My Blog

Falafels, some frogs and a ferret preview
The title of Simone's new memoir to be published soon by Cambria publishing. Here is a sneak preview of part of the cover....

Notions of Hiraeth
You are cordially invited to an evening ofpoetry and writing related to the Welsh word Hiraethat The Seagull on Wednesday 12 April6pm to 7.30pm. Simone will be reading her poem specially commissioned for the event; ‘For him there was no longing’

‘A cwtch in Kyrenia’ book launch
Book Launch of Simone's new slim volume of observational, narrative poems, based on a lost-and-found notebook, a journal of a trip to Kyrenia, re-discovered late in 2022.’ Sunday 2nd April 2:30-4:00 pm at the Pole Barn, Ceridwen Centre

Brickbats and bouquets
The life of a would-be writer is full of ups and downs. More downs than ups, to be honest; more disappointments than successes. But I am restored, re-affirmed and renewed by every positive response. A couple of days ago, a very good friend from over the bridge shared...

Poemathon in Penboyr
Refrains for the Ukraine. On Friday 10th February, from 6p.m., I’ll be holding a fundraising poetry event in the roundhouse at the home and premises of Veganishmum in Penboyr, nr. Drefach-Felindre, Carmarthenshire. Jayne Holland, (Veganishmum), is running a...

Applause and appeal
This isn’t directly about my writing. Many of us are overwhelmed in the face of huge global problems. It’s easier to despair than to do something. There are some folk who just get in there, start somewhere and try to make a bad situation better. Two of these folk are...

Hares
I have a hare on the sitting room wall. It’s painted by Cerys – that’s Cerys Susannah Rees, who’s an amazingly talented artist and who lives in Carmarthenshire, like me, but at the other end of it, near Llandeilo. Happy happenstance drew me to her nearly two years ago...

Thanqs for ‘22
Thanks are due to:- Mike Jenkins, editor of Gwyrthryfel/ Uprising, an anthology of radical poetry from contemporary Wales, published by Culture Matters. My poem – ‘To my Suffragette’ – was included in this: Howard and Marilyn Timms of the Wildfire Words ezine team for...