Going, Going...Nearly Gone!

Fingers crossed and touching wood - we should be off on our holliers tomorrow at 8pm. Looking forward to a different set-up but have pangs of sadness at leaving the pets as I'll miss them loads (I know, I'm a soppy beggar, aren't I? ;))- Mr Puss has had a limp these past few days so I took him to the vet yesterday, Mr Puss was as good as gold - he walked perfectly too and the vet couldn't find anything wrong with him - she said it could be a sort of phantasy limp if he subconsciously senses change... oh no...I could easily fall to bits at the thought of what might be going on in a pussy's mind...must keep myself strapped to reality and my love of travelling and being on the go ; ))

Back Sept. 14th. Happy 'what's-left-of-Summer' ; )

Holiday Hold Up

If things had gone according to plan, I would be at this very moment walking the streets of Dublin but sometimes even the best laid plans take funny turns. We have postponed our trip for four days due to my mother-in-law's carer having to go into hospital which meant we had to find and interview some new people for the job. Fortunately, we've just about got it sorted...and hopefully we will be able to go on Saturday. We will be leaving one state of family-affairs here to meet with another
state of family affairs in Ireland...luckily though, we have also included a family-free week in the wilds of Andalucia where we get to steep ourselves in the fascinating moor culture and sip Tio Pepe jerez at the same time, not to mention clicking fingers to the beat of flamenco...can't wait. : )

We have been lucky in getting some friends of friends to stay and look after our dogs and house and farm-sit. It is a relief that Páidi, our aging semi-husky doesn't have to be co-oped up in a kennels. The first question Antonio asked was 'where do you keep your cleaning material?' - I get the feeling, he'll be keeping the place spick-er and span-er than we do! Fingers crossed.

30:35

I decided to challenge myself to thirty poems in thirty five days giving me a little leeway to sleep-in, sleep-out and what have you, without it being exactly everyday. The D-day was yesterday and I am so, so chuffed as I did it! This was the first time I'd done a poem a day or so on my own, normally I do it with a great group of ITWS poets and I wanted to see if I could work up the tension and discipline myself...there were days when I definitely had to put the pressure on - my training with ITWS helped without a doubt. I must admit to missing the banter with the other poets and the reaction to the work...I may do this again later on in the year... but look forward in mid-september to a real 30:30 ; ) I'm quite happy with some of the poems that resulted from this whole activity - my qarrtsiluni poem - A Breeze in My Hair, which has just gone live/up, is one of this merry lot.

New Poet Discovery

Another great poet discovery - Diane Lockward - once again, it was through the Rattle blog that I came upon her poem Love Song with Plum - truly brillaint. And to feast on her work even more, the Rattle e-issue has a few more of her poems and a review of her book What Feeds Us, which needless to say, I immediately ordered. Roll on the holidays and the recently ordered box of books that will be waiting for me on the chest of drawers, in my childhood bedroom.

New Chapbook Arrival...

Collin Kelley's chapbook After the Poison arrived in the post yesterday. I have been dipping in and out of it and am thoroughly enjoying it...if I have not devoured it a few times before leaving for Ireland on the 5th, it may become my inflight companion.