Hello, from London UK

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

Hi folks, 

Sorry, no poem today, but, yes, there is one in the making that I hope to publish here this week. Meanwhile, I hope you will dip into the archives and explore some of the poems there.

Reader, J J has emailed to ask in what part of London I live. Well, I live in Kentish Town, part of the  London Borough of Camden. I moved here in 1985. I have lived in various parts of London since the mid-1960's. Having been born in Kent, though, and lived there until I was 20 years old, I will always think of myself as a Man of Kent, having been born on the eastern side of the river Medway.

Another reader asks if I am planning another collection of poems. Well, yes, I hope to find a publisher who will include some of my gay-interest poems among my general pieces. Although my collections proved popular with users of various public libraries to which I donated self-published copies, I have yet to find a UK publisher. I am about to try again, so am doing my best to think follow my own advice and positively.😉

Blogspot.com stats for both my poetry blogs are very encouraging, so I may well have given up too soon in the past, although various health issues tend to get in the way of positive-thinking from time to time. I am tempted to try and find a UK publisher for my fantasy novel, Mamelon (posted in full on my fiction blog.) Infuriatingly, just  trying to keep the flat clean and tidy as well as write poems for the blog tires me out easily these days; one of the many pitfalls of growing old, I guess. 😉

Whatever, I did not expect the blogs to find as many regular readers as they appear to have, so it's a big boost to morale and many thanks to you all. 

Many people, from all walks of life - whether living alone, with a partner or families with children - have found the going really tough during the pandemic, and rising inflation only makes matters worse. I only hope at least some of my poems have helped readers to rise above the stresses and strains imposed by Covid-19 and its variants, among other darker aspects of life. To this end, I try to inject more than a little optimism into my poems which, at the same time, helps me to rise above any sense of crisis affecting me as well; in this way, the poem becomes a joint venture poet and reader, in much the same way as all art forms endeavour to  resonate with the inner eye of  a potential audience. 

Having just returned from an appointment with my local dentist, I feel prompted to share with you how I am always making new discoveries for having been advised to change to as sugar-free a diet as possible when first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012; apart from managing my weight better, I still have most of my own teeth...😉 Just as well, as I dread having to cope with false teeth, coward that I am...😉

Now, here's to our sustaining a positive-thinking mindset, in spite of the negatives life is inclined to throw at us from time to time! Rarely easy, but...Hobson's Choice if we want to keep a grip on life, take each day as it comes with a hopeful rather than despairing heart and thereby encourage one another to do likewise..

Many thanks for dropping by, back again soon,

Hugs,

Roger