under another sun

Told Charlotte and SJB and Stephen about my news first thing, to make it even realer. They were happy for me, which was very sweet. Sarah: When's the piss up?!! This morning I was talking to Lorraine about how decades of being published meant I knew my poems were good, but how on some irrational level I thought there was something about me, my character or who I am, that meant I would never succeed. The thought of perhaps being able to shrug off this shoulder monkey is exhilarating. Otherwise recording and editing most of the day. Recorded a few more bits with Robin, and sent what I have to her for another no-nonsense edit.  At tea time off with Lorraine to call in at Debbie's house, which I'd never been too. Lovely place, overlooking the sea. Lorraine was sorting a computer problem for Debbie on a Mac. Nobody interested in the fact I use a Mac every day, of course. Debbie showed us the room she does glass work in, overlooking the sea, and said as it was a full moon she was...

Enzo here this morning, and Lorraine looked after him all day. We had him on Thursday night as Beth and James had developed the spews in the morning. I made off to Hampstead. Bought a ticket at Seaford Station, and realised I'd left my phone at home, so missed the train. Otherwise a smooth journey, and met Mum and Toby at Hampstead station. We sloped down to The White Bear for some lunch. I wanted a photograph, but they both flinched like vampires. A cheery lunch, and great to see the Tobster of course. Toby had a pie, and mum had pea and lovage soup, this time sans the 'weeds', the pea shoots that were added last time. Mum was talking earlier about the man she calls the Parson. Sure enough he came and sat near us. Unfortunately Mum did not count this as a sighting, as he wore some kind of Hawaiian shirt, instead of a dog collar. His cowboyish hat on the table beside him gave it away. I had to return early, however, as I needed to get to The Walrus in Brighton, to host Tess...

An Enzo for breakfast. Lorraine zooming off to the get the little lad first thing. I had a busy day, but enjoyed spending time with him in between going to my Life Drawing Class. A decent session this morning, I used coloured pencils and a pleasant woman model. Adele not there this morning as she was laying out her show at Gallery Uno. Sat next between a new bloke John, whose work I think is good, and Kate, who is always very accomplished and free and brilliant. Nice session.  Hurried home to see the wee boy, who has a new tooth and is full of beans generally. In the afternoon off to see Cóilín. When I got there I said I was sorry for her loss and gave her a kiss, and she went very quiet for a bit while the nurse settled me into the seat. But we had a lovely conversation about her dad for ten minutes after the scraping was done. Home and a bit of bouncing Enzo on my knee and then off to Brighton, where I went to the Walrus to see Robin, SJB, Stephen and Antony Mair. We went upstair...

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...

Lorraine off to the gym this morning, when she came home I cooked a largish lunch for us, as I would only be snacking later. Then Lorraine off to Squirrel's End. James to start his new job tomorrow.  Met Robin in The Depot at Lewes, had cups of tea and Robin gave me some feedback on Gordon Road. Really useful for me, and a few things to think about, as well as a sprinkling of proofing catches and a few small cuts. Then we made off by train to Haywards Heath and jumped on a train and found SJB, and we travelled up to London Bridge and then Greenwich. Lots of talk about babies, and AI and much more (too much for some fellow passengers who moved huffily away). Sarah also showed us her wonderful SUNY book 'Mary Barnard: Complete Poems and Selected Translations', which she edited and is just published. A very handsome thing indeed, and a culmination of huge amounts of work.  We arrived early and popped into a nearby pub for a half, and a sort through of papers and so on. Then to...

Lorraine off this morning to take Pat and Maureen to a celebration of life, for Pat's cousin Tony, who I met only once many years ago, in the Isle of Sheppy. They stayed overnight to make things easier. So I had the day to myself. I went to the gym, then in the afternoon went to Lewes. Charlotte was having a birthday party for local poet pals. Twelve guests in all, including mutual pals Robin, SJB, Stephen Bone and Janet Sutherland. I'd never been to Charlotte's place before. I met a poet with purple hair lost like me, and we found our way to the door, was let in by Pete, Charlotte's husband, and climbed up a flight of stairs, then outside, up a zigzag path in the garden and then found ourselves on the top of a mound, overlooking all of Lewes and the downs beyond. A rather magical place that can only be accessed through Charlotte's house. It was there we all read a poem (except Robin) and had a poetic altogethery time.   There was an immediate calamity however. Ther...

Friday and some time this morning to finalise what I was going to read tonight and collect together a few books and so on. Lorraine really busy, shopping with James for the shower tomorrow, doing the last stitches of the secret project, ferried Pat and Maureen from the pub with their new friend also called Maureen. After a wee snooze, I caught the half five train to Lewes, and sauntered over to the Elephant and Castle and sat quietly for a bit and drank a shandy.  Today was the launch of Robin's The Mayday Diaries  and she had been kind enough to ask me to read with her. She also asked Catherine Smith to join us. We discussed beforehand that we wanted to make it fairly informal, and a bit chatty like the podcast. When Nick and Robin arrived, we went upstairs and Robin and I arranged the chairs for the reading. Palo arrived early, with two prints which we put on chairs to be seen. I joked to Palo that she was my show and tell. Soon people were turning up. Many of the audie...

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 early and was collected outside by Brian shortly after eight, with Marley in the boot. Brian had already been swimming in the sea and was generally glowing. We went to Friston forest and had a lovely walk through the trees deep in discussion about all kinds of things. We paused at the place where you can look down into the valley and see the hedgerows make a big cross in the landscape. Brian uses this place to pray briefly most days. I find this quite touching.  Home again for breakfast, and as Rosie had stayed overnight we had breakfast and long chats with her. Rosie and Lorraine went off to see Pat and Maureen, before Rosie went off to work in the afternoon.  Lorraine told me that when Rosie arrived yesterday, they were talking and there was hammering on the roof. It was two crows, pecking at bones, with seagull feathers. The current theory is that the Robert the robbing herring gull has been murdered by, or at least scavenged by, crows. Probably a murder of crows. I did ...

A quiet couple of days. I finished off a bit of an interview I have been doing with Charlotte for her Understory Conversation website -- which she ran by SJB who seemed to like it. Otherwise I fiddled with the big poem, and feel like I am making progress now. Read a bit of a book called Think Like a Poet, whose first line 'Poetry is the art of thinking' made me wonder what philosopher friends might make of that.  Lorraine and I now on The Last Battle , the final book of the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis as our bedtime story. The first few chapters are  traumatic. An evil manipulative ape dressing a donkey in a lion skin to pretend it is Aslan and trees being murdered, and their dryads expiring. As ever the illustrations by Pauline Baynes are utterly beautiful -- especially in my colour edition.  

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...

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...

After a few bits of pieces of admin, and a quick chat with Keith, to Brighton at noon as staring at the formless mass of at my hair on screen recently has become abominable. While in Brighton sourced some Japanese roasted green tea teabags and a desk diary. Stacy looked startled by my arrival, and it turned out he had double booked. The bonus of this was that Stacy, who normally spends the last ten minutes of any haircut, snipping at hairs that can only be seen on some metaphysical plane inhabited only by barbers, was faster. The journey to and fro arriving a few minutes after Lorraine arrived.  Very happy to see my wifey again. Maureen thankfully feeling more comfortable today, after what had been a scary week. Lorraine happy to be home again -- although feeling a bit torn. Ken is staying with Pat at the moment luckily. In the evening I went to the Needlewriters and was delighted that Lorraine felt up for coming too.  Amusingly, Lewes seemed abuzz compared to Seaford. Went th...

The first day of my gym membership, but editing the last bits of the podcast recordings took hours so in the end I ran annoyingly out of time. Also did laundry too, hanging washing out on our rotary washing line, and then collecting it in soddenly a few hours later. Chatting to Bob too, saying how much fun Monday had been. And the Planet Poetry episode is a good one, featuring my interview with Sarah Barnsley, and Robin and I were happy with the episode.  Meanwhile Lorraine was driving off to see Pat and Maureen this morning, but en route decided to bring them back home with her. Maureen not feeling to bright with an infection, and Pat still recovering. One of Maureen's sisters is critically ill too, so Lorraine thought it would be nice to have them. The first time in our house too, and they liked it lots. They all arrived just as I had finished work, and I mooched out to Trawlers to buy fish and chips. I was the only person in there, and the woman behind the counter was really ple...

Feeling free today. At my desk doing lots of poetry related emails one to Live Cannon, following up about a meeting before Christmas after my recently shortlisted collection.  Finding the advice that Sarah Barnsley gave me last week continuously resonating with me at present: be on your own side. Looked at my phone as I mooched, and my emails were all from poets.  Lorraine out to join Penny and another head teacher for a walk around Ditchling.  I went for a walk of my own, and signed up at the nearby sports centre so I can use their gym. Got a Christmas deal so I got three months for the price of one. Friendly place, and I got chatting to an elderly lady at reception who was off to do Tai Chi. From there I walked about for a bit, listening to the In Our Time podcast about Wilfred Owen.Wandered over to a bit of Seaford Head, wind surging off the sea in a way that makes you feel a bit roughed up and buffeted, which I liked a lot..  Home and had a chat with Mum, and arr...

So up with fewer yelps of pain and curses than of late, and reviewed some work for mes amis in Paris, and sent it off, then after some technology wrangling, Sarah and I managed to record a good interview. Delighted, after yesterday's mystery shenanigans.  Sarah, once into it, was a relaxed and impressive interviewee, and her book The Thoughts , is excellent.  Then a couple of tweaks back from the client, and barring another Parisian tweak should they need it, I am done with work till after the move.   Then Lorraine drove me off to town, where I had a massage from Jewel -- probing painfully at times, and bits that were very sore indeed. Afterwards I said to Jewel that I had been in a fight, and she asked me if I had won it. I had because for the first time for six days I am able to stand up something like straight again.  Jewel, as noted on this blog many times, is a lovely woman and excellent at her job.  She had massaged Lorraine recently too so knew all about ...

Lorraine and I sleeping on the wrong sides of our bed lately, and this morning I was able to get out of the bed unaided, although Lorraine still had to help me with my socks bless her. I am a small smidge better. Lorraine working really hard getting things ready, while I faff crookbacked around the edges. Texting with Keith then did some work on a job for my French pals today. The job that was supposed to arrive eight days ago has finally turned up late this afternoon. But now I have to biff it because of the move.     Had set up an interview with Sarah Barnsley this morning, but we met some technology obstacle which I couldn't find a work around for. Sarah very good about it however. Emailed squad cast for help, and we will try again tomorrow on a different computer -- a bit of a waste of our time.  Got a copy of a magazine called The Alchemy Spoon with a poem by me in called Rehearsal Notes for First Contact . I feel bad because I was hassling them having seen someone p...

The brief did not arrive, and the meeting we were supposed to have this afternoon was cancelled so me and Keith not much of a revenue generating machine at the moment.  However this gave me time to interview Peter Raynard, a lovely bloke who had grown up in Coventry and just a couple of years younger than me so I could really picture the Coventry of the '80s that he was talking about. I also prepped the questions for Sarah Barnsley for our interview next week. Then we drove into town on a charity run. Went to three charity places to drop off things like books, clothes and sleeping bags gratefully received by the homeless charity. The woman in Martlets acting as she was doing us a favour taking our stuff, which rather irritated me. Lorraine lovely to everyone of course, so that was all right.  I also went to the Apple store and recycled my ancient laptop, and two old iPhones. For one of the phones I got a voucher for £65 which was a big win. Then Lorraine and I went across to t...

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...

A much needed slumping day. As I am still in recovery mode. Slept and read this afternoon on the gold sofa while Lorraine played Star Dew Valley and listened to music. I had to apologise to Sarah that I wouldn't be there for her online launch of her marvellous book The Thoughts , which was tonight too.  Then off to the posh restaurant The Ivy in Brighton for  6:15 to celebrate Klaudia's 18th birthday. Lorraine and I bumped into Anne, Anton, Klaudia, Oskar and Anna as they were climbing out of their cab. Klaudia had been partying hard all weekend, as is only right and proper, going to London with a posse of her pals on Friday, and then having a party at home last night, then going out to The Green Door after midnight to stay out late. So it was a slightly wan and delicate Goddaughter who appeared tonight -- but she did very well considering.   A lovely meal, and Klaudia liked the silver bangle from Silverado I'd bought her and simply put it on straight away, and the m...