Apologies for not updating my blog during January. I must have some bearlike qualities, because I hibernated in January, though I have been working a little in my study, with a fire lit. I didn’t go out when the snow was on the ground, for obvious reasons.
However February has been a little more out-facing. I had two gigs recently. One of them was for a local WI, and I had such lovely comments afterwards, and even sold a couple of books. I selected poems that I thought would appeal to the audience, as I always do, and they were such a lovely audience to read to, because they got all my references, many of them being a similar age to me and with similar backgrounds. I led a small writing workshop for them and in the Q&A, they asked some interesting questions. I would love to do more for local WI groups. The fees may be modest but the rewards are great, simply connecting with people beyond the world of poetry, but who relish the opportunity to hear poems from me.
The other was at Poetry Whitchurch, which is a high quality open mic night, which features a guest poet. It happens at Percy’s Bar in Whitchurch, which is an extremely quirky place. The step up to the stage was quite high, so they set it up for me to read from the front of the stage on a chair, because my sets were a little too long for me to do them standing. I was invited by poet Helen Kay and introduced beautifully by Harvey Vasey, the host. Very few of the poems I read were the same as the WI gig. I always plan a bespoke set to suit the audience and venue. The open mic, in which everyone got to do two poems, was very entertaining and everyone performed well. It was a bitter cold night but the atmosphere was warm.
The photo is of me reading from the front, and features their new banners. I couldn’t help but think of my dear friend Ian Parr, who always supported me and other poet friends. He would certainly have been there, were he still alive and able to attend.
Angela Topping 