Blossom – London 2020 (photograph by Sonia Jallane)
Hello from me in London, where the pavements are almost empty, and birds chorus from every tree they can find. It’s bizarre.
I hope that wherever you are there are snatches of peace in the midst of this new reality. Perhaps these pieces will help – a poem, and some more free writing responses to last week’s word doodle suggestion. Huge thanks to the authors (all copyright on these pieces is theirs).
First up is a poem set in London.
In memory of a great friend and in honour of Shadow – even though not the Shadow.
Hello wherever you are,
Not so warm in London today. There are patches of sun, then northerly winds full of rain gust in. It’s cold, ruffly weather. Earlier I saw two police horses clip clopping slowly down the street … not bothered by the wind, but I’m sure they must love the lack of traffic.
Anyway … to the free writing, and a guest appearance on The Phraser – a piece that gives my writing soul great pleasure.
Blackbird – calm as could be – central London
Hello out there,
My best wishes to everyone around the world in various stages of lockdown. Thinking of you, and of those trying to get us through this time.
Life has changed so suddenly and so fast, that it’s hard to figure out exactly what is going on. Rather than pin all my hours on trying to understand, I thought I’d put up another blog or two in case anyone is in need of distraction.
Eothen – Traces of Travel Brought Home from the East by William Kinglake
My thanks to Eland Publishing for a copy of this book – parts of it I loved with a passion, other parts I wanted to tear out and jump on. But I never wanted to give up.
William Kinglake is so young and opinionated that it’s a shock to meet him, especially with two centuries of hindsight. It’s like meeting the worst of the British Empire in one person. His voice is brilliant, bizarre, unbelievable in places, and stunningly arrogant in others.
Wrapping up for Christmas
Thank you for looking in on The Phraser this past year.
2019 has been hectic, with much writing, but not all of it on the blog. In the background I am trying to write more fiction – some short pieces and possibly even a novel. I’m not sure whether the plan will come to anything, but I am enjoying the process, and I hope to be able to put more ‘creative writing’ on The Phraser next year.
Meanwhile, we have left London for a few weeks over Christmas. There will be plenty of family coming and going, which means lots of everything … but not much time for writing.
I hope that, wherever you are, there will be time to pause and to talk … and to be together.
Wishing everyone a happy end to the year, and all the best for 2020.
Hope to see you in January!
Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2019
An Affair of the Heart by Dilys Powell
I was sent this book by Eland Publishing.
It is not a book of stormy passion, despite the title, but one that meanders slowly around post-war Greece, returning almost two decades later to the point where it begins – Perachora.
Screening of ‘Klaus’ in the Soho House in London
I was invited to a screening of Klaus by the Writers’ Guild on a wet and windy election night in London.
The evening began with an introduction by director, Sergio Pablos. He praised the talents of the animators from around the world who worked on the film; he spoke of the skill of the stars who brought the characters to life – J K Simmons, Jason Schwarzman, and Rashida Jones; and he mentioned in particular the innovative way light had been painted into each scene.
Then we were whisked away to Smeerensburg to meet Mr Klaus and his neighbours, all in magical 2D animation.
