Crazy October

Dragon Hall

 I'm not sure quite where October has gone. It's almost over. The month has felt like I have been spinning plates while I've been considering my projects and catching up with friends. Then I've had a couple of mini breaks. All good fun, but I almost ended up double booking myself. Luckily the other friend couldn't make that date, so I didn't have to cancel one of them.

One of my trips was to Norwich to meet a friend and to attend Cafe Writers' open mic night. It had been a long time since I had been to anything like this, so I was both excited and nervous, especially as we were going to put our names down to read.

But before the open mic, there was time to visit Norwich's National Centre of Writing. They hadn't been open when I had gone to Norwich before, but this time, as it was a Monday, they were. So after lunch we had a wander around. What a beautiful place. Dragon Hall was built about 1427 by a wealthy merchant named Robert Toppes and used as a trading hall. The hall is magnificent, with beams spanning the roof and the walls. Look up and you will see the one remaining dragon. There are also 'witches marks' around the fireplace and some other beams. Please use the link to read the history of the building. Writers' Centre Norwich took on the lease in 2015. Downstairs are rooms where classes are held, a hub where you can hire a desk for writing away from distractions. There is a small shop, lots of information, and the hall is now used for social events. Outside is a garden, beyond which is the River Wensum. It is free to visit (donations welcome).

Witches' marks

Looking towards the garden

Spot the dragon

Old wallpaper

Dragon Hall

After our visit, we ended up in another cafe to talk about the poems we were going to read. We'd each brought along several possibilities, but in the end we decided the ones we had originally said we would read, we would read!

River Wensum, Norwich

Time for tea and discuss poetry for the evening

It was soon time for me to check into my hotel and grab something to eat before we met to walk to Maddermarket Theatre where the event was to take place. We arrived early and hoped to get our names down in the first half (so we could relax in the second). Even so, we ended up reading in the second half. There were four poets invited to read with open mic slots in between. My friend had told me there might be around fifteen people there, but it was packed, and there were probably nearer 40-50 people! Invited poets were Matt Howard, Jenny Pagdin, Jane Wilkinson and Rachel Goodman. What a great evening. All the open mic-ers read impressive poems, including a couple of amusing ones, which I was pleased to hear.

My friend and I did ourselves proud, I think. Nerves were there, of course, but we drove on through. I tried to remember all the advice I give others about reading and didn't rush. The audience was appreciative as they were with everyone. The poem I read was one of very few new poems I have written lately, and quite personal to me, making me conscious of the last couple of lines that I had to get through without stumbling. But I did it. Both of us could breathe easy at last!

Reading my poem

And suddenly it was all over. It was hard to say goodbye. The day had gone so fast and in the morning I was on the train going home.

Although Winchester (where I went the next week!) is my favourite city, Norwich is definitely my next favourite. It is excellent for writers as there is so much going on. Unlike London, where things are scattered across the many boroughs, everything in Norwich is central. I am very impressed by the city, and then there are all the bookshops!

A collection of booklets from the Writing Centre