Tag Archives: 20 group

New poetry book published

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Trying to ignore the fact that I suddenly feel quite congested, heady and tired. It’s probably   just an an instinctive attempt to postpone tomorrow’s visit to London in the time-honoured fashion, but I’m hoping it’s no more. I am also due to read some poetry at Pinkys in Halesworth tonight.

This came on after I walked up to the church hall with some Communion wafers that I’d obtained for Sunday. At the same time I dropped off a copy of my new book, The Road Ends, for Stuart, who wanted to purchase one. My first sale! I also popped a complimentary copy through the Greens’ door.

So far 20 of the 50 copies I got earlier in the week are accounted for, including the compulsory copy to the British Library and five to other libraries. Got a good response when I mentioned it on Facebook.

On Monday Dot arrived back earlier than expected from Rayleigh; the weather was also extremely wet. So instead of going to the 20 Group Private View I cooked a meal for her. I visited the exhibition on Wednesday instead, and it was pretty impressive, though I have to say that the standout pieces IMHO were by people I already know and love (Martin Laurance, Kate Coleman, Sandra Rowney).

On Tuesday I picked up Dr Karen Smyth from the UEA and took her to a PHS trustees meeting at North Walsham. Straightforward enough on the outward journey, but not so easy coming back, when we coincided with the rush hour. Still she was a pleasant passenger, and we talked about Northern Ireland and our respective upbringings with reference to church. She is a Presbyterian Protestant but not affiliated to Mr Paisley.

The meeting was delayed slightly by Lucy’s thinking it was at hers, but was otherwise unremarkable. Karen gave an outline of the grand plan to create a Digital Paston Museum, but it’s dependent on our getting a mammoth grant. However, this is not impossible.

David phoned on Wednesday to say that his boiler had finally bitten the dust but was safely and quickly repaired by British Gas. I have resumed a tanka dialogue with Joy, who apparently woke up in the night and read my book. It’s good to have at least one enthusiastic reader.

Hard day in the recording studio

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No, we haven’t moved. This is Dot at Adrian Ward’s 60th party in the garden of his rather impressive house. There were a lot of people there, but not in the picture (obviously).

Summer has gone temporarily absent, and it’s raining as Dot prepares to depart for her orchestra rehearsal. She has been at Barbara’s all day, discussing future P4C activity. I went for a session with Sharon, armed with my “normal” x-ray results. It does seem to be getting better.

I was pretty tired, though, following a hard day yesterday in the recording studio at Katy’s Cottage, Wood Dalling, otherwise known as the home of Kay and David Riggs. We managed to get through the entire performance of what has recently been known as “The Magnificent Margaret” , taking one speech, poem or song at a time and then re-recording when the girls managed to hear some tiny interference on several tracks that was indiscernible to the men.

I even recorded my song – guitar first, then vocal. An interesting experience. It was quite warm and we ate outdoors. Had a stomach upset during the night and early this morning, but that was probably a coincidence.

Eventually retrieved Dot’s MX5 from the garage on Monday, but it cost us over £1000, largely because everything was done at once: new power steering fluid reservoir from Japan, service, brakes, renewal of roadside assistance… Gave a bloke a lift from the garage into Norwich who turned out to be from North Walsham and (inevitably) a former pupils of Jessie’s. Michael Self.

Later that same day, while Dot was at a governors’ meeting, I went to a private view of the annual 20 Group’s nudes exhibition; I was invited by Hilary. Not very impressive, to tell the truth, but free wine, and I ran into Rosemary Dixon from Archant library who, I was informed by a passer-by, is a fiddle player. She didn’t seem entirely sure.

The big event of the week, of course, was the joint service at St Augustine’s on Sunday, about which I had been having bad dreams for some time. It turned out to be OK, though, with the visiting clergy person, the Rev Eleanor Langan – lead chaplain at the N&N Hospital – turning out to be a sweetie.

Quite a big congregation; the church hadn’t been swept, and I didn’t follow precisely the guidance I’d been given, in that I forgot the second chalice and neglected to put the collection plate in the right place at the end (not strictly my fault, that). I also refused to use the ugly makeshift shelf for the pulpit and rigged up a music stand for EL’s notes instead. And I forgot to light the candles on the altar.

But on the plus side, the leading of the service was fine, and everyone was happy afterwards. Dot and Steve did an excellent job with the music. EL left her coat behind, and I delivered it to the Chaplaincy letterbox at the hospital in the evening while delivering Dot to see A Ethel, who is still in situ. EL was quite impressed by this.

Geoff’s operation at Papworth didn’t go too well, and he was unconscious for several days, but he has now woken up and will hopefully start improving, though we have no details.