Issue 330 4th April 2014

RNIB is an interesting

website, well worth a visit.

RBW has in the past supported the local area‟s

“Spoken Newspaper

For the Blind”

(which is sent out to

hundreds of local people with sight

issues) by providing MP3 files of

our comedies and recorded memories, all of which are still free and available on

our main website.

2

Why is it Stafford is deemed not important enough to have a fully functioning Hospital,

but Stafford is good enough to make Stafford Prison a dedicated sex offenders centre?

Is the government trying to tell us something?

If a person doesn‟t believe as we do, we say he is a crank and that settles it. Mark

Twain

We ought never to do wrong when people are looking. Mark Twain

Custom is petrifaction; nothing but dynamite can dislodge it for a century. Mark Twain

When people ask for your opinion on something they have recently purchased it is

unlikely they are asking for the truth ...

What is it with dishwasher tablets? Why are some of them so impossible to dissolve and

so solid that it takes a hammer to break them up before they can be used? And why do

some tablets leave tea stains on cups even on a hot wash? Aren‟t these things supposed

to be fully tested before being released for sale?

Discuss: if one is thinking of signing over one‟s abode to a married offspring to avoid

inheritance tax is it wise to consider what happens if said child divorces before one‟s

demise? ... Could old mum‟s home legally pass into the hands of an aggrieved former in-

law, as part of a settlement, who could then serve them with an eviction notice? ...

Ooops ... Sounds like a great plotline for crime fiction or a soap episode ...

Random words : clinic, scales, pickle, endeavour, wings, after thought, careful, monk, caterpillar, articulated, air, blanche Assignment : Missing Persons

4

'Morning Magpie, how's the family?' That's me at the kitchen window. Politically correct you notice – I can't tell the bird's gender from here, much less its sexual orienta-tion. So no 'Mr' or 'Wife'. There are a couple of them in the big oak tree in the garden over the lane, but I've only ever seen one at a time properly. Hence my salutation. My friend Gillian thinks I'm mad, but I say even though we know on one level that we can't really turn every single thing in this world to our advantage, on another level there doesn't seem to be any harm in trying. At least then when something crashes about out ears we won't feel guilty about not having taken all the precautions we can. As Hamlet opined in the first folio edition, 'There are more things in Heaven and earth Horatio than are dreamt of in our philosophy.' Who can say that such things do not include various forms of gremlins who need to be placated in time honoured ways? Well, some might think the science co-ordinator of a state-run school ought to be able to. That was me, folks, albeit several years ago, and on my way to the lab I would never fail to salute any single magpie winging by. Or to touch wood, cross my fingers, avoid passing anybody on the stairs and, should sodium chloride be involved, surrep-titiously flick a little over my left shoulder. 'Perhaps we might have results more nearly approaching an Asian score, dear heart,' said Gillian, 'if people to whom English chil-dren's science education is entrusted were slightly more rational, logical, and, well, scientific.' She was right, of course, and I hung my head in shame. But on her birthday we all went out for a Chinese meal. 'Hang on, hang on,' I said. 'Isn't that a fortune cookie you're munching?' 'Doesn't mean I believe in them.' 'But the point is they do! All Asians have loads of superstitions, in spite of their maths and science scores. Japanese mustn't cut their nails at night or it brings ghosts; Chinese mustn't cut noodles or it reduces longevity; if you point at the moon with one finger the tips of your ears will fall off – obviously they're all too scared to try that one. The evil eye must be warded off everywhere. Indian mothers put kohl on their babies' faces to make them so imperfect that they're left alone. 'Peasants,' said Gillian lightly. 'The majority of Asians are to-tally businesslike. That's why they have the greatest economic growth rate in the world. They couldn't have achieved that without a rational approach.' 'But Chinese people on a business trip,' I said, 'will physically fight for room 13 because it's considered lucky.' She gave me a long look. Eventually, 'How come you know all this?' she said. 'I made a rational, logical and scientific prediction of your ar-guments. I observed, formed a hypothesis, designed an experiment to test it. Then I looked up Google. Everyone all over the world does it Duckie. We try to control what we can't. We are fragile beings, in spite of our Higgs Boson colliders. Now come on, blow out your can-dles. And don't forget to make a wish.'

Anne Picken

Latest Competitions: The Philip Larkin Society & East Riding Poetry Prize 2014 | Closing Date: 14-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/competitions/?id=1537 New Events: NORWICH: Going on a Journey | 05-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/writingpoetry/?id=9820 LONDON NW3: Afternoon Poems - Love and Death | 05-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=9891 LONDON EC2: Keats in London | 05-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/poetryappreciation/?id=9892 LEICESTER: renaissance one present The Final Stage Live | 05-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10260 LONDON NW3: Keats House Afternoon Poems: Sans Merci - Love and Death | 05-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10276 Enfield EN2: STEVIE SMITH: AN ENIGMA: 'Not Waving but Drowning: Not Drowning but Wav-ing' | 05-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/writingpoetry/?id=10283 ENFIELD TOWN: Enfield Poets Present | 05-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10321 LONDON N1: 'Utter!' mini-Edinburgh Fringe | 06-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10257 LONDON WC2H: Exiled Writers Ink present waves of migration polish poetry in exile | 07-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10274 LONDON EC1R: Kelley Swain 'Opera di Cera' Launch | 08-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10252 RICHMOND: Ariadne's Thread Issue 10 Launch | 08-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10255 LONDON NW3: John Hegley and Friends | 10-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=9893 TOTNES, DEVON: Creative Writing with Alice Oswald | 10-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/writingpoetry/?id=10075 POETRY LIBRARY: Kim Hyesoon | 10-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10104 LONDON SE1: Chaucer: Modern Echoes | 10-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10261 BELFAST: Heaney - Conference & Commemoration | 10-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/poetryappreciation/?id=10307 LONDON N13: Poetry in Palmers Green | 12-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10167 LONDON SW1: In Memory of Amiri Baraka | 12-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10301 LONDON NW3: Writing with Jo Shapcott | 13-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/writingpoetry/?id=9894 LONDON W1D: The Jazz Verse Jukebox is 5! | 13-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10290 NORWICH: Café Writers | 14-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10145 BRADFORD: Beehive Poets | 14-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10294 GUILDFORD: Pop Up Poetry in April | 15-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10189 LONDON WC1: Lumen poetry series: Ruth O'Callaghan presents Cinnamon Poets | 15-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10286 LEICESTER: The Lyric Lounge | 15-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10296 PETERSFIELD: Write Angle Open Mic & Guest | 15-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10291 LONDON SE11: Poetry School Summer Term Launch | 15-Apr-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=10302

Latest News: Adding your own event to the Poetry Library website | 31-Mar-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/news/library/?id=1163 Poetry Library event proposal submissions | 27-Mar-14 http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/news/library/?id=1162

6

A Bit Of Experimenting With Fruit.

One of the TV chefs has been promoting a range of fruit

and vegetable seeds with a difference this last year.

Amongst the collection of oddities was the Cucamelon

which looked quite different to anything I had grown be-

fore, so I bought a packet to give it a try. On the packet was

plenty of information about the plants that was very helpful,

but I thought that I would run my own experiment by grow-

ing a few plants on my exposed, windy allotment and some

in the greenhouse at home to compare their growth and

fruiting.

The greenhouse was not kept particularly warm, but understandably the plants grew

away much quicker in their 6 inch pots compared to those outside which just

seemed to sit there for weeks until it really started to warm up outside. Even then

they did not grow as well and seemed to prefer to scramble along the ground than

climb up the tripod of canes. The plants in the greenhouse grew tall up canes and

flowered prolifically, although it was difficult to tell when the fruits were really ripe

and were not going to be sour to eat. The plants gave a good crop of their small

fruits and seemed to be far more productive than those outside. However, when the

end of the season came and I reluctantly dug up the outdoor plants to try and save

their tuberous roots for next season, I was surprised to find that there was a pile of

mature fruits hidden away, on the ground, inside the cone of stems and leaves. Ob-

viously the flowers had sheltered themselves inside the protection of the cone of

growth out of the persistent wind and had been fruiting away totally out of sight.

The plants had barely climbed 2, or 3 feet outside, whereas inside, had reached the

top of the greenhouse tangling themselves into every nook and cranny. The conclu-

sion has got to be that this tough little plant will adapt its growth to suit the envi-

ronment and should grow and fruit just about anywhere in England if it will grow

in the exposed windy conditions of my allotment.

When I dug up both batches of plants, I found some good roots with little tubers at-

tached to them, not too dissimilar to Dahlia tubers. Perhaps the greenhouse grown

plants had better tubers, but I decided to try and save all of them by over wintering

them in pots of fairly dry compost. According to the instructions this should give

the plants a flying start for next season and produce better plants with more fruits.

Articles concerning the edible qualities of the fruit describe it in various ways, but

put simply it is not really a fruit that is sweet enough to eat without some cooking

due to its thick skin and tendency to be sour if not fully ripe. They are very like

both a miniature melon and cucumber, but are spoilt by their skin and big seeds.

Traditionally they are served in alcoholic drinks which may well soften the fruit

and where there tartness could be welcome in the same way as that of a slice of

Lime, or Lemon is welcome. The other option is cooking them with other fruit for

their sharp flavour and where their skin will soften, but add bulk. The same could

be said of using them in things such as a Stir Fry, or the like.

Another experiment I tried was with seeds from shop bought Pepino fruits. The Melon Pear, as

it is also called, is very much a greenhouse plant and I have sometimes seen mature plants on

sale in garden centres. Packets of seeds are also occasionally available however, but I decided

to try using washed seeds from commercial fruit. The seeds germinated and grew well and there

were one or two small purple flowers on the plants at the end of the season, but they did not set.

The plants do seem to tolerate some cold, but seem susceptible to mildew and whitefly in par-

ticular. Now some 2 feet high, I have taken them into the house for added warmth over the Win-

ter. The hope is that in the new season they can go back out into the greenhouse to bulk up their

growth and hopefully fruit next summer.

As regular readers know I love growing unusual fruit whether they grow on trees, bushes or

tender greenhouse plants, so I was delighted to be told about a website that specializes in fruit

that can be grown outside in this country. http://www.agroforestry.co.uk/

It is amazing what fruiting trees they both grow and sell including edible fruiting versions of

things like Hawthorns and popular garden plants like Gaultherias.

They sell trees that produce nuts that I have never heard of such as the

Bladdernut and Apios Americana, which is the proper name for the

true Ground Nut. (Not the well known Pea Nut that is different alto-

gether) They seem to sell every imaginable fruit tree and many varie-

ties of each of them as well as many trees that you have never

dreamed of before. They also sell many herbs and other useful plants.

Besides the retail nursery side to the company they carry out research

on many plants and their habitat as well as their viability in the UK as

a farmed crop. Furthermore they do lecturing to spread their knowl-

edge to farmers and other growers who want to diversify. It is defi-

nitely a company who I shall buy a few fruit trees and bushes from oc-

casionally!

(Please note these blogs taken from Alan‟s websites are not in seasonal order)

-o0o-

Ancient High House Saturday 5 April 10am – 4pm

Wildfire through Staffordshire: Book launch, exhibition, display & illustrated talks programme An exhibition of authentic period maps, illustrated talks, poetry recitals and a display of railway memorabilia are part of a day of celebration to introduce a book about an historic rail journey through the county. ‘Wildfire through Staffordshire’ is the latest in Armchair Time Travellers Railway Atlas from publishers Mapseeker. The authors will be on hand to sign your individual copy on the day. Highlight of the day will be a working model railway dis-play; ‘Blue is the Colour’. This award winning layout is based on a 1975 diesel engine and complete to the finest detail.

30 minute talks about the history of this rail journey by Paul Line are at 11.30am, 1pm and 3pm. Poetry recitals by Walsall’s Poet Laureate, Ian Henery will take place throughout the day. Children’s railway related workshop £2.00

No booking necessary Free admission

The Ancient High House, Greengate Street, Stafford, ST16 2JA. Tel. (01785) 619131

Ian Henery

Thoughts on that moveable feast ... How annoying is Easter? Why does Easter move around so much? Why can’t it be a fixed date like Christmas? asks SMS

Easter is the very beating heart of the Christian calendar, with celebrations taking place around the world, but for non-believers who don‟t bend the knee to mythical gods who have to put up with the disruption of their day-to-day activities due to school term changes and alike, floating Easter Bank Hols can be a real pain in the neck. And marketing ... why so much marketing? Is that part of the religious hype or does it merely jump on the general religious bandwagon as shop keepers for generations have done over Christmas? Easter eggs and bunnies have become a

symbol of Easter and it wouldn't be Easter without binging on chocolate, with supermarket shelves brimming with high calorie

„chocci eggy delights‟ from January onwards. But getting back to the fundamental question why does it move about so much? Easter Sunday falls on different dates annually and

it's set to be late for 2014 ... what a confounded irritation ...

So when is Easter 2014? Easter Sunday falls on April 20th. The long bank holiday weekend

begins on Good Friday, April 18th and Easter Monday is on April 21st marking the final day in the bank holiday‟s festive binge opportunities. Apparently, reliable sources say in Western Christianity, Easter always falls between 22 March and 25 April. But come on ...

Why does Easter change every year? Most religious festivals are on fixed days, but in their infinite wisdom someone donkey‟s years ago decided Easter would be a movable

feast and celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon on 21 March ... Ah ha ... now we are getting to it ... because Easter is based on the lunar calendar. What a daft thing to

have done, surely I‟m not alone in thinking so. So who were the great and the good who made this daft decision?

Apparently, so I am informed, the First Council of Nicea was a council of bishops convened by the Roman Emperor Con-

stantine in AD 325. This bunch of good-old-boys wrapped up in togas made some big decisions on issues effecting their

„newish‟ religious sect. (Jesus was considered to be an ordi-nary bloke at this time he didn‟t become upgraded to deity status for another 126 years at another good-old-boys chin-

wag the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon. Correct me if I‟m wrong: I‟m not a theologian merely an amused free thinker

with a liking for chocolate eggs). Based on the paschal full moon (PFM), it was decided by the said be-frocked bishops that Easter Day should fall on the next full moon after the spring equinox. (What is it with clergy and dressing up?) AND Easter must fall on a Sun-

day as this was believed by them to be the day on which something or other miraculous happened. Miracles: always a good crowd pleaser! And plastic beads, relics and crying statues

are really nice little earners ... Sorry, I digress ... Again, apparently, according to sources the PFM (whatever that is) was chosen be-

cause in the Jewish calendar the Last Supper, apparently, occurred during the Passover. Therefore, the reasoning follows (which is more than I am doing), Easter is the Sunday after Passover. However, as the PFM falls on different days in different places, they de-

cided that full moon be set as the 14th day of the lunar month. AND even though the spring equinox can occur on March 20th the spring equinox is set in stone as being on

March 21th. I hope you are keeping up as there might be questions later ...

AUTHORS OUTCRY IN CONDEMNATION AS PRISONERS CANNOT HAVE BOOKS SENT TO THEM UNDER GOVT’s HARSH NEW RULES (“Despicable” says Howard League of Penal Reform)

http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2014/03/24/grayling-faces-writers-backlash-over-ban-on-books-for-prison

Prison book ban: Grayling hits back at critics

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/authors-blast-chris-graylings-vindictive-act-of-banning-

prisoners-from-receiving-books-9212921.html

Authors blast Chris Grayling's 'vindictive act' of banning prisoners from receiving books : “Barbaric” said Philip Pullman

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26726864

Justice Minister Chris Grayling tries to defend prisoner book rules

Writing for the politics.co.uk website, Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, described the "book banning" policy as the "most despicable and nastiest element of the new rules". She said the policy was part of an "increasingly irrational punishment regime orchestrated by Chris Grayling".

"The ban on receiving books is a blanket decision, so no matter how compliant and

well behaved you are, no prisoner will be allowed to receive books from the outside," she wrote. Authors have also criticised the policy, while an online petition has been set up, receiving more than 12,500 signatures. (Last week‟s figure.) Philip Pullman, (His Dark Materials trilogy), told the Guardian it was "one of the most disgusting, mean, vindictive acts of a barbaric government". Mark Haddon, (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), tweeted: "You can no longer send books to people in prison. Chris Grayling's new policy. Appalling." Ian Rankin (Rebus series): “From visits to prisons and talking to prisoners I know how important books can be in promoting literacy and connecting prisoners to society.”

PETITION : http://www.change.org/petitions/rt-hon-chris-grayling-mp-please-urgently-review-and-amend-your-new-

rules-which-restrict-prisoners-access-to-books-and-family-items-in-particular-from-children-rules-which-are-inconsistently

-applied-in-any-event?

12

Year 1589 : The Cast : The Queen‟s Men : a group of strolling players thrown out of London where the theatres have been closed due to an outbreak of plague. Elizabeth I was on the throne. Kit Marlowe (wordsmith/detective), Harry Swann (the murderer of the-first victim who first found the chal-ice) Samuel Burball (Owner), Peter Pecksniff, Daniel Alleynes, young Hal who plays a girl‟s role very badly. Vesta Swann, Rosie Ripp-sheet. The Boar‟s Head Tavern, Trentby: Bertha landlady, Molly Golightly, Martha Goodnight wenches. Ned the bear keeper. The Trentby Abbey of St Jude : Abbot Ranulf knows something about the missing Roman hoard of silver plate/chalice etc The Manor of Bluddschott : sodden Squire Darnley Bluddschott, wife Mis-tress Anne, daughter Penelope about to be sold off into matrimony, Mis-tress Hood seamstress, sister to Penny, Mistress Tatanya

The Sheriff‟s Castle : Magistrate Squire Humphrey Pettigrew, Black Knight, the Sheriff Burrowmere Lord Haywood, man-at-arms Richard of Hyde Leigh, a constable Daniel Smithers and a scribe Modern Day: Rick Fallon and Tommy Tip-Tip McGee** Private eyes in Trentby on case for Sir Kipling Aloysius Bluddschott (Sister Christabel) to locate silver chalice and Roman hoard of Trentby Abbey + corpse Jago Swann DI Pete Ferret and Lavender Pomeroy and Rose Rippsheet PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that those writ-ing for the storyline read what other writers have already written before they add a new piece. AND the year has been changed and Moll Rippsheet has become Rosie.

„What‟re you doing here?‟ said an angry voice as Fallon approached the desk on which the historical ancestry of the Bluddschott dynasty was encased in the biggest tome Fallon had ever seen outside a museum. Fallon tensed. He knew that voice.

„Minding my own business, Ferret. I‟m here to see a client,‟ he replied. Inspector Fer-ret shuffled into the library to be stared at by her Ladyship and frowned at by Lord

Kipling who was attempting to descend from the Gods by way of a rickety library ladder whose maker some two hundred years previous didn‟t have a personage as portly as Kipling in mind for clambering up it when it was made with love and care.

„Are you ever going to introduce yourself?‟ asked Lady Christabel who looked even more tiny now she was being swallowed by the fireside chair. „What is your business here?‟

Ever the one for upstaging, Ferret whipped out his warrant card and proclaimed: „Inspector Ferret, Trentby Constabulary. I‟m investigating the death of one Jago Swann.‟

Christabel blinked twice. It was a small flicker of recognition but Fallon spotted it. „Never heard of him!‟ snapped Lord Kipling who had now regained terra firma. „I think we might have, dear brother,‟ said her Ladyship with a vague smile. „Ehh, what, what do you say, me dear?‟

Smithers, who was very annoyed that Ferret had wandered in without being an-nounced, which probably meant her Ladyship had left the front door open yet again, cut in, „He was the young person who came last week, Sir. The one with the proposal.‟

„What proposal?‟ asked Fallon who couldn‟t help himself. „I‟ll ask the questions Fallon, you‟re not one of us now you know?‟ replied Ferret with a

sniff. „What proposal?‟ he repeated. „Some damn silly scheme,‟ replied Lord Kipling wiping a layer of book related dust

from off his waistcoat with a florid silk handkerchief which had seen better days. „Wanted to explore the cellarage for secret tunnels. As if?‟

„Secret tunnels?‟ said Ferret. „Did he say what he was looking for?‟ „Same as they‟ve always been looking for...‟ sighed Lady Christabel. „You‟re not from

round here, are you? Surely everybody born in Trentby knows the Bluddschott legend.‟

Fallon jumped in always happy to score points over Ferret. „The Roman hoard.‟ Christabel peered at him with the trace of a smile. „I thought you weren‟t as dim as

most men. The Bluddschott hoard. It‟s supposed to surface every five hundred years or so only to be lost again.‟

Smithers coughed, as if in warning not to be indiscreet. „Don‟t be such an old misery Smithers. It‟s overdue. It was lost by the retreating Ro-

mans, and found by Trentby Abbey monks in the year 975 and then found again in 1589 by Kit Marlowe.‟

„Marlowe, who the devil‟s he?‟ interjected Lord Bluddschott „The playwright who wrote Faust, you numbskull, the one who got himself killed by

government spies.‟ The old woman shook her head in despair at her brother‟s lack of knowledge of family history. „The hoard then disappears once again off the face of the

earth. So it‟s overdue to turn up.‟ „You‟re telling me Jago Swann was on a treasure hunt?‟ said Ferret looking at Fallon

for confirmation, thus proving old habits die hard. „And you are telling us, he is now dead?‟ answered her ladyship. Ferret nodded. „I

wonder if he‟d found something down there?‟ she said with a grin spreading across wal-nut lined cheeks that lit up the fire in those twinkling grey eyes.

12

A Night at the Opera: Part Three

The show wound on to its heartrending conclusion and

Shirley couldn‟t believe herself, suddenly in floods of tears at the tragic end. Gerald dabbed his eyes too before handing her his pristine handkerchief. Even Rodolfo, at curtain call, was crying and half the roaring audience at The Met, were still mopping up even as they cheered and stamped for the cast.

„Oh dear.‟ she said, rather ashamed, still blotting tears. „I do feel silly but it is so sad!‟

He smiled at her, his eyes own still glistening suspiciously brightly and said reassuringly, „Please don‟t feel bad. It‟s such a sad ending, it always affects me too. Oh dear, the poor tenor! He was destroyed, wasn‟t he?‟

„Oh yes, but that was moving too.‟ „It certainly was. Would you like to go for a drink?‟ She felt quite tempted but caution prevailed and she declined. „I think I

better get home thank you, busy day tomorrow.‟ He escorted her to her car, shook her hand and said he would contact her

nearer the weekend so that they could arrange about the Ballet. Lying in bed, a feeling of satisfaction percolated through her. Her first

foray into dating again and against all her expectations, it had gone well. He was nice, very nice, not anything special to look at of course, not that that really mattered. In fact, he really wasn‟t unattractive, with those rather lovely grey eyes and that nice smile. In truth, he was much better than she imagined he would be, and he was a gentleman, and that mattered! Well, it certainly mattered to her.

She had to admit it to herself, she was in a bit of a tizzy, kept thinking

about him, which was stupid because she didn‟t really know him at all yet and hadn‟t she promised herself that she would keep her feet on the ground, though, when she thought of all the years of angst she had frittered over the errant, traitorous Peter. A waste of space if ever there was one, why shouldn‟t she throw her bonnet over the mill and have a fling! It would-n‟t be before time!

It must have been past eleven but she was still wide awake when the phone went. Who on earth could that be, but she knew who it was, before she heard his voice.

„I do hope I haven‟t woken you.‟ he said, ‟But I just had to phone you.‟ Her heart was beating as she answered „No, not at all. It‟s nice of you to

phone.‟

„I just wanted to tell you that I had such a good night with you at the Opera. Thank you.‟

„Thank you too.‟ „Look, I know it‟s too early to say this, but I‟m so glad we met.‟ She could hardly breathe as she said. „Yes, I am too.‟ „I feel I‟m being too foolish and too forward, but I don‟t think I can wait to

see you till next Saturday. Could we meet for a meal on Thursday? I do hope you don‟t mind.‟

„No that would be lovely.‟ „Shall I call you tomorrow evening to make arrangements? Okay, I‟m going to be

honest, I just want a good excuse to talk to you again!‟ They both laughed. „Sleep well Shirley. I‟ll never forget our night at the Opera,‟ and

as she put down the phone she thought to herself, neither will I.

-o0o-

The Birmingham Poetry Prize 2014 For unpublished poems up to 40 lines or fewer on any subject, theme or form.

Prizes: £750 + 5 runner up prizes of pamphlet collection. Entry fee: £2 per poem. £1 for each subsequent poem.

Judges: Roy McFarlane & Charlie Jordan Closing date: 31 May 2014

For further information please visit http://www.nestmagpie.co.uk The Birmingham Poetry Prize 2014 is organised by The Magpie's Nest, a literary magazine which

provides a platform for emerging and established poets and writers. The magazine welcomes submissions of original poetry and short fiction.

The Quiet Compere, MAC, Birmingham

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Gary Longden

Those involved in performing poetry, and attending such events, invariably demonstrate qualities which make them a joy

to be involved with. The Quiet Compere roadshow exemplified this, poet and troubadour Sarah L Dixon has a mission to

take poetry around the north ( Birmingham just crept in geographically) inviting a diverse roster of talent to play their

words, and an audience to appreciate them. And so an eclectic mix of performers gathered in front of an audience rich in

bonhomie, attentiveness and goodwill. The hall itself was nothing short of perfect, a mini amphitheatre with steep tiered

seating, a projected backdrop, and excellent amplification and acoustics.

Laura Yates

Laura Yates past has involved supporting the poetry of oth-

ers, now she is evolving into a fine performer herself having

assimilated what works and what doesn’t from others. She

recited just two pieces, the second, a tour de force about

Birmingham which left us wanting so much more.

Sarah James

Sarah James is an accomplished published poet whose hall-

mark is economic language, beautifully crafted, skills appar-

ent in her pieces about the weather and cafes.

Sarah L Dixon

Sarah L Dixon lived up to her soubriquet, performing a hand-

ful of poems herself, one about frozen peas, and introducing

the poets by name only, allowing the poets to reveal them-

selves in performance.

Rith Stacey

Ruth Stacey’s poems were layered, begging to be read again,

the raw eroticism of her bear poem hidden by a fairytale like

veneer.

http://garylongden.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/the-quiet-compere-

mac-birmingham/

Poetry Performance Review

Oh, and I did a slot too.

The entire evening was an unqualified success whose diversity of performer and perform-

ance was pretty much perfect, there was something for everyone, and an event certainly

worth repeating.

Gary Longden ...

Bobby Parker

Closing the first half was Bobby Parker, a poet rightly mak-

ing waves on the circuit. His journeys into the dark side are

in the traditions of Hunter S Thompson and Lou Reed with

“Heroin Lullaby” his defining piece.

Charlie Jordan

Opening the second half was Smooth FM Drive Time DJ

Charlie Jordan, whose effortless poise is honed from years of

effort and whose relationship poetry tugs at the heart.

Ian Bowkett

Ian Bowkett is a young man with astounding talent, deliver-

ing witty, funny, sophisticated verse at jackhammer speed,

sometimes whilst he completes a Rubic cube simultane-

ously!

Jenny Hope

Jenny Hope oozes bohemian allure and razor sharp lines, her

Jalfrezi was tangy, her Merchant House a beautiful edifice.

Ddotti Bluebell performs from the heart, her authentic tales

of Afro-Caribbean life wry, touching and joyful.

Ddotti Bluebell

Ddotti Bluebell performs from the heart, her authentic tales

of Afro-Caribbean life wry, touching and joyful.

Matt Man Windle

Boxer and poet Matt Man Windle closed the evening look-

ing as physically lean as I have ever seen him, as was his

poetry, sinewy, angular and effective, a knock-out.

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