Author diaries

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3 September 2003 Entry: "Blackberries"

Like Mary (see her diary entry below) I've been in blackberry mode. Went picking them at the weekend and was thinking about the Seamus Heaney poem about picking blackberries. Didn't fill a bath with them but then again, didn't leave them to develop the "rat-grey fungus" that he mentions in his poem. Mine were made into jam that evening - three jars. Thanks to David for picking all those beautiful berries that I couldn't reach (it's called not wanting to be stung by nettles).
In Norway last month we found tiny wild strawberries. Whenever I see guided walks advertised that will tell you what you can pick and eat in the countryside I always mean to book a place. Then I lose the leaflet in the toppling pile of magazines and books beside the bed, usually discovering it a week or so after the walks taken place.
I did an interview and read some poems for AIRS, Gateshead's talking newspaper. That was fun so thanks to everyone there.
I'm also coming to the end of my MA in Writing Poetry at Newcastle Uni, so am busy sorting out my portfolio. I keep changing my mind about which poems I want in it and then there is the order.... I have been looking at other people's poetry collections with this in mind, but then I get distracted and start reading their poems. This is a great way of spending an evening, but I've still got sheets of poems all over the floor.
At work I am suffering from seasonal confusion. This is because I have been working on harvest resources for Traidcraft supporters, writing material for Fairtrade Fortnight next March, sending out press releases and products for Christmas features in glossy mags and yesterday helped a colleague with a letter to go out in January. Only the fact that I was preparing a school packed lunch at 6am kept me rooted in September.
Have finished The Cutting Room - great. Got the poetry mags Coffee House Poetry and The Red Wheelbarrow in the post so am enjoying dipping into them.