under another sun

Obviously as it was Saturday, it was bit wet and blustery today. However we had a good time. Lorraine and I set off into town, I headed for Cafe Nero where I worked on a bit more of the manuscript, with the pencil of destiny. Lorraine had her nails done, by someone working with Beth. Then Lorraine and I did a spot of shopping, and then zoomed off to see Janet and Ken. Hus was there, having done some work on their house, and Rod and Clare arrived, Rod being one of Ken's sons. Ken looked pretty well, although he managed to lose a tooth during our conversation, despite this he was in good spirits. Janet on good form too. We left them and caught the bus back to the centre, where we popped into Riddle & Finns. They took my mobile number and called us when they had a table, an hour or so later. We'd popped into the Cricketers, and then after a bit more shopping into the Druid's Head. Town really busy, as the hordes usually on the beach had headed inland due to the incleme...

Basking Beat the moths from the PK shorts today and sported them in the sun. Brighton milling with people, the beach crowded. Hundreds sitting in the parks, outside pubs and cafes with cold beers and coffees, buskers here and there and everywhere the pasty English blossoming into summer clothes. Spotted the first sunburnt noses of the year. I went to the gym at lunchtime, and pressed on with the story. Talked to mum who is doing some cover art for me, and had a quick chat with First Matie, who I've not seen for ages. Listening to Richard Gibson's sonnets demo CD. Absolutely gorgeous. Met Matt outside the Brighton Tavern basking in the sun and having a glass of lager, a rare thing for a Yorkshireman. Dehydrated, I had two nice pints of water, and had a chat with a guy called Chris, who is a musician and journalism student. Then to the Basketmakers where Lorraine and Betty arrived, soon followed by Cath. Enjoyable brace of beers then to Riddle & Finns where Mark was working....

Lorraine's birthday Working hard on the Guernsey Double poems this morning, then at midday whizzed about picking up posters for This concert , and buying a card and flowers for Lorraine. Lorraine escaped work early and we went for a walk in Woods Mill, which is now officially in Spring. Lovely to go there in the middle of the week with only a nature photographer stalking about among the afternoon shadows. The wood anemones out, and the first bluebells, and the may trees blossoming, and the lake's still surface being broken by big muscular carp. All very relaxing. Then back to Lorraine's house to get ready to go out with Beth and Mark to Riddle & Finns. Handily Mark works there part time, so we were able to dine like royalty, and sup champagne while slurp down wasabi oysters, and get a staff discount to boot. I had a really nice fish pie. All very cheery and nice, and Lorraine happy and enjoying herself, which of course was the big idea. Below at Woods Mill and Beth an...

Squid, mackerel, lions, hatted cats and Cranes Interesting day. Went for a swim after working, which I enjoyed despite painfully banging my knee on the stairs into the pool. After slumb'ring on the Norway foam for a bit, left the pool only to encounter a noisy demonstration about giant squid. More on that in the daywork . Lots of telephone chats today, including with Louisa a neighbour who has suggested that we gate the Twitten by night to prevent some of the nocturnal rampages. Then round the corner to the station to meet Mike, the Cat with the Hat. We jumped into a taxi and sped down to the Brighton Dome to see Gore Vidal in conversation with Andrew Marr. I bumped yet again into Andrew Comben as I did so, because I am stalking him. For some reason I'd not been inside The Brighton Dome before. A lovely venue. I must have been one of the few people there who had never read any Vidal, so I had no preconceptions. He did the literary lion stuff, and donated various entertaining op...

Langoustine with Lorraine A quiet day. Working better on the Skelly stuff today. Had some good ideas, and made some decent progress. Have been sticking to diet very well, but tonight I made an exception and took Lorraine off to Riddle & Finns to celebrate her birthday. It being an Oyster and Champagne restaurant it was rude not to have oysters and champagne. I’m not actually a big fan of oysters. I am troubled with the idea that they are still alive, but I tried two of them. One was served with Japanese stylings – a touch of ginger, spring onion, soya sauce, and wasabi, and the other nicely seasoned with little bacon grits and pickled cucumber. Lorraine, who grew up big and strong by eating seafood, sucked down four of them with only a squeeze of lemon. I don't think they taste of much really. But Lorraine said they were really good. The champagne helps take the edge off the horror of sliding the oysters down. For my main course I had a fish pie, while Lorraine had a biology le...

A trolly full of chocolate A fairly quiet day today, with Sprinkles getting ready for her return tomorrow. We did have an amazing trip to Waitrose today however, where Sprinkles bought £45 worth of "Cadberrys" and other chocolate bars to take back to her pals. You like your chocolate, observed the lady on the checkout. I contented myself by scoring a jar of limited edition Guinness Marmite. Then home to drop the tons of chocolate off and off to Riddle and Finns where we had a late fishy lunch. Sprinkles getting her knife and fork into some brill for the first time. Good service, and fresh and herby food. I noticed the owner of Mama Cherry's happened to be in there too, which must be some sort of recommendation. In the evening Brian Anton and Anna came around for a big night out. Sprinkles getting people to smell the Vera Wang for Men fragrance she'd bought me. There is something utterly disreputable about asking people to smell your Wang, but it does smell rather nice...