Dan Sluman and Mark Burnhope (by sarah)

Last night I went to a sell out event at the Cheltenham Poetry Festival were Dan Sluman and Mark Burnhope both read out their amazing works. Both explored illness and life altering events as well as the obsession with death and sex and a myrraid of other topics. All sculpted into a lyrical wonder.

Also I found the black and white mode on the camera works at low light levels were as the colour setting is all grainy.

I remember first meeting Dan at poetry cafe when it was at the museum and art gallery a few years ago and have always found his work deeply moving.

Sadly there are not more of Mark as it was a sell out gig and I couldn't move around to get pictures.

Dan's book is Absence Has A Weight Of Its Own

And Mark's is Snowboy

There was also an open mic before they started their reading - if you want to see any of the photos in a larger format just click on them.

And lastly - I love this photo I took of Mark listening to the poetry even though it came out a bit blurry.

Knitted Poem – The Price of Art in Luton (by sarah)

Yesterday I went back into Cheltenham to photograph some more of the events at the Cheltenham Poetry Festival which was brilliant! But before they started I popped over to the Waterstones to see the knitted poem that Centre Arts has had all the local knitting groups taking part in. The poem is The Price of Art in Luton from the John Hegley - part of the Dog collection.

There is also has a knitted homeless guy and his dog on it.

I believe it is being auctioned off at the end of the festival! Alaric being from Luton examined the poem more closely - though in my opinion from the wrong angle!

War of the Words (by sarah)

Last night I went and performed in my fourth ever poetry slam - this time it was War of the Words at the Cheltenham Poetry Festival. As typified by the other slams I came last but I am happy as I performed my best yet in my opinion. I did my poem Shy about selective mutalism and had many people including the other poets commenting on how good it was. There is a very graining video which I want to edit into something at the end of the festival - but here is the recording I did of the poem using the hammond organ last year.

There were some absolutely amazing performers last night including Spoz, Peter Wyton and Ben Norris.

War of the Words (by sarah)

Saturday (20th April 2013) will see me taking part in the Cheltenham Poetry Festival Slam! It takes place at Copa in Cheltenham and is £7 or £5 for concessions.

I am desperately trying to memorise some newer poems for this! If anybodies about came and see some fantastic poets (not me the other guys!).

Red Nose Day 2013 (by sarah)

Catching up on all my photos again 🙂

We had a three fold Red Nose Day spanning several days!

I made cakes for the Cubs. Red nose cake pops, cherry scone things which were diary and wheat free along with the dinosaurs, and cupcakes in red cake cases.

I made up games and craft activities such as get the red noses in the hoops, draw the red nose on Alaric, make a fluffy red nose and so on.

Then Friday Mary had to go to Nursery in red spotty clothing - Al whisked her away before I could take a photo 🙁 But I did manage to get Jeany and her Wacky Hair 🙂

The it was off to Centre Arts who were doing Red Nose Day stuff in the shopping centre in Cheltenham. there was a cake competition which I had forgotten all about!

The Giant Cupcake was baked by Vanilla Pod Bakery and was raffled off for £45. The Red Nose was made by one of the ladies at the centre and was actioned for £20.

Recipes for my bakes will be appearing on Salaric Cooking.