under another sun

On air Zombie morning. A trapped nerve in my back kept me wretchedly awake till 4am, when I decided to take one of my emergency flight-only diazepams. By the time it came to do the radio show, I was okay. Popped down the road as the BBC is less than five minutes walk away and was given a cup of water and led into the studio with little ceremony. I talked to Allison about men without children, and after about 20 minutes she asked me to read a poem, Thought Daughter. I felt very relaxed, and this not all to do with Allison's professionalism. It just felt very natural, and I'd like to do more of it. Luckily they have asked me to send in other ideas if I have any, so I will. Who knows what will grow from these acorns. On another note, I have grown a beard for the first time in my life. It is not a full-on Father Christmas beard, but a small and tidy one. I'm think it is quite butch. And the kitten rubs her face on it, and Lorraine has said she thinks it is a good thing. Of cour...

Balance Worked industriously and got five manuscripts off into cyberspace or in old fashioned envelopes. Two for the poetry collection, and three off to poetry magazines. Conscious that I am sending off some really strong material now, and this feels good and positive. This balanced and relaxed feeling a total volte-face from yesterday. I rewarded myself with a blueberry muffin. I listened to the Allison Fearns show as I worked. I'm trying to judge the best tone of how to approach tomorrow's show, which seems very chatty and low key. Don't feel at all nervous and will prepare a mind map of stuff to glance at, and just show up. Lots of people coming down to Brighton, all calling me today: Mad dog, Lakshmi, First matie, Mum and Mason will all be down in the next week. Maybe it's the magnetism of the kitten. Spoke to Sophie too, who said Calliope is a name she associates with old Greek women with gold earrings. Lorraine came round this evening, and the kitten companionably...

I'm on the radio For avid PK fans with time on their hands... I will be on BBC Southern Counties Radio Tomorrow Wednesday 1st October, talking about childlessness. I'm on the Allison Fearns show, not sure yet about the exact time, probably a little after 2.00PM UK time, which is currently GMT +1. It is streamed live here .

Radio interlude Not every day that you are grabbed off the street and bundled into a radio station. I was mooching off to look at gym clothes -- what do people wear in gyms? -- prior to joining LA Fitness, when a woman who turned out to be Allison Fearns , a presenter at BBC Southern Counties stopped me in the street. In seconds I was in the studio, and then as the strains of Street life by Randy Crawford died away, I was being interviewed live by Allison in her show's "streetlife" spot - where they simply grab someone off the street and interview them. They told me the interview would be 5-10 minutes but it seemed to go on quite a bit longer. Naturally this was all catnip for me, and I somehow (arf) managed to talk fluently about my life and works, and mentioned my poetry and Skelton Yawngrave too. Talked for what seemed about double the allotted time. Came out of it feeling very pleased with myself, and feeling that it was some sort of sign. They said I must come in a...