A Boudica in black

That she was magnificent and majestic was not really a surprise. What perhaps was unexpected was the steampunk vibe that was emanating from the stage; blink and for all the world it was like a young Queen Victoria was leading a motley bunch of carnival hucksters through a series of decorous waltzes at a village church hall. But then you blinked again, and there was the spirit of England, a Boudica in black, singing of white chalk, and making the Albert Hall shake.

Commercial: Of Chelsea FC

This was spotting at Kings Cross yesterday.

Bit out of the way for an advert for Chelsea FC, you might think. I mean, it's not going to convince any Gooners on the way back from Emirates to change their minds, is it?

And then the copy. And specifically, the 'prawn sandwiches'.

This, in most football's fans, is not a good reference. Here's what Roy Keane had to say on the matter:

"Sometimes you wonder, do they understand the game of football?" he splutters. "We're 1-0 up, then there are one or two stray passes and they're getting on players' backs. It's just not on. At the end of the day they need to get behind the team. Away from home our fans are fantastic, I'd call them the hardcore fans. But at home they have a few drinks and probably the prawn sandwiches, and they don't realise what's going on out on the pitch. I don't think some of the people who come to Old Trafford can spell 'football', never mind understand it."

So, if I understand this correctly, Chelsea are actively recruiting those fans who aren't that bothered about the game?

Would it be too mean to say, that sounds about right for them?

Commercial: Will Aid

Before you get drowned in Movember requests, which you will, indisputably, I thought I'd draw your attention to an equally worthy cause that's likely to get overlooked next month: Will Aid.

What's that you say? You don't need a will? Why's that? Have you cracked ever-lasting living? Are you immortal?

Then you need a will.

And if you get one drawn up next month, not only can you get it done professionally, it'll cost you just your donation.

Easy as.

You can find your nearest participating solicitor on the website, or get in touch with my friend Nick Hall, who explains more about the scheme here, and will happily draw something up for you. And why not badger any of your lawyer friends to take part too?

Poetry: Poet's Path

Just a quick note to say that I'll shall be around on Sunday morning, helping out somewhere along the Poet's Path, part of the Bloomsbury Festival. Along the path you'll find a canopy featuring words, trees and your chance to write your own poem. What more do you need?

Poetry: Untitled by Laurel Nakadate

Untitled from laurel nakadate on Vimeo.

Discovered yesterday, and not by the channels you might have thought.

Laurel Nakadate's film is based around porn actresses reading the poems of Dora Malech. I was trepidatious to say the least; but actually it's brilliant - the energy and vitality of the words offset by the bathos of the readings.

HT: HTMLGiant

Oh, and Happy National Poetry Day!

Commercial: To Fly. To Advertise

Aye, late to the party on this one, and perhaps it's the influence of having recently read Hegarty's book, but I have to say I really like BA's new stuff.

Big, bold, confident, heart-warming, and saying that there are somethings that price alone just can't get you. it's right for the brand, and right for the market too, I'd add: not everyone can win by commoditising themselves, if you see what I mean...

Commercial: My Earliest Memory

A lovely little project, being curated by PurpleSime: can you *actually* remember what your earliest memory is? And then distill it into 150 words or less?

It's trickier than you think. There's some lovely haiku-like memories already, as well as some more worrying things involving crocodiles.

Go on, throw your synapses into the ring.

Poetry: Syllabic Poetry

Poet Mark Antony Owen has had the genius idea of launching a site dedicated to syllabic poetry.

It's called Syllabic Poetry.

He's done me the honour of publishing something of mine; a wee little tribute to Dutch football.

Enjoy, and why not also submit your own syllabic creations?

Listorama: Facebook status updates vol 21

BetaRish (is)...

That was you told

has cracked, wants caffeine

The push

is thinking in telegrams

How about this heat?

is crazy like SJ Perelman

Waiting for The Greater Gatsby

still remembers all his childhood boasts

is full of fanfaronade

is donning a tin hat

is in a recursive loop

would like his own impresa

is a diminished seventh, minor fifth

might be; or might not be

knows New Jersey is the whole world

Saturn is a friend of mine

is [insert grade]*

is giving what he can, and taking what he needs

Hello office, my old friend

is waiting for history

I am with you always, even until the end

is waking up and settling down

has got the battle fever on today

is jiggered, by jigger

Oh go on then

Waiting for the feather duster to arrive

To the sea

Already it is slipping away from me

is Baron Tricchetracche

So that Mephistopheles popped round for a chat last night

is grey like a candy apple

To Italia!

is the New Normal

is advocating piracy as the way forward

Copy Agonistes

is more cake than man

is in the present tense

is losing at the zen arcade

Finest worksong

has no idea whether you’ll see this in your news feed any more

is juggling voices

is having a thrash about

is installing Self Portrait Postcards today

is all nerves ahoy!

Self Portrait Postcards is ready to go

is better than the White Cube

is spending hot days reading about cold wars

would rather be bunking off today



... and yes, Self Portrait Postcards continues at the Her House Gallery in Hoxton, today, tomorrow and Thursday. Come and take a piece of me.

Commercial: On Facebook time

By Geoff (with a bit of me). Worth a read.

Poetry: It's National Poetry Day on Thursday...

...and a heap-load of stuff going on, to use the technical term, will be going on at the Southbank Centre, as well as right round the country.

The theme of the day this year is 'Games', and in Katy Evans-Bush's words, "the event will be like a sort of giant poetry fête: there will be poetry quizzes, poetry bingo, poetry cupcakes, a drop-in poetry surgery, and even poetry cupcakes! And Julia Bird will be running a Poembola!"

Seriously, go here and here, for just a mere bagatelle of all that you can look forward too. Hashtag will be #NPDLive