I'm just back from a few days in Spain with my family. I felt bad about flying, even though I haven't flown since I went to Portugal in 2015. I will try not to fly again for at least a year, maybe longer. I haven't signed up for the #flightfree2020 pledge but I am thinking … Continue reading Mid-September Notes
I was about to tweet a happy tweet and post a happy post about my happy year, when our washing machine broke down and our boiler stopped working. It was eerily uncanny, as if the Fairy who stops you feeling too smug had flown into my house and sprinkled some of her glum magic over … Continue reading New Year’s Eve Musings
I think it was Melvyn Bragg who said that he used to write between the hours of 5am and 8am before leaving his house to travel to his job in arts broadcasting. Every day. And there are many others, whose names I cannot remember, who've written about the benefits of writing early in the morning, … Continue reading On not being good at mornings
As Januarys go, this one hasn't been too bad, so far, not taking into consideration world events, of course, although yesterday's amazing marches across the world have filled me with hope. I've had five - FIVE - rejections in the past six weeks, not all poetry or writing related, but, surprisingly, I'm unbowed. Could it be … Continue reading A good January, so far
This week has mostly been about me being ill - not seriously ill, just an annoying cold with horrible flu-type symptoms; feverish, aching limbs, bad headache. Unfortunately I had to cancel our Poetry Society Stanza meeting at Trowbridge Town Hall and I was really sorry about that. I felt that I might be contagious so … Continue reading In which I entertain a charming visitor
After my mammoth blogging extravaganza when I posted every day in November, I've been having a little rest. It's rather delightful! Almost inevitably, I've done more poetry writing which is a good thing, I think (*peruses notebook nervously*). I've also applied for a couple of jobs (and been turned down for one 😦 ) - … Continue reading An update of sorts
On the poetry trail this week, I've been in search of some more participants for my poetry workshops which start on Tuesday, 20th September. Numbers are going to be low (unless there's a last minute rush) but, rather than cancel, Town Hall Arts is supporting my classes and I'm really looking forward to getting to know … Continue reading Life on a (mostly) unfunded Poetry Trail
Our house has been re-arranging itself this week after a summer of pyjama mornings and staying up too late nights. Half of its occupants have set their alarm clocks, buttoned themselves back into school uniforms, shouted goodbye at a quarter to nine and left behind a trail of cereal dishes and the fading beat of … Continue reading Back to school musings
General atmosphere in this house: Sleepy. Heavy-eyelidded. One teenager came back from Reading Festival at gone three this morning, one adult stayed awake to let him back in, the other (me) fell asleep but kept waking up to check if everyone was home. One teenager is worn out from being away for two weeks on … Continue reading Weekend Report
Summer is whizzing by and my head is filling up with to do lists. At this point, they are mild-mannered and patient lists, humming softly to themselves as summer ripens around them, but once they cotton-on to shrinking daylight and cooler winds, once they catch sight of the date on the calendar and the dying … Continue reading Summer is whizzing by
