Blogs

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00068sk/the-unwanted-the-secret-windrush-files Historian David Olusoga investigates the story, behind the story, of the Windrush Scandal. He unearths government papers to show the duplicity and hypocrisy of the British Government in creating ‘a hostile environment’ for those considered undesirable because of skin colour. Who can forget Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists? Enoch Powell and his ‘...

‘Hear me raw’ is a monthly poetry reading hosted on Skype for those people who can’t make live readings due to geography, nerves or simply because sometimes life gets in the way. The brainchild of internationally recognised journalist Hannah Storm and published poet Alex Smith (london_calling79) ‘Hear me raw’ seeks poets who are willing to read live via Skype (audio only at the moment) and to share the beauty of their craft with other poets...

Leggings - Maybell’s squad! Over the intervening weeks, Maybell has been working on her presentation, giving interviews and talks by radio, making sure her game is well known and played out. She has had members it seems of a public services course over to Norwich for evening work, and I do so hope that it doesn’t include the nude films, bdsm, and the dirty blankie house of 1001 pleasures…. They skulk at the bus station if I see them while...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0578x02/prejudice-and-pride-the-peoples-history-of-lgbtq-britain-series-1-episode-1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08zn99q/prejudice-and-pride-the-peoples-history-of-lgbtq-britain-series-1-episode-2 Presenters Susan Calaman and Stephen K Amos take us viewers through 50 years of LGBTQ history from before and after the (partial) decriminalisation of homosexuality in the 1967 Sexual Offences Act...

The latest release from Cerasus Poetry is ‘Swim With Me In Deep Water’ by Penny Sharman. It is already available to buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/107332852X?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 and will shortly be in stock to buy directly from Cerasus: https://cerasuspoetry.com/books/swim-with-me-in-deep-water You can discover more about Penny and read some of her poetry on her website: https://pennysharman.co.uk She has already had a pamphlet...

Summer's been a bit of a wash-out but everything in the ABCtales' garden is rosy. I've gone for a clutch of pieces that didn't get the golden cherries in the week but are no less deserving for that. First-up, a lovely piece of nature writing from Di-Hard is our poem of the week: https://www.abctales.com/story/dihard/18th-june-woods-and-back Story of the week is one that spoke to me for lots of reasons from the prolific and talented Rosalie...

I have not been blessed this week with the art of literary creation. I have been staring at blank pages for far too long…and too many hours…to feel content with my day. Why? What causes this lack of concentration…This ebb from imagination to flat line? I’ve only an empty room and humming keyboard responding…no answer forth coming. It is frustrating. I know the story is there and the next chapter on the verge of birth but...here…just on the...

Cider warned me, ‘he’ll no recognise you.’ Willie Miller was standing in the doorway, squinting in my direction. He bounded down the two steps and came out into his driveway, took a step up on to the mossy lawn to meet me. Cider hovered, anxiously, at my shoulder. ‘How you getting on Jack?’ Willie stuck out his hand. We shook hands, ‘Great Willie, how are you getting on?’ ‘No bad,’ he smiled. I only ever talked to Willie about fitba. I’ve known...

I came to read Doug Johntone’s The Jump , sideways. I’d never heard of the guy, but read a review and thought, aye. And I’m glad I did. Doug Johnstone is the business. If I need to talk about setting, then you’ve got it wrong. Ellie does the work for you. She knows every park bench and every pebble that has rolled down a hill around the Forth Road Bridge and South Queensferry. It’s imprinted on the page. Ellie likes the pain of tattoos, a...