Such stuff as dreams are made on
I went to a funeral on Friday. Not the most promising start to a blog perhaps, but bear with me, it was uplifting. Sad, yes. A too early death of a very special person. Steph was talented, engaged, engaging. I could go on. But, and here’s the uplifting bit, it was her positive qualities that […]
Words and pictures
A special treat on a wet autumn day – a trip to Leith Hill Place on the North Downs to see their latest exhibition, an open call exhibition for artists on an autumnal theme. The exhibition features a range of media, including stained glass, ceramics and textiles. It also features work by members of Mole […]
Talking, reading and broadcasting
Another week of introducing Blessed Assurance to a waiting world. My second Dorking launch attracted 60 people who made an appreciative audience, and a participative one when the Q&A session started. This was followed by a smaller group in the bar of the Phoenix Arts Club in London. Smaller but no less engaged, and a […]
A whole new world
Joining the ranks of independent authors I’ve spent the week immersed in on line chats, closed Facebook groups, websites of marketing companies and you tube videos on the intricacies of being a publisher. All fascinating stuff, some of it a little confusing and a few acronyms thrown in for good measure. I’ve been helped in […]
Preparing for power. And for publication.
Where it all started Baildon Moor. Not strictly speaking where it all started of course. I was born in a nursing home on the edge of Saltaire, but Baildon Moor formed the backdrop to my early years and remains significant. It is also the backdrop to the early years of two of the characters in […]
Venues, grand and otherwise
From the pub to the convent Over the last few weeks I’ve been involved in a number of performances in a bewildering range of venues. Poetry readings in pubs, my latest play in a National Trust property, choral Dvorak in a 14th century convent (pictured) and jazz under the watchful eye of Yehudi Menuhin. That’s […]
Chalk, Chalk Gardens, and Elizabeth Taylor
Old friends and new Sometimes everything feels connected. I have been working recently on poetry walks, an anthology launch, and writing some poems myself – all on the subject of Surrey Unearthed. This is a Mole Valley Poets project aligned to a much larger arts project being run by Surrey Hills Arts and involving a […]
Arts Alive
The brochures are here I’ve just picked up a supply of brochures for the annual Mole Valley arts festival – Arts Alive. The arrival of the brochures is a turning point in the summer for me. It reminds me that autumn is coming, it gives me key dates for the autumn diary, and it is an […]
Learning and networking
It’s not just about writing It seems obvious now but one of the things I wasn’t expecting when I took to writing as my main focus was the need to learn about social media. When I started I was an innocent in this area, my only touch point being a little used Linked In account. […]
Blank screens and random images
Inspiration? I’m not sure whether it’s a good idea to write this. The idea of a weekly blog giving you the discipline to write something when there’s nothing obvious to write. I don’t mean it’s a bad idea in itself, just that there’s only one time I can get away with doing it. Maybe. Maybe not. […]