News Post / August 3rd

A pinch and a punch etc and I am already on the back foot this month… so much to do, so little time, and we are not nearly caffeinated enough yet to start the week properly. However, we can kick off August off in style as an item on the list of ‘Things I’d like to Have Happen as a Poet’ was ticked off at the weekend. I have a written review of my first pamphlet (only a few copies left!) and it is LUSH:

Massive thanks to Victoria for this, and for locking in on the next pamphlet. We have plans for doing a bit more around it, but more on that in due course. I've also arranged a date in early September where myself and my publisher will be meeting up for me to sign some copies of Pamphlet #2. There will also be limited-edition Artwork Postcards, but again, I do not want to get ahead of myself.

Last week I went and saw an exhibition by Emma Bell, who has been painting stuff in the local area for 30 years or so. I literally had skin in this game, with 99 other people: 100 Hands was a massively inspiring thing to take in. I chose my left hand as the 'subject' for Emma to draw, with something of an ulterior motive in mind. You see, there's a pamphlet out for submission right now...

Emma is sensibly going to put all these hands into a book, and ask the people who took part to write about what and who they are. Many are holding things, often as part of a job. A large number have tattoos. There are hands holding other hands. It's a very emotional and at times quite affecting set of frames and massive kudos to Emma for pulling it off with such detail, brilliance and care.

Watch this space for if or when my hand makes it onto Pamphlet #3.

Finally, there is a LOT of backlog to catch up on in the Crafting Department: The mini hangers from the Phonebox Exhibition need to be finished. I have a one-off Chapbook to create (there are ideas for that which should be done this week). That piece of what it turns out is woodpecker-destroyed bark will become a necklace. Stuff needs to happen with carabiners.

I've learnt the value of having 'something that is not poetry' to fall back on. There is also a desperate need of a haircut, a clean in the office and a replenishment of the Emergency Posh Chocolate Supply. All these things will come to pass, at some point, in the next seven days, but for now that massive pile of unanswered emails is not going to sort itself...