under another sun

To Hampstead, while Lorraine made off to Rhymetime in the Library. An easy journey this morning. Bumped into Jackie and Felicity from the life drawing class at Lewes, with a bunch of their mates off to see an art show in London. I slipped away and wrote some bits on my laptop. A rainy day, although not so much in Seaford.  Met Mum at a damp Hampstead station, and we repaired to the Old White Bear, in light rain. The shouty but friendly woman was there this time, her voice echoing in the emptiness. A nice chat with mum in our usual corner. They are doing sandwiches there again, and talked about going there with Toby. We shared a giant sourdough one with fish in it, with a side of chips. Mum didn't much enjoy it, but enjoyed the wine. Eventually a few souls crept in out of the rain, but to Mum's disappointment no Parson sighting.  Toddled back to the Hampstead station after a few hours. Fond farewells. A spot of train chaos so I reached home at 6:30. Having listened to a few of ...

Robin dropped off some chocolate brownies this morning, that we had been sent by Mara Bergman, after being interviewed on Planet Poetry. They were delicious but utterly diet destroying. She also gave me copy of her book about getting published in poetry magazines. I also received Tess Jolly's new book, signed by her.  Lorraine collected Enzo first thing, and once I'd come back from an enjoyable drawing class, we went off to an excellent plant nursery with the wee bairn strapped in his baby seat in the back. Being driven usually sends him to sleep. I sat next to him, and I mimed closing my eyes, which he thought was hilarious. 

To Hampstead first thing. Rain and thundery liveliness forecast this week. A fairly easy journey this morning, and I was able to do some writing on the train.  I early to Hampstead station, and mum was already there. We sloped down Flask Walk, up past the school to The Old White Bear. Quite empty when we arrived, but a few people filtered in. We ate some rather good fish and chips, and had some drinks in a cheery fashion, even when we had a divergence of opinion over how much wine Mum might want. Back to the station, and fond farewells. I had a smooth and fast journey home too, which was excellent. Lorraine off doing her pottery class and arrived home at 9:30. About half an hour later, I was called alarmingly to say mum had pressed her pendant and couldn't be reached. While I was trying to contact her, they called back to say that she had let them know it was a false alarm. I tried to call her several times after but she was not picking up, which was unsettling just before bedtime....

Only a few hours sleep, due to more coughing. Off to London to see Mum. Just as the train was pulling in at Seaford, I realised I had no phone with my rail pass etc. so had to go home again. Told Mum I would be half an hour late. Almost a month since I saw Mum last due to the virus. Felt pleasure in noticing how much fuller and greener the landscape was. Lots of French people climbing on the train at Newhaven, from the ferry, crowding onto the shabby little train and asking each other if they were in Première classe.  Climbing the hill in Hampstead, walked past a delivery many who was singing beautifully in what I imagined was an Indian language as he unloaded. I stopped to listen and he said hello to me at the end of a verse. Mum in good spirits when we met, and we zoomed off to the The Old White Bear. Flask Walk looking very pretty, and wisteria flowering and Spanish bluebells in front gardens.  Mum delighted that the man she calls the parson was in the pub. A youngish talli...

To London, after confirming with Mum that it was okay due to the extreme heat. Flitting between shadows on the uphill walk from West Hampstead Thameslink to Hampstead station where I arrived early, but just couple of minutes before Mum. We slunk down Flask Walk where Mum really likes the houses as they are beautiful, and also remind her of her grandparent's home in Folkestone. Then into The Olde White Bear, which is proving a perfect little pub there, as there's always space and friendly and covered in pictures and prints featuring white bears in vintage advertising and so on. We lapped up some cold drinks, lager shandy seemed to be the ideal drink for me today, and some food. Mum in good spirits. So lucky that we are still able to meet up in Hampstead. Among other things, she told me her miracle herbal pills seem to be really helping her knee. After a couple of hours we sun dodged back to Hampstead station.  Trespassers on the track somewhere in south London had created train ...

Up to London to meet Mum in Hampstead. Pleasant journeys both ways, despite the trains being stuffed with holidaymakers heading for the airports and, on the way home, even one family with heavy cases but looking forward to their holiday in Seaford. Big thundery looking clouds around today, but I saw no rain, although my lightning tracker went off once or twice, mystifying a little girl sitting opposite me as my trousers rumbled with thunder. I had arrived early and so snuck into Waterstones and treated myself to a couple of books and a new Moleskine notebook. I had a fleeting vision slimming my shelves down a highly-curated library and taking the rest to charity. But this was a moment of madness.    Mum also early at the station, so we mooched down Flask Walk past the school and up New End to The Old White Bear. Had a lovely time with Mum enjoyed a long chat over lunch and a couple of drinks and coffee. I gave her a little glass necklace which Adele had made, and she told me a...

To Hampstead with Mum today. Finished Epitaph for a Spy by Eric Ambler. Outside my usual reading ambit, but fun nevertheless. A really easy journey for me, though Mum's train had to be taken out of service. I met her at Hampstead station and toddled all the way down Flask Walk, round the back of a school full of children in the playground demonstrating their healthy lungs. Into The Old White Bear which is one of our new haunts. In the Old White Bear a table full of posh theological students nearby, the most valuable wearing red trousers and a wide brimmed hat. Being God focused clearly not irreconcilable with being a dandified fop -- which I liked. Mum and I were talking about art, and I was reminding her of painting and artwork she did when she was younger and we were living in Neasden, for example a tall totem pole made out of vertebrae, a nail picture of the sun and moon and swirling stars. I remember her hammering many nails into an old door and spraying gold and silver onto i...

A decent night's sleep in Edgware and as Mum had some avocados we had avocados on toast for breakfast. Then we decided to head for Hampstead. Not been on that train ride for some time. We got off at Golder's Green and we caught a bus a few stops up the hill to Golder's Hill Park, where we'd spent lots of time when I was young. Mum didn't remember much about it, but we walked a little about the little walled garden, and met a squirrel who I pretended to have food to give it so it came very close. It was almost tame, and was irritated I had nothing and was leaping up onto the fence very close to me, then ran about near us, to the point we almost felt bullied by it. A quick wander over to see some red deer, and look into a cage where there were a pair of kookabarras, who were noisily doing their call which I'd never heard in real life before. Then a bus up to Whitestone pond, and we wandered down to The Old White Bear again, to enjoy a cold drink, as it had got ver...