under another sun

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...

Sian arrived today, Lorraine met her at the station and they enjoyed doing some shopping together -- and they popped in to see Pat and Maureen's flat. Meanwhile I did a few bits of my own writing, and went to the gym... where yay! I was able to reclaim my lost ear plug case, without which my earphones don't work. Felt good doing some exercise after the excesses of recent days. I seem to be in a very sociable phase. We all hung out in the afternoon chatting, and then I cooked dinner, a tasty chilli even if I say so myself. In the evening we watched a movie called Arbitrage together, starring Richard Gere as a morally dubious money driven guy in extremis. He was excellent in it.

Able to do lots of my own writing -- and had some clear ideas to incorporate. Lorraine off to do Storytime, and see Pat and Maureen. Lorraine and I went out tonight to the Boot where we met, Steve, Patrick, Yvonne and Brian. An interlude of jollity and cheer. Lorraine and I ate there and then sloped home, leaving Patrick and Steve. A nice way to round off the week. The full moon over our house, when Lorraine and I got home.

Got up early and spent the morning prepping an interview I am going to do next Monday with Ruth Padel, rereading the poems formulating questions, and listening to a recent broadcast on R4 she was on. This done by one o'clock. Spoke to Anton this morning. Will see him next week all being well. Lorraine and I rearranged the living room for winter, we also fiddled with radiators, some don't seem to work despite twiddling the twisty things.  A good chat with Toby this afternoon too. He's feeling more settled in D.C. and looking forward to some holidays. Then off to Lewes this evening, and starting a book called Feline Philosophy  by John Grey that Catherine and Tanya bought me. A philosophy book about cats. Purrfect.  Sauntered up the hill at Lewes to the Lewes Arms where I met Mark. We were soon joined by his friend  Keith A Pettit , who Lorraine and I are fans of, and I have a print by him over my desk Lorraine bought me as a present. I found him a deeply interesting g...

Reading poetry by Ruth Padel for the podcast, and doing a bit of my own work. Lorraine off to do Rhyme time and then hang out with her pal Kate for a couple of hours. Then we went to Pat and Maureen's and I sat with Pat while Lorraine took Maureen off to the surgery for an appointment. Pat and I sat chatting looking at the sea, and watching the sunset. I was asking Pat about his love of athletics and how he was a sprinter when young. He said he sometimes thinks about starting running again -- just a mile or so to begin with. You have to admire his ambition at 91. Off this evening out to see Ben. Met him in the Open House and talked in depth for the first time in years -- although we had seen each other at Rick around the corner's party. Really good to catch up with him, he is such a gentle and deep character, interested in things like divine geometry, trans-humanism, ghosts and lots of other stuff that I find really interesting too. We had pizza in the Open House, but I made th...

Happy to be writing the Kenniad again this morning. Lorraine with her hands full helping Pat and Maureen after having to turn back from driving to her personal trainer due to road blockages Me happily writing, then off to the gym after a light lunch. A mild mannered trundle on the cross trainer for half an hour, but the weights covered in schoolboys, so I came home, wanting to press on with my stuff. Realised I had left the recharging case for my special earphones at the gym, so walked back and looked around and asked behind the desk. They were gone. Gah. This means my earphones will no longer work. Lorraine a bit drained this evening, but I enjoyed cooking a chicken stew tonight, and settling on the gold sofa with Mrs Kenny. All well. Did 15.5k paces today. Below Blatchington pond at 4:34 pm.

Sunday, up fairly bright and early and made off to Brighton by train. It being Rememberance Sunday there were lots of people wearing poppies and sombre clothes. I feel a bit conflicted about this. I think those who died in wars should be remembered. But there seems to be a nasty reactionary whiff about it all these days, as if it were some kind of loyalty test. But maybe this is just my own prejudices speaking. In Brighton we met Guy and Tim, Catherine and Tanya in Petit Pois for Sunday lunch. We were early so did a bit of window shopping. Lorraine has her eye on some side tables. We met in the restaurant, and a jolly time was had. We celebrated a belated bumper birthday for Catherine, Guy and me. I got lots of presents, some excellent books, a jar of St Peter's honey and chocolates. Had a really tasty lunch, and then as is now traditional floated off to Brass Monkey's for ice cream and coffee outside. Lovely conversation with all of them as usual. Lorraine and I made our way h...

Up fairly early and a last breakfast at La Barbarie: scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and some toast, plus cereal fruit and teas. Back to the room to pack and pay up. A lovely stay, and we were very sorry to go so quickly. Then a slow toddle to Icart, and sat looking at the sea, still fairly calm. Walked around the clifftop and took in views of Moulin Huet bay and the Dog and Lion and Saints Bay and then headed back to the hotel. Had a last sandwich there, thick ham, Guernsey butter and English mustard, plus a pint of Liberation. We had been made to feel extremely welcome at La Barbarie. A slightly amazing journey back. The travel Gods firmly on our side. The taxi was early, the Auringy plane took off ten minutes early, the flight smooth and fast climbing up eastwards from Guernsey so that I could look out on St Martin's Point and Moulin Huet Bay one more time before we slipped up above the low, still layer of clouds. Before we knew it back at Gatwick and were shortly on a train to Ea...

Feeling brighter and rested this morning. A vegetarian Guernsey breakfast this morning. And a bit of writing of the Kenniad before a lovely walk down to Moulin Huet, but cut left along the cliff path instead of going the last bit down to the sea. Gorgeous views, of course, and we sat listening to the sighing of the sea and deeply feeling that all was right with the world. Like the rest of the channel and most of the UK we had not seen the sun so far, but it made no difference. Then back on the path, and cut up and went down the back lanes to where the wishing well. However it was full of dry leaves, and so wishing was impossible. Walked back down dog lane. Still can picture the savage canine criminal in the first house from about fifty five years ago, then past the shell of La Bella Luce on towards the Captains where Lorraine and I simply had a couple of beers. Not many people there and they weren't serving lunch by the time we arrived. A lovely pint of Butcombe however, and I coul...

So a lovely breakfast in La Barbarie and then a bit of a toddle around the parish, all very overcast however. I popped into the graveyard to say hello to my grandparents, and into the supermarket to buy Richard a bottle of wine for his birthday. And myself a bottle of coke, aka the black doctor, as I was feeling the need for sugar or liquid or something.  On the way back to the hotel, we paused to say hello to La Gran'mère, as is only right and proper. Back to the hotel, where we met Richard and Jane for lunch. A very cheery time, and lovely to see the pair of them.  Richard looking as twinkly eyed as ever, and Jane regal. Lots to catch up on. They always seem to be having adventures, but also have had a very testing time after their home was flooded from above -- they had to move out for months, and now there is more work due upstairs. Still they were both in fine form, and busy being creative as ever.  Afterwards a bit of flaking out for Lorraine and I, enjoying a quiet...

An alarming start: 6:45. I'd had a wretched night's sleep. Seems the that orange faced malignant narcissistic rapist racist criminal devil Trump has beaten Kamala Harris to the presidency. Shameful.  Lorraine and I up blearily, and after breakfast and faffing about, caught a train to Brighton, and arrived delayed at Gatwick. Realised at Seaford station I had left my phone at home. No trains via Lewes due to a points failure, so via Brighton to Gatwick. However planes delayed here due to fog, probably mixed up with yesterday's gunpowder. Astonishingly, however, our boarding was only delayed by half an hour of so.  The flight was fine. The small twin engined prop taking off like a flying coach all very smooth. Cramped inside however, but very happy to see Guernsey for the first time in two and a half years as we finally dropped below the low blanket of cloud.  A taxi from the airport. The most miserable taxi driver I've ever met, completely down on every aspect of Guernse...

Uncle Steve again for breakfast. Lorraine microwaved some porridge for him, till it exploded. Then Lorraine off to Eastbourne with Maureen for occupational therapy discussions about showers. Steve hung out with Pat, then made his way home. I had enjoyed getting to know him better.  I spent the morning working on the Kenniad, also getting ready for tomorrow's journey. Also wasted hours having ordered some diazepam from the surgery some time ago. I like to have one with me just in case when I am flying.  After three visits to the pharmacy, three visits to the surgery where just before close of play,  my doctor appeared to explain that I couldn't prescribed this, due to the fact that they couldn't be insured in case someone was drowsy when they needed to escape the plane. Infuriating waste of time.  Meanwhile an email from Auringy saying that there might be a problem with the flight tomorrow.  Home from the futile business at the surgery pausing to quaff a  pi...

A pretty quiet, getting on with it sort of day. Lorraine's Uncle Steve with us for Breakfast, who shared a graphic account of his stroke a few years ago, which, as a hypochondriac I found a bit twitch inspiring. Lorraine and Steve made off to Pat and Maureen's place. I did a spot more recording with Robin, and later some editing. Also did more work on the Kenniad between things. Trying to not talk about this too much, just work.  Off to the gym, at lunchtime. First time in a while, which was pleasing. Then a few more bits till Uncle Steve and Lorraine came back having taken Pat and Maureen off to get their injections. A quiet night in, chatting with Steve and watching a spot of telly. Nice to get to know him a bit better.  The US election voting tomorrow. God help us if Trump wins.

To Stanmer Park, to pick up the results of our pottery workshop, imprinting bits of plants or lace into the clay. We were pleased with the bits we got back.  Then we drove into Brighton, down Osbourne Road where we lived, and into Preston Park. We walked across the park, which was looking lovely, to the breast clinic as Lorraine had an appointment for a scan. We had been worrying about this for a couple of weeks, but after two scans and a chat with doctor we were very reassured to learn there was nothing to worry about. Feeling greatly relieved, a saunter back across the park. We drove to Anton's house, picking him up to go off for a cheeky drink in the Brick on Preston Street. Good to see him, and play a game of bones. Anton, greatly to his satisfaction, slaughtered everyone. I barely got a point. He showed us some photos of Oskar modelling clothes, and told us he'd seen Klaudia that day, and generally caught up a bit. I drank some dark lager which was lovely. Lorraine and I h...

Up and off to de-fright myself for Halloween by training off to Brighton. A coffee around the corner from the barbers, the bought more green ink from Pen to Paper for the wee pen Anton got me. Despite its association with poison pen letters I am loving writing in my favourite colour. Then into Clippers to let Stacy do his thing. Lots of banter today. I like being so much a part of the wallpaper there. Harry the Bastard due next week.   Then back to Seaford for a two hour on the understory conversation. It was only Emma and Charlotte today for various health reasons. Read them the first part of the Kenniad. Nevertheless a good session, and they liked my poem very much and so I was much encouraged.  A walk afterwards, and reached my daily step target. Walked out later to the station to pick up Lorraine who had been hanging out with Rosie this afternoon, and they had egged each other on to do a spot of retail therapy. I got some new underpants, so was well happy.   Lorraine ...

More work on the big poem, before breakfast with Lorraine, Maxine, Simon and Amelia. A cheery start to the day, with coffee, scrambled eggs, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes and toast. They all nipped off to see Pat and Maureen while I prepared a bean jar, and got that going. Said a fond farewell to Maxine, Simon and Amelia, having really enjoyed their visit.  Later more writing, and reached a complete first draft of the first of what I hope will be three parts to the Kenniad. Showed it to Lorraine who liked it lots. Then Steve, Adele and Patrick arrived and we spent the next few hours reading Henry IV part one. I was reading Falstaff, which was fun. Our guests struggled down my bean jar with good grace, and then we had a gorgeous crumble Lorraine had made. Much enjoyment of the play, and it was good having Steve as part of the ensemble. This bardic business done by ten, and Lorraine and I had a quiet hour to ourselves on the gold sofa before bed.

Up early, and working on the Kenniad this morning, it is going well. Lorraine round to help Pat and Maureen sort out some legal stuff on the flat purchase, and also cook for them as Maureen has picked up a cold. Had strangely stiff buns today, whatever I was doing in the garden yesterday made my bum quite sore. To Gyndebourne this afternoon, a rather grand and marvellous thing to be doing on a Monday afternoon.  We were supposed to go with Yvonne and Brian, who had bought me my ticket as a birthday present, but Yvonne had a vomiting bug caught from her grandchildren, so we were collected by Guy and Barbara who used their tickets instead. Guy and Barbara collected us, and drove us there, which is only about fifteen minutes or so from here. Lorraine and I were convinced we had not seen La Traviata before, but as soon as I saw the set, I recognised it from the last opera we had seen, La Traviata, here, in October 2018. The set, costumes and so on pretty minimal and underwhelming. But ...

Both feeling brighter. Lorraine and I worked in the garden for a couple of hours, sweeping the patio of leaves, and doing things to the fish pond, like cutting back the irises, which were crowding out the fish, cleaning the filter and cutting back lots of the overgrowing elodea and so on. A trip to the supermarket, buying our stuff plus Pat and Maureen's in two trolleys. I walked the bags into Pat and Maureen's place, and Pat walked me back to the lifts, which was nice. Spoke to Mum, who had met Robert in the Waggon and Horses, and ate roast lamb which she found disgusting. I am going to meet her in Hampstead next week. Lorraine cooked a gorgeous lentil and chicken curry tonight. I tidied my study a bit. Chelsea beat Newcastle, meaning Match of the Day was all watchable. Chelsea's Cole Palmer is currently the best player in the league. An astonishing talent, and Chelsea are building the team around him and look fantastic. He is a joy to watch. Another episode of The Bear. F...

Lorraine and I got married 11 years ago today. We had planned to go out for a meal, and be adventurous, but we both had a weird surging gurgling stomach bug so simply lay low instead. A really enjoyable day nevertheless. 

Up and working on The Big Poem. It seems to be in three sections. The first of these is most complete and is currently clocking in at 90 lines. Reminded of being at University in my first year and embarking on an epic poem, came to be known by me and my university pals, as The Kenniad . Perhaps this new poem should be known as the New Kenniad.  Then breakfast, and Lorraine went off to do story time, and see Pat and Maureen. Sywia arrived, and got busy. I worked a bit more, then mooched off to the gym a little before noon.  No gas in the tank today, however, and only managed a bit of trundling on the cross trainer. But I figure a certain amount of trundling is still better than no trundling. Feeling very hungry, so came home via Morrisons where I bought a few bits, including Creepy Crumpets, formed int he shape of ghosts with three dots for a face. After eating lunch, more recording and a general poddy discussion. In the evening, Lorraine and I went to the Old Boot. Both of us ...

Up and looking at my poem for a while, then breakfast with my lovely wife, and a spot of recording with Robin. Shortly before I started, I heard workmen replaced the entire streetlight outside. I looked out at one point, and saw one of them leaning into the side of the lorry, having a crafty wee. His doing this dressed head to toe in hi-vis clothing made me laugh. Had to record on Lorraine's dressing table due to the noise in my office, but all was fine. Then Lorraine and I drove through the glorious morning to Marchants Hardy Plants, which was having a closing down sale. We selected ten pots of things, several interesting grasses, a fern and other delights for the garden. Very nice to be there mooching around, such was the glory of the day, bright sun, blue skies, autumn in full flow. We stoped off at Alfriston on the way home, fuelled by talk of being spontaneous. We went into the first pub we passed, called The Star. We were expecting pub grub, but found ourselves in what has th...

Up after a good night's sleep to work first thing on the new long new poem which I did off and on all morning, when not having breakfast doing a few emails, organising a haircut and similar bits of minor admin. The poem is progressing well, if slowly.   Went for a walk around lunchtime, and mooched about under a blue sky down by the sea for a bit. As I returned home, Lorraine, Pat and Maureen were in the car, and I met them in Pomegranate cafe for a spot of lunch. Lorraine and I had very nice sourdough toast, with smoked salmon and avocado. Maureen taking her hearing aid out as soon as we they got inside, so I had to communicate in sign language. Pleasant folks there though.  Lorraine then took them shopping in Seaford, Maureen buying herself lots of earrings, and I mooched home to happily preparing for some podcast recordings later this week. Researching Kawaii , or the Japanese culture of Cuteness, after reading excellent poems about cuteness by Isabel Galleymore. Cuteness,...

Lorraine off to her personal trainer, and then taking Pat to the doctor's this afternoon. I worked productively on the Long Poem this morning, also listening and slightly editing Robin's latest interview. We are getting things done early, as she and I are both away over the next couple of weeks. Heard from Chris at Seahaven poets, and he said he would give me a reading in Seaford soon, which was kind and something to look forward to.  Went to the gym today, and felt good and have now got back to doing half an hour on the cross-trainer, and a variety of mild mannered weights. Cooked this evening, and felt fairly virtuous and healthy. Early to bed tonight, where I read a chunk of Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury, and Lorraine was reading a crime novel. Parts of Dandelion Wine seem very familiar, I probably read it when I was in my early teens. He had a lovely use of language, and it is full of nostalgia for a lost childhood. I remember reading Bradbury when I was a kid, and think...