Monday 17 August 2009

Plus One

My second bit of news is that I'm putting on a poetry event in Montrose this year for National Poetry Day. It will be the day after NPD in fact (hence the name - "National Poetry Day - Plus One") on Friday 9th October at the Links Hotel, Montrose. Star poets will be (him again) the marvellous Hugh McMillan from Penpont, Dumfriesshire alongside the very popular local Montrose poet Raymond Vettese. There will also be a song or two from Aberdeen-based Grace Banks, Montrose's Charlie Williamson and Monifieth's Pauline Hynd. I will introduce/compere/host but not read a poetry set as such (I found when I organised an event in Edinburgh in November last year that either organising or reading was preferable to trying to do both...). Anyway this great event is the first National Poetry Day event that I've heard of in Montrose since I moved here five years ago and I'm hoping a good audience will turn out for it. Tickets are very reasonable (£3 from Henry Hogg's in Montrose or by emailing me at usual address) but the bar prices at the Links will make up for that (they're fairly...er, ambitious). Still, all in all it's a great venue with lots of room and full disabled access and facilities. Doors on the night will open at 7.30pm with mikes switched on at 8 or thereabouts. I know a lot of you live too far to make it but spread the word if you can. I need to get my arse in gear and sort out tickets and posters and all that now the bairn is back to school. I will do it...this week!

More soon.

x

p.s. There is now a separate page for poetry events like this. It's here.

19 comments:

Titus said...

The very best of British (Scottish?) luck for the promotion of what will be a fabulous evening. Quite sure you're right about not mixing compere and poet roles. When I was in London bar prices quite ambitious too, one G and T = £6.50. I don't think it was even Gordons.

Rachel Fox said...

Time to go back to taking spirits in the handbag perhaps...

You expect high prices in London though I suppose. I drink so little now that I don't think of it much. May have to take out a loan for Shug's rider though I fear.
Or get it from Lidl.

x

Titus said...

Lidl. I don't think he's that fussy.

Unknown said...

Oh good for you, Rachel, that's brilliant news. I hope you're going to get a great crowd. October is a lovely time to do it as well, the evenings have drawn in but the weather hasn't closed in (just yet).

You've reminded me about the National Poetry Day thing we had last year in Ireland, I must find out what's the score here too :)

The Weaver of Grass said...

Too far to come Rachel - but will think about you. Are you still coming down this way - if so do please get in touch so that we can meet somewhere for a meal or a drink and a chat.

Rachel Fox said...

Hi Barbara. Thanks for the good wishes.

And Weaver...yes our trip south is the week after Poetry Day. We will be coming!

x

Totalfeckineejit said...

Well done, that's great great, Rachel.I hope it goes really well and you get a big appreciative crowd.The most expensive drink I ever bought(and it was for someone else so it really hurt) was in Scotland at a wedding,£14 for a champagne and orange juice.I was gutted ,I only had 20 quid for the night.

Rachel Fox said...

Yes, the free-bar weddings are always the best on that score!
x

Marion McCready said...

What a great idea, good on you for organising it!

Niamh B said...

Sounds hectic, should be a brilliant event, and no one getting too drunk to appreciate the poetry with the pricey bar.
Hope it all goes brilliantly.

Rachel Fox said...

Yes, just got to promote it now.
x

hope said...

You'll do wonderfully! And please put your Beloved in charge of YouTube again for those of us who are travel challenged. {Sounds better than too poor to make the trip}. ;)

Eryl said...

Crikey, I'm impressed, I barely manage to organise supper these days. I hope it all goes swimmingly for you, sure it will it sounds great!

Rachel Fox said...

Well the one in Edinburgh last year went very well and that was organised long-distance so I'm hoping this one (nearer to home) will be easier. Famous last words...

No plans for video this time, Hope. Though I do have some other video plans...when I get round to them...

x

Rachel Fenton said...

Sweet as ...as they say in NZ..all sounds great...have a fab time and best of luck!

Rachel Fox said...

Thanks Rachel.

Eagle-eyed readers will notice that I have added another singer to the bill today - the brilliant Grace Banks from up Aberdeen way. I performed alongside Grace back in June last year (report of that here). Now it will be perfect!

x

Caroline Gill said...

Wish we were within range for THE event, Rachel.

P.S. Thank you for visiting my Coastcard blog. A flowerpot race is when you have two upturned terracotta flowerpots. You have one leg on each, you take the right foot off the right flowerpot (keeping leg in air as it must not touch the ground), move the pot forward, replace your foot, then remove left foot form its pot, move pot forward, replace foot, take right foot off again... and so on until you beat your competitors and reach the finishing line. It is a slow tortoise-style race of balance - good fun, but not very elegant!

We had this race in school sports in Kent every year up to the ago of 11 or 12 ... in the 60s/early 70s when everyone had terracotta flowerpots of all sizes knocking about in their gardens/sheds. These days you would have a job to find enough for a whole school, I guess.

The race was not high profile - if sack race, three-legged race and egg-&-spoon were seen as inferior to the 400 yards and relay, then the flowerpot race was seen as inferior to them!

It was all good fun...

Caroline Gill said...

Sorry, for 'form' read 'from'...

Rachel Fox said...

Thanks Coastcard. If people did that race now the pots would be plastic and would crack and collapse!
x