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Making, moving, cleaning, reading, studying, growing … life while social distancing

by Robin Houghton on March 16, 2020

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Funny how quickly our vocabulary grows around novel situations. A few weeks ago I’m not sure I was familiar with the terms social distancing, self-isolation or elbow bump. Now –…

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Recent reading

by Robin Houghton on November 18, 2019

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I’ve got into a rhythm of reading a Canto of Dante’s Purgatory each night before falling asleep, sometimes I get through the chapter commentary & notes too, sometimes not. If…

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Blog Courses Inspiration Places Retreats Writing

Notes on a poetry residential at Garsdale

by Robin Houghton on June 21, 2018

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I’m back from an inspirational week at the Garsdale Retreat, on a poetry residential course that deserved to be full but wasn’t – if you’ve ever done an Arvon week…

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A forthcoming retreat | writing vs bathroom | Swindon Festival

by Robin Houghton on June 5, 2018

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Retreating Next week I’m off to the Garsdale Retreat for a week tutored by Ian Duhig and guest reader Hannah Lowe. I’m excited by the prospect of a week just…

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From Picasso to Garsdale: news roundup

by Robin Houghton on May 14, 2018

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Taking a leaf out of Peter Kenny’s book, here are seven items from the imaginary newsdesk at Kenny Houghton Towers (sorry Peter – but as Picasso said – possibly – ‘Good artists…

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Blog Courses Publishing Readings Retreats

Readings, and a Garsdale (re)treat booked

by Robin Houghton on March 25, 2018

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Well the submissions list was popular… I hope you managed to get some poems out before some of the deadlines. I’ve got a few things out now. Although sorry to…

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Angst Blog Courses Performing Readings

Tackling poetry readings – angst & a few ideas

by Robin Houghton on September 12, 2017

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September always feels like a new start, and as I’m gearing up to a pamphlet launch in early 2018 I’m trying to get some readings set up. I’ve queried some…

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Ty Newydd and the ‘retired hobbyists’ – a few thoughts

by Robin Houghton on July 23, 2017

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Members of the poetry world are aghast at a recently published ‘Independent Review of Support for Publishing and Literature in Wales’. It’s a long document (over 200 pages) but there’s…

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Blog Courses Events Inspiration Workshopping

Both sides now

by Robin Houghton on February 13, 2017

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A smooth drive to London yesterday for Anne-Marie Fyfe’s newest workshop, on the theme of clouds.  As in ‘I wandered lonely as…’, or ‘from both sides now..’ And yes, Joni…

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Blog Courses Workshopping

Coffee-House poetry workshops with Anne-Marie Fyfe

by Robin Houghton on May 23, 2016

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Last weekend I was at the Troubadour in London on a Sunday afternoon for one of Anne-Marie Fyfe’s themed writing workshops. It was intense without feeling like hard work –…

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