under another sun

Up early and getting on with stuff. These include getting a brief for a new video, and working on this and writing other freelance stuff before zooming off to London to attend a Stanza Bonanza this evening. This is when two groups of poets from different areas read with each other at the Poetry Cafe. Tonight it was bards from Brighton versus poets from Kent and Sussex. I read lots of new stuff and generally felt carefree and Robin said it was the best she'd seen me read. All the Brighton folks did well, Robin was top, Susan Evans who is becoming a slick performer, Tony Gill who is innovative and funny, Andie Davidson whose poem about not being invited to her daughter's wedding was heartbreaking, and Marek Urbanowicz who is just a fine poet. Some excellent readers on the Kent side too, and I particularly enjoyed Jess Mookherjee's reading. A quick zoom to the pub afterwards with Robin, Tony and Robin Taylor who now organises the Brighton group. Trained home with a brace of ...

Monday. Emailed Val in Paris to send my best wishes. Nobody at their office hurt, thankfully, although their office is close to where the trouble was. Started by working on my poems. Then quickly morphing into doing accounts, after seeing Andrew on Friday. Rain and ghastliness outside for most of the day and night. Anton drove around to collect my waterproof over trousers to wear while on a walking break next week.  He zoomed in and looked at our new music player, and liked it. Not too surprising as he was the one who recommended it. Then outside to go for a quick spin in his new BMW which has a retractable roof and heated seats with little hot blowy things that puff on the back of your neck. Drove around in the cool day, with electronically warmed buns. Back for a teleconference, and to arrange to see Brad later in the week to work with him on the DRTV edit in Canterbury. Rest of the day spent untidying my office, doing accounts and so on. In the evening, after Beth had cook...

Sad news today from Matty, who told me Graeme had died from his cancer. Graeme was a lovely man, loads of fun and completely decent and kind. First Matie and Matty particularly loved him, and I feel for them very much. Lorraine and I both sad about his death. Otherwise I worked more on a big poem on the theme of fear. And talked to agencies. The Paris one definitely wants me to go over next week to do the pitch with them. I was also called by the same agency who phoned me last week offering work. A couple of hours after I agreed to it, I was told they'd changed their minds. To the gym, although not particularly full of oomph today. Home and warm enough to sit in the back garden to have some miso soup. I love having a garden, and I look at few plants we have planted several times a day. In the evening off to the Stanza poetry meeting. A cheerful night, some lovely people there. Several including one by Tess Jolly which blew me away. An amazing poem. I had a quick drink and a cha...

Up with the sparrows applying Graceful Green coloured paint. Basically grey with suggestion of green. It does however look elegant, next to white. Grown up is what it is. Then broke off at lunchtime as Beth arrived with Gary in a van, full of her London stuff. This rapidly disgorged, and we'd congratulated each other, on Gary's marriage and our house purchase, Gary drove off and Beth's stuff on the floor in her room. Lorraine working from home this afternoon, so all was cheery, despite this  review of The Nightwork . I understand there are a couple of other reviews forthcoming which may be a bit more favourable. But I'd rather get an indifferent review than none at all. In a very good mood, to The Nelson where I read some of poems in the Stanza Bonanza meeting. A very cheery evening, with lots of good poetry read. I tried a new poem primarily written to be performed callled A poet walks into a bar , which went down quite well, as well as a couple of others from The ...

Up and working early on poems, and social media posts. Trying formulae such as lists which work quite well.  I wrote a list about aliens in advertising , and also worked a little on the new poem. Lorraine working at home, so we had a comparatively leisurely start to the day, after she'd been getting up very early most of the week. In the afternoon, off to meet Susan Evans in the Marwood cafe. She was trying to persuade me to perform in something called The Minge Fringe, a Vagina Monologues influenced thing. I felt ill equipped and had to admit that my contribution to minge literature was negligible. I'd met Susan at the poetry workshop I go to and she is an effervescent performer, and generally rather lively. She is writing a new piece which starts with the line "My minge has been through the mill.." Home and sloped up to The Signalman with Lorraine where she drank a soda water and I had a couple of beers and the sun went in.  A jay about its next robbing business...