The Memories of Animals

Here is an excerpt from my novel-in-progress, The Memories of Animals, an extraordinarily gripping story of animals and their memories.
 

Chapter 7: They Finally Confront the Elephant in the Room

Chapter 8:  King Er-Pot Addresses His Troops

Chapter 9: Later That Same Day ...

 

Jonny Fluffypunk's Pennygaff #2

 

I am performing as my gloomy poet at this event on Saturday at Stroud Valleys Artspace. Do come along! The night includes a full preview of Wil Greenway's Edinburgh show and a set from Matt Harvey, as well as the inimitable Jonny Fluffypunk as compere. 

More information on facebook here.

Gloom on Film

Here’s a short clip of my performance in May as a depressed poet reading gloomy poetry.  Many thanks to Chris Challen and friends for filming it. 

I’ll be doing more performances of this sort of morbid nonsense on Thursday 3^rd of July at (the aptly-named) Black Book Cafe, Stroud, as part of the “Death – Not a Laughing Matter?” night, and at Stroud Valleys Artspace on Saturday 12^th of July as part of the cabaret night, Jonny Fluffypunk’s Penny Gaff (more details to follow).

Mourning Glory

Here’s a picture of my performance as a depressed poet that took place during the Site Festival in May in Stroud. (Thanks to Stuart Bryan for the photograph.)

If you’re wondering who the lady in the picture behind me is, her name is Mavis and she left me from another.

For a man named Dave.

Here’s a poem I wrote about it:

Oh, Where Art Thou, Mavis?

I know too well that Mavis

Will be wherever Dave is.

*                     *                     *

The performance is being filmed this Sunday (8^th June) in the Weaving Shed, on the High Street in Stroud.  If anyone would like to be part of the audience, I’d be very grateful.   Please come along at 1.50pm and the filming will start at 2pm.   

Hopefully see you there!

In Glooming May

For I have tried

The wardrobe door and looked inside

And seen the souls of all who’ve died.

And I have looked beneath the bed

And seen the multitudes of dead.

And I have looked beneath the doormat

And seen their everlasting torment.

                          

                *                   *                   *

Open Studios weekends in Stroud, Saturdays and Sundays 10^th -11^th and 17^th-18^th May 2014

For Open Studios this year I will be showing a series of vintage photographs accompanied by gloomy poems (as above).

This show will take place in the Weaving Shed, 29 High Street, Stroud, and is generously being hosted by weaver, artist, traveller, raconteuse and mistress of the spoons, Sally Hampson.

I will also be doing ten-minute performances as my gloomy poetic alter-ego, reading poems with titles such as Things Will Be Better in the Grave and Things Will Be Quieter in the Tomb.  These performances will take place at 12.10, 2.10 and 4.10pm on each day.

In addition the Hawker’s Pot suitcase will be in attendance, stuffed to the brim with puns. 

Overall, I hope your visit  will leave you with the following sentiment entrenched in your mind:

Full Open Studios catalogue here
More information about the Site Festival here