under another sun

Up early with Lorraine for an epic house tidy. As two young ladies, aka the dusty dolls, came by to give our house a deep clean. Annoying to-ing and fro-ing with the agency, who now want me to work for the following two weeks, thus effectively ending my holiday with Lorraine this week. I have to accept, but very reluctantly.  Jade off to have the massage that Lorraine had sorted out for her, and then Lorraine and I nipped into town on a bus, did a spot of shopping. Lorraine to meet Beth and Jade, and I mooched up to see Anton, who had a holiday. We decided on a game of boules, so sauntered down to the sea for another close game, which I won for the first time. Then we returning to the Batty for a beer in the beer garden.  The sun had come out, and Anton told me about his trip to Norfolk to buy tailor made clothes that will be sent to him in October.  Then off to The Foundry pub, as Anton's researches had revealed a new chef there. We had another beer and a light snack of ...

Thank God for the weekends. Calliope had the decency not to wake me at 5:30. A slow morning. Lorraine fed the cats and made tea, and a little later I went round the corner to buy chewy brown bread and make us bacon and egg sandwiches to be eaten in bed. Then up and mooched into town, popping into quite an interesting Open House on London Road near the viaduct. One of those places that didn't have the 'me too' mindset of doing what everyone else is doing. In town we bought a camera tripod, from a cheery red haired youth at Currys. Then home in a taxi, where we snoozed briefly before we got ready to visit Derek and Lesley. A cheery night, where I ate lots of lovely food, and because I was in such nice and thoughtful company found myself in a bit of a loquacious mood. I really like Derek who has an encyclopaedic knowledge of various branches of folk music. As Lorraine and I walked through town passed some folks dancing outside the Brighton Tavern, and then discovered th...

Up early and writing. After a few hours caught a taxi to the hospital to drop off a sample. Lady taxi driver gave me the benefit of her opinions about heroin addiction at some length. She said people she'd grown up with had become addicts and that her aunt had died of it. There but for the grace of God etc. etc. Then to the hospital, and I found my way to the desk of the pathology dept, where the woman bellowed is it a semen sample? at me. No place for a delicate poet's finer feelings in the NHS. Back into town and popped into the gym for another mild mannered workout. Fitness nowhere near what it was, but slowly improving. A surfeit of annoying narcissists, today. These gym bunnies are not my people, and the people who work there are even worse. Home to do some more work before slipping off to see Matt in the Foundry, where we discussed our new opera, and many other important matters. Back to his place to listen to some brass band music, with Matt giving a running comment...

A slow full English breakfast with Sue and John this morning in the Old Church Hall.  I really enjoyed their company on this short visit. They went on to visit John's daughter after breakfast, and Lorraine and I had an amiable day wandering about in Brighton slightly aimlessly. Went up to see Janet's open house Diva 3. Janet's work in particular is coming on in leaps and bounds. L and I also met Jutka Fisher, who makes wonderful pots from multicoloured clay, of whom I am a fan. Huss, Ken's son in law also there, and we had a good chat. Ken enjoying a judicious afternoon nap. Of then to wander about in town in the sunshine. We ended up calling in on Matt in his new home, and sat by an open window in the heart of the North Laine sipping tea and looking down at the people wandering through the little streets, and hearing the hubbub of voices. Felt strangely at comforted there, and was ambushed by one of those transcendental moments of happiness. Matt is in a nice place. ...

Beth off early to work teaching dance to under sevens. I had a slow start, delving into the cold outside world to do shopping. Lorraine making her way home from Leeds this afternoon, after having an excellent time with Sam. I made off to meet Matt in The Foundry, where sitting at the bar over several pints of Landlord bitter, we discussed the way ahead on the opera. Good to be plotting with him again, as well as getting his opinions on Messiane, and talking about politics a good deal as this informs our latest wheeze. But we are in non-disclosure mode about the actual subject matter. Lorraine arrived in the pub, and it was splendid to see her too, although perfectly fine on my own, I did miss her and found myself very pleased to see her again. After wetting her whistle, she and I made off for a celebratory curry. She had been in the company of lively Bradford City fans, making their way down to London for a cup final today. Bradford are in the forth tier of English football, but ha...

Heavy sleep, and after a leisurely morning up soporifically. To quell this, spent time with Lorraine moving things around the house until we were both wan and exhausted.  Off into town on the slushy streets to meet Matt at three in the Foundry. Briefly disconcerted by a burst of ectopic heartbeats twenty yards from the pub. Enjoyed a few slow beers and long wide-ranging discussion with Matt. Discussed Delius (Mahler-lite who had his moments, apparently) and explored the possibility of doing something in this year's festival, but we need a wonderful idea in the next few days. Also a good deal of news and gossip to catch up with; Dave's funeral at which Matt was a pall bearer, and the wake held in the Tavern, Christmases in Hull with his parents and so on. Sliding home via Sainsbury's. Shopping after a few beers adds a certain creativity and inclusiveness to the purchases: cholla bread, wine and chocolate mousse for Betty who'd returned home today after a ghastly day or...