My trip to Tottenham Lock left me feeling like I wasn’t quite finished in London. I couldn’t help wondering if visiting houseboats was somehow easier than visiting a house? I’d had a 100% success rate, which was unusual. And I’d been warned that there was absolutely no way this project would work in this city. I didn’t want to leave any room for doubt.
Continue reading “London- Part 2- The Neasden Temple”
London. It’s not exactly a place where people are renowned for talking to strangers, is it? A few years ago, I was doing a show about Door-to-Door Poetry at the Edinburgh Fringe. Afterwards, a lady came over to tell me what she thought about it.
“It’s a great idea,” she said. “But it would never work in London.” Continue reading “London- Part 1- Tottenham Lock”
There is one final twist in the tale of my visit to Milner Court: I ended up writing Ibrahim an extra poem. You might remember, in my last post, I mentioned that he asked for one about the physical and mental benefits of sport. The problem was, I’m a lazy poet, and I really don’t do much exercise. Continue reading “Ibrahim’s Second Poem”
Captain’s Log 01/08/19 11:07
I’m back in Milner Court, delivering some poems. I’m sat in a circle in the communal living space with Chappo, Naya, Ibrahim, Vita and a lad in a Family Guy t-shirt called Jake, who I didn’t meet last time. Continue reading “Poems for St Basils”
As I go around the country, knocking on people’s doors and writing poems for them, it felt right to acknowledge the fact that, for many, having a home of your own is a very distant dream. Continue reading “St Basils Emergency Accommodation”
Captain’s Log 02/07/19 12:38
I’m outside Ian’s house and I’m bang on time. The hotel I stayed in last night has a check-out of 10am, so I’ve spent the past few hours having some tea in a nearby apple orchard, which apparently is the thing to do in Grantchester… Continue reading “Grantchester Meadows”
Captain’s Log 14/06/19 12:04
I’m standing outside Jeffrey Archer’s house. The huge metal gates are open. To be honest, I wasn’t really prepared for this. I was prepared for an impenetrable fortress, an intercom. I was expecting to press the button and hear the muffled voice of a maid politely sending me on my way. This changes everything. Continue reading “Grantchester”
Captain’s Log 08/06/19 12:33
I’ve just got off the bus in Moss Side. I’m on my way to deliver the poems for The Specialist, Nigel and Mikela. In true Manchester fashion, it’s absolutely whazzing it down. Continue reading “Moss Side (A Slight Return)”
I was interested in doing Door-to-Door Poetry in Moss Side for a few reasons. An area in Manchester with a large Afro-Caribbean and Somali community, it sounded different to anywhere I’ve been so far. Continue reading “Moss Side”
Captain’s Log 20/04/19 10:48
I’m outside Pauline’s house, about to deliver the first of 4 poems. It’s blistering sunshine- apparently this is going to be the hottest Easter weekend since records began, Continue reading “Back to Boston”
