Virtulia

I've been enjoying a new experience of late, getting together with friends virtually to watch a film in synch. Rather than being a distraction, the experience has actually created an intense focus on the films we watch and is always followed by an exchange and catch-up which I carry with me into the week to come. 

So far we've traced an international bent. My choice was The White Balloon, a stunning fairy tale-like film set on Iran's new year (which is celebrated at mid-day when sun and moon are in balance). It's a film in which a young girl wants to purchase a goldfish and tries to buy one, surviving the market of snake-charmers and shops in which she is all but invisible, being a girl. It's a wonderful film, and only my second Iranian film after Wadjda. 

The second film we watched was Tampopo ('Dandelion', the name of a widow in search of the perfect ramen recipe), a Japanese foodie-western which again charmed us and had us laughing. I can't believe how warming I've found these films watched with friends from afar. 

It's my contention...

Many thanks to Kim Moore for featuring one of my poems from the Poetry Map - 'It's my contention' - as Sunday Poem on her blog.

The Poetry Map is up and running now, with free downloadable worksheets for teachers and students to use in class. I've written an article on the map for NAWE's Writing in Education magazine.

Check it out here:

I've also got another post up at the Arvon Teachers as Writers site.

(In case you missed my first post for them, it's here).

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Two Readings

20th September Templar Poetry Live with Jennifer McGowan, at the Chequers in Chipping Norton

3rd October Essex Poetry Festival with Andrew Bailey