I've been thinking about that 'back to school' feeling that many on this side of the world associate with the end of August and the beginning of September. For me, as I grew up in Australia, January was the long summer school holidays and the new school year began in February. August was winter, and …
Tag: poetry
June Review
June was a busy and rewarding month for me. The Wandsworth Heritage Festival, postponed from last year, kicked off at the end of May, and on the third of June Joolz Sparkes and I gave an online reading from our co-authored poetry collection London Undercurrents. We'd chosen poems that related in one way or another …
a run of knock-backs & keeping going
Despite the pandemic, last year was a pretty good year for me in terms of publication acceptances and other creative projects. This year, so far, has felt like a drought. I've submitted to quite a few magazines and not had a single acceptance. I've applied for numerous paid opportunities and, bar two or three, not …
Twelfth Night afterglow
The Battersea Society would normally host a Twelfth Night supper at a local restaurant on the sixth of January. But these are not normal times. Instead, the Society's events committee invited me to give a poetry reading on Zoom at 6pm for about half an hour. I was delighted to have been asked, but also …
a poem for the new year
seven wishes more unplugged hoursand deeper sleep air so crispit scintillates your lungs birdsong decoratingevery street a stranger’s nodwhen needed most the clock wound backon climate change a wilder lawnfrom scattered seeds in kitchens far and neara good breakfast to start each day
towards dawn
. . . and here it is - the advent window Luke Walker and I have created for the Nine Elms Advent Window Trail. Our window officially 'opened' at 5pm today and I'm very excited to share it. Please enjoy a virtual chocolate 🍫 in celebration. You can read more about the background to this …
windows (& some words) lit large
The Nine Elms Advent Calendar launches today, an initiative organised by the Nine Elms Arts Ministry, following on from their inaugural Advent Window trail last year. Back then, when we could all huddle together outside sipping mulled wine and singing carols, there was a grand unveiling each evening of a new window over the 24 …
elusive equilibrium
Yesterday was not a good day. The weather in my hometown Melbourne can be so changeable we say it has 'four seasons in one day'. My mood is often like this too, but yesterday it was relentless cold drizzle with a major storm brewing. Anxiety that I could not shift until early evening when I …
in – out – in Mslexia
I've subscribed to Mslexia - the magazine for women who write - for many years. It's packed full of interesting articles and useful tips, and showcases new writing by women. The magazine also pays contributors - not huge sums, but an important recognition of the value of the writer's words. And probably for about as …
afternoon dip
Not the swimming kind of dip unfortunately. I quite often feel low, veering towards anxious, after lunch. Even after a good morning at my desk. So I am trying to develop the habit of sitting quietly on the bed after lunch, and reading for half an hour or so. I'm not a napper - if …
Hilaire 