We're just back from our summer holidays. No, it hasn't been a long break, we have been busy at home this summer. We have had a few November days in Birmingham - we don't care for hot beach holidays anyway. Travelling by train and renting an apartment in the city centre, we enjoyed relaxing evenings in, looking after little Frank. The website promised lots of Sky entertainment, but the reality was that TV choice was rather limited, so we watched "I'm a celebrity, get me out of here".I'm such a pompous snob that I have never bothered to watch this show before, but my common-as-muck friends love it. Plus everybody's heard about it through all the unavoidable news headlines. And I've got to admit I'm hooked, and am watching it now. It's quite troubling to see people voluntarily submit themselves to public humiliation, and I'm not comfortable with the way insects and reptiles are mistreated so that we can be served up with squeamish entertainment. But Ant and Dec provide some quality links. And I want Stacey to win!
Talking about public humiliation I have offered myself up for some. I am appearing as my creation "Fred Slattern - Colchester's Slum Poet" with extracts from Fred's latest collection "Fanfare for the Common Van".
It will be at "The Poetry Slam" at Colchester Arts Centre on 2 December. As audience reaction helps decide the winner, I'm hoping Fred's people will turn out for him. Or will it be the current day equivalent of bear-baiting, with the audience wanting to rip me to shreds? Give me no sympathy; I am, after all, a voluntary patient.
Welcome back ya big blogger. It's been far too long!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you've had a relaxing holiday. {sorry to hear that - like the majority of us - you've been sucked into 'reality' TV. I haven't seen much but I want Stacey to win too...}
Nice to hear that Fred is well and gaining honourable attention.
Hope the family are all well. It's been so long I was thinking of visiting your wife's blog to see what had been happening.
So, are you back, or is this just a blip on the absence monitor???
Cheers Swifty......
Yep, I'm back. Muffin Moon's always a better picture of what we are really up to, as opposed to my fantasy world on the www!
ReplyDeleteSaw Dick Gaughan recently, and it made me think of you and your interest in Scottish history. I've read a lot about Scots' and Irish history over the last 10 years, yet still have only scratched the surface. Dick had a lot to say about Burns and Bonnie Prince Charlie!!! And I'm planning a trip to Cape Wrath, because it is there! (Always wanted to go, and if not soon than when?)