under another sun

Morning spent doing bits of admin, like securing a new interviewee for the podcast, and a little bit of writing. Lorraine doing story time in the Library, then taking fish and chips around to Pat and Maureen and hanging out with them for a bit. Then this evening she collected Ken from Lewes Station, who is here to spend a day with Pat and Maureen tomorrow. Early evening off to meet Anton in Brighton. Fascinated by a woman talking loudly from Bishopstone to Brighton about the care of dogs, including the benefits of feeding them cumin.   Brighton lively and the pubs full, it being a pay day Friday. Had a bite to eat in The Hampton, and then drifted down to the Brick looking out for the great parade of planets. Before ducking in for a glasses of their two thirds of a pint beers, and played some bones, where I continued my losing streak. Great to catch up despite having to devoted a few minutes to raging about Trump and the end of the postwar order.  Anton doing a little painting ...

A beautiful night's sleep in my own bed, and woke up early and full of cheer. Did some writing, made breakfast and enjoyed this with Lorraine and after going back to my desk for a bit, went off to the gym at lunchtime and did a few bits in there. Didn't over tax myself this afternoon, and apart from chatting to Mum, Toby briefly, and making dinner for Lorraine who'd taken Maureen to a physiotherapist and spent some time with them after, we boofed onto the gold sofa. I began reading  Wonderful Life by Stephen Jay Gould published in 1986, who Peter Hoibak steered me onto when I said I was interested in the Burgess Shale and the Cambrian explosion. One of my Cambrian favourites Anomalocaris, which means unusual shrimp. Mainly because they found its evil curly arm things separately and initially misclassified them as shrimp. Anomalocaris was perhaps the first top predator.   

Breakfast at the Rhinefield hotel, Maureen slipping Jerry some cash very discreetly. A nice breakfast, then packing. Pat and I left to our own devices for an hour and a half while Maureen had her nails done and had a facial massage. Pat kept asking me where they'd gone shopping. We were looking out of the windows of the bar area at the pond and fountains and sipping tea. Then we all slowly loaded into the car, under the big tree with what I think was a raven making some gruff noises at the top. A drive through the forest then Eastwards back to Seaford. Stopped at a Marks and Sparks at the Holmbush Centre, then rapidly to Pat and Maureen's place, before getting home. Happy to be there. I cooked some pasta then Lorraine went off to Eastbourne to start a course in pottery. Having been cooped up all day, I went for a long walk mooching about on the seafront, looking at the lovely colours that hung about in the sky after sunset. There is a procession of planets at the moment, but th...

Feeling brighter today. Up and looking forward to a large breakfast. A much nicer day, and we decided to take a walk in the trees in the hotel grounds. Lorraine had borrowed a wheelchair, which Maureen used, and the four of us toddled about, getting stuck in mud and so on, but having a good time. Maureen and Pat enjoying being in the woods, and hearing a gronk-ing sound made by a large raven on the top of a very tall tree. Pat mentioning being Patrick Woods as we walked into them. Back into the bar, to share a sandwich.  I went for a longer walk in the forest and the hotel grounds this afternoon. Pretty squelchy underfoot in places but beautiful to be surrounded by trees. You can sense the desire to Spring into new growth all around you. Then a bit of looking at Gordon Road, before a bit of quiet time. We opted to go to the restaurant tonight. I had an absolutely delicious pear tart with white chocolate ice cream and sorrel and stem ginger. Really complex and yummy. Jerry our waite...

Woke up in the Rhinefield House Hotel. Breakfast, with us trundling variously to the other side of the hotel. Incredibly polite and friendly staff. I was feeling a bit out of sorts first thing, with a slight temperature but perked up. After breakfast we went for a toddle around the grounds, letting ourselves in at the back through a side door at the back. Maureen enjoying this despite having to clamber up stairs and so on. Some beautiful rooms here.  We sat in the bar area drinking tea after this, and while the others read a bit or knitted, I managed to do some good work on Gordon Road. After a very light lunch, I went for a short walk into the forest. At one point a shaft of sunlight, it was mostly cloudy, fell on a mossy tree. It was the greenest thing in the forest and blazed out. It was as if I had watched the invention of green. I squelched across to the tree, but of course the light was never the same. Beautiful though.  In the afternoon Lorraine and Maureen attempted to...

Up early and packing then off to Pat and Maureen's to collect them into the car too. Joy next door looking after Brian while we are gone. Lorraine drove us off to the New Forest, with a stop at a service station for a snack. Suddenly felt rather sick in the Leon we ate in, but it passed. There only twenty minutes to the hotel, driving past the odd New Forest Pony in the rain. Absolutely hosing down when we arrived. I nipped out of the car and pulled people's coats out of the boot, and dealt myself a blow to the side of my hooded head from the hatch. Then we scurried across. Beautiful hotel. We sat in the bar and ate there in the afternoon. It overlooks a pond with fountains in it. The staff very polite and helpful. The rooms nice too. Played dominoes with Lorraine and Patrick this evening, and drank rather nice pint or two of Brooklyn Lager. Everyone to bed early.  Here are Pat and Lorraine, at an angle.

Printed out a full first draft of the long poem Gordon Road now. Some of it still a bit sketchy and prosaic, but the overall shape is there. Now it is just a case of buffing away at the clunkily prosaic bits. Saw the cover of Supernatural Tales for the Spring issue.  What's Inside  is the first story in the issue, and so my name was top of the list. I felt rather smug about this.  I was also contacted by Chris from Seahaven poets wanting a photo etc. for promoting my reading in Seaford in April. Imposter syndrome unusually low today.  Meanwhile Lorraine got one of the gardeners back to deal with a few bits that were missed the other day.   She is so good at dealing with people.  Lorraine spent some time with Pat and Maureen. Then sent my blood pressure readings off to the surgery (being a wuss I have outsourced this to her). Next she and Beth and James drove off to Basingstoke, to stay overnight before Glenice's funeral tomorrow. Shortly after she left, B...

Writing this morning. Lorraine off to her personal trainer today on a different day because it is half term. Half terms pass with barely a whimper now Lorraine is no longer a head teacher.  Feel a bit antsy, so took a long walk this afternoon, letting my feet lead me first towards Newhaven then doubling back to trace the edgelands of Seaford, past some rather grand houses, and an impressive luxury old folks home, and at least one golf course, and the end of fields, and winding up at the cemetery. I generally enjoy cemeteries but I was cold and a bit tired so didn't ghoulishly hang about. Good to be home to the simple pleasures of cups of hot tea, and a spot of cooking. 

After breakfast I nipped out to Morrisons. Bumped into Steve on the way, and a swankily dressed Delores on the way back. The friendliness of a Small town. Innis and Rosie came around this afternoon with Pippi, and we had a walk in Friston Forest. Pippi springing about like a lamb. Went to a bit of it I'd not been to. Nice to get some fresh, cold air before a Sunday roast at home. Innis had a 'shout' first thing this morning, but it turned out to be a large piece of floating wood in the sea and not a person. I asked Rosie about her job to do with helping refugees integrate and learn English. She is doing good work. A cheery afternoon of talking about many things and swapping book recommendations.  Below a lovely view of Cuckmere Haven from a break in the trees, and the ladies walking ahead with Pippi.

Saturday, and a late breakfast. Early afternoon, while Lorraine went to see Beth to discuss baby clothes, I went back to the gym. I had some trepidation having evilled my stomach muscles lifting up the tumble dryer. However I was able to trundle happily on the cross trainer and do a few other bits on weight machines without alarms or re-injuring myself. I didn't do the much needed stomach crunches however, just in case. At half past five off to the Lewes Depot cinema to see Ghost Cat Anzu a Japanese film with beautiful backdrops and anime characters. All rather lovely. The story fun too, about a girl with a deadbeat dad, and a dead mother being left with her grandfather in a temple in the country. While staying there alone with her grandfather, she is looked after by a ghost cat, who can drive a moped, and uses a mobile phone, and walks upright (and works as a masseuse). They have many adventures, including going back to the land of the dead to talk to the mother. Lots of weird cha...

Much less spinny headed. The vertigo is abating. Up early, and did some good writing before nine. Feeling in a much happier place now with Gordon Road. Still lots of work to be done, but much of it has taken shape. The podcast episode finally up this morning. I did a light bit of social media.  It was Valentine's Day today, but I had completely forgotten to get Lorraine a card. So she held off until I bought one, and a nice pot with succulents in it. The pot reminded me of the little wedding doll Romy had given her.  The house a hive of activity this morning. Sylwia here cleaning. With two nice guys Jake and Oscar rotivating and removing thick grass and rotivating the ground on our wild section. Which currency looks anything but wild. The idea is now to insert through the membrane native plants rather than tough grasses. I chatted to them, and they were both in a band, Jake acts and sings (he is a pal of Beth's) and Oscar does architectural drawings and plans. Nice men, and sp...

Writing a bit morning. But not having not heard anything from Robin, who is on a death doula course, I followed up and found she had sent me the edited episode on Tuesday night, which I had somehow deleted unopened and unseen. I found it later in my mail bin. Robin had edited it, and found something I had to re-record. Going live is bumped till tomorrow. Having slogged all day on Tuesday to get it ready early, and then Robin having done the work on Tuesday night, irritated that I still managed to create a last minute frenzy.  Popped out at lunchtime for some light shopping. Am in the mood to get to grips with medical things: some toenail paint for a fungal toenail, and also I strapped on the blood pressure measuring wristband, and will keep it on for a few days to be able to send results into the doctor. Wearing the wristband is a good solution, as I get horrendous white coat syndrome. And I outsource looking at the app to Mrs Kenny, who sort it all out, and emails the results to t...

An easier day, after hours of editing yesterday.  Did some good writing this morning, while Lorraine was doing rhyme time. Avoided global news. In the afternoon I took a long walk along the seafront, the yellow trucks replacing all the shingle that had been washed to other parts of the beach. Those yellow trucks do important work in maintaining the sea defences. The sky was mostly dark and threatening, and the sea was actually lighter than the sky, which I like.   

Continued with the Brandt-Daroff exercises today, and felt a good deal improved, steady enough in fact for a half an hour walk after sunset and only felt like I was falling over once or twice.  Spent the morning recording with Robin, and the rest of the day editing, getting the first cut of the episode over to Robin at tea time. Robin told me she and Nick found themselves buying a car the other day, and that she is, this week, starting a course about becoming an end of life doula.  Meanwhile Betty and James had been in A&E in Brighton overnight. Beth having had worrying abdominal pains. However, this was due to a severe indigestion made worse by the baby pressing weirdly. Luckily,  all well.  Once up and breakfasted, Lorraine off to her personal trainer,  then to see Pat and Maureen and later took Beth back to the hospital for a scheduled scan, where they saw the baby sucking his thumb. I spent the day at my desk Lorraine home again, but just as I was starti...

Up before the sparrows and working on finishing the edit of my conversation with Ruth Padel, which took about five hours.  Not long after I finished, and sent the file off to Robin, my day given over to my worst-ever bout of vertigo. I immediately began the Brandt-Daroff exercises  which have helped lots in the past. Today as I did the exercises my head span nauseatingly or minutes at a time. Floaty, lurchy feelings for the rest of the day, which nixed plans for a walk or trying the gym again. Feeling a bit more steady in the evening.  

Doing some editing of my interview with Ruth Padel for the podcast for a couple of hours this morning. A wintery wet day, and my mood was a bit on the lowish side too. But no time for that, as Lorraine's Uncle Steve, Pat and Maureen and Beth and James came around for Sunday lunch.  Lorraine and I cooked roast pork and roast chicken. I gave Pat and Maureen a nip of PX sherry which Maureen loved. Uncle Steve lively and on good form. James, who was fighting off a cold, had been racing his bike at 9:00am at Preston Park, with Beth being his loyal supporter. It's love. Eeveryone melted away. Steve back to Margate with Pat and Maureen's spare keys in his pocket.  I called Mum for a chat, then Lorraine and I lurked. I watched some FA cup stuff. Chelsea already out, and then some more Frasier.  To bed, and I read Lorraine All Summer in a Day , a story from by giant book of most of the short stories written by Ray Bradbury. Set on a rainy Venus, and first published in 1954. It is ...

Started doing some editing this morning for the podcast. Lorraine out with Beth having coffee and  shopping. I got cheesed off with looking at the screen so went for a long walk in the cold. The sea strangely green today, despite the grey sky. Passed a car near splash point, with two old blokes eating sandwiches sat in the front seats. Standing on the bonnet were two seagulls, side by side as the men were, looking in at them and their sandwiches longingly.  Once home again, felt disinclined to do much. Watched some football on TV. A bit of a motivation bypass today, and couldn't settle to read  either. I took a nice photo of a teasel though. And two crows. Tumbleweed not pictured.

Worked really hard on the poem this morning, and in rewriting managed to completely wreck one of the sections. Felt somewhat cheesed off by this. I will have to give it a break and revisit when I can see the wood for the trees. Feeling a bit drained this afternoon. A cheery evening in The Old Boot Inn, however, celebrating Steve's 71st birthday in the Boot. Brian and Yvonne, Delores, Matthew, and Steve's Cameroonian pal Gilbert, who I met a couple of years ago. Gilbert had some interesting takes on politics. While I was there Toby called from DC. Following the news over here in Blighty, it seems what's going on in the US sounds like a dystopian novel. 

Writing this morning. Another good day. Lorraine took the car for its MOT. Later we both time in the garden, in an interlude of sun. Mainly sweeping and tidying as I'm still being wary about my stomach muscles having picked up the tumble drier. In the afternoon had a pot of Early Gray tea with Joy and Jim next door. Finished Otherlands by Thomas Halliday. Jolly good travelling back through geological time to various points where the earth seems quite alien. Hellebores in the garden. Apparently I read that the powdered root was documented by both Dioscorides and Pliny to treat melancholy, insanity, worms and induce vomiting. Apparently they are very toxic. However, a lovely winter plant in our Seaford garden.

Writing well this morning, and the satisfaction of feeling I am making real progress. This not at all hampered by Jack the electrician coming and doing some work in the spare room, There will be light over Lorraine's desk when the decorating is done. Nice chat with Anton this morning too.  Pat and Maureen took refuge here as their new carpet was being laid in their bedroom and hallway.  In the evening I made off to the Evening Star in Brighton, where I met up with Mark and Peter, first time this year. A really enjoyable evening. After a couple of drinks we ended up in Casa Don Carlos where we had tapas and shared a good bottle of red wine, then to the Bath Arms for an absolute bloody final. Brighton quiet and lifeless, despite it being a rainy Wednesday night in February. Things never quite recovered after Covid. Discussed with Mark the poem he had written, took a good book recommendation from Peter about the Burgess Shale, something I have been interested in for some time. Ar...