Remembering - a little early

Next Thursday (October 2nd) is National Poetry Day and the theme this year is "Remember". Perhaps I got a bit ahead of myself  on Wednesday evening at the Cheltenham Poetry Cafe, as my guest readings there were based on a series of poems I've written entitled "Bones Of An Older Landscape" - the inspiration for which came from people, events and places recalled from my past. But if you're interested in being part of National Poetry Day, do go to the website - lots of information on events and (brilliant if you're a teacher!) downloadable material you can use for a class.

At Smokey Joes on Wednesday

Back in action

A long gap since the last post - largely as life (and the minutiae accompanying it!) got the better of me for a couple of weeks. But I have just returned, refreshed, from a fantasic week on home territory again, South Wales this time, in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The week was a mixture of coastal path walking, in beautiful sunshine, and pursuing family history - very successfully - "up the Valleys". But I couldn't miss out on the obligatory pilgrimage to Laugharne in this centenary year of Dylan Thomas - to the Boathouse, his writing shed, his usual watering hole, his graveside.... Not my first visit to the town by any means but a fascinating day. On October 29th I shall be reading at a Dylan Thomas tribute evening at the Playhouse here in Cheltenham and it was good to get my shot in the arm in readiness!

         

"Do not go gentle into that good night ..."

       

The Boathouse and the bay

As always, there's no end to catch up on after getting back from time away but the first thing on the agenda is the Poetry Cafe at Smokey Joes in Bennington Street in Cheltenham tomorrow, 5 -7pm, at which I'll be the guest poet. The Cafe takes place once a month and is a pleasant, relaxed setting in which to hear other's poetry and to read your own - if you're free, do come and join us.

Warwick Festival of Writing

Unleashing our writing power with Judi Goodwin!

A big thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make last weekend's Festival of Writing such an enjoyable experience. The facilities at Warwick University are excellent and it made a good, central venue for the National Association of Writers' Groups annual conference. Even the weather perked up and I'm sure a good time was had by all.

Highlights for me were the talk given by Steve Bowkett, the workshops run by the poet Maggie Harris and "Tales from the Wireless" by the wonderful Paul Dodgson - he's been my favourite tutor on three Ty Newydd courses in the past and it was great to see him again. Steve - a hypnotherapist, teacher and writer - entitled his presentation "Boosting Self-Confidence For Writers" and it certainly boosted mine. Maggie's second session, "Love, Sex and Other Serious Stuff in Poetry" attracted a very appreciative audience and some of the poems generated by the workshop were amazing. A thoroughly worthwhile couple of days.

Paul Dodgson

 

Maggie Harris

Steve Bowkett