under another sun

Lorraine had lots of prep to do today, so we got up early. Some of it I could help her with a bit first thing. She broke off at lunchtime, and we walked down to The Geese, and met up with Catherine and Tanya, Wayne and Tim. Rather a nice Sunday roast, and excellent company, good to talk to everyone. Among Catherine's many talents, she is expanding into some sort of financial coaching, and asked Lorraine if she could experiment on her. The pub was very busy, and after we'd eaten our really nice roast dinners, we had to move off. Lorraine went back home, and I went off to have ice cream with Tanya and Catherine. Tin and Wayne made off to The Marlborough, and were tempting me to go with them. But in the end I just wanted to be home again. I am finding that I only have so much socialising in me at the moment, even with people I like lots. Walked home in the balmy still too warm for the time of year day, and had a quiet evening with Lorraine. Below Catherine on her birthday. ...

Up early and made breakfast early. A morning of laundry, and moving things from one room to another in the bedrooms. I also got a chance to try on my Santa suit, it made me feel Christmassy. Apparently, I will have two elves and be installed in a library, where, under my baleful influence, the children will learn to associate an interlude of Santaphobic horror with reading and books. Then Dawn came in her car, and drove us down into town where we went to The Eagle, where John and Beth arrived quickly. Beth sporting glamorously-curled birthday hair. We had the upstairs room, and it was a gathering for Beth's birthday. A cheery afternoon. with drinks and good Sunday lunches. Good to chat with John, and James who I think of as a kind of kindred spirit, and Amy, and Dawn and Rosie, and Alex and Luke, and Wayne popped in too with one of his pals. Just a cheery afternoon. Lorraine and I bought Beth some driving lessons. I see it as a good investment. Then home, and generally running...

Lorraine and I slow at crawling from bed, a token breakfast then soon we were heading to The Geese, to celebrate Catherine's birthday, with a Sunday lunch. Wayne, Guy and Tim were also there, and we had an extremely jolly meal. L & I had pork belly. A cold wind, as befits a Remembrance Sunday. And colder still when we left The Geese and headed home. Usual great chats with everyone. Such good company. Lorraine and I both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I also complimented the woman behind the bar on her amazing stag beetle tattoo, and she said she recognised me from the Shakies Head. Planning with Tanya a self-employed people's 'office party' in Brighton. Poor Lorraine had lots of work to do, I pottered about the house, did laundry, ironing etc. called Mum and generally had a bit of a sleep, as befits a Sunday afternoon after a good lunch. Doom-laden as I went to bed, as my ankle had started feeling odd, and I had forgotten to take my orc-foot pill in the morning. A...

The execrable Calliope waking me up at 5:30 again. Pesky thing. I got up to make some tea and feed it. Weighed myself, I seem to have put on weight since yesterday. The graph on my app is going completely the wrong way. Lorraine had designated today to be her day of work. I phoned Mum this morning, and then slunk off to meet Catherine and Tanya in a pub called The Geese, for Sunday lunch. It was a celebration of Tanya's birthday. Guy and Tim were there, and Wayne. A very cheery lunch, surprisingly good too. I had roast pork belly, and we all sat by a big open window with the sun coming through. Then we wandered down to the Level where there was a tent of Vegan food providers. Things like Vegan Baileys were to be had there. We'd all eaten Sunday roast so felt a bit rebellious. Great to see Catherine again, and hear how she was fresh from a triumphant Book Sprint. The idea is to lock several academics into a room together over four days and get them to produce their chapter, ...

A rather glorious day today, where Lorraine and I decided to have a fun day, and drift about as the mood took us once we'd got up. We walked into town, had coffee, went shopping for a few bits and pieces. I bought a new pencil case. Last of the big spenders. Then we walked down by the seaside and along slowly to Hove. A bazillion people all sunning themselves by the sea.  The beach front a bit of a building site at the moment though, with areas being rebuilt. Found out that one of my poems will be on the Guernsey buses this year. Then we walked up to Hove, popped in to see Wayne, and arranged to see him later, then walked down to find Janet and Ken in their new home. I didn't know the address, but we tracked it down fairly easily, having seen a photo of it, and noticing Janet's car parked outside. They had moved in on Friday, and were still adjusting. A lovely downstairs apartment, big and roomy with loads of light today. A quick cuppa, and walked back towards Brighton ...

Up fairly early, feeling a bit rough again. The girl next door having a teenage party into the small hours. Then went off into town, being delayed by a demonstration for homeless people who have died in the city carrying mock coffins in the rain. Two people boarded, a father and son, talking about ways to disrupt society, such as spreading the road with tacks. In the cafe I wrote a transgressive poem about scrotums in the spirit of Chuck Palahniuk in a cafe (it may not be my finest hour) while waiting for Lorraine to come out of the hairdressers, which she did looking sleek. Popped in at Wayne's shop and had a long chat with him. He is working in kitchen design. Lorraine noticed a beautiful painting on the wall set off the kitchens perfectly. Turned out it was the board he had rested his paint tins on when he was redoing the shop. Then there were rehearsals. A good session. I am reassured that the piece is beginning to work as drama too. I like it when the play makes sense an...

Tuesday and Wednesday spent with tunnel vision as the draft of the book is a few days from completion. I also went to the gym on both days, and have been fairly controlled on eating as my weight has been creeping back up.  Once I bumped into Wayne outside the gym. He is testing out the gyms in the area, and doesn't particularly like mine.  I told him I never speak to anyone and loathe all gym people anyway. I don't think I have the gym spirit really, although I quite like going. Getting wildly excited about finishing the book. I'm imaging what it will be like to have the freedom to think about tantalising new things.  I am also allowing myself to feel a certain sense of accomplishment.  But the easy bit is doing the work, getting it out there is the stiffer challenge. Below a trick of the light at home.

After a morning of purposeful shopping, ironing and tidying, off to The Bath Arms for a long and leisurely birthday Sunday Lunch for Catherine, who is 40 tomorrow. As well as Catherine and Tanya, I met their pal Juliana for the first time who had drunk in the Bunch of Grapes, haunt of my teens. Also there were Matt, Wayne, Tim and Guy. Some really funny and interesting conversation, I find Catherine and Tanya refreshingly smart, and both are in the final stages of their PhDs and have giant brains. A good lunch, and I managed to cram down some apple crumble too, a last hurrah for gluttony as I am returning to virtue tomorrow. We all sat about for hours companionably, just one of those days when I am so pleased I live in Brighton. Catherine was bought lots of chocolate, Lorraine and I got her a phrenological head that as a Victorianist, we thought Catherine might enjoy. Wandering back in a group through Brighton, saying goodbye to people on route, till it was just Lorrraine and ...

Off to Hove with Lorraine this morning, getting parking permits from Hove Town Hall, and walked back into town. Past the protests outside Ecostream, who seem to have a factory in Israeli occupied territory, so the Brighton Palestine Solidarity Campaign stage a regular protest. Just as regular as the  counter demonstration of pro-Israeli supporters. This ensures that it is always shouty on Western Road on Saturdays with Palestinian and Israeli flags somewhat incongruous among the largely indifferent shoppers. To Shana's, to see Betty for a few minutes during her lunch break, having taught a Shrek-based comedy session in the morning. She had worked into the small hours the night before in her pub job, and had a similar session to look forward to tonight. L and I off into town and bumped into Wayne whose party we are going to later on in the evening. L and I then off to talk to the jewellers, who after some milling about having apparently lost the order, then produced the rin...

Feeling in a holiday mood, mooching about with Toby in Brighton under a perfect blue sky. He scored an excellent pair of black shoes and we drifted about stopping for coffee and lengthy, wide-ranging chats. Home again in the afternoon, Lorraine working at home while Claudia lurked downstairs in the teenage dark, watching Criminal Minds, according to Claudia the best show on TV, which the Tobster and I watched with her. Claudia back to Maureen and Pat, then home to Finland this week. I really enjoyed meeting Claudia again. Betty working away from home for a few days. A train to Hove and met Matt, who made us walk to The Sussex Cricketer next to Sussex cricket ground. Had a brief but decisive conversation about our new music and words project. We were soon joined by Lorraine, before Toby Matt and I gave in to basking in the beer garden and observing 10,000 flying ants and numerous cricket fans having a wet before watching a limited overs game. Toby telling Matt his true story of livi...

Dawn in transit, and a touch of spice Up fairly early this morning, and mooched off to Dawn's flat in Compton Road where Lorraine and I, Cath, Mark, Sarah, and her lovely little daughter Evelyn helped Dawn and Ellie (her daughter at college in London) move out. Much carrying of boxes etc. out of the house like a line of ants. Sarah and JD from a few doors down brought us cups of tea when we were loading the van, and Dawn produced fruitcake which was rather marvellous. Then down to the storage depot, with a change of personnel L & I plus Dawn, Ellie and Dawn's two sisters loading everything into a storage cubicle. A beautiful day, and after we were done, Lorraine and I walked through the park, passing a convention of pug owners. Home and a little quiet time. Cath came around later to show us the results of a clothes spending spree. In the evening off to The Basketmakers to meet Matt and Wayne and chat to them and a few other BM regulars such as Irish Tom and Rich who is just...

Matt and Pete's Big Night Out So the day of the Pollard & Kenny Clameur launch. Betty back this morning full of pep, armed with gifts of an unusual beer, and for me a large letter P made of chocolate from her trip to the low countries. After breakfast, Betty and I popped around to Masquerade where I hired a smart grey jacket with tails (although Betty and I assessed several others including gold and red sequined affairs. I was rather drawn to these until I looked at Betty's face). A little later Lorraine and I drove off to collect Mum from the station. Mason still getting over his chesty cough and it was thought best not to brave the ice and long journey. The next few hours given over to preparation, shoe cleaning, shirt ironing, a strategic nap and so on. Off then to the Unitarian Church and rehearsals began. Thank God we had lots of people to help us. Lorraine and as usual helping everything happen. She is so unbelievably supportive of me, it makes me feel very lucky. Bet...

What a difference a day makes Rain gouting from the sky I, however, was cheery. In the morning a thundering on the door heralded the arrival of a pallet of CDs. And not just any CD, my CD. They look as well as I could have hoped, and sound great. Matt called around in the afternoon for coffee and to take some. Both feeling quietly proud. Also I have been in touch with The Sussex Beacon an aids care charity, who will be doing a bucket shake at our concert. It is good to have an ethical dimension to things, and The Beacon took good care of my old pal Tim Gallagher in his last year or so, and I have never forgotten this. Lorraine home early, and after I had cooked, she drove me off to listen to the choir rehearsing at Matt's, and Lorraine popped in to see Rosie. There were a couple of new faces including a promising Polish singer called Peter, and Adam Swayne who fancied helping and singing. Adam, Matt and I went off to meet Wayne at The Brunswick where there was their regular Jazz...

Sundrenched day Had an idea for a video for Minotaur today, and I mooched about filming walls in Brighton garnering quizzical looks as I went about my business. We sloped off to my old house, and chatted to Dawn, then Lorraine went to have her hair done and I did some painting and replaced the thermostat on the central heating. Also had a chat with Alex my neighbour. With the strong sun streaming in the freshly-painted empty rooms, I felt a pang of attachment. Back out into the blazing day, and I met a nicely-haired Lorraine for coffee and a snack, and we headed down to the seaside where we basked happily among half the population of Southern England, many of whom danced over the painful pebbles into the sea. It was unbelievably crowded, as the snaps below attest. Then home, with me filming walls and looking out for things to do with bulls. Saw a astrological glyph for Taurus, and quite near home found a bull's skull in a shop. I have a theory that if you look for something, like ...

A day's holiday Spent hours wandering about in the sun with Lorraine. Across to Hove town hall to buy parking vouchers. Sauntering through parks and backstreets while I told the lucky Lorraine the entire story of The End of the Affair . Under my straw hat, found myself feeling as if I were on holiday, and more relaxed than I have been for weeks. The summer suck may be over. We went into the Gallery cafe where Wayne was working, and as they weren't too busy spent time chatting to him sipping coffee and elderflower and apple juice, and falling into conversation with a Hungarian woman who was showing Wayne her art photographs. Wayne is one of those people who makes you feel at home and welcome, and as the sun streamed through the windows the impression of being on holiday was magnified. Milled back into Brighton, via paint shops, to The Giggling Squid Thai restaurant, laughing it up over a cheap and tasty light lunch. Then returned to the Old Church Hall where I shall be moving ...

Fly with a blue behind Zooming through my 'to-do' list today, most of it focused on the children's sessions on Friday morning. This involved making a video of myself as a talking skull introducing the children's session, and collecting the booklets from the printer. Slightly disappointed with the result, and some conversations with the printers afterwards. They are the simplest kind of booklet, staple bound in the middle, but when left to their own devices tend to spring open. Apparently they will settle down if I keep them in their boxes. Nevertheless I am pleased that I have managed to produce them so quickly, and the story works and will I hope be well received on the island -- if I can get them on the plane. To the gym this afternoon. Need to get back into a tighter routine when I return from the gem of the sea as have found myself unaccountably hungry. Popped over to Matt's place primarily to meet his sister Kris, who was as nice a Hull lass as you could wish t...