Found in a Charity Shop

A box full of rocks. Educational, from Japan. Animal, Mineral or Vegetable? And for listeners at home it is a box full of rocks, a box full of rocks...

Found Object

It's a combined mirror and gorilla... a gorilla mirror.

FIRST PUBLIC READING IN A YEAR

I read a poem in public for the first time for over a year and I really enjoyed the experience! Reading in front of 70 people is a good feeling (to 7 million would be better!) The occasion was the Pastons' Country exhibition at the prestigeous Grapevine Gallery in Norwich. The artists, led by Annette Rolston, put in the hardest work, while we poets kind of followed (and I followed the poets!) My contribution to the project and exhibition was small but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Far more information can be found on InPrint's website.

Cyclist Calming, Norwich

Cyclists, taller than the rest of us, are forced to dismount in Norwich.

Traffic Calming, Norwich

Drastic road calming measures, Magdalen Street, Norwich

MILESTONES JAZZ CLUB, LOWESTOFT - APRIL

DYNAMIC AND EXCITING SAXOPHONIST TIM COLLINSON RETURNS TO MILESTONES JAZZ CLUB

The next concert at Milestones Jazz Club on Sunday 5 April features the return of a dynamic and exciting band from London - The Tim Collinson Quartet.

Tim Collinson is an imaginative and tenor/soprano saxophonist whose individual and punchy approach to jazz improvisation stands out from the crowd. Drawing on many strands of modern jazz and popular music, Tim’s original compositions of depth are mixed with a sprinkling of standards and unusual selections by Thelonious Monk, Freddie Hubbard and Mongo Santamaria.

The quartet features top London players who are by turns swinging, impressionistic and incisively funky without losing sight of engaging and entertaining an audience.

During the 8 years that the core of the band have been together they have built a polished and inventive delivery that incorporates ‘memorable melodies and explosive improvisations’ and have performed at jazz clubs and festivals around the country.

This concert is part of the quartet’s national tour to promote their CD ‘Magic Numbers’ and to premiere fresh material from an upcoming new release. The band’s full line-up features Tim Collinson (tenor / soprano sax), Gianni Boscarino (piano), Ben Bastin (double bass) and Lester Bennett (drums).

Listen to Tim Collinson’s music at http://www.collinson.eclipse.co.uk and http://www.myspace.com/timcollinsonquartet or visit the club website at http://www.milestonesjazzclub.co.uk/

All Milestones gigs are held on the first Sunday of every month and take place at Hotel Hatfield, Esplanade, Lowestoft with the doors opening at 8pm.Admission - £7 / £6 (concession).NB Milestones Jazz Club takes place in a basement room that requires the use of stairs.

If you have a disability please contact milestonesjazz@hotmail.co.uk or (01502) 568684 for more info and help in entering the building.If you need to reply to this message or any others from 'Milestones' then please contact mhtml:%7BFD28BD7E-B1F2-43F2-8151-2F010DA47218%7Dmid://00000011/!x-usc:mailto:milestonesjazz@hotmail.co.uk

Poem, Deconstructed

VOICING VISIONS EXHIBITION

Norwich 20's Voicing Visions Exhibition dates for your diary:-

St. Margaret's Church, St Benedict's Street, Norwich, Monday 11th May to Saturday 23rd May, 10am to 6pm.

A collaboration between artists in the group and local poets.

Restoration of the Frog Pond

The restoration of the Victorian pond, Old Catton Park, Norwich is going well. And the frogs haven't been disturbed at all. See photos on Flickr (righthand toolbar).

MONDAYS

7.36pm. Corrie is on the TV, it's raining. Another Monday evening in the city.

SUN OF CASH GIG

Sun Of Cash - has got a gig in Norwich at The Nelson pub on Nelson St, next Friday (27) at 8.30pm. Maybe I'll see you there...? http://www.myspace.com/sunofcash

FAITH

Faith is difficult; and writing about Faith is more difficult. I recently reviewed Martin Stannard's Faith here. Low and behold, a strange thing has happened: I think the poet is writing under a false name and one Martin Stannard, a journalist, has travelled to China to interview the real/original poet about FAITH (the book, the poet, hairs in awkward places.) Read all at Stride

POETRY / ART COLLABORATION

RAILWAY STATION 2 by Linda Chapman

Etching on plaster of Norwich Railway Station 2009

_____

DEPARTURE by Rupert Mallin

The mid-morning train to Sheringham is shivering, platform six. A dust of snow covers the fingers of platforms which edge out from the giant radiant shed of the station. It is the coldest day of the year. Two below. You are wearing mittens, scarf and beret. For the moment, for as long as it takes for a thought to be noted, the scene is beautiful. Look forward.

From the train you will see a hare haphazardly negotiating the snow and a gaggle of Canadian geese on the ice. You long for the spray of the North Norfolk coast on your face. Look up.

Your ticket is safe in your purse next to your discount card. Two absconding children rush by you for the train. You look down. In sixty-two steps you will be at the carriage door and clunk it behind you with intent. With luck, the toilet will be free and you can quietly lock yourself within.

From the train you will see a hare’s eyes bulge over in the snow and a lone Egyptian goose ugly on the ice. You long for the knife sharp spray in your face. In that first step all is exhilaration: a new departure, going home. Do not turn round.

The mid-morning train to Sheringham tentatively moves away. There’s a familiar knock-knock on the door.

_____

The 'Railway Station' is a collaboration between artist Linda Chapman and poet Rupert Mallin organised by the Norwich 20 Artists Group. Indeed, fifty artists and fifty poets have similarly collaborated for an exhibition at St. Margaret's Church, Norwich, in May and for the publication of a book, with an accompanying audio CD of the poets reading their work.

POETRY / ART COLLABORATION

RAILWAY STATION 1 by Linda Chapman

An etching on plaster of Norwich Railway Station 2009

_____

ARRIVAL by Rupert Mallin

Between reality and romance, the clock, looking down, looking out across the hall, telling time but timeless in the mind. Though brief for each of us, a lasting encounter, the train pulling into the station, the transit of crossing lives like insulated wires, electric, similar but not the same - the same ticking seconds, the same face in our lives.

How many I love you’s through these doors? How many bags of leaving? How much news digested here?

Step down from the train: the multifarious platoons march into the hall beneath the clock. Trains, buses, coaches, taxis, lifts, bicycles, friends, lovers, work, schools, colleges, hotels. hostels, mother, father, child, relations, clients, escorts all waiting for you in these seconds to the minute, in these minutes to the past.

BACK IN THE BIG FIELD

I’m back in the big field on the hill at Arminghall wondering about the toads in The Vinegar Pond on Mousehold Heath. The mist has lifted, there is no breeze and the Spring sun is radiant. Across the world stallholders are stood or sat at their stalls. I am sat on the bonnet of my twelve year old green car wondering about the children on the edge of a market in Gaza. A woman from Poland is flicking through T-shirts for her size, a label, a bargain. If the toads are to succeed it must be today. The sun is colouring my cheeks in but my pockets are empty. Please buy the red trousers or this girl with a puppy. She has big sentimental eyes from the Fifties. Or I could sell you an iconic charging elephant. I’m afraid the cross-stitch steam train has been sold. Huh, this isn’t a proper shop: my toys look forlorn and pathetic. Still, the children are at school chasing targets. I lick the last of vinegar from my lips. Time to pack away my empty pockets in the big field on the hill at Arminghall.

Smile, it's raining

EUROPE BLOG, EUROPE ART

THE DISPLACEMENT OF CHARACTER IN HISTORY

Utrechtse is a most interesting blog. A woman of/from Utrecht 'displaces' females from history in a new context. Actually, her reproduction of historic women in the present, on the roll-over that is blogging, gives her selected women a vibrance that cuts across the post-modern reworkings of 'past' images which pass into the ashtray of advertising. Advertising measures women's failure in terms of image more now than when John Berger wrote his brilliant 'Ways Of Seeing' at the beginning of the 1980s (wither Thatcher, bring on total female exploitation via Big Brother et al).

Utretchtste is configuring/reconfiguring a means to place Woman rather than exploited Girl back on the agenda. How many Hollywood women play their female roles as 'girls'? Via Utrechtse you will find links to other sites, among these Femme, Femme, Femme is an interesting adult blog which exploits the contradictions of past and present and finds us intrigued.

The point of blogging is global communication and Utrechtse is an international blogger.

ART FACTORY STUDIOS WEBSITE

Art Factory Studios, Norwich, now has its own website designed by artist Hazel Burgess. The website is to publicise and showcase factory artists in the run up to their Norfolk Open Studios and Exhibition in May.

The website is in its infancy so please keep returning to it in the run up to May's events!

Buyer's Market

The Costessey Park & Ride Car Boot was packed this morning with both sellers and buyers. Though trade was slow, from a seller's point of view, buyers could virtually pick and choose their price as they ambled around the scores of stalls in Spring sunshine. I bought an old Dryad guillotine in good working order for £4.50 - as I slowly, and with just pennies in my pocket, assemble my press.

Arminghall Car Boots start up this week!

Ice House, Long Stratton

This superb brick building is an Ice House dating from the early 19th Century. It was then covered in earth, to create and maintain low temperatures, and serviced a Manor House which has long been demolished. I do hope this strange and now dysfunctional building can be restored and preserved.

This is The Mere at Diss

This is The Mere at Diss, Norfolk. The Singing Postman made the town famous with his "Little Miss From Diss" but this piece of water is its signature. The town is built around the Mere, a 6 acre lake, which is nearly 30 metres deep - six metres of water and 23 metres of mud! Once upon a time eels thrived in the lake and cold winters found men playing cricket on the ice.

I think this second photo captures its hidden depths.

The Mere

PASTON COUNTRY EXHIBITION OPENING

Grapevine Contemporary Arts
109 Unthank Road, Norwich NR2 2PE

01603 760660

www.grapevinegallery.co.uk
29 March-18 April 2009

Peter and Alison Low invite you and your guests to the opening of

THE PASTON'S COUNTRY

Sunday 29th March 12 noon-3pm

An exhibition of art and poetry including a copy of the hand-made book, medieval re-enacters demonstrating calligraphy and papermaking

and a poetry reading at 2pm

Details of Paston Letters Collection

In the City today

Phew. No Red Nosers so far. I was in the city this morning, the sun out and the Spring air warm. I've joined up to use Norwich Arts Centre's Dark Room and Media Lab facility. An excellent induction session showing me around the dark room and the media lab. Now I have the means to achieve some of my goals. Follow my progress here.

VISTA OF HELL!

FRIDAY THIRTEENTH!

Heavens, it's Friday the Thirteenth. My nose is dripping and I've just broken my watch. Worse: it's not only Friday the Thirteenth, it's Red Nose Day (Do Something Funny For Money). Well, I've got my own red nose but I'm not feeling too humorous. I've got to go out shortly, into the city. Will I be the only one not wearing pyjamas? Better fill my pockets with shrapnel (pennies) so I don't seem like Scrooge as I encounter the false gaiety of pie throwers and bed pushers. I understand Julie The Weather Girl is leading an orchestra of whoopie cushions in Chapelfield Shopping Centre. Still, if she can keep the sun shining I might forgive her.

Classic Photo Developing Manual

I picked up this classic photography manual in another charity shop. It was first published in 1939 and this is the 22nd (revised) reprint of 1975. A lot of people are returning to hands on photograhic developing in this digital age. I'm hoping to produce photos from a range of negatives going back to the 1940s.

Making It

I think you must feel you've kind of 'made it' if your book finds its way into a charity shop. I would. I found John Row's excellent book The Pong Machine in Oxfam. Out loud poems for children, published a decade ago.

Goodness, I've known John - poet and storyteller - since 1976!

And here's the man

A wonderful book

Here's a wonderful book about weeds I purchased for a few pence in Anglia Square, Norwich. Written in the 1930s (this is a first edition hardback with its wrapper in good nick), it is beautifully written by Audrey Wynne Hatfield. She even makes fertiliser poetic.

Pure Poetry

Here is just a snippet from her book.

Passing By

We passed each other on the pavement leading away from Long John Hill. I understand the frogs are facing spawning problems in The Vinegar Pond on Mousehold Heath. A weed is turning the pond acid.

POETRY COLLABORATION

In response to Linda Chapman's excellent drawings of Norwich Railway Station as part of the Norwich 20 Group project and exhibition, I'm writing a number of short prose pieces to accompany her work. They're still "in progress." I'm trying to avoid illustrating or explaining Linda's work. Rather our intention is that through their shared subject matter connections are made between the two...

TRAIN TO SHERINGHAM

The mid-morning train to Sheringham is shivering, platform six. A dust of snow covers the fingers of platforms which edge out from the giant radiant shed of the station. It is the coldest day of the year. Two below. You are wearing mittens, scarf and beret. For the moment, for as long as it takes a thought to be noted, the scene is beautiful. Look forward.

From the train you will see a hare haphazardly negotiating the snow and a gaggle of Canadian geese on the ice. You long for the spray of the North Norfolk coast on your face. Look up.

Your ticket is safe in your purse next to your discount card. Two absconding children rush by you for the train. You look down. In sixty-two steps you will be at the carriage door and clunk it behind you with intent. With luck, the toilet will be free and you can quietly lock yourself within.

From the train you will see a hare’s eyes bulge over in the snow and a lone Egyptian goose ugly on the ice. You long for the knife sharp spray in your face. In that first step all is exhilaration: a new departure, going home. Do not turn round.

The mid-morning train to Sheringham tentatively moves away. There’s a familiar knock-knock on the door.

Cold Cure

I've been coming down with a bug all week and alongside Vit C, pills and powders I tried walking to clear my head. An area of Norwich I don't know is Old Lakenham. Parts of this Southern enclave are quite picture postcard but this notice at the entrance of the church on the hill (Baptist) not only caught my attention but momentarily cleared my head as I calculated the cost if my runny nose got a whole lot worse (kill or cure and all that). Cold, what cold?

One To Catch

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the great publisher and beat poet, celebrates his 90th Birthday. Catch 'The Reluctant Beat' on BBC Radio 4, this Sunday (March 15) at 4.30pm.

Who Entraps Who?

QUIZ RESULT!

Bill and Utrechtse have won the competition! It is indeed astro or artificial turf. The black pieces of rubber both make the surface more 'springy' and help with grip....

It so happens that I have two Rupert Bear mini cars for my prize winners, who can send their addresses to rupertmallin@gmail.com and a prize will be sent first class!

Car Boot News

Arminghall Car Boot, Norwich, begins on Wednesday March 18th.

Sun on the water

Sun on the water, Beccles, by Shirley Tolliday

Rural Bus Shelter

I attended a meeting at Halesworth Gallery, Suffolk, this Saturday and happened upon this rural bus shelter. Yes, I know it's part of a youth recreation area but reminds me of working in the youth service in Suffolk and Norfolk. The kids of Cobholm, Great Yarmouth, were given their own lorry container and we'd visit them - to check all was well. It was but eventually their bolt-hole caught fire. Perhaps it was from this time that youth 'bus' shelters went up all over the place. They're ok but not as good as a container, a barn, a shed or even a youth club!

Catch this at The Grapevine, Norwich

Catch this interesting exhibition at The Grapevine Gallery, Unthank Road, Norwich, until March 25th.

QUIZ: What is this?

Do you know what this is? There's a prize for the first person to tell me and get it right. A Rupert Bear Micro Car - complete with driver!

Health and Happiness

I'm in my ninth week as a non-smoker - and am now a weekend drinker (two glasses of wine while watching TV). I'm also on a diet. Though through doctor's orders, I'm just beginning to see the benefits. Without NHS support I couldn't have given up the fags - not just the patches and gum but the counselling and lung 'testing' too. I'm as clear as a non-smoker now and have found out, after all these years, I can run.

With Non-Smoking Day beckoning I won't become the reformed nagger. However, sleep with the nicotine patch on and you'll have amazing dreams!

Black and White

I've been taking a lot of B & W photos with my old Minolta SLR. Here's one of Old Catton Park, Norwich, early one morning last month. With a subscription, and after an induction, I shall be using Norwich Art Centre's B & W darkroom to develop my prints and some from the family archive.

A few more of these photos can be found on my Pleasurance Flickr stream opposite.