under another sun

Up and at 'em this morning, submitting two short stories. I've had a big burst of writing lately, and felt like my brain needs refuelling.  I have half an idea for another story.  Lorraine took Pat to Eastbourne and then did Rhymetime, about a dozen babies and their adults this morning. Beth had to go to physio briefly this morning so the little lad was with us for a spell around lunchtime. Off to the gym this afternoon, and then home to chat to Mum who was quite chipper, and off to see her pals up the road this evening. I assembled a salad for supper for Lorraine and I. Sat on the gold sofa chatting for a while.  Then to the Cinque Ports to meet Steve, who'd been in Leicester for much of July as his mother is recovering from a broken leg and a broken foot on the other limb. While we were in the pub, the jukebox played a song by Yes, called South Side of the Sky. I have never heard anything from Yes's classic period played in a pub before.   Then to Steamworks. Weird...

To London this morning, via Brighton as the line from Lewes is still not safe. Doing some writing on the train, also asking Chat GPT about potential markets for my short stories. It is brilliant, like having a an efficient assistant. Arrived at Hampstead a little early and got chatting to the transport for London staff member, while waiting. She pointed out two people running through the barriers, who had just stolen things from the little confectioner newsagents in the station.  When Mum arrived we made off to The Old White Bear. She told me she has been in touch with Steve from the Waggon, who was pleased to hear from her, and told her where they now drink. Which is a pub on the same route that she drives to the Waggon. It had closed for a few years, but has now reopened.  This is great as Mum can see her drinking pals again. Mum had pea soup again, and I had an arancini. We sat next to a woman with a dog, which Mum liked lots. The Polish woman told us in her loud and cheery...

A monkish Monday, as Lorraine was with Maureen all day, and was a bit zonko when she returned. However she did arrive with a present for me: a new jam thermometer, one with a sensible metal prong, with a dial at the top of it. Sometimes, and this is one of them, I feel like this has been ghost written by Charles Pooter.  I completed proofing and tweaking a short story called Good Boy, and is, among other things, about unspeakable canines. If published (I sent it off this evening) it won't play well in Barking or the Isle of Dogs.  Otherwise: to the gym. Later, I cooked us a cheeky curry and watched a documentary about Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. How City have done so well under Pep beats me. I wonder how his players can understand what he says in his briefings. Luckily Amazon have subtitled it. We went to bed early to read. Blissfully cool night air. All well.  Charles Pooter, on the right of the drawing.

A  'jam Sunday' where L and I allow ourselves an extra toast with jam, today it was my homemade plum jam. I am boastful about the jam.  Then L and I surged out into the garden. Lorraine busy with lots of bits above my pay grade such as pruning raspberries, and re-seeding our trug with salad vegetables.  I attended to what's left of the raised veggie beds after the relentless heatwaves.The beans did really well, partially because the wretched snails have had to hide.  I picked a few more to have with our dinner (beans not snails), plus a few leaves of spinach which have recovered after laying their leaves on the ground like limp rags. The celeriacs have not balled up at all, a few leeks have survived, but are thin and small. Perhaps they will all plump up now that there is lots of rain in the forecast.    I deadheaded roses in the front garden, wondering if we should make rose hip syrup, like Mum did once or twice. Under Lorraine's supervision I also took cu...

Lorraine off to Hove to get her hair cut today. I finalised the pamphlet-length MS and sent it off. It contains poems that mess with the fabric of reality, they are very marmite. I hope they like marmite. Then off to Brighton to meet Mrs Kenny, with her lovely glossy hair. We mooched up St James's road, and stopped in the pub called The Saint James, where we went on our first date for a quick drink before heading to the restaurant that used to be across the road. A chaotic, but friendly pub these days. A large blue and yellow macaw had pride of place on a tall stand at the back of the room, and apparently had form in stealing people's earrings. Someone having their photo taken with it, while their dog barking continuously at it. Another dog joined in and there was an ear splitting cacophony. Meanwhile a bloke sat on our tabletop to look at the racing scores. The pizza we had ordered to share took an age to come, but was excellent when it did. We drank some lemonade shandy there...

Up and finalising the manuscript for a new pamphlet I've been writing in a frenzy for the last few weeks. For better or worse it is done, and I just have to send it off now. Another private feeling of accomplishment. I've entered it into a competition so nothing much more to do with it for the time being, as the results won't be announced till next year. Then I went to the gym, now that I am over my cold. Enjoyed it. Lorraine busy, taking Pat to Eastbourne this morning. Then she brought Maureen home. In preparing a lunchtime bite for us all, I went to the glasshouse and picked a particularly gnarled, knobbly cucumber with prickles, which I showed to Maureen who was appalled by it and refused to believe it was a cucumber. She ate some of it though. A long chat with Maureen this afternoon, after she'd had an afternoon doze. It gives her a bit of a break when Pat goes off for the day, and Pat seems to enjoy it. When  Lorraine drove off to Eastbourne to collect Pat in the a...

Occasional bursts of torrential rain from about 4 am -- and excited by more heavy rain this morning. Love it. I wore long trousers for the first time in months. My writing is still flowing and it would be absurd not to just go with that flow.  Lorraine took Enzo for a swimming lesson this morning, which he enjoyed greatly, and so did Lorraine. Other than writing, I made some more plum jam. I added too much pectin, so the jam is quite thick, but spreadable. It tastes good though, and I chucked in a cinnamon stick while it was cooking, and lots of lemon.  Then, as Enzo seems mad for transport, especially cars, we took him on a train ride to Lewes, which he quite enjoyed. We had a quick drink in a cafe, and brought him back again. He was very interested in the journey and in our fellow passengers.

It was raining in the early hours of the morning, and it rained on and off most satisfactorily until midday. Wonderful rain in just the right amount. At 8am I opened the kitchen door to enjoy the aromas of the petrichor. The rain seems almost miraculous after months of drought. A cold this morning, sneezing and snuffling somewhat. I had to cancel seeing Brian, as the last thing he needs is a cold a few days before his knee op. Although I wasn't feeling physically wonderful, I had a wonderful day's writing.  Lunch with Lorraine, while Beth and Enzo were here. They'd been swimming this morning. Beth said Enzo has no fear and swims happily underwater. Then an afternoon nap.  Afterwards editing a story I'd written about seven years ago, but hadn't been able to sort out. Have the feeling I am a better writer now, and what I needed to do was crystal clear. This is sort of exhilarating. Chatted to Mum. Lorraine and I in the garden before dinner, picking tomatoes and green ...

Up early to go to Hampstead. Moisture in the air, a light, minuscule drops that didn't darken the pavement or my shirt.  Had to travel via Brighton after the crash on the Lewes line. The train stopped on the viaduct in Brighton, and I got a view of Preston Park, which was baked earth between the trees. Did some editing of poems on the train, but began to feel out of sorts on the way up to Hampstead. I have a bit of a cold, which I hope I didn't give to Mum.  Muggy in Hampstead. I met Mum at the station as usual, and we toddled down to the Old White Bear, which we both like as our special meeting place. Her amigos at the Waggon seem to have abandoned that place, and perhaps drink elsewhere. Toby called me while we were in the Bear, saying he hadn't been able to reach Mum, but they said hello. We sat in a different seat today, with views of different bears, as interlopers had moved into our usual corner, and we had our usual fare, pea and lovage soup for Mum, and a sourdough ...

Lorraine and Beth taking Enzo off to his hospital appointment today. It seems he has a condition where certain foods, such as cows milk, react badly with him, not immediately but in half an hour or so. It's a kind of juvenile protein intolerance, which should right itself as he grows up. Beth, Lorraine and Enzo spent time with Pat and Maureen after, with Lorraine not returning till five. A quiet day for me, I heard from Robin, spoke to Mum, and worked intermittently at writing. Yvonne contacted me. She will have extensive nursing duties when Brian gets back from hospital after his knee replacement. I arranged to see Brian later in the week. I also went to the gym and had a good workout, to sweatily atone for the weekend wrongs.  Lorraine got to the bottom of her mysterious shoulder rash. From the greenhouse, brushing against cucumber leaves.  

Up and about feeling a bit jaded. The sky somewhat overcast today, but with no rain. Soon Lorraine was driving us off to Mark and Carol's house, down country lanes three miles outside Lewes. Peter and Julie had already arrived, and Mark was soon matter-of-factly hosing the barbecue with lighter fluid to get it going, and soon he was busy cooking big prawns and salmon and burgers and sausages, add these to excellent salads and plenty of beer and good conversation and it was a happy afternoon. Their garden was a kind of English idyll, with established apple trees, and burgeoning flower beds. Cheery banter about children and grandchildren and so on, Mark telling the story of how the actor Bob Hoskins admired his Dame, when he was dressed in drag as part of the local theatre group in support of  a charity, and everyone pleased for me when I mentioned the book, Mr Hoibak shaking me warmly by the hand.   We all left around 7, and on returning home, I simply sat about on the gold sof...

Enzo first thing. Sitting between us on the bed. All very sweet. I fed him this morning with his breakfast mashed Weetabix and blueberries, after he'd shown no interest in it half an hour before. Beth and James called round and hung out chatting while the bambino had a nap. We are going to go to France soon for a cheeky week.   Lorraine potting again today, and having a much needed day of downtime. Chatted to Mum to decide on what day I'm seeing her. I went to the gym, then I made off in the evening to Brighton to meet up with Anton.    A lot to discuss. Work has been hell and it has been making him consider his options. We mooched about in Brighton, shooting the breeze. He said he had found a YouTube video of Psychobilly band called Guano Batz, that had played in the Klub Foot in the Albany pub in 1987. It had been close to  Hammersmith Station, but long gone now. He had found film of himself in the crowd. It's like time travel.  We stopped at an Afghani take a...

I spent the morning writing in a blur of productivity. I am feeling really happy with it all at the moment. Spent time with Lorraine in the studio, where she was doing pottery, but all the pots ended up being squished.  Off to Brighton this afternoon. Getting on the train at Seaford, I bumped into Adrian and Laura. Had a nice chat with them. Adrian asked me if my teeshirt was a fashion thing. No it was inside out. Later I put on my bifocals, and they simply collapsed with the lens and screw popping out. Luckily I found it. A  spot of shopping, and then a cheeky haircut. My teeshirt soaking with sweat after sitting under the little nylon cape, and on a leather chair for almost an hour. Tracy labouring in the heat, and some bloke back from Australia after splitting from his wife who wouldn't stop talking to him meant it all took much longer.  Home to change my teeshirt, and see Lorraine, who'd collected Enzo from nursery. The little boy very coldy. Beth and James were celeb...

A sweltering night, and only fitful sleep. An Enzo day, and his cold is much better. Lorraine off early and returned with the baby boy, and we spent much of the day indoors avoiding the peak of this incredible heatwave, 38.1C at Kew today. This is the fifth heatwave of the summer. It's beginning to remind me of Chad. A little cooler in Seaford but extremely uncomfortable, and barely any wind. Clothes are bone dry when we hang them outside in no time. Mum is managing as well as can be expected. But it is all getting too much for everyone. The heat also caused buckling on the train lines near Lewes. In the afternoon I heard the sirens of emergency vehicles and it seemed like a big shout. Turns out the Victoria to Eastbourne train had derailed and two people were seriously injured. Luckily the train was approaching Lewes so was moving fairly slowly.  A bit sobering  as this is the train from Lewes I catch to see Mum in London.  When not playing with Enzo I was frenziedly wri...

Infernally hot, which made me feel better about not seeing Mum today.  Also seven very itchy mosquito bites from somewhere. Otherwise I had another brilliant morning's work, until in the afternoon it was too hot to do much. Lorraine taking Pat off to Eastbourne this morning. He was sick on the way there and on the way back. Otherwise Maureen lurked with us in the back garden for a while, and enjoyed it there. At five thirty I made my way to Seaford Beach and went off to the Martello, where a large crowd had gathered, around a stand for Lewes Astronomical Society. Apparently they had a few safety glasses to look at the sun, but there were literally hundreds there, so some of the people giving them away was shouting in alarm due to the press of people. This sudden popular uprising of astronomers, seemed mad to me.  I sauntered along to Frankie's where I bumped into Steve and his friend Francesca. As I'd been walking along, I began to conceive of the idea of a cold drink of la...

At my desk shortly after seven, mad for poems. Had breakfast with Lorraine. Enzo isn't well today, so he is not going to Nursery. Instead Beth worked from here, and we played with the little lad, who has a summer cold. Adrian and Laura called round this morning, with lots of art magazines, that they have no room for. I think Adrain was a little sad to see them go. Sat in the back garden with Enzo and them, drinking coffee. Laura is phobic about butterflies, and there were loads of them today. Had a chat about phobias, in which of course I have a personal interest.  Then they left, I worked all morning, and broke off at around two for lunch. Had an hour's sleep in the afternoon, as I am feeling a bit throaty and tired. Glorious that I can simply do that if I fancy it.  Playing with the little boy this afternoon. He is almost standing and was leaning against the gold sofa and standing for ages. He is always asking me to pick him up. It is very sweet. Lorraine off to her pottery ...

Neither of us felt fresh as daisies after a sweltering night and yesterday's boozes. Assembling poems like a maniac this morning. Marvellous fun. The project so far called So What, You're Weird Too .  To the gym this lunchtime to make up for the sausages and beer snarfed on the beach. Very enjoyable, and I was able to get on the lat pull machine this time. Home and a bit more writing, before meeting Lorraine in Morrisons. I think I am weird because I love shopping with Lorraine. Home and I made a rather excellent veggie chilli. I put nutmeg, cumin and lots of black pepper in mine, as well as fresh chillies and chilli powder.  No Babylon 5. We urgently need a new supply of people dressed as aliens, plus spaceships. An early night. Started re-reading R.S. Thomas in bed. I love his stuff.  A sweaty out of focus selfie on the cross trainer in the gym. That's two selfies in two days. A record.

Now that the One Day Forever material has been swept away for future publication, a pamphlet's worth of funnier material is miraculously assembling. In Brian Eno's A Year With Swollen Appendices , he reports advice given to him by his friend Stewart Brand: 'Why don’t you assume you’ve written your book already, and all you have to do now is find it?’ I love this thought.  After a morning of enthusiastic work, we made off for the beach this afternoon, going via Morrisons. We ended up near Splash Point end, where we met Rosie and Innis, Adrian and Laura. A jolly afternoon barbecue, with several drinks and splash in the channel. I barely screamed at all getting into it, as it was the warmest channel dip I'd ever taken. Still quite refreshing. Utterly relaxed this afternoon. Now I know Adrian and Laura better, I'm really liking them. Home and Lorraine and I watched the last two episodes of Babylon 5. Lorraine and I bereft now. It was a brilliant show. Five (including P...

I wrote freely and with some gusto this morning. At lunchtime Lorraine gave me a lift to the gym, before she collected Betty and they made off to Eastbourne to see a musical theatre show Project Mincemeat, which they both loved. I went to the gym, passing Blatchington Pond which is now drying out. It's like the sub Sahara here.  I enjoyed the gym, apart from  the giant shouldered man who arriving at the lat pull machine two seconds before me, squatted on it like a toad till I had to go. Bah. Home and relaxed. Chatted to Mum. Apparently it is going to be incredibly hot again next week. So we will have to take a view on what happens to our plan to meet at the White Bear on Wednesday.   Into the garden to pick plums from the tiny tree and this time they turned out to be worm free. The jam, three jars of it, set nicely and tasted fine. I always feel a real sense of achievement about making jam, I don't know why. Then I put together a quick stir fry and L and I happily scarfed...

To London this morning, arrived at Mum's about 12:30. A noticeably more relaxed mood on the train on a Friday morning. When I arrived at Mum's her table spread out with lots of papers relating to the tax form. With the help of Chat GPT, I completed it after a harrowing couple of hours. Our trip to the Waggon and 'Orses was thwarted though by the intermittent fault on her seatbelt. It had locked and wouldn't extend, Ben had looked at it for her, but the problem has returned.   Instead we sauntered up the sunny back streets to the McDonald's, which is a drive through as well as restaurant. Having swerved McDonald's for decades it was a bit of a novelty for me. Mum had a cheeseburger, and I ordered a McCrispy chicken burger with fries. Mum said you can order from a person, so I ignored all the screens and spoke to a young human who cheerily brought the meal to our table. It was clean, and once the foghorn voices of the women and children behind Mum had left, almost...

Enzo this morning, then with Enzo, Lorraine and I went around to Pat and Maureen's where Handy Kate was going to do some work in their flat. Lorraine drove Pat and Maureen home, and I pushed the wee boy home. On the way back I saw that Melissa was doing her art installation from her window, so we stopped to see her. Enzo being shy. Melissa sitting by a sign she'd made saying The Department of Boundaries is now closed.  As were chatting a woman, with some kind of special needs came by and started going through her tray of things. I couldn't stay long as I we had to get back. A day of looking after folks, playing with Enzo, making Pat and Maureen teas and so on. I did have a little time to think here and there.  We took Pat and Maureen back, and spent an hour or so settling Pat down, as he'd had a toilet accident. The love and care Maureen and Lorraine give him is heartwarming.  Was able to call Mum too, to confirm I'm coming up tomorrow. Home and I cooked a curry fo...

Up at my desk, and sent the file of One Day Forever to Wolfgang first thing. Breakfast with Sue and John, then off to Bateman's, where Rudyard Kipling had lived. John wanted to drive, in his electric car, so that was nice. Lots of road diversions and we found ourselves going down all kinds of tight country lanes. Bateman's itself was lovely. Gorgeous but sun parched gardens, little rivers and an old mill. The house itself first built in 1634, he wrote Kim there, and he clearly had already made huge sums from his writing, enough to buy this country pile and finance a Rolls Royce habit. I have read The Light That Died, and versions of the Jungle Book and Kim. But there's clearly more to explore, including poetry. An easier drive back. Once home, John preoccupied by charging his car at Morrisons. I barbecued a chicken and some sausages. I had put the funnel with the burning charcoal onto one of the concrete tiles of the patio and the concrete loudly exploded a circle shattered...

Up early, after a horrible night's sleep. Lorraine to her personal trainer, and then popped around to see Pat and Maureen. I worked a bit on the acknowledgements section of the book, then made off to the gym, and was back in time to have a cheeky shower before Sue and John arrived with Whiskey dog, who was on exemplary behaviour. We had a happy evening chatting in the garden, drinking some cold drinks. And then it rained. Like fifty or sixty invisible gnats spitting on us for a minute, and then it was all over.  It was much cooler this evening, thankfully.  Lorraine cooked a nice flan for our dinner. Whiskey behaving in an exemplary manner. Lovely to catch up, hearing about weddings and travels and so on. Everyone tired at the end of the day. 

A text from Mum just as I was getting up, saying it was dangerously hot today, and maybe I shouldn't travel. I agreed, as six hours travelling in the stifling heat left something to be desired. She had the gas engineers looking at her boiler this morning.  Anyway, after yesterday's paranoia, I decided to send Wolfgang a letter. Shortly after, bedraggled with heat, having returned home, I received an email from him. What a palaver, and I wished I hadn't sent the letter too. Bang goes any impression of insouciance. I've got to have a word with myself. I spent happy time in the day putting finishing touches to the MS.  Otherwise it was uncomfortably hot and humid. Lorraine spent much of the day with Pat and Maureen, and Delores. Sylwia came today too, to make things presentable for Sue and John.  Still no rain in the forecast. Sweltering humid night, but the drought goes on. It barely looks like England.   

Today I discovered Wolfgang did not receive my reply to his book offer. His inbox had been over quota, so my email was not delivered. I discovered the notification in my spam folder. It's perfect anxiety dream stuff: you are blocked from accepting what you've worked for years to achieve. I had thought it a bit odd I'd not received a reply. And now I know why. So I resent the email, and am going also to post him a letter. Only this email has gone astray, all year. I expect it will all be okay, but bloody hell, not to mention all the other kinds of hell. In other news, it was enervatingly hot with no end in sight.  Lorraine was kept awake with a really painful hip. A spasming muscle, probably caused by hefting people around. She was in pain all day despite stretches on the floor and so on. Despite this, we had a purposeful morning, tidying, preparing the guest room for Sue and John who are arriving on Tuesday. Under Lorraine's supervision I drilled two holes in the bathro...

Seized the opportunity for a quiet day. Next week is busy for us. Lorraine repaired to the studio and worked on her pottery, but returned frustrated after several hours as nothing had worked properly and she had to recycle everything. The life of an artist. I tidied my study! I filed, put books back on shelves, rationalised files on my trusty old computer and dusted my desk. There is nothing more appealing than a clean and tidy desk. While listening to Jazz saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders. I discovered a late album made in 2021, a year before he died, called  Promises.  It features Pharaoh with   a UK  electronic musician called Floating Points and the London Symphony Orchestra. A lush mix of minimal ambient and jazz. Also heard his album  Pharaoh . I first heard Pharaoh Sanders, who was an acolyte of John Coltrane, on Alice Coltrane's albums. Also read London Magazine ... A Catalan issue, which I'd file under the not for me category: some decent poetry and a woefu...

Up early and into my study with a new sense of purpose. Began looking at a story that was rejected last week, but with a highly encouraging note from the editor. Also the idea that if One Day Forever is being published, that tidies away quite a few poems, leaving room for the new project.  Being me, my mind is busy creating a thousand reasons why it will all go wrong, but I just have to ignore them. I have been contacting people slowly, as I feel superstitious about it. But today I let Carl and Bob know.   Penny came round this morning, to spend some time with Lorraine. I spoke to her for a while. Her mother died recently, and she is naturally still sad. She was very kind and congratulated me on the book. They made off into Seaford, for a bite to eat, and I had a much-needed gym session. I seem to have put on weight since Monday.  Spoke to Mum, who was fine, although there is a small problem with the car that Ben is helping her with.  In the evening, when Lorraine w...

A hot night with poor sleep for both of us. The gulls on the roof hammering, scuffling and screaming raucously at the dawn. And at six thirty I was wide awake. Lorraine's sleep was poor too, and she couldn't get to sleep last night.  Robin and I uploaded the Will Harris episode of the podcast . A good one I think. Robin's judicious final snips making it all the better. I hope Will likes it. Otherwise we had Enzo from breakfast time. He is growing his collection of consonants, adding a soft g sound. He is absolutely besotted with Lorraine, of course, but it seemed to be a grandpa day, with the  little lad repeatedly reaching up to me to be held and carried about, bounced on the knee and so on.  Lorraine and I were playing with him in the living room, and I had to pop into the kitchen to take something out of the freezer, and he actually burst into tears when I left. He is usually happy and smiling, but looking into his little tragic face if you don't pick him up immed...

Told Charlotte and SJB and Stephen about my news first thing, to make it even realer. They were happy for me, which was very sweet. Sarah: When's the piss up?!! This morning I was talking to Lorraine about how decades of being published meant I knew my poems were good, but how on some irrational level I thought there was something about me, my character or who I am, that meant I would never succeed. The thought of perhaps being able to shrug off this shoulder monkey is exhilarating. Otherwise recording and editing most of the day. Recorded a few more bits with Robin, and sent what I have to her for another no-nonsense edit.  At tea time off with Lorraine to call in at Debbie's house, which I'd never been too. Lovely place, overlooking the sea. Lorraine was sorting a computer problem for Debbie on a Mac. Nobody interested in the fact I use a Mac every day, of course. Debbie showed us the room she does glass work in, overlooking the sea, and said as it was a full moon she was...

Up and feeling excited, made off to my desk by 7.00am and wrote a grown up reply to Wolfgang, accepting his kind offer. It all felt a little realer after I replied.   Lorraine and I had breakfast and she made off to her personal trainer. I got down to some editing of the podcast, and at lunchtime made off to the gym. Walking past Blatchington Pond, I bumped into Guy. He is on the committee of volunteers who look after the pond.  He had been woken up this morning by someone sending him a photo in the early hours. It was of one of the pond's carp with the O of its mouth breaking surface, apparently gasping for air. He and another man then worked to aerate the water with a pump for a few hours, and was just finishing when I walked past. Something about him being sent a carp mouth photo tickled my sense of the ridiculous, but this is important work. Another symptom of the effects of climate breakdown.  Lorraine and I heard the sad news from Adele today that her mother had die...

So off to Hampstead to see Mum and Toby. Bimbling as usual on the train and reading a couple of stories by the Canadian painter Emily Carr. Imagine my surprise when I looked at my phone when the train emerged from the the tunnel at  St Pancras, to see an email from Wolfgang accepting my full poetry MS One Day Forever for publication. I called Lorraine walking up from West Hampstead, she was really happy for me. It did not feel real at all, and still doesn't. I felt cautiously pleased, but was strangely unable to be entirely gleeful after achieving such a long-held ambition. For me the news is so momentous, it's taking me a while to get my head around it. Sauntered up the hill in good spirits to find Mum and Toby at Hampstead tube station, and we crept round to The White Bear, where I shared my good news. Lovely that I could do that with them. Otherwise, Mum pleased that we were both there to chat to, and she had her usual pea and lovage soup in what is now her favourite pub. ...

A short hiatus during a late Sunday breakfast. Lorraine drove us, and I popped into Pat and Maureen's place. Opened their door to a gale, as one of the windows was wide open and they couldn't close it, a cheery chat before I pushed off as Lorraine was waiting in the car, and there was more coffee to drink.   To the gym at lunch time. Its emptiness was, like, totally awesome. Not having to scowl at teenagers was a plus. Spoke to Mum and confirmed seeing her and the Tobster, now back from Aberystwyth, tomorrow in Hampstead.  Not much happened, except this cucumber Lorraine harvested from our greenhouse. The first of the year. I like how it still has the remnant of its flower. It tasted highly-cucumbery too.

A day of lurking in the garden.Yet another scorcher. Beth and Enzo popped in this morning after going to the market. Lorraine made bubbles which Enzo enjoyed. Then a spot of gardening. We picked the beans from the bean rows. Big beauties, that tasted sweet and lovely when we ate some later. Later Rosie and Pippi came to sit out with us and eat a salady lunch, and have a long, relaxed chat. Rosie on great form, and in a not too hotly contested category, Pippi is top pooch.  In the evening Brian kindly drove around to collect us and take us back home for a cheery evening  evening with him and Yvonne. Sat in their summer house,  ate a lovely three course meal Brian had made, with a main course of Marry Me chicken, which was delicious. Brian telling me again about his work with the YMCA in Eastbourne. I might go along with him on one of his visits. He has his knee operation in a month, which is great because he has been in pain with it ever since I've known him. Yvonne her us...

Sylwia this morning, increasingly part of the family these days. Lorraine and her talking about Maureen and Pat, who she cleans for, and often sits with. Meanwhile I toyed with some editing, and spoke to Mum then, when  Lorraine left to see Pat and Maureen, I went tot he gym, and from there on to the mosquito nurse for a routine blood test. Top tip: veins easy to locate after the gym. A 12 bus to Brighton just after 4. But a terrible thing has happened to the 12 bus. The 12A, has been discontinued, and now the 12 does all the crappy little stops the 12A made. It took us ages to get to Brighton.  Rendezvous with the Hoibaks and Hartleys in the Walrus for a cheeky drink. Not been to the Walrus for years, and have been three times in the last month. Then the six of us crossed the road to Petit Pois for an excellent dinner. Strange to say this but the broccoli I had with my main course was perfection. I have never tasted nicer broccoli in my life. A revelation. Everyone getting on...

An Enzo day today. Lorraine collected the little lad, and he had a hobbit's second breakfast with us. I then made off upstairs and did some recording with Robin for an hour, I talked about Tess Jolly and also Martha Sprackland's new translation of John of the Cross.  Lorraine on the phone lots, as Maureen has been talking about having a few day's respite from caring for Pat, and Lorraine is trying to manage that.  In the afternoon off to a beautiful and not too busy Sheffield Park with Enzo and Maureen, while Delores looked after Pat. The baby and Maureen were let in free. I pushed Maureen around in a wheelchair, a bone shaker, she said, as the paths were quite rough and gravelly in places. A gorgeous day by normal standards, if you overlook the drought, and the wilting leaves. I loved the great waterlily islands in the  ponds, and the dragonflies and Enzo admiring the geese and ducks. Maureen seemed to really relax too. I bought some sherbet lemons in the shop afterwards...

Podcast editing this morning, but simply count not make myself work at it for longer than ten minutes at a time. Eventually, after a couple of hours, I went out for a walk on the edge of corn stubble fields the other side of Seaford golf course. Maybe my brain has been harvested  Home and generally antsy. I read more of Martha Sprackland's translation of St John of the Cross, to discuss on the podcast. Interesting stuff, and I learned more about the Via Negativa , a term I have been bandying about for decades without full understanding it. Lorraine had a difficult day after doing Rhymetime. Pat and Maureen needing lots of help. Poor Pat needed lots of cleaning up today, and Maureen saying she needs a bit of respite for a few days, and Lorraine is looking at ways of doing this. Enzo round with them briefly, which was cheering. I started cooking dinner, then stopped halfway and collected Lorraine.  We stopped at Steamworks, where we treated ourselves to a cold lager and a talk b...

Mum thankfully okay when I spoke to her this morning.  Toby and I had a slow breakfast and coffee in the garden. Lorraine had left early to attend the Bolney School leaver's service, where she enjoyed seeing former pupils and their families, and old colleagues. She had many a hug and affectionate conversations. Then to her personal trainer. I walked Toby to Seaford station, and he returned to  Edgware. Sad to see him go, even though I'll be seeing him next Monday. But it was good to have time to shoot the breeze properly over the past few days.  In the evening Lorraine went to do her pottery class in Eastbourne. She dropped me off at the gym, where I had a decent session. Home and cooked a small one-person curry. A bit strange to have the house to myself.  Apart from a call from Maureen, who needed Lorraine to call in at Stratheden Court before heading home, I listened to music and read quietly.

A chilled day with Toby. Up and chilling in the back garden with coffee and breakfast. Then after Lorraine left for Pat and Maureen's place, Toby and I got ourselves together for a walk, down to the sea where we found Lorraine and Delores pushing Pat and Maureen.   I tormented Maureen by pushing her too fast and in tight circles, etc. on the way to the Sailing Club. She told me she had swapped one of her anxiety pills recently, and it hadn't agreed with her, making her feel sick as well as sad. Lorraine had already been in touch with the surgery this morning. Pat sporting an excellent sunhat sad little of course, but was enjoying being with people and sitting in the sun. Some of us had little baskets of scampi and fries, while others ate sandwiches, and drank some shandy. We pushed them back, Toby and Delores talking lots, she was keen to learn about Toby living next to a mass murderer in Sacramento. Delores also started a Substack, writing a very authentic piece about stopping...