under another sun

Up for a bit of writing, then out to pick pears to slice into our breakfast yoghurt and seeds and nuts. Beth also arrived with Enzo, who was very cute (see below). I squeezed in a bit of writing, and chatting to Luke who was grinding out mortar between bricks in preparation for repointing them. Later in the day I discovered that he had not brought his mask with him, and couldn't be bothered to get one. I shudder to think of him breathing that dust all day.  Fond farewells to Sam setting off for the great trek north. It had done us all good to see him. Lorraine, sad he had to go so soon, sped him to Lewes, and then spent the afternoon at Beth's house.  I did some more murdering of darlings on the shorter version of the collection. This against the background disruption of wall grinding, like the sound of having your teeth cleaned at the dentist. As for the collection, I still have not landed on a name that I am completely convinced about.  The weather turned cooler, though...

Awake at three and barely slept afterwards. Heard cats fighting outside, Sam getting up, a mosquito in my ear, and had a brilliant idea which the morning light revealed to be a dud. Feeling a bit wan this morning, however walking still a priority and did 15.5K paces listening to Tolkien's letters, he is now older than me in it, and had fallen out with C.S.Lewis, which is a shame. In my mind, they were a bit like Lennon and McCartney, friends and who spurred each other onto be better. Otherwise a day with Sam, Beth and Enzo came around to see him. Sam meeting his nephew for the first time, and then going with Lorraine to see Pat and Maureen. Also Luke came around to work on our wall, removing a brick and hooking out bits of damp sand and stuff that had gathered there from the cavity. This was one theory about the damp we have in that corner. There wasn't too much of it, but the bricks are going to be repointed  When not walking, or making tea for Luke, I decided my proposed coll...

Woke up having had a significant dream. I have had lots of work related dreams lately, but in this one I was happily handing over the job to a vague but pleasant newbie. My desk had two old and battered cupboards on it, one said Metaphor and the other Healthcare. I had a feeling of cheery release as I spoke to my replacement about what an interesting job it had been. Both Lorraine and I rather sluggish after last night's reggae shenanigans. We sat in bed sipping tea for some time. An early text from Sam arrived saying he was travelling down today from Glasgow put Lorraine in a state of excitement. I also discovered my trousers had called Toby amid the fiercest of the skanking. L and I had breakfast, and did Wordle, which we do every morning over a boiled egg, I got it in two goes for the second time this week. Lorraine also does Murdle which is a murdery logic problem.  Over breakfast I also learned I hadn't been placed in a recent tiny booklet competition by Hedgehog. I had co...

Lorraine went to see Paul in Hove for a haircut, and returned looking very glamorous indeed. She also popped in to see Rosie while there. I did some writing, then had a longish walk.  Early evening off to Saltdean Lido to celebrate Yvonne's big birthday (a couple of weeks in advance). We supposed to meet the others on the bus, but L and I accidentally boarded a rogue 12X and were there early. There were twelve of us there, obviously Yvonne and Brian, and Patrick and Adele, Marek and Sally, Guy and Barbara, Rick and Gabby. It was a beautiful art deco building dating to the late thirties. Strange clientele, mainly in their sixties and one or two looked only a little younger than the Lido all merrily dancing away. In a lengthy queue for the bar, I was being sized up by a table  of mature single ladies. I briefly felt like a sardine in a shark tank. Men in pork pie hats, one or two in sharp suits, and so on. It was styled as a reggae and ska night, but there were two tone types (a...

After breakfast with Lorraine, I set off to Brighton this morning to visit Anton at the Montefiore. Just a lovely hospital. As I arrived two nurses were wheeling him away, and I sat in his room for a while. Really calm, and loads of space. The boon of having a job which includes health insurance.  Anton in good spirits and had been climbing stairs and so on. We chatted for about an hour or so, then I melted away. Tried to buy a new fleece, but after going into TK Max as recommended by Anton, I got bored and caught a 12X heading off to meet Lorraine and Pat and Maureen.  Sat at the top at the back where the seats in front face the back. A woman got on with a squirming black dog that repeatedly licked my leg. In Seaford Lorraine called, and she was in the car in front of the bus, so I hopped off. We collected Pat and Maureen who were licking ices on the Seafront, and drove off to the Pump Barn on the edge of Friston Forest. Adele was exhibiting there and was in the gallery, lots...

Lorraine and I had breakfast together and no need to rush. I had a morning of writing, Lorraine doing a bit of gardening, and we talked to a gardener who came around and will do a bit of work for us. He seemed to know about plants and was pleasant. I went for a longish lunchtime walk. I've not yet renewed my gym membership but instead while the weather's good I am doing long walks everyday instead, and feeling good for it too, and may have lost a little weight too. Anton went off to hospital to become a cyborg with a new knee. He was supposed to have his operation at ten, but had it at 4pm instead. I was rather surprised to get a text from him at three minutes past five saying he was all done, and feeling comfortably numb with shades of Steve Austin. Lorraine drove us over to Hove,  and we found him with Klaudia who I'd not seen for ages. Good to see my lovely goddaughter. Anton looking slightly pale after the op, but was in good shape and quite buoyant. He was a bit bitter...

To London, after confirming with Mum that it was okay due to the extreme heat. Flitting between shadows on the uphill walk from West Hampstead Thameslink to Hampstead station where I arrived early, but just couple of minutes before Mum. We slunk down Flask Walk where Mum really likes the houses as they are beautiful, and also remind her of her grandparent's home in Folkestone. Then into The Olde White Bear, which is proving a perfect little pub there, as there's always space and friendly and covered in pictures and prints featuring white bears in vintage advertising and so on. We lapped up some cold drinks, lager shandy seemed to be the ideal drink for me today, and some food. Mum in good spirits. So lucky that we are still able to meet up in Hampstead. Among other things, she told me her miracle herbal pills seem to be really helping her knee. After a couple of hours we sun dodged back to Hampstead station.  Trespassers on the track somewhere in south London had created train ...

Lorraine busy with Pat and Maureen, and then Beth. I less so, up and looking at my poem about marram grass and a few other bits, but sometimes it takes a while to get back into the zone. Otherwise pottering about at home, and going into the studio to think about visual things. All a bit unfocused. I need to clarify my objectives. Just because I am no longer working doesn't mean I don't need to structure and reframe what I do so I can be more productive. A longish walk this afternoon, as my gym membership has lapsed. Listening to the letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, which are fascinating. He comes across as a bit of a 'poor me' at times, whining about how much work he has to do and missing deadlines, and the absolute belief he seems to have in his created mythology -- almost as if he had discovered it rather than invented it. I was also surprised at how religious he was, a staunch catholic. After cold chicken and salads, Lorraine and I watched a film called Children of Men, ra...

Sleep paralysis again last night. I am sort of conscious but half asleep and unable to move my body before I wake up properly. Disconcerting but the morning fixed everything. After L and I had breakfast we did some gardening. I manfully mowed and strimmed the lawn before it got too hot because we are in the grip of yet another heatwave.  Then after a light lunch, to the supermarket, then an opportunist doze, then I lit the charcoal for the barbecue and cooked a chicken (which turned out to be remarkably succulent, things taste different cooked over charcoal) plus burgers and sausages. Beth, James and baby Enzo with us, and fun just to hang out. Enzo adorable of course. Beth well too. Nice to have a drink and chat with James who allowed himself a couple of ciders. I forgot to take any photos because of having a small brain. In other news all four gulls have left the roof now, and it is nice to be outside without getting dogs' abuse from the pesky things. 

The joy of going into the garden before breakfast and picking a bowl of fresh blueberries to have with yoghurt, and assorted nuts and seeds. Otherwise, picking up the pieces, chatting to mum, laundry and so on. Lorraine on her rounds seeing Pat and Maureen, and Beth and wanting to squeeze little baby Enzo. Everyone okay and very pleased to see her.   Breakfast blueberries, and some Kenny farm apples; a glimpse into the glasshouse where there were cucumbers and a glut of tomatoes, which I used in a fresh tomato sauce for some pasta tonight.   

Up and after eating scrambled eggs on toast Romy had made, we packed as the others went for a short walk over the dunes. Later we drove in a convoy slightly southeast Henne Kirkeby Cro (Cro translates as Inn in Danish). A beautiful place in its own grounds, with a big garden at the back where many of the  fruits and herbs and so on were grown. A lovely restaurant room, tasteful minimal decoration, crisp white tablecloths, artfully selected flowers, and interesting Danish recent art on the walls. I was looking at two pictures of the backs of heads. A meal of many little courses, all exquisite sweetbread, mackerel, cod, little crumpets served with cream and caviare, sauces with wonderful delicate flavours, lemon and herbs for example, all served with style. As we were three drivers we drank kombucha in different flavours (mine a lovely cherry flavour. A cheery meal and good to get to know Nori and Verna better. Romy and Toby treated us to it, to say goodbye to us, and hello to Nori a...

Up early expecting an empty black house, but Gillian surprised me. Her flight had been cancelled in the middle of the night and bumped till the next morning. Another goodbye to Gillian, who I'd really enjoyed meeting again. Still she had to travel to Copenhagen today, so Toby drove her there and back with Romy.  Lorraine and I drove up to Hvide Sande, and had a look many shops although bought nothing other than a wee pressie for baby Enzo. I was tempted for myself by a teeshirt with a seagull version of The Scream by Edvard Munch. Then we went to look at the people fishing on the harbour walls in the water that links the Rinkøbing Fjord to the North Sea, then to the nearby Akvarium and fishing museum. Many tanks of drab looking North Sea fish, but I was happy. Then north to the next town where there was a more upmarket food store called Meny, where we bought a chicken and some provisions. Home again, and after a spot of a late and sausagey lunch I went for a walk over the dune, and...

A beautiful morning, I went up onto the dunes for a bit of drawing. Absolutely fascinated by the wind and the marram grass and the dunes. Lorraine and I popped into the hot tub, which was like having a bubble massage. In the afternoon we all drove off to the oldest town in this part of Denmark, Ribe . First job was for us all to go into a cafe restaurant, to wolf down an open sandwich. I  chose one with herring and pickles and salads and dab of curry sauce. Very yummy. I wanted the herring as Romy had lent be a book of short stories by a Danish writer, the first of which featured herring. Then we walked through the old town, looking very lovely and not dissimilar to  places in England, however the doors had a flavour of their own, some of them looking quite Tolkeinesque. The cathedral rather nice and made out of bricks. Some gorgeous glass inside, and the doors very interesting too. I loved the symbols for the evangelists on the heavy doors (eagle, bull, lion and man/ angel)....

Properly rainy morning, all a bit wild. Toby and Romy slipped into the hot tub. I went for a longish walk and did a bit of sketching. Just the way the wind blows over the dune grass is lovely. All looked pleasingly bleak. In the late afternoon we all piled into Lorraine's car to Nymindegab Kro -- a hotel restaurant Romy had been recommended. Good food there, and a nice atmosphere with attentive service.  Below  the Kenny bros in the restaurant, a damp start, Toby and Romy in the hot tub, which Lorraine and I went into too. I took a pleasingly bleak looking walk along the beach, and our party in the restaurant.

Slept really well. A relaxed morning, coffee and breakfast and lovely to be able to sit about catching up with Toby and Romy, and great to see Gillian again. Overcast and ominous weather, with rain. I mooched up to do a spot of drawing, much taken with the grass there which I looked up and its called marram and it binds the dunes together. There are a line of high sand dunes along the coast which is a long white sanded beach that goes on for miles. We are on a strip of land, between the north sea, and Ringkøbing Fjord behind us. This is not really a fjord, it's more like a lagoon, with a small opening to the sea a few miles north of where we are. I wonder if the water is brackish. All of us amused by Germans in the next house doing lively but joyless stripped to the waist exercises on their decking. A quick walk with Toby then Lorraine, Gillian and I made off to the supermarket by car. Raining quite heavily when we arrived. A nice shop full of Danish flags, and good stock. Added a ...

A pleasant flight, despite my misapprehensions and nervousness. I was looking at my phone at some of my recent poem during takeoff and this, along with Lorraine next to me, made me feel strangely calm. At Billund the Brexit dividend of a long slow queue. Lorraine talking to people in the queue and several going to weddings. Once through, we got a first 'tak' from a man. We collected our hire car from a very pleasant Somali origin guy. The car hire building set apart and nice and calm.  The landscape seemed to be very open and rural, with excellent roads, with hardly any cars on them. A big difference to southern England. Once Lorraine installed in the car -- a new automatic Audi -- and had become a little more confident as she had never driven an automatic before, she really liked it. The trip to the west coast of Jutland incredibly easy with very few other cars. Farmland, hedges and the odd wood, and the occasional small village or town. All very lovely, like an unspoilt Engla...

Had another excellent day at the poetry cliff face. Sent a MS to a publisher with several newly buffed up poems in it. Very pleased with myself. Off to the gym, and then I zoomed to The Grumpy Chef where I met Lorraine with Pat and Maureen.They had been shopping and bought Pat what is being termed a mobile seat -- a wheelie with a seat on it.  I had a cheese and ham toastie. Not had one of those for some time, and it was rather delicious despite being told off by Maureen for eating it too quickly.  Then home and a certain amount of faffing about, before Lorraine and I drove off to Adele and Patrick's for a Shakespeare evening with them and Steve. Looking at Adele's new studio, which is rather marvellous. Then after some snackage we commenced on the main event. Twelfth Night. Interesting if enigmatic comedy, with elements of doubling, and mistaken identity and cross dressing in it. We saw a local production of it recently in Seaford. Paused after act three for some lovely grub,...

A new batch of poems, which are quite light of touch and ironic. Six of them, all being decisively hewn into shape. One particularly pleased me as I hadn't been able to get it right for years, and I fixed in minutes, changed the title, cut a bit out and bingo. Pleased with myself when this sort of thing happens. The poem is called A Kibble of Love . However this could not go on. I went with Lorraine, and we picked up Pat and Maureen, and drove off to Drusilla's which is a small zoo with children's rides on it too. I'd not been there since we took Klaudia and Oskar there when they were kids. We took Maureen there in her wheelchair, and got another one for Pat. We met Tom and his wife Emma, who I'd never met, and their children Finlay and Una nine and eight respectively. The family live in Dubai now, and were home for a visit, and they'd wanted to see Pat and Maureen. Good to see Tom again. Emma, delightful and very chatty. Young Finlay a bundle of non-stop energy...