Thank you, #margate - and to @danthompson33 for asking me with chat with @johngrindrod about #TalesOfTheSuburbs at the #WordsMeanThings festival - beautiful space for a generous conversation.
This Thursday I'm in conversation with @johngrindrod at Marine Studios in Margate, as part of the Words Change Things mini-festival, brought together by @danthompson33 . And I have a particular stake in this one: my suburban story is the last chapter.
John's book has been described as 'an alternative history of queer Britain' and a work that 'breaks new ground' - and having spoken to him as part of his research, I can say it does exactly that. Funny, moving, and politically sharp, it tells stories that have been hiding in plain sight on ordinary streets across the country.
Come along if you can. 7 pm, Marine Studios, 17 Albert Terrace, Margate, this Thursday.
#TalesOfTheSuburbs #JohnGrindrod #QueerHistory #LGBTQHistory #QueerBooks #SuburbanLife #QueerBritain #LGBTQLives #OralHistory #SocialHistory #WordsChangeThings #Margate #MarineStudios #MargateCulture #KentEvents #QueerLit #BookEvent #LGBTQCommunity #QueerCulture #BookFestival
Spent three days in Dumfries and Stranraer last week thinking about imaginary pubs, real communities, and what happens when you put the right people in a room together.
Facilitated a session at WWDN LABS with the brilliant Martin from @stovenetwork , where we asked a room full of practitioners to save the fictional Corrie Inn in the equally fictional March Hill, Scotland. The ideas that came out of it were anything but fictional.
The highlight might have been getting a personal tour of the curling rink inside the North West Castle Hotel. An actual curling rink. Inside a hotel.
Stranraer, you were full of surprises. The placemaking work happening here from the ground up is something special, and it was a privilege to be even a small part of the conversation.
Thanks to everyone at Stove Network for having us, and to all who came and gave it everything.
#Dumfries #Stranraer #Placemaking #CreativeNeighbourhoods #StoveNetwork #WhatWeDoNow #Scotland #CommunityLed #Curling
Tune in to #TheArchers podcast tomorrow on @bbcsounds for all things Pip, Stella and proposals, what makes David and Ruth work as a couple (spoiler, I think they’re one of the best relationships in Ambridge, IKR), the role of the church in the village, and of course, George and #BottleGate… with @emmafreud , Lucy Speed (aka, Stella) @_lucyspeed_ and Revd Alix Taylor @maggietkirby
What a way to welcome the return of the light - an #imbolc of a communing of fire, birch whisking-salt scrubbing-and honey massaging #sauna, soup, lemon posset and cinnamon buns feasting, thanks to @stanmersaunagarden - and always welcome a chance to see the greenhouse @onegardenbrighton , holding its own magic
