Another quick blog post with some updates about the Poetry Carousel residential course I’m running from the 7th-10th December 2018 with co-tutors Sean O’Brien, Andrew McMillan and Fiona Sampson. I’m very happy to announce that we have the fantastic…
Poem and a Pint Competition
Just a quick message to pass on news of a new Poetry Competition! I am on the committee of ‘A Poem and a Pint’ and we run bi-monthly poetry events, hosting guest poets, musicians and open mic slots. To raise…
June News and a poem by Martin Kratz
I’m writing today’s blog post from my back garden in blazing sunshine. I keep thinking longingly of my hammock but I don’t think I’ll be getting it out of the shed. The problem with a hammock is that it’s impossible…
Bursaries Available for Kendal Poetry Festival
I think in a former life I must have been some kind of creature that was active at night. Maybe an owl or something, as I seem to become much more energised at night. I’m writing this post at midnight,…
When you expose a problem you pose a problem
The title of this blog comes from the book Living a Feminist Life by Sara Ahmed. I made the mistake this week of posting in a public group about my disappointment that the local paper, the Evening Mail, failed in…
April/May news and the Occasional Poem
I can’t believe it’s been so many weeks since I last blogged! Arrgh…where does the time go etc etc? I’m currently sat on a train but unusually for me it is not the train from Barrow to Manchester across the…
News from March and April
At Penzance Poetry Parlour with Katrina Naomi and Helen Mort I’m writing this from the back seat of the poet John Foggin’s car. Another poet John Fennelly is in the front seat. I’m telling you these spurious details because John…
Sunday Poem – Jean Stevens
The end of the week comes round again, and I’m never quite sure why it always feels like a surprise. I’ve had quite a busy week – endless admin first of all, just the general, run-of-the-mill admin that you get…
Sunday Poem – Peter Raynard
I’m writing this post today feeling more weary than usual. I’ve had a fantastic week away as the course tutor at The Garsdale Retreat but I am completely exhausted now! The Garsdale Retreat is a new creative writing centre, set up…
Sunday Poem – Hilda Sheehan
This week has been a strange and rather full-on week. Regular readers of this blog will remember that I was slightly panicking last week about my Progression Viva which was on Monday. The journey there was tiresome, annoying and cold. My…