Updates to my ‘about me’ page

The image is of two books written by Josephine Corcoran. The first one is called 'The Misplaced House'. It is predominantly black and white and has a photograph of two children and a mongrel dog on the cover. The second is called 'What Are You After?' and is predominantly blue.

I've recently made a few changes to this website/blog, including changing the site's WordPress theme and updating my 'About/Contact' page. Like other WordPress users, I've found some of the recent technical changes to WordPress difficult to navigate and I've considered switching to a different platform (maybe Substack? Are any of you using that?). But, for… Continue reading Updates to my ‘about me’ page

July Update

The image is of oxeye daisies photocopied and painted by Josephine Corcoran, with the words 'Grow Wild' added

I have two new poems coming out in The North magazine, should be very soon. In the same issue, I've reviewed poetry collections by Maria Taylor, Katherine Stansfield and Jackie Wills. I've also had an acceptance for a poem in 14 magazine which will be published later this year. Many rejections which I won't list… Continue reading July Update

End of month blog and some wildflower poems

The image is of petals of buttercups, forget-me-nots, herb robert and daisies arranged in lines like a quatrain

An end of month blog just to say hello. I'm not blogging much at all but quite often posting a picture or two on Instagram - which I think of as a micro blogging site. I have a pamphlet of poems without a publisher - that is, I haven't found a publisher who wants the… Continue reading End of month blog and some wildflower poems

News/No News in April

The image is of cherry trees in blossom

I've fallen off the blogging bus and I'm struggling to climb back on. I'm not sure why because it isn't travelling very fast. Perhaps it's my dodgy knee/s. Anyway - Hello! - even if it's already May. I'm fully recovered from my first Covid-19 jab (Oxford AstraZeneca) and waiting for a date for my second.… Continue reading News/No News in April

Recent Diary Snippets

the image is of daffodils in a vase and an avocado plant and a cup of tea on a shelf

Monday and Tuesday It's incredible to think that it is nearly one year since the first UK lockdown, when the whole of the country learned a new way of living. The weather has been gifting us with some spring-like days which I've really enjoyed. My son is going back to his student accommodation in London… Continue reading Recent Diary Snippets

No Big Leaps in February

the image is of crocuses growing on grass in a park, February 2021

What a pipsqueak of a month February is. Over in the blink of an eye, or perhaps that's just me experiencing time whizzing past as I grow older. I finished the Papatango online playwriting course at the beginning of the month. Taking part in the course enabled me to edit and finish an audio play… Continue reading No Big Leaps in February

Two Chopsticks and a Pencil for the Hyacinths

The image is of a bowl of three blooming hyacinths, supported by chopsticks, a pencil, and string.

A lovely neighbour brought over the gift of a bowl of hyacinths when the year was brand new, and now, in the very last weekend of January, three pale yellow flowers have bloomed gloriously and our hallway is filled with a sweet and spicy scent that we have grown to appreciate (we weren't sure, at… Continue reading Two Chopsticks and a Pencil for the Hyacinths

Falling Hyacinths and It’s Still January

the image shows two hyacinth bulbs tied with string to keep them upright

So here I am at the end of another week.  Here we are.  I said to Andrew (my husband) that it feels like such a long time since we've seen our daughter and we were astonished to discover, when we looked at the calendar, that's it's only been three weeks since she went back to… Continue reading Falling Hyacinths and It’s Still January

Reasons to be or not to be cheerful, or not. Or something.

an image of a tree photographed by a still canal so that the tree's reflection is clearly visible

I was going to write about what 'local' means to you, that is, ask you for your definition of the word, since one week into a UK national lockdown, there are news reports about a police force fining people for driving somewhere to exercise.  During the first lockdown, in the spring, there were reports of… Continue reading Reasons to be or not to be cheerful, or not. Or something.

National Blog Posting Month

A path covered in fallen golden leaves leading towards greenish trees

Inspired by writer Liz Ward, I'm going to gently join in with National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) and post a blog a little more regularly during November. I love reading Liz at her blog and I also enjoyed her collection of essays which she published in 2018. One of the reasons I haven't been posting… Continue reading National Blog Posting Month