8.30 am and I’m speeding through London in a car sent by the BBC for a show called Saturday live on BBC radio Four at Portland Place . It’s my job to write three poems for the programme on the issues of the programme Read more [...]

If only we got to realise in that it is us that are the presents, in all our wrapping. Read more [...]

His name is Jo and her name is daisy. He for no particular reason runs in circles and she gurgles and releases dark matter into her nappy while at the same time burping. Nice. Read more [...]

From a meeting in a local church to this – 900 people in Alexandra Palace. And on the same day December 11th there is national news coverage in The Sun newspaper. “PARENTS blasted a council yesterday for holding an awards ceremony for black kid who pass exams — while successful white classmates are IGNORED.” Read more [...]

On the rink I do many impressions of a man waving windmillish with both arms, meanwhile my legs are doing an impression of some drunkard trying to dance to hip hop. I get knocked down - but I get upa gain. Yay! Read more [...]

John Llewellyn Rhys died in the second world war so it is with some honour that the prize winner is also a book about war. Though the latter is not the reason Beasts of No Nation was chosen. Veteran survivors of the second world war are disappearing. This year this winner of this prize gives testament to the phrase "we shall not forget". Read more [...]

Went to Coronet Cinema in Notting Hill Gate to watch a series of films for which I did the voice over. The films are early BBC recordings of the first pioneering Caribbeans to come to england in 50's. Absoltuely facinating. It shall be touring the country next year. Read more [...]

The first thing I said to The Book Trust who administrate the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for fiction which they wanted me to judge, was No. I found some excuse about being on tour. But the truth is this: in my head it rang out “you didn’t go to university you friggin fraud”. Read more [...]

Ever heard this one? Question: What’s the difference between a poet and a pizza? Answer: You can feed a family of four on a pizza. Not true for the winner of The Arvon Poetry Prize this evening. Unless the pizza costs £5,000. Read more [...]

I get between three and five hours of sleep at night. This is not because I am an alien but because I have sleep apnea. Last week the hospital wired me up for a night to check heart rate breathing patterns pulse throat. I looked like someone out of a science fiction novel. Ming the mongy man. Read more [...]