Do You Have Writers' Cramp?

In December my new short story 'Writers' Cramp' featured in Issue 5 of the Ironic Fantastic magazine, edited by my friend and fellow writer Paulo Brito, based in Portugal. In this story, dedicated to my friend Brian, there is a mystery to be solved in the writers' block when artist Little Miss Malaprop gets herself in a muddle and goes missing.

I took inspiration from all my many talented writer friends who have always encouraged me to develop my writing and poetry. Considering I write for fun, having this support from many established writer friends means a lot to me and it was only natural for me to write a short story about writers that I hope they will all find amusing.

From Europe to Australia,  there are an eclectic range of established and new international writers, illustrators and poets featured in this issue, so it is an honor for me to be published with them all and I was pleased to see some of my good friends featured too - it is a pleasure to be able to be part of something creative with all of them.

As some of you know, I am a big supporter of promoting local talent across the Arts and over recent years the freedom to self-publish on the web has opened many doors to independent writers, artists and publishers. Today many creatives can collaborate and share their exciting talent without being stifled by bureaucracy, or controlled by the giant corporate wheel.

Issue 5 of the Ironic Fantastic is free to download.  A taster of all the wonderful stories and poems featured by all the amazing international contributors can be seen in the contents table photo I have posted above. I hope you will all enjoy reading this magazine over the festive season.

I would like to end this post by wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas break and a sparkly new year - see you all for a cat's tongue wag in 2016!

Placebo Bring A Sense Of Belonging To London

"Would you write a review of Placebo for Frouctor, a new Arts Review magazine I recently launched in Athens?"

This was the question asked by the talented artist and good friend George (that's what I call him) from Greece, who also lives in London. Well how could I refuse this challenge given Placebo are one of my favourite bands that I have seen live many times both here in the UK and Europe over the last 20 years since they formed at Goldsmith's College.

The Placebo review is currently being translated into Greek and will feature in the third issue of Frouctor magazine, to be distributed across Athens in the next few weeks.  As I only speak English and Spanish, the translation of my Placebo review will be Greek to me, so I am letting my blog readers have a preview of the Placebo gig review I wrote in advance ... and in English. Enjoy!

Placebo Bring A Sense Of Belonging To London 

Twenty years was not on the play list when Placebo performed at the sold-out Hammersmith Apollo show in March. Formed in the summer of 1995 in London, Brian Molko's unique and piercing voice had not lost any of it's bite. But for those fans expecting a nostalgic crowd-pleasing trip through the six-piece band's seven-album back catalogue, they will have been disappointed. The play list leaned towards the future rather than the past, with the bulk of the set list focusing on the band's latest 2013 release 'Loud Like Love'.

A lively ecstatic crowd applauded as Placebo, dressed all in black, stepped out on stage as the P.A. pumped out the backing track of the spine-tingling remix of 'Pure Morning' vs Sigur Ros' 'Svefn-g-englar'. A sea of fists could be seen bobbing up and down in the air as Placebo kicked off the evening with their electro alt-rock track B3, followed by shaking up the crowd's senses with 'For What It's Worth'.

It was a brave move by Placebo to risk losing casual fans with a top heavy new material set list. Had the band taken the nostalgia approach and played more of the older songs from a decade ago, there was a risk that the newer material would have appeared more one dimensional and faded into the background. Although the edgy belter 'Scene Of The Crime' ignited a surge of emotion amongst the crowd on the night, the latest material would not have been edgy enough to compete against a set list filled with older, more established grunge and industrial electronic influenced songs that carry the trademark sound that is Placebo at their best. The gamble paid off.

Classics such as 'Every You Every Me', 'Special Needs', the drug-induced track 'Special K' and closing track 'The Bitter End' will never tire but there was no looking back for the group. Twenty years on Brian Molko's voice has not lost its unmistakable stretched tone and on the night was just as powerful as the band delivering the music. There was a feeling of belonging by Placebo's lost legion of forever faithful fans, with a sense of relief knowing that Placebo will always be their band.

'Begin the End' seemed appropriate to set the scene for the band's four-song encore but it was the long-standing cover of Kate Bush's 'Running up that Hill' that gripped the crowd with its explosive electronics and deceptive uneasy sharp tones that Molko brings to life and makes his own. The group close with 'Post Blue' and the 'Infra-Red' from Meds. With a theatrical bow Placebo exit after sharing the highs and lows of their vast career and delivering a glorious performance that is a reminder of the scope of their brilliance. Placebo are loud as love and have left a taste of what we can expect from this London-based band over the next twenty years.

My Father's Rosebud

My Father in 1944

Today marks the second anniversary of my father's passing.

After work I attended a Choral Evensong at London's historic Southwark Cathedral, near the River Thames and nestled opposite the City's oldest station, London Bridge. I was 43 when my dad departed and visiting this Gothic oasis of calm, was the perfect setting to celebrate my father today and light a candle to remember my time spent with this amazing man, who was the perfect gentleman, father and hero to all his grandchildren.

Perching myself on a seat at the back of the Cathedral I was captivated by the singing, which not only was angelic and enchanting but also brought a tear to my eye. I left before the end as the beauty of my Gothic surroundings began to make me reflect on my late father and overwhelmed me but in a good way. I was glad I decided to take my work colleagues suggestion and visit this hub of calmness to celebrate my father.

The poem I wrote last year, entitled simply, 'To My Father', celebrated the life of my father and was published in e-book series  The Ironic Fantastic # 2, which is free to download.

This year I have written a new poem, which focuses on my childhood memories of my father, called Rosebud, the name my dad called me as a little girl. I hope you enjoy it.

In memory of my father, Edward Douglas Duffin (9th June 1929 - 28th January 2013).

RIP My Beautiful Father xxx

Rosebud

Born on Van Diemen's Land, where Australian devils roam,

Watching African black rhinos play on the Serengeti plain,

Racing in an Indonesian becak to avoid the Monsoon,

Bathing Sigiriyan elephant orphans in Sri Lanka,

Kipper tie and back scratcher claws, 

Bugle horn and a countryside run,

Listening to Pendle witch stories,

Childhood memories,

Shared with my father.