under another sun

Up and a few tweaks to the podcast before sending what I had to Robin. Then off to Brighton by train, and went to see Stacy. Stacy under pressure as everyone wants a haircut in time for Christmas. He had also shaved the wizard's hair and beared, I last saw him sporting. He did his usual perfectionists job on me. Then a spot of shopping in Brighton, and spoke to Mum. Home again, and Lorraine out as the OT was visiting Pat.  In my travels today, a note from the editor of Black Nore, accepting one of my lighter poems, called Viagra from Vancouver . It's a true story about getting a spam email from someone called Gwen, my grandmother's name, about buying Viagra from a pharmacy in Vancouver.  Gwen, something of a practical joker, had visited her sister in Vancouver.  I made off to Lewes, the Brewers pub for what I think of as the Poets' Xmas Party. Charlotte, SJB, Robin and Stephen. As I arrived, I bumped into Phil, Innis's mate, last seen at Innis's birthday party i...

Spent much of the day prepping for the poetry reading at the Wellington Hotel, while Lorraine zoomed off to Hove to see Paul. Came back looking glossy and glamourous. I decided to go slightly outside my comfort zone and try out some new stuff, including a bit from Gordon Road. A full moon (in Libra). I felt the right amount of nervous pre-reading. Lorraine popped in to drop something off with Pat and Maureen. I got there early and chatted to Chris Goode the organiser from Seahaven poets. Drank shandy.   Lots of Seaford friends turned up, and in the poet corner Robin and Stephen Bone. Robin gave me an advance copy of  The Mayday Diaries , her first full collection from Pindrop Press. It looks excellent, with a cover designed by Robin too. Of Seaford pals were Steve, Andrew and Kate,  Delores and her brother Dave and newer rebooters, Matthew and Andy, and Carole from the book group, and Helen and Andy.  The evening started with an open mic reader who threatened to...

In bed, and plotting the day when Lorraine heard that Delores had just discovered that her lodger had died overnight.  Lorraine nipped up the road to support her, and soon Kate and Andrew arrived too. It is heartening that there is so much kindness to be found in Seaford.   I stayed at doing assorted house cleaning laundry etc. And when Lorraine got back we did some more sorting of the spare room. Dog tired again today. Rallied after a delicious soup Lorraine made.  To St Michael's in Lewes this evening to see The Lewes Singers , directed and conducted by Nick Haughton, Robin's other half. Robin sings alto with the choir. As well as a fine choir, there was a chamber organist and a string quartet led by Julia Bishop . By some fluke Lorraine and I got to sit in the front pew, with Lorraine about a yard away from Julia Bishop, who led the performance of a barnstorming Winter from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Nick an excellent conductor. I particularly loved their version of The L...

Feeling somewhat sluggish, with an aching arm, caused by the shingles jab. Lorraine off to rhyme time. I did a spot of writing first thing. A after a light lunch I took the train to Brighton for a futile shopping expedition, followed another in Lewes. At four o'clock, rainsoaked and tired, I retreated to a cafe for a large coffee, and a read of a book of historical Beano front covers in full colour, that I had bought early in Seaford Post Office for a ridiculous £2.95. Repaired, I made off to the Lewes Arms to meet poet friends. SJB, Charlotte, Stephen and Robin. A cheery drink for a couple of hours, with the usual mixture of banter and poetry. I like being with my tribe. Towards the end of our session, Christmas carollers came into the small bar, and began singing. People, talking loudly to compete. Charlotte had to go as it was making her feel claustrophobic. Just as everyone was leaving, the singers asked me if there was a carol I liked, and I said Silent night. I sat there list...

Up and editing this morning. Lorraine off to do Rhyme Time. Apparently very well attended today, including by Yvonne and Gabby and grandchildren, and then Lorraine drove off to Ashford to take Maureen to a medical appointment -- which was cancelled at short notice.  Robin arrived, and we did some location recording at Splash Point for our season Finale episode. She was not long back from a few days in Italy. Very hot there apparently. By Seaford Head, a hazy sky and we sat on the fish shaped seating and chatted a bit, against a backdrop of waves and seabirds. We then walked back to Seaford, and ate a snack at the Lanes Eatery, my new cafe, and did a little bit more recording. Robin, bless her, is going to edit all the live stuff. Then we walked back home, and she zoomed off back to Eastbourne. I worried at the interview Robin did with me, and then went out for another walk to get my 10k paces done. Home and an early dinner as I was hungry. Then a bit more work on the podcast, befor...

Up early, feeling weirdly tense. Did a few bits of work on the podcast during the day. Robin had improved the episode greatly when I got it back from her. I had sent her a bit of an agricultural version. She said I used garden shears rather than nail scissors on the editing, which made me laugh. The new episode went up this afternoon. Lovely poet on it, Seán Hewitt, who lives Dublin and steeped in the Irish literary tradition. Lorraine off with her walking heads today, and did a fair pace. I made off to Specsavers, where I had my eyes tested and scanned. When my background anxiety levels are high, I can get about twitchy about what they find. A guy I think from Hong Kong did the final assessment showing me my retina, and the absence of glaucoma and so on. He was lightning fast, and not big on small talk.  I said he was very efficient, and he said he was the Optical Terminator.  I need new reading glasses but is otherwise okay. Quite relieved, having pictured eyeball removal su...

Up early, at my desk by eight editing yesterday's recording,  recording with Robin in the morning, and then editing the rest of the afternoon, barring a two hour session of The Understory Conversation over zoom, which is a kind of poetry seminar run by Charlotte, looking at the personal, often hidden, stories that drive the writing of our poetry. I really enjoyed today's session. Then back to editing, till my ears were too tired and I sent it off to Robin for her to have a go at tomorrow morning. No time for anything else today, apart from chatting to Mum a couple of times. She made excellent progress with the banks today, and also my note to the American Embassy means her pension as Mason's wife has now been adjusted.  Had soup in the back garden with Lorraine at lunchtime as, away from the screen glow, it was a glorious day and Lorriane was busy outside.  Lorraine had done her rhyme time at the library, and had also... Brilliantly, got me a new dentist in Seaford. I go ...

No work. Bliss. Up and breakfast with Lorraine, and she went off to walk and talk with Penny and other ex-headteacher friends I spent a happy couple of hours finalising my reading for tonight's Needlewriters. (Success happens when preparation meets opportunity, I reminded myself). A lunchtime walk, and the luxury of a nap this afternoon. Quite nervous, and bleating nervously to Lorraine once or twice. Pleased Robin and I were reading together which somehow made it feel better.  I'd not seen the rooms upstairs at the John Harvey Tavern so crowded. I counted about 45 people. All my favourite poet friends there, SJB, Charlotte, Janet, Stephen Bone, Antony Mair and Jeremy. Plus there was a delegation from Seaford, Adele, Patrick, Andrew and Kate. Then, greatly to my surprise, old Warwick University pals, Will Leith and Callum Murray appeared, who I first met when I was 19, and then sat in the front row. As I was being introduced by James Ellis, who did a great job all night, I some...

I was doing some freelance work with Gabriel one of my French clients again this morning. This done by one o'clock, however. Lorraine busy in the house and garden, a quick bite to eat before Yvonne arrived for coffee. We sat outside chatting for a couple of hours. I liked it when she described having a bald patch as having an egg in the nest. We also took Yvonne on a full guided tour of the garden, and she brought us a cutting of a succulent. Once she left, Lorraine and I did our meditation and sat quietly for twenty minutes. Later, Robin and Nick collected us to drive us into Brighton along the coast road (this being a train strike day) where Robin was reading with a few other Frogmore stalwarts. An enjoyable enough evening, and a good opportunity for me to say hello to a few people, chiefly a delightfully sweary Anne Perrin.  The readings ranged from stuff I hated and stuff I liked a good deal, which is what you'd want really. I thought Robin's reading was excellent, and ...

Up early this morning, and settling into a very happy routine. The first four hours of the day devoted to writing and editing,  as well as a recording with Robin -- these sessions increasingly relaxed and more like having a chat with a mate than doing recordings these days. I hope that's a good thing for how it sounds.  Then zooming around the house and garden for an hour or so tidying things, doing laundry, hanging out washing and so on had lunch, lorraine making chickpea flour pancake things stuffed with a mix of salady goodness.  Broke off at two to meditate -- with Lorraine. My friend Sarah Barnsley sent me a free month's link to a meditation app, and it has been a useful springboard this week to start to have a mindful interlude. Another bout of doing things, Lorraine lead a mission to put a small shelf in the airing cupboard where the boiler is. This accomplished, with a bit of help from me. Able then to tidy study. A gold sofa interlude. Lorraine reading, and I wro...

Another fine frosty morning. I mooched off to buy some bread first thing, then a bit of light tidying before before Penny and Steve called around, looked at the house sans boxes, and had coffee. As we left for town, we spoke to David next door. His front garden is now a cheery tableaux of assorted reindeers, a snowman a polar bear and Christmas trees and lots of other lights.  After a short walk by the sea, we went into Amy's kitchen. Penny specified she didn't want it spicy, and I said I liked spices. Penny's was red hot with chilli and mine was as mild mannered. Nevertheless really tasty. Penny refusing to make a fuss about the her meal.  After fond farewells, Lorraine and I made our way to the Crypt where we met up with Steve and Robin and Nick for the open mic poetry reading, with a guest poet called Louise Taylor who Robin knew who is a performance poet who delivered poems about food, especially cake, and the uselessness of men. The Seahaven open mic poets were often i...

Lorraine off to Ashford to see Pat and Maureen, and go with them to see Lorraine's Auntie Doris -- she didn't get home till late in the evening, in a car full of houseplants, my shoes, our duvet filling, and other bits that Maureen had been taking care of for us. The cats missed Lorraine which meant Calliope plaguing me at my desk. One of the boons of having Lorraine at home is the cats get distracted by her.  Most of my day from 8:30 manacled to my desk, dreaming up concepts with Keith. A slightly surreal interlude with a piano carefully delivered by two taciturn Polish men at lunchtime. They were very efficient but despite that it reminded me of that Laurel and Hardy movie. The piano was Penny's but she didn't want it, and sold it to Lorraine at an attractive price. Later a lawn mower was also delivered. The outside world fairly uninviting with rain. After work I met Robin online and we recorded some banter for the podcast, which I then immediately edited. Robin in go...

A good night's sleep, and much refreshed. Woke up with my lightning tracker going off. It thought it was still in Corfu, and apparently there was thunder there this morning. As soon as I opened the app it realised it was in Ashford.  I was determined to get on with getting to grips on work for a while. Spent a few hours editing interviews for the podcast, and doing a recording session with Robin. Fun to be chatting again. A gorgeous day. Lorraine took Maureen out shopping this morning, and in the afternoon out to see an old pal called Wenda. I was working and broke off to hang some washing out on the line, Maureen schooling me on the correct way to peg socks to the line... By their toes is the only acceptable way. Pat still coughing and looking a bit peaky. He had his covid jab a week and a half ago, and tested negative this morning.  Calliope very clingy despite the fact both cats love Maureen and seem to be enjoying the garden, which is not densely populated with other cats ...

A better night's sleep, despite the happy cats bedding down with us. We woke up earlier, and I had a meeting with Keith in fairly cheerful and philosophical mood. Emails with Robin about plans for the podcast. Charlotte told me that she had been ill yesterday, and others had to cry off the launch of Frogmore Papers 100th issue and Clare Best's book due to Covid. Robin told me later that it was a good night.   Lorraine drove us all off to The Outlet, which is oval of quality retail brands selling their goods from 'outlets' at bargain prices. I bought a new watch strap to replace my fraying one, and I bought Lorraine a nice Radley purse in sage green. There was a Le Creuset shop and we bought a bargain butter dish and some heavy but colourful mugs. We collected Pat and Maureen who had been shopping in the M&S outlet, and buying lipstick from another shop, and drove home. Pat and Maureen tend to eat in the middle of the day, so Lorraine made a very tasty vegetable chil...

A chat with Sam today, talking about how he is feeling a good deal better these days and is looking forward to moving back with Jade at the end of the Summer. We are really pleased for him.   Exceedingly hot.Lorraine drove us off to Robin and Nick's garden party this afternoon. Very elegant, with two young folks serving Prosecco and alcohol free Nosecco to assorted poets and musicians. Robin and Nick have an enormous shared garden, the size of a small park. Robin was wearing a dress Lorraine almost wore, plus the same Panama hat as mine she bought from Mad Hatters too.  People sippingo in the shade. I enjoyed catching up with Janet, Jeremy, Antony and Stephen. Lorraine particularly chatting to Stephen lots. He lives in Newhaven which is the next little town along from Seaford.  Drove home with the air conditioning on in the car. Watched a bit of the Tory leadership debate, and watched the tumbleweed blowing through the voids where the ideas should have been. Spoke to Tobs...

Lorraine's penultimate week started today. A few bits of work, then the gym this morning. At teatime I made off to Eastbourne, where I met Robin at the station. We were going to do some recording in a pub, but every venue was not quite right in town. Every likely spot outside was also home to a straining air conditioner. We jumped in a taxi and went up to the Beachy Head pub. I had never been there before. We sat outside on a bench looking at the amazing view with Seaford head and Brighton in the far distance in the lowering sun. Bloody hot still. We clicked on the recorder and began our end of season banter, but were beset by dozens of flying ants crawling over us and the table and through the open packets of crisps. But it was a small price to pay. Then a celebratory pint to celebrate before a taxi (difficult to obtain) back. It was nice to actually meet in person to record, and also to actually slap ourselves on the back a bit for our efforts. I managed to miss my train at Eastb...

So managed to get the podcast out on time today. Robin cut more out of the Gregory interview which really helped focus it, and then we recorded assorted banter and I edited this and built the episode, sending it off to Robin who cut a few seconds out where, she said, she 'sounded a bit numpty'. Then I wrote the blurb and uploaded. Made off to the gym. A bit of social media promotion and I was done. Felt like plenty for one day. Emailed Gregory to thank him. Sent off boiler servicing stuff to the solicitor. Then made a complex salad of my own invention with  boiled potatoes and sausages. Also received an offer of work for exactly the same days as my booking on Monday. Drank beer and watched Star Trek next generation, after Lorraine had watched Sewing Bee, Darning Wasp thing.  Lorraine had a difficult day. But Summer freedom is coming...

So back to my desk, while Lorraine worked downstairs with Emma the head who will be replacing her at her school, and the two Sarahs. I had a quick meeting with Keith and then got on with finishing the work I was doing for Pat, Michel and Perky. Had a meeting with them virtually and was done by one, thankfully as I felt a bit wan and tired. Lorraine was finding work hard today. Just a few more weeks for her to go -- but getting to the end of the year, even in the best of years, is always tough. I had a spot of lunch with the teachers, and then did admin and other stuff.   In the evening sauntered down to London Road station and from there to Lewes, where SJB was having a launch party for her fabulous book The Thoughts.  With typical generosity she invited some friends to read poems too: Stephen, Charlotte, Jeremy, Robin and me -- as well as Louise who read excellently and also hosted. I really enjoyed the event -- Sarah's book is wonderful and she read with great humour and emo...

Recording with Robin this morning, and talking to Mum to see how she and Mason were. Then set off at lunchtime to go to Chiswick to get my gnashers checked by Lucinda. Raining enthusiastically when I walked to Preston Park, luckily I took my old golfing umbrella. Trains cancelled and delayed, so that I almost turned back after waiting on the platform and seeing my travelling time shrink. Luckily the train gods were with me, and I had a seat in faux first, and did some work for a bit, before changing at East Croydon and Clapham Junction. Having spent so many hours of my life at both, almost nostalgic to go through them again after two years of not commuting. Enjoyed the train ride to Kew Bridge from Clapham too, a glimpse of a former life. Reached the dentist with a slim minute to spare.  Teeth all good according to Lucinda. I felt as if I had been given a gold star when she said that I take good care of them.  A long wait for the train at Kew Bridge, the wet platform steaming ...

A day of cheery busyness: up early with Lorraine and waking Sam up x3 prior to his trip up to Scotland, tweaking the podcast and sending it to Robin for further tweakage. Then billing, timesheets, booking a dental appointment, a teams meeting with Keith and a nice woman called Amber we are working for next week, laundry, gym (baby steps still), talking to Val in Paris and then doing some work for her.  Also had  two poems published in Black Nore Review  and uploaded  the new podcast  episode. Matthew G. Rees new book arrived. I am a bit over-pleased that he quotes me on the back cover.  Carl called me. Lovely chat. Telling me about his poor little dog that was attacked by a savage dog and had to have one of its injured back legs removed. It gets about pretty well on three legs apparently, and is much improved, although Carl said it fell over when trying to cock a leg the other day. One of the things I like most about Carl is how he can laugh at bleakness....