The blanket

Though you may disappear, you’re not forgotten hereAnd I will say to you, I will do what I can do … More

A day he won’t have

I had bumped into a friend at the cash machine. We greeted each other, as we always do, with a … More

Dear Arthur Frank I’m writing to say thank you for your extraordinary book At the Will of the Body. It is … More

Smith Objectionable, mercurial, fierce, wise, bandaged, solitary and irresistible, Phil Smith and I were not close. Only in our … More

Breathing Space July The man who lies on his back under huge trees is also up in them. He … More

The only real difference between people is not health or illness but the way each holds onto a sense of … More

‘Do you miss it?’ the book says. ‘Miss what?’ I say. ‘Having cancer,’ the book says. ‘Is this a joke?’ … More

Jack Palance: Do you know what the secret of life is? Billy Crystal: No, what? Jack Palance: This [he … More

On certain afternoons I am certain it has come back. A twinge in my right side, where the pain … More

We walked into the brunt light, towards the hospital. The air was dry, February-cold. Traffic was going about its business. … More

The thing about having cancer was that it was pretty obvious what was going on. I had been feeling fairly … More

I am still not sure why, but in the middle of December I decided to take up running again. When … More

I had bumped into a friend at the cash machine. We greeted each other, as we always do, with a … More

I am deeply grateful to Dave Russell of Survivors’ Poetry for his review of Lifesaving Poems in the current edition of Poetry … More

Don’t Think About A White Horse Coming closer, he turns out to be you – or nearly. Once you … More

after and with apologies to Mark Halliday The missing blog post has gone AWOL. Never sure of its place in … More

because of the words and because of the books because of the woman in the anorak at the swimming baths … More

Though you may disappear, you’re not forgotten here And I will say to you, I will do what I can … More