DVDs and poetry mags

Was much amazed yesterday when I came home to find an acceptance for two of my poems by “Seventh Quarry” magazine. Joy indeed! And huge thanks to editor, Peter Thabit Jones, for being kind enough to say yes. Twice. I’m always astonished when anyone takes any of my stuff really – it’s just so unusual an occurrence! But – heck – always welcome. I have to read the email or letter at least three times before I can even begin to believe it. Anyway, it was a lovely extra surprise for our anniversary day.

This morning, I have run around campus collecting copies of our Freshers’ talks DVD and distributing it to the needy. I was hugely excited as I found a completely new route from Student Advice to the Counselling Centre that I’d never trodden before. Spooky really … it was certainly very shadowy and narrow. Hmm, perhaps I was in the twilight zone. It’s possible. Anyway, I don’t think I’ll ever find it again so I don’t think there’s any cause for concern. Yet.

I also met two people in the Library who greeted me with enthusiasm and familiarity even though I couldn’t remember at all who they might be. Didn’t stop me having a halfway decent conversation with them though – I only hope my cover wasn’t blown. Anyway, all this rushing around and planning for DVD disasters has made me feel very important – a feeling which will no doubt rapidly disintegrate once Freshers’ Week starts next week. Arrggghhh!!

In the midst of all this, I’ve also managed to do the first draft of my review form. Well, the second draft. The first just said: I’m marvellous, please keep me and please keep paying me because I don’t get any money as a writer. At all. But I scrapped that one, thinking it was way too desperate and rather too succinct. I’ll have to think of some more managerial phrases to fill the boxes out with.

Oh, and one of the Estates & Facilities men has just rushed into the office begging to use my phone for an urgent message to his boss. Naturally, I rushed to help. The message was apparently: Have you made the tea yet, John? I’m on my way back. Good to know we in the University know what a priority is and how to handle it, eh. Still, at least I got a nice thank you! But, sadly, no tea.

Tonight, I’m hoping to do some writing (ho ho) and there’s “Heroes” and “Will & Grace” on the TV. Thank goodness. Might also try sorting out my new record collection – I feel the need to have things in alphabetical order. In a terrifyingly sad way, but there you go. Heck, anything that stops me running riot through the streets of Godalming has to be a good thing.

Talking of “Heroes”, my boss must be pleased with me as, after all the to-ing and fro-ing I’ve been doing with the DVDs, he’s now started addressing me in emails as “Hiro”. Yattah! Perhaps it bodes well for my review after all …

And Mother is finally having her appointment with the Chemotherapy expert today (that’s not the official title, but you know what I mean), so we’ll see what, if any, treatment she might need. Poor Mother. I hope it’s not too onerous. UPDATE!! And some good news, hurrah!! – no further treatment needed for the old bird. They just want to see her in December for the standard check-up and they’re all very happy. Phew, what a relief – and at least she can think about booking that holiday again.

Today’s nice things:

1. Getting acceptances for two poems
2. Finding a new route somewhere on campus – albeit briefly
3. Mother’s good news.

Anne Brooke
Anne's website