under another sun

James drove Beth off to A&E this morning, with really bad stomach pains. It's a thing Beth has had a couple of times since pregnancy, which may be gallstones. She was released later in the day having had lots of tests, lots of painkillers.  So we had a day with Enzo. Shortly after Maureen called to say Pat had slipped out of bed again, but luckily the carers were just about to come. They made him comfortable, but paramedics had to come later to lift him back into bed. The bed is adjustable, and is low, and Lorraine had put lots of our little flat cushions on the floor, so Pat is literally cushioned if he should slip out. Ezno, and seemed completely happy to be with us. Lorraine is absolutely brilliant with him, and I loved playing with him, and he seems quite relaxed with me too which is nice. Having had little exposure to babies, they are far more interesting and loveable than I imagined. He is responding to the world now, and chuckling and smiling, especially at Lorraine, esp...

Lorraine off to be with Beth.  James had to travel to London for his first day in the new job. He got up with the sparrows, this morning and got there almost two hours early.   I spent all day indoors waiting for the irritating electrician. He never did showed up, and Lorraine was unable to reach him. Luckily I was writing, looking and thinking about the stuff Robin had said to me the day before.  A nice chat with Anton. He has a very bad knee, but otherwise cheery. Made him laugh telling him about the seagull on the roof that flies at me raging as soon as it sees me. Later I walked over to Squirrel's End to be with Beth and Lorraine, and held little Enzo while he was dozing happily. Lovely little chap. Beth much brighter, and sitting downstairs with Lorraine and the baby when I arrived. Then after chatting with Beth, and holding the baby, Lorraine and I zoomed off to Moon of India to get a takeaway, as Beth had really fancied something a bit spicy. Lorraine and I pushed ...

Lorraine and I trying to keep busy this morning as Beth was going to have a c-section this morning. Lorraine went off to do Story Time in the Library, I did a few bits of writing and so on, while Simon the roofer came around and replaced the rotting roof on the summer house in the garden. He worked very hard and fast in the heat, and did a good job.  Before he finished however, we were summoned by James. Lorraine had returned from the Library, and both of us were getting antsy. The baby was born at 11:19, however, and everyone doing well. One job first: Lorraine and I bought a pensioner's double of fish and chips and took them around to Pat and Maureen -- then we drove to Brighton.  Found a place to park nearby, and made our way via two lifts to the ward. I felt quite anxious for some reason. It is novel going into hospital for a nice reason. We had to wait in the corridor for a bit. We could hear a crying baby, and then James emerged carrying his little baby on his shoulder, ...

James's birthday today, they popped around this morning to collect the bottle of rum we bought from a local distiller, and in the evening went around for a cheeky drink with them, after his dad and brother had left. They had been watching motor racing in the afternoon, after lunch, a bit of a ritual with them. James and Beth all very cheerful. We played Porno or Pacino, a game where you have to guess if dialogue comes from a one of Pacino's movies, or from a porno film e.g.  Saturday Night Beaver.   Otherwise I had got up early to record some podcast stuff with Robin - talking about the poet Seni Senevaritne. Lorraine and I spent some good amount of time pottering about happily in the garden. Below are a pond lily and a gorgeous currently on show in the vast grounds of the Kenny home. 

Maureen's birthday today. I got up early and began organising some notes towards another interview. Breakfast, with Maureen opening cards and presents. Lorraine had to rush off and be horribly sick, and spent the rest of the day and night in bed, probably with some kind of vomiting bug, or maybe food poisoning. Possibly from her home made kombucha we drank yesterday which was a bit pokey. I think it is a bug, and she was not at all well today.  Spoke to Mum who had been out to a neighbour's party last night. She'd also been to the pub in the afternoon, and chatted with some of her mates there. Love the idea that she had some fun. Rearranged the day, instead of us all going to Betty and James's place for cake and coffee, and having dinner here, Beth came around to collect the food we had bought, including lamb, and she cooked for Pat and Maureen at her place this afternoon. I stayed at home to monitor Lorraine, but instead fell asleep on the bed with her and woke up with...

A lazy morning, and breakfast. Chatted with Mum, before making off to Squirrel's End, what we have decided to call Beth and James's house. Sure enough as we arrived and looked out at the expanse of their back garden, a squirrel was obligingly sitting on its haunches in the middle of the lawn. Naturally lots of organising still to be done, but they are definitely installed now.  Lots of spiders in the conservatory, and Beth is no fan of our arachnid friends. I offered to wrangle the spiders next week if it was still a problem. James rallied, having felt peaky all week.  He was watching cycling in the background on TV as he got things ready. I must say I was quite getting into it. As today was Mother's Day, it was another Mum summit and treat for Lorraine and Julie, who arrived with Lorenzo and Andy. Beth had cooked up roast chicken and ham, and salads and roast small potatoes and so on. We toasted their new house and Julie and Lorraine with Prosecco. A cheery afternoon. I li...

A text from Toby just before three saying he was on a Shinkansen with Raine and Eitaro. Up fairly early, and went for an early walk, dropping a card in to Brian and Yvonne like a xmas elf and then going for a cobweb removing walk along the seafront. Very warm for the time of year, about 14C, but with strong winds and a rough sea, and the salty misty spray felt tingly in my nose. People friendly and several people said hello. After popping into Morrisons for a few more bits of food, Home for breakfast. Then we all spent the day busily, building the second Christmas tree, Lorraine cooking for Christmas, me doing other cooking, tidying up, wrapping presents, etc.  Pat and Maureen also drafted into sausage roll making and so on.  Beth -- who stopped work this evening for Christmas, and James who arrived at seven and had gammon, egg and chips.  A cheery Christmas evening, a few drinks and chatting. Below a walk along the seafront, and Maureen making sausage rolls. 

Up early and breakfast with Sian, then a frenzied bed business of dismantling the bed in the guest room, which Beth and James were zooming round with a man with a van to take to their flat, and replace it with my old one, which Beth had. The man with a van was a great character, extremely helpful and we all felt we knew his life story by the time the beds had been swapped fully dismantled and swapped. Everyone got involved. Lorraine greatly admiring of his power tool which she made me photograph so she can buy one in future. I told him it was a chick magnet. A relaxed time lazing in the back garden and chatting with Sian about all manner of things before she set off back to London. I walked her to the station. Lorraine and I very fond of her. Then preparing for another week of Greg and Dan coming to paint and decorate. Below and significant power tool, excellent for screwing and unscrewing things and an obvious chick magnet.

A rainy morning, which we spent tidying the house.  Beth came around for the day. I left her and Lorraine deep in conversation and took a long walk, walked west along the coast and then doubled back. Walking on the path just inside the little park of the Salts Recreation ground, just down the road from us, I noticed distinct sea litter on the path, whelk eggs and mermaid's purses. I then continued along to Seaford Head, and lurked in its golf coursed foothills and explored the streets on the Eastern rim of my new town. As I walked I was listening again to the audiobook of The Trees by Percival Everett, which I am enjoying. Just great to get out and stretch my legs a bit. Home and after a shower, sat with Lorraine and Betty chatting for some time, and prepping a Sunday roast with loads of veggies. Had a nice chat with Beth, as Lorraine needed a power down for a while. Heard about her pal Olivia who knows she is having a baby girl, who is going to be called Margo. Apparently Olivia ...

Beth and James and Julie, James's mum, around for dinner this evening. Julie arriving with a large potted peace lily.  Lorraine cooked her special chicken dish with grapes and lettuce added to the stew at the end. Lorraine and I like Julie lots. A lovely, chatty and friendly person. James calls her 'The Goose' which is quite sweet. She and Beth get on really well too. All's well. Toby called during the evening. He and Romy are still a bit jet lagged as he said the sun shone today for the first time in Toronto today since mid december. Without the sun, reacclimatising is hard. 

Got up not too early, and had breakfast of scrambled eggs Lorraine's sourdough loaf, which despite being a bit burnt on top was something close to spectacular, and tasted brilliant. We did a bit of stuff around the house. I hung some pictures, and Lorraine and I emptied boxes and brought a smidgeon more order to chaos. We cooked a Sunday roast and berry crumble as Beth and James were coming around for a roast lunch. Much merriment made of passing food through the hatch into the dining room. Had our first meal in our dining room, which was fun. James abstained but the ladies drank wine and I nursed a couple of cans of lager.  Lorraine's former colleague from her last school Rebecca came around to get the tour. She liked it lots, and is pleased Lorraine is here as her Mum and Dad live in Seaford too. After chatting with Rebecca I joined Beth and James in the other room where James had downloaded a sports channel and was watching some muddy looking cycling in Belgium. Beth surpris...

My back still wretched. Crept out of bed fairly early, after Lorraine brought up a cup of tea. Shuffled downstairs and had a meeting with Val and another colleague and took a small, but fairly unusual brief.  This done, and a bit of thinking about it afterwards, and I crept downstairs to watch the Queen's coffin being conveyed into Westminster Abbey for it was a bank holiday for us all to mourn. Obviously I can't abide being told what to feel. But it was undeniably magnificent theatre, and you'd have to have a heart of stone not to feel moved by the swirl of the bagpipes as the gun carriage neared the Abbey. The UK has gone through such an epic bout of self harm lately, exemplified by the deeply unimpressive Truss who delivered a pulpit reading with all the emotional resonance of the speaking clock. Perhaps this is the post covid catharsis people are craving.  Beth and James dropped by this afternoon to pick up some of Beth's bits that were still here. They were off to ...

So up early after a night of pooing water. Up and after doing a quick covid test, registering it online, and having a shower and Lorraine drove us off to the hospital. Couldn't find anywhere to park, so I bolted from the car and went straight to the colposcopy department for my 8am appointment. All fine there, apart from the bit where I was being interviewed by the nice male nurse and given a blood pressure reading, which I told him would be high because of hating to have my blood pressure done. It was, so he kept taking it which kept climbing. He then suggested I have some sedation before the procedure, which I reluctantly agreed to. Charming consultant, who needed a nurse to push at various parts of my guts to navigate his probe around them. He said my intestines were unusually long and loopy. However there was nothing sinister there to be found. Which was obviously excellent news. Sat in recovery sipping sugary tea and enjoyed the relief of another mini-ordeal melting away. Real...

Unhurried teas in bed. Up for breakfast. Lorraine driving off to pick up Calliope's medicine then off to Paul in Hove to get her hair done. I stayed at home, to sign off my accounts, write a few emails and then walk to Hove (where I was almost run over on the pavement by two brats on an e scooter) to meet Lorraine, who I discovered browsing in a shop called Velvet. Not able to see her,  I called and heard her phone from one of the changing rooms which made me smile. She eventually emerged with silky hair, which as tradition dictates, appears longer than when she went in.   Drove back having a judicious nap, then called Mum to arrange seeing her and Mas next week, then made ourselves ready to go out. James collected us in Betty's lipstick coloured car and drove us to their place. From there we walked down to Shoreham harbour to a place called The New Port Arms where we sat outside for a bit, then went in to have food. Heartwarming to see Beth and James. They are obviously very ...

Lorraine and I happily pottering about in the garden. Rain dotting off and on Bank Holiday weekend style.  I had a gossip with Clem next door. We drove off to the recycling centre to drop off some sacks of garden waste and stack a broken microwave in the microwave area.  Calliope is barely eating and sleeping lots, despite initially responding well to her medication. I fear she is nearing the end of her story, which is very sad. I spoke to Mum who was bored, and whose tooth had broken again, but was patched up. She is looking forward to the Tobster coming over.  Rosie and Innis are both down with Covid. It is rife at the moment. Herd immunity time it seems. Both Lorraine and I are beginning to regain taste and smell now. Which is good as it was just in time for our delayed family meal to celebrate Loraine's birthday. Sam Lorraine and I met James and Beth in Hotel du Vin where we had some cocktails. Lorraine drank two passion fruit martinis. I had a fancy gin and tonic cal...

Sam off to Leeds today, where he is going to meet Jade. Lorraine and I had a free day, and the first one of her holiday. We had a very happy day today. We drove Beth and James off to a village called Upper Dicker, which  I found impossible to say without thinking of Carry On comedian Sid James. It was the wedding of James's cousin, who he is very close to. Then onto Seaford, which is not far. We parked in the centre of town, and mooched about and ate in a cafe called Grumpy's where we had some lovely grub at a really nice price. It closes at five, and reopens at six with the addition of candles and becomes a bistro.  We then went into four estate agents to register with them, and have conversations. Seems weird to be doing this kind of thing again, but fun. After this we walked to Steve's house where we had a glass of beer at his place. A lovely garden with a view from the bottom to a pond below. It also had a hidden man cave reached through the side of the house, which he ...

Another quiet one... Lorraine and I went to James and Beth's new flat on Saturday evening. It is bigger than where they were, and feels nice and homey. They seem delighted. A bit of a malarkey trying to drill holes into the wall, however. Only after it had all gone horribly wrong did I look at the new drill's packaging to see that it was not the sort you drilled masonry with. However, a lovely evening was had. A delivery from a Chinese restaurant. I don't remember eating Chinese food since well before all the unpleasantness started. Quite nice. Beth had been shopping for her new home, and showed us a variety of things, including a hooky stand to ensure bananas remain unbruised. Beth also getting ready for her play too. Sunday a good day for dozing indoors in the warm. I got up fairly early and did some recording with Robin. Later, leaving Lorraine deep in Star Dew Valley, I went for walk up to the Hillfort where the wind was making the rain sting my face.  Pleasing to get s...

Another night with no pain thank God. Still aware of my guts but they are no longer hurting, but very little energy. Lorraine off to get a massage today, she dropped me in town and I bought a present for Klaudia from Silverado for her 18th birthday. Makes me feel quite proud that my Goddaughter has reached that little landmark. Walked home via Sainsbury's where I bought some hot cross buns and sauerkraut to eat once the antibiotics stop nuking my biome.  Home and did a bit of business admin. Then a fascinating hour this afternoon talking to Liz the sudden cousin. A sign of the times, we met on a google meet page for an hour. Really enjoyed chatting with her. She is an interesting, well travelled, creative and thoughtful person. The hour passed in no time. Really nice to have met her, and we resolved to meet up if possible this year. Then Lorraine and I scampering about getting ready to be collected by Beth and James who drove us off to Eastbourne to meet Julie, James's mum, who...

A lunchtime birthday party for Beth today, her birthday was yesterday, and luckily as I felt a good deal better, I jumped in the cab with Lorraine and Sam. We travelled to The Station pub in Portslade by taxi, which made things easy. Beth had an excellent Birthday yesterday, being taken up to see Hamilton in the West End by James, and cried with happiness through the first several songs. She and James also had a nice meal with Gary and Sophie. I loved being out and seeing friends like James Kuszewski -- who'd acted in my Christmas play We Three Kings and is such a creative soul, met his partner Rob too, who I really liked.  Amy down from Chester too, sporting excellent blue hair, last seen by me -- I think -- when we were up in Edinburgh doing A Glass of Nothing . Dawn and her new boyfriend Paul were there getting on like a house on fire. Innis and Rosie, and lots of Beth's friends pals, from drama and also Sarah who is Betty's boss when she does her first aid training, an...

I now have Lorraine's evil cold too. Just as Lorraine had been doing earlier in the week, I spent lots of the day in bed, alongside intermittent bouts of sneezing, coughing, streaming and so on before making it to the gold sofa for the evening. Decided to book a covid test, although Lorraine did proper one and two lateral flows all of which were negative. Luckily Lorraine is improved enough to deal with the carpet layer who arrived today who replaced the carpet on the stairs. She also took care of me bringing me teas and food upstairs, despite not being fully recovered herself, bless her. I spoke to carpet fitter from my bed.  Also Beth and James were going to come around tonight, but decided against it as they did not want to get the terrible cold. Instead Beth picked up her presents at the door with her and James wearing masks.  I also had to text Catherine to postpone our lunch. I think it is unlikely I can attend Beth's Sunday lunch party. Hopefully Lorraine will however. ...