‘… stories are at the heart of it … the stories we tell to create ourselves… the stories we tell to create others. … And, of course, the stories we tell to fall in love’.[1] This is a blog reflecting on the role of story-telling in queer fiction and why a ‘story about crocodiles’ might … More ‘… stories are at the heart of it … the stories we tell to create ourselves… the stories we tell to create others. … And, of course, the stories we tell to fall in love’. This is a blog reflecting on the role of story-telling in queer fiction and why a ‘story about crocodiles’ might be an appropriate vehicle for such reflections. It is based on Philip Ridley’s 2021 revision of his novel ‘Crocodilia’ (first published in 1988)

Reflecting on an exhibition I had not expected to enjoy so much. It was at York Art Gallery, entitled Young Gainsborough: Rediscovered Landscape Drawings (based on a visit to it on the 15th January 2022).  Visiting any city as Omicron sweeps over us with our ignorance of it as deep as that of a directionless … More Reflecting on an exhibition I had not expected to enjoy so much. It was at York Art Gallery, entitled Young Gainsborough: Rediscovered Landscape Drawings (based on a visit to it on the 15th January 2022). 

This blog is based on my own belief that the writing of a queer ‘life’ (whether as biography or autobiography) is fraught with difficulties that are sometimes also experienced in living such lives. I test it by examining R. Tripp Evan’s 2010 book, Grant Wood: a Life New York, Alfred A. Knopf. ‘A Life’ is … More This blog is based on my own belief that the writing of a queer ‘life’ (whether as biography or autobiography) is fraught with difficulties that are sometimes also experienced in living such lives. I test it by examining R. Tripp Evan’s 2010 book, ‘Grant Wood: a Life’.

It is Paul’s birthday tomorrow. Lest his card fails to reach him here are added contents.

Artworks ‘are coagulations of the time their creators spent making them. They offer us a particular quality of time’s passing, and ask for our time in response. But how much time? …’.[1] Truth-telling in spite of the academic conventions: a case study of how to do this in Joe Moshenska’s (2021) Making Darkness Light: The … More Artworks ‘are coagulations of the time their creators spent making them. They offer us a particular quality of time’s passing, and ask for our time in response. But how much time? …’. Truth-telling in spite of the academic conventions: a case study of how to do this in Joe Moshenska’s (2021) ‘Making Darkness Light: The Lives and Times of John Milton’

Watching Prince in Purple Rain – a blog. Paying a debt to a friend who introduced me to this artist. It simply amazes me that I have watched and enjoyed Purple Rain and even more so that I want to write about it. For this film is a long way from the status of an … More Watching Prince in ‘Purple Rain’ – a blog. Paying a debt to a friend who introduced me to this artist.

Watching Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland – a blog. It is quite usual I suppose when considering a film on mainstream cinema to make much of its cast, but despite the wonderful achievements of its professional actors – particularly Frances McDormand – in this case you feel you have to start with its non-professional cast. Modern-day nomadic … More Watching Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland – a blog.

Card text in jpegs. Full text typed below. As Christmases go, this takes the first prize Because at Blue Stone the hosts’ kindly eyes Look for each trick to increase our pleasure. Urgently careful, meticulously clever, Each guest feels themselves to be a true friend Soon after they enter until the end, That comes too … More Steve and Geoff wish A Happy Christmas to Blue Stone Cafe:

‘You … “as Virginia [Woolf] once told Stephen Spender, ”have to be broken by things before you can write about them”.  It was this, one suspects that T.S. Eliot meant when he told her “the young don’t take art or politics seriously enough”’.  Can reviews really help us to know the qualities that make a … More ‘You … “as Virginia [Woolf] once told Stephen Spender, ”have to be broken by things before you can write about them”.  Can reviews really help us to know the qualities that make a book readable and/or valuable: a case study using Will Loxley’s (2021) ‘Writing In The Dark: Bloomsbury, the Blitz and Horizon Magazine’

This blog is a postscript to an earlier one revisiting its errors in the light of Andrew McMillan’s new poem for Manchester Literary Festival. But it can be read without the earlier blog. @AMcMillanPoet Not long ago I quizzed some words in a short essay by Andrew McMillan, possibly my favourite poet. I did this, … More This blog is a postscript to an earlier one revisiting its errors in the light of Andrew McMillan’s new poem for Manchester Literary Festival. But it can be read without the earlier blog. @AMcMillanPoet

HITT Circuits once never did cause me pain, As from walking into gyms I’d abstain Passing their doors with over-hasty tread, Preferring instead to stay tuck’d in bed. Year on year till so large my body grew Covering wasting muscles with inches. Few Heartbeats were recorded, and no step-count Register’d. The only hill I’d mount … More HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Crook Community Leisure Centre (the gym)

Visiting Manchester – Highlights. Wednesday 8th to Saturday 11th December. It is enough to see a friend but to see him in a vibrant city full of light, however commercialised, good food and history was special. This blog won’t feature many pictures of Justin because he is notoriously camera-shy, but keen eyes might pick him … More Visiting Manchester