Bulbs, buds, and badgers
Well, dear readers, the badgers are back. Last year I spent a small fortune creating a fortress in my garden and lo, the stripey crims of Leigh-on-Sea are back and causing havoc!
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Leigh on Sea News - ray-morgan
On balance
Well, January is almost over and well done to all of you that have resisted the temptation to drink booze as part of Dry January.
Bleak beauty
Hello, readers, and a Happy New Year to you! I hope you are rested, full of good intentions, and enjoying cocktails which I miss because I'm doing Dry Jan.
Review: Wreath making workshop at Scent
Damp moss, mince pies, and a buzz of anticipation... Last week my colleagues, assorted colleague-mums and I all squished into Scent florist in Leigh after work to get festively crafty.
Get happy
The cynics among you will joke about Leigh being voted 'Happiest Place to Live' by property website Rightmove, but I can't help but like the fact we've been given the accolade.
Endings, and new beginnings
Our baby is fifteen years old. No, you're not going mad. My wife and I haven't been hiding a secret child from you all for the past decade and a half. Sundown Arts, the arts organisation that we both run, is 15 this week.
Clay Club and Craft Market
I've had such a Leigh-on-Sea week, dear friends. Last week I attended Clay Club in The Old Foundry, or what used to be The Lynn Tait Gallery.
Exploding in the distance
Sunday night. It was cold - not bone-chilling proper winter cold, but still chilly. We were in layers. So many layers - leggings under my jeans, big socks under my boots, a top AND a jumper AND my big coat and scarf. Woolly hat, my Mum's hand crocheted fingerless gloves.
Halloween lols
I was reading an article on the history of trick-or-treating (hey, it's Halloween week) and it stated that "The British hate Halloween." It read "In 2006, a survey found that over half of British homeowners turn off their lights and pretend not to be home on Halloween...
Feminist stories
Last week I was invited to perform at a feminist storytelling night at Metal in Chalkwell Park, and I thought long and hard about what to read.
On autumn
I love this time of year. It was always my favourite. It makes me think of You've Got Mail, when Tom Hanks' Joe Fox says to his mystery email-romance (Meg Ryan's Kathleen Kelly) "Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."
Matt Abbott spoken word show in Southend
On Thursday 11 October, poet Matt Abbott is coming to Southend to bring a five-star show to Twenty One Gallery in collaboration with local organisation Sundown Arts.
Badger woes
My previous knowledge of badgers was previously exclusively a) kids TV shows of my childhood (Animals of Farthing Wood / Bodger & Badger) and b) a surreal conversation about badgers and the Bronte sisters both having TB in a brilliant scene in I'm Alan Partridge ("Heathcliff, pang! Then he really would be 'wuthering'."). Until now...
Elastic weekend
Time is weird. For example, some mornings I get up, do yoga, have a shower, do my hair and make up, make breakfast, get dressed, check Twitter, and saunter out of the door feeling great about life.
SoSlam – writing the hits of the future
Last week I ventured into Chinnery’s (scene of many a teenage ‘going to see my friend’s boyfriend’s band’ nights out) to see the SoSlam Young Musician’s Showcase
Drink up, plants
I'm so sorry to any of you who have outdoor plans this August that are being rained off. Genuinely
Switch in, switch on, switch off
The phrase "digital detox" is often bandied around, encouraging people to get off their smart phones and devices and I think it's so important to do so
Talking About the Weather
Weather is surely one of the greatest inspirations for lyricists - weather and love. I was recently at a conference and one of the speakers said that on average, we spend roughly five years of our lives talking about the weather. FIVE YEARS.
Making the most of it
This weekend was half loud, half quiet, and wholly local - so I thought I'd share it with you!
