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 that I am getting to know Robin better too. Well worth going from a poetry point of view, and I had an interesting conversation with a Scot about the independence vote. He said people were really reacting against the campaign to frighten them into staying part of the Union.
A bus then to Waterloo, then a train to Staines and walked to Anne's house at Farmer's End, a stone's throw from the Thames. In the winter the floodwaters miraculously stopped at her gate, as her house is a couple of feet higher than the rest of the road. The evening was all part of Anton's birthday month. Anton had driven Lorraine and the bairns there, and Brian had come too. Good to catch up with Brian and Anne, who is thinking of moving to Brighton. Lorraine had been mowing the lawns in the afternoon, while Anton was off shopping and collecting Brian.
A really nice evening socialising, and eating barbecued steak, ribs and (specially for me) bits of chicken. Drinking lots of rather excellent wine, and addressing a table groaning with cheese. Good to spend time with my Godchildren, playing Skalextric racing cars with Klaudia, holding Oskar upside down etc. Klaudia making me read more from this blog to her, particularly laughing at this post from some years ago.
Brian home in a taxi, the rest to bed, I sat up chatting with Anne for some time before going upstairs to join my snoozing wife. A really enjoyable evening.
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 that I am getting to know Robin better too. Well worth going from a poetry point of view, and I had an interesting conversation with a Scot about the independence vote. He said people were really reacting against the campaign to frighten them into staying part of the Union.
A bus then to Waterloo, then a train to Staines and walked to Anne's house at Farmer's End, a stone's throw from the Thames. In the winter the floodwaters miraculously stopped at her gate, as her house is a couple of feet higher than the rest of the road. The evening was all part of Anton's birthday month. Anton had driven Lorraine and the bairns there, and Brian had come too. Good to catch up with Brian and Anne, who is thinking of moving to Brighton. Lorraine had been mowing the lawns in the afternoon, while Anton was off shopping and collecting Brian.
A really nice evening socialising, and eating barbecued steak, ribs and (specially for me) bits of chicken. Drinking lots of rather excellent wine, and addressing a table groaning with cheese. Good to spend time with my Godchildren, playing Skalextric racing cars with Klaudia, holding Oskar upside down etc. Klaudia making me read more from this blog to her, particularly laughing at this post from some years ago.
Brian home in a taxi, the rest to bed, I sat up chatting with Anne for some time before going upstairs to join my snoozing wife. A really enjoyable evening.
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