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...

Enzo has discovered pointing with his finger, and he is doing things with his index finger rather than his whole hand when he was here today. Life drawing this morning. Had great fun, although I didn't produce much that was good.  Strangely upset stomach today.   At tea time off to Lewes, where I met Robin at the station and walked to the John Harvey Tavern, where the Needlewriters had an evening, featuring John McCullough reading from his new book Crowd Voltage . Strong work, and I find John has an exhilarating ability to choose a metaphor or image that is so far away from what you would expect would work, but somehow in his hands does.  Also readings from  Jackie Wills and Bethan Roberts. Jackie reading a prose work about her allotment, and Bethan, who is a very successful, reading an excerpt from her new novel. Both excellent writers but I was left with a not for me-ishness about what they'd read this evening.  Lots of the usual suspects there, Janet, Charlot...

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...

Noticed there was no Brian waking me up, and no cats to be fed at home for the first time in many years. After breakfast with Lorraine, my life drawing class. Getting to know some of the other classmates better, and it's all quite cheery. Not delighted with my drawings, and I find myself making the same mistakes. The model, Katie, was one we have drawn before but she was nice to draw, being a little older and more curvy who looks like Jane Austen. She was also sporting a broken wrist, gained after falling over wearing a clown costume, and had to go to A&E in it. Then a little walk, and joined up with the Understory folks, another interesting session. Then off to Lewes to go to the Needlewriters, where I sat mainly with Robin, Charlotte, and Stephen Bone. Stephen had been really ill lately, and can't smell anything any more. Janet and Jeremy both there.  Robert Hamburger was one of the readers, and I love his work, and I asked him to sign his latest book Nude Against A Rock ...

Lorraine hopped off to the Library to deliver Rhyme Time. I hopped onto a bus to Tide Mills and walked along the off road cycle path for half an hour to Mamoosh, where I met Stephen Bone for a coffee. He looked well, though has his hands full as a full time carer. Chatted about everything from hypochondria to writing, the forest of pathetic half mast flags around Denton Corner. He gave me a handsomely reprinted copy of In The Cinema, with three quotes on the back, from Tom Compton, Robin and one from me.   Fond farewells with Stephen, and we shall meet again soon. Hopped on a bus and got off at Hill Rise and walked home a lengthy route from there, listening to Jeeves stories.  A reading afternoon. As writing seems a bit tricky at the moment. I finished Zygmunt Bauman's Liquid Times then  Bluets by Maggie Nelson. After a promising chapter or two Bauman's book, written in that achingly tedious style favoured by academics, made one or two obvious points. So it's a meh...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

So a limboish work day. Sent somewhat irritatingly phrased demands from folks in Munich and Paris.  Then was booked again on the annoying job Keith and I had been doing now extended from tomorrow till mid next week. Hoping that I can be in a better frame of mind about it all soon. In the evening, I went to Lewes to the Needlewriters at the John Harvey Tavern, the fountainhead of Harvey's beer. I had forgotten I had double booked with Ben and Rick around the corner, so sent apologies to them yesterday. Rick did not get his, which was a bit awkward as I spoke to him on the train heading towards Lewes. Reading were two poets Kay Syrad and Sonya Smith who were enjoyable, and a prose writer whose work I did not enjoy in the least.  Nice to be out, saying howdy to Stephen Bone and Jeremy and others. Best part was sitting with Charlotte afterwards and having a good talk about poetry life etc. The result was I felt more optimistic and was reminded of what was important about the whole...

Up feeling fresh and working with Keith from early on. Early afternoon, and possibly the worst brief I have ever been taken. Full of irrelevant information and no clarity at all about what they were asking us to do. Cue assorted creatives from both side of the pond trying to make sense of it, asking questions that were not able to be answered. I had to leave early today, so missed a subsequent meeting with the poor CD attempting to re-explain it.  Late afternoon a months-planned meet up with Robin, Charlotte, Sarah and Stephen at the Open House.  I had just escaped from work and it took me a moment or two to tune out of that drivel. But having a beer and putting the world to right about life, managing (or otherwise) the pandemic, the good the bad and the ugly of poetry. Robin, Charlotte and Stephen already there when I arrived and we were soon joined by SJB fresh from the hairdresser and very proud of it. Sarah also has her first collection in the pipeline, which we toasted. I...

Up early, with Lorraine, who scuttled off early. Beth off for another day of flat clearing. I worked quietly in the morning, and then went to the gym. Did my usual round of lightish weights and then started on the cross trainer. After about four minutes stabbing chest pains began, which I put down to indigestion. After a few minutes of this I made myself rather alarmed, to the extent I climbed off the cross trainer and mooched towards my doctor's surgery which, now it has moved happens to be across the road. However by the time I got near its door I was fine, and then burped, curing everything. I went straight back to the gym feeling sheepish, and picked up where I left off.  Lorraine home a bit early today, and we had a nice chat before I travelled to Lewes on a windy night to the needle makers reading. There were four readers among them Clare Best, and Robert Hamberger, both of whom were excellent. Another chap read prose, and there was a woman reading the sort of poems I find...

Working well today, had a nice chat with Beth this morning, and a good chat with Sonia before I loped off to the gym where I had a decent session. Think I have sorted out the cover using the image I got from my secret squirrel artist. Happy to be mooching off to the Preston Park Tavern for 5:30, where I met my best poetry buddies Robin, Sarah, Charlotte and Stephen for a beer and long chat. Lovely to see everyone. I always feel uplifted and reassured by these folks. Having other writer chums essential if you are not to go mad. Not much actual poetry discussed, as we mainly talked about life. Stephen, arriving a little later said he had already read The Dream House in Frogmore Papers, and it had scared him, which pleased me lots. I told him how much I liked his erotic curry poem too. We all got stuck into a drink, and Beth and Lorraine joined us a couple of hours later as the poets were beginning to think about melting away. A happy evening all around. Will be seeing the poets again...

Woke up this morning with the solution to the problem of a short story I have been rewriting called The Inheritor. My subconscious has been doing lots of this nocturnal sorting out for me. I simply rewrote the story today, and also sent off a proposal to a US agent about my children's book. My watch battery ran out  and I looked at my wrist 100 times, and I popped along to the gym. Chatted with Betty about her new business/acting wheeze she is starting with a pal. Really excited for her. In the evening down to the Grand Central for the launch of a new poetry magazine, called Finished Creatures edited by Jan Heritage. Lots of poet pals there, including Robin, Sarah, Stephen, Charlotte, Jeremy, Janet Sutherland, Catherine Smith, I also met Charlotte's colleague Lizzie who edits Viva Brighton. The readings were fine, but I didn't seem to be able to tune into it all tonight. Great to see everyone though. Charlotte, Sarah and I got chips afterwards and went our separate way...