Sunday, November 01, 2015

"What Do You Call A Pair Of Poets...??"


OK, what DO you call a pair of Poets? 

Well, in Chester last week..... it was" Armitage and Maxwell"....
Simon Armitage, yes, (who was appearing at Chester Lit Festival) ...and Glyn Maxell, also appearing, and also invited as the Festival's Poet In Residence.
I was lucky enough to enjoy 2 sessions: the first being Armitage's talk about his new book......a Radio 4 B of the W...... WALKING AWAY" ( see above) which particularly appealed to me...... as I love the SW of the UK....and Armitage's book tells of his Walk along that coast, taking in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. He walked each day, then sang for his bed and also for his supper, no doubt, in the evenings.

AND after that session....... I managed a swift snack in pub by Town Hall....most Events held in the TH.......and I also managed a zingy glass of prosecco...before.I joined friends to hear Armitage and Maxwell speaking together "On Poetry"....lots of interesting chat between them.....which revealed  their poetry, their lives and their very long-standing friendship..

I hadn't realised that their joint book " Moon Country"....written after a trip together to Iceland....... came about to honour a long ago trip to Iceland in the '30's......made by poets WH Auden and Louis MacNeice.
Another Pair of Poets.... 

See Macneice and Auden's book " Letters From Iceland" ( below) 




"WITH FLOWERS IN THEIR BAYONETS...."


I am very gradually catching up with my posts.....please bear with me....( whoever reads this, although to be honest, I've not much idea who does!) 
The title of this Performance from Chester Theatre Club ( in LitFest Fringe ) was compelling:
 " With Flowers In Their Bayonets".
AND IT WAS was based on WW1 writings from women ( something I've long been drawn to) and beautifully created by Jenny and Paul Shryane, 
Extracts used were chosen from "Women and The Great War" ( ed. Joyce Marlow) and " Scars Upon My Heart" selected by Catherine Reilly.
ACTORS were: Elliott Anthony, John Henry, Zoya Ivanova, Toria Jones, Alison Knott, Ann Massey, Ellie-Mae Smith and Liz Stafford. 
Music was by Catherine Harrison, mother of John Henry.
We had a moving/thought provoking afternoon, watching/listening to this fine performance....
BELOW: John Henry rehearsing in the Salisbury Studio at Chester Theatre Club with Alison Knott. 

" HELLO NOVEMBER.......FAREWELL HALLOWEEN!"


We had 4 scary visitors last night...they were off to a party...BUT THEY decided to HAUNT us first!

PS: Bring back the bowl of water... and the swift ducking for apples!! PLUS my mother's gorgeous parkin.....or was THAT Bonfire Night??