The best laid plans ...

I'd been told that the Poetry Open Mic is always popular at Swanwick, always well attended. So we were looking forward to a good audience yesterday evening as Richard, our "techie", set up the recording equipment in the Main Conference Hall, as we took up positions for a rehearsal and ran through our "Seasons" piece. But by ten to ten we were still the only people in the hall, rows and rows of empty seats staring blankly at us. By five to, total panic set in.

The simple answer of course - we'd misread the programme and the hordes were gathered in the Main Lounge, drinks in hand, poems at the ready. We skidded in with two minutes to spare, slid into the back row and composed ourselves just in time for our slot ....

Catchword Writers - aka The Four Seasons

which regrettably could not be recorded for posterity, but was well received anyway and a thoroughly enjoyable experience. A glass or two of wine restored equilibrium and we have learned our lesson for next year!