I forgot to say that I joined the Brighton branch of Freecycle this week, and gave away my first item last night. It's essentially a mailing list where you can advertise things you have to give away, and equally post requests for things you need. New members are supposed to offer something before asking for anything (a very good policy), so first to go was our ice cream maker, which we no longer have a freezer for and can't seem to offload onto any of our friends. About ten responses in the first half hour! Hurrah! I fear that we won't end up with a less cluttered flat though, as for everything we give away there's probably something tempting we could acquire. Although apparently asking for brand new laptops is not good Freecycle etiquette, alas...

Fiona Sampson begins her editorship of Poetry Review this month. It can only be an improvement, really. I might even start reading it properly again.

10:25

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Braved the misty depths of Hove and the amazingly ugly Babylon Lounge last night, for a salsa class. Although I feared it would be full of sweating men who'd watched a bit too much Would Like To Meet, and hence was planning to stick to Matt as a partner all night, it was actually quite fun to switch around and sample different people's techniques. A bit like speed dating without actually having to talk. But as Matt unnecessarily pointed out, he got the better deal because all the women were pretty... Teacher Claudine was quite strict (giggling beginners twice a week must take its toll) but happily, any mistakes can always be blamed on the man since he's supposed to lead. Ha!

The Today Programme had a feature about 'election poetry' this morning, featuring David Blunkett reading a rather poignant verse of his own, and unfortunately that twee witch Daisy Goodwin. I'd thought that with no TV I might avoid her, but no. (She was on Quote Unquote as well this week, a match made in hell if I ever there was one). Anyway, Today want people to write in and suggest poems relevant to this election. It's a shame that the relationship between poetry and politics has come to this really - a jovial novelty feature on Radio 4. Nevertheless, here's a bit of Auden:

When Statesmen gravely say 'We must be realistic',
The chances are they're weak and, therefore, pacifistic,
But when they speak of Principles, look out: perhaps
Their generals are already poring over maps.

09:44

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Book 33: Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold
Ah, the modern American (male) novel: take a slightly uncool subject that you obsessed about when you were a kid (comics, magic, record collecting) and rehabilitate it - and you - by writing a cool novel about it. Oh alright, that's a bit harsh, especially since Carter Beats the Devil is certainly the most EXCITING book I've read for a while. Chapter 9 made me late back from lunch yesterday. I think that's an endorsement.

10:52

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