To begin their 2012 season of poetry events at The Brewhouse (the fifth full season they have presented) Fire River Poets are delighted to announce that the guest poet for their reading on Thursday 2 February will be Alasdair Paterson. Chairman of Fire River Poets, John Stuart, said “It is wonderful to see that Alasdair is writing poetry again and we are delighted that he has agreed to come and read for us. He is an extraordinary talent.”
Members of Fire River Poets will also be reading during the evening and, as John is always at pains to point out “We always provide a platform for poets of all ages and levels of experience, so there will as usual be an open mic session during the evening for any poet who would like to come along and read. Poets who would like to take advantage of this opportunity should apply through enquiry@fireriverpoets.org.uk.”
The reading begins at 8.00 pm, takes place in The Studio and costs £5.00. Tickets may be purchased from the Brewhouse box office. Enquiries and bookings on 01823 283244 or info@thebrewhouse.net.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Monday, 7 November 2011
'It's Just A Ride'
I thought I would put this up as it's the first thing I've done in a while.
It was one of those special moments, a true piece of child wisdom.
Ian
Ian
‘It’s Just a Ride’
A while ago I was driving home from a playground after a day with the kids. My one-year-old daughter was thankfully asleep whilst my nearly-four-year old son was rattling on about diggers and tractors as usual. It was about three in the afternoon, and my brain just about was pickled from the endless demands of the pair of them. After a brief interlude in the digger versus tractor debate, one in which I hoped he was also going to sleep, he piped up again.
“Daddy?” he said. “Is the Earth spinning now?”
“Yes,” I told him, “the Earth is always spinning.”
The source of this question dated back a couple of days when I was reading a book to him at bedtime about how we get our seasons. At the time he didn’t seem all that interested and I wasn’t sure he had taken any of it in, but his sponge-like brain must have been mulling it over. I thought I had better elaborate on the subject.
“If the Earth stopped spinning we would all fall off.”
I could see by his face in the rear view mirror that he found this idea amusing. I could almost see the wheels turning in his mind. He thought about it for some time before forming another question.
“Daddy, when I die will the Earth still be spinning?”
This sudden mention of death took me by surprise. Recently we had broached the subject when our next door neighbour’s dog, Charlie, was put down by the vet. He had grown up with Charlie so we had taken him in a few hours before to say goodbye, and although he seemed sad he hadn’t asked many questions about it, although he had told us later that his imaginary friend, Doobeedore, had died but that he was alright now.
“Yes, the earth will still be spinning when you die,” I told him.
A short pause this time.
“That’s good,” he announced. “Someone else can have a go.”
I laughed, but it was laughter that came close to tears. What a beautifully simple way to view the world, I thought, as if it was some giant playground. I secretly hoped that through all the swings and roundabouts of life he would always see it this way. It reminded me of something the late comedian, Bill Hicks, used to say at the end of his routine.
“It’s just a ride,” he would say. “Just a ride.”
“That’s a really great way to look at the world,” I said to my son.
“What?” It had already gone from his mind. He was straining in his seat to get a better look out of the window.
“Look Daddy! A combine harvester!”
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Page to Stage performances
Mary Deakin, a member of the Somerset Writers Group, has had her script selected for a 'scratch' performance at Tacchi Morris Arts Centre and the Bridgwater Arts Centre. Well Done Mary! For anyone who wants to come along and watch this, details are as follows: Tacchi Morris on Wed 2nd November 7.30pm, www.tacchi-morris.com or Bridgwater Arts Centre on Thurs 3rd November 8pm, www.bridgwaterartscentre.co.uk.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Stories of Great Turning
Stories of the Great Turning is a collection of stories of how individuals and groups are contributing to this revolution. Joanna Macy has agreed to write an introductory essay, centred around five guidelines for taking part in the Great Turning:
•come from gratitude
•don't be afraid of the dark
•dare to vision
•link arms with others
•act your age
You do not have to be a skilled writer to contribute, but you do have to be willing to rise to the challenge of telling your story beautifully. We will arrange writing workshops to nurture and stimulate creative storytelling. Interested? then click the title above for more info....
•come from gratitude
•don't be afraid of the dark
•dare to vision
•link arms with others
•act your age
You do not have to be a skilled writer to contribute, but you do have to be willing to rise to the challenge of telling your story beautifully. We will arrange writing workshops to nurture and stimulate creative storytelling. Interested? then click the title above for more info....
Lawrence Sail at The Brewhouse
Concluding their 2011 season of poetry events at The Brewhouse, Fire River Poets are delighted to announce that the guest poet for their reading on 3 November will be Lawrence Sail. Chairman of Fire River Poets, John Stuart, said “It is a real pleasure to welcome one of Britain’s most respected poets to Poetry at The Brewhouse.”
Members of Fire River Poets will also be reading during the evening and, as John was at pains to point out “We always provide a platform for poets of all ages and levels of experience, so there will as usual be an open mic session during the evening for any poet who would like to come along and read. Poets who would like to take advantage of this opportunity should apply through enquiry@fireriverpoets.org.uk.”
The reading begins at 8.00 pm, takes place in The Studio and costs £5.00. Tickets may be purchased from the Brewhouse box office. Enquiries and bookings on 01823 283244 or info@thebrewhouse.net.
Members of Fire River Poets will also be reading during the evening and, as John was at pains to point out “We always provide a platform for poets of all ages and levels of experience, so there will as usual be an open mic session during the evening for any poet who would like to come along and read. Poets who would like to take advantage of this opportunity should apply through enquiry@fireriverpoets.org.uk.”
The reading begins at 8.00 pm, takes place in The Studio and costs £5.00. Tickets may be purchased from the Brewhouse box office. Enquiries and bookings on 01823 283244 or info@thebrewhouse.net.
Friday, 5 August 2011
Annie Freud at The Brewhouse
Continuing their 2011 season of poetry events at The Brewhouse, Fire River Poets are delighted to announce that the guest poet for their reading on 1 September will be Annie Freud. Chairman of Fire River Poets, John Stuart, said “It is very exciting to be able to welcome Annie to The Brewhouse. It is a mark of how outstanding her work is that her fame has travelled so far and so quickly since she first wowed the poetry world with A Voids Officer Achieves the Tree Pose* and The Best Man Who Ever Was**.”
Members of Fire River Poets will also be reading during the evening and, as John was at pains to point out “We always provide a platform for poets of all ages and levels of experience, so there will as usual be an open mic session during the evening for any poet who would like to come along and read. Poets who would like to take advantage of this opportunity should apply through enquiry@fireriverpoets.org.uk.”
The reading begins at 8.00 pm, takes place in The Studio and costs £5.00. Tickets may be purchased from the Brewhouse box office. Enquiries and bookings on 01823 283244 or info@thebrewhouse.net.
Members of Fire River Poets will also be reading during the evening and, as John was at pains to point out “We always provide a platform for poets of all ages and levels of experience, so there will as usual be an open mic session during the evening for any poet who would like to come along and read. Poets who would like to take advantage of this opportunity should apply through enquiry@fireriverpoets.org.uk.”
The reading begins at 8.00 pm, takes place in The Studio and costs £5.00. Tickets may be purchased from the Brewhouse box office. Enquiries and bookings on 01823 283244 or info@thebrewhouse.net.
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