We have been informed that we must wear black. The Photo shoot is with photographer Rankin www.rankin.co.uk and it is for the Royal Festival Hall Hoardings. www.rfh.org.uk . The Royal Festival Hall was built at The Festival of Britain and is presently undergoing it’s multimillion makeover. I’ll be writer in residence there for 2007. Read more [...]

I thought moving to London would be a piece of cake, and it was at first. Though I should have seen the signs when I was packing away my gear into a van in Manchester. My friend Jason, stood on the lip of the back of the van got his feet tangled up. Concentrating on untangling his feet stopped him concentrating on putting his hands up as he fell out. He landed head first on the concrete kerb. It is the most frightening thing I have ever seen. The sound is still in my head. A solid deep sound. He lost a tooth and immediately started shaking -he was having an internal fit. And then he went still as if dead: his eyes wide open, his glasses smashed. "Jason, Jason". Read more [...]

The GF and I had an argument this week. I’ve seen two shows this week. On the one hand Mark Thomas at The Soho Theatre on Dean Street in a one man show about his singular campaign against the international arms trade. And a few days later, today, I saw my very first musical Daddy Cool. The Story of Boney M featuring English stars Michelle Collins, Javine and Harvey. Two shows, two opposing sides of the cultural spectrum. Read more [...]

I have just read the entire history of "The Pineapple" , an opportunity that I would not have were I not judging a competition. I have forty books to read over the next three weeks, a minimum of two books a day. Counting days to calculate the workload deadline ratio is the firs sign of panic. You'd be suprised where a pineapple popsup. Ever heard "I have a pineapple". These the first lines of that famous martin luther king speech. No? Read more [...]

And while on the plane to London via Singapore I hear that Australia is in mourning Its hero Steve Irwin was killed by a fatal thrust to the heart of the barbed spike of a stingray. He died as he lived - through the heart. It’s not the same for poets as it is with intrepid explorers. “he died how he lived - making tea”. Doesn’t have the same ring does it? Read more [...]

September is here. First day of spring. Winter has officially left the building. I’m in Melbourne, the once capital ...

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    I am in the middle of the sky. melbourne soccer stadium is the size of my thumb. There is ... Read more [...]

    These festivals, the international ones, have a flavour of their own. The flight took twenty two hours. I am ... Read more [...]

Spain was a blast. We stayed in Oliva about one and half hours from Alicante towards Valencia on the north east coast facing the Mediterranean sea. The sea was boisterous and warm. The GF had a relaxing time and today, the day after our return, the GF boards the Euro tunnel to Paris for a few days off with friends. While she’s there I will be flying off to Melbourne on 27Th. Nuts. Read more [...]

"Hurray Hurray It's a holi-holiday/ What a world of fun/for everyone/Holi Holiday" Boney M. In some ways the comforting words Allahu Akbar may not be so comforting on easyjet. How come saying Allah is Great has become an international threat. I wonder what the reaction would be if on my easyjet flight to Alicante I shouted in the language of the Koran "Allahu Akbar" would people say "yes lad he is, now shut up". Read more [...]