As I am gearing up for Australia I am winding down other poetry activities apart from the desk-bound art of actually writing.
There are however, a few events still in the diary and the end of July saw Poetry Bites, a workshop in Stratford-Upon Avon and a Stanza meeting before it ground to a halt – where I had blanked out days to ensure that all my paperwork, adventure shopping, packing and performance/workshop preparation is in place.
I thoroughly enjoyed Headlining the bi-monthly Poetry Bites event in May and was looking forward to seeing Holly Daffurn and Jonathan Edwards perform.
It was a wonderful evening in a packed out Kitchen Garden Cafe. I am always delighted when friends discover poets I know and hear/see how good their work is.
As a Costa Award Winning Poet Jonathan Edwards wowed the room. (Some of us already knew he would.)
Holly Daffurn Headlined with a POWER set! She went on to win the Oooh Beehive Slam at the Blue Orange Theatre in Birmingham a couple of nights later as well. 
It was a fabulous night and my final open mic before I whizz off around the world.
Remaining photos © Elaine Christie
Rodger D’boer
Maggie Doyle
Neil Richards
Moggs
Anne Hodnette
Al Barz
Clive Oseman
Matt Nunn
Then our first headliner – Jonathan Edwards
Matt Nunn and Elaine Christie have done a sterling job taking over Poetry Bites from Jacqui Rowe. It is always lovely to see the venue full and this evening certainly pulled the crowds in.
Andrew Barnes
Mickey Ali
Nigel Hutchinson
Nina Lewis
Mike Alma
Gerald Kells
Liz Jolly
Ruth Williams
The evening ended with Holly Daffurn Headlining.
It was definitely an action packed poetry evening, sometimes it can feel overwhelming listening to this many acts, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Following this event my next was a workshop where we looked at Travel – an apt theme, especially as I plan to work on a book during my 20 hour lay over! Which is fortunately on the return journey. That’s the thing with travelling so far you lose 4+ days just getting there and back!
I finished my poetry diary with a Stanza meeting which was a great evening. Lots of exciting news to come from this.
The final, FINAL poetry outing is the 4th August for the Cat Rescue Anthology Launch. Then Australia… I am coming to see you!
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