Wowee. I've been busy. I sat down yesterday morning and began a list of things I've been up to since I last blogged: Words for the Wild - I've had two poems published on this beautiful site, as part of their autumn 'Fruit' themed issue. I love the mix of poetry and fiction, and the …
tenth time lucky
I'm feeling very lucky, and rather giddy, and very grateful. My poem A Cure for Rosesickness is one of three highly commended in this year's Live Canon International Poetry Prize, judged by Zaffar Kunial. It's also published in the competition anthology, which features all 50 longlisted poems. The giddiness may be due in part to a …
National Poetry Day Vibes
I woke up yesterday morning thinking about National Poetry Day, which is next Thursday 3rd October. I'm going to a reading the night before, but had nothing planned for the day itself, and wasn't aware of anything happening locally. And then I thought why don't I do something myself? Something that wouldn't take too much …
doing nothing
I find this very difficult. To do nothing. Switch off. Be in the moment. I'd like to get better at it. It's been a busy year, and mostly for wonderful reasons - visiting my family in Melbourne at the start of the year, then the excitement of launching and promoting London Undercurrents, the poetry collection …
An extraordinary house, and promming at Battersea Arts Centre
On Tuesday I was privileged to go on a free tour of the National Trust property 575 Wandsworth Road. This was part of an event for the National Park City Festival, a week of events to celebrate London being declared the first National Park City in the world, and encouraging Londoners to get out and …
Continue reading An extraordinary house, and promming at Battersea Arts Centre
Three readings, a workshop, a virus and a Fun Day
That was my May, and I'm still recovering. I eased into the month with a double reading at Loose Muse on 8th May. In the first half, Joolz Sparkes and I read from our joint collection London Undercurrents, recently published by Holland Park Press. Over the five or so years that we've been working on …
Continue reading Three readings, a workshop, a virus and a Fun Day
crazy May
My month ahead, I mean, not the Prime Minister. No, no, no. May is looking a bit crazy for me, but I'll get through it. Scratch that. I'll ENJOY it! (Thanks, Joolz, for the 'be more dog' tip!) First up, on Wednesday 8th May, Joolz Sparkes and I are featured readers at Loose Muse, London’s …
on your marks… for The Poetry Society’s Poem-A-Thon
I'm taking part in The Poetry Society’s second Poem-A-Thon, which aims to raise funds to help the Society continue their fantastic work promoting poetry and supporting poets across the country. The event is on Saturday 18th May from 12noon to 10pm at The Poetry Café, and features SIXTY poets, reading for 8 minutes each. Having …
Continue reading on your marks… for The Poetry Society’s Poem-A-Thon
a month away, & looking ahead
It's a week now since I got back from a month away in Australia, visiting family in Melbourne. I'm finally over the jet lag, and getting back into the swing of London life. I was very glad that Nick could come with me on this trip, my first "home" in nearly 3 years. It makes …
ABBA in Battersea!
A long time ago... briefly... but it's true, ABBA alighted in Battersea in 1976, when they were promoting their album Arrival. Back then, I was a teenager in Melbourne, an ABBA fan, and although London was on my radar, I doubt I'd heard of Battersea. There's a photo of me on Christmas morning, delightedly clutching …
