No-one feels like April Fools this year;
it’s turned suddenly colder.
Who? whatwhywhenhow? Who?
Jumbled disbelief,
shards of memory, bits and bytes;
from your secret laboratory
whatever emerged had an edge
of delight.
You dived deep,
in resonance remain.
No-one feels like April Fools this year,
but when we return to unplayed pranks
in future years
they will bear the magic of your name;
“For Marcus!”
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Frankly Amazed part 2
A lively discussion has ensued round here from the considerations touched on in the previous entry. In the drafty outhouse that passes for an office, Shuffling Sid our roving sales clerk was ‘in’, resting between vigorous bouts of recondite sales technique, which, as far as I can tell, seems to involve rather a lot of phlegm-streaked coughing. He assures me that this approach produces quite startling results. Who am I to comment? I just pay the man’s wages.
Sid approached the issue as one of Democracy, which he insisted came with a capital D. He regarded the issue as of one of elitism and the creation of an underclass. He posed his most trenchant observation thus; “Should a sufferer from advanced Knucklum Shufflerosa not also be treated with compassion, be able to find inclusion within the big tent of society? Surely, it’s not asking too much to be included cheek by jowl with those other outcasts of our culture; the uniformed bus conductress, the photographic model, or the pouting topless tractor driver of the month?” He dissolved into a coughing fit induced by the heightened intensity of his engagement with the subject. I think I got his drift, but lost interest in it and sent him on his way with a flea in his ear, which rapidly became lost amongst the teeming multitudes already inhabiting his wretched tweed mackintosh.
Gloria, ever attentive at her desk, tush-tushed, and reminded me that I had failed properly to consider Sid’s line of reasoning. “I didn’t want to”, I said. “Get out of that if you can.” She couldn’t.
Sid approached the issue as one of Democracy, which he insisted came with a capital D. He regarded the issue as of one of elitism and the creation of an underclass. He posed his most trenchant observation thus; “Should a sufferer from advanced Knucklum Shufflerosa not also be treated with compassion, be able to find inclusion within the big tent of society? Surely, it’s not asking too much to be included cheek by jowl with those other outcasts of our culture; the uniformed bus conductress, the photographic model, or the pouting topless tractor driver of the month?” He dissolved into a coughing fit induced by the heightened intensity of his engagement with the subject. I think I got his drift, but lost interest in it and sent him on his way with a flea in his ear, which rapidly became lost amongst the teeming multitudes already inhabiting his wretched tweed mackintosh.
Gloria, ever attentive at her desk, tush-tushed, and reminded me that I had failed properly to consider Sid’s line of reasoning. “I didn’t want to”, I said. “Get out of that if you can.” She couldn’t.
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Frankly Amazed part 1
At Turn Up, if the investment stream were larger than the trickle necessary to keep us thirsty, we would probably be at the cutting edge of emergent technology. We would have a gadget for this, a gadget for that, and undoubtedly a gleaming swivel-armed gadget for the other.
I am frankly amazed (part 1), however, at the deep conundra produced for some by the digital age and the reluctance to engage with anything that has not been systematically proven by at least forty years of use. Others leap aboard new ways of doing things without a backward glance, a flick of the scarf and a merry song at their lips. I’m referring to the reaction of some to our new digital products and a refusal to contemplate reading anything that is not in printed form.
I am certainly not anti the printed version of books, but there are certain realities and practicalities that have to be faced (do they?) Shut up, no-one asked you. The truth is that we could not afford to have any books printed as matters now stand. By going down the Kindle route we are able to produce our volumes and keep producing them. They would not exist otherwise. You may consider that not to be any great loss. You would not then be troubling us for a place in our customer base and can unceremoniously be told to bugger off in the most forthright terms.
However, you, if I can distinguish you with such particularity, are to be cosseted upon the sofa of smarm-swathed inducement and complimented for your debonair devotion to cultural exemplars, never mind the method of their delivery.
Also, like it or not, none of us are in a position to divert the march of evolving technology. It will go wherever it finds its niche. I would suggest that if it was unusable or no good, people wouldn’t go for it. The fact is that among the people I know, the ones who have gone for Kindle are those who are the most voracious readers of books. I had thought that they might be the very ones to be leading the resistance, but they have quickly realised that they have more room for more books, usually for less.
I am concerned for the effect these changes may have on printers, bookshops and libraries, but I think there are other larger pressures on them.
I am frankly amazed (part 1), however, at the deep conundra produced for some by the digital age and the reluctance to engage with anything that has not been systematically proven by at least forty years of use. Others leap aboard new ways of doing things without a backward glance, a flick of the scarf and a merry song at their lips. I’m referring to the reaction of some to our new digital products and a refusal to contemplate reading anything that is not in printed form.
I am certainly not anti the printed version of books, but there are certain realities and practicalities that have to be faced (do they?) Shut up, no-one asked you. The truth is that we could not afford to have any books printed as matters now stand. By going down the Kindle route we are able to produce our volumes and keep producing them. They would not exist otherwise. You may consider that not to be any great loss. You would not then be troubling us for a place in our customer base and can unceremoniously be told to bugger off in the most forthright terms.
However, you, if I can distinguish you with such particularity, are to be cosseted upon the sofa of smarm-swathed inducement and complimented for your debonair devotion to cultural exemplars, never mind the method of their delivery.
Also, like it or not, none of us are in a position to divert the march of evolving technology. It will go wherever it finds its niche. I would suggest that if it was unusable or no good, people wouldn’t go for it. The fact is that among the people I know, the ones who have gone for Kindle are those who are the most voracious readers of books. I had thought that they might be the very ones to be leading the resistance, but they have quickly realised that they have more room for more books, usually for less.
I am concerned for the effect these changes may have on printers, bookshops and libraries, but I think there are other larger pressures on them.
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Launch
Autumn has arrived at Turn Up Towers. Russets are sliding in everywhere, like sand on a sun-bathed beach. ‘Tis but gritty reality for the time of year.
Two books are now up and available on Kindle. Searching for ‘The Talking Wall’ will bring that up as the first item. It sells for £5.74. Searching for ‘almost free’, however, brings up a long list of books involving nude models. I’m not unhappy to find myself nestling in amongst them, but if you search for ‘almost free by Nick Alexander’ you can go straight to it rather than scrolling past scanty cladding to reach it. It is for sale at £2.15, which is more that nothing, but will hardly bruise the pocket. I urge you to explore, but I would say that, wouldn’t I?
Among future plans in contemplation at Turn Up are ebook versions of ‘I’ve Already Spent It’ and ‘For Reasons of Space’, a reappraisal of website provision to make things more user friendly, and the great step of audio delivery. Watch this space.
Two books are now up and available on Kindle. Searching for ‘The Talking Wall’ will bring that up as the first item. It sells for £5.74. Searching for ‘almost free’, however, brings up a long list of books involving nude models. I’m not unhappy to find myself nestling in amongst them, but if you search for ‘almost free by Nick Alexander’ you can go straight to it rather than scrolling past scanty cladding to reach it. It is for sale at £2.15, which is more that nothing, but will hardly bruise the pocket. I urge you to explore, but I would say that, wouldn’t I?
Among future plans in contemplation at Turn Up are ebook versions of ‘I’ve Already Spent It’ and ‘For Reasons of Space’, a reappraisal of website provision to make things more user friendly, and the great step of audio delivery. Watch this space.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Posters everywhere
‘The timeless experience of constant change’ has a good positive ring to it as a description of permanent development, bright with possibilities. Such is the picture at Turn Up Towers; the shining faces and happy wagging tongues of self-motivated cadres chattering away, ever generating new twists and turns.
Since my last entry to this august record of the epic doings of all things Turn Up, there have indeed been steps along the road. The posters are still selling. The whole experience has been tremendous, the response better that we could have dreamt. For Turn Up, this has meant red hot commerce.
I have, in my executive capacity, also launched a tie-in, the first ebook from the Turn Up stable. It is also called The Talking Wall, and contains my most recent poems, including all the poster poems. It is available for download from Kindle on Amazon for £5.74. I am pleased with the collection and heartily recommend it.
And, lo and behold, a second ebook is on the way! I wanted to provide a collection of free samples to encourage the wayfaring eye to delve deeper. However, I seem to have to specify a minimum price to load it into Kindle, so the collection will be called ‘almost free’. It’s nearly 100 pages long, so it’s not bad value. It is a mixture of poetry and prose so that readers have the opportunity to consider other elements.
And, once again, last Friday saw the extraordinary spectacles of Los Contrabandos in performance at Lizzie Carless’ 21st party. We were two men down, but we got through it without boos or assaults, so we can chalk it up as a success! We were followed a little later by the sublime Four Tart Harmony in their glistening red shoes and wonderfully appointed lungs. Chris Smith leaned across and tapped me on the shoulder during their performance. ‘See’, he said, ‘your PA system does work’.
Since my last entry to this august record of the epic doings of all things Turn Up, there have indeed been steps along the road. The posters are still selling. The whole experience has been tremendous, the response better that we could have dreamt. For Turn Up, this has meant red hot commerce.
I have, in my executive capacity, also launched a tie-in, the first ebook from the Turn Up stable. It is also called The Talking Wall, and contains my most recent poems, including all the poster poems. It is available for download from Kindle on Amazon for £5.74. I am pleased with the collection and heartily recommend it.
And, lo and behold, a second ebook is on the way! I wanted to provide a collection of free samples to encourage the wayfaring eye to delve deeper. However, I seem to have to specify a minimum price to load it into Kindle, so the collection will be called ‘almost free’. It’s nearly 100 pages long, so it’s not bad value. It is a mixture of poetry and prose so that readers have the opportunity to consider other elements.
And, once again, last Friday saw the extraordinary spectacles of Los Contrabandos in performance at Lizzie Carless’ 21st party. We were two men down, but we got through it without boos or assaults, so we can chalk it up as a success! We were followed a little later by the sublime Four Tart Harmony in their glistening red shoes and wonderfully appointed lungs. Chris Smith leaned across and tapped me on the shoulder during their performance. ‘See’, he said, ‘your PA system does work’.
Friday, 8 July 2011
Readings
Where has the last week gone? Sunday was the big day for me. Despite the first reading taking place at 11 am on Sunday I had an impressively well-attended event. I was in the mood and managed to produce the necessary degree of fire in my belly. I started the day with a quote from one of Robert Hunter's poems, 'Three-Legged Mare';
Bridled and brindle,
blinkered and sway,
hobbled and hamstrung,
no more nor less than
a three legged mare,
the horse is yours.
Always was. Ride her
with bells in your heart.
That inspiration was sufficient to dispel the doubts and to enable me to proceed with full commitment. That and my observation of Michael McClure when he came to stay in last year's poetry festival. He was unwaveringly serious about his own work. By that I mean he took his work and himself seriously, not that he was without humour.
I have had some great comments from many quarters since the performances, the second of which I found heavier going (although still acceptable). The posters have been selling and the swifts still chase each other amongst the alleys and roof tops of old Ledbury, screeching with the delight of the free.
On Tuesday we hosted Adam Horovitz who was launching his first collection of poems on publication day. He gave a very affecting and effective reading that evening, followed by the eccenticities of Michael Horovitz, his father, which were delightful.
On Wednesday I joined the circus that is the Ledbury Lyricists at the Prince. Some fine performances, but there seems to be a diminishing number of visiting poets and perhaps too much music. That, coupled with a late start, reduced the scope I think. But, it is always enjoyable and good to be able to spend the evening in the pub without having to worry about getting up for work the next day!
Bridled and brindle,
blinkered and sway,
hobbled and hamstrung,
no more nor less than
a three legged mare,
the horse is yours.
Always was. Ride her
with bells in your heart.
That inspiration was sufficient to dispel the doubts and to enable me to proceed with full commitment. That and my observation of Michael McClure when he came to stay in last year's poetry festival. He was unwaveringly serious about his own work. By that I mean he took his work and himself seriously, not that he was without humour.
I have had some great comments from many quarters since the performances, the second of which I found heavier going (although still acceptable). The posters have been selling and the swifts still chase each other amongst the alleys and roof tops of old Ledbury, screeching with the delight of the free.
On Tuesday we hosted Adam Horovitz who was launching his first collection of poems on publication day. He gave a very affecting and effective reading that evening, followed by the eccenticities of Michael Horovitz, his father, which were delightful.
On Wednesday I joined the circus that is the Ledbury Lyricists at the Prince. Some fine performances, but there seems to be a diminishing number of visiting poets and perhaps too much music. That, coupled with a late start, reduced the scope I think. But, it is always enjoyable and good to be able to spend the evening in the pub without having to worry about getting up for work the next day!
Friday, 1 July 2011
The Preparation Vortex part 5
Well, the days are slipping by. Only 48 hours to go. Yesterday evening Martin and I, under the expert eyes of Claire and Phoebe, stuck the posters up on the wall at Tinsmiths. They look excellent, even though I say so myself. That is due to Martin's skills rather than mine, and of course includes one each from Mark and Claire de la Torre. The wall has truly become The Talking Wall. It looks as though the weather will hold for Sunday. We are in with a chance of pulling this off!
The posters went on sale on line on Tinsmiths website on Thursday. Martin rang me in great excitement to report that four had been sold by 9.30 am. Once people start to see them on the wall, how will they be able to resist?
Later in the evening I read as one of 4 poets at the Tree Frogs gig at the Retreat. A good evening was had by all. As first poet up at the mic, I believe I had the distinction of being the first poet to read at the venue under the present management. I had a good encouraging response, and liked what I heard of Jai Hill and Amy Rainbow. Mark Stevenson's stuff is well-known to me and as I listened I realised that I knew it better than I thought I did. Familiarity in this case breeds deep appreciation. Nick Trigg suggested from the stage that we should start a fringe festival, which received cheers of approval. I go along with that.
I now need to make sure the microphone is working properly for Sunday and check my list of material. I have chosen my spot to stand so that I am within touching distance of the wall.
The posters went on sale on line on Tinsmiths website on Thursday. Martin rang me in great excitement to report that four had been sold by 9.30 am. Once people start to see them on the wall, how will they be able to resist?
Later in the evening I read as one of 4 poets at the Tree Frogs gig at the Retreat. A good evening was had by all. As first poet up at the mic, I believe I had the distinction of being the first poet to read at the venue under the present management. I had a good encouraging response, and liked what I heard of Jai Hill and Amy Rainbow. Mark Stevenson's stuff is well-known to me and as I listened I realised that I knew it better than I thought I did. Familiarity in this case breeds deep appreciation. Nick Trigg suggested from the stage that we should start a fringe festival, which received cheers of approval. I go along with that.
I now need to make sure the microphone is working properly for Sunday and check my list of material. I have chosen my spot to stand so that I am within touching distance of the wall.
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