Tonight ended with a candlelight vigil under the Market House to show support to victims of racism. It was mostly local people taking part – I was made to feel very welcome (as I always am in Ledbury) and invited to read a poem.

Otherwise, I have had a few poetry-free days (shock!). On Tuesday, Joolz and I went to Ross on Wye and Symonds Yat – I forgot the sun was shining and got burnt! The view from Symonds Yat Rock is stunning (see pic) and when we went to the “alternative viewpoint” a peregrine falcon flew in front of us.

I spent yesterday in bed, still trying to get over this virus and watching Wimbledon, but managed to haul myself out in the evening to celebrate Nine Arches Press‘ good news that the Arts Council has granted their funding so they can continue publishing some wonderful books next year. The Prince of Wales held a music and poetry open mic so I ended up in there, another very welcoming event and I read three poems. Mike Harding came in after his Festival event and the grand finale of the evening was him joining in with some of the local musicians.

Today, Joolz and I went to Westonbury Mill Water Gardens but arrived just after a coach-load of senior citizens who all beat us to the cafe so we looked around the gardens and watched the crazy cuckoo clock strike two before a late lunch.

There was poetry way back on Monday – I managed to get to the first half of the festival open mic to see Amy Key’s feature set (and read a couple of poems myself) before hurrying off to the market theatre to event manage Jaybird‘s production of Ovid’s Heroines with Clare Pollard – and there will be plenty more tomorrow and over the weekend.