Poetry and a party
Up early to get ready for the man to come and fix our roof as I organised on Tuesday. A porridge breakfast with my lovely wife, which Beth declined. Lorraine went out to get money to pay the man, who simply didn't materialise. When I phoned him about it, he said he had forgotten. I intend to take a roofless approach with him next week. Then up to London today to 'Free Verse' The Poetry Book Fair at the Conway Hall in Red Lion Square. There was a noisy protest in the square, not of poet-haters as you might imagine but by people concerned about the NHS. I met Robin in the hall and we had a good couple of hours, chatting to lots of small press poetry folks - a challenge with one functioning ear in the noisy hall. A genuinely inspiring range of publications on show. Being with Robin made the schmoozing much better, although flagging we slipped away to a nearby boozer for a quick drink and a chat after a while. But there was lots of food for thought at the event, and I feel ...