Red Cross - pictures from the missing exhibition September 2012

These pictures was taken by Nick Armbister and focused on a exhibition by the Red Cross in Ardwick, Manchester focusing on missing people.

One of my pieces, 'the missing boy' about my friend Alex Humphrey was featured here.

Thanks to Nick for letting me republish these here. It is a topic very close to my heart. I am only saddened I was unable to attend.

the end of summer (next full length poetry book) photo shoot 1 for cover

Latest news and views - 14th August 2012

Dear all;

Hey all. Hope you are all enjoying the end of Summer where-ever you are.

In my case, it’s been fairly busy as I am currently out of work again but it’s

Not stopped me working on my poetry etc (although I ain’t making any money

Out of it which is part of the course I guess – lol).

Firstly, the emagazine ‘Welcome to Where-ever’ has just published three of my poems ‘Memorial Room’, ‘Pack of Cards’ and one of my favourites ‘The Ghost of Liverpool Empire’

This can be read here… http://welcometowherever.wordpress.com/poets-of-wherever/andy-n/

Secondly, I’ve also got hold of my hard copy of ‘Robin Hood’, the excellent Political verses book which features two of my poem ‘Edge of the Flames 1’ and ‘Edge of the Flames 2’ which I am delighted to be featured in and highly recommend it as there is hundreds of excellent poems in and it also features some excellent articles in it.

More details can be read here - http://www.therecusant.org.uk/#/the-robin-hood-book/4563100507

Next up, one of my poems from my debut book ‘Return to Kemptown’ has just been confirmed as appearing in the forthcoming ‘Red Cross’ exhibition on missing people called ‘The Vanished’.

This poem in question featured here ‘The Missing Boy’ is about a friend of mine, Alex Humphrey who sadly went missing abroad in August 2009. (More details here - http://onewriterandhispc.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/my-story-about-alex-humphrey.html)

This will be a excellent exhibition and something I am looking forward to attending – more details here - http://www.gmcvo.org.uk/international-day-disappeared-2012-community-arts-exhibition

The lovely Winston Plowes has also agreed for two of my poems ‘The Other Side’ and ‘Stealing Inspiration’ to be featured as part of his Towpath Trial (more details here - http://www.myrochdalecanal.org.uk/things-to-do/festivals-events/2012-canal-festival/) project and these two poems will be featured at Dock 81 and 89 between 18^th and 26^th August 2012.

Two of my poems also ‘Furthest touch’ and ‘Drums of their flick knives’ have literally just been accepted by Silhoutte Press for part of a forthcoming collection ‘The English Riots’ which I am looking forward to and think is out in September. More details can be found here - http://silhouettepress.co.uk/

Gigs wise, since I last wrote – it’s been a busy few months as can be seen on my gigs page on my website - http://www.andyn.org.uk/index.php?p=1_14

On the 15^th and 16^th June 2012 – Me, Jeff and Petrova from A Means to an End

All did two short sets which were not easy sets by any stretch of thought for Cadence Festival but great fun to do. (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgKwyhIK-d0 for more details who played alas sadly not us recorded – boo – lol)

I also did led Poets, an occasional (every few months I believe) ran in Chorlton by Sarah L Dixon which was boiling hot but I delivered a five poem set which I was delighted with as it allowed me to do stuff wrote about areas near Chorlton where I have grown up.

I have also headlined Write Out Loud’s Middleton ran by the lovely Katie Haigh by which I was cooking on gas properly and delivered a balanced set which I was pleased with and was made to feel really welcome at.

A few recorded highlights of the night were:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io5FU0yjtMs

(Conversation on the train)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLlg1UoWVTw

(Escape)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsfyr04-kS8

(Eclipse)

and is recommended to attend if you are ever available.

Since then, me and Jeff from a Means to an End did some mcing on a new night called ‘Laugh Out Loud’ which went fairly well even though the room was somewhat too dark for my liking and caused a few hiccups with the material.

However, we did some good pieces for them – two of which can be seen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3Le6zeyHRk

(The Ghost of Liverpool Empire)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p2WCOsaQYw

(Fun, Fun, Fun with Rob Goodier and Gordon Zola)

I’ve also done little bits at both Guitar and Verse in Manchester and Write Out Loud, Stockport and from which this poem was read at both:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wujgdsbJxa0

(Blackout).

More news to follow folks as plenty of other things on the go.

Speak Soon

Andy N 

Stealing inspiration (New Poem)

Sometimes I dream
Of the foghorn near the docks
Whistling like a forgotten friend
In your letterbox
Walking home from work
After I had left for the last time.

Remember the ringing of the last tram,
Which freezes in the air
Like a photograph
Before breathing too quickly
Ain’t you glad you walked away. 

Sometimes I dream of
The chime of the clock
Near the BBC
Weeping under spires
And underneath dock boats,

Dreaming of my heart
Tied up in chains
Before I unpicked the lock
And walked away without regret,

Stealing inspiration
from the sunset.

Latest update - 15th June 2012

Dear all;

Sorry for the quietness here recently, but time as usual has been taking running around with the usual madness.

Writing wise, I have one of my old poems ‘Percy’ published in a D-Day 68^th Anniversary poetry book which I have just ordered and am looking forward to getting a hard copy in my hands as Percy is one of my favourite all time pieces about my deceased Uncle. More details You can find here:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/walter-ruhlmann/d-day-68th-anniversary-anthology/paperback/product-20170154.html

The E Zine, My father lost me to the beast at cards has also published five of my poems (including two re-writes of the National Poetry Writing Month ) – Pack of Cards, Traitor, Eclipse, Last Sunset and The End of Summer IV.

More details can be seen here - http://myfatherlostmetothebeastatcards.wordpress.com/andy-n/

Although it does get depressing sometimes that rejections keep coming in, getting two as good as these above mean a lot to me as a writer as it keeps encouraging me to keep on cracking on with it.

Next up, is the Recusant for me’s launch in the North West of England in Ashton where their latest political book ‘Robin Hood’ will feature two of my poems ‘Edge of the Flames’ and ‘Edge of the Flames II’. I will be reading at the Manchester launch here on 29^th June 2012.

More details can be found here - http://www.therecusant.org.uk/#/the-robin-hood-book/4563100507

Otherwise, gigswise – things have been fairly quiet since A Means to an End did a headline slot at Openmind recently at Fuel Bar. We are discussing next what we are going to do next, but there is a few places we want to explore before the end of summer and am hopefully before then, we will be able to slip in a few gigs then and hopefully also write some new material, as me and Jeff slowly write A Means to an End book II (Jeff will be bringing out his own book before the end of summer solo too which I’ll reveal more details about in due course).

I have recently done a new track with my American friend, Amanda Silbernagel  called ‘Cables’ which can be listened to / downloaded here:

http://www.amandasilbernagel.com/mp3/Cables%20audio%20poesis%20-%20Copy%20(2).mp3

There is another track pending with Amanda for uploading and I did a second mix of Cables which I like as much as the first mix of Cables.

Solo wise, I did a headline slot at the first Guitar and Verse for Gullivers in Manchester which was a pleasure to do – 5 poems and a song with my band ‘Leaving Belfast’, an old favourite of ours which seemed to go down pretty well with the fairly full crowd.

Otherwise, aside from co-running part of the Cadence Festival with Jeff on Friday 15^th and Saturday, 16^th June 2012, I don’t really have tons planned for the rest of June. I was at Write Out Loud – Stockport which was fun but fairly quiet where I read out ‘Traitor’ as published above and the revised version of ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ which will be get read out on the 16^th June.

July, I will be assisting Jeff with Guitar and Verse on the 5^th July when Avital Racz will be head-ling for us again. I’ve known Avital for years and she’s a singer from Israel and always a pleasure to watch. (Can’t confirm yet who the poet is going to be but it’ll be a good un I can hint at). The night before on the 4^th July I will be doing a 10 – 15 minute set at Lead Poets in Chorlton Cum Hardy which will be a new venue for me and hopefully will have a few new faces also.

I am also down for doing a headline slot on 24^th July 2012 at Write Out Loud, Middleton where if all goes to plan I will be headlining a few select pieces from my upcoming book ‘The End of Summer’ which at one point I was hoping to have ready for the end of Summer which has now sadly been delayed until likely next year now.

Otherwise, I am sadly looking for a new day job as the job I am at is finishing off (contract up).  Does anybody have anything going for a young at heart admin officer? (Sigh)