under another sun

Collected behind the hotel at 9.00am for our jeep safari. When Lorraine and I had blithely decided the week before to do an off-road jeep trip to the top of a mountain, it all seemed fine. But when the day came, we were both a bit wary. We were driven in a jeep for about half an hour around to the other side of the island, collecting two young Austrian couples as we went. On the other side there were two more jeeps and lots more Austrians.  We had an English speaking guide and driver called Dimitri, with whom Lorraine and I had some interesting conversations as we were the only native English speakers. He had been a successful photographer in Athens, but his business had gone down with the recent economic crises, and had returned to Thassos, the island where his father had been born and he had spent lots of time as a child. He also had, rather dramatically, decided not to take any more photos. As we descended the mountain, hurtling down a rock strewn path with a sheer drop on one...

A round the island bus tour today. Incredibly hot all day, so it became something of an endurance test. First up to a local village called Panagia on the side of the mountain, where brisk mountain streams ran through, as well as the main island road which regularly gets bogged down by traffic. A walk up the path and into the local church, was already quite demanding. After we sauntered down by the side of running streams that cut through the village, and did some shopping, buying a tablecloth and some walnuts in honey from a woman the guide called Mrs Suzi. Then all aboard the bus and off down the coast to Aliki. This is pretty much the only spot on Thassos I recalled from visiting many years ago. Baking hot here, and a little strip of land connecting an island to the mainland. A few ruins here of place where salt was prepared and traded.  We also walked about on the little wooded bit, and then managed to find our way back in time to get a cold coke. Back in the magic bus it tran...

Monday morning and Glen off to do some teaching in a nearby costal town. We drove along with him and Eleni, plus Eleni's young nephew and niece. Glen dropped off, we proceeded to a good beach, where we occupied some beach beds and swam. I played with the kids for some time, the boy clambering on me and kicking out loads, which was fun of a slightly exhausting kind. Then back into the car, to collect Glen and head off for a leisurely spot of lunch, and a splash of ouzo. We then went for dessert and coffee with Eleni's sister Anna, and Rita her mother before they drove us back to Kavala, in time to catch the ferry at 4:30. Fond farewells with Glen and Eleni in the harbour. It had been great to hang out with Glen, bouncing a few ideas about music around too, as well as just getting to know him better. Eleni is an impressive person, with a keen intelligence and a heartbreakingly beautiful voice. I jokingly called her The Soul of Greece, but she is extraordinary. Great to see Gl...

Sunday morning and up early and off to the local Greek Orthodox church. A devout earthiness. People, from the elderly to little babies, kissing the icons fervently. The church potent with incense and rather warm. Glen had been there several times and says that he can take it for half an hour or so. Eleni's father there again with grandchildren, who he lifted up to kiss the icons on the way in. I liked looking at the amazing pictures upon the walls, as well as hearing the singing of the ministers in the orthodox ceremony.  Rather arrested by the paintings of six winged seraphim. Then home to a large breakfast of scrambled eggs made with green peppers and tomatoes from Eleni's father's garden. I stood on the balcony taking in their magnificent view and noticed Giannis outside waiting for us down on the street.  Glen drove us all to Phillipi , not far from Kavala but out onto the vast flat alluvial plain. Lorraine and I, like mad dogs and English, then walked around the larg...

Texted Glen a couple of times and arranged to go off to see him and Eleni in Kavala. Kavala is on the mainland, and we taxied from Skala Potamia to the sheltered west coast of Thassos and another port called Skala Prinos. Our taxi driver a cheery man called Christos who spoke good English. We had a light lunch in Skala Prinos, waiting for the ferry. Lots of tourists from Romania and Bulgaria on Thassos, and one Bulgarian behaving abominably in the harbour taverna, in an a harassing and sexist manner to the waitress. The ferry to Kavala, which took an hour and a quarter, one of those archetypical Greek experiences, looking back at the broad wake left by the ferry leading back to the diminishing island. These kind of trips always fill me with a tranquil happiness. Kavala is a gorgeous hillside city. Glen and Eleni met us from the boat and drove us home to their apartment with a beautiful view south down the town, and harbour and across the water to the mountainous Thassos, where we w...

Having been working till late the night before, then packing, Lorraine and I sprang up at 4:15. Rather an appalling time. We dragged our cases, thunderously, down the roads to London Road station and got a train to Gatwick. Slightly delayed flight, but all good on the journey, apart from being charged an outrageous 8 euros on the plane for two cups of tea. That familiar wall of heat as we stepped from the plane in Kavala airport. A transfer to a minibus, then to a ferry boat where we sat in the air-conditioned cabin and there I enjoyed a can of cold lager, followed by another can of cold lager. Off in Thassos Town back into the minibus and off to Skala Potamia. It had been many years since I'd been to Thassos, and apart from its greenness, I recognised little. Our hotel, was opposite the sea. Not a particularly warm welcome there, but it was clean and functional. A quick swim too to cool down made us feel much better. The sea feeling bathtub warm almost, and a beer in the bar the...

Final day in Tavistock Square before heading off to Greece tomorrow. A mystery solved too about why work had been a bit thin on the ground this year, my chums in Tavistock square had assumed a conflict of interest because I was working with the guys in Chiswick. There is none, but this goes some way to explaining why I kept being dropped at the last minute for jobs. Now I know what the problem is, the misunderstanding can be cleared up. Otherwise having worked through the last couple of weekends, and having some last minute stuff to do tonight, rather pleased to be finally about the business of packing, and setting the clocks unspeakably early for tomorrow. Snorkel and facemark packed, slumped exhaustedly into bed.

Lorraine up very early and went off to pilates, then she and Beth went to visit Pat and Maureen. In the no rest for the wicked department, I however, spent the day working on freelance stuff. I did break off to watch a Sky at Night special on Pluto, which was rather amazing. An interview with Brian May who was there at Nasa too. Having met him a long time ago, at least this was a tiny connection to the great events. Seems like Pluto is actually a binary planet with Charon its chief moon, and they are learning new things about it every day since the recent flyby by the New Horizons probe. Love seeing the shots of the surface of the planet and discussions of what it all means. Also made time for a much-needed snooze this afternoon. Off this evening to the Duke of York's where I met Dawn and Ellie in the bar, and a few minutes later Lorraine and Beth arrived. Once there I registered we were going to see a French movie called Eden , which I found rather excellent. It is a story of ...

Up and into London again, happy that the end of the week had been reached. Not having to take my laptop into work, was a boon. Instead read High Windows by Philip Larkin again on the train. After reading Jorie Graham the American poet over the last few days, it is lovely to read something that is a sheer pleasure. Fernanda, with whom I was working this week, having root canal work this morning. But we presented our work in the afternoon and this went well enough. Nice to work with her and Slug again. Stayed at my desk all day, not least because rain was hosing down enthusiastically outside. Successfully met Beth on the train home, with a nice little girl called Aisha who she had been chaperoning to a London audition. Beth and I then taxied from Brighton station, waiting in the long queue and observing a man in a bird suit, perhaps on a stag weekend, venturing into the miserable stair-rod rain. Fantastic to be at home, and Lorraine had made some diet turkey burgers. Early to bed, ver...

So now working constantly. Third day of working in London after my surprise call on Monday evening. Back with my chums in Tavistock Square. First Matie popped in on a social call (as she'd worked there for some time). Also nice to see my other friends who work here. Feeling pretty tired as I started the week feeling underpowered, and I've also had to work on some stuff for my French client at night and on the train. I will be working through the weekend. Nice to be in London though, and pausing to look at the caryatids near Euston station. I love seeing these things and have tried to write a poem about them before. And today I melted away from my desk in the afternoon and walked around Tavistock Square and looked at Gandhi for five minutes. Home and reading poems and listening to podcasts. Lorraine and Betty still doing the diets and so on. Naturally now Lorraine is working at home, I am in London. So it goes.  Falling into bed like an exhausted dog, and Lorraine reading th...

A peaceful Sunday, and off this evening to the Brunswick for a Folk Night. The Shakespeare Heptet were playing, tonight featuring just Richard and Dipak and the singers Sylvana and Rebecca, in a hark back to the original Shakespeare Trio. There were two other acts, and a troublesome drum playing woman who invited herself onstage to ruin the last song of the first act and then had to be asked to leave after playing her drum really badly from the audience in the second act. The second act were called Grand Palace, a subtle brush-playing drummer and a woman with a lovely voice and songs. The Shakeys were fine and it was good to hear a cleaner sound. A good chat with Dipak who we sat with, and his pal Michael, and said hello to Richard and Maria Grazia. Enjoyable night, and I had a few beers and relaxed greatly.

A happy day spending quality time with Lorraine. Up early, and organising things from the safety of bed, such as booking a holiday in Greece, by way of expressing solidarity with the Greeks and having a top time too, we picked up something of a bargain as well. This done Lorraine drive off to do pilates and I walked down to the gym, through the sunny park, where I pushed myself still trying to make up lost fitness ground. Feels really good to be doing physical stuff again. We are turning things around together, which is good. Beth and Lorraine are going onto a full blooded diet next week, involving drinking shakes and so on. I will continue on solids. Lorraine and I arrived home at the exactly the same time and spent the afternoon in the garden, cutting back and replanting. A wealth of blooms in the garden with too many flowers to name. A chat with Jenny next door who gave us a lavender plant, and said her son Robbie was running in the European Junior athletics championships for the ...

Up to London early this morning, sauntering down to Preston Park before seven. Arrived in Turnham Green and was in the office before Matty. A pleasant day. With two meetings, one with our nice new client who taken me under her wing at the conference I'd been to recently, and the other with a really nice film-making duo. From various conversations it emerged that I might be asked to go on location, probably Africa, in October. An exciting prospect for a first-time trip. After work enjoyed a couple of beers and a long chat with Matt about all kinds of subjects in the The George IV, although much changed it is a boozer woven into my personal history. Matt and I sat outside looking up at a door served by a wrought-iron staircase into an upstairs room I used to read poems in as part of The Wooden Lambs  group, apart from the purely recreational drinking that went on at other times when I was a denizen of Chiswick. Home then on the train, surrounded by talking animatedly about Englan...

As if by magic have clarity on what needs to be done, and in what order. Worked hard all day and some of the evening entirely focused on finishing the marketing book. I am a few working days away from it being done, so I need to get the bloody thing completed without prevarication. To that end worked like a maniac most of the day, and well into the evening too. The relief of the mental log jam breaking is hard to convey, and I am convinced it has something to do with exercise too.

Lorraine up very early this morning, so I did too. Both of us had a poor night's sleep. I climbed into a notional helicopter and peered down on my activities. I'm usually pretty good at managing my workflow and not prone to prevarication, but I seem to be frittering time on inessentials so spent much time today examining my activities with a cold and beady eye. Made time for a haircut at the usual place. Friendly lot there. Also today was the day that Lorraine and I nominated to get a grip on weight and fitness. So watching our diet, and I hauled my butt to the gym for, freakishly enough, I can both stand and walk. This time the gym didn't distress my recently torn thigh. Am feeling unfit but better for starting. Back home for miso soup and noodles, then a bit more puzzling about priorities before walking to Janet and Ken's house. Janet has appointed me as one of her attorneys should she need help taking decisions in future. Sensible to get this kind of stuff so...

Off to Edgware to see Mum and Mas. Rather rainy day, which in horny handed son of the soil mode I was pleased to see. Long journey with traffic jams, however but listening to a Kermode and Mayo film podcast is perfect for this kind of thing. Finally reached Edgware and we went to the Miller and Carter steakhouse. A large and pleasant place, where we went to a steak eating booth, and sat under a painting of red cattle, near a window with a metal sculpture of a stylised cattle head. I had chicken, and so did Mas. Lorraine had salmon and mum had ribs. I expect the steaks are good there though. Mason talking about a barbers he visited as a child where the kids sat on merry-go-round horses. Back to Edgware and I showed Lorraine the concrete dog and plastic grass next door, and we looked at Mum's paintings of Guernsey again. I love the view of La Rue Des Grons in the rare snow, painted from upstairs in the old house. A good deal of chatting to be done. Then fond farewells, and simi...

Lorraine and I up and about late and after breakfast walked down to London Road caught a train and went for a wander around Lewes. Lurking in the lovely Southover Grange Gardens, and then nosing about in a few shops. I bought a couple of teeshirts on sale from Fatface, and then a booklet for a £1 about Guernsey published in 1964, featuring for me nostalgic colour pictures of The Sarnia mailboat, that we travelled on many times, as well a photo of BEA Vickers Viscounts in the airport. Back home briefly where we joined forces with Beth and caught a bus into town, where we met Rachel and Andrew, and their daughters Hattie and Libby by the pier, and had an Indian meal with them. Lorraine is Hattie's Godmother. I liked Rachel and Andrew a good deal, having only met them briefly before, and the girls were full of personality. Rachel had taught both Sam and Beth when they were little. Hattie had recently been to China, and told us about seeing pandas, staying with a family there, and th...

Pressed on with the cow diseases but had milked my brain of all possible ideas by mid afternoon, brain frazzled but having done some decent work. Sat out in the garden late afternoon under the lilac tree where I disturbed the fox, and tried unsuccessfully to think about poetry. Although I glanced again at the Your name here book by John Ashbery, and found I still liked the poems I'd liked yesterday. Spoke to Sonia again today, who was again laughing about Greeks, saying that if they made an allegiance with Russia, they'd have to pay the money back. Very welcome when Lorraine returned home, and we I walked down through the park, and made off to The Batty with the idea of sitting in the sun garden. But we sat indoors instead, as this was crammed. Here we discussing lots of stuff with her to do with my business, and writing and so on. She is tremendously good to talk to about things and has a knack for tree/wood discernment. Then where we met Beth, fresh outta Eastbourne, and...

Plodding along with the cow work. Broken by an occasional stretch of my legs around the garden or the park. Little to report today, other than I got a voicemail message from Bob saying among other things that he'd broken his ankle, which sounds ouchy.  Following the Greek crisis quite a bit. I hate to see the Greeks blamed for the failures of global capitalism, and being lazily portrayed as workshy tax dodgers while their pensions are being halved by the governments, and employment tumbles. I've met many decent, hardworking folks in Greece. Lorraine, Betty and I eating salmon outside in the garden tonight, plucking a few strawberries from our strawberry pot, and then doing some watering. A garden connects you to the outside world, a world beyond the advertising concepts for cow ailments that has big skies and flowers. In the evening persisting in my reading of John Ashbery, who whenever I've read him thought he was tripe, so imagine my disappointment when I was reading ...

More bovine mastitis for much of the day, which was mootastic. Also had Defenders of Guernsey go live on Amazon, you can download it onto your  kindles (and iPad) if you have the kindle app here.  I also sorted out the beginnings of an author page here . Been reading Richard's excellent blog and I am going to copy how he has done things and having a separate page for all the stuff currently cluttering this page. In the evening bused off to meet Anton in Hove at the Temple Bar where we had some excellent Indian food washed down with a few lagers, and discussed among other things his forthcoming trip across the pond and the important matter of the right hat to wear to set an example to Americans. We also discussed Joe, one of our neighbours who was at our garden gathering at the weekend. Anton was racking his brains trying to work out where he'd seen him before, until I mentioned he was a doctor. It seems Joe was once subjected to the sight of a rash on Anton's bottom. H...