I'd like to write ****
but I might offend someone
I'd like to write about *******
but I might offend someone
I'd like to say something about ****
but I might offend someone
I have an opinion on *********
but I might offend someone
I want to publish a poem about **********
but I might offend someone
I'd like to say I don't agree with ********
but I might offend someone
I want to think out loud about *******
but I might offend someone
I want to see how far free speech can r e a c h h h h h h h h h h h h h....
But as I have political correctness to thank,
and a yellow streak and a quiet life to live,
I'll have to draw a blank.
Ah, fuck it!
Monday, 9 March 2015
Friday, 6 March 2015
RALPH MCLEAN
My radio listening days go back a long way and I have many fond memories of a cream-coloured wireless in the living room. Sundays were big radio days - Two Way Family Favourites, The Clitheroe Kid and, vital in those days, Pick of the Pops ("not 'alf"), amongst others.
Radio Luxembourg was exotic, if a little frustrating. The sound would fade in and out according to the mood of the signal but the thought of someone playing records in a far off place and me hearing it in a council flat in Belfast was awesome.
Over the years, I grew to enjoy, love and admire some of the presenters because of their voices, their patter, their individualism and their love of music.
I am thinking about Alan Freeman, Kenny Everett, John Peel, Roger Scott, Johnny Walker, Bob Harris, Paul Gambaccini and more. Radio Caroline and later Radio One had more than their fair share of ten-a-penny record spinners but the aforementioned examples had that extra ingredient that just appealed to me.
I moved away from Belfast in the mid-70s, the days well before playback facilities, so I have little knowledge of radio back home in those days. I knew of it but I wasn't part of it as a listener. But now, with the marvels of iPlayer et al, the world is my jukebox, and BBC Radio Ulster is more often than not the soundtrack to my day.
There are many fine (what a wimpy word), nay, excellent presenters on Radio Ulster but I want to say a few words about Ralph McLean.
I don't know Ralph personally (I did bump into him in HMV, Belfast a while ago and said hello) but I do know him from his exemplary radio shows and occasional television appearances. You can get a bit more about him via these links:
and by searching around the BBC Radio Ulster website http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioulster
Radio Luxembourg was exotic, if a little frustrating. The sound would fade in and out according to the mood of the signal but the thought of someone playing records in a far off place and me hearing it in a council flat in Belfast was awesome.
Over the years, I grew to enjoy, love and admire some of the presenters because of their voices, their patter, their individualism and their love of music.
I am thinking about Alan Freeman, Kenny Everett, John Peel, Roger Scott, Johnny Walker, Bob Harris, Paul Gambaccini and more. Radio Caroline and later Radio One had more than their fair share of ten-a-penny record spinners but the aforementioned examples had that extra ingredient that just appealed to me.
I moved away from Belfast in the mid-70s, the days well before playback facilities, so I have little knowledge of radio back home in those days. I knew of it but I wasn't part of it as a listener. But now, with the marvels of iPlayer et al, the world is my jukebox, and BBC Radio Ulster is more often than not the soundtrack to my day.
There are many fine (what a wimpy word), nay, excellent presenters on Radio Ulster but I want to say a few words about Ralph McLean.
I don't know Ralph personally (I did bump into him in HMV, Belfast a while ago and said hello) but I do know him from his exemplary radio shows and occasional television appearances. You can get a bit more about him via these links:
Ralph can be heard on Radio Ulster between 8pm and 10pm on Wednesdays (Local Voices), Thursdays (Rock and Soul) and Fridays (Country & Roots) and what do you get? You get a fan, an enthusiastic fan, a knowledgeable fan, a fan that can relate to an audience hungry for the familiar tracks but also keen to hear what surprises he has found buried in the archives, on b-sides or on forgotten LPs. You get a fan of just about every musical genre. You get a genuine fan.
You get a sublime ambassador for Northern Irish talent introducing favourites who return regularly to perform live and first-timers given a leg up by someone who cares about who they are and what they do. Local Voices is an extremely important show because it showcases the positive side, the creative vibe of Belfast and wider Northern Ireland.
You get a man who knows people. He has met a litany of the greatest performers in the world and when their gigs include Northern Ireland, a Ralph McLean radio show is on their list of stopping off points because they know they'll get a warm welcome and be in the company of a safe pair of hands.
Earlier, I mentioned some names of broadcasters that live fondly in my mind and I add Ralph McLean to that list without reservation. I am sure there are others I could mention but I'm writing off the top of my head.
His shows have entertained, informed and inspired me, and I'm certain I'm not alone in that regard.
Thank you, Ralph. Keep doing what you do.
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
KELLY: A MEMOIR by GERRY KELLY with DON ANDERSON
Kelly: A Memoir
by Gerry Kelly with Don Anderson
Gill & Macmillan 2008
I had the pleasure and privilege of being interviewed by Gerry Kelly a couple of years ago when I was in Belfast to give a talk at the Belfast Book Festival. On that occasion he was covering for BBC Radio Ulster's Alan Simpson on the afternoon show.
I was nervous but after a handshake and a brief chat while a record played (Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes), I felt much calmer and the 10-minute interview went well, according to friends and family who had tuned in.
I had known about Gerry Kelly for years via radio and TV shows and it was a great opportunity to meet him and get a little taste of his calm, conversational style of broadcasting.
He is best known for his long-running chat and entertainment show "Kelly" that ran live on prime time Ulster Television from September 1989 to December 2005 - (recipe - "topicality, music, audience participation and celebrity") - a show that attracted huge, loyal audiences and boasted a guest list to die for in nearly 600 shows.
The book gives some background on Gerry and his family (a narrative about his father leaving the family home chilled me because much the same thing happened with mine) and soon embarks on a CV journey include school teaching, journalism, television reporting and presenting.
But it's the "Kelly" show that dominates. It took up a huge chunk of his life and he was devastated when it ended. Sadly, for career reasons, I was working in England during these prime years and missed a lot of great television but I caught some of the shows during visits home.
Kelly: A Memoir filled in a lot of details about the trials, tribulations, joys and delights of live TV. You'll get a flavour of the man and his work from this link I found - http://www.thekellyshow.com/profile1.html - but if you can get hold of a copy of the book, so much the better.
It is informative and entertaining, sometimes opinionated but always sincere and honest.
Gerry Kelly is an outstanding broadcaster with a professional and personal style that should be a template for some of the upstarts who think they can just wing it on TV and radio. He is a gifted man with a great story and he tells it very well indeed.
I'm glad I got to shake his hand and answer his questions.
For the uninitiated, Gerry can be heard currently on Fridays and Saturdays on BBC Radio Ulster doing what he obviously enjoys - playing great music, chatting to great guests and championing Northern Irish talent.
Sunday, 1 March 2015
FOR YOU, THE WAR IS OVER BY SAM KYDD
For You, The War Is Over
by Sam Kydd
Futura Publications paperback 1974
Let me start with a link to a post on this blog in which I profiled Belfast-born actor, Sam Kydd.
When I was researching his life and work, I discovered that he had written a book, a memoir of his time (nearly five years) as a prisoner-of-war. (Note, the story stops in 1945, so Kydd's screen acting career is not covered, except for recollections about several prison camp productions.)
I have read several books about war but nothing like this one. It is a pacy account of some very harrowing experiences in various prison camps in Germany and Poland as detainees fought to survive as best they could.
Everything from starvation to boredom to hard labour to hopelessness is covered and no punches are pulled in writing about the challenges of incarceration. But, the book is brimming with humour and cheer that should be at odds with the grimness and despair of the core subject matter. The odd couple blending of tragic accounts and funny stories give the book honesty and heart and allows the reader to understand the horrors of prison camps whilst hearing the chirpy voice of someone who chose to recall his POW experiences with more than a fair dose of retrospective lightheartedness.
I suspect some of the yarns about capers here and there to dupe German guards are exaggerated but I found the book to be emotional, entertaining and an informative insight into the man who would eventually become the jobbing and busy actor Sam Kydd.
Kydd wrote in a lively way, as if he couldn't wait to get the words down on paper. It works a treat. Sadly, he did not get round to writing about his cinema and television career. It would have been a great autobiography, I'm sure.
For You, The War Is Over is out of print but can still be found on Ebay and other sites.
Everything from starvation to boredom to hard labour to hopelessness is covered and no punches are pulled in writing about the challenges of incarceration. But, the book is brimming with humour and cheer that should be at odds with the grimness and despair of the core subject matter. The odd couple blending of tragic accounts and funny stories give the book honesty and heart and allows the reader to understand the horrors of prison camps whilst hearing the chirpy voice of someone who chose to recall his POW experiences with more than a fair dose of retrospective lightheartedness.
I suspect some of the yarns about capers here and there to dupe German guards are exaggerated but I found the book to be emotional, entertaining and an informative insight into the man who would eventually become the jobbing and busy actor Sam Kydd.
Kydd wrote in a lively way, as if he couldn't wait to get the words down on paper. It works a treat. Sadly, he did not get round to writing about his cinema and television career. It would have been a great autobiography, I'm sure.
For You, The War Is Over is out of print but can still be found on Ebay and other sites.
Friday, 27 February 2015
GOODBYE, LEONARD NIMOY
Goodbye, Leonard Nimoy,
you were Mr Spock,
amongst other roles,
but Mr Spock was the career prize
on the Starship Enterprise.
You said: "live long and prosper"
and you lived long and prospered,
but now, sad to hear,
you've reached the final frontier.
RIP.
you were Mr Spock,
amongst other roles,
but Mr Spock was the career prize
on the Starship Enterprise.
You said: "live long and prosper"
and you lived long and prospered,
but now, sad to hear,
you've reached the final frontier.
RIP.
Thursday, 26 February 2015
BEEN A BIT QUIET ON HERE......
I've been a bit quiet on here in recent weeks because, rather than post new poems, I have been writing and submitting to magazines and other outlets - so I can't publish the new work whilst it is "under consideration".
I have also been paying a bit more attention to reading poetry and by that I mean reading poetry slowly to get more out of it - enjoyment, entertainment, inspiration, emotion and, significantly, education. I want to be a better writer, so studying published and established poets seems a good larder from which to draw nourishment....and to experience new hungers.
Back soon.
p.s.
I am happy to plug (not review) new poetry books on this site - cover plus publisher's blurb - free of charge (although, gratis copies are welcomed for my education, enjoyment....see above).
Anything I post is sent out to surf the ether via Stumbleupon, Reddit, Digg, Twitter and Facebook. At the time of writing these very words, my blog has had over 65,500 views in about four years.
Use the box to contact me.
I have also been paying a bit more attention to reading poetry and by that I mean reading poetry slowly to get more out of it - enjoyment, entertainment, inspiration, emotion and, significantly, education. I want to be a better writer, so studying published and established poets seems a good larder from which to draw nourishment....and to experience new hungers.
Back soon.
p.s.
I am happy to plug (not review) new poetry books on this site - cover plus publisher's blurb - free of charge (although, gratis copies are welcomed for my education, enjoyment....see above).
Anything I post is sent out to surf the ether via Stumbleupon, Reddit, Digg, Twitter and Facebook. At the time of writing these very words, my blog has had over 65,500 views in about four years.
Use the box to contact me.
Saturday, 14 February 2015
THE 13 DAYS OF COURTING
From Only Drools & Corsets (Funny poems and silly stuff about love, Valentine's, etc)
TO LOOK INSIDE, PLEASE GO TO AMAZON......
A sort of tale of the unexpected................
TO LOOK INSIDE, PLEASE GO TO AMAZON......
A sort of tale of the unexpected................
On the FIRST day of courting,
My true love sent to me
A gift box
With a small lock of her hair.
On the SECOND day of courting,
My true love sent to me,
Two nail clippings
And a gift box
With a small lock of her hair.
On the THIRD day of courting,
My true love sent to me,
Three tear-stained tissues,
Two nail clippings
And a gift box
With a small lock of her hair.
On the FOURTH day of courting,
My true love sent to me,
Four eyelash trimmings,
Three tear-stained tissues,
Two nail clippings
And a gift box
With a small lock of her hair.
On the FIFTH day of courting,
My true love sent to me,
Five laddered stockings,
Four eyelash trimmings,
Three tear-stained tissues,
Two nail clippings
And a gift box
With a small lock of her hair.
On the SIXTH day of courting,
My true love sent to me,
Six bitten toffees,
Five laddered stockings,
Four eyelash trimmings,
Three tear-stained tissues,
Two nail clippings
And a gift box
With a small lock of her hair.
On the SEVENTH day of courting,
My true love sent to me,
Seven toothpicks chewed,
Six bitten toffees,
Five laddered stockings,
Four eyelash trimmings,
Three tear-stained tissues,
Two nail clippings
And a gift box
With a small lock of her hair.
On the EIGHTH day of courting,
My true love sent to me,
Eight olive pips,
Seven toothpicks chewed,
Six bitten toffees,
Five laddered stockings,
Four eyelash trimmings,
Three tear-stained tissues,
Two nail clippings
And a gift box
With a small lock of her hair.
On the NINTH day of courting,
My true love sent to me,
Nine blobs of earwax,
Eight olive pips,
Seven toothpicks chewed,
Six bitten toffees,
Five laddered stockings,
Four eyelash trimmings,
Three tear-stained tissues,
Two nail clippings
And a gift box
With a small lock of her hair.
On the TENTH day of courting,
My true love sent to me,
Ten empty beer cans,
Nine blobs of earwax,
Eight olive pips,
Seven toothpicks chewed,
Six bitten toffees,
Five laddered stockings,
Four eyelash trimmings,
Three tear-stained tissues,
Two nail clippings
And a gift box
With a small lock of her hair.
On the ELEVENTH day of courting,
My true love sent to me,
Eleven ultimatums,
Ten empty beer cans,
Nine blobs of earwax,
Eight olive pips,
Seven toothpicks chewed,
Six bitten toffees,
Five laddered stockings,
Four eyelash trimmings,
Three tear-stained tissues,
Two nail clippings
And a gift box
With a small lock of her hair.
On the TWELFTH day of courting,
My true love sent to me,
Twelve effigies,
Eleven ultimatums,
Ten empty beer cans,
Nine blobs of earwax,
Eight olive pips,
Seven toothpicks chewed,
Six bitten toffees,
Five laddered stockings,
Four eyelash trimmings,
Three tear-stained tissues,
Two nail clippings
And a gift box
With a small lock of her hair.
On the THIRTEENTH day of courting,
I don’t know what she sent,
'Cos the strain and the stress
Made me change my address
And in answer to the choice –
Man or mouse? Mouse.
But at least a mouse
In a police safe house!
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