There were dhol drummers and a colliery band. (This is what happens when you have the Musicians Union on your team.)
And I managed to catch up with old comrades.
Anyway, the unspeakable Tory swine have buggered off now, and tonight I went to my third Book Festival event.
I've already had a rhyming prescription from The Emergency Poet, 'Dr' Deborah Alma, who operates out of a vintage 1960s ambulance.
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| Photo from Birmingham Book Festival |
And I've also been to a talk and reading by the lovely poet Simon Armitage, who was actually talking about his latest prose book 'Walking Home'
Tonight, it was a talk by the philosopher Ray Tallis on the defence of Wonder Much food for thought. One of the questions asked of him was along the lines of whether capitialism had corrupted the 'communal mind energy' of the people. I wonder what Billy would think!
Good old Billy!
ReplyDeleteYou've got to love a demo now and again, just to remind yourself there actually is some dissent from the prevalence of the right wing tabloid/media narrative in this country.
I think I may need an emergency poem too! xxx
Hi Curtise,
DeleteI've been getting back into poetry again just lately. I asked the Emergency Poet for something to keep me on track for our planned move to Cornwall when Tiberius retires. I just need to stop buying homewares from charity shops! xxx
Right on, sista! Billy Bragg was spotted in Walsall the other week on a anti Nazi demo! I missed him, boo! x
ReplyDeleteI heard about that demo, and I wondered whether Billy would be there. I must come over to see the Damien Hirst exhibition soon xxx
DeleteI had a little look at the Ray Tallis link Annie but it was a bit much for my befuddled brain right now as the two youngest are rampaging behind me, it did sound good stuff though and I was interested it mentioned Ian McEwan's 'Saturday' because I was really disappointed in that book so thought it was funny that the only comment on the article mentioned it too, did nobody like it? I was thinking about you last week because Julian Cope was doing three stop tour and playing one night in Glasgow promoting his new book. I couldn't go for various reasons including skintness, but also that I don't know anyone else who likes him and I was thinking it was sad we weren't nearer to each other as you're the only other Drude fan I know. Sorry about the messed up punctuation too, like I said I'm befuddled and sleepy tonight. xx
ReplyDeleteOops,meant to add, I love the emergency poet and her ambulance and prescriptions for poems, reminds me of when my mum took me to our doctor when I was little and he wrote me a prescription for a quarter of sweeties on the way home. I loved him after that. xx
ReplyDeleteHi CityScape,
DeleteI found Ray Tallis's talk really interesting, although I must confess I haven't started to read the book yet because I've got some others I really must get on to first.
I haven't actually seen Julian live since the 'My Nation Underground' days. His new book looks fascinating, but I must NOT buy any more books! I don't think he's coming round my way, at least as yet, but I don't know any-one else who likes him either :(
What a great idea by your doctor. I bet the Health Police would not allow him to do that sort of thing now! xxx