under another sun

Lots of frenzied editing this morning, before I sent off the episode to Robin to listen to.  In the afternoon all a bit medically, I went with Lorraine who had a doctor's appointment, and sat in the waiting room for a bit looking at the displays talking about ailments, then she drove us off to Saltdean up behind the Lido where I had two jabs, like John Prescott. The bloke, tall and rangy, said when were you 65 then? I said, on Saturday. He then demanded cake, and suggested that he might not be as gentle with me as his regulars without it. A 'character'. The jabs swift and agricultural one in each arm, then Lorraine and I drove home. Pleased to have them in me. Lorraine finished the curtain I went for a long walk by the sea so that for the first time in several days I'd done my ten thousand paces. A bit of a yellowish cast to the clouds approaching over the sea, and there was thunder nearby this evening. Colours of the afternoon.

Into town this morning by bus, a spot of shopping and Lorraine had her second jab. Not without a struggle though, as before although she had been invited to attend there was some mismatch with the records from her GP and wasn't listed. An officious idiot made it difficult for a while, but Lorraine prevailed and came out jabbed. I am very pleased about this as school starts next week, and this Delta variant first identified in India is proving rather too communicable. We should be okay with our jabs however. We bussed back home and made ready for Rosie and Innis coming around. Actual hugging when the arrived, at tea time, and we had drinks and some food outside on the decking. I washed it and sorted it and laid a table cloth which a bird decorated. Nice to hang out in the back and chat. Lorraine cooking up a lovely flan (flan A) and salads and so on. Innis says he  has bought some boules and we hope to play with Anton next week.  It was a sunny evening and after Rosie and Innis...

Another great couple of hours working on poetry first thing. Poetry of some sort is flowing out of me at the moment. It may all be rubbish of course, but you never know. Lorraine working at home this morning till eleven thirty. After about ten I worked on my accounts, and by the end of the day I had got everything ready to send off to the accountant. Otherwise the podcast domain name still not mapping. New bank account still not showing up, although I have now received a bank card. The quality of the time is that if something simple can move at snails pace it will.   Betty called me sat in her car waiting to pick  up Tilly from school but had been ambushed by a heavy nosebleed, which was a bit alarming. All well in the end. Clem next door called me at lunchtime and came around and began fixing up the decking. This as great but it necessitated me having to shovel things in the garden, and move and carry stuff, and make tea and so on rather than carrying on with work.  Jade...

Working on poems first thing, and one of them beginning to sing a little. Then a story rejection. Boo! Then into a morning spent with a virtual Keith working on the octopus job. This done by lunchtime, I then wasted hours chasing the disorganised agency I did some work with the other week to find out who to send my invoice to - a process which has taken four days and nine emails, during which I learned I should have been sent a timesheet but wasn't etc.  The process finally clarified, I agreed to work with them again, being booked all next week.  Off then to the Brighton Centre for my 3:50 appointment to get my jab. I would have given it in a heartbeat to Lorraine, of course. Earlier, I posted a picture of Jabba the Hutt on my facebook, and only Beth got it.  The whole business felt a bit like voting: important but with no fanfares or trumpets. Luckily I did not collapse in twitching anaphylactic shock. I felt my privilege thinking of folks in greater need all around the ...

Doing some more work for my French clients this morning, radio adverts about the plight of Balkan dogs. Then off for a walk up to the top of the nearby hill, looking down on Brighton and the big pointless pole of the i360 . Everything has to be an iSomething these days. Then more of Lorraine's ghastly form, before taking myself off for jabs. Had a typhoid, a diphtheria polio and tetanus, and an MMR. Three jabs. I'm okay with jabs but the typhoid quite ouchy. The nurse very good, and sprang at me with a surprising wild speed and I was done in no time. Still a bit of discussion to be had about Chad, and assurances to be sought. However if it is green-lighted, I will have to have a yellow fever jab privately as well as malaria pills before we set off. Home to sit with Lorraine a bit more for the dreaded form, then scarfed down some food and made off for the poetry meeting. Arrived late, bought a pint and headed into the room only to realise that the meeting was in fact next Mo...