under another sun

Much improved day today, was able to get my brain in gear, and did some good work and felt much happier. Also went for a long walk in the sun, partly through a nearby scrap of be-squirrelled woodland, and later into the park, where the pond had few plants in it, and lots of fish. They are goldfish but the black ones are more numerous. An example of natural selection perhaps. I pictured passing predatory birds gulping up the gold ones. Watched some of Theresa May's speech about Brexit. A decent effort I thought to put a positive gloss on it all, but as one of my old art directors Nev used to say with monotonous regularity while scowling at the catalogues we were forced to work on, you can't shine shit. At sundown, and noticeably colder, I took a stroll to complete my 10,000 paces for the day. This latter was just around sunset and the sky was a thing of beauty daubed with contrails. Home and chatted to Mum, they are off to Bart's tomorrow for a checkup, luckily the ambul...

Off to Chiswick this morning, and to my dentist Lucinda, for a check up and to moan about a twinging tooth.  Settled back in the chair, and watched the tv screen above me as Lucinda investigated. On the screen was film of a whale corpse on the deep sea bed being grazed on by hagfish which bury their heads and raspy mouths in the rotting flesh. Nice. X-rays were taken and shortly after I was shown my teeth and their roots. The troublesome tooth okay for the time being, as I could see with my own eyes on the screen. Then downstream to The Bull's Head, now calling itself 'Bull's Head' for some reason, where I met Matty boy and Stephen for lunch and a chat about 11 London. Really nice to get to know Stephen a bit better. A very amiable man, despite having broken his leg a week ago which was still giving him some pain. Like Matt he is a listener as well as a broadcaster, which is refreshing. Stephen hobbled home, and I abandoned plans to do some research in the Natural His...

At last a bit of time to work on The Nightwork, which I am supposed to deliver shortly. Rhona has been delayed in coming back with comments which is making me slightly anxious. But otherwise a great day. At lunchtime off to the gym for a trundle for the first time in quite a while. It felt good to be back among the unsmiling narcissists. Good news from Beth, her show had received a review in the Brighton Argus , which I thought was both fair-minded and encouraging. Excellent that they got a review at all. Lorraine working from home this afternoon, while I attended to the massive accumulation of correspondence and other stuff I have. Heard too from Nev, a former art director, who is back in the UK seeking gainful employment. Then a lightning tidy up before an estate agent arrived, for we are going to put the house on the market again. This estate agent, James, proved to be one I didn't instantly want to punch in the head. Lorraine asking him searching questions, while I eyed h...

An afternoon with Nev Up to the smoke again this morning, but only for a half day, for this afternoon was given over to celebrating Nev's return to these blighted shores. Now an Australian, Nev seems not to changed much at all, and there was no hint of an Aussie twang. A collection of agency folks had gathered to celebrate his return in The Salisbury, including Paul and First Matie who came in the evening when we moved onto another pub in Soho. Brilliant to see Nev and having worked together as partners for three years or so, we picked up straight away when you work so closely with someone, you really get to know them. He loves his Australian life. He lives in Manly, which always makes me smile, and it is a place designed Nev, who likes sports and roaming about in the wide outdoors and the sun brandishing golf clubs and the like. After some dedicated drinking I had to wuss out and go home, after fond farewells and beers and a rum and coke. Left Nev and lots of pals to it. A wonder...

Emails from Mars Feeling wussy again today after dreaming about death. Did dreary things: bought 100 envelopes, tidied my study for two hours, paid and filed bills, chased outstanding payments, and discovered a small cheque. Spent the evening trying to teach myself how to use Corel Draw. Slow progress. Thank god for email... Heard from Katie who has been writing her own things, which I am pleased to learn. Also Jane from a damp Guernsey. She has bought a Lumix camera like mine, and now is trying to work out how to use it. She sent a timely Swine Flu children's poem. An excerpt: My brother’s caught the swine flu, he’s looking rather pale, he’s lying in bed grunting and he’s grown a curly tail. But he’s making funny noises now, his temperature is high, he’s gone all red and blotchy and I’m worried he might die. His forehead’s hot and sweaty he’s got bristles on his chin and every time he wheezes he makes an awful din... Below I got an email from Nev who attached this photo of Manly ...

Back in the Bull's Head Calliope has perfected a new technique. Crawl into the end of the bed, and insert one or two claws into the soles of your feet. Up to London, and I had cleverly arranged to spend the evening with First Matie and Matty so took a bag with things in it. As soon as I sat down in the train I realised I'd left my mobile phone at home, which had me grinding my teeth. Spent the best part of the day waiting to be briefed. By the time the briefing happened, I had lost the will to be creative. I did however have a nice walk along the river at lunchtime, and I was also able to catch up on correspondence with Nev in Australia, who is has decided to set up on his own now as a freelancah. Still talk of us doing a project together from opposite ends of the globe, like Elton John and Bernie Taupin, as Nev said. I'll simply note here that I can't play the piano. Also was asked to contribute by Catriona Stares in Guernsey a few ideas towards a brainstorm happening ...

In need of a cure Diseases all day. As I write this interminable website, I'm trying to focus on how it will pay for lots of Skelton Yawngrave time, and I should be really positive about it. Popped to the gym later, but all manly vigour was sadly absent. Cheered by a note from Nev reminding me of an agency Christmas party on a Cowboys and Indians theme. We went as cowboy plumbers with big wigs, tashes and white overalls drinking our Guiness out of Butch and Sundance mugs with spoons in. It was all Nev's idea. And jolly good fun it was too. Also cheered by calls from Anton and Lorraine. We're all going out to see nice Alice Russell tomorrow night, which will be top. Too numbed to do anything, I watched House tonight for the first time, and thought it had some excellent dialogue. Curses, even my downtime is about diseases.

A Manly word from Nev Up and sifting emails at 7, including one from Nev in Australia, which mentioned things like glorious weather, and the possiblity of doing a little work together across the globe. Then I had a long chat with Mex who is going to be on BBC 2 Business Lunch next week, and is currently taking some big career decisions. Meanwhile the media is full of glooms. I hate all this talk of unemployment as I was unemployed for quite some time in my twenties. I know at first hand how grim signing on is for extended periods. Then off to the chiropractor for more manhandling. After this, as it was such a glorious day, I chose instead to walk down to the beach. Fine Autumn sun. I found myself having fish and chips by the sea. A beautiful day and I sauntered about on the pier and took a few photos. There was a school party of teenagers taking photos too. It was all rather comical. In the afternoon, as the morning had been so arduous, I listened to a hypnotic relaxation tape, and the...

Yellas Below My old pal Nev pictured painting yellas upside down in Australia. "I've still got the skills!" he says. As a very senior and talented art director when people asked him what he did outside of an agency context, he would persistently say that he painted yellas (ie painted yellow lines on the road). I don't know where he got this from. I stole Nev's line from him once to excellent effect. I was sitting in the front row with Mex and two other friends at a comedy venue in Chiswick. Some obnoxious Scottish comedian came on and started berating everyone for being English and middle class, with poncey London jobs. As I was sitting right at the front he seized on me as his first victim. "And what do you do?" Me, borrowing Nev's line (and sensibly not explaining that I was, uh, a creative in an advertising agency) said: "Paint yellas." "What are yellas?" "You know. Double yellas, single yellas..." One-nil to me. Muc...

Blowing a gasket A different kind of boring today. To be precise, a workman drilling and grinding into my wall at a completely unreasonable 6:25am. Stormed out in my dressing gown, which flapped nastily, to roar at him. On returning to my house he began drilling again. Moved quickly into furious mode, and, returning, left him in no doubt that he was in personal danger. Things quietened down, and at least it was an early start to the day. Onto the packed train and sat opposite a man who coughed on me all the way to Victoria, had fantasies of stoppering his mouth with a 15thC mace, or a fetishist's rubber bung, or a cactus, or a live ferret etc. Walking through the graveyard I decided to reboot the day. And did so successfully. An enjoyable day in the agency, and working hard. Surprisingly they asked to film me talking about a charity for a mood video - a long shot of me and Ed talking over concepts today, and an interview tomorrow. Managed too, to have a chat with the right person i...

Happiness is a home toilet Funny day with brainstorms, and meetings, and finicky changes to copy. Out to lunch with Pat, and the FB and Trace. Had a beer to wet the baby's head, but mostly this overshadowed by an irritating work issue we had to discuss. Got a note from my old art director Nev who is now in Australia, sending some photos of the aftermath of a giant storm and floods fairly near to Sydney. After work with several work amigos, including the FB. The evening, quite flatteringly for me, included a lenghty and impromptu poetry reading in the bar of some of my poems done mostly by Robbie, with me reading one too. This Lyrical interlude, however, was followed by an appalling journey home. A short distance from the office I found that I had exceedingly urgent need to find a toilet. I had to rush into a pub on Fulham Palace Road, and then a barge into a string of increasingly appalling places, then rattling about in the train toilet. Ghastly.