Poor old January. Too often a long dark month to get through. Now you're behind us, and February's here, the shortest month whose lengthening days speed us towards spring. So it snowed overnight on Monday, and the wind is Siberian, but there are snowdrops in the park, and buds on the magnolia trees. This bright …
Author: Hilaire
I am a writer of poetry and prose. I was born and brought up in Melbourne but have lived in London most of my adult life.
a story about a novel
Once upon a time, I came across a collection of short stories titled Suck My Toes in a second-hand bookshop in Melbourne. I bought it, for the title, and the cover, which featured a pair of Blundstone boots, my favourite footwear for many years. I'd never heard of the author, Fiona McGregor, and if you're …
a short idiosyncratic list to round off 2014
The year is nearly out. Here are a few of my highlights of 2014. Ravel Day on BBC Radio 3 Friday 7th March was dedicated to the music and life of Maurice Ravel. I marked the day on my calendar as soon as I heard about it. His 139th birthday, so not a traditional landmark …
Continue reading a short idiosyncratic list to round off 2014
poem for my right-hand man
bless your hands for double-bowing my laces as tenderly as a parent on their child's first day at school bless your hands for finding their feet with hooks and zips; the ins and outs of the wrap dress for honey on my crumpet and moreish chilli pasta bookending fractured day for keys slotted home and …
Thank you, Thurgoods, and farewell
About a year ago, our local greengrocer closed temporarily for a radical refurbishment, including the addition of a flat over the shop. We resigned ourselves to several months of mildly-aggravating and bit-more-expensive fruit and vegetable shopping in the nearby supermarket, softened by the anticipation of when-Thurgoods-reopens, hoping it would be perhaps a little smarter but …
the view from my window
This is the view from my studio* window. I love it. That big blue gasometer has been part of my skyline for very nearly 25 years. I think it's beautiful, in a rugged, industrial way. But the gasometer has been decommissioned. It's being dismantled. You can guess what's going to replace it - luxury apartment …
somewhat hampered
Late last Friday night, on the mean wet-leaf strewn pavements of Manchester, I slipped and landed on my right hand. Pain, spectacular bruising, impressive swelling. Very British. Didn't want to make a fuss. Soldiered on. Ibuprofen. Visiting friends, taking in sights and culture. Back to work Monday. Resigned to not cycling so buy weekly zone …
bright star by heart, sort of
The theme of this year's National Poetry Day was 'Remember', encouraging people to share a poem they know by heart. With about a week to go before the big day - Thursday 2nd October - Nick and I decided to try to memorise John Keats' untitled sonnet, reputedly the last he wrote, which starts 'Bright …
I’m still thinking about
Familiar by J. Robert Lennon, which I finished reading just over a fortnight ago. The premise of the novel is intriguing: 40-something Elisa Macalaster Brown is driving home on one of those long straight American highways on a hot day in July. She's returning from her annual visit to her younger son's grave in the …
hippo haiku
Late yesterday afternoon we walked up towards Vauxhall, along the narrow and uneven pavements of Battersea Park Road and Nine Elms Lane, construction sites lining both sides of the road. Then tucked in to follow the river path and soon spotted up ahead, in the cloud-darkened waters, a large curved honey-coloured structure being towed towards …
Hilaire 