under another sun

Up early after an utterly wretched night's sleep. But gradually got over it, fixing up a bean jar which cooked pleasantly all day, sending its aromatic fingers up to my study. Bet out this evening, but Lorraine and I tucked into a bowlful with some chewy brown bread and, in my case, lots of white pepper. Delicious. I made it with beef this time. A lovely walk at lunchtime down to Waterstones, where I spent the book token Anne had given me for my birthday. Enjoyed browsing, and brought paperback collections of short stories by Richard Matheson, Franz Kafka and Danilo Kiš. Then I sauntered down to the sea, which was calmer than I have seen it for some time. Beautiful day. Walked back too, and through the park. One of those days in which it is good to be alive. Worked on my stories, Snowfall is my new one, and it is going very well. I also found a story I had written back in the 80s called Silverfish! -- this is not really fixable as it is, but some of the ideas are good and weird...

Poor Lorraine off very early for work. So I got up with her, and had an early start at my desk. At lunchtime to the gym, and also made time to buy some new trainers and gym socks, and a pair of shorts. I was feeling a bit like old man Steptoe in my old stuff. Because I am further away from the gym, the walk there and back again also adds to the exercise. Lurked too in the bookshop looking at various publishers. There seems fewer actual books in Waterstones now, and there are two cafe areas. People can be made to part with a few quid for a cup of coffee, but parting with a few quid for a book that will enrich their entire lives, and provide a week's entertainment for the price of a two coffees seems a much harder thing to do. Life is strange.

Last day. Missed the train, was late. No problem though as I spent the majority of the day in the cold corner of the office waiting for tiny amendments and going to a couple of meetings. The job I was working on has been finished, with a lovely job done by Ana the Mexican illustrator. They asked me to work there again, but warned me their group is changing its policy towards freelancers so that you have to be a limited company. I spoke to a former colleague there who said that she thought most agencies were going to go that way now. Looks like I will have to become one then. Out at lunchtime and bought an organic chunk of spinach tortilla to gnaw on, and lurked about in Waterstones.  Being in a big bookshop is a calming experience, despite the unbelievably penetrating voice of an eastern European woman in a headscarf whose pitch is outside the shop. She calls out Hello! How are you! Big Issue!  in a way that there is no part of the big store, even on the third floor, where y...

A Valentine's card with skeletons on, and a red Moleskine notebook from Lorraine this morning. Felt bad that as she had left early I had not woken up enough to give her mine. As I had to get more horse pills from the quack, and had a nice chat with him. I took the opportunity to wander about in the sunshine, buying an incredibly expensive pastie, and popped into Waterstones for a futile search for two specific books. It's sad, but there's no wonder Amazon is taking over. Home and two new clients I'd been patiently coaxing, finally broke cover and asked me to do some work. Signed  two non-disclosure agreements today. One is with a new French client, and I had to agree to be a 'collaborator', which made me smile. Some telephone calls and I took a long brief late in the day. Rather pleased by this little burst of activity, and plenty on my plate over the next week. Good to have two new clients in one day. Lorraine working late and we sloped off for a romantic...