Sorry that there hasn't been much going on in here for a while, but I've been under the weather. The weather as in cold - it plays havoc with my shoulders, and a long standing stiffness that I have (no sniggering at the back there). Basically the colder it gets, the stiffer I get and it got to the stage that I couldn't move out of my bed for a couple of days.
But on the bright side, I got to read at the new Brat Bride Dundalk festival last Sunday, which featured, weirdly, another Bee Smyth, and the Poetry Chicks. I'm already a big fan of these girls (and Conor the pianist), as I've seen them and met them at Flatlake and Electric Picnic last year, where I read too (part of the ever-changing Poetry Divas, don't ya know). They moved the audience with their rousing aural-work and got genuine gasps and wows - what more could you ask for.
Now, in an aside, I've heard tell that Flatlake is moving its dates to June - anyone know anything about this?
In other news, it's competition time again - Strokestown has passed, but there's still time to enter Wigtown in Scotland, they don't close until Friday 12th, and there's word from Cavan, about the Cavan Crystal Poetry Competition which opens its doors to Adults this year. €10 for three poems and it closes March 31st. Bridport is of course open once again, plenty of time to think about your entries of either short stories or poems - but I'd given up on them because it is such a big/high-class field. Still, time to think outside the box, eh?
What else do you be doing when spring is a-coming in, but clear the decks of that stuff you've been a-writing ;)
11 comments:
I'm gutted they asked the Chics to read and not the Divas. Sort the organisers out please!
Why would any grown woman want to ba called a "chick" - I ask you?
Poetry piglets...poetry calves...poetry kittens....poetry goslings...poetry...I'm running out of farm yard baby animals...but I'd rather be a poetry lamb or kid than a chick...no disrespect to them - I'm sure they are just grand and fluffy and cute with their wee egg teeth!
Spring? I'm not that optimistic yet.
I have been clearing the decks, though. I've been up in the attic filling binliners with half finished poems and pieces of music I've hoarded in cardboard boxes. (I did salvage one half-decent one).
Next stop, the tip!
Poor B, get well soon. We missed you on Saturday.
I sincerely hope Flat Lake does not move to June. June is already too cluttered with festivals. (Listowel, the Dublin, Bloomsday etc etc). Plus I am away over 2 week-ends and will probably miss it, boo hoo.
Spring? Meh! I've had varying degrees of a frozen left shoulder for two weeks.Methinks a body transplant is required.Oh, and a new head too.
minimum temp 22 degrees, tops in the low thirties. Swap you any day of the week.
be well.
It was all very last minute, EW - there's always next year, now that I know them personally ;)
Rachel, they're certainly not fluffy - political, feminist, in your face. Anything but fluffy! Chick as in seventies chicks, gals, geddit...?
Dominic, nothing like a good clear out. Sounds like you're getting the attic ready for something...
NN, missed you guys on Saturday too. Missing the urge of a good deadline - hope to be back to form soon, if the acupuncture works *fingers crossed*
TFE - somehow, it seems cooler to have the same thing you have ;)
Liam - oh I'd swap in a flash. I was looking wistfully at a week in the sun in Morrocco, the other day... but for the six kids i'd be gone in a flash!
I've been a little quiet too on the writing front. Working full weeks again does me in. But that should lighten in about a fortnight or so ... I feel exhausted today. An early night for me i think.
Don't talk about early nights, Kay, I'm in bed at 8.30 - 9pm most nights - on top of having to nap too. Feel a bit like a baby does - except I'm not growing while I sleep... at least I hope I'm not :)
Feel better Barbara - it's been a long tough winter. I've been reading Vincent Van Gough's letters, my secret desire is to own the set, but at £200 I somehow doubt it, and he called the winter of 1888 "preternatural" - this one has felt like that to me.
On competitions, I'd need someone to to the needful for me - I get paralysed by any sort of choice these days. I hope you repeat your success of last year.
I know what you mean, A, I think we are often the worst judges of our own work! That VvG collection sounds really wonderful. I'd love to get my hands on it too - thanks for the lovely wishes :)
Post a Comment