under another sun

Slow progress today in Kenny Towers. Lorraine working from home, which was nice. Chats and messaging with folks, including Mum.  Feeling a frustrated with what I was doing by the late afternoon, I went for a short walk and took the opportunity to pop into the off licence to buy four cans of lager from the empty off license. The owner disinfecting things when I arrived, and served me with blue latex gloves. Sadly the finger tip had come through one of them. The idea of drinking beer in the sunshine seemed suddenly be exactly the thing a right thinking person like myself should be doing. So I scurried outside into garden and drank lager. Soon to be joined by Betty and Lorraine. A holiday mood descended on us temporarily in the warm afternoon sunshine. The four cans were used up fairly soon so Lorraine popped out for a few more. Soon however the sun dipped towards the horizon, it was had got too cold. It is only March after all. After sundown and dinner we went in and played Tri...

Two Legless Ramblers please Sore throat. Muesli. Work. Quorn-based stir fry. Haircut. Waiting for work. Work. And in the evening, after a chat with Lorraine and a read of the fascinating The Mind in the Cave .... A beer. Ah beer. Beer, beer, beer. Went to the Evening Star where I met Fingers, Richard, Steve and a few others including a nice flautist called Claudius with whom I found I could talk about Negritude poets. As the Evening Star is a home of real ales, I drank a beer Steve recommended called Legless Rambler. A nice thing. And I had another one to keep it company. And then a half. What I realise is that although beer is certainly a pleasant drink, my love of pubs is 90% about the people. Booze tastes nice, is undoubtedly a relaxing social lubricant, but it does get fetishised. I'm worried that I am in danger of developing a grown up approach to boozes. My mission is to lose weight. But in the next week I will have a few more beers, before I climb aboard the waggon again til...

Beer is good After taking care of business this morning, off to a Brighton printer to ask for a detailed quote after providing detailed specifications. Hot day, and enjoyed walking across Brighton in the strong sun in a short sleeved a white shirt, past people tottering off towards the sea. I discovering the One Digital printers not too far from Bear Corner, on the Vogue Gyratory (a road intersection named after a defunct porn cinema, very Brighton). On the way back popped into Lorraine's who was working from home, and sat outside in her yard sipping tea. Then I sauntered off to the hairdresser. A good job on my hair. Then home to order ISBN numbers, and conduct other top level business, such as hoovering, and addressing the house's usual slide towards chaos. In the evening off to Lorraine's to have a curry in her local restaurant. There is something really nice about the ritual of Friday night curry and a cold beer, especially on a hot day. Beer really is the stuff. On col...

In praise of beer These lines caught my eye in Hogarth House - at the bottom of the Beer Street print - by the Rev James Townley. Bah to the French and their depraved water! Beer, happy Produce of our Isle Can sinewy Strength impart, And wearied with Fatigue and Toil Can cheer each manly Heart. Labour and Art upheld by Thee Successfully advance, We quaff Thy balmy Juice with Glee And Water leave to France. Genius of Health, thy grateful Taste Rivals the Cup of Jove, And warms each English generous Breast With Liberty and Love!

Friday 13th This day holds no fears for me. Enjoyable sociable day. Went to the Crabtree at lunch with The Gnome, Trace the FB and others by way of it being Friday, and the day after my birthday and so on. Lingered awhile with the FB and a newish writer named Amy drinking a slow beer or two. Not done that for ages. Back to the office and made a few amendments to a letter about cats and dogs, and various other minor things before setting off to the Dove to meet Sarah. A fast beer there and then off to the Agni for a tasty bite, before the call of the seagull grew strong in me. Happy to be at home again. Feeling decidedly more cheery over the last few days. The slings and arrows, and their attendant gloomfest, seem to have abated.