when life takes over

A serious lack of blogging on here – life took over! Moving house principally among them. My apologies. However, on the subject of life…… The traditional view – somewhat outdated, I think – is that creative artists, be they musicians,...

Only a dog

For all you dog lovers out there, my poem about an old friend – ‘Only a Dog’. Rain-printed marks on the kitchen floor; Out of sheer habit, I open the door To empty space, surprised to find he isn’t there. He isn’t there where he used to...

in the sea

I live in one of the most beautiful counties in England, Dorset; and one of the things I love most is being able to swim in the sea, especially when its very cold. Now, where does this insane fetish come from, I wonder? Because I absolutely hate being cold. In fact...

A.E. Housman

I’m reading Norman Page’s biography of Housman at the moment and I reached a quotation of the poet: ‘Existence is not itself a good thing that we should spend a lifetime securing its necessities: a life spent, however victoriously, in securing the...

Work in progress

I’d already had three books published when a friend told me ‘I never think of what you do as work.’ When I’d wiped the ironic smile off my face, I gave her the grudging benefit of the doubt. Writing isn’t road sweeping. It’s not plumbing. It’s not mountain rescue. In...