under another sun

Surprised that I was still a big photosensitive this morning, but finally by the end of the day, I was feeling much better, and went for enough of a walk to do my 10k minimum, mainly just along the seafront down to Splash Point. Windy and bright, after a torrential and thundery start to the day. A regrouping day in Kenny towers. A few pottering around jobs, but mainly resting. I downloaded the audiobook which collects all the BBC recordings of the Jeeves stuff recorded in the 70s, with Richard Briers as Berty, and Michal Hordern as Jeeves. Listened to these as I was walking. Also Lorraine and I listened to chapter one of a science book called How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend , by Rachel Barr, a young neuroscientist who has built up a big following on social media. It is punchy and well written. In the evening, Lorraine and I watched Murder, My Sweet, (aka Farewell, My Lovely  in the UK). A lovely 1945 film noir based on Raymond Chandler's book. Great dialogue. My blood ran c...

Lorraine off to do Rhyme Time in the Library, I fiddled with a poem, but felt at a bit of an impasse. Part of me wants to have one of those university reading weeks as I have an ever mounting pile of books to be read, but there is always something else that seems must be done. However today I re-read Freud's essay on The Uncanny , as well as one called Screen Memories (a seemingly-banal memory from early childhood, that the brain then uses as the basis for repressed feelings from later life). This I found very interesting, and set some cogs whirring in my head. I don't agree with all he says of course, but he is an amazing writer. Also I am arranging some interviews for the next season of the podcast. Trouble is reading begets more reading. Now I want to read The Sand Man by E.T.A. Hoffmann as Freud was glossing it. Also began reading Bluff by Danez Smith, a US poet, who I will interview. Made an absolute gaffe writing to the publisher's publicity, calling Danez him inst...

Hot under the collar Up early to complete work on writing answers to some questions I'd been asked for a Guernsey Literary Festival blog. The amazing weather continuing. Feeling much repaired today. As I worked, new second home neighbours opposite using noisy and unnecessary garden tools. A blowers on for minutes to convey three leaves and a piece of paper across their small decking. This soon replaced by the continuous sound of protesters just outside Brighton Station. An unpleasant neo-fascist group called March for England had dragged their knuckles to congregate outside The Railway Bell, Brighton's worst pub, and outside the station there were dozens of policemen, some mounted, plus police helicopters flying overhead. There was also a sizeable anti-fascist counter demonstration, singing things like Racist Scum... Off our streets , and Police protect the Nazis . Eventually the marches were fed through town in separate directions. Lorraine and I dragged bits about in the deb...