First day of Spring
Hello from the first day of Spring by the look of things. The crocuses are out and some daffodils are poking their heads up here and there in South London.
In some places it’s still truly winter. Last week on the top of a Scottish mountain I saw a snow hare – beautiful and ghostly, appearing slowly out of the mist and then fading back as if it had never been there.
Back in the city I imagine seeing one round a corner……
Last Monday I went to John Hegley’s monthly night at the Betsey Trottwood in Clerkenwell (4th Monday of every month) for a bit of blue sky in the winter grey. Not to perform this time but just to enjoy the poetry, laughs and general bonhommie. The paper cut-out artist Rob Ryan also runs a great Northern Soul night there once a month, so it’s a good place to check out if you are in London. Super friendly and full of like-minded people.
This month I re-met someone with whom I had shared the bill there – the comedian Stuart Lee. It turns out we went to the same college at university and he was speaking at a great literary day held there called ‘Why write?’ A diverse group of speakers including Stuart Lee, Dan Abnett, Samira Ahmed and Emma Brockes – all ex-students – talked about their very different areas of writing, and I sang a couple of songs accompanied by Stuart Estell. Thanks to Lucy Newlyn for organising a brilliant and perspective-altering day (check out http://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/about-college/hall-writers-forum)
My next gig is this week at the National Theatre Foyer on Wednesday 6th March 5.45-7.15 pm – it’s free and child-friendly.
We’ll be playing with Justin Woodward on percussion as well as Phil Peskett and Andy Hamill.
If you can come, see you there for a drink afterwards.
Best wishes,
Rebecca