Empire of Whimsy

This year's Manx LitFest was a whirl of inspiration for me. I managed to attend more events than last year, but still not all of the...

***TO BE READ IN A BROAD NORTHERN ENGLISH ACCENT*** Bob and Mary live in a semi. They spend most every evening watching repeats on the...

We are all searching for some meaning. This curse of consciousness silk screens our experiences into something more than just living...

“Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” is used usually at the end of a speech in that tone of sneering smugness reserved for...

As I woke the other day the sky broke. Big, grey splotches on concrete. Each one a cocktail thrown by an ex-lover in defeat. Dre...

I got to the scene and wouldn’t you know, there were people about, watching the show. Squinting eyes under clammy palm, I can just a...

Definitions of self are elusive at best, Perceptions formed through actions or reactions or inactions that surprise. The lies we...

The gift of a science celestial. It’s the atmosphere’s firework festival. The night is a warm one, breath-catchingly clear with the ...

She came in breathless, restless, shaking looking for something calming to take in light of the heartless news he’d broken. Miles fr...

Once there was a company that traded magic beans. It co-opted people’s tragedies, it monetarised their dreams. Selling wishes gr...

Look, we need to have a chat. I’m getting a bit fed up with dealing with the fall out of your drama. And it’s not only that, m...

“They didn’t get rid of you, then?” They all said, eyes glinting. The gossip-beast slavering to be fed. “Got rid of me? Hah! For w...

Trust rusts When taken for granted. We’d started not to see each other. Another role to fulfill. Being responsible against our...

We gathered in our thousands to rend the sky with roar. To celebrate the lives and rides of those who went before. Armour plated...

Gothic institution, high on island hill. Oceans of ink. A sky entirely made of quill. The Warden’s keys jangle alarmingly in the lock....

Fear steers our ideals. I like to pretend that my intentions are guided by pride in my liberty but honestly, it’s obvious ...

Yesterday was International Women's Day. To mark this occasion I was invited up to Manx Radio to take part in a live challenge as par...

Today I had a great time on the Manx Radio program Women Today, talking about all things poetry, the Oscars and performing some of my poems...

On this, the day of martyred lovers I recall a misunderstood comment. “One day I’ll see you live” it said. Of course it meant li...

A little while ago I wrote a poem called 31 after a day taking modelling for internationally celebrated photographer, Phil Kneen. The phot...

Hypocrisy, I’m sad to say, seems to be everywhere. This unfair, self-sided not sharing sentiment. It’s meant I've bent my pr...

I’m a loud speaker, baby. The fun-house mirror of the world. I amplify the signals. I throw back at you your words. I’m a great bi...

All week long I saw them. Those portents gleaming, squawking, hopping, cocked head, taunting, “Sorrow! Sorrow!”; giving warning. ...

A couple of months ago I was interviewed by Christy DeHaven and Dave Armstrong for a film they were creating celebrating Island of Culture....

Apparent Brainwashing Conquers Defenses Eventually Forcing Ghoulish Haters Influence Jarringly. Kakistocracy, Letting Meaningless Names (ON...

You looked at me and the love in your eyes faded And I realized it was this I was most afraid of. The swapping of fluids is only an ac...

At Christmas families are reunited Even those members you’d prefer weren’t invited We stress over food, presents and reindeer sighted ...

My body is my body. I’m not bothered what you think of it. It’s carried me through all these years no matter what I’ve thrown at it....

Here is the video of my TEDxDouglas performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVlINYfigNw I had a ball being involved with this. I...

That intake of breath Of fresh Air. Bringer of new ideas Unfair -ly mined By a dozen minds Or more. These spores of though...