Above. Before the gig = rather nervous on the coach up...
Above. After the gig = well really! :)Hi,
Just to report back about my poetry reading on Thursday 3rd April 2008, in Derby. There was a nice turn out of people; somewhere between 20 and 30; it was hard to tell as the reading was at a drop-in centre and some of the people who saw the first half of the reading had to leave by the time I did the second half and new people had arrived by then. I have included a couple of photos from the day and will include the set list below. :) I was really pleased with all the questions I was asked; the audience really seemed to engaged with what I read and asked questions relating to specific things in the poems; which was great. I got a little plug in for the YETI SPAGHETTI collection and showed off Bearsoup's cover and also left some fliers about the site and sold a few copies of WOOED AWAKENINGS. All in all it gave me confidence to do further readings and perhaps a bit of cabaret; as I've been asked to consider it. :)
Thanks to my good friend Paul Hillier for arranging this and to Andy, Rob, Alex and everyone for making me feel welcome and looking after me during my visit. :)
Thanks also to Julie, Harry, Steve, Ben, Sean, Neph, Stephan, Dan and anyone else I have forgotten to mention for their help during the weeks leading up to the reading; for listening to me practice my reading. Most of all though - endless thanks to Tom for all his help - over a period of weeks he patiently sat through about 5 or 6 hours of me reading poems to see which ones worked best.
Whilst away I have been busily putting the finishing touches to the SHY YETI poetry collection and hopefully by the next time I post I should have a proper release date to announce. :)
At the end of this post is one of the poems from the Derby reading; included in WOOED AWAKENINGS and one of my earliest volumes from about 2001; SO MUCH LOVE - SO LITTLE TIME... When I was reading this one to Tom and others I always got so much of a giggle reading it and it seemed to go down well on the night too.
Here's the "set list", as promised! It was mainly poems from the first 8 collections, the first half from the repackaged WOOED AWAKENINGS and the 2nd half from the repackaged WOOED-ER AWAKENINGS, which should be due out the same time as the new SHY YETI volume. :)
Main reading...
THE TRUE LIGHT
I SHOULD NEVER
(YOU ARE) MY LAST LOVE UNTIL THE NEXT ONE
THIRD TIME LUCKY
COMPUTER DATING
NEVER AT HOME
SO MUCH LOVE - SO LITTLE TIME!!!
WOULD YOU DENY US?
WHO CARES?
OH, FLORENCE!!!
A ROSEY-TINTED LIFE
PARTY GIRL
PICCADILLY CIRCUS
GOOD HUG
OTHERWISE ENGAGED
End of evening reading...
SOMETIMES I JUST WANNA
INGRID BERGMAN'S NOSE
WORN ROMANTIC
YOU DON'T EXIST
I WANT YOU NOW (NO I DON'T!)
I WANNA BE A ROCK-STAR GROUPIE!
BEING COY
Above. Don't worry, Paul - it'll all be fine!! :)
Above. See!! Told ya so! :)Enjoy the poem! :) Hears hoping I get to do some more readings in the near future... You've heard of Pam Ayres... Well, I'm Pam Bears!!! :)
Paul xx
SO MUCH LOVE - SO LITTLE TIME!!!
So much love -
So little time…
In love again -
Is that a crime!?
6 am : The breakfast news…
The Weather Man has lovely(!) shoes!
7 am : The Milkman comes -
Bills need paying - can't do the sums!
He stands there dripping - summer rain…
I feel it happen -
In love again!
8 am : The walk to work…
Flirting with an office clerk!
9 am : The bus is slow…
A dishy driver! (Lusting so!)
He revs his engine - honks his horn!
A shame he's married -
My heart's forlorn!
10 am : The In-tray cleared…
Swoon! New photocopy boy's appeared!
11 am : The Coffee queue…
Spot workmen working! (What a view!)
Eyes all turn - those guys are fit!
Another crush!
My heart can't quit!
12 O'clock : client on the phone…
What a voice! (His name is Tone!)
1 pm : We meet for lunch…
I think he likes me - it's just a hunch!
Work's forgotten - we steal a kiss!
Again I'm smitten -
It's utter bliss!
2 pm : The boardroom meet -
Playing footsie from my seat!
3 pm : We take a break -
Romantic texts - for goodness sake!
Then pinch the senior partners arse -
Surprised t'was me -
Who made the pass…
4 pm : My text returned…
"Not today!" (I'm feeling spurned…)
5 pm : The end of day…
I like the cleaner - so I stay…
He's wearing jeans - they're really tight…
In love again!
For sure - too right!
6 pm : Again the train!
Making eyes - I make it plain!
7 pm : The weekly shop…
Around the aisles I gaily hop…
And sure enough! (An inward sigh!)
In love again…
The check-out guy!
8 pm : Traffic warden blues!!
Another guy with massive - shoes!
9 pm : I meet with Tone…
He comes on strong, "Just stop!" I groan!
Seen someone else - Tone takes a hike!
Snog the Bouncer next!
What am I like!?!
10 pm : One more - then slumbers!
Bar man's nice - we swap phone numbers!
11 pm : A taxi ride…
Which man was best - I can't decide!
The driver's cute - gives me the wink…
He'd love a coffee…
Invite to drink…
So many men - no time to lose…
This rollercoaster ride I choose!
And so to sleep - for lusty dreams!
I wake refreshed - or so it seems…
The Milk man's back, heart beats in haste -
I'll ask him in -
No time to waste!
So many men -
So little time…
So full of love -
That ain't no crime!
