A poem about, well, poetry. Gee, I bet that headline gets you in.

People usually enjoy it when I post my own poetry here, and I am happy to do so, so long as some of you buy the book occasionally too. Remember, any profits benefit a number of wonderful charities. You can head to: http://tinyurl.com/7tzxxgg where it is available in both book format and download. I am [...]

Midnight lunacy and innocent tribalism

I am perpetually bemused and amused by the propensity for otherwise reasonably sane people, oneself included, to become helplessly trapped in a cycle of despair and adoration for a group of sportspeople. Currently, the football team which has been my deep love for more than thirty years – the “Pride of Hampshire”, Southampton FC, a.k.a [...]

I take the leap

Apologies for the rough quality of the photo, but it was a dark and crowded pub on a dark and soggy night. After 20 years of writing poetry, publishing “Read Me”, (see below), and innumerable public speaking appearances, this was, believe it or not, the first time I have ever actually read any of my [...]

Nothing to this global warming crap: go to sleep, everyone, go to sleeeeeeeep …

Nightmare storms on Christmas Day, and now …. http://m.theage.com.au/victoria/new-year-set-to-ring-in-swelter-of-the-century-20111228-1pcan.html Sheesh. Roll on bushfires, flash floods et al. Personally, I am staying in the pool for two days, wrinkly fingers or no wrinkly fingers.

Home thoughts from abroad

OK, so I have to confess: I never really get used to Christmas in Australia. I don’t think I ever really will. Not a complaint, merely an observation. It’s often bloody hot, for a start. Not just warm, but hot. A friend posts to Facebook that he’s excited to be going to Florida for the [...]

I know what will win the Melbourne Cup. Your personal guide to the race that stops a nation, horse by horse!

I don’t, of course. Just another nonsense headline to grab blog hits. (I am trying to prove a point here.) But big ups to Yahoo 7 sport for the excellent coverage of the field for the Melbourne Cup, (very useful for our overseas readers), and a day for which, thank the Lord, we actually have [...]