Sorry, after the events of the day, which included quite a lot of activity in the shop, I went home, had a puncture, called Green Flag to change the wheel (after the debacle of a few years ago) and embarked on my usual routine of wasting time. I was napping by midnight, when I should have been blogging and am, as usual, slightly ashamed of myself. However, I will get over it. In fact, I have. When I checked my emails this morning I find I have had two poems accepted by the Frogmore Papers.
Contrast this with yesterday. Yesterday I told you about a magazine that said it would “aim to” get back to me in three months. The Frogmore Papers got back to me in fourteen days. They have been about for a while and get plenty of submissions (“over 350” this time, according to the note) so it must be hard work. I’m going to modify my words of yesterday slightly – I’m not developing an artistic temperament, I’m developing a loyalty to people who work hard and make things easy for me.
Later this morning I’m off for a new tyre – by the time I’d got off the ring road to a quiet place to change a tyre it was beyond repair. It didn’t have a lot of life left in it, so this isn’t too bad, not like the time I ruined a brand new tyre by having to run with it flat for half a mile until I could get off a busy main road.
In fact, by the magic of modern technology, I have been to have my tyre replaced, sitting outside in the sun reading a crime novel and keeping my social distance. I’m back on tartan noir. You can’t escape it these days. The books are OK, but it’s a silly name. Two languages and black tartan? Really?
Time to make lunch now, then I may try a spot of poetry and some literary criticism. Or quizzes and a nap. The course of the afternoon has not yet been decided.
Gannets
I thought I’d give you Gannets today – from Bempton Cliffs in May 2017, when the weather was better, and we were allowed to travel.
It also ties in with the tartan noir, as they have quite a lot of Gannets in Scotland, as Tootlepedal’s holidays over the years have demonstrated.
Congratulations on the acceptances, Quercus! Tartan noir is also a new term for me.
The gannet photo is lovely.
Great gannets; good haiku news
Thank you. 🙂
First of all, good news about the poetry.
I’m glad also it wasn’t a new tyre which needed replacing – punctures are such a pain.
Anyway, tartan noir is a new term for me. And I didn’t know that Val McDermid was Scottish.
I’ve only read a couple of hers. To be honest, I didn’t know she was a woman for years – I have known two men called Valentine and always think of it as a man’s name. 🙂
Likewise on all counts!
🙂
Congratulations, Simon! Two poems after only two weeks – amazing! I quite enjoy Ian Rankin’s Rebus novels and agree that ‘tartan noir’ is a silly name.
🙂 I do like most of the Rebus novels, including the ones where he is supposedly retired. There are some good writers in the genre (despite the name). 🙂
🙂
We didn’t get to see them this year or last because of the dreaded lockdowns.
Ys, we have missed them too. These pictures are from four years ago. Time flies.
It certainly does.
Congrats on the acceptance
Thank you. 🙂
Great that the poem was accepted so quickly. Hats off to the editorial team. (I still have vivid memories of being an editorial team of one.)
Yes, I imagine it’s a bit of a trial. All that reading, all those decisions, and all those emails… Phew!