11 June 2007

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As it turned out, there was also a piece on the EDP Books page last week about my poetry prize, but I hadn’t spotted it until someone pointed it out. A bit overkill all in all, but I can hardly complain – though this one featured yet another photo of me I’d never seen before.

The image above was created by Tonia Jillings, one of our InPrint group, from a poem I’d done in response to a bigger work of hers. Think it looks rather fine, really.

We’ve just had a meeting of InPrint concerned mostly with preparations for Welborne, but also talking about the future – and it went much better than I thought it might. Perhaps that’s because I was acting as secretary and therefore didn’t know what was going on… The weather forecast for Welborne at the moment is disastrous – heavy rain – but as the BBC have never yet got a five-day forecast right, I’m pretty optimistic.

One or two other things. I may have done my last bit of NVQ assessing. We had a meeting on Friday at which it turned out – unsurprisingly – that Archant were thinking of switching to the NCTJ under a new system. All a bit vague, but at present no candidates to be assessed. End of an era?

The day before I went to a reading by Caroline Wood – one of the founder-members of InPrint – from her first novel, Noah Quince. The reading was in the Millennium Library, and was quite packed. Another InPrint founder-member, Marilyn Jeffries, was there and so was Peter Bright, former EN sub-editor who is a good guy. Had quite a long chat, went home and ordered the book on Amazon, together with poetry by Rita Anne Higgins, the judge in the Fish poetry competition. By sheer chance I have her reading one of her poems on a poetry CD I was given, and I’m delighted to say I really like it. Very Irish and witty.

At the weekend Dot and I dropped in on my nephew and his wife and showed them some of our pictures of Florida – seems like a lifetime ago. Very pleasant evening which included tea and cake.

Today Dot has been to Watton on a PSCL schools visit, and she should be back shortly.

6 June 2007

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Just back from a four-and-a-half-mile walk. The weather has turned cooler again, and grey overhead. Threats to rain have not materialised so far. Over the weekend it was sunny and warm, and we spent Friday and Saturday indulging ourselves with the grandchildren at their home and at Woodside Farm, a favourite spot, where Oliver steeled himself to feed the animals and succeeded! Amy dragged me into the play barn to go with her into the “scary bit”. As far as I was concerned they were all scary bits, because it was built for someone about a quarter of my size. But she needed me to, actually, so that was all right. Oliver is way beyond needing anyone to accompany him, and is on the verge of riding his bicycle without stabilisers: in fact he did a pedal or too while we were there. He also understands the difference between “need” and “want”, which is pretty amazing.

On the Saturday the Coomes came to visit, hence the picture of Phil and David. Their children are growing up fast, and Phil has reached an age we can’t mention.

Went into Bally on the Sunday afternoon (following church lunch) and stayed when Rupert had finished cleaning up from his paper-making workshop the previous day. Few visitors, and the Open Studios were not a success as far as numbers were concerned. But we produced some good work. On Sunday we meet to discuss where we go from here (after Welborne, that is).

Dot is busy working on her Oakington report, following a game of pitch-and-putt yesterday and a long session with Barbara on philosophy on Monday. I’ve had messages from various people following my unexpected appearance as poetry award-winner in the EDP Art, Antiques and Collectibles supplement. Amazing how many people read it from cover to cover.

31 May 2007

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These are my grandchildren, Oliver and Amy, taking part – albeit unwittingly – in an InPrint art installation at the Open Studios. The installation is called Shaded, by Rupert Mallin and Tonia Jillings: more can be seen on it at www.inprintartsandpoetry.co.uk. The children were just having a rest while we all chatted at the private view on the 20th.

I’m just back from a St Augustine’s LMT meeting at Horsford. LMT members: at least 10. Number present: 3. Clearly a priorities problem, except for Dot, who is in Caddington looking after the above grandchildren. I shall be going tomorrow. Today I cleared up a few outstanding things. After months of dithering I went to see about an improved gravestone for my parents’ grave, and I followed that by going to see a former colleague who is in Aylsham Hospital – hopefully recovering from cancer. Bit odd being in the place where my mother and father-in-law died. Good visit, though. J was very upbeat and looking quite well, though in a wheelchair. Her sister was also there.

Lovely day today for a change: some sun and warmth. Yesterday popped down to Bally again in between writing Monday’s page. Lone vigil by Annette. Piece appeared on my poetry prize in today’s EDP Art, Antiques and Collectibles supplement. Not sure which category I fall under.

29 May 2007

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Just my kind of path. An especially lovely section of a walk just outside Halesworth in Suffolk: almost like a way into another dimension. Taken on a beautifully warm day in April. Now, as we approach June, we have had rain almost non-stop since Sunday morning, and a particularly cold kind of rain too. Waiting in the Bally Art Factory for visitors to show up has become a bleak affair. On Bank Holiday Monday, when we might have expected a few small crowds, there were 20 all day: considering there were four InPrint members there, this was an unhealthy percentage. Not to be put off, we did a poetry reading, recorded by Rupert’s camcorder and played back on a laptop afterwards.

Saturday, when Lisa and Annette did a poetry print workshop, was bit more healthy, and so was Sunday. On the Saturday, when I was patrolling outside the workshop, I managed to sell four cards with my poetry on and a couple of books, which was a bit embarrassing as it looked as I had been pushing my own stuff. I am psychologically incapable of doing this, but still… It’s very nice to hear strangers say they like your poetry, though.

R is stepping down from being secretary of InPrint because of pressure of work, so I am taking over temporarily until it’s discussed at the June 10 meeting. I foresee a rather intense discussion as I know that different people have different ambitions concerning the group.

Dot has been working hard on school reports and has just about finished two of the three. This afternoon we took a break and went to look at a house in Thorpe End. Lots of pluses: intriguing nooks and crannies and unexpected rooms; large garden; excellent kitchen; good location. But I was put off by the proximity to a busy road and the evidence of eastern religion: grotesque statues and artefacts. Then there was the enormous dog… I guess if someone came round and gave us £400,000 for this house tomorrow, I would put in an offer, but this is unlikely.

25 May 2007

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Well, I managed to draw with DH on Monday, though I probably should have won: wasn’t confident I could pull it off with not much time remaining.

Today the weather did an amazing thing. I went into Bally at 2pm, wondering whether I should really be wearing a jumper on top of my short-sleeved shirt. Two hours later I emerged to be very glad of it – the temperature must have plunged about ten degrees while I was in there, and there was a very chilly wind. However, we did have one visitor to the exhibition – a guy who seemed very interested and said he’d be back over the weekend.

Earlier the gas meter reader called and told me I had a flat tyre. It turned out he meant my car. It wasn’t totally flat, so I drove it round to Kwik Fit, who kept it for two hours, mended it and didn’t charge me. What nice people. Dot was out for the day at Brome (just into Suffolk) for a SIAS training session (church school inspectors) and is now out again for a girly night at Vicky’s.

On Wednesday and Thursday we had an excursion to Cambridgeshire, where Dot was inspecting a school at Oakington. We booked into a B&B in Landbeach, a few miles up the road. Very nice place with a pleasant landlady who did an excellent breakfast. After leaving Dot at the school at 12, I drove to Coventry to see Andrew. He was much better than I expected, and we went out for a walk.

The journey there had been easy, but returning was a different kettle of HGVs, most of them trying to overtake each other – which is not easy in a kettle. Coupled with two hold-ups, this made me a little late back. Dot rang me just as I was leaving the Huntingdon roundabout, and at precisely the same moment, a car two in front of me swerved violently, causing the one in between us to jam on his brakes. I just managed to do the same in time, despite the distraction.

In the evening we went to the Bridge restaurant near the River Cam at Clayhithe, and I had a pretty good steak. We walked along the towpath and saw an eight and a four (from Gaius College) practising. The eight were girls and the four were men, but in each case a (different) female coach was cycling along the towpath beside them, shouting instructions. Back at the B&B, had a bit of a rough night: found it hard to sleep.

Next day, while Dot was in school again, I did another walk down the Cam from Clayhithe, probably about four miles in all. Finished with a cider at the Bridge, then drove back to Oakington to pick Dot up. We called at Ely on the way home but failed to find anywhere to park and continued across the Fens.

Spent part of today booking up various things, including a hotel in Bantry and a slot on Eurotunnel. After I’d booked the time, they revealed that we had to be there 75 minutes earlier than that, which will make it quite tight if my hospital appointment overruns. Very helpful – not. Why can’t they warn you abou tthe waiting time before you book?

The picture is of InPrint stars Rupert Mallin and Lisa D’Onofrio moving the poetry vending machine into St Giles Church for the Open Studios “taster”. Clearly we should have gone for something smaller – a poetry vending carrier bag, for instance.

I’ve borrowed an intriguing book from TM – an interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer as it was in the original Aramaic. Fascinating language, with a much smaller vocabulary but many more meanings per word. Throws lots of new light on what Jesus actually meant, I think. Lots in common with poetry, with the ambiguities and (especially) layers of meaning.

21 May 2007

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Extremely busy few days has just come to an end. Weather has turned rainy again, but over the weekend it was sunny and warm, which was excellent for two reasons. One, it was my son’s 35th birthday on Friday, and he and his family came up over the weekend. This meant the children could play outside, especially on the Sunday afternoon, when Oliver was having a lot of fun on his tractor on the pavement. Amy unfortunately was a little under the weather, but she hung on in there bravely.

The second reason was that it was the InPrint Open Studios private view on Sunday. This meant that I was spending all day Thursday and Friday at Bally, doing all kinds of moderately heavy work, including moving around the most crazily designed screens I’ve ever come across. Also of course hanging the artwork. Brought Bronwen up from Beccles on the Friday morning, and we hung her superb photographic piece, Unable to Find North. Tricky, because three heavy long and thin pieces had to match up. Dot brought me up some sandwiches and took Bronwen home after we’d hung her other pieces. I remained at Bally to help Mike hang his and Annette’s pictures, which was OK after we got a rhythm going! In the evening Dot and I went to hear Jacqui Dankworth at the Playhouse. Excellent seats for watching the musicians in action, which was fascinating. Not my sort of songs, really, but they were just an excuse to show off the musicians’ – and the singer’s – virtuosity. Most enjoyable. Dot accosted Jacqui afterwards because they’d met at a headteachers’ conference.

On the Saturday I had to write, design and laminate some notices, then rush them up to Bally before the family arrived just before noon. Then on Sunday, after I delivered some boxes of wine and juice to Bally at 8.45, we played music at Finnan’s dedication at church before I had to rush back to Bally for the private view. Meanwhile Dot was preparing lunch for the family, who had been to see one of Vicky’s bridesmaids at Easton. Then they all came down to hear the poetry reading just after 2pm.

That went pretty well – about 30-40 people. The picture above is of the four of us about to set off, with Caroline in pole position and Bronwen’s piece-de-resistance behind us. Over 100 people came to our studios altogether.

Today has been a little calmer, though I did pop up to Bally with some more notices, filled the car up with petrol and took a film in for processing. Speaking of films, Rupert filmed the poetry reading, which should be interesting. I’m going to play DH at chess this evening, which probably won’t be relaxing.

15 May 2007

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This is my cousin Pat and her husband Brian, on the London Eye. We’ll get there one day.

I’m writing this at home because I have a stomach upset: I should be at our Tuesday gathering, tonight hosted by Ed at his place. I got there, but then had rather unpleasant pains, so came home. It’s better, but still complaining. Shouldn’t last long. I hope.

Been quite cold today. Went to Joyce’s funeral this morning: lovely service in the old church – read Psalm 23. Tea in the hall afterwards. Everyone had good things to say about her.

Back at home wrote my column for next Monday and revised some liturgy for NYFC. Dot arrived home from her inspection in Suffolk at about 3.40pm.

14 May 2007

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Weather has been pretty unpleasant – lots of rain, although fairly warm. Finished off my last trainee (could be better phrased, I guess) – this was E at Dereham, who I had taken over when her assessor became ill.

Had the Greens and the Higbees round on Friday evening – good time, though I was feeling under the weather, as I have been for several days: head and stomach not right. I had been thinking of driving to Coventry today, but decided against it. Instead went to Bally to use the long-arm stapler on my new book, but couldn’t get through the second set of doors. Got as far as the picture, which is the selling floor, but no further. Must be a trick to it. No-one else there, so no good trying to attract their attention.

Dot is away tonight, in the middle of an inspection at Cavendish, on the Suffolk-Essex border. I had been intending to go with her, but Joyce’s funeral is scheduled for tomorrow, and one of us had to go to that. Indeed, one of us wanted to. More precisely, both of us wanted to, but you can’t really postpone school inspections. I am reading Psalm 24.

Dot has just rung to say she loves the school and the B & B, so I may not see her again. She is lying on the bed, relaxing. I am cooking a lamb chop and wondering whether to go the chess club.

9 May 2007

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Yes, it was four last night, but we had a really good discussion: well worth while, and it may well affect the way we do things on Tuesday evenings.

Today has been really exciting, and I’m still in a bit of a daze. I opened my e-mails to discover that I have won the 2007 Fish International Poetry Prize with my poem, The Island Grows on Me. Totally unexpected. Maybe I really am a poet after all. Quite a large cash prize – and I have to go to Ireland to collect it in July.

I celebrated by having my hair cut (as already arranged), followed by a meal with Dot at Cafe Rouge. Champagne and steak frites: you can’t beat that, can you? Even better, it didn’t start raining till I got home.

8 May 2007

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Very quiet bank holiday weekend, during which the weather changed, becoming wet after a month of rainlessness. Monday itself was very wet indeed, and we stayed in. During the two days I put together a poetry booklet containing 14 poems, designed to go with the Open Studios exhibition coming up later this month. The book is called Off the Map and has been put together entirely on my computer, using Word. So not exactly professional, but I think it looks pretty good, considering.

Today I installed my new BT Home Hub, giving faster Broadband speeds. Went surprisingly easily, but I encountered a problem trying to link Dot’s computer to it and wasted an hour of David’s time trying to sort it out. In the end I stumbled by chance on what was wrong.

L came round to discuss how to lead a service (her first time on Sunday), arriving at the same time as Dot arrived back from a day’s work – first inspecting a school at Mildenhall and then at a training session. We’re now awaiting the arrival of this evening’s guests, who I suspect will be down from 12 last week to about four. And that includes us.