tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314962202024-03-18T15:51:48.327+00:00Anna Meryt WritingsSelection of my writings, memoir,
prose, poetry Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-55111788761060488132024-03-13T21:51:00.003+00:002024-03-18T15:51:15.248+00:00NOT A BAD WORD - MARCH EVENT Wed 20th @7.15 pm.<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjo3AddDZuxqUefQ0k5_pYfFEfKT3EVf1leixvg4JqLlVGaeFikEjDg5SiokbdXu1mIyDRfRAwnMDKN7aARP03G90zxD102JyS23IEdWKBKG815M0RHrIvs22M37uTVUMsRhkfbBQq3rzenKgZUpSeNVVWlazphXTSeR4sB2F9TOlS_RHmly9vP" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="305" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjo3AddDZuxqUefQ0k5_pYfFEfKT3EVf1leixvg4JqLlVGaeFikEjDg5SiokbdXu1mIyDRfRAwnMDKN7aARP03G90zxD102JyS23IEdWKBKG815M0RHrIvs22M37uTVUMsRhkfbBQq3rzenKgZUpSeNVVWlazphXTSeR4sB2F9TOlS_RHmly9vP=w254-h359" width="254" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #6aa84f;">On Wed eve, March 20th it's the Spring version of Not A Bad Word. Instead of hearts (last month's Valentine theme) it's flowers or Easter bunnies or whatever you like - you can follow the theme or jump off somewhere else.</b></span></span></p><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #6aa84f;"> There's Open Mic so you can bring a poem or a piece of music or just bring your wonderful selves along for a fun night out of listening to some lovely words. We've got a great line up of some very special performers. Do come.</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisWswQBZClPl0N5MOMM8axVjlf8wp0oj67V_a6WD0TERkqVVrTP8TcZDIeLS2Rd8jUTjJUeJgmQgy_Rk5KdQIcqvK94KurZEEUEEJM7YN18oIM_i8eTETwwS5jC-ouDsvaj_TYrCaaoxPpINwtPMqatfIClmRC_dNnr1U_mm2G6GksLAf7icR7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="305" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisWswQBZClPl0N5MOMM8axVjlf8wp0oj67V_a6WD0TERkqVVrTP8TcZDIeLS2Rd8jUTjJUeJgmQgy_Rk5KdQIcqvK94KurZEEUEEJM7YN18oIM_i8eTETwwS5jC-ouDsvaj_TYrCaaoxPpINwtPMqatfIClmRC_dNnr1U_mm2G6GksLAf7icR7=w395-h558" width="395" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-73645608350868537212024-02-18T22:04:00.004+00:002024-02-18T22:07:13.418+00:00<p> <b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Not a Bad Word</span></b> <span style="font-family: verdana;">returns - our local monthly evening of poetry and music at <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Crouch End Picturehouse</b></span> - on Feb 21st at 7:15 p.m. a week after Valentine's Day - with poems about <span style="color: red;"><b>LOVE </b></span>๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ in any shape or form - not just romantic - could be about love of nature, parents, friendship, beauty or could be about the absence of love or loss of love ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ - whatever you need to express - bring a poem for the open mike - or sing a song. And then listen to our great line-up of experienced performing poets in the second half. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36d3DQYMvE3Bn2Zxf90X5tb4_5_61q7mYFciSjUYRitZEQELQ19-seSuNk-ZanjLKv124XB5t8PTrueR1poWEQ6IKXiFAX6Rqy1fNMykYf-TQJHTP5Km-YT2lzX8ndEoLqzIzc5ohytiPiG5Uxtq7h7S4f9ecw-jaxTbyo6qkDkAn5BM947kg/s3508/Not%20a%20Bad%20Word%20poster%2021-2-24%20v%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3508" data-original-width="2480" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36d3DQYMvE3Bn2Zxf90X5tb4_5_61q7mYFciSjUYRitZEQELQ19-seSuNk-ZanjLKv124XB5t8PTrueR1poWEQ6IKXiFAX6Rqy1fNMykYf-TQJHTP5Km-YT2lzX8ndEoLqzIzc5ohytiPiG5Uxtq7h7S4f9ecw-jaxTbyo6qkDkAn5BM947kg/w348-h493/Not%20a%20Bad%20Word%20poster%2021-2-24%20v%201.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hope to see you all there - the event is free ( you can donate ยฃ3 if you like ) bargain). The event this time is hosted by Anna Meryt and Viv Fogel.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"><b>Anna Meryt ๐</b></span></div><br /><p></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-69621444202968593052023-12-28T18:33:00.004+00:002023-12-30T00:05:33.975+00:00Rain<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4Ds5nlvfTS1f5HH8T4atvYloB4838D3DEJ_wEm90TEAoFI_M6mZFoucW9a1uuEHvdCuoOn33wJsJLXZCnamw5urdS5WNrmSapoip_U56E4pvjKMGprPQEaP__4p_lHnBzqmNdPr4dAOPsoBOUWE9yzvF95f3HEUk14OvtvpeHwfx9WfJKk8L/s894/raining_words_by_matteoborgi-d3at2ls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="894" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4Ds5nlvfTS1f5HH8T4atvYloB4838D3DEJ_wEm90TEAoFI_M6mZFoucW9a1uuEHvdCuoOn33wJsJLXZCnamw5urdS5WNrmSapoip_U56E4pvjKMGprPQEaP__4p_lHnBzqmNdPr4dAOPsoBOUWE9yzvF95f3HEUk14OvtvpeHwfx9WfJKk8L/s320/raining_words_by_matteoborgi-d3at2ls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Post Xmas blues - it's been grey cold
and raining all day - all the build-up to Xmas, buying presents (last-minute in
my case). Then a friend came round to help wrap the endless
presents (6 kids 7 adults). ... and I also spent Xmas Eve making mince
pies and a nut-roast and then it was Xmas Day ... I like practical
presents - so that's what I got - plus a beautiful pair of pajama bottoms -
lovely colours - too nice to wear to bed and my fav chocs - Booja booja - the
best.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">I came across this poem in January 2020 when I went to Cape Town for a month. I lived there in the 70s and wrote a book about how myself, my husband and baby had lived there under full-on apartheid - called <b>A Hippopotamus at the Table (</b>pub'd by Tambourine Press 2015).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpqrKF99Y0UWOIK9Og-mqYTgmWuTUb-9FhSsSiCJtI0a94boq7lMsunsEVwZnhIWW9pbA1LzxlRTktHAnZ7RXKt6BmP-NsJnT2zW_6nil7yW9NVXpBMqmKFzar4pUN6N9oG_kAx23vfmEmjs-Dpu132g5MdfVwsodJt9C1nE3qsW-Mto1LmQy/s2398/Hippo%20front%20cover%20v1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2398" data-original-width="1588" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpqrKF99Y0UWOIK9Og-mqYTgmWuTUb-9FhSsSiCJtI0a94boq7lMsunsEVwZnhIWW9pbA1LzxlRTktHAnZ7RXKt6BmP-NsJnT2zW_6nil7yW9NVXpBMqmKFzar4pUN6N9oG_kAx23vfmEmjs-Dpu132g5MdfVwsodJt9C1nE3qsW-Mto1LmQy/w134-h202/Hippo%20front%20cover%20v1b.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">While in Cape Town, that Jan 2020, I went to visit the widow of an old friend and very good poet - Peter Kantey. We sat out in the garden, talked poetry of course and I read Elisha and their daughter Dominique a few of my poems, at their request. They brought out some poems by Peter and friends. This one - Rain - I immediately fell in love with - I photographed it to type it up one day .... </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">But .... </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">a few weeks after my return .... we were in lockdown</span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">and the rest is history, and I forgot all about it .... until the other day, it randomly popped up on my phone. So I finally typed it up and here it is - the topic is rather appropriate for today. And after it, I include one of my favourite poems from Peter - which may be the title of a collection soon to be published by Tambourine Press, posthumously sadly. I know he would have been delighted, dear Peter. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">Finally there's a short poem I wrote, still on the rain theme - Raindrops on my Tongue</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">Rain</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">by Michael Cope</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">That
day it rained Poetry.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">At
first, it started with a few words falling;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">there
fell love, here sunset,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">a
lark or two, a patriotic sentiment โฆ<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">It
fell faster; the Iliad and the Odyssey came down<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">in
a sudden squall of dark archaic drops,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">the
words of Shakespeare fell, the words of Dante<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">and
Wordsworth, of Rimbaud and of Donne;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">harder
and harder they pelted, soaking into the soil<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">or
forming puddles, here perhaps a little sonnet<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">trickling
off the eaves<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">spatters
of Limericks, a dirge on the slate path.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">It
seemed to be slackening<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">so
I opened the front door, put my hand out to feel,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">caught
a verse from the Diamond Sutra<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">and
a Latin couplet in my hand<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">wiped
them on my trouser leg and came back in<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">to
the hot chocolate and the rain-watching.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Li
Po ran mournfully on the window pane.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">A
couple of protest poems shook themselves off the carnations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">and
joined a sonnet grieving for death.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">We
could see it would soon be over and in a few days<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">we
would be able to pick huge mushrooms<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">nurtured
by D.H. Lawrence<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">and
the farmers would be glad of the downpour.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">So
we put on our raincoats and our Wellingtons<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">and
went out to trudge among the puddles and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">the
leaves damp with words<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">and
we were puzzled as to the meaning of this showerโฆ<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">But
when we came back for supper<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">we
carefully wiped the poems from our boots.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">We
stayed indoors and watched the words come out of the sky<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">bouncing
off the oak leaves and forming quatrains<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">that
washed the bird-shit from the car roof.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Small
words on the windows<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">wrote
nursery rhymes or ballads<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">that
trickled and ran, reforming themselves<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">in
the wonders of Spencer and Yeats's finest memories.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">In
the gutter leaves, words and mud rolled<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">towards
the storm-drain.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">but
from the window, through the gathering and changing verses<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">we
could not discern their content.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">We
knew however, that somewhere<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Mayakovski
and Rilke<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">were
darkening the soil<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">and
that cummings would help the seedlings in the yard<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">that
Elliot would grow fine roses;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">but
feared that Shakespeare and Goethe<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">would
cause the dams to break,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">spilling
the dangerous flood,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">ripping
at land and trees in all directions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Through
a break in the cloud<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">the
sun illuminated a canto by Pound<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">near
the foot of a young palm tree<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">and
sparkled over the Mahabharata<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">as
it seeped through the lawn.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">We
sipped hot chocolate and watched a truck go by, splashing Kipling and some
obscure triolets against the hedge,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 10pt;">leaving
them to run muddy onto the pavement.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial Narrow",sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt;">Gus Ferguson
wrote in an email: โIf a book is done, I
suggest you include the Mike Cope poem โRainโ, as it really makes me think of
Pete [Kantey]โ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Arial Narrow", sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt;">When I first
heard Michael read this poem in the small garden adjacent to the South African
National Gallery, along with his father, novelist Jack Cope, Menan Du Plessis,
and Peter Clarke โ it too, made me think of inspiring discussions about Life,
the Universe and Poetry, upstairs in Peterโs study, with rain thundering down
on the roof and whooshing out of the gutters.</span><span face=""Arial Narrow", sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt;">
</span><span face=""Arial Narrow", sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt;">I remember too, memorable discussions at al fresco luncheons and wine-soaked
dinners โ meals surrounded by ebullient, talkative artists, writers, painters
and musicians, who never ceased with their constant flow of words, jokes, stories,
anecdotes and quotes from remarkable women and men in the giddy world of arts
and culture.</span> </p><p>Here's Peter Kantey's poem <b>All Blue</b> which he wrote and sent to me, back in London in the 80s...</p><p class="Poemheading"><a name="_Toc69596719"> <b>All Blue</b></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">I die of Rain
Forest;</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Tiger, I die of
sleep;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">I die of flowing,
clear river;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Grizzly; spawning
salmon;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">I die of teaming
grassland;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Antelope, Great
Karoo; <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">I die of clear,
crystal fjords<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Timber wolf; whale
meet again;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Bodypoem"><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>I die of love; accountability;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Responsibility;
vision.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">.... and finally I was walking down the street with a little girl called Neveah (Heaven backwards) one day and she was dancing in front of me with her tongue out - here's the poem I wrote for her -</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Raindrops on my
Tongue<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Dropping pear drops from the sky</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I close my eyes and<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">skip skip skip<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">down the wet pavement.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Rasberry, strawberry or banana?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Today Iโll pick the caramel toffee fudge<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">and feel the big wet drops of icy grey<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">counting one two three. โฆ<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Dark sky, grey clouds and Iโm wearing<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">pink shoes, dancing shoes, blue coat,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">rainbows kaleidoscope over my head<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I put out my tongue and jump skip jump<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">catching flavours and colours<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">sherbet lemons fizzing. . <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-52376431968326856482023-12-16T12:24:00.004+00:002023-12-16T13:00:14.102+00:00Not A Bad Word Xmas Special 20th Dec<p> Come along to </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: red; color: #04ff00; font-size: large;">The Crouch End Picturehouse, Upstairs 1st Floor</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Not A Bad Word</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Xmas Special</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">165 Tottenham Lane, London, N8</span></b> </p><p style="text-align: center;">for a mixture of poetry, music and song... </p><p style="text-align: center;">First half Open mic, second half booked poets</p><p style="text-align: center;">on a winter/ festive theme ... </p><p style="text-align: center;">you can carry some tinsel, wear a Xmas hat or one of those Xmas headbands .. </p><p>...even dig out your Xmas jumper! You won't be alone. </p><p style="text-align: center;">๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐ต๐</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>It's on Wed 20th Dec ..at 7.15 ... til 9.30 pm</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwg8zmm_e-byhcUK7aW1K7XOUCxpmzq7O7LQCsgJTc2A9clYXGVvnap3iI-rpN7ppmpIMhE7p6t6UGmDyXl-OROmgJXkIRSL5y-YKIEQEiaUVHJQXB0i6RlTtZb49BBA4797MXmxca-YGui_h7sBmEeReQi4c179CjZSusF2KFFSacC1nAZCQH/s618/Not%20a%20Bad%20Word%2020-12-23%20v6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="486" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwg8zmm_e-byhcUK7aW1K7XOUCxpmzq7O7LQCsgJTc2A9clYXGVvnap3iI-rpN7ppmpIMhE7p6t6UGmDyXl-OROmgJXkIRSL5y-YKIEQEiaUVHJQXB0i6RlTtZb49BBA4797MXmxca-YGui_h7sBmEeReQi4c179CjZSusF2KFFSacC1nAZCQH/s320/Not%20a%20Bad%20Word%2020-12-23%20v6.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-5598979958728173102023-10-20T09:48:00.003+01:002023-10-24T02:09:28.623+01:00Writing Memoir. How to Write a Story From Your Life<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZG6WkUp87cpmG0n7bjpVf8OfrTreZY9oMP5K3hHxv7sW40ek8skm2g4yRGQ_pSHlczBOcJt38ORyZmuZJZLWVkVuk89grCLdx5O_fgMn1cN_ex9_47XdbvEL_G8m01zo-7xINfXjpwsC-E_044K2F7ymWACUD8P5Hx-AoYDVVlfSgtIIyajl/s3178/WM%20%20Nov%2027-22%20-%20Mao.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2418" data-original-width="3178" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZG6WkUp87cpmG0n7bjpVf8OfrTreZY9oMP5K3hHxv7sW40ek8skm2g4yRGQ_pSHlczBOcJt38ORyZmuZJZLWVkVuk89grCLdx5O_fgMn1cN_ex9_47XdbvEL_G8m01zo-7xINfXjpwsC-E_044K2F7ymWACUD8P5Hx-AoYDVVlfSgtIIyajl/w378-h287/WM%20%20Nov%2027-22%20-%20Mao.jpg" width="378" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This book was first published at the end of 2017. It's now in its third edition. I'd written one memoir and then taught memoir writing for a few years to small local groups. My teaching experience has been in various settings and subjects, starting with teaching the history of Ancient Egypt for a while in Adult and Higher Education (my degree was in Ancient and Near Eastern History at University College London). I'd been to Egypt many times - employed by Hayes and Jarvis to give talks about Ancient Egyptian history to British tourists on Agatha Christie-type paddle steamer boats (now petrol-powered) as we travelled down the Nile from Luxor to Aswan. I'd taught the same subject to undergraduates for a while at Birkbeck. Here's a bit of a flavour of Egypt - </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-size: 14pt;">Before Sunrise in the East</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Oh
- la - a -a - a</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">rudely
awakened at godforsaken 5 am</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">I
smell the dust and heat and remember where I am.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">The
muhaddin call electronically loud</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">all
over the city, from the loud speakers</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">at
the top of the mosques,</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">strategically
placed trumpets</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">blaring
criss-cross over the hot misty city</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">calling
to arms Allah's
army of worshippers</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">"<i>get
up, fall to your knees<o:p></o:p></i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>face
Mecca and pray</i>".</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">And
I, in my godless western sloth,</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">turn
over and pull</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">my pillows over my head</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But that was not the sum of my teaching background, due to discovering in the eighties that I had an aptitude for this new technology - computers! Me and my husband had gone for broke to get our soon-to-be teenage daughter an Amstrad (a Xmas present bought with a credit card. Thanks to Alan Sugar we started to have affordable computers in our own homes). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My aptitude for computers - which had been developed as an Exams Administrator at the Polytechnic of North London, eventually led to my teaching Info Tech to undergraduates when the Poly became London Metropolitan University - teaching HTML, how to create databases, using spreadsheets and word processing. In those days most people didn't know how to turn a computer (PC) on, let alone type something, save and file it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the mid-90s, a friend - Glynis taught at Holloway Prison. An IT teaching post came up there - after a few month's trial I was teaching there 5 days a week, plus teaching Egyptology evening classes at the Working Mens College or City University or Birkbeck University. I had 2 kids by then and an actor husband who was in and out of work. So we relied on my steady income.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm rather breaking my own rules on memoir writing so far. This is giving you not so much memoir as a potted background history to show why I wrote this book. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">During the pandemic, I employed a guy to market my (then) two books and Writing Memoir sold rather well in America and Canada using Amazon Ads. For a while, it was selling 150 books per month. This, however barely covered the cost of my marketing guy's fees and the Amazon Ads fees.. I made a small profit. But what happened was, the book started to stack up reviews and now has nearly 200 reviews, around 75% were 5* (<i><b>8 to go - so please, if you buy my book, leave a review ... let's make it to 200</b></i>) So many people have told me it has taught them how to start writing memoir because now they can see how to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So what is 'memoir' also called 'creative non-fiction' - well it is NOT autobiography. I'll tell you this much only - it's a story from your life. If you want to know more - well you'll have to read my book. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">What it is NOT though is a boring list of facts about your life, strung together for your grandchildren, Writing a decent memoir is like writing a novel, except it's a true story. It should be a page-turner, it should have dialogue, description and scenes to bring it to life. If you want to know more, firstly read the following feedback I recently discovered on my blog - someone called Dee (not my cousin Dee), I'm guessing this Dee is from America, she sent me this - and then if you are thinking of writing a story from your life - <b><span style="color: red;">BUY THE BOOK ON AMAZON. </span><span> Be sure to leave a review. Reviews sell books.</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here's that review from Dee in America- </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt;"><span style="color: #37474f; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Hello Anna, I just wanted to drop a hello and say that I'm currently reading your book, <b>Writing Memoir, How to Write A Story from Your Life.</b> It has helped me a lot, for it gets to the point, no
goings on about this and that, like some do. I like the chapter on, Your Voice
the Narrator, and your advice to read other authors' memoirs to check out their
writing style for it all adds up to becoming the voice. The key questions you
provide, to ask myself, helped me to understand that finding my voice doesn't
have to be some big unusual, interesting, or not, revelation. Finding my
voice is right in front of the mirror, everything I'm made of, believe in,
morals, values, the way I talk, my emotions, thoughts. The other important thing, is
to read other authors, even find some favourites, do some research, but mostly,
just get to it, write, write, write. </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt;"><span style="color: #37474f; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Your book led me to read William Zinsser's
books, <b>On Writing Well</b> and <b>Inventing the Truth the Art & Craft of Memoir.</b>
Which are 2 excellent books. </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt;"><span style="color: #37474f; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Overall your book may be small but it packs a big
punch! I'm writing my first memoir, I have written so far, 3 individual stories
I remember from a youngster, and am finding titles for them, tacking them to my
mind mapping board, that you recommended, it works fantastic by the way. Gives
me the chance to put my story ideas in front of me and clear my mind for new
stuff to come through</i>. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt;"><span style="color: #37474f; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...........................................................................................................................................</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt;"><span style="color: #37474f; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That's one of quite a few really nice reviews people have given to this book.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So here's the link to the Amazon website if you want to buy the book - either as an e-book or a paperback.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRPJurS3kM7J8QcX9_C2RCK02DwaNok9U5Dv9gRq8CWADNIE2qkd2CzsycgfTObPdYREyb_3XmlP7CbRuY4giCYN3umkENx8E39reQDQ44l7AdBOA6FeyEb1aQ8zd_BbLEfLGhUoPtJxlRFqsN6fPhXn-xhSWcJIu-1bUwRI8QB_r42d2ylZV/s901/Memoir%20Book%20Cover%20thumbnail-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="585" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRPJurS3kM7J8QcX9_C2RCK02DwaNok9U5Dv9gRq8CWADNIE2qkd2CzsycgfTObPdYREyb_3XmlP7CbRuY4giCYN3umkENx8E39reQDQ44l7AdBOA6FeyEb1aQ8zd_BbLEfLGhUoPtJxlRFqsN6fPhXn-xhSWcJIu-1bUwRI8QB_r42d2ylZV/s320/Memoir%20Book%20Cover%20thumbnail-1.jpg" width="208" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Memoir-Writing-Write-Story-Your-ebook/dp/B078993ZBY/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=anna+meryt&qid=1697756948&sr=8-1"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Writing Memoir: How to Write A Story From Your Life (Third Edition) eBook : Meryt, Anna: Amazon.co.uk: Books</span></a></p><p>And my first memoir - </p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hippopotamus-Table-Africa-apartheid-1975-78-ebook/dp/B015ELA2P2/ref=sr_1_2?adgrpid=1180876386383656&hvadid=73804977581991&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=41471&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-73804908108838%3Aloc-188&hydadcr=24396_2219471&keywords=anna+meryt&qid=1697791340&sr=8-2">A Hippopotamus at the Table</a><br /></p><p>The second memoir - Beyond the Bounds - is waiting to be published.</p><p><br /></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-90985158481427475772023-10-05T18:34:00.004+01:002023-10-18T11:52:54.438+01:00NOT A BAD WORD - POETRY EVENT WED OCTOBER 18 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaaAwTgdYgovM-SEeCIEkq9AtrSa7qx9kITgHqcd4TZcflSrPfroYJ01ih0t3havYjkQgCtzl5IA8uqkRSjoswPS6SGdKEAaoRLRzSMTdCLUrCB4_CtDzs4_0G-ETupdnx2Usd1tf-fNG55x3bIUEDQL5R2XEBNjoGOfypzpo73P7-3J72MN4/s618/NABW%2020-10-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="486" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaaAwTgdYgovM-SEeCIEkq9AtrSa7qx9kITgHqcd4TZcflSrPfroYJ01ih0t3havYjkQgCtzl5IA8uqkRSjoswPS6SGdKEAaoRLRzSMTdCLUrCB4_CtDzs4_0G-ETupdnx2Usd1tf-fNG55x3bIUEDQL5R2XEBNjoGOfypzpo73P7-3J72MN4/w481-h536/NABW%2020-10-23.jpg" width="481" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqTzDgK7jUJuO4QvgocU2IyoKen7Djx-tqlMuFev5cTbSA2JyNgzQMqrWTUtDMb_8t05Tkzsk6VupbmFS_cWybNm2QBbjRrVb0QypuFdIBkpGT4nuM38yGMg33WsA223t3YNTgxm3Dy9jXSxv2LeKBAuAkZoXpYKt5TKN4K9N8Ndo9O7SH6b-/s618/Poster%20-%20AW%20-%20Not%20a%20Bad%20Word%2020-10-23%20v2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="486" height="25" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqTzDgK7jUJuO4QvgocU2IyoKen7Djx-tqlMuFev5cTbSA2JyNgzQMqrWTUtDMb_8t05Tkzsk6VupbmFS_cWybNm2QBbjRrVb0QypuFdIBkpGT4nuM38yGMg33WsA223t3YNTgxm3Dy9jXSxv2LeKBAuAkZoXpYKt5TKN4K9N8Ndo9O7SH6b-/w20-h25/Poster%20-%20AW%20-%20Not%20a%20Bad%20Word%2020-10-23%20v2.png" width="20" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-43981314456359527442023-08-27T16:32:00.003+01:002023-09-17T15:59:11.701+01:00Anna Meryt Writings: NOT A BAD WORD poetry event - new date, new venue<a href="http://www.ameryt.com/2023/08/not-bad-word-poetry-event-new-date-new.html?spref=bl">Anna Meryt Writings: NOT A BAD WORD poetry event - new date, new venue</a>: We're excited to announce a new venue for our poetry event in North London - It's now to be at <b>The Crouch End Playhouse, Tottenham Lane N8 </b>regularly on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZU8rjvS2m5_rAIzfD2PDS9dxA6Yxlqq3-FT6m_jqR13tcOZEY9CZ3-CQVwtw9-2hKikWwtNayAtqbQLmUyFFucPof8I2BZ54lPj-f3YvyzNhg5q-pPwVm-Z5-CGrpskA81z4bzetTaSej_WmiHSFaA9KKZux8nt1zql9jSE_ykvNvjrsKiVJ/s2746/Poetry%20event%20-%20Not%20a%20Bad%20Word%20poster%2020%20Sepy%2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2746" data-original-width="1864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZU8rjvS2m5_rAIzfD2PDS9dxA6Yxlqq3-FT6m_jqR13tcOZEY9CZ3-CQVwtw9-2hKikWwtNayAtqbQLmUyFFucPof8I2BZ54lPj-f3YvyzNhg5q-pPwVm-Z5-CGrpskA81z4bzetTaSej_WmiHSFaA9KKZux8nt1zql9jSE_ykvNvjrsKiVJ/s320/Poetry%20event%20-%20Not%20a%20Bad%20Word%20poster%2020%20Sepy%2023.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-70295724335770639562023-08-27T09:25:00.000+01:002023-08-27T09:25:17.154+01:00NOT A BAD WORD poetry event - new date, new venue<p> We're excited to announce a new venue for our poetry event in North London -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8mhJvejKJpcKc5yOfTipSkQMdsJQJMO7ZwghXdfDx-svqveQFfmKlcQSJLPcMl6jQiy-zncI2RL_4YYzbeJ-MxQ86uWyJIwL-hvxUTBlf4tigdC6D7-2O1wHoTyrrbqidHXZzc8VS82xZlFGFGiVY-aJFZHREUiREu8tBAXf822z-X_1778Z/s618/Poster%20-%20AW%20-%20Not%20a%20Bad%20Word%2020-09-23%20v4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="486" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8mhJvejKJpcKc5yOfTipSkQMdsJQJMO7ZwghXdfDx-svqveQFfmKlcQSJLPcMl6jQiy-zncI2RL_4YYzbeJ-MxQ86uWyJIwL-hvxUTBlf4tigdC6D7-2O1wHoTyrrbqidHXZzc8VS82xZlFGFGiVY-aJFZHREUiREu8tBAXf822z-X_1778Z/s320/Poster%20-%20AW%20-%20Not%20a%20Bad%20Word%2020-09-23%20v4.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br /><p>It's now to be at (regularly on the 3rd Wednesday of the month) </p><p><b>THE CROUCH END PICTUREHOUSE </b> upstairs on the <b>FIRST FLOOR. Arrive before 7.30 if you want to sign up for the Open Mic - booked local experienced poets follow on from the Open Mic.</b></p><p>It's a great space with a small bar and management are enthusiastic in supporting this community arts event. So please(if you can) buy at least one drink at the bar on arrival - they have plenty of soft drinks (including a range of coffees) so we are giving good reason to the venue to continue to support our event.</p><p>We are also asking for a <i>voluntary </i>donation of ยฃ3 - the event is run entirely by unpaid volunteers - this will be towards our expenses.</p><p>Anna Meryt</p><p>This event will be co-run with Alan Wolfson - a well-known local poet and stand-up comedian.</p><p><br /></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-21969469054819291322023-06-15T00:16:00.000+01:002023-06-15T00:16:16.172+01:00NOT A BAD WORD - Poetry event - Tues 20th June 2023 at a new venue<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGFTza8UTx3MjyEc6Pid1h3qU2Bwiq3WyRmUABQfJC--CCrEpZ2bNPEKGbLqYTtORowKFN3IHIi_D_yKR8bU7OSIUuUPqR7PWyAu7w3t7qrDcZ3lZr3nKtxBD7j02LzGCX45cgSFdtXRD-Nhe2ZwkANpCrIvec3eaBdRX4L05R5Vud6hvh5g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1139" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGFTza8UTx3MjyEc6Pid1h3qU2Bwiq3WyRmUABQfJC--CCrEpZ2bNPEKGbLqYTtORowKFN3IHIi_D_yKR8bU7OSIUuUPqR7PWyAu7w3t7qrDcZ3lZr3nKtxBD7j02LzGCX45cgSFdtXRD-Nhe2ZwkANpCrIvec3eaBdRX4L05R5Vud6hvh5g=w239-h311" width="239" /></a></div><br />Change of venue for this event - it's now being held at <span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b>The Princess Alexandra</b></span>, a well-known Crouch end pub in Park Rd, N8.<p></p><p>The event happens <b>next Tuesday</b> and we've got a great line-up of interesting performers. I'll be posting more info on Facebook and Instagram when names are finalised. </p><p> But hey! If you're a hidden poet and you want to come out of the closet, come along for the first half when the <b>Open Mic</b> section is happening. Virgin poets of any age are welcome and will be given an enthusiastic welcome and a round of applause! Likewise, if you want to sing us a song or play us a tune!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>SEE YOU TUESDAY!</b></span></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-54292211129623788582023-05-22T19:01:00.004+01:002023-05-23T10:17:21.995+01:00Not a Bad Word Poetry Event - recorded from April 2023 here's the YouTube link<div class="style-scope ytd-watch-metadata" id="description-inner" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 12px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">This video was recorded at a poetry/spoken word event that took place at The Harringay Arms, Crouch Hill, London, Crouch End, N8 in April 2023. All camerawork and video recording by </span><b><span style="color: #fcff01;">Dave Milner</span></b><span style="color: #ffd966;"> (professional photographer).</span></span></div><div class="style-scope ytd-watch-metadata" id="description-inner" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 12px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">What a wealth of talented performers, poets, storytellers, and singers with an international flavour. The performers were mainly North London based, some from an Enfield poetry group, some from Highgate Poets and some from Hackney and Holloway.
We started with </span><span style="color: #01ffff;"><b>Alan Day</b></span><span style="color: #ffd966;"> (who came for the open mic) who says he writes narrative, accessible poetry with a touch of comedy. Followed by
</span><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Rob Saunders</span></b><span style="color: #ffd966;"> - a melodic poet who also happens to make the masks for </span><b><span style="color: #ff00fe;">The Phantom of the Opera -</span></b><span style="color: #ffd966;"> in the West End.
</span><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Anna Mikiewicz -</span></b><span style="color: #ffd966;"> a Polish poet who runs a publishing company called </span><b><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Literary Waves</span></b><span style="color: #ffd966;"> - which publishes American and Eastern European anthologies
</span><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Poppy Mendenis </span></b><span style="color: #ffd966;">- a poet and reedy-voiced singer, she sometimes here accompanies Sumana on her guitar. She runs her own poetry workshops.
</span><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Nejdet Atas</span></b><span style="color: #ffd966;"> a Kurdish -Turkish poet who came to read a poem from a famous Turkish poet for the Open Mic.
</span><span style="color: #01ffff;"><b>Alan Wolfson</b></span><span style="color: #ffd966;">, (in)famous in Crouch End- a clever alliterative wordsmith. Alan is running a poetry event for </span><b><span style="color: #ff00fe;">The Crouch End Festival on July 7th 2023
</span></b><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Mary Duggan </span></b><span style="color: #ffd966;">who is the co-MC for this event ( she runs the first half) also runs poetry events for Enfield Poets and is herself an accomplished poet - a poetic, feminist, Climate Change activist.
</span><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Tess Joseph</span></b><span style="color: #ffd966;">, a Jewish Lesbian poet who tells Yiddish stories about her Jewish grandmother
</span><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Alex Allen</span></b><span style="color: #ffd966;"> whose original poetry has been displayed in the </span><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b>National Poetry Library </b></span><span style="color: #ffd966;">- a member of Highgate Poets.
and Anna Meryt (co-MC with Mary Duggan) a well-published poet and memoir writer with 2 (about to be 3) poetry collections on Amazon.
</span><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Sumana</span></b><span style="color: #ffd966;">, an ordained Buddhist from the Triratna buddhist community, is a musician with very many years experience who has his own band and sometimes puts on music and poetry events at the </span><span style="color: #ffd966;"><a href=" http://www.northlondonbuddhistcentre/">North London Buddhist Centre</a> </span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); color: #ffd966; white-space: pre-wrap;">in Holloway Road, London, N7, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); color: #ffd966; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is also an accomplished poet and story-teller and on this video plays the banjo</span><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); color: #ffd966; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div><div class="style-scope ytd-watch-metadata" id="description-inner" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 12px; padding: 0px;"><ytd-text-inline-expander always-show-expand-button="" class="style-scope ytd-watch-metadata" id="description-inline-expander" is-expanded="" max-lines="3" style="contain: content; display: block; font-size: 1.4rem; line-height: 2rem; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: 1.4rem; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; white-space: pre;">Here's the link - </span><a href="https://youtu.be/AgVBmIv5XuM" style="font-size: 1.4rem; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; white-space: pre;">Not A Bad Word April 2023</a></ytd-text-inline-expander></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-9076567668466239762023-02-22T16:26:00.003+00:002023-05-14T12:08:44.966+01:00Not a Bad Word Poetry and Spoken Word Event May 16th -7pm Harringay Arms, N8<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4maVVQhKQZht_HBooP4zByYC321xulhzEewDcHPWmp2ppZC-LG_z78PdbvI2KJO8ygiYaPcc5m9FloTZAPAUS-xhpTcG-xAnm5fkLn-ugjx0Lvwql5CGbqSknUxS26cVuwJbqJTKRLmjO8hFSz9VCmJ_fnpY5gKBFhhqEoho64vXKgYkww/s933/Poetry%20event%20-%20Not%20a%20bad%20Word%20poster%2016-5-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="720" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4maVVQhKQZht_HBooP4zByYC321xulhzEewDcHPWmp2ppZC-LG_z78PdbvI2KJO8ygiYaPcc5m9FloTZAPAUS-xhpTcG-xAnm5fkLn-ugjx0Lvwql5CGbqSknUxS26cVuwJbqJTKRLmjO8hFSz9VCmJ_fnpY5gKBFhhqEoho64vXKgYkww/w316-h342/Poetry%20event%20-%20Not%20a%20bad%20Word%20poster%2016-5-23.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We've got some great poets from North London coming to perform their poetry. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Plus there's a smattering of <span style="color: #fcff01;">musicians </span><span style="color: white;">๐๐๐๐๐โซโฌ</span>coming to sing or play the odd number. Plus there's OPEN MIC for either experienced poets </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">to randomly turn up </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and read ONE poem </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">or and </span><i style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">most importantly</span></i><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> there's </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><span style="color: #04ff00;">Open Mic for you hidden poetry virgins out there</span></i>. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">You've been writing poems in secret all those years - </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">bring your best one along </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and give it an airing in public for the first time. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">You know you want to</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpZeFKH9O5L4cAkeXxdsoH37ZHUEzmLQwsylqGUUhpBPUTksoS-4Uojl5bljJOKAjk7iD1IhUTESTo7ySzPi-JmB48zmbBAuC5dmtDOv02GNLdK7TeFVsm6qgk9QoXj_iJG90eI14axjgEkr5chDxqBV77ZURVwLwmoCN_Gx4Q3NGPFXW8w/s587/Use-Your-Voice-rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="587" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpZeFKH9O5L4cAkeXxdsoH37ZHUEzmLQwsylqGUUhpBPUTksoS-4Uojl5bljJOKAjk7iD1IhUTESTo7ySzPi-JmB48zmbBAuC5dmtDOv02GNLdK7TeFVsm6qgk9QoXj_iJG90eI14axjgEkr5chDxqBV77ZURVwLwmoCN_Gx4Q3NGPFXW8w/w376-h376/Use-Your-Voice-rainbow.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><br /><p></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0London N8, UK51.5833118 -0.123625724.372250976276238 -35.2798757 78.79437262372376 35.0326243tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-81940297367238517842023-02-04T18:29:00.006+00:002023-02-06T07:45:50.318+00:00Hermanus and the Leviathan<p>This was a post put on Facebook - but for those who aren't on FB I thought you might like to see it too. With pictures.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f48FXKvGKjA3MiLWvVCzAaWX0LRBlW3KSzzl1qtzMna8v8OWsE5DQlkTgryx3AuZskYyuWV57eQTGVwxvNrPYmAH_OZ6Mn7-7p648t87qxWxDekEHd1oDn77IEGaQMQ1iZC1Chy29Tkys4f1T3gVxAf9WUW-NOpR7fozs-VU42aBgBCaFA/s2000/Hermanus-Whale-tours_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="2000" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f48FXKvGKjA3MiLWvVCzAaWX0LRBlW3KSzzl1qtzMna8v8OWsE5DQlkTgryx3AuZskYyuWV57eQTGVwxvNrPYmAH_OZ6Mn7-7p648t87qxWxDekEHd1oDn77IEGaQMQ1iZC1Chy29Tkys4f1T3gVxAf9WUW-NOpR7fozs-VU42aBgBCaFA/s320/Hermanus-Whale-tours_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Bumped into a fellow poet/friend at local cafe bar today. He'd been away in Cape Town (my favourite place in the world). He'd also had a tough time as he'd become v ill there and been in a hospital clinic for 2 weeks of his visit and was still feeling delicate. Anyway, he told me he'd spent some time in Hermanus - about 50 miles east of Cape Town - a beautiful spot that I know well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hermanus is a town built on a vast bay, looking over a huge tract of the ocean. A few years ago I was there and stayed in the lovely backpack hostel, sharing traveller's tales with the usual interesting bunch of people you get at backpacker's hostels. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDTV3UYJFZy72lABJ5Xa9wMzFyS1z-Bh5H6u8oeLAQSJaYRqT2lfePg7vpjd4UwK9Db5ktm_TMDd2PEcHvJQwihrHvcdZgsZqA5REHUCRWtgTEV8besZwrKwHW6OBQ8rzq4a7VYoTLxSFEJUDO1uSOiN7uiS6Q_0dzvsIHTEsbflnbTVRuA/s1200/Hermanus%20backpackers%20front%20view.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDTV3UYJFZy72lABJ5Xa9wMzFyS1z-Bh5H6u8oeLAQSJaYRqT2lfePg7vpjd4UwK9Db5ktm_TMDd2PEcHvJQwihrHvcdZgsZqA5REHUCRWtgTEV8besZwrKwHW6OBQ8rzq4a7VYoTLxSFEJUDO1uSOiN7uiS6Q_0dzvsIHTEsbflnbTVRuA/s320/Hermanus%20backpackers%20front%20view.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJ9vvG4wU81XdmH7wo5RL3rTDTbhKjb055iplwIqdfj6hnvV_mrTjrE9qbNe5DYmNy5Au_4zKg4IrIQWZpRk6rlVrhgtXiJC5trDrRzy6NcjjvLeuvKXna4NgPYa-UkBRdXieoGEmYy21ouGpcJ5qWm2xyemv-9goo5N5qltk0iGgW0ShRw/s1200/Hermanus%20backpackers%20-%20pool%20view.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJ9vvG4wU81XdmH7wo5RL3rTDTbhKjb055iplwIqdfj6hnvV_mrTjrE9qbNe5DYmNy5Au_4zKg4IrIQWZpRk6rlVrhgtXiJC5trDrRzy6NcjjvLeuvKXna4NgPYa-UkBRdXieoGEmYy21ouGpcJ5qWm2xyemv-9goo5N5qltk0iGgW0ShRw/s320/Hermanus%20backpackers%20-%20pool%20view.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>Every day, I took my towel and costume, stopped off en route to the bay to pick up stuff for lunch - french loaves, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes and cheeses and then walked down the spiralling clifftop path to the seawater swimming pool hidden in the rocks and swam and sunbathed and picnicked all day.</div><div><br />One day though I did something different. I knew that whales came to spawn in this enormous sweeping ocean bay and I wanted to see them, or at least one. It was not an option for me to go out on one of the boat trips to see the whales as I get badly seasick, even on small boats. I'd just be throwing up. So I was resigned that I would never get a close-up view. Also, I was there at the wrong time of year, January The best time to see whales, I was told, was in September/October when the huge Southern Right whales come to the ocean bay at Hermanus to spawn. However, I went to a cafe on the first floor with big windows that I'd been told about in the hostel. It was close to the cliffside promontory overlooking the ocean. At least I might be able to see in the far distance the giant whales breaching and falling into the ocean.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later I wrote a poem about my experience, I was so lucky that day - a poem I have performed quite a few times for events organised by Enfield Poets. My Crouch End poet friend had not heard it so I'm putting this up for you <span class="xv78j7m" spellcheck="false">Alan</span>. Hope you like it, it commemorates a truly magical experience for me, in Hermanus -<br /><br /><b>The Leviathan<br /></b><br />An angel guided me the day I saw her,<br />the season was wrong, but my angel had other ideas.<br /><br />That morning in Hermanus, my first guide<br />sent me to the cafรฉ upstairs, its large glass windows<br />were open to the vast Atlantic bay.<br /><br />In this bar, my second guide pointed to distant blow-backs,<br />as huge sea giants breached and fell, breached and fell,<br />tiny on the far side of the ocean.<br /><br />My mind took flight, my heart on fire and<br />I felt favoured by the gods of the sea,<br />but my angel had more for me that mystic day.<br /><br />Then my guide saw her โ the angel-led leviathan<br />a sixty-foot Southern Right titan, grazing on the distant shoreline,<br />moving slowly towards us.<br /><br />Winged feet carried me to the close-by rocky hill, to gaze down<br />as she ambled along, her twenty-foot baby just submerged behind.<br /><br />They browsed along the rocks below and I held my breath,<br />counting the barnacles along her back, watching in awe<br />until both were out of sight.<br /><br />Since that time, my memory takes flight now and then,<br />lifting over the swelling ocean towards the joyous breaching<br />and the day I saw the whale.<br /><br />Anna Meryt</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEing5YpUe2AnYDAoHW3WBH2OZ7fRcNy513qasq3KMdlNL9EmC_oQQKygp59ACTGjaaEPR-MvJbAZO6sjiQK4LxaqCwuwPmQ2Wo_0wKrTSeRYPeTyHRoRubTQP2yVFNROsR0XsVVHGQvN1oCy1tVtyi5yCsOeMMDlpCp_-ib11jMsz-fZllGww/s960/Standing%20above%20the%20whales.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="960" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEing5YpUe2AnYDAoHW3WBH2OZ7fRcNy513qasq3KMdlNL9EmC_oQQKygp59ACTGjaaEPR-MvJbAZO6sjiQK4LxaqCwuwPmQ2Wo_0wKrTSeRYPeTyHRoRubTQP2yVFNROsR0XsVVHGQvN1oCy1tVtyi5yCsOeMMDlpCp_-ib11jMsz-fZllGww/w245-h120/Standing%20above%20the%20whales.jpg" width="245" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWqzuOauDihhTgRHdDQoeD_zlIBSuTnTVzThbQarqyEjEGzZteA-xckf4MxG90rAzXOtNQUK1Quz5KwDZFemdvx4zd8RQLP1NTN5C3dmCoSXKGTaOT76MGy2IREAKmRlB0yW-RP0GyP6ZSqN1UTzyD0gZ2p30C6BmwJrfi_OmIyBcPEwWow/s1126/whales%20below%20th%20rock%20face%20at%20Hermanus.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1126" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWqzuOauDihhTgRHdDQoeD_zlIBSuTnTVzThbQarqyEjEGzZteA-xckf4MxG90rAzXOtNQUK1Quz5KwDZFemdvx4zd8RQLP1NTN5C3dmCoSXKGTaOT76MGy2IREAKmRlB0yW-RP0GyP6ZSqN1UTzyD0gZ2p30C6BmwJrfi_OmIyBcPEwWow/s320/whales%20below%20th%20rock%20face%20at%20Hermanus.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br style="text-align: left;" /></p><div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Gzowhy72AAutg983WA4-V7e68pB7MUnUu3QmjwDAwOwcKAhcLItpms-oMXeOf-6q8x7zV3FQVIoiK4ApbL_WtZ_djsYa8Cd6cPw5bEelwByAFq84pV72RPGzIubOHaK_VvQ2wJ0Cccahtryg7BcMwkaSc1PgHkkgHXxzFum8l0iXGmgGBA/s700/whale-tail-vista.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="700" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Gzowhy72AAutg983WA4-V7e68pB7MUnUu3QmjwDAwOwcKAhcLItpms-oMXeOf-6q8x7zV3FQVIoiK4ApbL_WtZ_djsYa8Cd6cPw5bEelwByAFq84pV72RPGzIubOHaK_VvQ2wJ0Cccahtryg7BcMwkaSc1PgHkkgHXxzFum8l0iXGmgGBA/w556-h307/whale-tail-vista.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-41415912803591825792023-01-13T02:03:00.000+00:002023-01-13T02:03:20.757+00:00Poetry Events - 13th and 17th January 2023<p><span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: medium;"> There are two poetry events coming up in the next week that I and many other poets are involved with.</span></p><p><span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: medium;">First a Poem-athon in Enfield</span></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">ENFIELD POETS PRESENT</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A POETRY FESTIVAL</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">AT </span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">THE DUGDALE CENTRE</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">ENFIELD TOWN</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">FRIDAY 13TH JANUARY, 2023</span></b></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #ffe599;">11.30 to 2.00 p.m. Mini Poemathon in the Foyer, organised by Mary Duggan</span></li><li><span style="color: #ffe599;">2 โ 3 A film about the New Portrait โ is this Jane Austen?</span></li><li><span style="color: #ffe599;">3 - 3.45 A film of The Lambโs Tale featuring large puppets. Shown in memory of Debbie Dean whose project this was.</span></li><li><span style="color: #ffe599;">4 โ 4.20 As It Was. A short play based on the poetry of Anthony Fisher, produced by Holly Darville.</span></li><li><span style="color: #ffe599;">4.25 โ 4.45 The Story of the Minotaur. A short play based on the poetry of Valerie Darville.</span></li><li><span style="color: #ffe599;">4.50 โ 5.15 The celebrated poet and author Maggie Butt is giving a reading of her poetry.</span></li><li><span style="color: #ffe599;">5.15 โ 6 Hannah Lowe winner of the Costa Poetry Aware and Costa Book of the Year 2021 is giving a reading of her poetry.</span></li></ul><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #ffe599;">Admission ยฃ6 for the whole afternoon. Tickets available from the Dugdale Centre: 020 8807 668</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: large;"><b>SECOND EVENT - TUESDAY JAN 17TH 7.30 </b></span></p><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="background: yellow; color: windowtext; font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 48.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-highlight: yellow;">NOT
A BAD WORD</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 48.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 10.55pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: green; color: #e7e6e6; line-height: 107%;">An Evening of Poetry &
Music</span><span style="color: windowtext; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 10.55pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="background: lime; color: windowtext; font-family: Garamond, serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 10.55pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: lime; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: windowtext; line-height: 107%;">With
Open mic for poets</span><span style="color: windowtext; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 10.55pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.6pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: verdana;">COMPERE AND EVENT ORGANISERS: ANNA MERYT and MARY DUGGAN<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7; color: #ffd966; font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 134%;">WHERE</span></b><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 134%;">: </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 134%;">The
Harringay Arms, 153 Crouch Hill, London, N8 9QH</span></b><span style="line-height: 134%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 134%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 align="center" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7; color: #ffe599; font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 24pt;">When</span></b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">:</span><span style="font-size: 18pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Tuesday January 17<sup>th</sup> 2023 @ 7.30 -9.30 pm</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.</span></span> <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 align="center" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 24pt;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: verdana;">Entry FREE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p><b style="text-align: center;">Sign in for Open Mic from
7-7.30 pm.</b></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-3841378054953698372022-11-28T14:52:00.001+00:002022-11-28T14:52:49.358+00:00<p> Yesterday in an Enfield poetry group event at the Forty Hall Estate, I read the poem - The Colour of Saying - by Dylan Thomas, the most famous Welsh bard of the 20th century who drank himself to death in 1953. </p><p>I was talking about how I grew up in Swansea not a quarter of a mile from where Dylan grew up and how my father used to read us extracts from Under Milk Wood. He had Milk Wood read by the rich sonorous voice of the actor Richard Burton on LP, ie. for anyone under 45 - a long-playing vinyl record and would often play it on the weekends, to relax after a stressful week of work as a criminal case barrister.</p><p>In our Enfield group, a discussion ensued about Dylan and it seemed everyone had a connection to his wonderful poetry. Of course, everyone knows some of his most famous poems, for example, <b>Fernhill </b>and <b>Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night</b> and <b>Death Shall Have No Dominion</b>. As we discussed, when you read Dylan's poetry, first <i>listen </i>to the <i>sound </i>of the words, <i>then </i>focus on meaning which is nebulous and open and often just out of reach ... </p><p>Here's another of his well-known poems:</p><p></p><aside class="col-md-4" data-v-6ee59ef1="" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #343434; display: block; flex: 0 0 33.3333%; font-family: "Founders Grotesk", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; max-width: 33.3333%; orphans: 2; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 12px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; width: 213.237px; word-spacing: 0px;"><div class="poet--aside px-4" data-v-6ee59ef1="" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 1.8rem; padding-right: 1.8rem;"></div></aside><p></p><div class="pb-5 col-md-8" data-v-6ee59ef1="" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #343434; flex: 0 0 66.6667%; font-family: "Founders Grotesk", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; max-width: 66.6667%; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 3.6rem; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 12px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; width: 426.482px; word-spacing: 0px;"><main class="card card--main" data-v-6ee59ef1="" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/CreativeWork" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; background-clip: border-box; background-color: white; border-bottom: 3px solid var(--green); border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-radius: 0px; border-right: none; border-top: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05) 0px 0px 20px 0px, rgb(50, 209, 126) 0px 4px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"><div class="card-header pb-2 pt-3 bg-white" data-v-6ee59ef1="" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.6rem !important; padding-left: 3.25rem; padding-right: 1.25rem; padding-top: 1.2rem !important; padding: 1.2rem 1.25rem 0.6rem 3.25rem;"><div data-v-6ee59ef1="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="d-flex poem__title mb-1" data-v-6ee59ef1="" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; -webkit-box-pack: justify; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: space-between; margin-bottom: 0.3rem;"><h1 class="card-title" data-v-6ee59ef1="" itemprop="name" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Poets Electra Roman No 2"; line-height: 3rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The force that through the green fuse drives the flower</span></h1></div><span class="card-subtitle" color="var(--black)" data-v-6ee59ef1="" face=""Founders Grotesk", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: -0.375rem;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-v-6ee59ef1="" href="https://poets.org/poet/dylan-thomas" itemprop="author" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #007ab3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_self">Dylan Thomas</a><span class="dates" data-v-6ee59ef1="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span> </span>- 1914-1953</span></div></span></div><div data-v-6ee59ef1="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="card-subtitle" color="var(--black)" data-v-6ee59ef1="" face=""Founders Grotesk", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: -0.375rem;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pdyiHkDJ7PWrORfO157f5WTJhMX-HYAcE4ut2cIFE1lkzxqput126bP_Z7nprmpp4pEFw5ERRa1xIy-l8utqg3nQrR8pV109A82686mDCFoFNgspVv6zl7bdw1brJsWSPuk6cG86nHjJWhqepAAP419TJpy8BNim-qHIRV7H7tkDUr4JwQ/s364/Dylan_Thomas_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="274" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pdyiHkDJ7PWrORfO157f5WTJhMX-HYAcE4ut2cIFE1lkzxqput126bP_Z7nprmpp4pEFw5ERRa1xIy-l8utqg3nQrR8pV109A82686mDCFoFNgspVv6zl7bdw1brJsWSPuk6cG86nHjJWhqepAAP419TJpy8BNim-qHIRV7H7tkDUr4JwQ/w139-h184/Dylan_Thomas_photo.jpg" width="139" /></a><a data-v-1e4a20ad="" href="https://facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpoets.org%2Fpoem%2Fforce-through-green-fuse-drives-flower&t=The%20force%20that%20through%20the%20green%20fuse%20drives%20the%20flower" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #007ab3; font-family: "Poets Electra", Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><img data-v-1e4a20ad="" src="https://poets.org/social/facebook.svg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 6px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></div></span></div></div><div class="card-body" data-v-6ee59ef1="" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 auto; font-family: "Poets Electra", Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.5; padding: 1.25rem;"><div class="poem__actions vertical dark" data-v-1e4a20ad="" data-v-6ee59ef1="" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; box-sizing: border-box; flex-grow: 1; left: -3rem; margin-bottom: 2.4rem; position: absolute; width: 33px;"><ul class="poem__actions__social d-flex flex-wrap" data-v-1e4a20ad="" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-flow: column wrap; flex-wrap: wrap !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li class="pr-2" data-v-1e4a20ad="" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; padding-right: 0.6rem;"><a data-v-1e4a20ad="" href="https://twitter.com/share?text=The%20force%20that%20through%20the%20green%20fuse%20drives%20the%20flower&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpoets.org%2Fpoem%2Fforce-through-green-fuse-drives-flower" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #007ab3; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img data-v-1e4a20ad="" src="https://poets.org/social/twitter.svg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 6px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></li><li class="pr-2" data-v-1e4a20ad="" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; padding-right: 0.6rem;"><a data-v-1e4a20ad="" href="https://tumblr.com/share/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpoets.org%2Fpoem%2Fforce-through-green-fuse-drives-flower&name=The%20force%20that%20through%20the%20green%20fuse%20drives%20the%20flower" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #007ab3; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img data-v-1e4a20ad="" src="https://poets.org/social/tumblr.svg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 6px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></li><li class="pr-2" data-v-1e4a20ad="" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; padding-right: 0.6rem;"><a data-v-1e4a20ad="" href="https://poets.org/print/poem/9f7acfe5-0ed9-4b9c-b858-da4a25f8a518" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #007ab3; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img data-v-1e4a20ad="" src="https://poets.org/social/print.svg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 6px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></li><li class="pr-2" data-v-1e4a20ad="" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; padding-right: 0.6rem;"><a data-v-1e4a20ad="" href="https://poets.org/poem/force-through-green-fuse-drives-flower#" role="button" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #007ab3; text-decoration: none;" target="_self"><img data-v-1e4a20ad="" src="https://poets.org/social/embed.svg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 6px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></li><li class="pr-2" data-v-1e4a20ad="" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; padding-right: 0.6rem;"><a data-v-1e4a20ad="" href="https://poets.org/poem/force-through-green-fuse-drives-flower#" role="button" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #007ab3; text-decoration: none;" target="_self"><img data-v-1e4a20ad="" src="https://poets.org/social/collection.svg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 6px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></li></ul><div data-v-1e4a20ad="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div><div data-v-1e4a20ad="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div><div class="poem__body px-md-4 font-serif" data-v-6ee59ef1="" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Poets Electra", Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; padding-left: 0.5rem; padding-right: 0.5rem;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">The force that through the green fuse drives the flower</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">Is my destroyer.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">The force that drives the water through the rocks</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">Turns mine to wax.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">The hand that whirls the water in the pool</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">Hauls my shroud sail.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">And I am dumb to tell the hanging man</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">How of my clay is made the hangman's lime.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">The lips of time leech to the fountain head;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">Love drips and gathers, but the fallen blood</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">Shall calm her sores.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">And I am dumb to tell a weather's wind</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">How time has ticked a heaven round the stars.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">And I am dumb to tell the lover's tomb</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="long-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 32px; text-indent: -32px;">How at my sheet goes the same crooked worm.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Founders Grotesk", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8rem;">From</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Founders Grotesk", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8rem;"> </span><i style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Founders Grotesk", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8rem;">The Poems of Dylan Thomas</i><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Founders Grotesk", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8rem;">, published by New Directions. Copyright ยฉ 1952, 1953 Dylan Thomas. Copyright ยฉ 1937, 1945, 1955, 1962, 1966, 1967 the Trustees for the Copyrights of Dylan Thomas. Copyright ยฉ 1938, 1939, 1943, 1946, 1971, 2003</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Founders Grotesk", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8rem;"> </span><a class="CRUMBS" href="http://www.ndbooks.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #007ab3; font-family: "Founders Grotesk", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8rem; text-decoration-line: none;" target="NEW">New Directions Publishing Corp</a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Founders Grotesk", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8rem;">. Used with permission.</span></p></div></div></main></div><p>And if you listen to any of his broadcasting recordings on YouTube you'll be surprised maybe to find that he had no Welsh accent. This is because his father - a school teacher, paid for him to have elocution lessons to eliminate the Welsh accent. In those days, the BBC required all its spoken word contributors to speak in RP ie Received Pronunciation. Of course, the Welsh of his father's generation were definitely made to feel that their accent and culture and language were inferior to that of the English invaders.... </p><p>Here's another quote from Dylan, talking about his first falling in love with nursery rhymes - </p><p>'<i>I had come to love just the words of them, the words alone. What the words stood for, symbolised or meant, was of very secondary importance; what mattered was the sound of them as I heard for the first time on the lips of the remote and incomprehensible grown-ups who seemed, for some reason, to be living in my world.'</i></p><p>and</p><p>'<i>Poetry, to a poet,' </i>he has said<i>, 'is the most rewarding work in the world. A good poem is a contribution to reality. The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it.'</i></p><p>[Both extracts from The Prologue in <b>The Colour of Saying</b>, edited by DT]</p><p><br /></p><div><br /></div><p><br /></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-19202839079238702292022-10-08T08:37:00.000+01:002022-10-08T08:37:33.916+01:00Poetry Event Sunday. 9th October. 11 a.m.<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Poetry Event </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #fcff01; font-size: x-large;">This Sunday - 9th October 2022</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600;">In the open-sided barn at the </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600;">Farmers Market, Forty Hall, Enfield EN2 9HA</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600;"><span style="color: #424242;">Starts 11 a.m. Great Line up of poets -</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: large; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Readers -</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11.00 am Rob Saunders</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 11.07 am Anthony Fisher</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 11.14 am Valerie Darville </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 11.21 am Anne Alexander </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 11.29 am Roshni Beeharry</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11.36 am Craig Delaney </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11.43 am Michael Brett </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12.00 Mary Duggan </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12.07 Chrissy Evangelou </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12.14 Hannah Dyson </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12.21 Lennie Varvarides </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12.28 Ayfer Orhan </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12.35 Anna Mickiewicz </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12.37 Anna Meryt </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Close with Mary Duggan</span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></b></div><p><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600;">Some of the best North London and Enfield poets - come and see at the covered barn in Forty Hall Farmers Market - afterwards browse the stalls for local organic vegetables as well as lots of interesting food stalls.</span></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-66876069156793122672022-09-25T10:24:00.002+01:002022-09-25T20:16:35.540+01:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Poetry event</span> </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: red;"><b>Sunday 25th September </b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e;">2-4 p.m at</span></span></p><div dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Little Green Dragon Alehouse,</span><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span></span></b></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>Winchmore Hill, London, N21 2AD</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mary Duggan Christine Vial - 2 excellent poets are reading.</span></span><div><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: large;">Plus the Rev Mark Meacher and Melanie Smith.<br /></span><div><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've been asked to read one 'eco' poem ..</span></span></div></div><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Turn and Face Medusa<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><o:p> </o:p>Rhino horns, Elephant tusks, Lion hunts</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">a red mist descends, a hopeless paralysis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><o:p> </o:p>Plastic plastic everywhere</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">ยท<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Bags on the street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">ยท<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Bags in the sea<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">ยท<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Microplastic we drink, fish swallow, we eat<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">ยท<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Shrink-wrapped cucumber<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">ยท<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Plastic bottles โ oceans of them<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">ยท<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Recycling, biodegrading, burning<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">ยท<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Dump our recycling far away<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">to pollute distant lands, out of sight, not our problem.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Water, water โ drying out</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">climate catastrophe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Extinction rebellion<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">I go into overwhelm and switch off<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">pull the duvet over my head<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">close down, turn away, block my ears<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">More plastic bottles,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">coffee cups with plastic lids.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Where to put my cat food pouches?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">The search for biodegradable bin bags, wet wipes?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Eco-footprints, carbon footprints<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Air travel, diesel engines,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">disappearing rainforests, rainforests disappearing โฆ for ever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Species go extinct,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">palm oil in Bisto gravy browning<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">plastic factories making more and more and more,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">and wet wipe mounds pollute the beaches.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Open your minds, open your eyes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Open your hearts.
Face the truth!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Turn, turn, turn to face Medusa.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Anna Meryt<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">7 July 2019<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Inspired by a talk by Joanna Macey (Active Hope)
Environmentalist. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Medusa โ the Gorgons from Greek mythology, hair made of venomous snakes,
those who gazed into her eyes would turn to stone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"> </span></o:p></p></div>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-67180817634518591612022-08-30T00:07:00.000+01:002022-08-30T00:07:01.918+01:00Hatshepsut - I declare before the folk who shall be in the future ...<p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vfkmeNpQXdHdrnVH3MjF6nPx8EjGvmEht4vvIIBzLSaOHeBwYQUgBwmKKBAq5T86NvBCnXKGX2CBA9pq-J9rKjFYpndW3g2sNGMoOvFtumlhZVyiIIt4l7QxicYdi-vfpgEazMLLxANr15RP_R03RnpLRcOytiXp5SHGyHXh3Z0fobRBOQ/s2052/Anubis%20-%20Temple%20of%20Hatshepsut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2052" data-original-width="1642" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vfkmeNpQXdHdrnVH3MjF6nPx8EjGvmEht4vvIIBzLSaOHeBwYQUgBwmKKBAq5T86NvBCnXKGX2CBA9pq-J9rKjFYpndW3g2sNGMoOvFtumlhZVyiIIt4l7QxicYdi-vfpgEazMLLxANr15RP_R03RnpLRcOytiXp5SHGyHXh3Z0fobRBOQ/w160-h200/Anubis%20-%20Temple%20of%20Hatshepsut.jpg" width="160" /></a></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">For anyone who hasn't seen this on Facebook </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #242526; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hatshepsut was the daughter of an 18th Dynasty King called Thutmosis I. She married Thutmosis II her half brother who died after a 14 year rule. They had a daughter, Neferure. Thutmosis II had a son by a concubine who was a child at his death, so Hatshepsut, his stepmother, became regent. She reigned until her death in1428 BCE more than 20 years later. She took on full royal male titles.</span></p><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: #242526; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;">After she died, her stepson who <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>became Thutmosis III, had her name chiselled out of many monuments ...</span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: #242526; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;">The wonderful Hatshepsut Temple was built by her and her architect/consort Senenmut at Thebes.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;">The inscription always makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up becase it's as if she's talking directly to us today ...</span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: #242526; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;">This is another of the keyboard exercises I used to set in HMP Holloway, to type up the inscription. </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: #242526; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;">Amun is Amun-Re King of the gods. The king she refers to is herself.</span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: #242526; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;">The photo (above) is from a wall painting of Anubis, god of the underworld, from Hatshepsut's temple. I took it in the late 80's when I was employed by Hayes and Jarvis to travel by boat down the Nile and give lectures about Ancient Egyptian history to tourists annually.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;">The Obelisk Inscription</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV_u8JfucTdo6ki0K2yJMkXiIUFlx9fBh8_LbP_urtXm0eQsgO3UAUzNbPObJrUb_D4-ojaMQRAAIC-h2RGCuHQy4XSngdoiB4xxMWGYezXC7EPGGGFjF9YrTKU1sIPdKXIsvDu4lqQgMLc52E4w3_0tcwtaFkfHdGDv1ySPpN6vZPtGXkA/s1280/Obelisk%20Inscription%20by%20Hatshepsut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="925" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV_u8JfucTdo6ki0K2yJMkXiIUFlx9fBh8_LbP_urtXm0eQsgO3UAUzNbPObJrUb_D4-ojaMQRAAIC-h2RGCuHQy4XSngdoiB4xxMWGYezXC7EPGGGFjF9YrTKU1sIPdKXIsvDu4lqQgMLc52E4w3_0tcwtaFkfHdGDv1ySPpN6vZPtGXkA/w289-h400/Obelisk%20Inscription%20by%20Hatshepsut.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"></div></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div></div>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-32314882023179749312022-08-06T23:16:00.005+01:002022-08-10T16:46:19.818+01:00Next Poetry Performance is at Forty Hall Farmer's market, Enfield on Sunday 14th Aug<p><span><b> Last Sunday at Edmonton 7th August went well! Enthusiastic audience turn out for the Poetry pagoda tent and great poets.</b></span></p><p><span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"></span></b></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: large;"><b><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Next Sunday !!! Poetry ...live and free !!! 14th Aug</span></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><b><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Farmers Market, Forty Hall, Enfield - it's in the Open Barn tea area.</span></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><b><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">I'm doing two slots 12.30 noon to 12.40 and 13.00 to 13.10 p.m, but there's an excellent line-up of poets including Mary Duggan, Chrissy Evangelou, Julian Bishop, Rob Saunders, Lenny Varvarides, Anne Alexander, Ayfer Orhan</span></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><b><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">All kinds of poetry from comedy to climate change, from mental health to buying new shoes.</span></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><b><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">Not to be missed.</span></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><b><span face=""Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>.......................................................................................</b></span></p><p><br /></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-83720746860695068462022-07-27T22:41:00.002+01:002022-07-28T07:21:56.412+01:00A trip to Ramsgate<p><span style="font-family: arial;">I have three favourite south coast places I visit, to escape London - Littlehampton, Ramsgate and Shoreham on Sea. Since I grew up on the south coast of Wales and spent all my teenage years in summers on the beach, I have to escape London regularly, especially in summer, to breathe some ozone and hear the seagulls crying. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp45pLMg9Mjef8SWfwGztEZwnGIv5vK7ibJWZ22P6xkSVuIlusr5LliWR5PkDYN21Qn_G6FZ4itxUyd3f2O595YQN7KylBBbMSKh6w2Iru2onFku-BxaoNwx-kYbH54oADt0zjSYYcoJ_CTkngy9Qrq051nh_jbFgXRKw0r82D1oa-xLbWsw/s3283/Seagull%20crossing%20the%20sun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3283" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp45pLMg9Mjef8SWfwGztEZwnGIv5vK7ibJWZ22P6xkSVuIlusr5LliWR5PkDYN21Qn_G6FZ4itxUyd3f2O595YQN7KylBBbMSKh6w2Iru2onFku-BxaoNwx-kYbH54oADt0zjSYYcoJ_CTkngy9Qrq051nh_jbFgXRKw0r82D1oa-xLbWsw/s320/Seagull%20crossing%20the%20sun.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Catching the breeze</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Standing
by the harbour,</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;">the summer
wind blows through</div><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">the
cobwebs in my brain,</div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">scouring
Indraโs net strand by strand,</div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">shaking
it down, scrubbing off</div> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">the dust
of life and London.</div> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">I breathe
in a blast of ozone</div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">and the
net sparkles with colours,</div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">reds,
greens and amethyst blues,</div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">Iโm
waking up to this moment,</div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">watching
a pure white seagull,</div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">wings
outstretched, surfing the wind.</div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">He swoops
low over the water then</div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">whips up
over the harbour wall,</div> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">high
above my head. </div> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">Itโs a
game heโs playing</div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">a game of
nothing but what it is โ</div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;">riding
the wind.</div></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">.........</span></div></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Littlehampton,
2018</span></div></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">This poem was blown up and displayed in the window of the Dugdale Centre, Enfield, 2019. It will be the title poem of my next collection, out soon.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">Back to Ramsgate where I went last week for a few nights - an expensive time of year to stay at the Ramsgate Harbour Travelodge, but hey I wasn't paying - the insurance company overseeing the building works for subsidence in my flat were.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">I've been a nomad for 3 weeks - staying here and there and finally at the Travelodge. So carrying belongings with me, clothes and toiletries and trying to get used to other people's dietary habits, bathrooms, kitchens and rules for living. How kind and generous they all were. So grateful.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">Now I'm back in my own place - still dealing with residual builders, building problems etc for another week, but so nice to have my own kitchen, bathroom and bedroom back: my own food in the fridge, my own cooking etc. What a joy! Still dealing with boxes all over the kitchen and bedroom but it's MY space at last. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">My Travelodge room overlooked the 'Royal' Harbour </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoDrSqovpblqr-icsYm0E6Y2K9EuEyYnKLuJgxDoSY_RezRIAbov_BxR0TR9mi6OdL5Wn-WkFVT2bKlZnDdJ7k5bKmON1MaYOdYEzgzRMCzG3VWFBg4E3a5HsAPvMSYnusMAKohK0mFQtUeFkyxbe91rI31bRbN6SqsgTxWZRUJ3MijHnGw/s3840/IMG-20220720-WA0001.jpeg" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoDrSqovpblqr-icsYm0E6Y2K9EuEyYnKLuJgxDoSY_RezRIAbov_BxR0TR9mi6OdL5Wn-WkFVT2bKlZnDdJ7k5bKmON1MaYOdYEzgzRMCzG3VWFBg4E3a5HsAPvMSYnusMAKohK0mFQtUeFkyxbe91rI31bRbN6SqsgTxWZRUJ3MijHnGw/w180-h320/IMG-20220720-WA0001.jpeg" width="180" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQxlgEZa14dUxhbwTkgcKxkgwS5Hrt8zLoRQ0Nf9kWt2PBZrnMndVF12hKplk8dMZU3MjkRlHV963MLKmjCBiyap5vDBjYCYUdcdkCGaGU8qBcYcgPLSHRMOABMJ0a91sLNm8faLIMRJdZbF4l4w7NfY8T5nIBnS14_zrNZ4koDFCf-yrdQ/s3840/Travelodge%20bed.jpeg" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQxlgEZa14dUxhbwTkgcKxkgwS5Hrt8zLoRQ0Nf9kWt2PBZrnMndVF12hKplk8dMZU3MjkRlHV963MLKmjCBiyap5vDBjYCYUdcdkCGaGU8qBcYcgPLSHRMOABMJ0a91sLNm8faLIMRJdZbF4l4w7NfY8T5nIBnS14_zrNZ4koDFCf-yrdQ/s320/Travelodge%20bed.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Travelodge bed</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVgQ-8JTdY0Md8V4GlD7fiVXHXQNK6uSTtEjn4uhzXsTrl7erExTW867SDgi8Os4hANVFU1y5MoTaw8lzAdVyforB76AMCmB2oyBpGRM8j9LzoD6nc4lzVoOsc8cUkoDKfjlfuPcu3GVaGume6FSeb0SY9K6b9VHSobN4LsRndHT-LIxkWg/s2312/20220722_115749.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="1302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVgQ-8JTdY0Md8V4GlD7fiVXHXQNK6uSTtEjn4uhzXsTrl7erExTW867SDgi8Os4hANVFU1y5MoTaw8lzAdVyforB76AMCmB2oyBpGRM8j9LzoD6nc4lzVoOsc8cUkoDKfjlfuPcu3GVaGume6FSeb0SY9K6b9VHSobN4LsRndHT-LIxkWg/s320/20220722_115749.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Entrance to the beach at Ramsgate</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wVV6x3zs5c3CQ_004_hKRZ4mhWvzdRfT5PH0WsA0LMwDIwvVX6OPOCy2amExK5BcrqNlwuL2xhqwnvy8fYO437rQzs6JJ_5V4nb2sQn-vU212qIv5v0_NjuEyWp9Eu3hKPQ0TO25kkmURubh_0VGKOyY_M4ra8-ignB-nVJPtRII7jdZLA/s2312/20220722_115903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="1302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wVV6x3zs5c3CQ_004_hKRZ4mhWvzdRfT5PH0WsA0LMwDIwvVX6OPOCy2amExK5BcrqNlwuL2xhqwnvy8fYO437rQzs6JJ_5V4nb2sQn-vU212qIv5v0_NjuEyWp9Eu3hKPQ0TO25kkmURubh_0VGKOyY_M4ra8-ignB-nVJPtRII7jdZLA/s320/20220722_115903.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">View across the harbour<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJ6y55bgGFE32KHa-tKQXfLwpmJpr43EWIFYTmjGFqt45kDjPoPLDuY9DciWINj-27Cmnq9zFMU6GiH-aX9aF99Mpa-CE1SvaI0Tu96qnzBrT4R4w3kY4YaMQ9k93KkJTXlgr7O0lMBFgDgmSQUs2sizg3qigEewoHhLNKrHK1d4eU_Tbzw/s2312/20220722_115850.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="1302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJ6y55bgGFE32KHa-tKQXfLwpmJpr43EWIFYTmjGFqt45kDjPoPLDuY9DciWINj-27Cmnq9zFMU6GiH-aX9aF99Mpa-CE1SvaI0Tu96qnzBrT4R4w3kY4YaMQ9k93KkJTXlgr7O0lMBFgDgmSQUs2sizg3qigEewoHhLNKrHK1d4eU_Tbzw/s320/20220722_115850.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWmKhg3M_ZgS6CwZyY1GuDztcezBUPWaBvHIvTfXNts6nTLFoZAUD80KVw0RcHM22YnTWrq9UwJ5Ccy1NIpr_U5-TohKZhBZS-ewUqgANIOyD6OTHt1jE_ROs5n9iUe_pVuODWSCkpBI5KFSPRT5FfQfR5DbMYTcJz2zKud_TtjfAVyvAUQ/s3199/20220722_115939.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3199" data-original-width="2604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWmKhg3M_ZgS6CwZyY1GuDztcezBUPWaBvHIvTfXNts6nTLFoZAUD80KVw0RcHM22YnTWrq9UwJ5Ccy1NIpr_U5-TohKZhBZS-ewUqgANIOyD6OTHt1jE_ROs5n9iUe_pVuODWSCkpBI5KFSPRT5FfQfR5DbMYTcJz2zKud_TtjfAVyvAUQ/s320/20220722_115939.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ramsgate beach by the Weatherspoons.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and the weather was hot - had to have the fan on all the time, day and night. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">Evenings were spent with daughter and partner and stepson (17) who cooked for us one night - time spent walking round the harbour, along the beach to Broadstairs eating chips and ice cream, another visiting a vast antique's emporium, catching up with all their news. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetXBKQCgCUQXqF_4O5sKQGpk48a4AHSsmW3QrrwsN0-L8IJW4sLBVUbgcyK7nJMnANXGs2uGmcdRWBK8V1rISc2a9dHRr31Vagca7Q3n6c9ORck1Wu-O9741OLvKh6hS31z0IqgJEHPB4Hn3DlHGrPeacyFTOdjCLED5DntMkKKN1QiNi-Q/s1777/White%20cliffs%20Broadstairs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1777" data-original-width="1407" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetXBKQCgCUQXqF_4O5sKQGpk48a4AHSsmW3QrrwsN0-L8IJW4sLBVUbgcyK7nJMnANXGs2uGmcdRWBK8V1rISc2a9dHRr31Vagca7Q3n6c9ORck1Wu-O9741OLvKh6hS31z0IqgJEHPB4Hn3DlHGrPeacyFTOdjCLED5DntMkKKN1QiNi-Q/s320/White%20cliffs%20Broadstairs.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">White cliffs on a walk to Broadstairs.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CNQkrAqw4WThx6-OBLGIohm5sOxP9IgxRAR_2TQ-P7lIQWr96fxwEmVMn6ZHK5VjoGasDRjiJymvVbikorbcRnPBAu0WfvCPLZPchW2wbwq5dmRoEDsxhSedo2eRo1xFOzaQx-Z7ake_PBYwsEaH220XDHPLOrsR-07YEFQTA6tSXgZwTA/s2827/20220722_130521.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2827" data-original-width="2604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CNQkrAqw4WThx6-OBLGIohm5sOxP9IgxRAR_2TQ-P7lIQWr96fxwEmVMn6ZHK5VjoGasDRjiJymvVbikorbcRnPBAu0WfvCPLZPchW2wbwq5dmRoEDsxhSedo2eRo1xFOzaQx-Z7ake_PBYwsEaH220XDHPLOrsR-07YEFQTA6tSXgZwTA/s320/20220722_130521.jpg" width="295" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ramsgate</div><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaQr8mDIL8UA14JIX6N5eCNXlDe251JEyub_m6ADHgtuZcIS350_ZNhPRsJvBaCiSXnydtZzGGdvne9pAUAbnp03OpfvVkUQ2JaQNQnxh2yJbqxq6m1wzk5CqE3CJcGOKFiPKAtWe-kSvdAqmvTYnu897hZtAWomQ4rfVoAxMLC78J2mVcw/s2312/Broadstairs%20village.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="1302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaQr8mDIL8UA14JIX6N5eCNXlDe251JEyub_m6ADHgtuZcIS350_ZNhPRsJvBaCiSXnydtZzGGdvne9pAUAbnp03OpfvVkUQ2JaQNQnxh2yJbqxq6m1wzk5CqE3CJcGOKFiPKAtWe-kSvdAqmvTYnu897hZtAWomQ4rfVoAxMLC78J2mVcw/w181-h320/Broadstairs%20village.jpg" width="181" /></a></div></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Broadstairs village</div></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p> <span style="font-family: arial;">In my room, I could relax too, in my own space, unshared with anyone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">Now I'm back in London in my flat and the weather has cooled somewhat from the 30"C it was down to 20- 24C in the daytime and 16C-18C at night. Lovely. </span></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">Have I been writing? No not at all - emotional upheavals and nomadic moving around have thrown me from my centre of gravity. I need peace and calm to get back into writing mode. Now I have a funeral to go to - my wonderful aunt Beryl has died aged 96 in West Wales - so off again on my travels to the funeral. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">When I return, there's a few more days of building upheaval and then hopefully my life will calm down again. But whoever knows what the universe will throw at us next. Peace and laughter is the plan ...</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLJTIgdkg7Rwl7htCqmxMh1nmbR097MmcsJaQZS1kecA_OgH9tvdXmPxUXxrXqBC-IbhT_H4O40v23UH0nOZZE8xd21ArQMl5r-zxoeera4ObIpOdAyhkXO96Pf8pRG9ciwng4S4U7xBjlEMdNAMOP0E_c4MiUfa_JmRkPoBqcATT6YX_1w/s2312/20220721_190824.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="1302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLJTIgdkg7Rwl7htCqmxMh1nmbR097MmcsJaQZS1kecA_OgH9tvdXmPxUXxrXqBC-IbhT_H4O40v23UH0nOZZE8xd21ArQMl5r-zxoeera4ObIpOdAyhkXO96Pf8pRG9ciwng4S4U7xBjlEMdNAMOP0E_c4MiUfa_JmRkPoBqcATT6YX_1w/s320/20220721_190824.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;">Old adverts from a hundred years ago</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxRGIHgw5lI--6L-VRDKjth5TlJCIFVpu-1FH2d6DpwqT8ls0iEvu3E-LvgyXHEjIrCv25LyNzuRAzzSfRtOi8nzNwAXbNVAeDcunDSaSP2r_VIEuHu5j4siYHzwYS0QBgTjb40n6XpoMtg7WvFuPUQz9iJfaRAx6-G9oRnY4NJbR7js0aQ/s2632/20220721_191326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2632" data-original-width="2352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxRGIHgw5lI--6L-VRDKjth5TlJCIFVpu-1FH2d6DpwqT8ls0iEvu3E-LvgyXHEjIrCv25LyNzuRAzzSfRtOi8nzNwAXbNVAeDcunDSaSP2r_VIEuHu5j4siYHzwYS0QBgTjb40n6XpoMtg7WvFuPUQz9iJfaRAx6-G9oRnY4NJbR7js0aQ/s320/20220721_191326.jpg" width="286" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gargoyles near the entrance to Chatham School</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRSd2XfxcCftGgXzgnSkmWPWWwaOZxQmd_KXI_8I2Ohae8r1Q4OtHr4iUnQA6fjtMHhLo4KMRnA9FPkPmRItNZT8c_h37MVrNwD_9Fb3P18zdNCNo_zOEafrYxfzs6u0CHDe53WlsymIXukdRH78GFn9b9rQ_UnsGwEnWIux6LvL56owQcA/s2312/20220721_191356.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="1302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRSd2XfxcCftGgXzgnSkmWPWWwaOZxQmd_KXI_8I2Ohae8r1Q4OtHr4iUnQA6fjtMHhLo4KMRnA9FPkPmRItNZT8c_h37MVrNwD_9Fb3P18zdNCNo_zOEafrYxfzs6u0CHDe53WlsymIXukdRH78GFn9b9rQ_UnsGwEnWIux6LvL56owQcA/s320/20220721_191356.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>The war follows us everywhere</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My books : </span><a data-bm="53" h="ID=SERP,5168.1" href="https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=ccb971eb4a7b7936JmltdHM9MTY1ODk1ODcxOCZpZ3VpZD1kZWM5ZWFlNS1jYzg3LTRkM2EtOTg4MS0wNTJlMzA4ZjVhODkmaW5zaWQ9NTE2OA&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=56a204d2-0df6-11ed-89fd-41eb0a572ad0&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvLnVrL0hpcHBvcG90YW11cy1BdC1UYWJsZS1qb3VybmV5LUFmcmljYS9kcC8wOTU3NjEyMjQ5&ntb=1" style="background-color: white; color: #1a0dab; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;" target="_blank">A Hippopotamus At The Table: A true story of a journey โฆ</a></span></div><div class="b_title" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="b_suffix b_secondaryText nowrap scs_exp siz23 b_floatrt" style="color: #767676; display: inline-block; float: right; height: 23px; padding-left: 10px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;"><a aria-expanded="False" aria-label="Additional Results" class="scs_icn" h="ID=SERP,5488.1" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer; display: inline; height: 23px;" tabindex="-1"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span aria-label="Show more" class="scs_arw" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-position: 0px 0px; bottom: -18px; height: 55px; position: absolute; right: -10px; transform: scale(0.5); width: 76px;" tabindex="0"></span></span></a></div></div><div class="b_lrg_snippet" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="b_imagePair wide_snippet reverse" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px;"><div class="inner" style="float: right; margin: 2px 0px 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; width: 200px;"><a data-priority="2" h="ID=SERP,5156.1" href="https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=0671dcc24b9ec7baJmltdHM9MTY1ODk1ODcxOCZpZ3VpZD1kZWM5ZWFlNS1jYzg3LTRkM2EtOTg4MS0wNTJlMzA4ZjVhODkmaW5zaWQ9NTE1Ng&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=56a2187e-0df6-11ed-8b5a-38b9c43d0fe9&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvLnVrL0hpcHBvcG90YW11cy1BdC1UYWJsZS1qb3VybmV5LUFmcmljYS9kcC8wOTU3NjEyMjQ5&ntb=1" style="color: #1a0dab; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img aria-hidden="true" class="b_circleImage rms_img" data-bm="43" fdopt="False" height="150" src="https://www.bing.com/th?id=AMMS_f050d8453ea2270f430471376705f1f1&w=200&h=150&c=8&rs=1&o=6&pid=5.1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-radius: 6px; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="200" /></span></a></div><div class="b_rcSnippetGoBig" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-line-clamp: 7; color: #444444; display: -webkit-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px;"><div class="b_snippetBigText"><p style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It took me many years to write<span style="font-weight: 700;"> A Hippopotamus at the Table.</span> Itโs a<span style="font-weight: 700;"> memoir set in South Africa</span> from 1975-78. In case youโre not clear about what a memoir is, itโs not an autobiography โ that would be my whole life story. A memoir is a story about part of your life. Itโs not a biography either โ thatโs when you write someone elseโs life story.</span></p></div></div></div></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><div class="b_title" style="color: #666666; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><h2 style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><a h="ID=SERP,5167.1" href="https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=e548a43e90edc66cJmltdHM9MTY1ODk1ODkwMCZpZ3VpZD01Y2NlZDkzMy0xN2RlLTRhYmQtYWYxYi0wNDA0ZGYwN2NkOTMmaW5zaWQ9NTE2Nw&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=c31de516-0df6-11ed-a0e7-48fac3980202&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvLnVrL1dyaXRpbmctTWVtb2lyLXRlbGwtc3RvcnkteW91ci9kcC8wOTU3NjEyMjgx&ntb=1" style="color: #1a0dab; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Writing Memoir: How to tell a story from your life: โฆ</span></a></h2><div class="b_suffix b_secondaryText nowrap scs_exp siz23 b_floatrt" style="color: #767676; display: inline-block; float: right; height: 23px; padding-left: 10px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;"><a aria-expanded="False" aria-label="Additional Results" class="scs_icn" h="ID=SERP,5520.1" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer; display: inline; height: 23px;" tabindex="-1"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span aria-label="Show more" class="scs_arw" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-position: 0px 0px; bottom: -18px; height: 55px; position: absolute; right: -10px; transform: scale(0.5); width: 76px;" tabindex="0"></span></span></a></div></div><div class="b_imgcap_altitle b_imgcap_alattr" style="color: #666666; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><div class="b_imagePair square_mp reverse" style="padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 90px;"><div class="inner" style="float: right; margin: 2px -90px 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-top: 8px; width: 90px;"><a data-priority="2" h="ID=SERP,5155.1" href="https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=17cfc8fd50a45fbdJmltdHM9MTY1ODk1ODkwMCZpZ3VpZD01Y2NlZDkzMy0xN2RlLTRhYmQtYWYxYi0wNDA0ZGYwN2NkOTMmaW5zaWQ9NTE1NQ&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=c31df90c-0df6-11ed-8776-a9f0f20d34d0&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvLnVrL1dyaXRpbmctTWVtb2lyLXRlbGwtc3RvcnkteW91ci9kcC8wOTU3NjEyMjgx&ntb=1" style="color: #1a0dab; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img aria-hidden="true" class="b_circleImage rms_img" data-bm="39" fdopt="False" height="80" id="emb5BE0CE69" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-radius: 6px; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="80" /></span></a></div><div class="b_attribution" style="color: #767676; line-height: 22px; padding: 1px 0px 0px;" u="0|5075|5030686953835798|BcKuN5FNCJ7vsVrcHJsDwcdsMDmA6u5U"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><cite style="color: #006621; font-style: normal; overflow-wrap: break-word;">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Writing-Memoir-tell-story-your/dp/095โฆ</cite><a aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" aria-label="Actions for this site" class="trgr_icon" href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=++++++++++++++++++++Writing+Memoir%3A+How+to+Write+a+Story+from+Your+Life+by+Anna+Meryt&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&pq=writing+memoir%3A+how+to+write+a+story+from+your+life+by+a&sc=8-56&sk=&cvid=9035EDB80C3D4FB99D8DE0155F5329A9&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl=#" role="button" style="color: #1a0dab; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="c_tlbxTrg" style="display: inline-block; height: 14px; margin: -1px 6px -3px 2px; width: 15px;"><span class="c_tlbxTrgIcn sw_ddgn" style="direction: ltr; display: block; height: 4px; margin: 4px 0px 2px 3px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 7px;"></span><span class="c_tlbxH" h="BASE:CACHEDPAGEDEFAULT" k="SERP,5168.1"></span></span></a></span></div><p style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Itโs a <span style="color: #767676; font-weight: 700;">memoir</span> set in South Africa from 1975-78. In case youโre not clear about what a <span style="color: #767676; font-weight: 700;">memoir</span> is, itโs not an autobiography โ that would be my whole <span style="color: #767676; font-weight: 700;">life</span> โฆ</span></p><div class="b_factrow b_twofr" style="line-height: 22px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 4px;"><div class="b_vlist2col"><ul style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; max-width: calc(50% - 20px); padding: 0px;"><li style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><div class="b_sritem b_srtxtstarcolor" style="font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">4.4/5<span aria-label="Star Rating: 4.5 out of 5." class="csrc sc_rc1" data-tag="item.customratingitem" role="img" style="display: inline-block; margin-left: 5px; padding-right: 4px;"><span class="sw_st" style="direction: ltr; display: inline-block; height: 12px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 12px;"></span><span class="sw_st" style="direction: ltr; display: inline-block; height: 12px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 12px;"></span><span class="sw_st" style="direction: ltr; display: inline-block; height: 12px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 12px;"></span><span class="sw_st" style="direction: ltr; display: inline-block; height: 12px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 12px;"></span><span class="sw_sth" style="direction: ltr; display: inline-block; height: 12px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 12px;"></span></span><div class="b_sritemp" style="display: inline; font-weight: normal; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;">(128)</div></div></li><li style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; display: inline; font-size: 14px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><div style="overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">Format: Paperback</div></li></ul><ul style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; float: left; font-size: 14px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 50%; padding: 0px;"><li style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><div style="overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">Author: <span style="color: #767676; font-weight: 700;">Anna</span> <span style="color: #767676; font-weight: 700;">Meryt</span></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><p>
</p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-81061361482855893502022-05-17T18:38:00.009+01:002022-05-20T14:38:59.245+01:00Poetry performance -Enfield and Highgate Poets URGENT - VENUE CHANGE<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>URGENT - CHANGE OF VENUE - PLEASE NOTE</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I'm delighted to announce that Highgate and Enfield Poets have joined forces for </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>an evening of poetry </b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Tues 24th May</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">to remember with top-notch poets from North London on the stage.</span></div><p></p><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The pandemic closed down all our poetry performance outlets - opportunities to perform and opportunities for audiences to hear good poetry again. So it's a thrill to announce an evening of poetry by experienced poets again <i>and </i>for such a good cause - to raise funds for the homeless, more specifically for cold weather shelters in Camden and King's Cross. Poet Ruth O'Callaghan has been running these events for many years. The patron of Lumen Poetry is Andrew Motion who was UK Poet Laureate from 1999 to 2009.</span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>THIS EVENT TAKES PLACE AT -</b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqSVQq-ciDXqwMJ6gVT6oOxqdyteaf8GePmQ_8YZFWtRalHeWVOrGolEEVcyouSIpvZXx8fKDDqp_mqWibwsF8BPvJvkIxGch7f5S3Yxb35sSYeARECSYmuXpO1awoU5nruvlcgbaZloZb3tmSDrCbZBNmZmeB13IAANpZS4ONEzgptbj2CA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqSVQq-ciDXqwMJ6gVT6oOxqdyteaf8GePmQ_8YZFWtRalHeWVOrGolEEVcyouSIpvZXx8fKDDqp_mqWibwsF8BPvJvkIxGch7f5S3Yxb35sSYeARECSYmuXpO1awoU5nruvlcgbaZloZb3tmSDrCbZBNmZmeB13IAANpZS4ONEzgptbj2CA" width="261" /></a></div><br /><br /></b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #212121; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">VENUE</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #212121; font-size: 16px;">: </span><span style="color: #212121; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="color: #212121; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="color: #212121; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="color: #212121; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: medium;">THE UNITED REFORM CHURCH</span></span></b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span>BUCK ST</span><br /></b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>CAMDEN<br /></b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span>LONDON NW1 8NJ</span><br /></b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span><span><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Doors open at 6 pm, reading starts at 7 pm. We have one half of the evening. The other half is open mic.</b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>It's on the 24<span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><sup>th</sup> May 2022</span></b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="elementToProof" color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Anna Meryt will read a few poems by <b>Milverton Wallace</b> who sadly died in 2021. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Milverton was a vibrant and interesting part of the Highgate Poets group and a central figure in organising its 40th anniversary celebration a few years ago.<br /></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #0c64c0; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Enfield Poets</b></span></div></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Anthony Fisher </b>has been writing poetry since early 1990 and he has just published his collectionโ <b>Goddess and Other Poems</b>โ. With Valerie Darville and the late Jane Elder he founded Enfield Poets in April 2000. He and Valerie have just been awarded the Ted Slade award for services to poetry.</span><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Valerie Darville</b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Valerie Darville has organized many events over the past 20 years including Andrew Motion, Carol-Ann Duffy and Ruth Padel. She has been placed in the Bridport twice, the Petra Kenny and other competitions and won the Barnet. She has been published in magazines and anthologies and is (finally!) putting together her first collection</span><br /></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Mary Duggan's</b> Celtic roots inform the song of her poems. She performs at public events, is published in anthologies and has two local residencies.</span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Julian Bishop </b>is a former member of Highgate Poets, a journalist and now in <b>Enfield Poets</b> where he teaches poetry courses. His poetry often highl</span><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ights environmental and global warming issues.</span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #0c64c0; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Highgate Poets</b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Alex Allen</b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An avant-garde poet who likes to play with form and shape with his poetry. He has had poetry on display at The Poetry Library.</span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Rosemary Wolfson</b></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Joined Highgate Poets at the beginning of the pandemic. Her poetry is colourful and observational.</span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div class="elementToProof" dir="auto" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" dir="auto" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Anna Meryt</b> was, until recently the Facilitator of Highgate Poets and helped organise the 50<span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><sup>th</sup> Birthday celebration in Finsbury Park.</span> She has had many poems published in anthologies and magazines in the last 20 years. She has 2 poetry collections Heart Broke and Dolly Mix, will soon publish her third collection and writes memoir ( creative non-fiction).</span></div><div dir="auto" id="ms-outlook-mobile-signature" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /></div></div><p><br /></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-89739384145406178952022-02-09T19:19:00.004+00:002022-02-11T17:21:00.964+00:00Visiting Gibraltar<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEqxUAPvc6no8WJVYoQsu6yCIK625hjsxdGZ42tDo4xqORbycJg2KS6YQ4s6kqCeUA8SKmeLaNPWUs0iXlZMHZ9ydpP7sRA11cdOBS0YHU7s53Ez0CQ3Lu2iT4I5gxkS8qL4ySMVdUXaofA1WyXnpc4vk3_8QJnsa_3wDujNXqKxqB_hnJCA=s4624" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEqxUAPvc6no8WJVYoQsu6yCIK625hjsxdGZ42tDo4xqORbycJg2KS6YQ4s6kqCeUA8SKmeLaNPWUs0iXlZMHZ9ydpP7sRA11cdOBS0YHU7s53Ez0CQ3Lu2iT4I5gxkS8qL4ySMVdUXaofA1WyXnpc4vk3_8QJnsa_3wDujNXqKxqB_hnJCA=w181-h320" title="Gibraltar - The Rock" width="181" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gibraltar - The Rock </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Wrote this in October 2021</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Feeling mildly irritated. I'm sitting in what looked like a smart cafe - tables indoors as it's so windy in all the other pavement cafes on this square, although it's warm. The menu is in English and Spanish and very meat-based - I asked if they did egg (I'm vegetarian) - 'What!' said the rather sullen/slightly confrontational young Spaniard by the bar. 'You want fried egg or omelette?' <br /> 'Omelette,' I said 'and a cappuccino.' The quoted price was reasonable. I set up my laptop in a window seat, looking over the windy square - a large piazza lined with trees and restaurants with signs like <br />'Full English Breakfast,', 'Burgers,' 'Fish n Chips' - lots of chairs and tables under awnings outside each one. <br /><span> </span>The omelette arrived without garnish of any sort, not even bread or toast. I asked for toast 3 times and by the time it arrived, I'd eaten the small omelette, lonely on its plate. I wish I'd taken a picture of the cappuccino - the foam was about 3 inches high in terrific peaks - like I remember it was in Menorca when I went there years ago. The staff are all Spanish and all chatting in Spanish. Everywhere in Gibraltar, all the service industries are staffed by Spaniards, many of whom seem to have little English. <span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Sunday was my first full day of a 5-day trip. I avoid expensive organised tours. I travel on a small budget. I'm an experienced solo traveller. I'm staying in the only cheap hostel in Gibraltar. I have a small basic room and there are showers and a loo down the corridor. It's OK, functional. Not like South Africa where the backpack hostels are the best. But the manager here is friendly and knowledgeable. I ask him about the buses, he tells me where the bus stops are for whatever destination ... </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-8c_RiNYuDUdH_zDRKyWkuYoA-1-QmMhnnbo_bqaO67Cw9LNauZ-eKaBfwIyvE_g9cSMojw0BjLJR6zw5MD7u_fAji_ltVFuLd40ZKQUKDpIWUx-bOYARVdbZcCVJGf7Zalb8izQRcND0kL8lp8t6VAvDWqW2bWzZ6nuiMCqlaknXDXkGaw=s4624" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2604" data-original-width="4624" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-8c_RiNYuDUdH_zDRKyWkuYoA-1-QmMhnnbo_bqaO67Cw9LNauZ-eKaBfwIyvE_g9cSMojw0BjLJR6zw5MD7u_fAji_ltVFuLd40ZKQUKDpIWUx-bOYARVdbZcCVJGf7Zalb8izQRcND0kL8lp8t6VAvDWqW2bWzZ6nuiMCqlaknXDXkGaw=s320" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span> </span>The number 2 bus stop was a 3-minute walk from the hostel. It cost ยฃ2 return. It took me to Europa Point, one end of the island, where the lighthouse is - I looked out the window all the way - so this is Gibraltar - 3 miles long and 0.75m wide. A winding road, The Rock high on my left - glimpses of the sea and yachting harbours through sometimes high rise buildings to my right, some of these buildings ugly and functional. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzW9aSfuJVQ3d6CGsJjBiX1FUNzU8iC5fvj_zoHZDcfBOV19aIan4GZ0ABu59Mq_8ykBL4zTzU64pe8_Sk3_nk7YTtnJjzWvISABnecXB4ZHZfLOeZSmtyUjDUKj-BLaX3VCUMQadRA95b_e9MZwYAB4T2NZV30rPFEIGzUJHbfopZsFtk7g=s320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="180" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Europa Point</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The bus took about 25 minutes to do that short distance, which seemed longer. I remember that in Barbados - 23 miles long and the bus journey took hours from one end to the other. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span> </span>We passed old, post-industrial and modern. The British took Gibraltar from the Spanish in 1704. The Spanish have been trying to get it back ever since, but apparently, the Gibraltarians have continued to vote almost unanimously to remain under British sovereignty. The Brits want to keep this strategic location that guards the entrance to the Mediterranean. Later I found out some of the reasons why Gibs cling on to their UK nationality.. I'll get back to this topic.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZMBE59_rsXr6dgfpIsu-mCeg9-mzFkSVUYqY-qRcWa_AgNWStH3idlhcsyBIx2iN5Bqf8vCgz8yb5TxJ2hBTDK-J3Et2xA3YakSBorAe9JN_bMpmsFfSI2KKz0siGVVsV4kjD8wf013htL_-9afz-Yu1cY7hXI8BgQ-XMtIuzjET9Hh91Q/s4624/the Polish memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZMBE59_rsXr6dgfpIsu-mCeg9-mzFkSVUYqY-qRcWa_AgNWStH3idlhcsyBIx2iN5Bqf8vCgz8yb5TxJ2hBTDK-J3Et2xA3YakSBorAe9JN_bMpmsFfSI2KKz0siGVVsV4kjD8wf013htL_-9afz-Yu1cY7hXI8BgQ-XMtIuzjET9Hh91Q/s320/the Polish memorial.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> In the distance, from Europa Point Lighthouse - my destination that day, you could see Morocco, misty in the distance. It's a strange spot, Europa Point - open and rather bleak - a large simple Polish WW2 memorial is there, carved out of polished granite. Here's the inscription:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>"Testament
of the fallen" by Ryszard Kiersnowski:</b></span><span style="color: #333333; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><br /></b>
<br />
<i><span style="background: white;">"And when children forget that they had
lived in shelters,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">That the deeds they had witnessed were too base
to forgive,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Let them always remember just this thing about
us,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">That we all fell in battle so that freedom might
live".</span></i></span><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> If you face the other way, inland you can see a small rather beautifully formed mosque. </span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOPNZj3tcFTMpRp49AYmkQErMwCmT2xgTadHtD1fzx-aSEo4aJG3AQRdPuqiIWiemwFlnXgttTP7zKcCpwE1iq4uI4KRC__Zi0EAxcC-2WpblLdhhjT3i9RYbdmP7BkAP6h0n_htZtUFOYQpMyZJr4qNOIk5J5L_zGNx2YUYcrwgKl6ECSg/s4624/The mosque by the lighthouse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOPNZj3tcFTMpRp49AYmkQErMwCmT2xgTadHtD1fzx-aSEo4aJG3AQRdPuqiIWiemwFlnXgttTP7zKcCpwE1iq4uI4KRC__Zi0EAxcC-2WpblLdhhjT3i9RYbdmP7BkAP6h0n_htZtUFOYQpMyZJr4qNOIk5J5L_zGNx2YUYcrwgKl6ECSg/s320/The mosque by the lighthouse.jpg" width="180" /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> In front of it, there's a large ugly low concrete building, with a children's play area in front. It's a cafe /restaurant - with overblown prices. I walked the other way, past the lighthouse to the end of the promontory and saw a building up ahead - carried on around it and found a plaque titled the 'University of Gibraltar' and strolled in unchallenged. Ahead, people were going up in a lift and so I followed. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The doors opened onto a second-floor bistro - a large open plan restaurant with big picture windows, lots of light and as a sign points out to you - one of the best views in Gibraltar - it looks over the curving sweep of a huge bay with large cargo ships. It was busy with families and couples here for Sunday lunch - the food looked good - higher end, but not over-priced. And the daily a la carte was reasonable. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXimq4pIn6K27bfmWc3XhBTRefntlceQC9HKhMo1fnLgI4iTnZm7Ocx4xCjoVqP9SxWJ7bTsemnH6zgV8EhMqrCPmZCBOkzxAx-iErnJ-anCCbBt3QWWuvP3bQDhQi8AWyt-4Y1KGKYHaKY6kKmUCACN3JlHWtMWSSb9aqhiGYp-ygCCjtNA=s4624" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2604" data-original-width="4624" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXimq4pIn6K27bfmWc3XhBTRefntlceQC9HKhMo1fnLgI4iTnZm7Ocx4xCjoVqP9SxWJ7bTsemnH6zgV8EhMqrCPmZCBOkzxAx-iErnJ-anCCbBt3QWWuvP3bQDhQi8AWyt-4Y1KGKYHaKY6kKmUCACN3JlHWtMWSSb9aqhiGYp-ygCCjtNA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-40KQ6U5KG9Ai0M2fM0ebF--P9949c-Vu4JMl9IpxwlJPybPaVwCUMUVL05aVcoRREybw7L1gS9i-X3gOxDAmABmgzaMchugolJ-ZY6cox0j8SxKXaKLMCfMHzrAUPMUONgOcRIoMDvcr3NKM6D1ilYaJVRnWCF-X2vQgpHPfH269Gx8Kgg/s4624/Cafe by thhe lighthouse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2604" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-40KQ6U5KG9Ai0M2fM0ebF--P9949c-Vu4JMl9IpxwlJPybPaVwCUMUVL05aVcoRREybw7L1gS9i-X3gOxDAmABmgzaMchugolJ-ZY6cox0j8SxKXaKLMCfMHzrAUPMUONgOcRIoMDvcr3NKM6D1ilYaJVRnWCF-X2vQgpHPfH269Gx8Kgg/w113-h200/Cafe by thhe lighthouse.jpg" width="113" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">I sat at the bar on a barstool and ordered a cappuccino. As usual, there was some consternation from the male waiters about this lone older female - I could hear their thoughts - where is her husband, her son, her family? Why is she alone? I ignored it. That day, I did not have my laptop as I was doing a rekkie. Usually, I just flip it open and start writing. People get bored, lose interest and stop staring after a while. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>'Do you want to serve me coffee or should I go to the cafe on the point?' I asked - the waiter was questioning my request for a cappuccino. Wasn't I expecting someone? My husband? My family? He gave up. The very busy girl made me a good quality coffee - I'm very fussy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span> </span>A bit later, after advice from a nice woman at the bus stop, I was heading for Camp Bay... I tried to get the image of Camps Bay, Cape Town out of my head - that long wild beautiful beach I always head for when I'm there, with the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen, over the Atlantic Ocean. Ah well, it was never going to bear comparison.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span> </span>I watched my bus's progress using Google maps, on my Smartphone. You have to get out a few stops past the cable car office. After asking a few people on a side road, I found myself walking through 2 tunnels in a rock face ... pedestrians and SUVs go through this narrow track with no railings or road markings. I waved my arms a lot or flattened myself against a rock when the odd vehicle showed up. Then, to my right, over a wall was 'the beach'... if you can call it that - a wide semi-circular inlet faced out to the main shipping lanes - is it the Atlantic or the Med just there - or do they both join together at that point? Giant ships - cargo ships I assume - not the vast container ships that pass through Durban to Port Elizabeth. No these looked more industrial.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> I'd chatted to a man in the airport lounge in Heathrow, who I sat near to, who turned out to be a ship's captain on his way to Gibraltar to take command of his cargo ship. He was from Athens and lived there with his wife and three kids. There was something vaguely unsettling about him - I kept having to divert him from arguing about trivia. Anyway, I thought about him as I looked across at those huge ships. Which one was he the captain of?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMKYHZ-nkwXz8IYZ3or6ejFAQkw2LH5lEdEH8Yedinuq1uoMg2yvsL5Z10swafG5s_ujbB3iKrnPqZNmMFP291iXR_gMVTuJjoKc5gI6vKEzvyuV6LWv9_JvsprOsqTm0HEwEDq9Vr7_jIyOuxcEL8DEAsLR2cbw1GzhLYCfffPAZuQjNmEA=s443" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMKYHZ-nkwXz8IYZ3or6ejFAQkw2LH5lEdEH8Yedinuq1uoMg2yvsL5Z10swafG5s_ujbB3iKrnPqZNmMFP291iXR_gMVTuJjoKc5gI6vKEzvyuV6LWv9_JvsprOsqTm0HEwEDq9Vr7_jIyOuxcEL8DEAsLR2cbw1GzhLYCfffPAZuQjNmEA=s320" width="181" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">My attention turned to the beach - long concrete terraces ran in steps down to the sea with here and there a narrow strip of shingle, wide empty cafes and in front of them, row after row of concrete mushrooms about 18 inches tall. These stretched across the bay, to a tiny stretch of sandy shingly beach, about 50 foot long.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk7tnuMnUETW1ElUUIFiS052QzKBXYevq3CcLNV_LpQzpMRIIAmRCBk25kEUi_XAA0DxtnCsnGD-kOQzBeb2uNwNA8S79vQejb8NSfrTOi-Tp0P0zh5ozddsnOwsDP5X320v4hRyqoTTYKzOkuxmLv9wChLqdghVaaz4RySpLwD41Pftcp2Q=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk7tnuMnUETW1ElUUIFiS052QzKBXYevq3CcLNV_LpQzpMRIIAmRCBk25kEUi_XAA0DxtnCsnGD-kOQzBeb2uNwNA8S79vQejb8NSfrTOi-Tp0P0zh5ozddsnOwsDP5X320v4hRyqoTTYKzOkuxmLv9wChLqdghVaaz4RySpLwD41Pftcp2Q=s320" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBmhMtFiJZXMYPKME_voi2kv6_UyAhDax2tVylkaQ1dIOCnEgoHljZAc7WtDU-a67xHV9O5I1XFGJj6OjB0wHu5cpj6lNSPA10Ko95cQVo4kkNCwZSSvAGw8JClQk9iK0hLja2rdKwUlIzOaOh9-ddHDKNBfbaIEWIZxUCIF_5DYK5bwNf4A=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBmhMtFiJZXMYPKME_voi2kv6_UyAhDax2tVylkaQ1dIOCnEgoHljZAc7WtDU-a67xHV9O5I1XFGJj6OjB0wHu5cpj6lNSPA10Ko95cQVo4kkNCwZSSvAGw8JClQk9iK0hLja2rdKwUlIzOaOh9-ddHDKNBfbaIEWIZxUCIF_5DYK5bwNf4A=s320" width="180" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaFiGzgIpdB9ViXLwVhohPWQac8JWezsgYL_GxlSSBFQ-D11AKQQ2AXzDx3KOQn66fAI1N1l_emSuk_StcHR3SoWFFfpqMqlSqASa4cVqBNSINancfBMnrBboGn9FUckkpe08IftIO89msWOKAGfHhPIN51cIYezqppLt96xX0N655ZOYdQ/s6848/Camp Bay - at the end.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3360" data-original-width="6848" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaFiGzgIpdB9ViXLwVhohPWQac8JWezsgYL_GxlSSBFQ-D11AKQQ2AXzDx3KOQn66fAI1N1l_emSuk_StcHR3SoWFFfpqMqlSqASa4cVqBNSINancfBMnrBboGn9FUckkpe08IftIO89msWOKAGfHhPIN51cIYezqppLt96xX0N655ZOYdQ/s320/Camp Bay - at the end.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> A small group of men hung out there. I walked from one concrete side to another of the entire beach and its terraces (about 5 minutes) and found at the far end some steps leading down to an even smaller bit of beach. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>By now the sun was shining and it was quite warm. I wished I'd bought my costume but it was hard to work out how deep the sea was there and if there were currents? I had a short paddle, looked out across the sea and enjoyed the rhythmic swishing of the waves on the shore. Is there any more relaxing sound? Later I walked back to the first restaurant/cafe. It was closed. I lay there on a fake grass ledge in the sun for an hour, listening to the waves and reading another 6 chapters on my Kindle Paperwhite (it doesn't reflect the sun).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /> Later, I walked back, across the concrete platform and up the steps onto the lane, through the two rock tunnels and out onto the main road. There was, what appeared to be, an Italian restaurant just along from there. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> No, not Italian it seemed, the chef was Spanish. They brought me the worst cannelloni I have ever eaten - I had to send it back - stale curling pasta, the bechamel sauce swam white and thin like milk and it was stuffed with so much chopped spinach that it tasted like mown grass ... no other discernable flavour. The waiter said 'Why?' when I called him over - I said, 'I tried but it's inedible.' He brought me an indifferent pizza Margherita instead. I ate half and left. And there was no working wifi there. In this day and age, that is a crime of negligence in my book. ...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>I found the No 2 bus stop and came back to my room. <br /><br /><b>Tuesday: Catalan Bay - The Sea Wave restaurant/bar.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> I got off the bus (a 20-minute journey from my hostel) - we had executed a right turn after travelling south for a mile and came across to the other side of Gibraltar - one side to the other at that point is (apparently) 0.75 miles across. The first thing I noticed to my left as I alighted from the bus was a great mound of earth, below which was a concreted car park and then the beach - was it because it was cloudy and quite windy that it all looked so dull? At least it was a beach this time with sand from one side to another. The other strange thing was this entire small beach was covered with hundreds of sea birds, all with folded wings, just sitting still on the sand, a foot apart, all facing in the same direction, not doing anything.. I've been to many beaches - never seen that before. Occasionally they all lifted up en mass when a dog walker crossed the beach, then settled back down again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsu5ohc3VRXcetrkxLYxt_Ik4r4hZJdG_8L0-LEto_92x3Rk56Q8U1kkddB9squjQyIdVB8YvqSGoq77KYSHl5GmNAxprY-S6Pz4LFR7t00I8r15H_COl6cIIw9T65jhPFpTAQp8y6fYkmR_mIg3hiy9KX6BwaY7mN_ec7ZUYPvXi_UDnfpw=s2312" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="1302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsu5ohc3VRXcetrkxLYxt_Ik4r4hZJdG_8L0-LEto_92x3Rk56Q8U1kkddB9squjQyIdVB8YvqSGoq77KYSHl5GmNAxprY-S6Pz4LFR7t00I8r15H_COl6cIIw9T65jhPFpTAQp8y6fYkmR_mIg3hiy9KX6BwaY7mN_ec7ZUYPvXi_UDnfpw=s320" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> You walk down a kind of ramp and on the left is the sea, beach, grey sand. On the right were a few cafe/bars - most shut/boarded up - was that due to end of season or covid - no tourists? Having sat down at the only one that appeared open, a woman came up to take my order - she was friendly and we had a long chat - it turned out that she was the owner of The Seawave cafe/ bar/ restaurant) in Catalan Bay.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyWUfOQqTYZf8GGli_Oe8vfphh_UDUZ8tX_QUqI2c3GqO2YqrXePCx7Qff3hE1kCAdxxWBt_wKhL5C6SKdeVdrREN6NMdOooRgOd8s_ap2aj8gWsWix7LO7HeIF7EjA8v1nnKyVvr1Mxipxvj6motY3RFSmpciY-Iwm3dL6F23NkiBeVhZfw=s2312" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="1302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyWUfOQqTYZf8GGli_Oe8vfphh_UDUZ8tX_QUqI2c3GqO2YqrXePCx7Qff3hE1kCAdxxWBt_wKhL5C6SKdeVdrREN6NMdOooRgOd8s_ap2aj8gWsWix7LO7HeIF7EjA8v1nnKyVvr1Mxipxvj6motY3RFSmpciY-Iwm3dL6F23NkiBeVhZfw=s320" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7i1qDMUtroXeX3503N2wZEhPbUr4FUfKXKW-hPwgC-NQu95KW3GCV5_riHvrwPslhWutuqQBii1ptMNuAOifNB1pQSTT1aNeQmI0Bcob5vHv2KDyRA9ULDtdRHqAuKYeogA8WhNVXTUBRr-yU5Fcm0aVWgamJJpn7LzAXiHGp7oFCbUUOuw=s2312" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="1302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7i1qDMUtroXeX3503N2wZEhPbUr4FUfKXKW-hPwgC-NQu95KW3GCV5_riHvrwPslhWutuqQBii1ptMNuAOifNB1pQSTT1aNeQmI0Bcob5vHv2KDyRA9ULDtdRHqAuKYeogA8WhNVXTUBRr-yU5Fcm0aVWgamJJpn7LzAXiHGp7oFCbUUOuw=s320" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0WKIO52Ol-kd-F8-4SvdrFtyUC74cyNbLOF7oVwMCyfvW8dFGSSoz2iJLpwtcqQLWITpU1a5QWkN1tx8-hGhFuYlIGsTDWRvsq3j9ZMXofUcwAs7z2fx61QCh1FRyIijxSbMe18REVBk-kFdE2HhzsocmoqQXVXV6odCMgzkAokkSk-fZMQ=s3840" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0WKIO52Ol-kd-F8-4SvdrFtyUC74cyNbLOF7oVwMCyfvW8dFGSSoz2iJLpwtcqQLWITpU1a5QWkN1tx8-hGhFuYlIGsTDWRvsq3j9ZMXofUcwAs7z2fx61QCh1FRyIijxSbMe18REVBk-kFdE2HhzsocmoqQXVXV6odCMgzkAokkSk-fZMQ=w113-h200" width="113" /></a></div><br /> I began to understand why the Gibs all want to hold on to their British status. She said they consider themselves British and are British to all intents and purposes. There are many perks. Gibs can come and go to the UK as they choose, use our NHS. Martha had a daughter just graduating from a UK university. One of the perks she told me about - Gibs can send their children to any university in the UK and the Gibraltar government pay the fees and living expenses. Spanish people living and working in Gibraltar get all sorts of financial perks too - free schooling for their children and many other advantages. Of course, the Gibs all voted against Brexit, they want to keep their feet in both camps, Spain and UK.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> The Spanish government is trying to get 'Shengen' rights for Gibs(excuse me, that's what they call themselves - Gibs) to be able to wave visa restrictions for those travelling back and forth between Gibraltar and Spain for work and family. If so they'll hold on to their EU rights too. <br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Martha told me a bit about Gibraltar history too and Google filled in the gaps. From 1969, Britain was in dispute with the awful Franco, who
ruled Spain as President and dictator. Eventually, due to ill health and old
age, he handed over to the reinstated monarch Juan Carlos, king of Spain, who
eventually brought back democracy and became a constitutional monarch. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> The
border between Spain and Gibraltar was firmly closed by Britain from 1969 to
1982. No goods were allowed across this border at all and as most Gibs
are a mixture of Spanish/Moroccan/ British and Irish, so have varying degrees
of Spanish relatives, it became hard to continue contact with any Spanish relatives.
Also, 20-30,000 Spanish nationals currently cross the border to work.
Presumably, this was the case even then. This all came to an abrupt
halt. Plus the much cheaper food grown in Spain could not be imported -
it was now being brought from Morocco, UK and so on and was much more
expensive. So, difficult times for Spanish people living in Gibraltar.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br />
Now, I sound like the worst kind of British traveller - the
kind who expects everyone to speak English and wants only English food wherever
they go. I am not that person reader, I assure you. I've travelled
extensively all over Africa, India and I've been to quite a few Far Eastern
countries too, not to mention North America. I love to experience other
cultures and eat local food (as long as it's vegetarian). But before I came to
visit, everything I read about Gibraltar seemed to be selling that kind of
destination to the average Brit - home from home, British shops, English spoken
everywhere and so on. In fact in this post-pandemic(???) universe, the reason I
chose Gibraltar to visit was linked to that - it was on the Green List, very
few restrictions for those of us double jabbed, a large percentage of the
population here double-jabbed (more than 90% so I'm told by a local) a
relatively safe destination in these troubled times. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> After a large bowl of salad, Martha had also told me about the hotel up on the hill above us that I could see. It's a 5-star hotel but has not been doing so well, so now under new management. I later went up to explore and found a very comfortable lounge with great sea views, as it's so high up on the hill overlooking the beach and out to sea. I spent a few pleasant hours there, writing on my laptop, sipping a G&T. Then I got the bus back to my hostel. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUG4uB1zWw4wDM0Y_--JmMD5TKQeqMYda4vcEO3R12ju3_nyyoKCErg61ipeCbjxE98Me8YmwkBNXkvuB-9fh1aR7zbFFlfPdNzAyUPdvxoBoNlXFGsBR7Hj85ZZ61qjyQTFymq7zqPvtPpbZczu6rp8FLjcPF9NHHu3PAcKHtngYm7-OadA=s3840" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUG4uB1zWw4wDM0Y_--JmMD5TKQeqMYda4vcEO3R12ju3_nyyoKCErg61ipeCbjxE98Me8YmwkBNXkvuB-9fh1aR7zbFFlfPdNzAyUPdvxoBoNlXFGsBR7Hj85ZZ61qjyQTFymq7zqPvtPpbZczu6rp8FLjcPF9NHHu3PAcKHtngYm7-OadA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> You might be wondering about the nightlife there - there's smart cafes and bars a short walk away from my hostel on Gibraltar Harbour. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_hg2wWWbnC987koDaKYJ1fqSxqMOYXKixD5J-fI5ETlWMJsO6MhwZvpPzPd9d5-j8Civ2AQ4E4FHtULVfl4VTPJeqzg1xLiBkyifuhkdjXBrankPZBe1bOBST6ddp0Fek_Syt8nPiDKzdMdisgoHh8VL_WBBqZNAzh82Nm3p8QduDP1aDiA=s4624" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_hg2wWWbnC987koDaKYJ1fqSxqMOYXKixD5J-fI5ETlWMJsO6MhwZvpPzPd9d5-j8Civ2AQ4E4FHtULVfl4VTPJeqzg1xLiBkyifuhkdjXBrankPZBe1bOBST6ddp0Fek_Syt8nPiDKzdMdisgoHh8VL_WBBqZNAzh82Nm3p8QduDP1aDiA=s320" width="180" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtAJDSgG_G27EOCmdCWwxJhKPjMVkTudUVU0OXSGF-XeUwVIsMU1WR_Qs8WK1_JDqwtaLnI3OvHtGAC6BYJWUrlFQJ_ayfqS2SCKoE3B38pJNfLPWYZb64iY9w2uG43X2QdXPIFNgm2PdWdCtoNCBY3Ppz2Kd39uL-x9BMCuEZ7A-JGS7dxA=s4624" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtAJDSgG_G27EOCmdCWwxJhKPjMVkTudUVU0OXSGF-XeUwVIsMU1WR_Qs8WK1_JDqwtaLnI3OvHtGAC6BYJWUrlFQJ_ayfqS2SCKoE3B38pJNfLPWYZb64iY9w2uG43X2QdXPIFNgm2PdWdCtoNCBY3Ppz2Kd39uL-x9BMCuEZ7A-JGS7dxA=s320" width="180" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> - a giant casino in the shape of a cruise ship is on one side. I'd chatted to one of the croupiers on the flight over - he'd been working there for five years - he was 31, single, worked late hours. Pleasant chap but I couldn't help feeling that his life was empty and bleak. Five years in a casino. Good money I expect. </div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvslQIFe7MECV5R1eCamRt6ht5eaLK9OAwt_evycD52vgvqvYPFHXajrASgGiJ5GORgJBMlRdL1hG9YD4HUZLOpm4HOyk3D8SKLq13g9ld2dNAH5QqLhEhyxOC4VePxVWKxB2tvYRZj2ghsXOiJIf6V5eh44ghKY6SCZlELMWuXVovRufz8g=s4624" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvslQIFe7MECV5R1eCamRt6ht5eaLK9OAwt_evycD52vgvqvYPFHXajrASgGiJ5GORgJBMlRdL1hG9YD4HUZLOpm4HOyk3D8SKLq13g9ld2dNAH5QqLhEhyxOC4VePxVWKxB2tvYRZj2ghsXOiJIf6V5eh44ghKY6SCZlELMWuXVovRufz8g=s320" width="180" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> On my first night, I'd wandered about and found a tiny backstreet fusion restaurant - run by an Indian woman, dishes a mixture of Indian and Moroccan great for a vegetarian, tasty and cheap. There was an Italian restaurant in the same back alley but I didn't get a chance to try it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> On my last day in Gib, I'd planned to take the cable car up the Rock - the views were supposed to be great. I took the No.2 bus and got off at the stop near Camp Bay, then queued for 25 mins in an enclosure next to the jump off point for the cars. The queue was mainly retired British couples - some wearing masks, some not. I guess we were all double-jabbed (Omicron and the 3rd jab had not yet hit the scene in the UK). </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The manager at the hostel had told me not to go on the preceding 2 days because the weather was cloudy and windy. Today had dawned sunny, blue skies and warm. 'Perfect', he'd said. I got to the end of the queue at last and we all followed each other across the little square, down some steps, up some steps into a large whitewashed room - a doorway on the other side was wide open and you could see the cable car. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> I'd struck up some conversations with various Brit couples while we were in the queue. One couple asked me about my PCR to get back into the UK. I looked blank - we'd all had to do a PCR test on arrival in this large portacabin outside the main doors to the airport. For some reason (and I'm quite thorough and meticulous about these things normally) I had missed that we had to have a PCR test booked (and a quotable number) to get back into the UK. Shit, I thought. I had assumed (never assume) that as a fully vaxed person with proof on my NHS app, and a UK passport, that would be enough. No, apparently it wasn't and I was leaving the next day. You had to have the form with you with the booking reference when you landed at Heathrow. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> This bad news day was about to get worse. As we all trailed up to the top of the stairs and started walking towards the cable car, anticipating the view, it became apparent that the tide of people was turning and walking back towards us. I asked a couple what was going on. 'It's been cancelled!' they said - we have to go back and get a refund. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">'Oh No,' I thought. What do I do now?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Queue to get the refund, that's what. They said there was an electrical fault so the cable car was cancelled for the day. I was returning to the UK the following day so I never did get to have a ride. As we were near Camp Bay, I strolled back there and sat in the sun watching the sea. But the day was now rather spoilt and also because I then spent the afternoon trying to sort out a regulation PCR test with a verified number for the damn entry form. I phoned various 'clinics' on the government website list - they were VERY overpriced - one quoted me ยฃ99. The couple at the cable car queue had told me they paid ยฃ30. In the end, I finally got one booked when I got back to the hostel - for ยฃ50. By then I was stressed and tired and glad I was leaving the next day.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The hostel I was in was located 5 mins drive from the airport. I had hoped I'd be able to pop across the border to Spain during my stay. Things were much cheaper there. In the end, I'd decided NOT to risk it - due to the pandemic issues and being unsure whether I qualified fully and whether, having travelled to another EU country, there would be problems getting back into the UK.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> I don't think I want to go back to Gibraltar although my 5 days there was marred by mainly cool cloudy weather and all the pandemic issues - I felt that all these things had tainted my view of Gibraltar. It was not a good time to be there. I'm used to lovely beaches and sunshine and friendly locals, when I travel - </span><span style="font-family: arial;">it felt like </span><span style="font-family: arial;">mostly absent in Gibraltar.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Perhaps I was unlucky and my view was tainted - it was end of season and at the tail end of the pandemic. There were very few tourists around, so lots of places closed. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> One more point, the whole time I was there I saw only one black person. I live in London, I'm used to extensive diversity of races,cultures and colours. There are mixed Spanish/ Moroccan/ white British people in Gibraltar. But no black African, Caribbean, African American. Except for this one guy - a Malawian from my hostel, who told me he'd been stuck in Gibraltar for a year - due to Covid rules he could not go back to Malawi. He was fed up, wanted to leave, but couldn't.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> It's not the same world anywhere since the pandemic hit us all.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-7138250247597969492021-07-13T13:53:00.002+01:002021-07-14T10:47:27.554+01:00Meeting the Elephants<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="sc-gsWcmt grZHMV govuk-!-margin-bottom-21 govuk-!-margin-left-4" style="display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-left: 20px; text-align: left;"><div class="sc-dsXzNU iNWOJK govuk-!-margin-right-4" style="margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="sc-daBunf eQUdeu govuk-heading-m govuk-!-font-weight-regular govuk-!-margin-bottom-2 govuk-!-padding-top-0" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nlgzw8AMbx0/YNxBZtynaJI/AAAAAAAATiQ/shXbOonWfbkMQppgKmwUJ4rBG4ztzUVIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200110_172045.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nlgzw8AMbx0/YNxBZtynaJI/AAAAAAAATiQ/shXbOonWfbkMQppgKmwUJ4rBG4ztzUVIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200110_172045.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting the Elephants</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="sc-daBunf eQUdeu govuk-heading-m govuk-!-font-weight-regular govuk-!-margin-bottom-2 govuk-!-padding-top-0" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Much of what has happened in the past year we've blocked out or put aside in our heads in order to get through. I know I did - but the time will come to remember those we've lost - all 152,000 of them.</span></span></div><div class="sc-daBunf eQUdeu govuk-heading-m govuk-!-font-weight-regular govuk-!-margin-bottom-2 govuk-!-padding-top-0" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">This is the second half of my story about my adventurous trip to South Africa in January 2020. I returned to the UK at the end of January, to be met with cold wet weather initially and then within a few weeks, stories emerging from China, in particular Wuhan, about a new deadly disease sweeping that country. And you know the rest. By the end of March, we were all in lockdown, which seemed likely to be for a few months and we could barely leave our homes. My food shopping was now to be done online and gradually I was limited to talking to my neighbours in their front gardens in the small cul-de-sac in which I live. </span></div></div></div><div class="sc-gsWcmt grZHMV govuk-!-margin-bottom-21 govuk-!-margin-left-4" style="display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-left: 20px; text-align: left;"><div class="sc-dsXzNU iNWOJK govuk-!-margin-right-4" style="margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="sc-daBunf eQUdeu govuk-heading-m govuk-!-font-weight-regular govuk-!-margin-bottom-2 govuk-!-padding-top-0" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span>Before I went to South Africa, I had been taking care of my grandson for one day a week, </span>then aged 15 months.<span> Many people felt their only option was to isolate and not see even their grandchildren. I refused this option point-blank. Firstly my daughter was still working full days in her demanding job, organising guests for an online media discussion programme - but now she was working from home and needed the support. Secondly, I adored my grandson and was not going to be separated from him at this crucial point in his life. Absolutely no way.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="sc-daBunf eQUdeu govuk-heading-m govuk-!-font-weight-regular govuk-!-margin-bottom-2 govuk-!-padding-top-0" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The rain stopped sometime in March and an intensive dry heatwave followed - endless sun and blue skies, but we were in lockdown. Freddie played in the garden, we walked in the parks, I pushed the pram to playgrounds where everyone wore masks and all the play equipment was taped off. </span></div><div class="sc-daBunf eQUdeu govuk-heading-m govuk-!-font-weight-regular govuk-!-margin-bottom-2 govuk-!-padding-top-0" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_JFSAAmqXmc/YNxdLbMu31I/AAAAAAAATiY/FVXMK4lzYhEdnwK0l8ZNVa0SdYWMtH_ngCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/Freddie%2Bdrawing%2Bat%2Bmy%2Bplace%2Bsummer%2B2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_JFSAAmqXmc/YNxdLbMu31I/AAAAAAAATiY/FVXMK4lzYhEdnwK0l8ZNVa0SdYWMtH_ngCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Freddie%2Bdrawing%2Bat%2Bmy%2Bplace%2Bsummer%2B2020.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="sc-daBunf eQUdeu govuk-heading-m govuk-!-font-weight-regular govuk-!-margin-bottom-2 govuk-!-padding-top-0" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>Before Covid, I used to take him to cafes with playrooms, children's entertainers, drink coffee and chat with other parents/grandparents Now all closed. Now I had to play with him myself ALL the time. Quite a challenge!</span></div><div class="sc-daBunf eQUdeu govuk-heading-m govuk-!-font-weight-regular govuk-!-margin-bottom-2 govuk-!-padding-top-0" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-79lxJxoFzzw/YNxdi65jQNI/AAAAAAAATig/b0qPaTzOSow_w1d1eQXiunz2O5h9GYvPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/Freddie%2Bdrawing%2Bat%2Bmy%2Bplace%2B2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-79lxJxoFzzw/YNxdi65jQNI/AAAAAAAATig/b0qPaTzOSow_w1d1eQXiunz2O5h9GYvPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Freddie%2Bdrawing%2Bat%2Bmy%2Bplace%2B2020.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div class="sc-gsWcmt grZHMV govuk-!-margin-bottom-21 govuk-!-margin-left-4" style="display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-left: 20px; text-align: left;"><div class="sc-dsXzNU iNWOJK govuk-!-margin-right-4" style="margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The hot days of summer passed and in October I wrote up the first part of this South African Adventure and ended the story halfway - where I was just about to go on my first trip to meet the elephants. I decided to save this for a 'Part Two'. </span><br /></div></div><div class="sc-gsWcmt grZHMV govuk-!-margin-bottom-21 govuk-!-margin-left-4" style="display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-left: 20px; text-align: left;"><div class="sc-dsXzNU iNWOJK govuk-!-margin-right-4" style="margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">By then we were back into the 2nd lockdown ... It was like a horror story, I'd got organised for the first lockdown and it had been sunny and warm. For the second lockdown, the long hot summer had ended and the cold dark short days of winter were rapidly approaching. Motivation plummetted. But hey, I was looking forward to a nice Xmas with my daughters and grandson - until Boris cancelled Xmas on Dec 19th (could you not have given us more notice Boris?) because of the sharp rise in deaths and hospital admissions. It took the wind out of my sales and killed all the anticipated fun. </span><br /></div></div><div class="sc-gsWcmt grZHMV govuk-!-margin-bottom-21 govuk-!-margin-left-4" style="display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-left: 20px; text-align: left;"><div class="sc-dsXzNU iNWOJK govuk-!-margin-right-4" style="margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="sc-dsXzNU iNWOJK govuk-!-margin-right-4" style="margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the new year, I was concentrating on finishing my second memoir - Beyond the Bounds - finally (with the help of my friend and mentor Angela Newmarch) I wrote the difficult last few chapters and the magic words - The End (as I talked about in my last blog). That was a few weeks ago.</span><br /></div><div class="sc-dsXzNU iNWOJK govuk-!-margin-right-4" style="margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="sc-gsWcmt grZHMV govuk-!-margin-bottom-21 govuk-!-margin-left-4" style="display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-left: 20px; text-align: left;"><div class="sc-dsXzNU iNWOJK govuk-!-margin-right-4" style="margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>Now we're nearly in July 2021 - I HAVE to finish this second part of the story. A great deal of sadness has delayed me, about the awful things happening not just to the people but also to the elephants and rhinos and all the wildlife in Africa. This has been made a thousand times worse by the global pandemic and the terrible events of the last year, as many wildlife sanctuaries are funded by tourism. It's all mounted up in my head. I have to put myself back into that happy time in January 2020. Here goes - </span><br /></div></div><div class="sc-gsWcmt grZHMV govuk-!-margin-bottom-21 govuk-!-margin-left-4" style="display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-left: 20px; text-align: left;"><div class="sc-dsXzNU iNWOJK govuk-!-margin-right-4" style="margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div> <span style="font-family: arial;">Here's the last thing I wrote in Part 1 - </span></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div><p><span><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>It was now 2.30 p.m. and I decided to go back to my lodge for a siesta before the game drive at 4 pm. It had clouded over and had become cooler (about 22C), I would need to change from shorts to jeans and take a long-sleeved cardigan, I thought. I climbed onto the huge bed, threw a shawl over myself, set my alarm and fell asleep. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dxRwyyuB8oM/YOH9-wW-xTI/AAAAAAAATkY/j_t4PsmHt5ML-FcKGXM4eTxv3IK7ikqJACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_093219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dxRwyyuB8oM/YOH9-wW-xTI/AAAAAAAATkY/j_t4PsmHt5ML-FcKGXM4eTxv3IK7ikqJACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200111_093219.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HGlMwpHn_WI/YOH9_hltEbI/AAAAAAAATkc/jG2Kk2g6-rwcawSOiCX2FjiKbLow1AavQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_093454.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HGlMwpHn_WI/YOH9_hltEbI/AAAAAAAATkc/jG2Kk2g6-rwcawSOiCX2FjiKbLow1AavQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200111_093454.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My luxury lodge<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;">After my snooze on the giant four-poster bed, I changed clothes, sprayed myself with anti mozzy stuff, put a denim shirt in my bag and made my way across the lawns to the wooden platform/pickup point.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Soon our Zulu guide, Msizi appeared in an open-sided truck, this time with 10 or so others in the back seats. I (the only solo) sat in the front next to the guide. Great, I thought - front row seat. I do like a touch of danger, it's quite exciting. Soon Msizi and I were engaged in back and forth banter. I asked about his wife and kids and the village where he lived. Zulu culture is very male-oriented and has a strict hierarchy amongst the men - women come pretty low down the pecking order, although Zulu women are NOT quiet and retiring. Rural Zulus in this part of the world adhere to cultural rules more strongly. Msizi</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> was used to Western women though and we got along fine. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ohggneRYY18/YN8ZwbMH_6I/AAAAAAAATjU/o9uK3M0vz_UYTI8y09BjTHhL-MexssrVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_183751.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ohggneRYY18/YN8ZwbMH_6I/AAAAAAAATjU/o9uK3M0vz_UYTI8y09BjTHhL-MexssrVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200111_183751.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Msizi our Zulu guide</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I turned to say hello to everyone as I got in - several elderly couples, two couples in their thirties, an Indian family - with two older children. I wondered what they were all like and how we'd get on. It's the great part of solo traveling - all the people you meet. Normally I meet people in backpack hostels, travelling cheap. These people must all be able to afford the luxury end of the market I thought. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>Suddenly we were veering off the track and down a side slope towards a small river. Our guide was giving a running commentary about the wildlife and then started talking about the elephants which got my full attention.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> 'Yis, so ah, now when we see the elephants, Ah want you to remember, these are waald elephants, not those tame one's you git in the zoo back home, we may not be able to git tooo close, eh?' </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>We were all nodding vigorously - I guess most people had read <b>The Elephant Whisperer</b> by <b>Lawrence Anthony,</b> about how he'd put together his wild herd here and calmed them down. But there'd also been that one time with the elephant with bad toothache ... Lawrence had nearly been killed...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>'Not sure we'll see the herd tonaht folks, as they've not been sahted today, eh? Elephants can dus-appear in the bush, nah? But there's plenty other game, eh? End if we don't see them today, we'll see them tomorrow, OK?'</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>We all nodded again as the truck which had been pulled over by the riverside suddenly lurched forward and to my horror, headed straight for the river bank quite fast. I clung to the bars at my side as it nose-dived down the bank and into the river. I fully expected to be submerged, but the guide knew what he was doing. The watercourse was quite shallow there and we churned forward, with water nearly topping the wheels, straight through and up the steep muddy bank on the other side and out onto a long straight track. This track stretched away and then up a long hill </span><span style="font-family: arial;">in the distance. The running commentary continued, he clearly knew a great deal about the birds and animals on the reserve and how to track them.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ini_LI1v1PI/YOHxBacjIZI/AAAAAAAATj4/4lM2hd-VGesb0BL2mpQ5ARISmodPkR2mQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200110_171630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ini_LI1v1PI/YOHxBacjIZI/AAAAAAAATj4/4lM2hd-VGesb0BL2mpQ5ARISmodPkR2mQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200110_171630.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> Suddenly the truck stopped and he pointed to a tall shrub on the trackside - where what looked like an eagle was perched. He chatted about its characteristics. I glanced behind me and everyone had their binoculars out. My eyesight was poor due to what I later found out to be cataracts, so although I wore contact lenses anything further than ten metres was difficult to make out for me.One guy kindly leaned forward with his binoculars and said -</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>'Here, do you wanna have a go?'</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>'Ooh yes please.' I said. He was with his partner and son. Soon we were chatting away.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>'We won 2 nights in Thula Thula in a local radio quiz show in Durban. We're camping for the weekend.' </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> 'Oh did you bring a tent?'</span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">They laughed. 'No, they have these big tents here with beds and everything. It's very comfortable.'</span></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>The whole group it seemed were in 'glamping' tents, all with double beds and washing facilities. They were having a braai (barbeque) later and when they found out I was solo -</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>'I'm in a lodge but I'm the only person there - one group left yesterday and another's coming next week. I'm being very well looked after but I feel a bit isolated,' a very nice Indian guy with this wife and two teenagers immediately </span><span style="font-family: arial;">invited me to come along. But I was quite tired from all the travelling, so I thanked them and said 'Maybe tomorrow'. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>I found out later he was a consultant surgeon at Groote Schuur hospital. Little did we all know what was to come - we were two months away from a global pandemic and his working life was about to be turned upside down.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JR4BDVNbF7g/YNtweprUXeI/AAAAAAAATgg/oBtPRh4SvHg6ka7rE6pKPWRXXvEZwUgZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200110_175233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="217" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JR4BDVNbF7g/YNtweprUXeI/AAAAAAAATgg/oBtPRh4SvHg6ka7rE6pKPWRXXvEZwUgZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w163-h217/20200110_175233.jpg" width="163" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> Meanwhile, our guide was dodging zebras and impalas leaping out of the bushes and crossing the track randomly in front of us. Suddenly I spotted tall necks sticking out of a clump of bushes to our right - </span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y7uvl-AVFDA/YOHxyNR9xwI/AAAAAAAATkE/j8zqyg0J_1U8e5Tz5CWz6UH8VKMhP_HBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200110_170842.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y7uvl-AVFDA/YOHxyNR9xwI/AAAAAAAATkE/j8zqyg0J_1U8e5Tz5CWz6UH8VKMhP_HBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200110_170842.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ejIMO_lOkRs/YOHxxeUYvYI/AAAAAAAATkA/MRJD1wqO9UMmp_Br6BA6UqfhTDyHxOlrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200110_165926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ejIMO_lOkRs/YOHxxeUYvYI/AAAAAAAATkA/MRJD1wqO9UMmp_Br6BA6UqfhTDyHxOlrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200110_165926.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span>'Giraffes,' I said pointing. This was not( btw) my first safari in South Africa. In 2007 and 2015, I had done safaris in the vast Kruger National Park and then later had gone north towards Mozambique from Durban along the coast for another safari drive to see hippos, crocs and all sorts of large birds, along a wide river course near the Mozambique border. I'd also been on a day trip to Matopos Reserve in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and seen giraffes and other game there.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> <span> </span>On that first safari in 2007, at the start of the drive, our whole group had got very excited to see wild zebras for the first time, everyone pulling out their cameras and snapping away. By the end </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">of that 4-day safari </span><span style="font-family: arial;">we'd seen the Big Five (lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, water buffalo) on a number of occasions and taken a billion pictures, so by then, no one raised an eyebrow if we saw a zebra. I'd also seen giraffes many times before - they are such magnificent beautiful elegant creatures, it's always a great</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> pleasure to see them. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nPXJHDK4b78/YNtyiqQh4rI/AAAAAAAAThU/5o0AItnIiAgX12XfBgQkZHgZSZUlMXQNACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200110_170645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nPXJHDK4b78/YNtyiqQh4rI/AAAAAAAAThU/5o0AItnIiAgX12XfBgQkZHgZSZUlMXQNACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200110_170645.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> We were all tired by now and getting hungry. Msizi explained we'd be doing two more drives next day, one at 10 a.m. and we'd find the elephant herd which seemed to be eluding us tonight. He</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> instructed me to be waiting at the same pick-up point again next morning. I retired to the isolated but huge group lodge, where again, I was the only guest. A white table cloth and silver cutlery had been laid out in the eerily empty lounge. I ate my beautifully prepared vegetarian supper and strolled back to the lodge, where I fell onto the giant fourposter, read 2 lines from my Kindle book before falling fast asleep. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d0NGP10CqT4/YOIA82UZwiI/AAAAAAAATkk/8e8noZ2MP8gdei5Wfa5o6Ycsv5dpTDJLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_082716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d0NGP10CqT4/YOIA82UZwiI/AAAAAAAATkk/8e8noZ2MP8gdei5Wfa5o6Ycsv5dpTDJLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200111_082716.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nID53Och0b4/YOIA89TOluI/AAAAAAAATko/3SXNjn-QJKMYVzRZ3TQ3sIWgQBXIhG0bACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_082805.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nID53Och0b4/YOIA89TOluI/AAAAAAAATko/3SXNjn-QJKMYVzRZ3TQ3sIWgQBXIhG0bACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200111_082805.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gnu/ wildebeest<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Next day, I knew what to expect when the truck lurched down into the watercourse and plunged and bucked up the other side, I gripped the railings at my side tightly. When we got to the top and turned onto the track again, he pulled over and turned off the engine. He started talking about the elephants.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>'The thung iz, they maht approach the truck, yis? If thet happens , no one spiks ok? No one moves raht? Doan put out yor hand, jus doan move orl raht?' [He had a strong Zulu/South African accent].</span></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We started driving towards the hill some distance ahead of us - there were some low buildings a the top of it -</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>'What's that building I asked?' </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>'Oh thet's the old enimal orphanage,' he said - 'they closed it darn after the last poaching raid. Now they're gonna rebuld it and tren [train]volunteers there.'</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>I'd been reading <b>An Elephant in my Kitchen</b> by Lawrence's widow, Frances, which tells the story of the animal orphanage and the last terrible poacher raid which had left me in floods of tears. I turned my head away as my eyes filled. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>'Hey! Once we git up the hill, Ah'll be able to see where the herd is.' he was muttering. He put the truck into a low gear and we climbed the steep hill track until there was a sweeping view down across the bush on our right. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>'There they are.' he was pointing and in the far distance nearly hidden in the bush, we could see a small clump of grey moving objects - elephants! Oh my! The very elephants Lawrence had collected and saved from being shot. The very elephants who knew he'd died of a heart attack many miles away in Jo'burg on the night before he was due to fly back and had gathered by the house in silence, waiting for his body to be returned to Thula Thula. The very traumatised elephants whose trust he had worked day and night to build enough to gather a strong herd. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8tML0mWxtSo/YNtxdh-RSfI/AAAAAAAATg4/BeCE_REY7TI-FtgVLN1elDJK2EEWTzvVgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200110_172031.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8tML0mWxtSo/YNtxdh-RSfI/AAAAAAAATg4/BeCE_REY7TI-FtgVLN1elDJK2EEWTzvVgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200110_172031.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The herd is approaching - is it safe?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>He turned down a long steep slope and headed towards the sighting. Suddenly we were in an open clearing and not too far away was the herd. Oh wow! The size of the matriarch and the bull! And they were walking towards us.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">'That's Frankie,' said Msizi. 'Nobody move.'</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Slowly, v slowly, I turned on my Samsung 7 phone camera, holding it in my lap. They got nearer and then were surrounding the jeep. The bull elephant moved forward and stood next to me, looking me over. I was astounded by the rough bristly cratered skin up so close, as well as totally overwhelmed by his size, towering above me, looking down at me a couple of feet away. I took a selfie and my face is a picture of what the Americans call 'shock and awe'. I wanted to put out my hand and touch him but dare not. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>Behind me on the other side of the truck, one of the female elephants went right up close to an older white-haired woman and put out her trunk to touch the woman's face. She too was in 'shock and awe.' No one spoke. The guide started to talk low, pointing out their names and telling a line or two about the history of each, talking about Lawrence. It was a moment in time I will never forget. Completely rivetting.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wwcNd_TaS9Q/YNtzE8oHKsI/AAAAAAAAThs/lQWdnMM2xfIie9e4m5RvPal2vEEiBjx5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_173645%25280%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wwcNd_TaS9Q/YNtzE8oHKsI/AAAAAAAAThs/lQWdnMM2xfIie9e4m5RvPal2vEEiBjx5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200111_173645%25280%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shock and Awe<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iyobPq80qQs/YNtzD3ksTDI/AAAAAAAATho/ADR62pdz1MczB1X72Tx_t4rtiyOxjsZ9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_173453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iyobPq80qQs/YNtzD3ksTDI/AAAAAAAATho/ADR62pdz1MczB1X72Tx_t4rtiyOxjsZ9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200111_173453.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7dmp9Czr8w/YNtzcFXlmsI/AAAAAAAATiA/twboNNpwKEMQwWdKS_j_dfs3MQjNHk2DgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_173422.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="363" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7dmp9Czr8w/YNtzcFXlmsI/AAAAAAAATiA/twboNNpwKEMQwWdKS_j_dfs3MQjNHk2DgCLcBGAsYHQ/w363-h363/20200111_173422.jpg" width="363" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Like the bark of an oak tree.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Elephant hide, up close and personal<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DD_osPsY048/YNtzcMU_N7I/AAAAAAAATh8/dBh3VzGeWjAtVL8P6RiKgEK9tuZUF8M7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_173426.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DD_osPsY048/YNtzcMU_N7I/AAAAAAAATh8/dBh3VzGeWjAtVL8P6RiKgEK9tuZUF8M7QCLcBGAsYHQ/w356-h320/20200111_173426.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-43T6mXFNYm0/YNtzccyiMII/AAAAAAAATiE/p90RlOM4R44Sv1ore_ZOJe1fUOzOVEIFACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_173526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="350" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-43T6mXFNYm0/YNtzccyiMII/AAAAAAAATiE/p90RlOM4R44Sv1ore_ZOJe1fUOzOVEIFACLcBGAsYHQ/w350-h350/20200111_173526.jpg" width="350" /></a></div></div></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CcuQR4q_ICk/YOICZXpGgdI/AAAAAAAATk8/L7_5ui2dxmwderY4UoTmZRhjGUu6k58sgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200110_172912.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CcuQR4q_ICk/YOICZXpGgdI/AAAAAAAATk8/L7_5ui2dxmwderY4UoTmZRhjGUu6k58sgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200110_172912.jpg" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U8vEicbUt5E/YOICDsAFJZI/AAAAAAAATk0/wxv3hC11g1kQx8A9u5LdtyR38vi597ElQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200110_173714.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="351" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U8vEicbUt5E/YOICDsAFJZI/AAAAAAAATk0/wxv3hC11g1kQx8A9u5LdtyR38vi597ElQCLcBGAsYHQ/w351-h351/20200110_173714.jpg" width="351" /></a></div></div><br /> <p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> After a while, they gradually, having carefully vetted us, moved away and started drifting back into the bush until suddenly they'd gone, vanished. </span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgRFWKF35SU/YN8X-2rumOI/AAAAAAAATjM/rl43QgUnAOARIKwweaLeXxZz8UdKP2izgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_172648.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgRFWKF35SU/YN8X-2rumOI/AAAAAAAATjM/rl43QgUnAOARIKwweaLeXxZz8UdKP2izgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200111_172648.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> We all started talking then, and our guide switched on the engine. </span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>'Wow, that was amazing.' I looked round at the others, they were talking in excited voices. The older white-haired woman, sitting beside her husband, spoke to me - </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>'I froze. I wanted to give him my banana, but we were told not to move. I was in shock, he came so close. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">So are you coming to our braai tonight?' she asked.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I smiled and nodded, 'I just want to find something out, but yes - thanks for asking.'</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span> </span>When I'd lived in Cape Town, many years before, we'd often had braais - huge meat fests. For our farewell party, before we'd left South Africa to return to cold freezing London, we'd had a huge oil drum, cut in half, full of coals and we'd roasted half a lamb and pork chops, boerewors sausage, as well as tables with huge bowls of salad, French loaves and cheeses. We'd danced till dawn to the music of the late 70s - Roxy Music, 'This is Tomorrow' : John Travolta/Olivia Newton John: 'Saturday Night Fever', the BeeGees, 'How Deep is Your Love,' all songs that had come out that year - 1978.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span> </span>Now it was January 2020, many years had passed. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">I'd been a vegetarian for 30 years now, so I asked the guide if there'd be any veggie food I could eat. Zulu men are great meat eaters so I was expecting a negative response. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span> 'Eh! Don't warry men! We've plenty food you ken eat.' He laughed as we bumped down the hill. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">'But Ah'm looking for the rhanos before we go bek. We'll hev a stop off before thet. You want some lunch?' I realised I was starving as he pulled the wheel over to the left and drove into the bush. Soon we could see the watercourse leading to a large lake ahead. He pulled the truck up next to a clearing by the lake and pointed towards the water - 'See! Hippos.' And when I looked I could see grey hump shapes in the water, one broke the surface and the large heavy head of a hippo snorted into the water and two more, including a calf swimming behind, all were splashing and heading for the centre of the lake. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We all jumped down and I noticed a small table with wine and beer and soft drinks laid out plus rolls and crisps for our lunch. Some people had their cameras out, taking pics of the hippos, I joined in with my camera phone and we were all chatting. Another truck was parked nearby and we drifted around, looking at the hippos until our guide called us back. He was taking us back to camp, by now it was past midday. He told us we'd go out on another game drive at 4 pm, but we could have a siesta until then and the braai would be after that later in the evening.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4QunaBpmAUw/YN765JstGpI/AAAAAAAATis/F1RQX4UsRrgTLq9jrng2lPD_9mc8Cu9MACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_184420.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4QunaBpmAUw/YN765JstGpI/AAAAAAAATis/F1RQX4UsRrgTLq9jrng2lPD_9mc8Cu9MACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200111_184420.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0AkijNRHVY/YN77B5o770I/AAAAAAAATiw/ZB_XjcUq9YsC_--i9SKnJtaOAmC4g9S2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_184513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0AkijNRHVY/YN77B5o770I/AAAAAAAATiw/ZB_XjcUq9YsC_--i9SKnJtaOAmC4g9S2QCLcBGAsYHQ/w358-h358/20200111_184513.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZwLJ_TbJLc/YN77KvFeMqI/AAAAAAAATi4/ra1jcfiiMewirhsIhcC5GSpTOUISDlZLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200111_185139.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="336" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZwLJ_TbJLc/YN77KvFeMqI/AAAAAAAATi4/ra1jcfiiMewirhsIhcC5GSpTOUISDlZLQCLcBGAsYHQ/w336-h336/20200111_185139.jpg" width="336" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siswe by the lake</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> We drove back, Msizi on his two way radio phone was trying to find out if there were any rhino sightings - but they remained hidden from view and I was dropped off. I walked across the wide lawns to my cabin and several impala jumped off my front porch where they'd been grazing the lawn. I set my phone alarm and slept for an hour and was waiting at the landing stage at 4 pm. I wasn't going to miss any moment of our next game drive, I was loving every moment of it. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> W</span>e saw the elephants again - this time at a distance. Msizi stopped for the bird watcher's quite often and the guys behind me passed down their binoculars regulary so I could get a close-up view. I recognised Hoopoe and Ibis and saw the nests of weaver birds, hanging from tree branches. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCmZ4mdUvEg/YN8SfoLqyBI/AAAAAAAATjE/Sd0oEeNRBNEus-kw7q8vdNjaq9jPfpuIACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200110_182146.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="348" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCmZ4mdUvEg/YN8SfoLqyBI/AAAAAAAATjE/Sd0oEeNRBNEus-kw7q8vdNjaq9jPfpuIACLcBGAsYHQ/w348-h348/20200110_182146.jpg" width="348" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weaver bird nests<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <span> </span>Msizi was an expert on the local wildlife. He knew every bird, animal and the individual names of every elephant. He'd worked for Francoise for many years and Lawrence before that. In the evening, he picked me up in the truck and took me to the other camp where my new game drive buddies were. Long tables were laid out in an enclosed garden area, in a large rectangle and by the bar were tables full of salads and potatoes and falafel and hummus. The bar was, of course, well-stocked. I was delighted. I shouldn't have been surprised - Francoise was a French business woman who grew up in Paris when she met Lawrence Anthony. She knew about food for all tastes. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>It was lovely to be with the group and feel welcomed by them and I moved around the group chatting to everyone. It's the best part of solo travelling - the people you meet and hearing their stories about themselves.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> By now they'd all found out I was a writer and had written a book about my time in South Africa in the 70s. They seemed to find this fascinating. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">When we'd lived in South Africa in the 70s, we had such a small budget to live on that going on a game drive was a distant dream.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span> The following day was going to be the end of my time in Thula Thula and the morning game drive was also going to be my last. Msizi had said that this time we'd see the elephants again and he had been enquiring left and right to find where the rhinos were. He'd make sure we saw them. </span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span><span> As it was my last morning, I was feeling a little sad, but also so happy that I'd had this adventure. I packed away all my things in my rucksack and small suitcase, I was ready to leave. Now I really wanted to see the rhinos to complete the whole experience. I'd heard so much about them. </span> The truck arrived at the usual pick-up point ear my lodge and I greeted everyone like we were all old friends now. We'd had this very special experience together. I'd discovered that the white-haired lady, travelling with her husband, had been diagnosed with cancer sometime before and for her this was a bucket list trip. The Indian consultant and his family greeted me warmly. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span><span> </span>I still didn't know how I was going to get back to Durban, but I'd discovered the previous night through my search engine, that there should be a bus/coach going from a village nearby and Msizi had said he'd drive me there - it was about 5 miles away. A thought occured to me though and I turned to the group -</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span><span> 'Anyone going back today and can give me a lift to Durban?' To my relief </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">the younger couple who'd won the trip from the local radio show were going back and yes they were happy to offer me a lift. I was relieved as the other route ie. lift to village, wait for coach would have been hot, dusty and tiring. I texted Tor and he responded immediately - yes, he and Sydney would meet me in Durban central and pick me up wherever the couple decided to drop me. 'Sorted' as we Londoners say. I sat back in the truck, ready to enjoy this last bush drive, my last glimpse of the elephants and hopefully see those rhinos I'd read so much about. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>I knew Francoise had tried different things to deter the poachers, but in the end the only thing that worked was sawing off their valuable horns (each one worth c. ยฃ50,000 to a poacher), it was that or risk them being murdered on a daily basis by sophisticated crime gangs. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> We had approximately 2 hours to find them.... we plunged across the shallow river again and drove on the long tracks until we reached the spot where Msizi said the elephants would be - and they soon appeared as if on queue with Msizi giving running commentaries about the personalities and adventures of each elephant. Time was running out now, would we see the rhinos? We all so wanted to as Msizi turned the truck around and headed back - he was on his two-way radio talking (in Zulu of course) and I wished I could understand. Suddenly he turned to the group triumphantly - </span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> 'Yis they've been spotted and it's on our way. I really wanted you all to see the rhinos before you left.' He was smiling broadly.</span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span> </span>Everyone's faces lit up and as he turned the truck left and drove for about half a mile until there they were. One of the females was pregnant. I sat in the truck and my eyes filled with tears as I looked at them. I knew how much it cost in care to keep them safe and the horrors of what the poachers had done to so many others. I took a few pictures but mostly I just wanted to see and feel their presence and feel so privileged to have been there with them.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Pu25DOEBPU/YO2Bf5AIetI/AAAAAAAATlw/zTdebD3ZNtchewFLPIP3AhqF_jTm3EMzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200112_084413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Pu25DOEBPU/YO2Bf5AIetI/AAAAAAAATlw/zTdebD3ZNtchewFLPIP3AhqF_jTm3EMzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200112_084413.jpg" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BfBjqmzrMfk/YO2CCifEtTI/AAAAAAAATl8/DOi6z0hf0mkPro6mJoJ_sYz9i3XEMfYXACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200112_084407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BfBjqmzrMfk/YO2CCifEtTI/AAAAAAAATl8/DOi6z0hf0mkPro6mJoJ_sYz9i3XEMfYXACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200112_084407.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dg3RVc4TFhQ/YO2CDSJbrNI/AAAAAAAATmE/ksNRCbNoRAwVpjr44aVI1BIKbpxNAs4VQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200112_083536.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dg3RVc4TFhQ/YO2CDSJbrNI/AAAAAAAATmE/ksNRCbNoRAwVpjr44aVI1BIKbpxNAs4VQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200112_083536.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PipjSz5U9Co/YO2CDfBy9rI/AAAAAAAATmA/FV9ccMtBP5kUb3AC8VLLiEETkb-3hqCHACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200112_083516.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PipjSz5U9Co/YO2CDfBy9rI/AAAAAAAATmA/FV9ccMtBP5kUb3AC8VLLiEETkb-3hqCHACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200112_083516.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><span> We drove back to the lodges in silence, each with our own thoughts about what we'd seen. Some people were staying a few more days. </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span> M</span>y last lunch was ready - organised by the lovely Nono who had looked after me at the lodge and Msizi picked me up and took me the few miles back to the main lodge, where my lift was waiting. We had a pleasant journey back to Durbs and the couple asked lots more questions about my writing, saying they would read my memoir (A Hippopotamus at the Table) as it sounded fascinating. I spent another night with Tor and Jossein. They kindly drove me back to the airport next day.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hUiPS6o-EvY/YO2MLDwieAI/AAAAAAAATmU/zszoDxLlRpYPd_WSWqmM5KJunzThHqcqACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200114_155710.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hUiPS6o-EvY/YO2MLDwieAI/AAAAAAAATmU/zszoDxLlRpYPd_WSWqmM5KJunzThHqcqACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200114_155710.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62teb8Y7dkc/YO2MSenQr7I/AAAAAAAATmc/TlVAIrpkIfoIHFdZBeyyB2ZsYqj5APtpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200115_114345.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62teb8Y7dkc/YO2MSenQr7I/AAAAAAAATmc/TlVAIrpkIfoIHFdZBeyyB2ZsYqj5APtpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200115_114345.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U6TAAhfig_M/YO2MSJLPx-I/AAAAAAAATmY/DlCAraXP9Egx1zIZa5p9p3uyaKsuDU3aACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200229_214606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1598" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U6TAAhfig_M/YO2MSJLPx-I/AAAAAAAATmY/DlCAraXP9Egx1zIZa5p9p3uyaKsuDU3aACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200229_214606.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Loz-9xsWWtY/YO2Lfm7QEcI/AAAAAAAATmM/DUd4nSoNwYciDIbDtGyfH3-NL65Wh3EHACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200116_195439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Loz-9xsWWtY/YO2Lfm7QEcI/AAAAAAAATmM/DUd4nSoNwYciDIbDtGyfH3-NL65Wh3EHACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200116_195439.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> </span>I returned to The B.I.G. backpackers in CapeTown and was joined for a few days by my dear friend Di ( who I'd known since the 70s and who lives now in Stellenbosch </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">- the Cape wine regions, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">with her husband). It was hot, sunny and we went to the beach or The Waterfront cafes and shops, most days until it was time to return to the UK - cold, wet and the emerging talk of the distant problems in Wuhan .... </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p><span><br /></span></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-20662146012707347952021-05-12T17:31:00.003+01:002021-06-02T13:07:47.947+01:00End Game<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUfMHfew9bc/YJwGHc8oHnI/AAAAAAAATVM/4kOENnP2JNQ0ETm2vArx3Yll5FmVPGaiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/The%2BEnd%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUfMHfew9bc/YJwGHc8oHnI/AAAAAAAATVM/4kOENnP2JNQ0ETm2vArx3Yll5FmVPGaiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/The%2BEnd%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> The first thing I wanted to say, I've now done 2 podcasts on Writing Memoir and the book is selling well in America and Canada, with now over 100 mostly 5-star reviews on Amazon. Here's the link - </span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B078993ZBY/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0" style="text-align: left;">Writing Memoir. How to Write a Story from your Life</a><span style="text-align: left;">.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YZH0x-onC4U/YJvOeR3SuVI/AAAAAAAATVE/XF6pk8Dj7SQ_PbbTnsLznGcuFS5uPtNdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s901/Memoir%2BBook%2BCover%2Bthumbnail-1%2B-%2B600%2Bdpi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="585" height="137" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YZH0x-onC4U/YJvOeR3SuVI/AAAAAAAATVE/XF6pk8Dj7SQ_PbbTnsLznGcuFS5uPtNdwCLcBGAsYHQ/w89-h137/Memoir%2BBook%2BCover%2Bthumbnail-1%2B-%2B600%2Bdpi.jpg" width="89" /></a></div>Here's a podcast about the beginning process of Writing Memoir<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="211" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/abtsfELKo4s" width="254" youtube-src-id="abtsfELKo4s"></iframe></div><br /><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Moving on ....</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Why did I call this month's blog 'End Game'? Because after months of prevaricating - the last 3-6 months of lockdown seemed to result in a kind of stalemate in terms of my writing - I'm a cafe/library writer normally. Finally, last Sunday, sitting in my local cafe/bar outside (at last!), I finished the last chapter of my book and wrote the immortal words - </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffa400; color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The End</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Oh joy! How did I get there? I hired a mentor who gave me a deadline that's how. I so write well to deadlines. I so needed her push or should I say boot up the backside. What was stopping me? Well, this is memoir writing we're talking about here. Don't you know the words of Maya Angelou?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;">'<i><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: medium;">There's no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.</span></i>' </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thank you, Maya. Precisely. She talks frequently about the agony of writing stories from your life. And when you get to the painful memories, the painful sequence of events and you have to write about them - well, you put it off, and put it off, and put it off. And (as I say in the book 'Writing Memoir'), DON'T EVER tell me writing about trauma is therapeutic. Not for me it's not, it's just plain PTSD, forcing you to relive a painful period or event in your life which you never wanted to think about again and I've got a few of those I can tell you. Why am I on my second memoir? And could easily write a third and fourth too. Masochism. Compulsion...</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway - I started to tell you about writing The End - the relief and the joy of it. Yes, I've done it. I've finally got there. 4-5 years to get to this point - I started this book in 2015 after the launch and publication of my first memoir - <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015ELA2P2/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i1">A Hippopotamus at the Table</a>. Please don't think this is the finished product and that any writer who gets to this point can now relax. Hollow laugh. Now comes the editing and re-writing of large sections. My first memoir was re-read about 50+ times, I was so sick of it. I could still correct and re-edit it, but I was offered an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbQgH7ZoZIM" target="_blank">Arise TV interview </a>about it so I had to publish by their deadline ...</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway thought I'd give you a little taster - anyone who's interested can be added to my pre-orders list - email me at <b>anna.meryt@ameryt.com</b>. I'm hoping to publish around September if I go the Indie route again. This time though, I think it's a story that mainstream media might want to publish. We shall see. My previous book, written by a white person about the segregated world under apartheid - no no no. At the time publishers were only interested in black writers (their voices suppressed for so long, needed to be heard) and Nelson Mandela had died 2 years previously. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> This story starts with a phone message on an answerphone -</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">BEYOND THE BOUNDS</span></p><p class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a name="_Toc71456851"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Chapter 1 </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></b></a><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">A telephone call</span></b><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">4<sup>th</sup> July 2003<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></i></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: 1cm;">I closed
the front door behind me and walked up the stairs to the door of my flat. I was
carrying two shopping bags and my work rucksack. The keys were in my mouth. I
swapped the shopping to my left hand, my fingers cramping with the weight, took
the key out of my mouth with my right hand, unlocked the door and kicked it
open. I walked straight ahead into the kitchen, past the bathroom on my right.
The kitchen was a good size for a London apartment, with bay windows
overlooking a row of gardens down below. I dumped all the bags on the kitchen
table. Phew! I glanced over at the phone in an alcove by the door. The red
light was flashing. I remember the moment so well -- that red light signalled
the beginning of a series of events that would change my life. I'll come back to that.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 1cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; text-indent: 1cm;">* * *</span></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">In that
here and now, July 2003, I ignored the red flashing light and started emptying
the shopping bags and put my rucksack out in the hall on a coat hook. I was
thinking about what to cook for supper for me and my two house mates - Tam, my
20 year old party-girl daughter and Patrick, a black Zimbabwean asylum seeker, who
had moved in with me, three months after we became lovers. This was mainly
because he'd been living in a grimy room at the back end of Streatham and the
absentee landlord had decided one day to chuck out all his tenants, for
whatever reason. Patrick was given a few daysโ notice and came back one day to
find the landlordโs โmaintenance manโ had changed the locks.<br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> There's
laws in this country, I hear you say -- yeah right, if you're a UK citizen with
a British passport thereโs laws. For immigrants and asylum seekers with no
official status? Figure it out! Do they start arguing about their rights? I
think not. After phoning me in some distress, he'd come on the bus (the way all
refugees and asylum seekers travel -- it's cheaper). By the time he arrived,
Iโd decided what to do and organised a few things. </span></span></div><p>
</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">to be continued ...</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">PS. The first chapter of the book, of which this is a small section received a 'Highly Commended certificate in the Winchester Writers Festival Memoir competition - that was a few years ago. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-34098562356577884732021-03-24T15:10:00.000+00:002021-03-24T15:10:04.773+00:00My Podcasts - want to know about writing memoir? Listen up!<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Anna-Meryt-Writings-291130948449479" target="_blank">Anna Meryt Writings on Facebook</a> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mdS2ub8rwg8/YFtTiD1YIhI/AAAAAAAATR8/vxtwOhUTdv4MOQsA72mtEbsDgbhtAVoNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s953/Anna%2BBook-print%2Bbook%2Bcover-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="953" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mdS2ub8rwg8/YFtTiD1YIhI/AAAAAAAATR8/vxtwOhUTdv4MOQsA72mtEbsDgbhtAVoNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Anna%2BBook-print%2Bbook%2Bcover-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hi Everyone</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here we are moving towards the end of March 2021. Easter is next week and I'm moving on with my Podcasts on Writing Memoir. I've also found a sound engineer who will record my first memoir - <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hippopotamus-At-Table-journey-Africa/dp/0957612249/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=anna+meryt+hippopotamus&qid=1616596111&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank">A Hippopotamus at the Table</a> for Audible. So anyone who prefers listening to books rather than reading them, anyone with poor eyesight or partially sighted - well watch this space.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If you're interested in writing at all, you may enjoy my podcast series. I've done 2 podcasts now, 4 to go - they focus on memoir writing initially, but as in my book <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Writing-Memoir-tell-story-your/dp/0957612281/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=anna+meryt&qid=1616598340&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Writing Memoir. How to Write a Story From Your Life</a>, I will be quickly moving on to topics that apply to any writing-a-book project, from writing Dialogue, to finding Your Voice, to StoryTelling, to publishing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here's the links</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://fb.watch/4r1eZ-inVP/" target="_blank">Podcast 1 - What is a memoir?</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/291130948449479/videos/502832644459522" target="_blank">Podcast 2 - Planning your book</a><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31496220.post-7201072033814182012021-02-14T14:32:00.000+00:002021-02-14T14:32:27.302+00:00New Year New You? And this time last year ....<p><b>Jan 5th 2021</b> Christmas was coming and we were all getting excited - at last, an opportunity for a social occasion albeit with the 'bubble' limitations. Then 4 days before, Boris Johnson, reacting to alarming rises in covid numbers basically cancelled Xmas, by putting us all into Tier 4. I'm not going to say much more about that, because me and my daughters cut back our plans and our time together. We had Xmas lunch and opened presents etc. But most of the fun of all the anticipation had been doused with a large bucket of ice on our heads. I drank too much Baileys and Bucks Fizz, had a headache by 5 pm (I should have known) and went to bed and fell asleep for 2 hours. Let's leave it at that. The New Year's eve small social event was basically cancelled - the covid news had got even worse. </p><p>I've kept my spirits up with daily walks in one or other of London's amazing parks - Finsbury Park, Waterlow Park, Alexandra Palace and Park, Downhills Park - all within a 2-mile radius of where I live - lucky me - here's a selection of views and winter trees in different parks. <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ozF_k7qCJwA/X_IBI0ryYyI/AAAAAAAATJY/NvdkeFCH4ckFpLOfDnH2pSFPglUa3GBXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Oak%2Btree%2Bsunset%2BDec%2B2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ozF_k7qCJwA/X_IBI0ryYyI/AAAAAAAATJY/NvdkeFCH4ckFpLOfDnH2pSFPglUa3GBXwCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/Oak%2Btree%2Bsunset%2BDec%2B2020.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NpUoUXXQ2AE/X_IBGNXVtHI/AAAAAAAATJM/rnxUisRfFjYukUd1CqSpiOww-oVuUly5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Maskeed%2Bup%2Bin%2BDownhills%2BPark.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NpUoUXXQ2AE/X_IBGNXVtHI/AAAAAAAATJM/rnxUisRfFjYukUd1CqSpiOww-oVuUly5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/Maskeed%2Bup%2Bin%2BDownhills%2BPark.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5wfT00UTTJs/X_IBGZnaAGI/AAAAAAAATJQ/d54hCtGBOAU1LS84LrH0pA9LORB9XO1aQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Gannet%2Bin%2BFinsbury%2BPark%2BJan3-2021.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5wfT00UTTJs/X_IBGZnaAGI/AAAAAAAATJQ/d54hCtGBOAU1LS84LrH0pA9LORB9XO1aQCLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/Gannet%2Bin%2BFinsbury%2BPark%2BJan3-2021.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tM5l3ra4Tsg/X_IBETIMNKI/AAAAAAAATJA/G-QBCAWDGcswjyq_Is9u-HxmTHpM8qDBACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Finsbury%2BPark%2BJan%2B2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tM5l3ra4Tsg/X_IBETIMNKI/AAAAAAAATJA/G-QBCAWDGcswjyq_Is9u-HxmTHpM8qDBACLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/Finsbury%2BPark%2BJan%2B2020.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYH00kzrOpE/X_IBARl9f5I/AAAAAAAATIw/qdLV-GHbC5cLRgH6pW-gtwtJZPwmIcCSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Cloud%2Bformations%2BDownhills%2BPark%2BDec%2B2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYH00kzrOpE/X_IBARl9f5I/AAAAAAAATIw/qdLV-GHbC5cLRgH6pW-gtwtJZPwmIcCSgCLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/Cloud%2Bformations%2BDownhills%2BPark%2BDec%2B2020.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ekcm3icC6sA/X_IBOT-xTjI/AAAAAAAATJo/5Yvv93c4K9cZNLHC2jMXQYcTUlWfhUYhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/boat%2Bby%2Blake%2BFins%2BPark%2BDec%2B2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1153" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ekcm3icC6sA/X_IBOT-xTjI/AAAAAAAATJo/5Yvv93c4K9cZNLHC2jMXQYcTUlWfhUYhgCLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/boat%2Bby%2Blake%2BFins%2BPark%2BDec%2B2020.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-656eeVhbaQs/X_IBELrqPGI/AAAAAAAATI8/mSHSdNGt_k81tFKkINnEIZNUU7bx4uHFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/AllyPally%2Bsunset%2Bw%2Bred%2Bbus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1153" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-656eeVhbaQs/X_IBELrqPGI/AAAAAAAATI8/mSHSdNGt_k81tFKkINnEIZNUU7bx4uHFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/AllyPally%2Bsunset%2Bw%2Bred%2Bbus.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FuDTTUw7oko/X_IBE7IzoLI/AAAAAAAATJE/G418jXf-xx8qXD9ikc5ppmHvKkgt9lGnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201227_132016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FuDTTUw7oko/X_IBE7IzoLI/AAAAAAAATJE/G418jXf-xx8qXD9ikc5ppmHvKkgt9lGnQCLcBGAsYHQ/w150-h200/20201227_132016.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PdNpzffVTFg/X_IA0IfzbHI/AAAAAAAATIA/FlveIQ3Vkdcunw4yUx8O5U4xhshphCsAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201130_142118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1153" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PdNpzffVTFg/X_IA0IfzbHI/AAAAAAAATIA/FlveIQ3Vkdcunw4yUx8O5U4xhshphCsAgCLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/20201130_142118.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aYjq89tYCSQ/X_IAsjqvuJI/AAAAAAAATHo/L72vOz8K14M--bFJwIR81XGvRped-BAQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201129_190610.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1479" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aYjq89tYCSQ/X_IAsjqvuJI/AAAAAAAATHo/L72vOz8K14M--bFJwIR81XGvRped-BAQQCLcBGAsYHQ/w144-h200/20201129_190610.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pEN8qQgNfIY/X_IAqfpWVYI/AAAAAAAATHY/Fx9xtgGTvAY88M2QvEDdbSkLqhCVjBlsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201129_152544.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1153" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pEN8qQgNfIY/X_IAqfpWVYI/AAAAAAAATHY/Fx9xtgGTvAY88M2QvEDdbSkLqhCVjBlsgCLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/20201129_152544.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H7Kkz8N24dc/X_IAeIvth9I/AAAAAAAATGU/NyHbROMZGC0YN1I25qAIkkP22QIC3_gAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201129_152229.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1153" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H7Kkz8N24dc/X_IAeIvth9I/AAAAAAAATGU/NyHbROMZGC0YN1I25qAIkkP22QIC3_gAgCLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/20201129_152229.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JTl7K-jGv5o/X_IAargZAMI/AAAAAAAATGM/Jbpl_XxHMs8rE6KBv-KwltYsmWG-Fx1CwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201129_152207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1153" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JTl7K-jGv5o/X_IAargZAMI/AAAAAAAATGM/Jbpl_XxHMs8rE6KBv-KwltYsmWG-Fx1CwCLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/20201129_152207.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fHjhrQ_d5lo/X_IAXm_XDHI/AAAAAAAATF8/3VAPxQj-S1IZHPMYpIu_yPQyooZ7hVInwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201129_151954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1153" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fHjhrQ_d5lo/X_IAXm_XDHI/AAAAAAAATF8/3VAPxQj-S1IZHPMYpIu_yPQyooZ7hVInwCLcBGAsYHQ/w113-h200/20201129_151954.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lUlFrucNwRM/X_IAMEHJ0OI/AAAAAAAATFg/RRJuidsiZFUcwO236V8gy02klREg-Z7sgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201124_165130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1804" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lUlFrucNwRM/X_IAMEHJ0OI/AAAAAAAATFg/RRJuidsiZFUcwO236V8gy02klREg-Z7sgCLcBGAsYHQ/w176-h200/20201124_165130.jpg" width="176" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">and continuing contacts with my Buddhist community, with <a href="https://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/" target="_blank">meditations, devotions(puja) or interesting talks</a>, as well as occasional meet-ups outdoors for walks with friends. Plus working on my book sporadically of course - that's my second memoir covering a 6 month period in 2003 when I found myself flying to Indonesia to rescue my ex who was in a rat and cockroach infested jail, with 10 grand hidden in the bottom of my suitcase. It's called <b>Beyond the Bounds</b> - watch this space. I'm hoping it will be finished by March/April and published soon after in 2021.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Feb 3rd 2021</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">Well, I started this a month ago. Now here we are in February. We've had one day of snow, looked pretty for 24 hours - went sledding with grandson and his Mum (my daughter) and his dad. That was fun. Since then it's rained a lot, been cold a lot. But slowly slowly the daylight hours are getting longer and the bulbs in my garden have put up an inch or two of green shoots.... </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Feb 12th</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">Well, the big freeze started, - snow, ice and a freezing wind. Brrrrr... I've been busy They tell us it's ending on Monday 14th Feb and a warmer week is coming. Thank goodness - I won't have to sit in my flat with Central Heating on full, plus an oil heater on full, plus 3 T shirts and a jumper. Plus a fleece over my legs. my writing is coming along very slowly, with lots of distractions, prevarications and of course the inertia we're all experiencing from lockdown. Last week I went to an online poetry evening with Enfield Poets and performed at last some of my poems. After no performing for more than a year, it was lovely to read some poems and to hear other peoples. </p><p style="text-align: left;">On Sunday my poetry group is meeting for some feedback on our new poems. Only a few of us left still attending on Zoom sporadically.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I'll stop now and next time I'll add a short podcast - about my book on Writing Memoir and give you some tips. I'm going to do a series of 6 podcasts. If you're serious about writing a memoir (or any sort of true story or even a novel, there are lots of chapters in the book that you'd find interesting. Here's a sample:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kj1MpnNcpXU/YCkxphhAQDI/AAAAAAAATP4/vIYyXta0se4o3NpY4Ra50jIguOdw0l_ZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s901/Memoir%2BBook%2BCover%2Bthumbnail-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="585" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kj1MpnNcpXU/YCkxphhAQDI/AAAAAAAATP4/vIYyXta0se4o3NpY4Ra50jIguOdw0l_ZQCLcBGAsYHQ/w174-h267/Memoir%2BBook%2BCover%2Bthumbnail-1.jpg" width="174" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Anna+Meryt&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_2">Amazon.co.uk : Anna Meryt</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">... and please, if you buy my book - either in print or as an ebook, do write me a review on Amazon - I don't mind how many stars you give me but be nice</span> ๐๐</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 1 What is memoir?</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 2 Truth is stranger
than ...</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 3 Plans are not lists
โ planning your book or not โฆ?</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 4 Make your dialogue
vibrant</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 5 Your voice. The
narrator.</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 6 Writing Humour</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 7 How to describe
people</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 8 Time and Place</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 9 Emotional rescue</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 10 Using the senses</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 11 Facing your dragons โ writing abuse</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 12 Story Telling</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 13 Research</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 14 Libel, Slander and Defamation</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 15 Copyright and plagiarism</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 16 Editing and Reviewing</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 17 Traditional Publishing</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 18 Self-Publishing</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 19 Publicity & marketing</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US">Chapter 20 Summing up โฆ</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"> </span></a></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"> </span></a></o:p></p></div><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></a><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="No link" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></a></p><p class="MsoToc1">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Anna Meryt - About Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02796151568904717647noreply@blogger.com0