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Showing posts from January, 2021

Conditioned - Part 1

When I was about ten the local Catholic priest started taking me to Celtic football games, and the occasional international featuring Scotland, at the national stadium, Hampden Park. During Scotland games against England the fans would chant "If you hate the fucking English, clap your hands." All the Scottish fans sang it, and all clapped. and "We hate Jimmy Hill, he's a poof, he's a poof." (Jimmy Hill was one of the foremost football pundits at the tine, and English.) At Celtic games the fans sang "Fuck the Queen and the UDA" Later in my life one of my best friend's brother was a Rangers season ticket holder, but sometimes because of his work he would be away when a home match was on. He'd give his other ticket to my friend. One time my friend asked if I wanted to go, so we went together. This was in the late 1980s or early 90s. I don't remember who Rangers were playing. What I do remember is at one point the fans started singing ...

Decision on Poetry

I have decided to stop promoting my poetry, as poor use of my limited time alive. A major part of that decision is therefore to stop publishing any books or pamphlets of my poetry. I will still write it and post it on my poetry blog, and also in my notebooks, whatever is most handy when I feel the need to write poetry. If poetry was ever to have been a healthy financial earner for me I'd continue to promote and publish it, as I quite enjoy that side of it. But on its own, without the financial incentive, it's just not the best thing I can be doing with my time. I have two collaborations going on, one long-standing with John Guzlowski, the other agreed but not started, with Tim Heerdink, and I'll keep these going but will not promote them. They are fun and good use of time. If they choose to promote and publish I'll happily agree to it but play no part.