Up to town

One of the nicest things about living in the provinces is the fortnightly trip to town. Makes me feel like Gilbert Pinfold of something. I usually have a jolly time in my tube train office or do a gig. Yesterday it was the latter, two of them in fact.

In the afternoon I read with John Hegley and Jackie Kay at The British Library. It was kid’s gig. I read two of my poems and four by other people. I read my mate Joel’s poem “Playing God” which went down very well indeed. As did my poem “The Ballad of Fat Josh,” I’m really pleased with that one.

Always a pleasure to gig with John and Jackie, and a real honour too. I am constantly amazed at the opportunities I get these days. I really appreciate being able to work with people like that.

And it didn’t stop. After a really productive meeting with Zara I headed over To Dick’s Bar on Romilly Street to do Salena Godden’s Book Club Boutique. Always great to see Salena and the characters in her poems (”she had eyes like woodlice, not very nice”). I was on with my great friend Molly Naylor. Molly’s ace. She rocked it yesterday, went really well. Her Escalator showcase piece will be brilliant.

Also reading was Joe Duggan, who I really liked. We may see him at Latitude this year. And then my old mate Murray Lachlan Young turned up and did a blinding little set, which featured old favourite “If you’re going to go Keith, go Keith go.” Very funny.

I went on at the end, a little tipsy if I’m honest, and did what I thought was a pretty good one. Forgot how Company of Men started but Luke’s Got A Joke went well again. The rest of the night was booze, Macdonald’s and missed trains. Very Nice.