Buying New Glasses in a Pandemic

I was worried - how could I not be worried, given the news reports of the rise and rise of new cases of Covid-19 across the UK? But my last eye-test was two and half years ago and my most recent pair of glasses continues to disintegrate after several repair attempts, and I have been… Continue reading Buying New Glasses in a Pandemic

With lockdown hair and a face mask, I rejoin the world

An empty bench in front of rough grass

I'm writing this post while sitting on a bench by the side of the canal in Bradford-on-Avon.  I'm writing in a small sparkly notebook and I'll type up these notes later when I return home.  It's nearly 3pm on Friday, 3rd July, 2020.  I left home just after 2pm to catch the train here, just… Continue reading With lockdown hair and a face mask, I rejoin the world

Corona Diary: Half year, middle of the week catch-up

A small rambling post about what I'm up to at the moment, what's happening out here in my little corner of the West Wiltshire town that's been my home for the past 17 years, and what's new since my first post about living through the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK. News in the garden: our… Continue reading Corona Diary: Half year, middle of the week catch-up

Sequence of nine prose poems/collages

I've written about my sequence 'Once Upon a Lockdown' before but this is the first time I've been able to post all nine pieces together. I began this writing as a sequence of diary entries/prose poems/poems and then reworked each section into a collage using natural materials from my garden, photos from my camera roll… Continue reading Sequence of nine prose poems/collages

Still here in June

Since lockdown started, and both of my children were sent home from their universities, which I wrote about here, I've had less time on my own in the house and less time to focus on my creative projects. When I wake up each morning, the first thing I do is make a mental audit of… Continue reading Still here in June

Spring Rain

I've made a 30 second film poem for the MPT Haiku in translation workshop which I mentioned in my previous post. As my starting point, I've taken the haiku by Yosa Buson which Alan Cummings has 'literally' translated as follows: spring rain – beach’s small shells to moisten enough In my version of the poem,… Continue reading Spring Rain

Spring is unfolding before my eyes

The always wonderful Modern Poetry in Translation magazine is running a free online Haiku translation workshop. I have made a collage poem in response to the haiku by Enomoto Seifu which Alan Cummings has translated 'literally' as follows: Falling blossoms Beneath, lying happily A skull Here is my collage poem which I've made by cutting… Continue reading Spring is unfolding before my eyes

Lockdown Conversations

I'm thinking about new things happening during lockdown and one thing is unexpected subjects turning up in conversation now that we're spending more time at home and, for some of us, more time than usual with the same group of people.  I'm here in Wiltshire with Andrew, my husband, and our two adult children who've… Continue reading Lockdown Conversations

Corona Diary: Lockdown Continues

Last week started off gloomily with instructions from my local police force - and other police forces - that the UK lockdown meant people weren't allowed to drive even a short distance to find open space to exercise.  The thought that I'd be breaking the law if I drove  somewhere nearby to stomp through woods… Continue reading Corona Diary: Lockdown Continues

Corona Diary: Possibly Week 3 – but are you counting?

I'm not sure if this strange time had a proper beginning and I certainly can't see its end.  This week I haven't wanted to be online much even though there has been an explosion of people offering online workshops, readings and classes.  I've been slightly ill and still feel under the weather but I'm  sure… Continue reading Corona Diary: Possibly Week 3 – but are you counting?