under another sun

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...

A busy Sunday. With Lorraine's adult supervision, I completed and printed the Lasting Power of Attorney documents out for mum to sign, and got in touch with Wynford and Ben to ask them to sign too tomorrow when I go up. Wynford: Yes, Ben: I'll try and see what I can do, which I'm hoping means yes too. Also some admin about my tolerance for financial risk for my savings had to be sent off too. Lorraine and I are very much medium-low risk people when it comes to finance. Anyway doing this kind of admin early on made me feel happy once it was done. Delores breezed in later (a breath of fresh air as she had been walking in the Forest) to borrow the strimmer and to laugh loudly in the kitchen.   Some gardening. I poked about in the pond. I think all the fish are gone now. There was the great egret devastation, and I don't know if it popped back to eat the last two, of the unbelievable heat did them a mischief, but I couldn't see any in there, while I cut back some of the...

Breakfast, and as Lorraine was drawing a little mind map of what we were planning for the day, an emergency call from Maureen. We zoomed around. The carers were already there, but Pat's urine bag had become detached from the overnight bag soaking the bedding, carpet and Maureen's sandals. She got very stressed about this and needed her spray a couple of times. However all was well after a bit, and we took the bedding home to wash, that the carers had stripped off the bed, and made teas and both were fine when we left. As we were already near the supermarket, we did a big shop in there, then home, to finish our coffees and plan the day. We made off to see a potter, who Lorraine was enthusing about, collecting Delores en route. The traffic was at standstill towards Newhaven due to a road traffic accident, so as the potter was having an open house tomorrow and next weekend so we cut our losses. Delores, Lorraine and I then walked to Gallery Uno, where Adele and Liza Morton were ha...

Woke up wanly on the gold sofa. A lively night with Enzo waking up at 1.10 am, too hot and with a nasty cough. Lorraine looked after him brilliantly, we took him downstairs where it was a bit cooler, and opened up the windows. Lorraine got him soothed and asleep after about two hours, put him down again and he woke up crying right away. Eventually we had all the windows wide open, stripped the bed, and I slept on the gold sofa finally getting to sleep again after four, but with a new found respect for Beth and James and people with babies generally. Some of the teenagers next door went out and sat in their inflatable pool making lots of noise from 6am, which, with the windows all open was tiresome. Breakfast with Lorraine and the lovely boy Enzo, who looked bright despite everything. Breakfast interspersed with Lorraine and I pushing lego cars on the table top while he wriggled with pleasure.  I chatted with Delores, and medicined her with Dioralyte sachets. She perked up enough to...

Up early and after breakfast completed a substack post, about J.H. Prynne.   I then surged into the garden and given that it was the year's hottest day, Lorraine and I worked hard moving stones and planting plants near the wildlife pond, where Lorraine saw mature tadpoles a day or so again. At this point Lorraine attempted to murder me. I'd patted in some heuchera plants, and popped away. Lorraine put the hose on the area. When I stepped back to finish the job, but the ground had become of quicksand, and I sank at least eight or nine inches and fell over, losing my garden shoe and becoming covered in mud. Lorraine seemed sorry I hadn't fallen into the pond too.  Lunch in the garden. Delores still in bed recovering upstairs, after being ill on Friday and coming to ours to recover. Enzo brought round by Beth, and a good deal of time playing with him. I got a few good chuckles out of him, winking at him absolutely delighted him. I went out to collect a prescription for Delor...

Up fairly early, as there were things to be done. At my desk for a bit this morning, and speaking to Mum on Mother's Day. Then off to Pat and Maureen's place to trundle them in wheelchairs off to meet Delores in The Plough, where we had a table booked for a late lunch. I like pushing Maureen and begin most journeys by laughing malevolently and telling her that she's in my power. Lorraine got lovely messages and cards from Beth and -- remarkably -- even Enzo. We made it to the Plough, where they had forgotten that there were wheelchairs involved despite being told twice in advance. Found our place, and found Delores. Unfortunately the service was excruciatingly slow, so that our mains didn't arrive for an hour and forty minutes. I complained about this twice and ended up feeling very angry, I felt a bit bad about this afterwards, but Delores said it was exciting, which made me laugh. However otherwise we had a nice enough time. I won't be going back. The weather impr...

To Morrisons with Lorraine, and then food prep before Innis and Rosie visited with Pippi. Lots to talk about, especially with them getting married this year. Off to Friston Forest for a short walk among trees, Innis telling me about plans for his not a stag stag do. I had privately vowed never to go to a stag do again, but what Innis proposes sounds creative and interesting. Then home to have a couple of drinks and some casserole and bread and butter pudding made with hot cross buns. A fine way to spend an afternoon with a good deal of talking. Telling Innis about reading Raymond Chandler, and he said I should watch The Big Lebowski as it sort of based on The Big Sleep .  In the evening to Seaford Rugby club (they're known as The Scarlets) as it was Debbie's birthday, and she had a big bash there. Among people I knew Kate and Andrew, Andy and Delores who got Andrew  to film them in their TV pitch. A fun evening, with a cracking ska inflected band with a female horn section. T...

An unusual morning. Lorraine and I travelled up to Blackfriars this morning to meet Romy. She was staying at Seacontainers, now a hotel and block full of agencies, some of whom I'd had dealings with over the years, and also it was just along the river from the IBM building I worked at in the nineties. It still feels very familiar there.  Lovely to be able to see Romy albeit briefly. We met in the lobby of the hotel, and sauntered along the river, and stopped for a coffee in the NFT then a small pizza in Gabriel's wharf. For the last few days she's been working between London and Frankfurt. Lots to discuss and catching up on family things, hearing about Dick's baseball oriented trip to the US, Joan, Raine, Toby and the house being gradually reassembled. She'd enjoyed seeing Mum the other day in the White Bear, and was looking forward to collecting the venerable Meatball, now a US resident, on her return. Nice to sit with Romy by the dreary grandeur of the Thames. Sad...

Lorraine doing Story Time in the library first thing. Later I joined her at Seaford Station, still hobbling and loping due to the back, which is not clearing up as fast as usual. We trundled off to Lewes to meet Dawn and Paul at Cafe Vegu. When we arrived there was a large queue outside, so we sauntered back towards the station and into Haru Izakaya for some Japanese style food. The service was non-Japanese, being abrupt and a tad rude, but the food was not bad.  A 'bento box' more like a balti of  rice and katsu chicken, endame beans and a spot of kimchi etc. Tasty enough for sure. I had it with green tea, which I enjoyed. Lovely to see Dawn again. She is going to become a grandmother this year, which is exciting. And a chat to Paul who is always interesting. He advised me to use the tens machine for my back, which I did later and it helped. In the evening off to the Boot, and had a few beers. Also good for my back, as it relaxes all the muscles in spasm. Good to see Steve, w...

Breakfast with Mum, filled her up with seeds and live yoghurts, toast etc. Not long after, Beth and Enzo in matching pyjamas came by, and Mum met Enzo for the first time and was as enamoured by the little lad as everyone else.  I peeled many root vegetables. Later Lorraine and I zoomed around Morrisons and then took Mum to see Pat and Maureen. A nippily gorgeous day with the sun on the sea. Maureen pleased to see Mum. We made plans about tomorrow's festivities. Mum and I went out by the sea for a bit for five minutes or so, but it was parky a piercing north east wind.   Early evening and we took Mum to the Old Boot Inn, where we met up with Delores. The pub was rammed, and flukily we managed to get a table. Mum liked the busy festive throng. Melissa was on a nearby table and we chatted to her and Chris her husband as they were leaving. I assured Melissa that I would eagerly return to her drawing class next term. Chris, one of the rebooters, turned up too with his son Keiran, w...

Took a while to clamber out of bed this morning, a slow breakfast. Then off to Maynard's Green to a large house with a pottery studio at the end of the garden. Here we looked at pottery tools, and Lorraine bought several things, and a twelve kilo bag of white clay. The woman there very pleasant. Also there was a little van there run by another woman, who we bought some a refreshing cup of tea and some millionaire's shortbread. On the way home we stopped at Alfriston, at Much Ado Books, where I bought a nice book by Edward Thomas, and Lorraine bought some doilies, to press into clay among other uses. Also we sauntered into the village store, where we bought some bits and pieces, and two pasties. These proved to be absolutely delicious. Mine was a Caribbean chicken one, which was stunningly good, Lorraine had a steak one which was fab.  Delores's birthday today. So we met Delores, already a bottle of Kylie down, and Sophia her daughter, and Asher on the platform at Seaford, b...

A tad wan this morning. Despite that, to the Boot this evening. Tonight's assembly included Matthew, Delores, Steve, and Pat and Maureen. Maureen loves Delores, who brings out the naughtiness in her. And everyone loves Matthew's wee dog Rumi despite the fact he growls ferociously at larger dogs. Most dogs are larger. Nice to get to know Matthew a bit better, a really interesting guy, and a cheery evening. Had a burger there, which was perfectly decent and served with lots of salad.   After a lively night in Brighton with Anton, I drank a non-alcoholic Guinness just to see what it was like. Actually very similar and I enjoyed it despite Delores mocking me somewhat. I did wash it down with a Proper Job beer afterwards. Home very early. Below Maureen with Rumi on her lap.

Friday. Breakfast, then the gym, as Sylwia was here. Then to the Lanes Eatery, where I met Lorraine for coffee and a snack before she pushed off to take Pat and Maureen some fish and chips. An afternoon of fruitful writing for me, feeling energised.   Re-booting in the Old Boot Inn this evening, where we met Brian and Yvonne, Chris, Delores, Debbie and Carole. Yvonne's cataract operation done without seeming to leave a trace. Strapped on the nosebag there too and washed it down with a couple of pints of Harvey's Old Ale. Lorraine and I home to watch The Traitors. An excellent Friday. Below, blurry in the boot with Yvonne.   

Up late this morning, and when I did get to my desk, I lacked focus. But even a non-productive day is a thousand times better than having to drag myself to an agency.  A lunchtime walk, the snow all but gone, but the high fields were white. Getting chest pains above my heart from an exercise I was doing yesterday that had slightly strained one of the muscles. Despite me knowing what it was, I did not enjoy the occasional sudden stabbings. Hypochondria is a difficult business. In the afternoon joined my wee understory conversation group with poet colleagues. I was underprepared for some reason and not particularly in the mood. But I enjoyed the conversation, and hearing some other people's work.  Delores chatting with Lorraine downstairs. Her Christmas made difficult by finding that one of her lodgers had died overnight. An upsetting business.  I popped out in the very chilly evening to complete my 10k paces, walking down by the sea. Delores borrowed my Natural History of ...

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

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...

Low energy still. This afternoon Mariscat put up The Sampler on their website . But off this evening (after a judicious afternoon snooze) to Eastbourne, collected Pat and Maureen, and Delores and Lorraine drove us off to the theatre to see Vagabond Skies a musical about the life of Van Gogh.   We met James and Julie there too.  Lorraine and I had seen it as a kind of work in progress a few years ago, but now it was a full musical-length production. It really worked I think,  and the cast, directed by Sarah Dormandy did a great job. Richard Lock, playing Vincent, was excellent and the songs were strong. Obviously all our eyes on Beth, who played a prostitute, and in the second half had a solo as a Nun who was looking after Van Gogh. She did this really well. It is so great to see her on stage, doing what she loves so well. Home, and dropped off Delores, who had already seen it earlier in the week. She loved it, and was very kind and friendly to Pat and Maureen. Pat and Ma...

A fairly relaxed day, though after chatting with Mum this morning, Lorraine and I ventured off to Paradise Park, with the life size velociraptors outside, so a particular favourite. There we bought some pond liner, cucumber seeds, a some propagation trays. A sunny afternoon, and I retrieved the summer garden furniture from the garage, and after assembling it and seeing some rather fat shiny abdomen spiders make off, Lorraine and I sat outside for an hour or so, on a lovely warm afternoon, listening to the irritable seagulls overhead.   In the evening, now light because of the clocks springing forward, Lorraine mooched off to her book group. It has been an absolute boon in helping her meet some lovely people in Seaford. I walked her to a house on Marine Parade, opposite the sea, carrying an aromatic tray of date and apple treats Lorraine had baked. In her bag was a bottle of wine, the book, and a swimming costume, as there was a pool.  I went for a bit of a walk by the sea, and...

Spoke to Mum this evening, who was just back from Watford hospital, Mason having difficulty walking as they were going into The Waggon and Horses. I planning to go up there tomorrow anyway, but Lorraine said she would drive me and collect Mas from the hospital and so on. However, the hospital got a taxi for him and discharged him in the evening.   Up not too early. A breakfast, and as we readied ourselves to go out, Lorraine discovered that the concrete dryad type statue, had been knocked over and broken by the kid I saw running off yesterday who was using it to scoot over the fence into next door's garden. We went around to see that Joy and Jim were all well, and this helped Joy solve the mystery of a a cigarette and a drinks can she had found in her garden. Nothing appears to have been stolen. Joy and Jim very friendly. A low flying Spitfire flew over the top of the street as we left Joy's house. Magnificent to see it so close. Then into the car to collect Delores, who fancie...

Morning of tidying up and hoovering. Delores came around for some lunch and a lunchtime glass of wine. She melted away in the afternoon as we were all going to the same party tonight at Kate and Andrew's house, which is near Blatchington Pond.  Kate is part of the reading group and she and Lorraine get on well, and on arrival Kate gave us each a written question to ask people, as there were lots of people who didn't know each other. Odd, and as I didn't have my glasses. But it proved a good icebreaker -- although I already knew the hosts and Adele and Patrick and Delores. Lots of nice folks there, and spoke to most of them. Enjoyed lurking in the garden despite the coolness, and saw some bats flitting about overhead. Apparently a night for the Perseids, but didn't see any. The first time I'd had a chance to chat to Andrew despite meeting him a few times in a group of people. And swapped numbers with a musician called Steve who is moving to Lewes. Had a really good t...