Adventures in… Poland

I’ve now had two adventures in Poland. Both times, people laughed at my attempts to speak Polish.  The first time they laughed because it was incomprehensible.  The second time was possibly funnier, because it was clear that I was really, really trying, and wasn’t that sweet? My first trip to Poland was to a town called Torun.  Torun is a beautiful Teutonic core surrounded by surprisingly interesting and varied Eurosprawl/post-Communist-sprawl/hints of grandiose times.  It has yellow trams (the new ones aren’t nearly as good as the old ones, my hosts assured me – they don’t have the right kind of …

Continue reading

Liberals! Do Better!

Dear Fluffy Left-Wing Liberals, We are of the same clan.  We are inclined to believe evidence which suggests that rehabilitation trumps retaliation, that investment in public services offers stability and equality, that the individual right to choose is the basis of a strong, tolerant society in which equality reigns, and that multiculturalism is a gift to all peoples, bringing us together, not pulling us apart.  Oh yes – and that identity is a constructed choice and kicking off about it is really none of our damn business, especially where that identity revolves around having a uterus and what we want …

Continue reading

A Long Election

This blog has been irregular for a while. Basically since from the general election, when I rashly thought it might be kinda groovy to get all involved. And boy… was it an experience.  There’s masses to say, but not world enough or time.  I learnt a lot.  Some thoughts, in no particular order…. You want to get into politics?  Know the law.  Election law.  Rules about fundraising.  Where you can and can’t stand on election day.  Whether you can wear a rosetta with your party’s name on it, or just the colour.  Where you can put posters.  Where you can’t.  …

Continue reading

Liebes Deutschland

There’s nothing quite as groovy as being invited to visit far-flung lands and conventions to burble about books.  In the last few years, I’ve been made welcome and treated like a princess by book-lovers in Estonia, Spain and Poland, and from the past a few other countries besides. There are few things that make a scribbler quite as happy as realising that there are people who have enjoyed your books in other languages, and who have taken the time to come and tell you – it’s hard to really explain the rush of gratitude and delight. As if that wasn’t …

Continue reading

Bradford Literature Festival

July!  You guys!  Bradford!  Books! It’s the Bradford Literature Festival and basically, it’s where the magic is at.  Check out the guide here: https://www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk/ It is basically wonderful. Also I’m going to be there for a day!  Twice, in fact.  Two of me are rocking up, both on July 2nd – one version of Kate Griffin, talking about fantastical worlds, and one version of Claire North, talking about djinn. Come say hello!

Continue reading

Say whaaaaattttt??

Good news, world!  For the last 6 weeks I’ve been helping out on a political campaign, and as a result, my blog hasn’t been inundated with me mouthing off about that stuff, ‘cos I’ve been knackered.  Properly knackered. Bad news, world! Theresa May has promised to scrap human rights in the UK! That should give you an idea of how knackered I’ve been.  It hasn’t been the endless cascade of schools facing budget calamities, or the scrapping of free school lunches; nor plans to force the NHS to sell off its assets to private developers, or the funding crisis in …

Continue reading