under another sun

I got up fairly early and sent off another manuscript off, more out habit than anything. Had planned a bit of a saunter in the woods with Brian, but it was a miserable morning. Off this evening to the Royal Festival Hall. Met Robin on the train to Lewes we changed at Clapham for Waterloo. A wincingly pricey sharpener downstairs first, and then up to the fifth floor and the Poetry Society event, presenting the National Poetry Competition prizewinners. Brilliant to go with Robin as a tag team. It would have been a bit toe curling going alone. Thanks to Robin I was on the guest list. I naturally availed ourselves of the free wine and beer and canapés with alacrity (as did Robin) and wandered about separately, and together, chatting to folks.   Enjoyed the readings from shortlisted poets, and then the winners. Can't say I was astonished by anything I heard, but the woman who was the runner up, Tifo Kusoro, read her poem very well. Nevertheless cheery to be rubbing shoulders with like m...

Sophie and a CSR Off up to the Smoke today. First to Highgate to see Sophie. We snuck off for lunch in a pizza place, where Andros joined us, full of information about anaesthetics. Sophie talking about a new insight that Buddhism has taught her: that we know we can influence our cast of mind for the good, because we can influence it negatively with such ease. Then back to Sophie's office. She is pitching for new business on Friday and we brainstormed with her assistant Suzie about this for a couple of hours before I left them to it. I tubed down to the South Bank to go to the Poetry Library. Bizarrely, however, there was the Marks & Sparks AGM taking up the whole of the Royal Festival Hall. I felt vaguely affronted by this: selling off the cultural crown jewels for a spot of corporate lucre. But of course if it helps keep it all going, that's fair enough. I was told the Poetry Library was open but I had to go to the artist entrance. Rude security guards told me to wait to ...