under another sun

To Glasgow, a long journey, made slightly more difficult due to a numpty unregulated vape seller near Glasgow Central Central Station, whose vapes started a massive fire, and have closed the station for days. This meant we travelled to Edinburgh Haymarket, and then had to catch a train there. The train we caught, however, stopped at Partick station, and so was close to Sam's flat, and the airbnb  where we are staying. We were supposed to have bought an extension ticket, from Glasgow to Partick, but the ticket collector let us off. We had caught the 10:25 train at Seaford, and arrived at Partick at 7:30, which is a lot of trains.  However some lovely views en route, and we passed along the edge of the Lake District heading north, and loved the glimpses of the wild and wet landscape. Lovely too to get a glimpse of high Scottish hills and mountains.  To Sam and Amy's flat. Sam has been a bit ill with a stomach bug, and had not been eating, and looked a bit pale. Plan A was t...

Up and a happily less talk from the annoying little man this morning over breakfast. I had haggis as part of my traditional breakfast, and Lorraine added haggis and black pudding. Passive aggressive hoovering outside our door just before it was time to leave. Funny wee men, but otherwise our room was clean and tidy and the breakfasts very good. The bus along into Princes Street, where we lurked about shopping, as Sam, who has been having trouble with his sleep patterns, decided to stay in bed. Instead Lorraine arranged to have two pairs of shoes, identical to the ones she was wearing, sent to Brighton. Journey home fairly unremarkable, played cards and read a little, and stared out of the window at the grey North Sea off the Northumberland coast. Rightly ignored advice from St Pancras staff to travel to Victoria to get the train, and caught the next scheduled train to Brighton with a delay of a mere five minutes or so. Beth kindly collected us from Preston Park station, and home at...

A good breakfast, and met the other owner, Ian, who shared his opinions at great length as we ate our breakfast. Lorraine and I off to Portobello Promenade which is a stretch of Edinburgh seaside. Cool and sunny this morning. A strange quite evocative place, with dogs and dog owners scampering about on it, we watched a dog steal food out of a family's bag on the beach before making off. Quite a few OAP homes there too, so quite a few folks progressing in chairs or on walking frames getting their fresh air for the day. We sat outside a cafe and had cups of rapidly cooling coffee. Then back into Town, where the weather was still clear and sunny. A mooch in the beautiful Princes Street Gardens, and then into a gallery where among other paintings we saw the famous Monarch of the Glen, which I always thought a bit of a cheesy image, but was quite impressive in real life. Walked up to the Grassmarket where we bought Sian a present for her birthday, then popped randomly into a cheap c...

Off to Edinburgh trundling down to Preston Park, and then off to St Pancras, then crossing the road, we had a coffee and boarded the train to Edinburgh. A long journey, fairly pleasant too, with us talking to two characterful older women sitting next to us. Hours of the journey was taken up with playing Sherlock Holmes in great detail. We finally got to the end of the first case, and Lorraine decided we had solved most of it. Also played DinoDump, the card came with pictures of dinosaurs and dinosaur poop on it, slightly mystifying the two ladies next to us, one of whom in particular had led a colourful life in the US and well into her seventies, now having moved up to Scotland. We arrived at Waverley Station in the dark at around tea time, and caught a cab to Kew House on Kew Terrace, a pleasant Bed and Breakfast and we were greeted by Alan, a friendly and loquacious gentleman who explained how to hail a cab and other information useful to martians. A good clean and comfortable room...

Time to come home today. A quiet morning, then we all made off to the local café where we had some fairly excellent breakfasts, ranging from vegan to my own, which included peppery breakfast haggis as part of the Scottish Breakfast mix. Then fond farewells with Sam, who may or may not come down to Brighton next week, and jumped in a cab with Jade to take us to Waverley station. Jade leaped out at the University, and we were in good time for our train. A fairly unremarkable journey home, although the weather was spectacular and sunny, and Scotland looked lovely as Edinburgh slipped away. An ant line of people climbing up the steep hill of Arthur's seat outside the city. Edinburgh definitely a place I could live. I finished The Conspiracy Against the Human Race , by Thomas Ligotti on the train. Lorraine listening to her Buddhism audiobook. A annoying elderly couple on the train we sat opposite, who tutted when we sat opposite them on our reserved seats. At King's Cross zoom...

Hanging out in the flat this morning. Jade off to work this afternoon, and we walked to the University later, and found a café bar just opposite, called the Paradise Palms, where Lorraine and I had some vegetarian fare, a chilli bean on fries thing which was gorgeous. Then Lorraine and I went with Jade back to her office in the philosophy department, which I wanted to see. Felt odd for me to be lurking in a philosophy department again, a thing not witnessed for decades. Jade and her colleague Anna had decorated the door to their office with images of important women thinkers, which was good to see, and seemed quite a significant thing to have done in a bland looking area with the odd painting of gentlemen philosophers from former times at Edinburgh. Lovely views from there too. An inspiring place. Then a toddle across the meadows to a pub rejoicing in the name of The Royal Dick. This a strange place with bones of cattle on the walls, and medical tomes lining the walls. Then home ...

A rather beautiful walk although the weather not too lovely, alongside the Leith chatting lots. We went to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, which I liked, being a manageable size. Enjoyed a couple of paintings by  Gwen John  very much. We went from there to a wee basement bar called the Antiquary, where we played several hands of  euchre, and half watched Wolves versus Watford. Turns out that Jade comes from a family of Wolves fans, and her aunt and cousin were at the FA cup semifinal game at Wembley. When we arrived, Wolves were two nil up and all was well. We left after extra time, with Watford having prevailed. The Antiquary opposite a shop called Mr Purves, which made me smile. Then off to a curry house for a Nepalese curry, which I hungrily devoured as we had not eaten much. Then home where we simply watched some of the first season of Fleabag, as Sam had not seen it. A sensibly earlyish night. Below Lorraine and Jade, general loveliness and Jade...

Down to Brighton Station, where we caught our train with bags of time up to King's Cross. Brighton fans heading up to Wembley on the train. The best laugh of the day for me was seeing one emerge from the first class cabin, with a rubber seagull head covering the entirety of his own, bellowing Seagulls! Seagulls! (Brighton football club's nickname). Had time for a leisurely cup of coffee there looking down on the concourse. There was an flashmob style mini concert of children playing music. The fact they were all wearing bright orange sweatshirts meant the blending in part before they all showed themselves needed a little work. Then in the train, crossing many rivers heading north up to Edinburgh again. Lorraine had booked us tickets and we had a pleasant journey. England bright and clear, Scotland dreich and damp but beautiful nevertheless. Happy to be back in Edinburgh. We hopped into a cab and were soon in a street called Temple Park Crescent in an area of town called Mer...

A day off, and much needed regrouping and de-shattering. A rainy, cold day in Edinburgh. Lorraine and I rested lots and then went for a walk around and about in Leith, mooching about by the old docks, which have been transformed, and government buildings. We also went to a place called Toast, which had opened today, for a snack. Good food, nice coffee, but a stress atmosphere caused by it being everyone's first day. Nice to have a bit of quality time with Lorraine. In the evening, we all went off to see a show of high-quality women comedians in a show called Nasty Women on the Fringe . Matt got picked on and brought up into one of the acts. Loads of laughs through the night. A great line up and we are going to see some of the women next week if we can. It was free to get in, but you had to pay to leave. Well worth it. Below a view from one of our rooms, if you enlarge it you can see the bird corpses rotting in the wirework. Then old rails, the stairs leading up to our nice a...

Up at an ungodly ten past five, and frenzied around before out taxi came at ten to six. Down to Brighton station, and caught the slow train up to St Pancras. Nice to be doing this commute without having to work in an agency. The train broke down a couple of stops before St Pancras, but this only added a small delay, and we met Kitty and Matt at Kings Cross and caught the Edinburgh train in good time. About four hours and twenty minutes later, we disembarked in Edinburgh. Chatted to Mum and Toby on the train, and texted Anton. A pleasant journey up, zooming through downpours and sunny spells. Amy met us on the platform, and we cabbed to our digs in Leith, an air b'n'b flat at the top of rather posh tenement buildings. A nice smart interior, but the sixty stairs leading up to it, time worn with people's feet. Then a bus to Edinburgh for our tech rehearsal. Collected some of the props we had preordered from Argos first, and had a coffee and a snack. Then to the Surgeons...

So up with the sparrows this morning, the sky still threatening rain. I mooched off the doctors to discuss blood pressure, gout, a persistent ear infection and a weird lump in my chest. Came away reassured, and with a few routine tests lined up. I like my doctor very much, and we tend to have a bit of a laugh. I told him its not you it's me, on my white coat syndrome. Off next to get my haircut as it was suddenly unruly and sprouting sideways like a clown. This dealt with, off to the ideologically unsound Starbucks where I celebrated with large cup of coffee, and fiddled with some poems. Then to Specsavers for an eye test. I need a slightly stronger prescription, but my eye health is good. Together we compared the red photos of inside my eyes to last time and it all looked healthy. Then the difficult business of choosing specs with a woman called Raquel, whose head I did in by rebuffing her suggestions. We had quite a laugh about it. Then a bus home, and I sorted out the last o...

Up early again. Looking blearily out of the kitchen window just after seven, saw Calliope watch a fox, only a metre away, with a complete lack of concern. Was offered work from the folks in London I worked with earlier this year for a couple of months, but the timing was all wrong. Also offered some work by Pat, but had to decline this too. I spent the day working productively on the Edinburgh business, sending out of 26 press releases, amongst other bits. Also went for an hours' walk. Spoke to Mum too, who is looking forward, as I am, to the Tobster's visit. In the evening cooked and served up a late supper for Lorraine, back from another performance of the school play which seems to be going down well. She is unbelievably busy at the moment, trying to get everything sorted. I am looking after her nicely when she gets home. Beth working up near Oxford today being an extra. Luckily she was given a lift home, and near our house passed a Peter Kenny double, shambling home l...

Lorraine having a senior leadership meeting in the house. We got up at 7:00pm, which was mild mannered by usual standards.  I sat at my desk in the Kenny nerve centre, slowly picking up the threads of what needs to be done. Quite a lot, it turns out. I want to do is finish the novel, but the organising to be done for the Edinburgh adventure is jangling my nerves and has to be done first. I bought indemnity insurance for the play. Betty appeared in my study, and I had not seen her for a while to talk to, and she and John are getting excited about renting a flat together. I told her I was already getting empty nest syndrome. Went to the gym at lunchtime, and had a little more gas in the tank than the day before yesterday and managed half an hour on the cross trainer. Good to be exercising again, as I feel particularly unfit at present. Then we walked back home and resumed work. Enjoyed the commute home from work once I was done, and Lorraine's senior leadership team had le...

Up and packing this morning, then Lorraine and I set off by car to Gatwick, after fond farewells with Beth, Pat and Maureen. To Gatwick on time, and then by SleazyJet to Edinburgh. A hateful flight, packed in like battery hens, Lorraine was claustrophobic, and I was entertaining the usual gamut of neuroses.  Off at Edinburgh. Lorraine and I found our way out of the airport and onto the Tram which took us to Haymarket station from where caught Dunblane train, to Bridge of Allan. Dominating the landscape from the train was the beautiful  Wallace Monument . I want to try to get a better look at this. We arrived in the town on a sunny day, and it looked very pretty. We crossed a little bridge over Allan water passed the Chip Shop, and found the Royal Hotel, and went up to our room with a creaky floor, along an uppy-and-downy corridor in the part of the hotel which is just about to be refurbished. Nice enough place. Then along the main street to meet Sam in a pub restaurant calle...

Slightly sadder and wiser this morning. Drinking lots on a school In other words, a hangover. However sat with Beth as we sent off our registration for Edinburgh. So with a venue booked, and registration made, we are committed. My productivity today lower than a slow worm's belly. But I hope for better tomorrow. Lorraine and I enjoyed watching The Big Painting Challenge , in the evening. Amateur artists challenged to produce pictures of ballet dancers. I like the way the painting process is shown, and the tips from the experts. It is making me want to do some daubing myself. An early and highly sensible night.  

Worked from early in the day on the Skelly MS. In the afternoon Beth and I started looking at material to do with Edinburgh, and also I got in touch with Ruth, Matt's pal in Edinburgh. Lorraine sore throaty this morning, and I have been a bit underpowered. However I forced myself to to the gym, if only to keep the routine going. I did a bit of stuff there, showered and had a cup of coffee in Starbucks and finished a long letter to Tracey in California. Then to the Joker to meet Anton for their three-for-two Wednesday plates of Woof-Woof wings. The place quite crowded. Good to see him there, and chat about books, and life and so on. I also learned that the Lush voucher I'd bought Klaudia necessitated him having to spend hours on Boxing day buying bath bombs and stuff with my lovely Goddaughter. And the book on film making I bought Oskar went down well too. Anton taking a photo of the Viper Wall of Flame. The Vipers have become a bit of a legend with some of his pals.