http://youtu.be/FigGBZkEVko
Check this out. A box set of the series is on my list for spends with xmas money
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
December, the Countdown Begins
First visit to Iguana`s tapas bar in Grey Street with friends. Great atmosphere enhanced by two for the price of one cocktails. Didn`t order food, but Paul and Jane`s fayre looked soooo tasty. Had already eaten, but will be going here again soon to sample gamba`s, chorizo and chicken dishes. We met at 1.30 and the time passed so quickly chatting until 7.30
Southpaw on Friday at the Chillingham Arms was great with amazing pperformers. Looking forward to next year`s programme.
Watched a brilliant programme on BBC4 last night The Strange Science of Decay. A special glass room was constructed and monitored over 50 days. Fresh food, cooked meats, sandwiches and wine were left to rot and filmed. The most amazing patterns and formations emerged. First the flies and maggots moved in. When the last of the edible food was gone and only hardened skin on the pig and chicken were left, then the beetles took over. From among all of the dead things, life emerged in plants, wonderful.
Also watched Spinal Tap for the first time, side splitting stuff. The lyrics in their songs "You`re sweet, but you still got your baby teeth"
and comments "As long as there`s sex I can do without rock and roll" The mini-Stonehenge designed on a napkin. And, when one of the band is pulled up at customs with a cucumber down his kecks, hilarious. Watched Another Year, a bit depressing, miserable.
As usual D has his present early, an ipad which he is using regularly. Unlike last year`s present, a wii fit! It has been under the tv stand since January this year with the occasional dusting. However there is an Abba dance disc out, so he might be persuaded to follow that?
Friday, 2 December 2011
Newcastle Winter Book Festival
Was asked to volunteer at the book festival.
At first imagined that I would be serving books, offering a puppet show or crafts session, no, serving tea with a request to wear my pinny and turban. Hundreds of parents and children attended the event which was packed with activities. A magician, circus performer, many eminent authors. Thoroughly enjoyed the day chatting with lots of interesting people.
Central library put on a great event on Sunday 27th. Poems and Pastries. Poets Catherine Graham, Tom Kelly and Peter Bennet read from their collections. The Northumbrian Language Society members read and spoke of how they promote, preserve, research and publish rich dialects from Northumberland to Durham (including Tyneside) AND there was tea and cakes!
Borderline Books
A kindly member of the public donated a fridge, all we had to do was pick it up. Now we can take a sandwich to keep us going. Last week A gave 600 books away to a community group who are setting up a multi-language library. So there were more book boxes to empty, stamp and sort into languages and categories. A task which I thoroughly enjoy as this project is so worthy. Trouble is that I always see a book or two that I like, while trying to sort my books at home, I bring a bag full to donate, then go away with a few more!!
A curious thing happened, I noticed an old paperback, The World of Suzi Wong, printed in 1957, I remembered that my mother had a copy of this and thought that I would take it to read. On flipping through, discovered a poem in a language that I didn`t recognise, but a name stood out which I did, Yvonne, my own name. Got home and keyed in a couple of words into Google Translations. It`s Dutch, so I could have asked Amina to translate as she has lived there and is fluent. Next Monday will offer it up to her. Some of the words meant ice, cold, mountains, so really curious to know more.
Amina found a piece of paper with the words "uncontrolled stock" How ironic is that, in a place where every bloody thing is? Couldn`t miss the opportunity to take a photo of her among the sea of literature. On the theme of sea, another thing that I have learned today, Silverfish. Two of the little horrors wriggled out from a book I was stamping. First time I have encountered such things, yet everyone that I have mentioned this to already know about them. They eat paper an are usually found in foisty old damp buildings. I suppose this is the problem, receiving donations of books, we don`t know where they have been stored.
Received a fabulous book through the post today. After taking photos at the 60`S Experience and sending them to Alan Mosca of Herman`s Hermits, I was sent a gift from the lads. A limited edition of rare photos of Cliff, not actually one of my favourite performers, but the photos are outstanding, book in a presentation box and black and white photo included. What a lovely thought.
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Talking Heads (Psycho Killer)
This reminds me of when our Paul was in his heavy metal days. Having to sit in a smoky den of the Golden Fleece in Marlborough because he was only 16, listening to their group blasting Rancid, headachesville days, but good fun.
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Alan Turing
Looking forward to attending the reception at Saville Exchange Building to celebrate Tommy Brown, WW2 hero who rescued the Enigma codes from a sinking ship. Tommy had joined the navy as an under-age kitchen hand. When the ship was going down he retrieved the books, climbed up the ladder holding them under his arm. Turing would have been proud. I had the good fortune to meet Tommy`s sister at the last event held at North Shields where I read some of my poems recorded in Monkfish Productions poetry booth.
Turing was persecuted for being gay. He was offered a choice to accept beinging injected with female hormones or jail. He chose the former which drove him to commit suicide. He was in his early forties. We think computing has advanced, what if he`d lived? Because of evolution in computing, this reinforces my belief that we have no need of a creator, just a designer, self organisation....the way to go.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Crocodile Tears
Brother D L and sister in law A here again to sort me out on the computer. De-fragging again and deleting and re-installing itunes. D was working separately in his room trying to put stuff on a disc, he shouted through for DL, he replied "Are you sure it`s not your discs, last time I was round here I went to take one from the tower and at least 10 of them were covered in tomato sauce?" "No, no, they`re fine." DL came back to me and A, showing us a disc "Look at this, I just took it randomly from the middle of the pile!!!" It was scratched to hell. When DL points this out to D, he comes back with "Well I don`t know how that`s happened, I`m very careful with discs. "Right, so Peter Rabbit came in" I said and A added "He came in and shit on them and then wiped his arse on them" To which DL quotes randomly, which he is apt to do. "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile hoping it will eat him last." We all then ping pong about looking for quotes, I like Rupert Murdoch, brother wants Winston Churchill and A would rather listen to Depeche Mode. D has lost interest and goes back from whence he came. My favourite RP quote is "I`m a catalyst for change. You can`t be an outsider and be successful for 30 years without leaving a certain amount of scar tissue around the place." Then we learn from DL that the crocodile quote is one of Winston`s.
DL was talking about music and recommended Mamalian Locomotion, but thought that the track was "Something.......your inhibitions?" We looked for it and turned out it was Shelter your Needs, so very alike!! I suggested we play a Pink cd, DL plays You`re speaking my language by Juliette Lewis and the Licks on youtube and we agree that Pink was influenced by her. I`m really enjoying listening to new music at the moment, inspired by KF who has put some fabulous tracks on my ipod shuffle. Jackson Browne Fountain of Sorrow a favourite among many others. Once I`m familiar with itunes, I`ll be raring to go. D likes Katherine Jenkins.
DL wants to put one of his Radiohead cd`s in my stereo and asks how to open it as it has 3 disc tables, I say left, no the right side of the left one with the 3 little lights, he replies "Don`t apply for a job as an interface designer" (Who would have thought that this lovely little child, pictured, would have such a tongue? It`s a good job that I love him!
We get back on track after D disappears back in his room again. More de-fragging and A mentions that my book case could do with de-fragging, so to teach her a lesson, I make up a bag of 8 or so books to take home with her, she also gets a jumper, but don`t get me started on de-clagging the wardrobe!!
DL was talking about music and recommended Mamalian Locomotion, but thought that the track was "Something.......your inhibitions?" We looked for it and turned out it was Shelter your Needs, so very alike!! I suggested we play a Pink cd, DL plays You`re speaking my language by Juliette Lewis and the Licks on youtube and we agree that Pink was influenced by her. I`m really enjoying listening to new music at the moment, inspired by KF who has put some fabulous tracks on my ipod shuffle. Jackson Browne Fountain of Sorrow a favourite among many others. Once I`m familiar with itunes, I`ll be raring to go. D likes Katherine Jenkins.
DL wants to put one of his Radiohead cd`s in my stereo and asks how to open it as it has 3 disc tables, I say left, no the right side of the left one with the 3 little lights, he replies "Don`t apply for a job as an interface designer" (Who would have thought that this lovely little child, pictured, would have such a tongue? It`s a good job that I love him!
We get back on track after D disappears back in his room again. More de-fragging and A mentions that my book case could do with de-fragging, so to teach her a lesson, I make up a bag of 8 or so books to take home with her, she also gets a jumper, but don`t get me started on de-clagging the wardrobe!!
David Luscombe (Photographer, musician, designer)
https://plus.google.com/116133710641268277011#116133710641268277011/photos
Monday, 14 November 2011
Sunday, 13 November 2011
60`s Experience, Tyne Theatre Newcastle upon Tyne
A fantastic show at Tyne Theatre, performed by Herman`s Hermits, The Dreamers, The Tremeloes and Union Gap.
JazzCafe (Pink Lane Poetry and Performance) Halloween Party
Fantastic belated Halloween party at the Jazz Cafe. Burlesque by the marvelous Toxic Cherry, haunting poetry by Shaft, comedy resident duo F & L had us all in stitches with their act. Robbie Lee Hurst and improv muscic group were fantastic.
The brilliant Claire Morgan of Monkfish stunned us with her performance, some new acts which were great, but well done to everyone especially Jess for staging the event.
Visited the studio in the old Waygood building on High Bridge with K, we are to have a space here to paint. Must sort my easle out to transport there so that I can finish a painting I have started. Problems at home being too many distractions with computer, books, housework etc, so it will be great to just BE in this fabulous building to concentrate on art for a change.
The brilliant Claire Morgan of Monkfish stunned us with her performance, some new acts which were great, but well done to everyone especially Jess for staging the event.
Visited the studio in the old Waygood building on High Bridge with K, we are to have a space here to paint. Must sort my easle out to transport there so that I can finish a painting I have started. Problems at home being too many distractions with computer, books, housework etc, so it will be great to just BE in this fabulous building to concentrate on art for a change.
Monday, 7 November 2011
Germaine Greer and Guy Fawkes
Enjoyed the talk by Germaine Greer at the Sage, a full house. A more mellow self, but still hugely entertaining and informative. Freedom, children are the least free of our society, which begins from being swaddled and then ordered around. I agree that children need rules, but I didn`t ever have any growing up and was allowed to roam around as I pleased without restriction.
A mix of bad parenting and free thinking. The old saying "Never did me any harm." comes to mind, but is that true or did me and my brother just "bury bad news" as they also say? Greer explored Sharia law, the hijab, women`s lib, rape and orgasm comparing the latter to revolution, it doesn`t last.
Guy Fawkes gathering at my brother D`s and sister in law A`s.....We open the patio door and there is much steam from the oven. Husband D`s glasses steam up and he asks me for a tissue. He is very irritated as I root through my bag, not quick enough for him, so I say "It`s not going to kill you to wait for a tissue is it??" my brother shows where his allegiance lies when he says "It would if you had cyanide on your eyes"
My brother made a pizza, his own base to which he`d added yeast. It is the
6th of November, Sunday. He`s showing off wafting the dough which has risen due to addition of yeast. Jamie like, he spreads the secret ingredients,then black olives, fresh prawns and 2 cheeses. The taste, I have to admit is wonderful, bastard!!! We quaff red wine and sister in law A saws wood to fuel the chimenea. Brother D pontificates on using a patio heater, could his carbon footprint be sullied? I point out that the people who pontificate to us on such subjects AKA Tony Blair, have 3 houses and have enough furniture in their homes to supply a small rain forest, fly around the world more times than Tom Pepper, so why should we worry about a teensy weensy little patio heater? We KNOW that we are adding to global warming, but it`s only a tiny contribution, isn`t it???
So... we dress up in halloween costumes that I brought and brother says "It`s not technically Halloween is it?" to which I reply
"Well, it`s not technically Guy Fawkes being the 6th is it?" "Aye" he says "Fair point, another drink?"
Being a greedy cow, I have eaten chilli with loads of cheese on top and a slice of pizza. People are in the garden setting off rockets and going "Ooooh, that`s a lovely one" and I spy a bowl of nuts on the kitchen table. After eating most of them, brother D is really concerned when I say "Lovely nuts" he gasps "They were for the bird table, they`re not fit for human consumption!!" to which my lovely husband drawls "That`s ok, she`s not human"
We hear A shouting "Is it ahad" The fire she means, so we need more wood.
D and A take it in turns to saw wood and we sit outside from 6.30- 11.30, it`s freezing cold, but we are well wrapped up in our woolly coats, scarves, witches hats, wings and vampire capes. Nobody remembered the false nashers which we had last year.
Brother D wants to show me the spiders colony they have in their shed, WHAT, is he mad, can`t he remember the near fainting fits at the sight of a spider. Although I am reaching at the thought, he still goes on to describe the "lovely patterns" on their backs "Shut up, or you will end up on the bonfire!" But, he`s back in the good books as he rang next day to find out if I`m ok after gorging on birdy num nums. (For the people who don`t get the reference, it`s from The Party starring Peter Sellers, watch it, the best film ever)
A mix of bad parenting and free thinking. The old saying "Never did me any harm." comes to mind, but is that true or did me and my brother just "bury bad news" as they also say? Greer explored Sharia law, the hijab, women`s lib, rape and orgasm comparing the latter to revolution, it doesn`t last.
Guy Fawkes gathering at my brother D`s and sister in law A`s.....We open the patio door and there is much steam from the oven. Husband D`s glasses steam up and he asks me for a tissue. He is very irritated as I root through my bag, not quick enough for him, so I say "It`s not going to kill you to wait for a tissue is it??" my brother shows where his allegiance lies when he says "It would if you had cyanide on your eyes"
My brother made a pizza, his own base to which he`d added yeast. It is the
6th of November, Sunday. He`s showing off wafting the dough which has risen due to addition of yeast. Jamie like, he spreads the secret ingredients,then black olives, fresh prawns and 2 cheeses. The taste, I have to admit is wonderful, bastard!!! We quaff red wine and sister in law A saws wood to fuel the chimenea. Brother D pontificates on using a patio heater, could his carbon footprint be sullied? I point out that the people who pontificate to us on such subjects AKA Tony Blair, have 3 houses and have enough furniture in their homes to supply a small rain forest, fly around the world more times than Tom Pepper, so why should we worry about a teensy weensy little patio heater? We KNOW that we are adding to global warming, but it`s only a tiny contribution, isn`t it???
So... we dress up in halloween costumes that I brought and brother says "It`s not technically Halloween is it?" to which I reply
"Well, it`s not technically Guy Fawkes being the 6th is it?" "Aye" he says "Fair point, another drink?"
Being a greedy cow, I have eaten chilli with loads of cheese on top and a slice of pizza. People are in the garden setting off rockets and going "Ooooh, that`s a lovely one" and I spy a bowl of nuts on the kitchen table. After eating most of them, brother D is really concerned when I say "Lovely nuts" he gasps "They were for the bird table, they`re not fit for human consumption!!" to which my lovely husband drawls "That`s ok, she`s not human"
We hear A shouting "Is it ahad" The fire she means, so we need more wood.
D and A take it in turns to saw wood and we sit outside from 6.30- 11.30, it`s freezing cold, but we are well wrapped up in our woolly coats, scarves, witches hats, wings and vampire capes. Nobody remembered the false nashers which we had last year.
Brother D wants to show me the spiders colony they have in their shed, WHAT, is he mad, can`t he remember the near fainting fits at the sight of a spider. Although I am reaching at the thought, he still goes on to describe the "lovely patterns" on their backs "Shut up, or you will end up on the bonfire!" But, he`s back in the good books as he rang next day to find out if I`m ok after gorging on birdy num nums. (For the people who don`t get the reference, it`s from The Party starring Peter Sellers, watch it, the best film ever)
BBC 3 Free Thinking Festival (Celestial Navigation Radio on ne`fm)
http://celestialnavigation.podomatic.com/entry/2011-11-04T17_34_06-07_00
Enjoyed reading my poems with Catherine Graham at The Sage on Friday. Wilfred Owen`s poem left a lasting impression of war, waste of young lives, it is still happening.
"Coming live from the Sage Gateshead in the hour before the start of the Radio 3 Free Thinking Festival:
We speak first with Matthew Dodd, Editor of Speech at Radio 3 about the Free Thinking Festival and why everyone should come to the Sage this weekend to hear a myriad of speakers and ideas.
Then we remember the poet Wilfred Owen who was killed on November 4 1918. His parents received the news a week later on 11 November - Armistice Day. Three poems of Owen read to a background of excerpts from Benjamin Britten's War Requiem.
Then we have the return of the 'Daughters of Tyne' - local poets Catherine Graham and Yvonne Young who read their poems about the area as it once was, 'women's work' and many other local memories. - all bound together with the music we grew up with."
Enjoyed reading my poems with Catherine Graham at The Sage on Friday. Wilfred Owen`s poem left a lasting impression of war, waste of young lives, it is still happening.
"Coming live from the Sage Gateshead in the hour before the start of the Radio 3 Free Thinking Festival:
We speak first with Matthew Dodd, Editor of Speech at Radio 3 about the Free Thinking Festival and why everyone should come to the Sage this weekend to hear a myriad of speakers and ideas.
Then we remember the poet Wilfred Owen who was killed on November 4 1918. His parents received the news a week later on 11 November - Armistice Day. Three poems of Owen read to a background of excerpts from Benjamin Britten's War Requiem.
Then we have the return of the 'Daughters of Tyne' - local poets Catherine Graham and Yvonne Young who read their poems about the area as it once was, 'women's work' and many other local memories. - all bound together with the music we grew up with."
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Free Thinking Festival at the Sage (Friday 4th November 4-6 p.m)
Will be reading my poems and prose with Catherine Graham at the Sage this Friday as Daughters of Tyne. Amina Marix Evans is hosting (Celestial Navigation Radio) for BBC3.
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Man Booker Prize
Enjoyed a lovely lunch at Newcastle`s Slug and Lettuce and had a tour around the Drum Centre, what a fabulous old building, must visit the archive to research the history of the place.
Busy day today, three meetings which went very well. I have another reading/memories group to start on 1st November and new contacts for mental health projects.
Get in!!! Man Booker Prize won by Julian Barnes "The Sense of an Ending". Just got back from Toon Man Booker at Newcastle`s own Central Library where we were treated to the first chapter from the 6 shortlisted books. We were split into 8`s with wine and nibbles to help the decision making. Snowdrops was a contender, here was me thinking what a lovely title, when it was explained that
in Russia after the harsh winter thaw, bodies are discovered, usually vagrants, murder victims and unfortunate drunks, so they are given the name "Snowdrops". I bought and voted for the winner, can`t wait to start this one
"I remember, in no particular order:
- a shiny inner wrist;
- steam rising from a wet sink as a hot frying pan is laughingly tossed into it;
-gouts of sperm circling a plughole, before being sluiced down the full length of a tall house;- a river rushing nonsensically upstream, it`s wave and wash lit by half a dozen chasing torchbeams;
(and also love this part)
"We live in time - it holds us and moulds us - but I`ve never felt I understood it very well. And I`m not referring to the theories about how it bends and doubles back , or may exist elsewhere in parallel versions. No, I mean ordinary, everyday time, which clocks and watches assure us passes regularly: tick-tock, tick-tock."
Loved the launch of Tyne Bridge Publisher`s new book All Right Now on the 70`s, also at Central Libary, as usual the speakers were spot on and very entertaining. I have my free copy as a contributor. My piece centered on my time as a G.P.O telephonist during the strike in 71.
Husband D purchased one of those air freshner contraptions which puff- blast evevery 20 minutes, fine, but it scared the shit out of me. I was watching a programme and just as someone mentioned "And they hid the body under the floorboards..." the bloody thing puffed out and I nearly shit myself!!
Just bought Reality Bites, it`s a long time since I watched this film, but I love the part where the 4 friends are waiting to be served in a service station. My Sherona is playing on the radio and 3 of them start dancing in the aisle while the fourth is mortified. Also watched The Notebook and was in floods of tears, brilliant!! The Butterfly Effect is a great film. Called in to A Touch of Class on Adelaide Terrace, second hand goods, 4 dvd`s for a quid, hence the list of films. Watched The Five People you Meet in Heaven, read the book and it sticks reliably to the text.
My eldest son G bought me a bottle of Monsoon perfume! What is he after I ask, but still, I shouldn`t complain, he often presents me with chocolate, so anyone who can do that is ok in my opinion, especially is it`s Twirl, yum.
Busy day today, three meetings which went very well. I have another reading/memories group to start on 1st November and new contacts for mental health projects.
Get in!!! Man Booker Prize won by Julian Barnes "The Sense of an Ending". Just got back from Toon Man Booker at Newcastle`s own Central Library where we were treated to the first chapter from the 6 shortlisted books. We were split into 8`s with wine and nibbles to help the decision making. Snowdrops was a contender, here was me thinking what a lovely title, when it was explained that
in Russia after the harsh winter thaw, bodies are discovered, usually vagrants, murder victims and unfortunate drunks, so they are given the name "Snowdrops". I bought and voted for the winner, can`t wait to start this one
"I remember, in no particular order:
- a shiny inner wrist;
- steam rising from a wet sink as a hot frying pan is laughingly tossed into it;
-gouts of sperm circling a plughole, before being sluiced down the full length of a tall house;- a river rushing nonsensically upstream, it`s wave and wash lit by half a dozen chasing torchbeams;
(and also love this part)
"We live in time - it holds us and moulds us - but I`ve never felt I understood it very well. And I`m not referring to the theories about how it bends and doubles back , or may exist elsewhere in parallel versions. No, I mean ordinary, everyday time, which clocks and watches assure us passes regularly: tick-tock, tick-tock."
Loved the launch of Tyne Bridge Publisher`s new book All Right Now on the 70`s, also at Central Libary, as usual the speakers were spot on and very entertaining. I have my free copy as a contributor. My piece centered on my time as a G.P.O telephonist during the strike in 71.
Husband D purchased one of those air freshner contraptions which puff- blast evevery 20 minutes, fine, but it scared the shit out of me. I was watching a programme and just as someone mentioned "And they hid the body under the floorboards..." the bloody thing puffed out and I nearly shit myself!!
Just bought Reality Bites, it`s a long time since I watched this film, but I love the part where the 4 friends are waiting to be served in a service station. My Sherona is playing on the radio and 3 of them start dancing in the aisle while the fourth is mortified. Also watched The Notebook and was in floods of tears, brilliant!! The Butterfly Effect is a great film. Called in to A Touch of Class on Adelaide Terrace, second hand goods, 4 dvd`s for a quid, hence the list of films. Watched The Five People you Meet in Heaven, read the book and it sticks reliably to the text.
My eldest son G bought me a bottle of Monsoon perfume! What is he after I ask, but still, I shouldn`t complain, he often presents me with chocolate, so anyone who can do that is ok in my opinion, especially is it`s Twirl, yum.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Colin Will "Sushi and Chips"
Poems
This is a selection from my published poems.
The Red-eye
I leave this at your ear for when you wake,
the shell I picked up last week from the beach.
You said you heard the long waves curl and break,
reminding you of times now out of reach.
I slip out of the room and close the door,
leaving your house as quietly as I came.
The parcels for the kids are on the floor –
just books, no toys, CDs or X-Box games.
I’ll walk into town and catch the early bus.
My flight’s at noon, so I’ll have lots of time.
I hate goodbyes, you know I can’t stand fussed
departures, tears we’d both regret, the pantomime
of hugs and hands stretched out for one last touch
where fingers fail but lips would be too much.
From: The floorshow at the Mad Yak Café, Red Squirrel Scotland
Copyright © Colin Will, 2010
To listen to an MP3 of this poem, click here.
A short history of Xi’an
The Great Walls of Chang’an once divided
outsider from insider, barbarian from citizen.
No more. We stroll along the broad rampart
between parapets, peer down into smoggy city,
take grey photos with phones. A tall T’ang warrior
dawdles to the guardhouse, shiny breastplate
of moulded resin, helmet crowned with red nylon plumes.
In a side temple at the Great Goose Pagoda
I make three fearless bows to the Buddha. A little man
sidles in, looks both ways before kneeling.
He would have been all right, I believe, even if witnessed,
and he’s surely better for performing right actions.
Some varieties of experience must be undertaken,
not just observed. In the evening news comes
of a new feathered dinosaur from Liaoning Province,
but this is not a novelty. That is how birds became.
From: The floorshow at the Mad Yak Café, Red Squirrel Scotland
Copyright © Colin Will, 2010
Circumstantial evidence
On the backside of her denim skirt
the traces of a faint green tinge,
a many-washed echo of grass stains,
the weight of him an unregretted pressure,
the rightness of it, a sudden mutual crush,
her smiling invitation, his rugged blush.
She remembers his clothes, a spring shirt,
soft collar checks in her fingers,
the roughness of his afternoon face
against her neck - a file to freedom,
an hour snatched out of destiny
and a programmed life,
sandwiches and kisses
with a young near stranger, all
the dangers of a crowded park.
Her husband knows she wears it
in a good mood, he’s happy
that she smiles, though the reason
escapes him, something he can’t quite
put his finger on.
From Sushi & Chips, Diehard Press, 2006, available from Calder Wood Press
Copyright © Colin Will, 2006
This is a selection from my published poems.
The Red-eye
I leave this at your ear for when you wake,
the shell I picked up last week from the beach.
You said you heard the long waves curl and break,
reminding you of times now out of reach.
I slip out of the room and close the door,
leaving your house as quietly as I came.
The parcels for the kids are on the floor –
just books, no toys, CDs or X-Box games.
I’ll walk into town and catch the early bus.
My flight’s at noon, so I’ll have lots of time.
I hate goodbyes, you know I can’t stand fussed
departures, tears we’d both regret, the pantomime
of hugs and hands stretched out for one last touch
where fingers fail but lips would be too much.
From: The floorshow at the Mad Yak Café, Red Squirrel Scotland
Copyright © Colin Will, 2010
To listen to an MP3 of this poem, click here.
A short history of Xi’an
The Great Walls of Chang’an once divided
outsider from insider, barbarian from citizen.
No more. We stroll along the broad rampart
between parapets, peer down into smoggy city,
take grey photos with phones. A tall T’ang warrior
dawdles to the guardhouse, shiny breastplate
of moulded resin, helmet crowned with red nylon plumes.
In a side temple at the Great Goose Pagoda
I make three fearless bows to the Buddha. A little man
sidles in, looks both ways before kneeling.
He would have been all right, I believe, even if witnessed,
and he’s surely better for performing right actions.
Some varieties of experience must be undertaken,
not just observed. In the evening news comes
of a new feathered dinosaur from Liaoning Province,
but this is not a novelty. That is how birds became.
From: The floorshow at the Mad Yak Café, Red Squirrel Scotland
Copyright © Colin Will, 2010
Circumstantial evidence
On the backside of her denim skirt
the traces of a faint green tinge,
a many-washed echo of grass stains,
the weight of him an unregretted pressure,
the rightness of it, a sudden mutual crush,
her smiling invitation, his rugged blush.
She remembers his clothes, a spring shirt,
soft collar checks in her fingers,
the roughness of his afternoon face
against her neck - a file to freedom,
an hour snatched out of destiny
and a programmed life,
sandwiches and kisses
with a young near stranger, all
the dangers of a crowded park.
Her husband knows she wears it
in a good mood, he’s happy
that she smiles, though the reason
escapes him, something he can’t quite
put his finger on.
From Sushi & Chips, Diehard Press, 2006, available from Calder Wood Press
Copyright © Colin Will, 2006
Friday, 23 September 2011
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Friday, 9 September 2011
Steve Urwin book launch Shades of Grey (Red Squirrel)
Tuesday, October 4 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location Literary & Philosophical Society
23 Westgate Road
Newcastle, United Kingdom
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Created By Steve Urwin
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More Info The eagerly anticipated publication of Steve Urwin's new book. Shades of Grey is a brooding collection of prose vignettes, diary entries and nightmarish reveries from one of the most prolific spoken word artists in the North East.
Joint launch with first Red Squirrel Press non-fiction publication, Mike Pratt's (CEO Northumberland Wildlife Trust) Iona, a Spiritual Landscape.
Tuesday 4th October - 7.00pm - Part of Red Squirrel Press Week at Lit & Phil
Telephone: 0191 232 0192 or email: library@litandphil.org.uk
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Location Literary & Philosophical Society
23 Westgate Road
Newcastle, United Kingdom
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Created By Steve Urwin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More Info The eagerly anticipated publication of Steve Urwin's new book. Shades of Grey is a brooding collection of prose vignettes, diary entries and nightmarish reveries from one of the most prolific spoken word artists in the North East.
Joint launch with first Red Squirrel Press non-fiction publication, Mike Pratt's (CEO Northumberland Wildlife Trust) Iona, a Spiritual Landscape.
Tuesday 4th October - 7.00pm - Part of Red Squirrel Press Week at Lit & Phil
Telephone: 0191 232 0192 or email: library@litandphil.org.uk
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
On Being a People Watcher
I couldn`t live in a better position, a field right outside my front door which is peopled by dog walkers and kids playing. A huge green metal fence runs from the end of my garden through the middle of the field. This doesn`t please the kids, when their ball goes over the top, they have to walk the full perimeter to retrieve it, poor darlings. So they hit on an idea which involved digging a kind of moat under the fence. They slide their legs through and u shape under.
This has it`s drawbacks for other field players. A man out with his labrador dog watched as the animal scrabbled under the moat and was thoroughly enjoying itself running about in the field beyond. The owner was screaming "Get here, get here!!" all to no avail. Then he began bashing the lead against the fence and stamping his feet. Fido wasn`t paying the least bit attention. There is one couple who walk their shit machine, they carry the little plastic bag as if to say, "We are public spirited individuals who clean up after our pet." But when it craps, they turn the other way. As I say, it`s great to live here watching what goes on.
Over the years I`ve seen an alcoholic stashing her booze among the grass near the fence. Helped a kid down who was impaled by the hands, rang 999 when a lass was kicked by a horse, rang 999 when an old lady was pulled over by her dog and suffered a dislocated knee. Chased R H when he was smashing glass. But today I`ve seen my first robin of the year, and that means cold weather usually, so the walkers will be few and far between before long and the picture show will cease for the time being.
D was bumbling around in the bedroom before leaving for work. I had dozed off again and then nearly jumped out of my skin as I felt a hand on my nose.
Y "What are you doing?"
D "I thought you were dead, I was just checking."
Y "Well you nearly killed me you daft bugger!"
Sometimes I am also expected to be a mind reader.
D (Looking in the cupboard) "Where`s the lawnmower?"
Y "In the fridge?"
D "I mean the hoover"
Y "I think you were using it in the garage."
And also
D "I`ve just seen what the m`call her."
Y "Gis a clue"
D "You know who I mean"
Y "Not really."
D "Who I said I was going to call on"
Y "Nora?"
D "Aye, her. Her son, what`s his name, is going to give me a call, just in case he rings when I`m out and you don`t know who it is."
Y !!!!!!!
Well, time for a gin and orange.
This has it`s drawbacks for other field players. A man out with his labrador dog watched as the animal scrabbled under the moat and was thoroughly enjoying itself running about in the field beyond. The owner was screaming "Get here, get here!!" all to no avail. Then he began bashing the lead against the fence and stamping his feet. Fido wasn`t paying the least bit attention. There is one couple who walk their shit machine, they carry the little plastic bag as if to say, "We are public spirited individuals who clean up after our pet." But when it craps, they turn the other way. As I say, it`s great to live here watching what goes on.
Over the years I`ve seen an alcoholic stashing her booze among the grass near the fence. Helped a kid down who was impaled by the hands, rang 999 when a lass was kicked by a horse, rang 999 when an old lady was pulled over by her dog and suffered a dislocated knee. Chased R H when he was smashing glass. But today I`ve seen my first robin of the year, and that means cold weather usually, so the walkers will be few and far between before long and the picture show will cease for the time being.
D was bumbling around in the bedroom before leaving for work. I had dozed off again and then nearly jumped out of my skin as I felt a hand on my nose.
Y "What are you doing?"
D "I thought you were dead, I was just checking."
Y "Well you nearly killed me you daft bugger!"
Sometimes I am also expected to be a mind reader.
D (Looking in the cupboard) "Where`s the lawnmower?"
Y "In the fridge?"
D "I mean the hoover"
Y "I think you were using it in the garage."
And also
D "I`ve just seen what the m`call her."
Y "Gis a clue"
D "You know who I mean"
Y "Not really."
D "Who I said I was going to call on"
Y "Nora?"
D "Aye, her. Her son, what`s his name, is going to give me a call, just in case he rings when I`m out and you don`t know who it is."
Y !!!!!!!
Well, time for a gin and orange.
Monday, 5 September 2011
Dr Whoooowoooohooo
>
Kids do wonders for your self confidence, who`d have them? After the last car burst into flames, D swore that he wouldn`t get another 2nd car, he`d make do with the one he has. I gave him a couple of months, sure enough he now has another. An Alpha Romeo which has also been polished within an inch of it`s life! Son G called around to view the vehicle. I turned the corner into the garage to overhear
G "Naa, naa, you do`nt want to be doing that!"
D "You`re mother just wants to learn to drive again and use this car"
Y "No, you`re mother doesn`t want to do that at all!"
G "Good, because I know for a fact that you`d prang it up"
D "She used to be a good driver, but she lost her confidence"
G "She`d be a bloody liability on the road"
We decided to have a trip out to Beamish, well D did, and I found out that there was a car rally event on. However when we arrived there were only about nine cars, 7 Viva`s and 2 Victor`s. I was over the moon as we wouldn`t be trawling round and around, stopping and talking to various blokes about fan belts etc. I said "Get in" and D replied "You`re all heart!" I sat at the picnic table while D told the lass at the desk that they were an HA car, Ha van, HB Viva, Hc Viva, FD Victor and 2 Viva Gt`s. She said that she had always wanted to know what they were. She allowed him to lift the bonnets and nose around. I went for a sugar cornet with a flake in! The merry go round was spinning away to I`d Like to Teach the World to sing and people were milling around with their camera`s snapping the trams and people dressed up in period clothing.
We had been there for about an hour and a half when my mobile rang
G "Why isn`t dad answering his mobile, I have an emergency here!"
Y "I`ll put him on, his phone isn`t getting a signal"
D (Listens to the tirade of why are we not at home, where have we been etc) "I told you not to touch that pipe....I said that it wasn`t defunct....it`s your own f.....yes, it is. Well didn`t you turn off the stopcock?"
So we were on our way home, minus the stop off at a pub for dinner. D had to go to Wickes for supplies, repaired the pipe which G didn`t actually stump up for afterwards.
Brother D and sister in law A came round to ours last night. Brother had been baking a fab chilli game pie and he brought some samples. We had a few drinks and it was revealed that son G has been on Facbook telling the tale of the flood in his house. (I have been denied a friend request from said son, his brother doesn`t mind, being the more mature sibling)
Quote G " The day you wish you'd never started. Yip house flooded due to my own stupidity, that pipes defo ok to cut and remove......doh, by the rivers of Babylon. In my defence the tit who originally installed them did it wrong. Never my own fault, never.....
"bank of young" had to come round and fix it. how dare he go out on a sunday and not answer his phone, off with his head.
But...this is not the only revelation from his site!!!
"that moment in a bar in town when u look across the room and c a woman....its my mam 100% i keep lookun, its defo her, then she starts snoggin a random, cnt believe it, i storm over lookin staring and get filthy looks from a couple, its not my mam but her double, dohhhh feel like even more of a tit than normal"
As I said, kids, who`d have em? They are enemies of the state..exterminate..exterminate!!
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