21 March, 2014. Guardian letter on the Budget, and main letter quote. Link here:

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/mar/20/budget-spin-bribery-not-jot-humanity

20 March, 2014. Oxford Poetry to publish next term, the poem I have decided will be the title poem of my next book. Very pleased Lucy likes it  -- I value her judgement!

Cheltenham Reading, 6 April 12.30 pm. now listed  in brochure:

http://www.cheltenhampoetryfest.co.uk/eventdetail.php?ID=110

I hope people come - looking forward to it!

18th Feb. 2014

Another long newsy letter from Les in Oz - he's taken two more poems for Quadrant. What a fabulous supporter of my work, and great friend! Also one of nature's gentlemen! Love him to bits, even if he'll never read it here, hating computers as he does!

8 February 2014. Reading in Oxford with students went well.
Heaney memorial event, anguishing - done well though.
New embroidery on contacts page.

17 December 2013.

The editor of the European Marine Board's strategic report, which covers all planning for the next ten years, including what to do to enable the oceans to survive climate change, has asked if they can include my poem 'Pavlopetri'(originally published in the New Statesman) with a couple of comments of mine, to help illustrate the report. They want to get the sciences and the arts speaking together on this subject and also to make it as accessible as possible. They like the poem and think it will help.

The report goes to a staggering number of countries, places, politicians, cultural leads etc. A huge reach.

Of course I agreed to re-publicication, and feel both proud and humble to be asked!

12 December 2013

Cheltenham Poetry Festival reading confirmed, 6 April 2014, 12.30 - 2 pm.
Will be reading with Paul Hayward, who will be discussing and reading from the rediscovered and republished work of his father, William Hayward, a poet and novelist from the fifties.