoke and mirrors, made from unnecessary drilling done in my teens -- so it may have to come out eventually or be replaced by an implant, or involve elective root canal surgery, which I told Coílín sounded appalling and she agreed. I gave her a copy of Snow, as she is such a talker that we know loads about each other now, and she knows Lorraine, Pat and Maureen too. I think of Lucinda up on Strand on the Green as my ex -dentist now.  A much needed quiet afternoon a...

Feeling somewhat sluggish, with an aching arm, caused by the shingles jab. Lorraine off to rhyme time. I did a spot of writing first thing. A after a light lunch I took the train to Brighton for a futile shopping expedition, followed another in Lewes. At four o'clock, rainsoaked and tired, I retreated to a cafe for a large coffee, and a read of a book of historical Beano front covers in full colour, that I had bought early in Seaford Post Office for a ridiculous £2.95. Repaired, I made off to the Lewes Arms to meet poet friends. SJB, Charlotte, Stephen and Robin. A cheery drink for a couple of hours, with the usual mixture of banter and poetry. I like being with my tribe. Towards the end of our session, Christmas carollers came into the small bar, and began singing. People, talking loudly to compete. Charlotte had to go as it was making her feel claustrophobic. Just as everyone was leaving, the singers asked me if there was a carol I liked, and I said Silent night. I sat there list...

To the medical centre to get a shingles jab at 8:25. The woman said 'sorry' as the needle slid in. When I stood up I felt momentarily light headed. This alarmed her to the extent that she gave me a small bottle of sparkling water from her own bag, rather than risk leaving the room to get a glass. After a hypochondriacal self-check, I had a bit of water, and felt soon felt fine. Making a drama out of nothing as usual. Breakfast with Lorraine, then did some recording with Robin, mainly festive banter. I had to break off a couple of times as Brian was walking about the house several times miaowing with the catnip mouse in his mouth. As he is deaf this gets very loud indeed. His behaviour hasn't really changed since Calliope died. Hard to know if it has even registered, as Brian, though handsome is not the smartest of beings.  Attempted to pick up the threads of doing some writing on the Kenniad. I made a few tweaks, but couldn't get into a flow state. Went into town and bo...

So a note from mes amis in France saying that my final payment, a paltry one day's work, has been issued to me. Before their company was bought out, they used to pay me on the same day I invoiced them. Unheard of everywhere else. But since they've been bought out, I had to wait over four months. I can only feel for my former colleagues, having now to work in a ponderous corporate environment.   A bit of editing this morning for the podcast, and Robin and I did some recording this afternoon. We had Joy and Jim from next door around for coffee this morning. Lots of chats. The erudite Jim revealing a love of the QPR football team, and the fact he watches YouTube videos about 'the hoops'. Absolutely delighted that Mum said that she might come down on Boxing Day, given a lift by Monika and Ocktay. This is great news, as she has not been to Seaford before. Perhaps I can be excused for feeling a bit exasperated because Lorraine and I had offered to collect her on many occasion...

Missing Calliope this morning. But up fairly early for a Sunday and Lorraine and I zooming about getting ready for Guy, Tim, Catherine and Tanya who were arriving at around 12:30 for a Christmas lunch.  A festive affair, and a long afternoon of eating far too much, beef and chicken, roasties a plethora of veggies etc, plus Guy and Tim brought around some salmon mousse, and Catherine and Tanya had home made a delicious Christmas pudding, all washed down with a fair amount of Prosecco. A cheery afternoon with lots of chat.  Our friends left at tea time, and I lay on the gold sofa in a food coma, able to stir myself to watch the final episode of Wolf Hall. Henry VIII and Cromwell's enemies tratorishly turning on him. All rather sad, but brilliantly done. Also Match of the Day, with Chelsea now back to winning ways powering up to second in the league. 

From time to time ambushed by sadness about Calliope. Lots of nice messages from people about Calliope, including from Romy just before bed last night. Had that sort of emotional tiredness today, just shattered this afternoon.  Otherwise a pleasant indoorsy sort of day, although Lorraine and I walked to Morrisons after having a quick scoot about the market. A bit disappointing. A bit niche, a stand of dog bones and chews.  Nice to see Beth this evening for a few minutes. In the evening, Lorraine and I assembled two Christmas trees and decorated them and this was nice and festive. White lights for the one in the dining room, and colours for the living room. Also Lorraine doing lots of cooking in preparation for Catherine, Tanya, Guy and Tim coming around tomorrow.  Otherwise I wanted to hide really, and watched Frasier, and Match of the Day this evening.  

Calliope died today. She had continued to be very unwell and Lorraine and I decided she should go back to the vet. I had to go into Brighton by car with Adele and Jane. Lorraine kindly took Calliope to the vet, because I couldn't really face this, and then called me. We took the decision to put her down. Lorraine called me to confirm this was okay this just as Adele's car reached Brighton.   Met the glassmates in a Thai restaurant very close to the Pavilion Gardens. Ben, Rick, Sally, Frances and Kate met us there. Felt a bit unreal, although nice to see them. Lorraine called me after an hour or so and said she had been with Calliope when it was done, and she had been sedated first and fell immediately to sleep before the injection was given.  Relieved that the meal was over. I jumped on a 12 bus, sit at the front upstairs and let the tears flow. In a way I was prepared a bit for this, as I was convinced she was dying a couple of weeks ago, but I am heartbroken.   In the e...

 Off to see Bob in London today. We met under Nelson's column as usual. While waiting I noticed that   Whitehall was jammed with a hundred tractors jamming the road as the farmer's protested inheritance tax changes. Met Bob and it was a fine thing to see him. We spent the day mooching about between cafes, and had some food in Wagamama's and popped into Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese and Ye Olde Mitre, historic old pubs to suit us venerable old chaps. But we were extremely restrained with the drinking. Mainly we spent the day talking and catching up. Bob lost his mother fairly recently and is obviously still processing this. His daughter is doing very well at university, and was producing and directing a student pantomime. Lovely to see how proud he is of Milly. We ended up in a noisy bar, full of people fresh from work and barking loudly at each other, and music playing really loudly. It actually made me feel stressed, straining to hear what Bob was saying and so on. Times have ch...

Up having slept well in our own beds. Lorraine off to her personal trainer and then went to see Pat and Maureen. I phoned Mum, doing a smidge of writing, then going to the gym. A day of finding my feet again and deeply happy not to be on a train. Went to the doctor's surgery and booked a shingles jab, seeing as they are free for coves of my vintage. Going to the gym was good, but generally my batteries are vey low at the moment. I did some shopping in Morrisons and cooked for Lorraine and I. A quiet night in. Toby called, and he and Romy are off to Japan shortly, and then to Bali. 

Up and getting packed, then Jade collected us and took us to Leuchars station. Fond farewells, and Lorraine spoke to Sam on the phone. A long journey home, but fairly easy till Lewes, where the Seaford train didn't wait for the London commuters to get to the platform, then there were numpties trespassing on the line, so trains were being cancelled and so on. I read more of How to think like a poet  as Robin and I are going to interview its author Dai George on Thursday. We also ate cold macaroni pies on the train which Sam had bought the day before.  Home -- a blessed relief -- and beans on toast and a sit on the gold sofa with cats.

Collected bright and early by Jade and Sam. A cold day and were driven north for two and a half hours to Aviemore in the Cairngorms. Quite amazing to be driven along through a great -- to Sassenach eyes -- empty landscape forested with bleak snow capped mountains. Loved it and I had never seen this part of Scotland before. We reached Aviemore where Jade had booked us all on a steam train ride. We clambered aboard and it was a Santa Special, so had Santa and a host of naughty elves cavorting through the coaches. There were lots of kids on the ride, for obvious reasons.  Our first elf was called Crackers, a male elf, a bit extra and ebullient, who took a shine to Sam. Then there were women elves hiding and leaping about running up and down the aisle while shouting, and exciting the children no end. Then there was a magician style elf, and finally a rather quiet Santa whispering to children about Christmas. Meanwhile the steam from the train hung low among the trees, and the whole thi...

A slow morning, Lorraine busy doing crochet and me doing a bit of writing. Sam working today. We then were collected by Jade and driven off to nearby Pittenweem where there were some small art exhibitions. There met, Mog and Jerome, Mog's parents Peter and Shelagh, and colleagues of Jade and Mog... A philosopher called Mara, and a really pleasant guy called Graham, who is an Earth Scientist working with stuff to do with oceans. We all piled into a cafe where we got excellent hot chocolate and snacks. Then we all were invited down to Graham's new home where we had cups of tea, and Jade, Mara and Mog did a major survey of Graham's new dwelling. Then we all did, squeezing up a very narrow flight of stairs hidden behind a cupboard door into a third floor. Then Jade drove us home, and she began cooking, and Lorraine and I relaxed in Burnside cottage. The evening, Lorraine and I toddled off to The Big House, where we had jolly good evening with 'the commune', hosted by Je...

While springing out of bed at 9:30 making Lorraine and I tea at Burnside Cottage, I got the migraine spangles and had quite a wussy morning. We had a nice breakfast and I went back to bed. However, we zoomed off to catch a bus to St. Andrews at 1:30. It was steamy upstairs, and full of incredibly well behaved school kids.We had pleasant afternoon's lurk in St Andrews, and popped into the Gorgeous Cafe for cups of tea and two panini,  and looked in the wonderful bookshop, but this time nothing insisted it was worth carrying back to Seaford. Later had a cheeky coffee in a student filled bookshop. After dark and Jade had finished work she drove us straight to Anstruther. We hurried through the rain to the Bank, where Sam was being a magnificent barman, looking commanding and very handsome and his gym work paying off. Had a couple of drinks there, catching up with Jade before we said goodbye to Sam and made off to The Wee Chippy, for excellent fish and chips. It looks quite wee on the ...

Burnside Cottage is lovely, and the bed quite comfortable in a soft way, despite that I had a poor night's sleep. Lots of anxious dreams. A call first thing that one of Lorraine's aunts had died. So a bit of messaging, and Lorraine having to tell Maureen. We lifted the blinds shortly after dawn, which is later here, and opposite everything looked golden with lovely low light.  However improved once up and breakfasted. I spent the morning working on the Kenniad, Lorraine lurked with Sam.  I went for a bit of a walk with my camera but by then the sky was grey and all colour had leached away from the wee village of Kilrenny we were staying in. I went round to Sam's as he was leaving to gallop off to work and Lorraine and I walked to Anstruther. We passed Sam, visible for miles in his day glow uniform, talking to little children as they crossed. The job has quite a bit of responsibility on that busy road, Sam naturally takes his responsibilities entirely seriously. Lorraine try...

To Scotland. Trundled our little wheely cases onto the train at Seaford then St Pancras via Brighton, and the long journey up to Leuchars station in Fife from St Pancras. This last bit quite pleasant, sitting opposite one another. I finished two books on the journey, Clear a short novel by Carys Davies that Dawn and Paul had given me, which was set against the clearances in Scotland. Lorraine and people in her book group had read it and liked it. I thought it was pretty good, but a bit clunky. I also read Feline Philosophy , a book by John Gray that Catherine and Tanya got me, about the philosophical differences between cats and people, and what we can learn by how they go about things.  Arrived in Leuchars in the dark and teeming rain. We stood in the carpark, where Jade arrived almost instantly, and drove us through St Andrews, then onto Kilrenny. We dropped our stuff at the wee cottage we had rented called Burnside Cottage, on a kind of twitten called Routine Row. All very nice....

A very poor night's sleep. I had woken up from a light doze in the middle of the night in tears certain that Calliope had died. Lorraine got up and checked, but she was okay. First thing in the morning she seemed fine. Our plan was to drive up to see Mum, but then she began to be distressed again, and we decided to take her, and pay through the nose, for the emergency vet.  Brian and Calliope's emergencies have both happened on a Sunday, which is a bit vexing. Lorraine drove us to Eastbourne a lovely drive, to a pleasant vets surgery. Calliope clearly unwell, as she had no strength for the usual car howling. She gave her an anti-inflammatory injection, saying the symptoms sounded like feline cystitis. She also examined her and poked her bladder and so on, all of which Calliope took philosophically though she did hiss when the rectal thermometer was inserted. Home again and she brightened up a bit over the day. The vet says old cats rarely get cystitis unless there is a cancer p...

I did some good writing on the Kenniad this morning after Lorraine off to sort things out at Churchill Square -- but did not have to leave incredibly early. She popped round to Pat and Maureens and then I went to Morrisons and met Lorraine in the underground carpark. Home and ate the first mince pies of the season with a cup of tea. Well into the Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England , by Marc Morris. This is really good. The Vikings were unspeakable, and it took forever for the Anglo Saxons to work out how to counter their hit and run raids.  Something horrible as we went to bed. Spots of blood where Calliope had been, and she was behaving erratically and bleeding from her rear end. Went to bed feeling very worried about her.

Lorraine up at six this morning, and made off to help Beth work in Churchill Square, organising the Santa and Elves grotto. I got up early, and having finished all podcast stuff, was able to revel in some time to do writing. Got settled and then had a call from Maureen worrying about Pat's catheter.  However, when speaking to me she called the local nurse who nipped round and helped. Calls between me and Maureen, and Lorraine. Then the window cleaners arrived buffeting my windows with their long hosed broom things, then Sylwia arrived, and bustled about the place. Annoying how such minor interruptions can disrupt my concentration but I managed to press on with The Kenniad, after having a chat with Mum.  The Kenniad is in five sections, four of them now in decent drafts, the last one needs me to do a bit more research before I can start it. It is unlike anything I've done before.  Lunchtime saw me nipping to Osborne's for a pensioners fish and chips for two. Read the clipp...

A full day. Up and writing, Lorraine off to work with Beth in Churchill Square. Just as I was getting into my flow, a call from Maureen, and I nipped around to help her and Pat with the catheter that he had put in yesterday. Luckily I had previous experience helping Ken with his.  Then a short walk along the seafront before getting back to my desk. A few tweaks to the podcast, and that was uploaded today, featuring my interview with Martin Malone. In the afternoon, I joined in another Understory Conversation and read the second part of the Kenniad to Marilyn, Emma and Charlotte -- obviously far too long for any comments, but the consensus was positive.  After I finished this, I then carried lots of big broken bits of built in wardrobe from the bathroom to outside the house. At one point I dropped one of the big bits outside, and it fell edgeways onto the four toes of my left foot. I was only wearing canvas Vans shoes. That smarted really badly.  Lorraine back from adventu...

 Lorraine and I overslept this morning. More recording with Robin at 11, then I spent much of the day editing, and sent it to Robin at close of play. Meanwhile Lorraine had put out a plea for help with our built in wardrobe, as the day before I had tried unsuccessfully to be able to unscrew a single screw -- they had all been glued somehow into place, as well as screwed in.  However Chris and Patrick arrived with bags full of heavy tools, and managed to dismantle it with lots of effort. It was unbelievably kind of them. I continued editing, but then somehow all the lights fused due to the work. I thought for a moment I'd lost much of the day's work, but luckily once my chuggy slow mac sorted itself out, it turned out I had lost nothing. Finished this work, just as Patrick and Chris had finished their demolishing. Lorraine and I hugged them both. Really they were extremely generous. Quite tired by the editing, and enjoyed slumping in the warm, watching TV.

Recording with Robin the morning. A bit of editing, and later a walk down by the sea... Trucks zooming about on Seaford beach redistributing the pebbles, which prevents Seaford from being washed away. I was photographing them, and the drivers were looking at me sympathetically as if I were the sort of person who habitually photographs trucks. There is something dinosaurishly impressive about them, creating great ruts with their wheels in the stones.

Writing. Recording with Robin. Then the gym. Lorraine took Pat and Maureen to see the lovely  Cóilín the dentist who Maureen liked and she was excellent with Pat too. I saw her last month too. Excellent dentist. We were talking about imposter syndrome at one point, and I asked her if dentists ever get that too, and she said yes, which was mildly disconcerting. Both Lorraine and I happy to be tucked up tonight watching Wolf Hall, the Mirror and the Light which was again fabulous. It creates such an engrossing  and almost claustrophobic world. The costumes are amazing too. A feast for the eyes.  

Extremely windy. Storm Bert. Problems with the train, so Lorraine and I made off to Brighton by bus. We met Penny and Steve in the Dishoom Permit Room . The food very nice but the restaurant very popular and a bit cramped. Also noisy. Now I am an old codger I enjoy a bit of tranquility while strapping on the nosebag. However, we enjoyed ourselves and caught up with Penny and Steve, both recovering from colds, but otherwise chipper. My main from the 'Ruby Murray' section of the menu was a Dishoom Chicken Ruby, lovely it was in a rich satisfying sauce with a lingering peppery warmth.  After lunch, Lorraine made off back home, and I lurked in Brighton for a bit, being happily buffeted on the peir the sea was white and the wind, especially when it funnelled down the street leading onto the seafront enough to blow people so that they were staggering along.  Met Anton in the Hampton and we had a cheeky drink there, and Anton ordered some food, which I picked at. Lots to catch up on,...

More editing of the interview with Martin Malone. Lots to do. No more ghostly voices today however. Yesterday I found a weird sound intruding in the recording.  I was talking to Martin and ended what I was saying with: '...I suspect it was dropped.' Then an EVP ghost voice said: 'So did I'. Martin replied: I was very much in all kinds of outfield at that moment. Did not notice it at the time. Once we had the idea of opening out our Friday night beer with Steve, the fun has grown exponentially. Tonight a very cheery night in The Boot with Steve, Brian and Yvonne, Adele and Patrick and Chris. We had food and a few drinks, and it was excellent. Just a cosy bubble of fun and friendship. Pleased we asked Chris along as he is newly single and that can be hard. Being in cheery company is a good thing at times like this.

Up to Hampstead this morning, fiddling with my poem on the train. A gorgeous sunny day, I arrived early at Hampstead tube station, so popped into Waterstones for a cup of tea and bought Giving up the Ghost , an autobiographical book by Hilary Mantel. Met mum, and we walked all the way down to Belsize Park looking in the kinds of clothes and shoe shop windows that have no visible prices. In one there was an elegant reindeer decoration, and mum pointed at it and made the shop people laugh. Eventually we found ourselves in The Roebuck, just opposite The Royal Free hospital. We had a bite to eat and a drink sitting either side of a table on plush bench seats, one much lower than the other. I swapped with Mum after she began to look like a hobbit. Mum said that she remembered watching people come into the Roebuck from the hospital when she had her cancer in 2008. A lot to be grateful for in her continual health. As we left mum told the man behind the bar that she was only paying because she...

Awoke feeling seedy after my night with the classmates, and getting home last night at half past midnight. Shamefully cancelled an early and rainy forest walk with Brian. Went for a shorter walk later. Had a nice evening in the warm (it has turned rather cold now) rewatching the original Wolf Hall among other things.  The sea today. While not too rough, definitely a touch of winter ominousness about it.

Slept in a bit later than usual, and then had breakfast with Lorraine before preparing myself for the interview with Ruth Padel. Lorraine playing a Bob Dylan song downstairs on the piano before I started recording. Interesting conversation with her, but slightly tricky, lots of extraneous noises, and a car alarm going off, which meant she had to re-record and move into another room and so on. Pleased to have got it recorded. Fingers crossed it will sound okay in the edit.  In the afternoon, Lorraine and I steeled ourselves, and tackled the spare room. It has a wall spanning built in cupboard, which we emptied and began to dissemble. We made a decent start on it. Then I made off to meet Peter and Mark in The Evening Star. Despite Peter telling us his sister in law had died suddenly recently, we had a cheery night. He seems very phlegmatic and philosophical about such things, probably due to his Police work.   We strapped on a nosebag at the Lucky Star at the bottom of Trafalga...

Lorraine and I up early, and had breakfast with Sian. Lorraine stayed at home, making a delicious mushroom wellington and collecting Pat and Maureen. Sian and I went for a stroll along the sunny seafront starting at the happiness sign and walking along to Splash point. I enjoyed having a long chat with her, about all kinds of things from the Gaza situation, Trump, to therapy and the nature of memory.  Back for Sunday lunch. The wellington was delicious. Lorraine had also made an apple and sponge cake, which we ate with custard. Maureen telling stories of childhood to Sian and Lorraine saying these need to be recorded, like Maureen's memory of cooking as a young one, with her sister Rose preparing winkles, and them sticking the little protective discs that winkles have to their faces as decoration. Then Lorraine drove Sian to the station and Pat and Maureen back home, and Lorraine and I with a happy sigh, sank into the gold sofa having had a quiet evening, both quite tired and happy...