Man in Black and exploding fridges

The latest book from Penned in the Margins has just arrived back from the printers, and is looking rather gorgeous even if I say it myself. Man in Black is David Caddy’s ninth collection of poetry, and one of his finest. ‘Radical intent’ is a phrase I’ve been using about David’s work in press releases, andContinue reading “Man in Black and exploding fridges”

Books and more books

Reader, I’m a terrible reader, with the attention span of a mosquito. Although, in fact, mosquitos must have rather long attention spans if their noisy commitment to nocturnal blood-feasting is anything to go by. Anyway, my planned holiday reading remains half-read. I think I was a little overambitious. My suitcase was so heavy I was almost chargedContinue reading “Books and more books”

Notes from Puig de Maria

Sarah and I have just returned from a week’s holiday in Majorca. We played lots of Scrabble and ate well. Puerta Pollenca, where we were staying, is a deserted beachside strip of little bars and restaurants – a summer resort for middle class Brits complete with curry houses. The old town of Pollenca, a few miles inlandContinue reading “Notes from Puig de Maria”

From Mayor to Majorca

Have you heard about The Perils of the Pushy Parents? This is the debut volume of poetry by everyone’s favourite Tory fop and London mayoral candidate Boris Johnson. Don’t worry, I haven’t purchased a copy, but Stuart Jeffries’ Guardian review does pick out some choice lines, such as this couplet: He’d zap the programme off and holler GoContinue reading “From Mayor to Majorca”

Lyrical terrorism

The trial of Samina Malik has come to a conclusion at the Old Bailey. The self-proclaimed ‘Lyrical Terrorist’ was found not guilty of possessing articles for a terrorist purpose, but guilty of collecting articles ‘likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism’. Amongst the evidence levelled against Malik were two ofContinue reading “Lyrical terrorism”

Forgive us our trespasses

I am wearing my best suit and clutching a vodka martini. Outside, ill-prepared tourists and students scurry across the bleak tundra of Bloomsbury Square. Inside this plush first-floor room, a middle-aged man with a crimson waistcoat and dubious political views gestures elegantly to an attentive crowd. Two stunning Russian girls in black dresses who are so similar theyContinue reading “Forgive us our trespasses”

Big Brother is watching

So I got a call today from a researcher at Big Brother. Which doesn’t happen everyday. She was looking to recruit a young poet for their latest reality spin-off show, Celebrity Hijack, which this time gives the celebrities the reins of power to lord it over a group of – wait for it – ‘Britain’s most exceptionalContinue reading “Big Brother is watching”