The time came, upstairs inside is now downstairs outside.

Today, timing is all. I was planning on moving inside upstairs to outside downstairs around midday, but as the heat mounts I may be doing it earlier.

The decision to relocate my work area outside this hot and sunny afternoon was the right one, but moving inside upstairs to outside downstairs is always a faff.

Bad news: the latest issue of The High Window will be the last one. Good news: sweetening the pill slightly, I have two new poems in the issue: Hospital Thoughts During A Very Long Afternoon & Half-Heard Truths and Stories, plus a review of Incompletion by Oliver Dixon. thehighwindowpress.com

Hang on to your handwritten drafts (and all the intervening versions) if you want to prove the work is yours....

Likely to be a great gig - sadly I have other committments.

I'm not going to claim to have been great Dr Hook fan, but it was an exceedingly well known song.

mmm... that's reminded me it's probably time for brunch.

Two pics from today's Herts Book Fair in #Hertford #Hertfordhire

The AI spambot with expert in its email address is till clamouring for my attention and now "Partricia Cornwall", known for her detective novels, wants to know all about my fantasy books. Presumably she's bored with making millions by her own writing...?

Just a reminder that this is happening on Saturday in Hertford, and I'll be there. #Hertford #Hertfordshire

Dear AI spambot, labelling yourself an expert as part of your email address is horrendously human hubris and a dead give away. Just saying...

Your's truly reading some poems at Ely's Sundown sessions on Sunday last, clearly at risk of blending into the curtains. Photo with thanks to Romy Gensale

For those of you in or near Cambridgeshire...

An image from last night.

This is happening today. #Ely

Window on a wall. Pic 48 in my occasional brick wall series. #brickinthewall

Watching the outcome of UK local government elections with gloom-ridden fascination.

I've just voted in the UK's local elections. What about you?

I'm reposting this for my own benefit as I'm thinking of trying out this recipe.

I don't disagree with much in this article, BUT hardbacks last longer than paperbacks. For example, I bought a hardback copy of Lord of the Rings because my beloved paperback is falling apart in my hands.

For those who like competitions...

Good news story.

Very pleased to have a new poem in Issue 10 of The Amphibian, the "Memory" Issue. The poem is "Catching An Echo". theamphibianlit.wordpress.com

A week today on 10 May. Just saying. I'll be performing some of my poems. See you there? #Ely

I identify with the journey in and out of funny.

This made me smile.

Looking for somewhere to submit your writing?

I'll be providing the poetry at the Sundown Sessions on Sunday 10th May in Ely #Ely #Cambridgeshire

The good folks at @hertsbookfest.bsky.social have made a recording of me reading one of my more sombre poems from my collection #Underword youtu.be/zBv2L3Q8_Ls?...

Today's helpful online advice from me to you (because you can never have enough online advice): don't drop a heavy wooden chair onto one of your toes. It will hurt - a lot.

@hertsbookfest.bsky.social have joined BlueSky. They haven't posted yet, but feel free to show them some love.

As posted previously, I'll be at Herts Book Festival at Hertford on 16th May. Here's a list of other booky things taking place at the festival on the same day. #Hertford

This seemed to be worth sharing...

Terminal wall. Pic 47 in my occasional brick wall series. #brickinthewall

A view from today. #Cambridge

My "bingo card" is full and I'm still smarting from the 'hobby' comment. (I 'pinched' this post from @annalisacrawford.bsky.social but couldn't just repost because it didn't share the video with her comments. Sorry, Annalisa.)

Interesting take on Mandelsongate...

Competition entrants beware...

Submission opportunity for prose poets, especially women.

I'll be at the Hertford event on Saturday 16 May. See you there? #Hertford #Hertfordshire

AI bot emotes: I’m disappointed. I took the time to read, crafted a genuine message, and reached out with real interest. The least I expected was a simple response. When someone reads your book, supports your craft, and gets ignored, it says more about your professionalism than your schedule.

BlueSky seems be on the fritz at present. It won't let me access my own profile because either it is forbidden or there are insufficient resources. Make your mind up BlueSky, there's good social media platform.

There's nothing wrong with Suffolk. I can say this, though I don't live there. I can think of some other counties where a rapid exodus might be sensible, however.

Containing many painful truths...

Sad indeed.

I like meetings that I can walk, rather than drive, to. This was taken on this morning's walk.

One more post from me on the vital topic of chalk streams. This is a blog post I wrote for the Waterlight Project. Just think what would never have been if we didn't have chalk streams. waterlightproject.org.uk/literature-c... #Cambridgeshire #ChalkStreams

Want to know more about chalk streams? There is the lovely and informative Waterlight Project (and yes, I've contributed to it) #Cambridgshire waterlightproject.org.uk

Reposting, because this is important. We take our chalk streams for granted, but really shouldn't.