under another sun

I walked up to the garage Tescos at the top of Stonegrove, first thing to buy some coffee speaking to Lorraine there and back. Then breakfast, and a shower and getting to grips with funeral directors. I had the brilliant idea of calling Carl because of course he knows all the stuff backwards, and we had a three way chat. Turns out the Undertakers that had been recommended by a neighbour, and has strong reviews online, was one Carl had once used.  Greatly reassuring to talk him through where we were to sense check everything. Carl making Mum laugh telling her to get the Carl Basket ready for a visit. The Carl Basket was a big wicker basket filled with pillows and a sleeping bag for use when Carl spent the night.   After a judicious shower, Mum and I caught a bus to Burnt Oak, and spoke to the undertakers. We have an appointment tomorrow at 11, but I got the impression that as we have an interim death certificate, we may be able to go ahead with the funeral.  Mum had a kind...

Raining most of the day. Up early, a fast breakfast, and made a flask of coffee and headed off to Seaford Station. By chance, met Dutch Mike on the platform, and we chatted all the way up to Gatwick, where he got off to fly home to Haarlem.   From Elstree station, and a stroll in the thankfully light rain to The Waggon and Horses. Mum and Mas already there, but the pub empty, and the cooker not working in the kitchen for a while. Mason wanted nibbles and we were given a plate of olives and those big mild pickled chillies, unusual foods to wash down with a Guinness. However normal service was resumed, and we ate some cooked food (grilled Halloumi and falafel for me). The pub also filled up lots towards the end. The man with two dogs arrived, and I thanked him for phoning Barnet about the parking spot outside her house. He advised me to keep an eye out for the parking fines they had accrued erroneously. Mum and Mas in fairly good spirits, and I left them there and made my way back to...

A sunny Friday and off to Elstree to see Mum and Mas. Managed to do a bit of writing on the upward journey. Pleasant walk from Elstree & Borehamwood station. Arrived at the Waggon and Horses a minute or so after Mam and Mas.  For Lunch I had two Guinnesses and grazed on grilled halloumi and falafels. A bit busier in the pub today, and the man with two dogs one came in and said hello  to Mum and Mas. Lots of people say hello to them. I can see why they love the place, despite the mans two dogs, one black and the other white, pleading for food under our table or growling nastily at a very placid bulldog.  Mum had an all day breakfast as she often does, and makes off with the sausages and bread to give to the foxes and birds. Mas enjoying his plate of hot and spicy wings.  The Waggon and Horses is a timeless sort of place, and although a bit of a trek, a nice place to see Mum and Mas.  Home listening to podcasts and so on. From Seaford station, where I arrived...

 Sub zero overnight, but it was a sunny beautiful day. I went up to Elstree to see Mum and Mas, quite enjoying the ride and scribbling stuff in my notebook en route. Helped a man who was struggling with cases at St Pancras. Helping someone else even if it's only moving a couple of cases for a hundred yards or so for them, made me feel pleased afterwards. Helping a complete stranger feels good.  Really enjoyed the walk to and from Elstree station to the Waggon and Horses. Mum and Mas there a minute or so before me sitting in their usual place by the fire. Mas seeming somewhat steadier than of late. Had a nice time with them, although cringing when Mas began talking to a table full of French people who could not speak English. Wendy still there, a lovely woman, who chats to Mum nicely. I had a glass of wine and some falafels and a few squid rings.  I said goodbye at the pub, and mooched back to the station and then home on the trains. Although the journey is quite time cons...

Lorraine and I up to Edgware this morning. A relatively easy drive and we arrived in about two hours. Had a cup of tea and gave mum some birthday cards and presents, from us and from Pat and Maureen.  Then we got Mas into our car, and Lorraine drove us all off to The Waggon and Horses. Mum had booked a table by the fire, and we  had hoped that Robert would come too, but unfortunately he was unable. We did have an excellent time, the pub was weirdly empty while we were there, and it was as if we had done it deliberately. We had lots of attentive service from Harri and Wendy, Mum having a pint of cider given to her on arrival. And Harri also suggested a Guinness for me, seeing as I had drunk that last time I was there.  We had a pleasant meal, again Lorraine and I had falafel and more healthy options, and the staff came out with a piece of cake with candles in for Mum, and sang Happy Birthday.  This happened quite suddenly and the snap I took of the moment, was out of ...

Up just before eight when a man called Andy arrived, and set about installing shelves in a cupboard, and screwing another cupboard to the wall in the utility room, and going on later in the morning to make new bookshelves from adapting my other bookshelves into my study.  I left to go up to Edgware, before most of this was done, pausing only to help Andy move a bookshelf and banging my eye socket painfully.  Then the four trains to Edgware to see Mum and Mas. Caught the wrong Edgware bus at Mill Hill Broadway, and it took me through Burnt Oak, somewhere I'd not been for years. It had changed since I last was there, with the high street shops all changed reflecting changes in populace, with greengrocers with exotic veggies, and at least on grocery with Arabic script. Got off at the crossroads, and walked up Stonegrove and through the little alley onto Kings Drive.   Today the new car was signed over to Mum, the neighbour came and very kindly logged onto the government site...

Up and getting myself ready to go to Edgware. Calliope subdued and not moving much.  I called Mum but she was on the line to the Police as her car had been stolen this morning. Later Mum told me that Ben across the road's security cameras caught a car arriving a little after 5am, one man got out removed a headlight, and stucking his arm into the car and somehow turning it on and driving off with it. Bastards stole it from their disabled parking spot, with Mason's disabled pass in it.  To add to the general joy, on my way to Seaford Station Anton called telling me that his old schoolfriend Stav, who I'd met two or three times and had rather liked, had died. Anton obviously gutted about this, as they had been friends for decades. I made my way up to Mill Hill broadway. Doing some freelance work on the train. While walking to Edgware I called Mum, and she said they wanted to go to go to the Jolly Badger for lunch. I was a few yards away from the place, but I was a bit doubtful...

A cold morning. Lorraine and I drove off this morning, leaving Pat and Maureen stocked up with meals, to see Mum. Even when we arrived a couple of hours later, Mum was still uncertain when -- and if -- he would be sprung. But after about twenty minutes, an ambulance parked up, and Mason was wheeled in on a wheelchair. He'd obviously hadn't enjoyed his time in hospital, and still sporting a chesty cough and gave a lively account of his time, including a few unlikely bits.  Eventually he settled down, and Mum sent off for some pizza -- and Mas was truly delighted to eat something with a bit of taste. He settled down to dozing though soon after, as is his habit, even without the ghastliness of being in hospital and waiting for a lift home. One good thing was that Lorraine were able to spend the day hanging out with Mum who is a full time carer these days, and receives precious little thanks for it.  Lorraine and I discussing with Mum ways we can support her. There is care now bei...

After talking it over with Mum first thing, I decided to go up tomorrow. Nobody was sure if Mason was going to be released and driven home today. Not much to be done other than support mum from afar today. Lorraine and I will drive up tomorrow and collect Mas.  Mum waiting for news all day, and in the end heard that Mason would be driven home tomorrow morning. Understandably, she isn't too convinced that this will happen.   After a couple of meetings I was able to get the job I'd been working on out of my hair this afternoon. Luckily my clients seemed quite pleased with what I had delivered. This made me feel good, that I could just concentrate on zooming up to Edgware tomorrow. Popped over to see Innis this afternoon in Brighton for a couple of hours. Had a chat in the Nelson about books and life and so on. I arrived a smidge early, and he sent me a live location, so I was able to track his progress on the map as he mooched across town. I know this technology is old now, but ...

Both up early. I weighed myself this morning, and my holiday made me increase weight again slightly. Back to normal food now.   Reading some of  Changing, poems based on the I Ching by Richard Berengarten en route to see Mum and Mas in the Jolly Badger.  I arrived just as Mum and Mas were arriving. Mas somewhat unsteady on his feet even with a stick these days. Mum also getting over a cold and with a nasty cough. Mum said she had a scrape in the car yesterday too, following hard on the heels of the car suddenly conking out in the middle of the road last week, which was really stressful. Otherwise a pleasant enough bite to eat.  Helped myself to large salad portions, and had some chicken and rice. A kind server. Mas quite tired after a bit, and Mum took him home.  I walked back to Mill Hill station, and had a decent enough journey home. I shall go up again soon. Nice to be home, and to be home for the rest of the week. Below a snap from Seaford Station platform...

Lorraine going to her personal trainer, then off to see Pat and Maureen. I was late leaving home, my disorganisation, and the general upsidedownness of the house during decoration not helping. On the train faffing about taking calls about a freelance job, while having to move away from two Bulgarians who were sat opposite each other were talk so loudly that when I moved, I could still hear them from the far end of the coach. A pleasant journey. Really warm pleasant day, though around Elstree there were autumnal leaves, and I pocketed a conker. Arrived late to meet Mum and Mas at The Waggon and Horses, already in its halloween array, and Mum was sat in front of fake spiderweb with quite realistic spiders. The window too had a transfer on it, that made it seem that bloody hands were pressed against it. Nice to see them. Mas, however, listing to starboard due to a back problem. Followed Mason's recommendation and had an excellent Caesar salad there. Fond farewells, and I walked back t...

A thundery night, but up fairly early, and scarfed a solitary breakfast and made off to Seaford station leaving Lorraine with a cup of tea. It was just starting to rain again. Up to London, working on various things. Signed onto the onboard wifi and got an email from the editor of a Scottish magazine called Dreich Magazine & Press (byeline: 'Made in Scotland from Words')  saying he wanted to use all four of the poems I had sent him a few days ago -- these were Eat this Poem , yay! I finally found a home for this bad boy, plus X-ray style , Homesick , and Ye Olde Majority Inn (first draft written in the Wellington in Seaford). This cheering. Also a nice text from Palo Almond saying she would be up to discuss a collaboration. Also cheering. So to the Jolly Badger, where Mum and Mas were just arriving. Had lunch with them, quite busy for a Monday, and the place full of smoke from the kitchen area as usual. Mum okay, and Mason seemed not too bad, though his mobility is not go...

Toby and I up with the lark after our lively night, but the fun didn't abate. To Seaford Station and off to Elstree today, to see Mum and Mason in The Waggon and Horses. We arrived slightly before them, and I thanked Waleed, the chef who calls them Mummy and Daddy for the way they take care of Mum and Mas who are rather famous in the pub, and a few people wandered over to say hello while we were there. Mason had been given a rousing Happy Birthday sung to him at the weekend. Mum cheerful to see Toby. I ordered carefully from the menu, with falafel and salad and a bit of squid, and had my best ever meal there. Toby ordered fish and chips and was given giant portions. Mas tucking into a Caesar salad and hot and spicy chicken wings. He also insisted we try the cheesecake that he was given there with a firework candle on his birthday. I had a glass of wine, and coffee.  Spent a couple of hours there, before Toby and I mooched back to Elstree station, wheeling Toby's wheeled case. H...

Up early and phoned Mum to see how everything was. Mason fine again and so I zoomed off to the Jolly Badger to meet them as planned. Lorraine packed me a healthy seeds and yoghurt breakfast to eat on the train. Apparently the folks at the Waggon and Horses had been very kind to them, and Mum said people had been rubbing her back and giving her a free drink, and people really taking care of Mason. Mason said he was okay too, but was a bit tired out by yesterday's shenanigans. After they'd seen me, they drove to the pub to thank everyone. Everyone delighted to see Mason up and about again. Dehydration may have contributed. My journeys quite pleasant despite forgetting to pack my laptop. I got my paces up walking on the platforms while waiting for trains, and finished listening to The Other Pandemic by James Ball, all about Q Anon and the rampant conspiracy theories and misinformation. He makes several interesting points, one of them is that the people who have become infected ar...

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...

So up fairly early, and off to Seaford Station to head up to Elstree to meet Mum and Mas in the Waggon and Horses. I arrived early, walking in the rain from Elstree station, and was the first person in there. Mum and Mas arrived shortly afterwards. Nice to be there sipping a good Guinness and eating food at, ahem, their usual standard. The pub filling up a bit, with folks saying hello to Mum and Mas as they entered. Mum telling me about the fox that gave up the ghost in the back garden yesterday. She put it in the bin, as you are supposed to do, but she felt sad about it having seen it lurking about for some time. Other wise a nice time hanging out. A pair of two poodle dogs, a black one and a cream one, rushing about the place and coming to our table to be given chips, and a cheery atmosphere. Mason talking to a family, two of whom were getting married and having their reception in the marquee outside the pub.  Fond farewells, and I mooched back in the rain to Elstree, and went ho...

After a poor night's sleep, up to see Mum and Mas this morning, reading and writing on the trains, including  Bold Move , my Dr Luana Marques. She describes how our response to anxiety can go three ways, fight, flight or freeze. People either react immediately or angrily, the deny the problem and bury themselves in everything that isn't the actually stressful thing, or they freeze in place, staying in the job or relationship or other situation that is unsatisfactory.  I have definitely frozen before, when two of personal values meet head on, such as loyalty and being true to yourself for example in a relationship. Arranged to meet my old school friend Peter Hoibak in Brighton next week, for a drink after 40 years.   Did some of my own writing in short burst that I was pleased with on the train.  Met Mum and Mas in the Jolly Badger, arriving at exactly the same time as them. I chose a good meal, with lots of salad, some lean chicken and a bit rice, washed down with a ...

Monday morning, and up with the sparrows. I have had lots of troubling dreams lately, in dark cities, trying to get somewhere and being lost. Last night's episode was vaguely connected with University and going back to it again, to do better at my studies this time. A day of mothers... Lorraine off to Ashford to see Maureen and Pat, and me up to Elstree and the Waggon and Horses to meet Mum and Mas.  My journey there good, and passed in a fraction. I am listening to an audiobook about anxiety at the moment, called Bold Move, A 3-step plan to turn anxiety into Power, by Dr Luana Marques, who reads it in a charming Brazilian accent. Although it is quite basic and plods along quite slowly, the book is thorough and excellent. I wish there were books like this when I was in my twenties and needed advice. Now they serve as a refresher of good practice, and are based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Off at Elstree and Borehamwood, and scampered off to meet Mum and Mas, whose sporty car was...

Off to the Jolly Badger this morning walking to Seaford station under blue skies. Trained up to Mill Hill very easily. Took my MacBook Air and actually did some good work in between train hopping. I am working on a loose idea, and am just splurging words down at the moment in messily uncritical kind of way. A bit early reaching Mill Hill, so I mooched down a few side streets to see what there was to see. Most of the side streets are cul-de-sac and dead ends, and the houses are big and wealthy seeming.   To the Jolly Badger, where I bought a pint of Guinness and waited till  Mum and Mas arrived. Mas had his Covid jab yesterday, and he seemed a bit unsteady, and was quite sleepy. Mum okay, and had a pint of cider. The food was okay, and the waiter cheery, and had lived in Brighton before swapping it all for Edgware. Mason asked to be let out the fire escape door, as this was closer to the zoomy new white car. I promised to go up again soon. I made my way back, a bit of a slow jo...

Up to Elstree today, to the Waggon and Horses to meet Mum and Mas. A charmed journey, and I found myself outside the pub waiting for the door to open at 12 having walked along the former Roman road beside the fields to the pub.  I ordered a Guinness, and not long after I had begun sipping it, Mum and Mas appeared. Lovely to see them both on good form. I amused Mas by telling him that I have never been more manly than when sawing and bolting things together in the garden. Mum wearing her colourful jumper and very well colour coordinated. The barman knew what Mum wanted to drink, and Mas ordered a lager and some extra hot chicken wings and spring rolls, which was probably enough. But we had main courses too. I had a bean burger. Mum had a box for leftovers which the birds eat. Mum gave me a pressie for Lorraine.  The Waggon and Horses was extremely quiet today, it was as if we had the place to ourselves for most of it.  After a few hours, it was time to go home. Mum and Mas...