29th January Cloakroom

Amongst the coats and towels of the cloakroom I am not hiding, merely finding a quiet moment.

Monday 28th January

The rain warm wet soft on my face.

23rd day of January

All day the universe has been bringing me gifts of music, Barber's Adagio on Radio 3 to wake up to and later I escape the office for a lunchtime concert of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition before driving home with Edward Elgar.

22nd Day of January

Each tree branch outlined in white as if an artist has been busy with chalk and ink.

18th January

The afternoon light has a pure, snow-reflected quality to it.

Pheasant - 7th January

I'm slowing down as my car approaches the junction and notice the pheasant strolling on the verge. He continues to stroll, saunters out into what would have been an oncoming vehicle had I not slowed down. He's oblivious - an aristocrat to my plebian mode of transport.

5th January - Rain

I am up before first light for chauffeur duties to the railway station. The day has a raw skinless feeling but as I return home the rain starts to fall like a whispered kiss.

4th January

 I return to play in familiar places, skirting Gordon Square on my way to the university bookshop as benign ghosts trail in my wake

Third of January

The autumn planted onions have sprouted - so green against the dark earth

Up for the Prize

Not one but two poets short-listed for the prize – such an achievement for a small nation and both of them women which adds to the feeling of joy.

First Small Stone on 2013

The early morning Robin reaches the feeders before the ducks are let out of their house and rewards me with a song for the gift of corn.