tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post791552977569340518..comments2023-07-22T15:44:42.859+01:00Comments on More about the song - rambling with Rachel Fox: Anything can happen...Rachel Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-83773111311706325902008-10-15T17:53:00.000+01:002008-10-15T17:53:00.000+01:00I've just heard your voice for the first time. I l...I've just heard your voice for the first time. I listened to a poem and a song (the one for Heather). You have a fine voice with a lovely timbre and I would buy your recording if you had one. You managed to tap into that sense of the unknown future - for someone you love, but also for us as a human race.<BR/><BR/>I read all the poems you mentioned and will need to read them again. I did really feel something for "She's not there" - we ARE the bits and pieces people, aren't we? I can't speak for everyone, but I certainly am.<BR/><BR/>KatKat Mortensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877694888419628533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-49457018324911963392008-10-15T17:30:00.000+01:002008-10-15T17:30:00.000+01:00Most of them are in the book, Kat, so you will hav...Most of them are in the book, Kat, so you will have them already.<BR/><BR/>I'm not surprised you're poorly. Tough times for you...in every sense. Thinking of you.<BR/>xRachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-80282155292641498632008-10-15T17:25:00.000+01:002008-10-15T17:25:00.000+01:00Hi Rachel,I'm feeling a bit crap at the moment wit...Hi Rachel,<BR/><BR/>I'm feeling a bit crap at the moment with a raging sore throat (I haven't had one of these since oh, high school).<BR/>I've extracted the poem titles from your post and will have a look. Sorry, I'm not up to much more just now.<BR/><BR/>KatKat Mortensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877694888419628533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-62787904031937419652008-10-14T15:26:00.000+01:002008-10-14T15:26:00.000+01:00international man of mystery? sounds good to me!international man of mystery? sounds good to me!swisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17924594772578153947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-77771456838149827462008-10-14T09:33:00.000+01:002008-10-14T09:33:00.000+01:00Hello W of GI'm not sure who artists create for......Hello W of G<BR/>I'm not sure who artists create for...it changes all the time, depends on the piece etc. As for art that's all about the artist (like Emin's) - I just think artists are very varied and that's how it should be...some use their own lives as subject matter, others do the complete opposite and others are at every other point in between. Emin is at one extreme...it is pretty much ALL about her life but that's just the kind of person and artist she is. I wouldn't want to see work by artists like her every week (me, me, me, shut up already!) but once in a while...it's interesting, thought-provoking, appealing. There was a lot of writing in the exhibition...hand-written sheets, framed and up on the wall...too much to read in the gallery I think...I certainly didn't read all of it in my time in there. I was reading the other week that her book is worth a look. I might get to that some time. Sounds like a can't sleep in a guest house kind of a read.<BR/><BR/>And as for rewriting...maybe leave your poem a few days to soak through then come back to it in a little while. In the meantime take some notes, chuck some words about, let your mind wander a bit...enjoy it!<BR/>xRachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-24622034671928981762008-10-14T09:10:00.000+01:002008-10-14T09:10:00.000+01:00Liked the trip round Edinburgh - you certainly did...Liked the trip round Edinburgh - you certainly did a lot in a short time! We have a good train service from here to Edinburgh - it is such a lovely city. They have some lovely Gauguin works in The Art Gallery.<BR/>Interesting your reaction to Tracy Emin. More or less the same as I feel about it. As to it being all about herself that does raise an interesting point - for whom do we create anything - is it an expression of ourselves or is it for someone else? I have been thinking about that with the poem I put on on National Poetry Day asking for help to make it a better poem. I agreed with the comments exactly and am now struggling to rewrite it (not easy) but I feel I must not move away from my actual dream (or would moving away be classed as poetic licence?) Must stop now, my brain hurts after all that thinking!The Weaver of Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-12934470036874578762008-10-13T16:43:00.000+01:002008-10-13T16:43:00.000+01:00So what name does Swiss write under? Or is he/are ...So what name does Swiss write under? Or is he/are you an international man of mystery?Rachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-31634065186602772952008-10-13T16:34:00.000+01:002008-10-13T16:34:00.000+01:00Glad you enjoyed that bit, Barbara. I very nearly...Glad you enjoyed that bit, Barbara. I very nearly didn't go to the exhibition...it's out of the centre and I was trying to cram as much into one afternoon's freedom as I could (you know this pattern I imagine!). But I'm really glad I did go...it's one thing to hear about someone and read about them but quite another to go and see their work for yourself. I really was surprised how much I enjoyed the whole selection and felt moved, amused, warmed, surprised. There were quite a lot of other pieces and subjects that I didn't mention too. There was a video of her talking to her Mum that was just fascinating (well, to someone like me...and I suspect...to someone like you too). It's very easy to say 'it's not art, it's not art'...there wasn't much painting for sure but art...certainly a lot to see, a lot to think about. I was surprised how often she used the word 'soul' too.Rachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-28660830865707073002008-10-13T15:15:00.000+01:002008-10-13T15:15:00.000+01:00don't be fooled by swiss's modesty, his poetry is ...don't be fooled by swiss's modesty, his poetry is really quite startling!Marion McCreadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04657757253873577465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-86522035774761033772008-10-13T13:58:00.000+01:002008-10-13T13:58:00.000+01:00I enjoyed your commentary on the Tracy Emin exhibi...I enjoyed your commentary on the Tracy Emin exhibition; I've wondered about her work for a long time, and I appreciate what you're saying about female artists covering up and hiding things: don't we all!<BR/><BR/>Sounds like you've had a really busy time; hope you're well rested and digested now -I expect you'll be incorporating some of these sights into your poetry!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-75292076135741774842008-10-13T13:44:00.000+01:002008-10-13T13:44:00.000+01:00My thin? Oh dear. I meant my thing. My book. You k...My thin? Oh dear. I meant my thing. My book. You know.Rachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-88256405702603435482008-10-13T13:39:00.000+01:002008-10-13T13:39:00.000+01:00I've only stopped in Perth once properly. Must go ...I've only stopped in Perth once properly. Must go again! It is one place in Scotland where I haven't looked for a book stockist for my thin too - any suggestions?Rachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-58881768958159321742008-10-13T13:34:00.000+01:002008-10-13T13:34:00.000+01:00liking that cello/banjo thing! haven't been to cod...liking that cello/banjo thing! haven't been to coda since the last time i spent unfeasibly amounts in it!<BR/><BR/>i'm in perth itself but am always out and about in wider perthshire somewhere<BR/><BR/>the poetry. the lounge page is all other people. the other page is just me. i've had more in the way of short stories published mainly, i think, because i'm better at it, but poetry suits the blog so there you are!swisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17924594772578153947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-32054241429977633102008-10-13T09:38:00.000+01:002008-10-13T09:38:00.000+01:00And Swiss...I bought the new CD by US band Crooked...And Swiss...I bought the new CD by US band Crooked Still in Coda. I never thought I'd listen to quite so much banjo in one lifetime! Their singer Aoife O'Donovan is one of my very favourite singers - her voice is...practically perfect in every way!<BR/><BR/>Where in Perthshire, roughly? It's a big place!Rachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-43834597928346693192008-10-13T08:31:00.000+01:002008-10-13T08:31:00.000+01:00Colin - I thought of you as I walked amongst the t...Colin - I thought of you as I walked amongst the trees. I thought... no wonder he's so calm and thoughtful (at least on the blog!) - it must be one of the best places to work in a city. I was surprised to see grey squirrels...it's still only reds here...you don't see them much but when you do they're red.<BR/><BR/>And Swiss...I will add that book to my list. I'm not very knowledgeable about trees but maybe I will be one day. I still know more about heavy metal and dance music remixes...a misspent youth and a misspent quite a bit after that!<BR/>I've looked at your page - do you write poetry? I couldn't quite work out whether any were yours or if they were all by other people? I love cycling too but am far too lazy to actually get on a bike much. I walk.<BR/><BR/>xRachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-59020688843059070242008-10-13T06:36:00.000+01:002008-10-13T06:36:00.000+01:00coda! forgot about thattrees you say? am reading c...coda! forgot about that<BR/><BR/>trees you say? am reading colin tudge's the secret life of trees (available stupidly cheap on amzon sellers) currently. i'd say it's a must for tree lovers. and full of stuff and cool words. some of the botanist (tho not as much as colin - go on!) might wrankle at some bits but still well worth it<BR/><BR/>if you're ever in perthshire give me and t a shout and we'll take you to see some lovely treesswisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17924594772578153947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-11549278803186896012008-10-13T00:11:00.000+01:002008-10-13T00:11:00.000+01:00I spent fifteen years working at The Botanics, fir...I spent fifteen years working at The Botanics, first as its Chief Librarian and then in senior management. Ended up running the whole organisation at one period, until the new boss could take up his post. So you could say I've very attached to the place. And yet I don't feel at home there any more. My friends have moved on since I retired, and so, in so many ways, have I. It's true what they say, "You can't go back."Colin Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15627539650929533832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-78108032209469211932008-10-12T13:38:00.000+01:002008-10-12T13:38:00.000+01:00I love visiting Edinburgh for lots of reasons. Fir...I love visiting Edinburgh for lots of reasons. Firstly because I'm English and all English people (and indeed most foreigners) love Edinburgh. Also it reminds me of Madrid...the mysterious old town with all the little wynds and staircases in the most unexpected places and the flashy, the so-straight-it's astounding new town, the art galleries, the neverending bars and cafes, the extremes between the hard-edged rough'n'ready areas and the fancy quarters that are so chock full of lawyers and architects and women talking on their mobiles about skiing holidays that you almost choke on your stuffed croissant. In fact this time there were a lot of Spanish speakers in the city too (working and touristing) and it was quite mild weatherwise so I could almost have been in Madrid at times...happy days.<BR/><BR/>xRachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-40968873176470292052008-10-12T13:03:00.000+01:002008-10-12T13:03:00.000+01:00Carrie was very taken by an old graveyard we visit...Carrie was very taken by an old graveyard we visited in Edinburgh the one and only time we've ever been there. It was the age of the graves, some of them older than America…the nation not the country. I like graveyards but I honestly don't think I've ever written a poem about them. Milligan and Murphy spend the night in a graveyard but that's it I'm afraid. <BR/><BR/>As for the Botanic Gardens I went there once when it was raining. All I can remember were the greenhouses: hot, hotter and you-have-got-to-be-joking hot.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-64282829919808483012008-10-11T11:17:00.000+01:002008-10-11T11:17:00.000+01:00Good, Colin, and thanks. Now everyone can go and r...Good, Colin, and thanks. Now everyone can go and read it. Off you go...<BR/><BR/>xRachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-24836286394231138072008-10-11T10:53:00.000+01:002008-10-11T10:53:00.000+01:00I've posted the poem on my blog, Rachel.ColinI've posted the poem on my blog, Rachel.<BR/>ColinColin Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15627539650929533832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-9566953599981097492008-10-11T10:02:00.000+01:002008-10-11T10:02:00.000+01:00My leaves are going into another poem as in pocket...My leaves are going into another poem as in pockets stuffed with leaves!Marion McCreadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04657757253873577465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-26755397950097929162008-10-11T09:38:00.000+01:002008-10-11T09:38:00.000+01:00Yes, Sorlil, and that wasn't all of it! We visited...Yes, Sorlil, and that wasn't all of it! We visited the Scottish Parliament, the SPL, lots of cafes (!), quite a few bookshops and charity shops and music shops (I love Coda - the folk CD shop) and the other two went into the Castle (while I had other jobs to attend to).<BR/><BR/>The graveyard was great - the wind and the leaves and it was one of those almost warm autumn days. It's a bit of a mess (but I don't mind mess) and there are some fabulous OTT graves and monuments. I have another graveyard poem called 'Monumental things' (under 'circle of life') which I've just remembered - it's a simple little thing but you might like it...a bit.<BR/><BR/>So what are your leaves doing?<BR/><BR/>xRachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-75871387931430903732008-10-11T09:29:00.000+01:002008-10-11T09:29:00.000+01:00Crikey, you sure packed a lot in, you'll be coming...Crikey, you sure packed a lot in, you'll be coming home for a rest then! <BR/>I've always wanted to go to the Greyfriars Bobby graveyard, had a vivid dream about it ten odd years ago and want to see if it fits my dream in one of those weird premonitiony kind of ways.Marion McCreadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04657757253873577465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564859019305736550.post-39842744723613701292008-10-11T09:08:00.000+01:002008-10-11T09:08:00.000+01:00Feeling better for some more sleep! I'm really gla...Feeling better for some more sleep! <BR/><BR/>I'm really glad you like the trees poem, Hope. If anyone else does and wants some copies of the postcard - let me know. I like to spread the tree love!<BR/><BR/>'Auchmithie road' I wrote as a present for a friend. A friend (not Verona) has put it to music and it makes a good song. He's a bit shy though, the friend in question.<BR/><BR/>xRachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.com