I'm still in Wakefield: been here this whole week. Last night I ate at this hotel with three women from the conference whom were stayng over night. From the moment we sat to the moment we parted the conversation didn’t stop. Read more [...]

Alone that following morning I had my breakfast, got picked up and whisked away in The Chancellors car to The Cedar Court Hotel in Wakefield where I spent the day and evening writing an article for a future book on performance poetry. It's all rock and roll eh. Twenty four hours alone in an hotel writing an article called Lost In Action can have an effect. Read more [...]

But besides this, besides experiences however volatile and destructive there is light. Read more [...]

After Professor Adele Jones finished her speech or after I had finished mine, I’m not sure when but someone clapped and then someone else until the ceremony filled with applause then one person stood up and one another until the entire graduation ceremony was standing and applauding. Read more [...]

I first met Lemn when he was 17 years old – a young care leaver, living in a tiny flat in Wigan, so bereft of any sense of home, the emptiness was palpable. Read more [...]

At 9.30pm I am in Swiss Cottage with The Journalist at the Odeon attending the UK Jewish Film Festival to see the sold out second showing of “That’s For Me” a film about a wannabe actress Zara Zimmerman and her hilarious family. Read more [...]

I bought myself a suit this afternoon. The research began and ended with friend Graham Parry who advised on Start The journalist and I went. Start is a beautiful place and a reminder of how customer and shop should dance. Read more [...]

I watch The Big Questions on BBC television. They are discussing trans racial adoption. Earlier on in the week they asked me to take part to which I declined. From what I can see I made the right choice. They are still debating but agreeing on the merits of colour blindness in terms of race. But colour blindness is a deficiency of the ability to see colour. Can't anyone see that. Read more [...]

I am based at The Southbank Centre the greatest arts centre in Europe. But it doesn’t matter whether the arts centre is a converted stable in Wigan or The Southbank Centre in London the principle of success remain exactly the same. Read more [...]

If you have CALL OF DUTY - the newest release as of a few days ago - you’ll know the screen is blood splattered once you’ve taken a hit. All landscape is blurred by the blots of your demise. This is what it’s like driving through the rain to Oxford. Read more [...]