No one is watching

‘Happy new year,’ says the book. ’And to you, too,’ I say. ’You all right?’ says the book. ’Fine,’ I … More

Reasons why I am happy to be in the city at the end of December

(After Andy Brown) Because my children are briefly sleeping under the same roof Becuase Col and Lucy and M and … More

‘Good Christmas?’ I say. ’Fairytale,’ the book says. ‘Grimm.’ ’Are you here all week?’ ’Unlike some of us.’ ’It was … More

‘So I was thinking,’ the book says. ‘Going anywhere nice for Christmas?’ ’Do you want a lift somewhere?’ I say. … More

Here are my most frequently-read blog posts of 2018, according to my WordPress stats. First, from the Lifesaving Poems … More

‘What have you learned, do you think?’ the book says. ‘Do you mind, I’m trying to have a bath!’ ‘Now … More

I am delighted to be publishing Deck Shoes, a book of enthusiasms, influences and memoir, with Impress Books, next year. … More

After what feels like a very long wait since the publication of Riddance in 2012, I am delighted to be publishing … More

‘Do you mind if I ask you a question?’ the book says. ‘Why are you wearing my slippers?’ I say. … More

‘You don’t sound very ambitious,’ the book says. ‘And good morning to you, too!’ I say. ‘I mean,’ the book … More

‘What do you want?’ says the book. ‘Who’s asking?’ I say. ‘Me,’ says the book. ‘I am asking.’ ‘What do … More

I am lying on the bed staring at the ceiling, detoxing from the day, as I do. ‘You all right?’ … More

I have been writing recently about going deeper, not wider. Listening to music I already possess, reading the books already … More

As I was saying the book that I bought and then did not read and which caught my eye recently is Now … More

The book is looking at me from across the room. It is dressed smartly, but not to impress. It looks … More

Remember when you got the news of the accident- or the illness- in the life of someone more laced into … More

Below Zero We are at a party that doesn’t love us. At last the party lets its mask drop and … More

We are in Richard and Andi’s kitchen in their minuscule flat on the Wandsworth Road in the early nineties. Richard … More