under another sun

Up early for a bank holiday, and we drove off into the countryside towards Great Dixter Gardens , where we spent a happy few hours poking about in the gardens there, and briefly into the house, and having coffee and giant eccles cakes in the cafe area. The weather bracing for May, and apparently it was the coldest May Bank holiday for some time. It did not rain however. Love being with Lorraine in places like this, she drifts about so happily loving the form of plants, and touching them. Some amazing colour combinations there too in the planting. Texts with Carl whose birthday it was today, who reported he was being taken around the shops because, according to Jayne, this is what he enjoys. This done, we drove the shortish distance into Kent and popped into see Pat and Maureen, and Ken was there too. Had fish and chips with them, and we were given lots of pots for our back garden, which was kind. Then the drive home listening to Kermode and Mayo's film podcast. Chelsea won toda...

A bit of a limbo during the day. I slept this afternoon for an hour, and otherwise pottered about not doing too much of anything, other than wasting time humble bragging on Facebook, in an attempt to get more people through the door tonight. Lovely Lorraine arrived home early and she, James and I cabbed down to The Marly for six. Dylan, Beth and Kitty already there. Lurked in the green room a bit, and then as soon as we could get into the theatre, boshed in and set up rapidly. Bloody great white flats left in the room, and we had to dissemble them with the help of Marly folks before the seats could be done. A bit of nervous hanging around beforehand. Went to sit in the bar, nursing a half-pint. I met Ptolemy who Beth has taught, and had brought a posse of his drama A level class with him, having seen A Glass of Nothing earlier in the year. He congratulated me on the writing, and Beth says he can recite bits of the play. A very promising 16 year old I think, who clearly has marvellou...

Off to Edgware to see Mum and Mas. Rather rainy day, which in horny handed son of the soil mode I was pleased to see. Long journey with traffic jams, however but listening to a Kermode and Mayo film podcast is perfect for this kind of thing. Finally reached Edgware and we went to the Miller and Carter steakhouse. A large and pleasant place, where we went to a steak eating booth, and sat under a painting of red cattle, near a window with a metal sculpture of a stylised cattle head. I had chicken, and so did Mas. Lorraine had salmon and mum had ribs. I expect the steaks are good there though. Mason talking about a barbers he visited as a child where the kids sat on merry-go-round horses. Back to Edgware and I showed Lorraine the concrete dog and plastic grass next door, and we looked at Mum's paintings of Guernsey again. I love the view of La Rue Des Grons in the rare snow, painted from upstairs in the old house. A good deal of chatting to be done. Then fond farewells, and simi...

Clocks sprang forward in the night, the traitors. Up and a croissant breakfast with Sue and a few slow cups of tea. The dog Paddy makes a huge fuss unless he gets his way and has a cup of tea or coffee too. The morning had gone in a flash and so we drove off in search of Sunday lunch, and we had some roast food in The White Hart in Stow in the Wold, which had interesting stag's head wallpaper, and loud-voiced young waiters. Food okay too, which John and I washed down with a couple of pints of Guinness. Fond farewells with Sue and John, it had been jolly good to see them. Lorraine and I started the long journey home. We stopped off nearby at an architectural salvage place, where the person working there stared at us balefully then ignored us as we mooched about. But we had come for ideas, and did not fork out for any of the overpriced stuff on offer. Then home, listening to a Mayo and Kermode podcast. A squally day, driving past Heathrow not envying those on the planes taking of...

A piece of toast, then Lorraine, Beth and I drove off to Kent to see Pat and Maureen. A surprisingly swift journey, listening to Kermode and Mayo reviewing 50 Shades of Grey movie among other things. Nice to have an excuse to relax, and scarf down some roast lamb, apple strudel and custard plus fresh strawberries. I enjoyed wandering about in the garden with Pat, looking at his newly planted onions and shallots, overlooking the fresh poo Basil had done there, and discussing the virtues of black and red grasses. After eating, Beth, Lorraine and Maureen sitting on the sofa doing various types of online shopping. Maureen also gave Beth a starter kit for knitting, and they continued as a comedy duo for some time afterwards. I settled down happily to watch some Rugby, Scotland against Wales, and remembering all those schoolboy Saturdays, in the scrum, and having my hand stamped on by studded feet and so on. A happier business watching other people do it, that's for sure. Eventua...

Lorraine and I up fairly early and drove off to Kent today to see Pat and Maureen. Rainy day, with the spray from the road coating the windscreen all the time. We listened to the Kermode and Mayo 'wittertainment' podcast en route, thanks to a new plug in gadget Lorraine has got which turns the iPod into a radio signal the car radio can pick up. Off to have a nice Sunday lunch at a nearby pub called The Blacksmith's Arms with Pat and Maureen. A nice pub decorated with dried hops hung around like vines as is traditional in Kent. We all enjoyed a decent Sunday roast, homemade tomato soup, and a traditional bread and butter pudding for dessert. A really nice pint of Golden Sheep beer served there too. The waitress twice bringing a beer to the table and looking quizzically at me, Golden Sheep?  she'd say.  Yes that's me, I'd reply, fleecily. Maureen being funny as usual, talking about a Belgian brewery visit they made years ago, I've never seen so many chicken ...

Back to the routine today. Started on the last big chunk of the book, and an looking at ways people feel rewarded and justified by marketing having made a purchase. Spent much of the day having to mull over the subject matter, and programming my subconscious to produce some answers. To the gym in the sunshine, especially keen to go as I have managed put on weight over the last couple of days of good food and lots of booze. Good to be back on the treadmill and rowing machine, while listening to a Mayo & Kermode podcast. Their own description of the show is right: wittertainment. They witter on, and the show is often repetitive and tiresome, but it is curiously entertaining and at least you come away with an overview of what's available in the cinemas. Feeling sorry for Naomi Watts, recently interviewed by Simon Mayo. She cut short the interview about the bowser of a biopic about Princess Diana she is in, and 'stormed' off. Watts was brilliant in the fabulous Mulholland...

Off by train to Ashford to spend the afternoon with Maureen and Pat. Lorraine intending to work, and I took my laptop too. However I was trapped by a loquacious and slightly drunk American who talked, in his own words, overbearingly, without pausing for breath for 45 minutes, so that I learned all the details of his family, and a fair selection of his opinions. Dreaded rail replacement line from Hastings to Ashford, though I really liked this drive, threading on the coach through parts of Kent I have never visited. Our route went through Winchelsea, which looked fascinating with interesting ruins, Rye and across the marsh. I want to visit Winchelsea again. A nice afternoon with Maureen and Pat, a roast lamb Sunday lunch, and watching mild mannered indoor bowls on TV, swapping Christmas presents, an event postponed due to the flu from hell, and said hello to Fatty Basil the cat, who now lives with them. Also chatting to Pete (Lorraine's nephew) and his girlfriend Charlene about ...

A spell in the cinema Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince tonight with Lorraine, Sam and Beth. Used the Orange Wednesday business, where you text film to a number on your mobile phone and get a twofer deal. I enjoyed the film, its mise en scène, settings and general bits of magic. Plot all over the place however, and relies on you having read it, to work out its significance. Having not read this book, I was left rather untouched by 'the unhappy event' (as Kermode and Mayo call it) at the end. Also bits such as where the Weasley's house is set on fire were not given time to sink in emotionally. The house is on fire, they stare at it bleakly for one or two seconds, and that's it: never referred to again. Still, it was great escapism. My admiration for JKR undiminished. Lorraine and Beth enjoyed it, and Sam thought that only two things happened, and it took two and a half hours to get there. Lorraine gave me a lift home, only after I gave her the BSG DVDs. Otherwise, ...

Diane and the crane Curiously shattered after a flurry of well being last week. En route listened to Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo's movie podcast, and Kermode's unfavourable review of Watchmen . Then more Buddhism. In work talking to Betsy lots during the day including decidedly off-brief heart to heart about life the universe and everything. Also spoke to First Matie briefly who is in Tenerife.  Diane had called during the day to say that her study overlooks a crane, and that she had written a love poem to its driver. She decided to perform it to him on Red Nose Day. Apparently the building company has got into the whole thing and it has take off somewhat. She has been dared to wear purple stilettos while reciting the poem in the crane's cabin.   Feeling exhausted, I arrived home to a bouncing cat, and an early bed. 

The grump within Up unspeakably early to get into London to get an early start at the agency. Grumped onto the train, noting that my recent sense of humour bypass is holding. Falling into old survival patterns: meditation tracks, and then to Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo podcast from BBC radio 5. I always really enjoy their show, and pleased to hear Kermode rating The Orphanage . One I am definitely going to see, although I suspect I will be ululating with horror, and apparently crying like a big girl at the end. Even the trailer gives me chills. Worked all day through lunch on stuff for financial clients with Bee and Lana, who got engaged at the weekend. I was the soul of amenability despite the grump within. Then shot out like a rabbit from a ferrety warren at five thirty. Listening to an audiobook, and crazily fiddling with the stupid game on my phone. I can't believe how long I lived like this. Experiencing acute and violent heartburn at the moment, not something I get too much....