under another sun

In the garden today, standing in a hole and digging to Australia to create a wildlife pond. Excited too by the blossom on our plum trees. Off to the Wellington for a change where we met Patrick and Adele. Reading a notice in the public bar saying the hotel was originally named The New Inn but was renamed after the Duke of Wellington stayed there once. A few beers and some fish and chips, and plenty of chat of course. Adele showing us photo of a face she made out of metals on her course. Amazing. Patrick talking about retrieving royalties from musical performances past. A cheery evening, with lots of talk and fairly early home.    

A slow start. But eventually up to make breakfast. Rosie arrived as I was grilling things with a small dog called Ivor, which was Shitzu cross. I suggested it was crossed with a disappointing circus. Cats unimpressed. Out and doing some gardening, I cut the ivy hedge, which made my nose stream, mowed our tiny lawn and Lorraine and I pulled up a few weeds and tidied up generally and discussed things we’d like to do in the garden if only we had time.  Then off to the Duke of Welly, where we had our traditional rehearsal room where, armed with a camera and new tripod, we shot some bits for Beth’s show reel and possibly to turn into some kind of advertising for the Edinburgh show, which is all too soon. While there I got the migraine spangles, but after 20 minutes of messed up vision, felt not to much the worse for wear. So much so that after we left the pub garden, populated by a girl with blue hair and fishbelly white skin, Lorraine and I walked back, and stopped by the Shahi, a...

Up blearily early thanks to the cats. Unaccountably worried that I had offended people with the play. But realised that I was simply being paranoid, and experiencing the post show weirdness. Quick catch up with Mum.  Then made breakfast for myself and Lorraine, then we had to get up to drive to the Marly to collect the props. Some scuffing about there, before I walked uphill across town carrying the hatstand and two chairs, trying not to lance shoppers in the North Laine. Not something I'd recommend with a hangover. Dropped them back to the Duke of Wellington with thanks and sauntered gingerly home. Devoted much of the rest of the day to doing as little as possible. Lorraine off having her hair cut, and then doing a spot of Christmas Shopping. In the evening off in steady rain to meet Anton and Mari for dinner in the Sussex Yeoman. Braved one of their nice burgers. Lorraine and I really enjoyed meeting Mari again, and having a relaxing evening. She has managed to expose Anton...

Up early and doing few bits in a somewhat unfocused fashion. Then the afternoon spent in our last rehearsal in the Duke of Welly, before walking across town carrying a hatstand, (kindly lent us by the folks in the Duke of Wellington) down to the Marlborough. A supper of sorts in Starbucks, because it was near and we needed food, then a first dress rehearsal in the Marlborough. Spoke briefly to David and Tariq who were both there. First time I'd been in the theatre there for some time. The stage has been enlarged, and the old sticky carpet taken up and it's come up trumps. A good rehearsal, and we finished up at 9:45, and had a quick drink downstairs in the Marlborough's bar with Beth and James, having a wee in the urinal of the gender-free toilet. The Marlborough is mainly a lesbian pub serving vegan food, and has a good atmosphere, but I can't help feeling a bit of an interloper there sometimes, but I must remember this is the third time I have written stuff which ...

Lorraine and I had a late breakfast, with Beth and James arriving in time for toast. Phoned Mum who said Mason had been taken back into Intensive care, which was somewhat concerning. When I called her in the evening, however, she said that he was noticeably better than he had been. A cab into town, and Lorraine and I did a smidge of shopping, before I joined the others at The Duke of Welly, where I had to collect my computer and simply come home again, to transfer the show playlists onto the laptop, and then return. Had good day's rehearsing, and it was generally quite fun, if a little gruelling. Kitty had been filming all night, so was a bit shattered, but did well nevertheless. Everyone else firing well. We Three Kings feeling much better now. Ended after six and had a quick drink under an electric bar fire in the beer garden, watching the James and Beth smoke. Nice chat with the owner, and I thanked him again for his kindness in letting us use the rehearsal room. Turned out ...

Happy news from Sam and Jade this morning, but this news embargoed for a few days. Otherwise, our morning spent continuing to sort out the books and move things around the house in a happy and companionable way.  I love doing stuff like this with Lorraine, I don't know why. It makes me feel secure and cheery. Lorraine had to spend the afternoon working on school stuff. My Sunday afternoon was spent with Betty and the others rehearsing We three Kings in the Duke of Wellington. Sucking throat pastilles throughout to stop hacking, we ran through We Three Kings for the first time. Definitely a few laughs in it, but a fair amount to work out too. Had a speedy drink afterwards with James and Betty, before James gave us a lift home. Everyone fairly cheery and feeling in a good place about it. Home feeling rather tired, and Lorraine had cooked a roast chicken, we had a glass of wine and we started to watch an episode of Black Mirror . But soon we had to stop as Lorraine found it too ...

A cup of tea from my lovely Lorraine, and once up I was hard at work today on sorting out a few play bits first thing, then working on the French brief all day which was quite interesting and enjoyable. Bit of honest concept work guv'nor. Butterflies an' that. After this malarkey, slouched down the hill with Betty to The Duke of Wellington where we met up with Dylan, Kitty and James, and slunk up into the room upstairs. Read through the start of We Three Kings . Felt a bit exposed as I like to have things complete before I show people usually. But it was a useful exercise in pinning down what's working and what's not. Then they biffed through A Glass of Nothing , and they surprised themselves at how well they had remembered it. All quite buzzy afterwards which was good to see. A cheeky beer outside in the beer garden afterwards with James, Dylan and Betty. It was Kitty's boyf's birthday, so she had to go. I enjoyed talking to James lots. An interesting man. ...

Made a brand new mind map. Sent out my marketing book proposal for the umpteenth time, contacted my French clients, sorted out a trip to the smoke on Friday followed by a cheeky with Matt, spoke to Janet, organised a meeting with Jess Mookherjee, laundry, bins, spoke to Anton, tidied office and so on. A short walk listing still to C. Bronte's  Villette , which I still love. Savouring this listen. Spoke to Mum and Mas this afternoon a few times. Mas was having a medical problem, and I advised them to call 111. Having done so Mas was asked to go into hospital in the evening. Lorraine feeling the strain before half term. Beth cooked, Lorraine and I took back the hatstand and two chairs used in the play back to the Duke of Wellington with thanks. Delicious dinner, followed by an early night. During the course of the day I remembered Swifty and Amanda telling me that my old friend Neil, from my university days, was in prison. I googled him and found he had been a big news item in ...

Up early to rather concerning news from a friend. But have to focus. Lorraine drove Beth and I down to the Warren for our Tech rehearsal in the Theatre Box. Sam the sound and lights guy helping us get our ducks in a row with lighting and sound effects. We then did a rehearsal of the show in which everyone had their lines and we slipped through it almost faultlessly. In manufacturing, they call this Just In Time production, but it certainly left me feeling relieved and for my nerves it would have been better to arrive a week or so earlier. Lorraine contributing and suggesting this morning too, not to mention bringing in coffee and a couple of bacon rolls. She is excellent at all this, and it is very useful to have a fresh pair of eyes on things. But then, having Beth has given her years of practice.  L and I briefly fantasised about all of us being able to make a living in theatre like this, Beth performing, me writing and Lorraine effortlessly smoothing everything. Such as going ...

Saturday, but Lorraine and I up fairly early, after I'd brought my lovely wife up breakfast in bed. Phone call from Maureen this morning, reading out a bit from the Daily Mail, talking about Dylan , his grandfather and grandma who will be coming to  A Glass of Nothing , her first outing since becoming a widow to support Dylan. Things to be done, and Dawn came around to our house and we went for a quick mooch around in the Open Houses. Biffing into quite a few. Although I most love paintings, it is the crafty bits and ceramics that tend to appeal more to me in the Open Houses. Having said that, if money was no object I'd come away with armfuls. Then Lorraine drove me down to the school where we rehearse. I took a firm and positive line today,  and we worked at the three or four spots in the play where there were line glitches. Dylan has a difficult bit where he is doing a similar thing and saying similar lines three times in the play, but we managed to get this sorted throu...

A terrible night's sleep for some reason. Lay awake from 2:30 till 5:30. Less than a springy start to the day, but much revived as ever by the cup of tea my lovely wife brought me. However a decent day (where I was paid too). I went off to the gym at lunch, then in the afternoon hopped on a bus to see Helen, and discuss the Centaur Project for a few hours. She was already well into setting the last batch of words I sent her. I'm far from convinced that this opera will ever see the light of day, but it is an absorbing process, and I am learning lots. Meanwhile, I had a bit of a brainwave, and I've been hatching plans and schemes on new project to do with Brighton. A splendid rehearsal this evening in the Duke of Wellington. I got sucked into the drama and felt like I was watching a play. A good one too. Amazing the difference a day makes, as the rehearsal was way better than the one the day before. Things are starting to click into place. And apart from a smattering of...

Nice to be at home, and to wake up with Lorraine in our own bed. Pleased too that the plumbers had been while we were away, and our shower now works again. One gets so accustomed to one's en suite. A day of small food. Small porridge for breakfast. I put on an astonishing amount in Guernsey, eating and drinking far too much. I am really fat at the moment, and I don't like it. No booze today either, which comes as a blessed relief. I love a beer when you've not had one for a while. If you've had some every day for half a week, you lose the joy of it. Got the proof through of my response to Willie the Sheik's Sonnet 19, called Locked in the lines , which luckily gave me the opportunity to fix the misspelling in the draft I sent them, and will stop me looking too much of a chump. In the afternoon back to Bolney to buy some more stumps to expand our stumpery, and some more ferns. Lorraine also showed Pat and Maureen around the school, which they liked a lot, and ...

Working on posters for the show on Pages on my iMac, unfortunately it doesn't do kerning, which my OCD side is balking against, so I may have to redo them Attended to various other bits and pieces, and even -- shock horror -- reading some philosophy for a bit. Lorraine working at home trying to finish everything off today. Sonia scowling because we were all at home. I made a quick scoot to the gym at lunchtime. Off in the afternoon to a pub The Duke of Wellington, near my old house in the Twitten, where I'd secured a room for rehearsals, and a brilliant little space it was, and the people there very friendly. Spent a good couple of hours upstairs rehearsing with Beth and Kitty. Dylan taking time out due to his bereavement. Must be very strange to lose a family member and have the TV do special shows about it, and it be all over all the national media. Despite this I am  feeling cautiously optimistic about our progress, and the more we work on the play the better it seems.