The film showing went well, and it was the first time I saw it on the big screen!
There were about 30 people there. I wished for more mainly for Samuel's sake really, but it was a Tuesday so it was a week night.
The people who were there had either met and /or seen Samuel last year at the festival and loved him or they had missed him and wanted to see him! A second chance as it were.
It was excruciating to see the footage in the beginning of the film because of the poor light and sound due to the bad weather and traffic in NYC. However Samuel himself is so engaging that you quickly just go with him on the journey.
All in all I enjoyed the showing and many otehrs did too. They felt they were in the presence yet again and loved it.
I felt such gratitude for having been able to film him and visit him in the first place. Thank you Samuel.
The film is 66 mins long and it was a struggle to decide what to cut out from the hours of footage. He is so wonderful and intense and magical all the time!
The film is part and parcel of his book of poems with Bloodaxe Books and is glued in as a DVD in the back cover. As I can recall the price seemed reasonable to me so if you are interested look it up on Amazon.uk or Bloodaxe or whatever works for you.
It was such a special treat tosee a film on the big screen. It happens rarely now with my work since the dvd's are often screened in smaller spaces to ever smaller audiences.
Thank you Chloe Garner at Ledbury Poetry Festival!
Friday, 7 August 2009
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Family visit from Sweden
A week or so ago I had a family visit from Sweden or Sverige. My sister Penny came with my nephew Gabriel who is six.
Ryan Air had cheap air fares from Nykoeping to Edinburgh so she took advantage of that and came for 4-5 days. It was not a long visit but longer than a weekend which would have been far too short. In the end it was a good length because of its intensity.
I had not seen my sister for 13-14 years, since the winter of 1995-96, and I had never met my nephew. Last time was when I visited Sweden for Christmas and New Year and to see my son who was staying with my sister at the time.
So many years had passed and I was really looking forward to this visit, also I was to meet her son and to see her as a mother!
It was a wonderful time together! We talked so much and in Swedish and had endless pots of tea. For me it was wondrous to be "Swedish" again. It is my mother tongue and English is my father tongue. I love to speak it and apparently I dream in it and talk in my sleep in Swedish. It is fun and very elastic as a language, the sounds are gorgeous in the mouth and to the ear. You can quite freely change the words like plasticine and it is still easy to understand. Especially perhaps when you are sisters with a similar feeling for the language, a playfulness that we share also with my brother.
We had halcyon days together visiting Noah and playing games like Connect Four, lego, and roulette! Gabriel bought a game at a boot fair in Hexham that we went to on the Sunday, none of us knew the rules, but Neil actually did and so we all played together on the floor. I was the bank!
On another day we went to Kielder and to the Birds of Prey centre there. I brought a picnic in a basket so that we could have it by the lake side. It was amazing, we all got to hold birds on a glove as they had their flying/feeding time. The Owls made the biggest impression on us. There was a beauty called Whisper a barn owl. They fly silently. We also got to stroke a baby owl of six weeks and other small owls. Gabriel loved it and bought a tiny little cuddly one to take home whom he called Ugglis. Uggla means owl in Swedish. It started to rain so we drove home and had the picnic on a blanket on the floor in the living room!
Gabriel learned how to be gentle with the cats and they let him stroke them. He gave Myles/Milo little tiny saucers of milk.
When we visited Noah he also got to meet Sofie the sister of Myles and Fergus. She was far less interested in a little person!
Noah cooked us a gorgeous meal of a leg of lamb in a Schlemmertopf with vegetables. Mmm...yummy!
Penny was a also a very good mother. To see my sister with her son and that she was not only grown-up and responsible but she was still the fun younger sister I knew. That was what was so cool. She almost talked us into visiting Sweden again!
I really hope they come and visit again! Gabriel can even come on his own when he gets older and he could use some holiday time away and to practise English which he will be learning at school in the next few years. He does not know English yet.
I would love it if my brother visited too!
Ryan Air had cheap air fares from Nykoeping to Edinburgh so she took advantage of that and came for 4-5 days. It was not a long visit but longer than a weekend which would have been far too short. In the end it was a good length because of its intensity.
I had not seen my sister for 13-14 years, since the winter of 1995-96, and I had never met my nephew. Last time was when I visited Sweden for Christmas and New Year and to see my son who was staying with my sister at the time.
So many years had passed and I was really looking forward to this visit, also I was to meet her son and to see her as a mother!
It was a wonderful time together! We talked so much and in Swedish and had endless pots of tea. For me it was wondrous to be "Swedish" again. It is my mother tongue and English is my father tongue. I love to speak it and apparently I dream in it and talk in my sleep in Swedish. It is fun and very elastic as a language, the sounds are gorgeous in the mouth and to the ear. You can quite freely change the words like plasticine and it is still easy to understand. Especially perhaps when you are sisters with a similar feeling for the language, a playfulness that we share also with my brother.
We had halcyon days together visiting Noah and playing games like Connect Four, lego, and roulette! Gabriel bought a game at a boot fair in Hexham that we went to on the Sunday, none of us knew the rules, but Neil actually did and so we all played together on the floor. I was the bank!
On another day we went to Kielder and to the Birds of Prey centre there. I brought a picnic in a basket so that we could have it by the lake side. It was amazing, we all got to hold birds on a glove as they had their flying/feeding time. The Owls made the biggest impression on us. There was a beauty called Whisper a barn owl. They fly silently. We also got to stroke a baby owl of six weeks and other small owls. Gabriel loved it and bought a tiny little cuddly one to take home whom he called Ugglis. Uggla means owl in Swedish. It started to rain so we drove home and had the picnic on a blanket on the floor in the living room!
Gabriel learned how to be gentle with the cats and they let him stroke them. He gave Myles/Milo little tiny saucers of milk.
When we visited Noah he also got to meet Sofie the sister of Myles and Fergus. She was far less interested in a little person!
Noah cooked us a gorgeous meal of a leg of lamb in a Schlemmertopf with vegetables. Mmm...yummy!
Penny was a also a very good mother. To see my sister with her son and that she was not only grown-up and responsible but she was still the fun younger sister I knew. That was what was so cool. She almost talked us into visiting Sweden again!
I really hope they come and visit again! Gabriel can even come on his own when he gets older and he could use some holiday time away and to practise English which he will be learning at school in the next few years. He does not know English yet.
I would love it if my brother visited too!
Saturday, 1 August 2009
In summer, the song sings itself. - William Carlos Williams
In July this year a new bright spot was discovered on Venus. That is a beautiful metaphor.
It's summer time and the livin' is easier.
I feel like a hummingbird who has been living on Greenland until now...I wish to drink the nectar of summer and swim in ponds and smell the scents all around me of water, grass, flowers, sea breeze, sand, wet moss, pine...fireflies on my path at night.
Alegria!
It's summer time and the livin' is easier.
I feel like a hummingbird who has been living on Greenland until now...I wish to drink the nectar of summer and swim in ponds and smell the scents all around me of water, grass, flowers, sea breeze, sand, wet moss, pine...fireflies on my path at night.
Alegria!
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Happy Birthday Noah!
Today is the birthday of my son Noah.
We are having lunch together at his fave Hexham restaurant Bouchon. Then with tea time at his I shall give the gifts I will bring and other things of interest: a newspaper article I cut out on Jasper Joffe an artist "auctioning his life away", a jar of grass seed to patch his lawn-a game of croquet anyone?, my gardening book so that we can identify what disease one of his tomato plants has, a Betjeman LP he gave on loan and I want the reggae cd set back!
These are the minutiae, the details of exchange and yet the larger issue is how do you actually celebrate a birthday. And why?
Pretty much everyone I know has a different relationship to their birthday and how they wish to deal with it.
For me when I turned 50 I made it an opportunity to spend some time with the people I love. Friends who were spread out all over the world and bringing them together to pamper them and enable them to meet and enjoy eachothers company too. It was a massive weekend party/event with outings and dinners, parties, live music, fantastic food, and fun.
I felt good about it and since none of us really know how long we are around for it seemed like a perfect time to do it.
And I found the right place nearby to where I live, a large house with grounds, an outdoor jacuzzi, views and walks, plenty of space...
Would I do it again? I will think of something different if I celebrate again.
Today is Noah's birthday and I am looking forward to spending the day with him.
We are having lunch together at his fave Hexham restaurant Bouchon. Then with tea time at his I shall give the gifts I will bring and other things of interest: a newspaper article I cut out on Jasper Joffe an artist "auctioning his life away", a jar of grass seed to patch his lawn-a game of croquet anyone?, my gardening book so that we can identify what disease one of his tomato plants has, a Betjeman LP he gave on loan and I want the reggae cd set back!
These are the minutiae, the details of exchange and yet the larger issue is how do you actually celebrate a birthday. And why?
Pretty much everyone I know has a different relationship to their birthday and how they wish to deal with it.
For me when I turned 50 I made it an opportunity to spend some time with the people I love. Friends who were spread out all over the world and bringing them together to pamper them and enable them to meet and enjoy eachothers company too. It was a massive weekend party/event with outings and dinners, parties, live music, fantastic food, and fun.
I felt good about it and since none of us really know how long we are around for it seemed like a perfect time to do it.
And I found the right place nearby to where I live, a large house with grounds, an outdoor jacuzzi, views and walks, plenty of space...
Would I do it again? I will think of something different if I celebrate again.
Today is Noah's birthday and I am looking forward to spending the day with him.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Ledbury Poetry Festival Rocks
Every July the Ledbury Poetry Festival takes place in this charming ancient market town in the Malvern Hills.
This year I would say it was the best ever! Congratulations to Chloe Garner and her excellent team!
Highlights for me were the tennis finals between the Williams Sisters and Roger Federer and the other one. Just kidding.
But just barely, that weekend was riveting and I saw some of the best tennis since last years final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. It seems that during the festival Wimbledon is wrapping up and I must take time out for that!
Alice Oswald, Brian Catling, Ian Sinclair, Chase Twichell, Paul Farley, Ben Okri, Benjamin Zephaniah, Fred D'Aguiar, August Kleinzahler and John Hartley Williams were some of the poets I saw whilst there this year. Great variety and span.
Chase Twichell was a highlight for me. She is a commanding reader of insightful and intense poetry. She is very real and I was transfixed. August Kleinzahler is unique as a performer of his poetry. He is riveting.
I like this festival very much not only for its diverse programme but also for its friendly spirit and warm welcome.
There is a large room made availbale to those at the festival to sit down, read papers, relax with a hot beverage, talk to other attendees, and to meet. There are always snacks and drinks available and very friendly and helpful volunteers at all times!
I love that aspect and makes it very special in the world of festivals.
We have made good friends over the past couple of years that we have been going.
A visit to Great Malvern and its many second-hand bookshops yielded some finds. The Malvern Hills are lovely and it does not matter if it rains which it did! Had hot tea at Elgars tea room the Blue Bird! How about that?
If you are ever in that part of the country in the beginning to middle of July do consider visiting this poetry festival I highly recommend it.
I should also add the county is Herefordshire and the nearest large town is in fact Hereford.
This year I would say it was the best ever! Congratulations to Chloe Garner and her excellent team!
Highlights for me were the tennis finals between the Williams Sisters and Roger Federer and the other one. Just kidding.
But just barely, that weekend was riveting and I saw some of the best tennis since last years final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. It seems that during the festival Wimbledon is wrapping up and I must take time out for that!
Alice Oswald, Brian Catling, Ian Sinclair, Chase Twichell, Paul Farley, Ben Okri, Benjamin Zephaniah, Fred D'Aguiar, August Kleinzahler and John Hartley Williams were some of the poets I saw whilst there this year. Great variety and span.
Chase Twichell was a highlight for me. She is a commanding reader of insightful and intense poetry. She is very real and I was transfixed. August Kleinzahler is unique as a performer of his poetry. He is riveting.
I like this festival very much not only for its diverse programme but also for its friendly spirit and warm welcome.
There is a large room made availbale to those at the festival to sit down, read papers, relax with a hot beverage, talk to other attendees, and to meet. There are always snacks and drinks available and very friendly and helpful volunteers at all times!
I love that aspect and makes it very special in the world of festivals.
We have made good friends over the past couple of years that we have been going.
A visit to Great Malvern and its many second-hand bookshops yielded some finds. The Malvern Hills are lovely and it does not matter if it rains which it did! Had hot tea at Elgars tea room the Blue Bird! How about that?
If you are ever in that part of the country in the beginning to middle of July do consider visiting this poetry festival I highly recommend it.
I should also add the county is Herefordshire and the nearest large town is in fact Hereford.
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
The List
Having been away literally and not from DJANG for so long, much has happened, and if I do not list them they will escape me...
Ledbury Poetry Festival
Presenting Life is IMMENSE visiting Samuel Menashe
The Wimbledon Tennis finals
Full Moon
Malvern Hills and Great Malvern
Visit to Philip Gross in South Glamorgan, Wales
Banksy at Bristol City Art Gallery and Museum
Compton Verney Surrealist exhibition Subversive Spaces
A family visit from Sweden
London and to the Zoo for Kenneth Martins mobile
Pauls Birthday at the Engineer
Ledbury Poetry Festival
Presenting Life is IMMENSE visiting Samuel Menashe
The Wimbledon Tennis finals
Full Moon
Malvern Hills and Great Malvern
Visit to Philip Gross in South Glamorgan, Wales
Banksy at Bristol City Art Gallery and Museum
Compton Verney Surrealist exhibition Subversive Spaces
A family visit from Sweden
London and to the Zoo for Kenneth Martins mobile
Pauls Birthday at the Engineer
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Mole on a wire
AKA Borderline was shown for the first time at UNN for the Northernness conference last week.
There was a small but committed audience for the session which included Anne Vibeke Moe and Tim Brennan both talking about their more recent work, and myself presenting Borderline. Malcolm Gee was the moderator.
I was very pleased with the feedback I felt that some had really got what I was trying to convey with the film without using text or language to nevertheless drive a narrative.
A friend came and she was very supportive which I much appreciated. It is always so good to sit down with someone sympatico afterwards for a reality check.
I met a few new people from Brighton and Hongkong and Chester which I enjoyed too. They found it poetic and memorable.
I shall look forward to sharing it on facebook and on vimeo and youtube as well.
The conference was very interesting and there were many papers and presentations plus an exhibition which I went to see before returning to the valley.
For me the main thing was perhaps after all showing work that is very much mine and not only the work I do with Bloodaxe Books, which is also mine of course but in a different way.
Thanks and kudos to Ysanne Holt and Paul Usherwood.
There was a small but committed audience for the session which included Anne Vibeke Moe and Tim Brennan both talking about their more recent work, and myself presenting Borderline. Malcolm Gee was the moderator.
I was very pleased with the feedback I felt that some had really got what I was trying to convey with the film without using text or language to nevertheless drive a narrative.
A friend came and she was very supportive which I much appreciated. It is always so good to sit down with someone sympatico afterwards for a reality check.
I met a few new people from Brighton and Hongkong and Chester which I enjoyed too. They found it poetic and memorable.
I shall look forward to sharing it on facebook and on vimeo and youtube as well.
The conference was very interesting and there were many papers and presentations plus an exhibition which I went to see before returning to the valley.
For me the main thing was perhaps after all showing work that is very much mine and not only the work I do with Bloodaxe Books, which is also mine of course but in a different way.
Thanks and kudos to Ysanne Holt and Paul Usherwood.
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