Reconnecting with writer friends

Clem Cecil and I at Binham book exchange in Norfolk.
Photo credit: Mia Farlane

In February, Mia and and I caught up with dear friends and family in Europe — people we hadn’t seen in person since lockdown London 2020.

Our timetable, outside of London, included a stay in Gloucester and Norfolk, and Wicklow, in Ireland.

Here are a few of our reading/writing-related events.

In London:

• we were part of an informal literary salon, organised by Reuben Lane

• we attended the online book launch of Mark Blackburn’s memoir / travelogue Final Approach: My Father and Other Turbulence (Claret Press)

• we went to Fleur Adcock’s book launch for her new Collected Poems (Bloodaxe / Te Herenga Waka University Press) at the London Review Bookshop — and celebrated her ninetieth birthday. Here are a few photos taken by Julian Stannard and by Mia.

• I was a guest author at the London-based NZ Book Circle, and read from Dad, You’ve Got Dementia (The Cuba Press)
  

In Norfolk (aside from a much-needed reading retreat with friends in Cromer):

• Mia and I went with our friend Liz Day to the anchorhold of the anchorite Julian of Norwich

• we discovered the Binham Book Exchange, thanks to Clem Cecil. (Photo above)

• and we visited Stevie Smith’s ‘Not Waving but Drowning’ beach at Cley-next-the Sea.