We really kicked the new year of poetry off in style at Middleton last night! The room was full of poets and spectators from far and wide (some smuggled in from over the border!) and the standard of poetry and performance was wonderfully high as usual!

Positive feedback received on the night was: very much enjoyed, most enjoyable, very good did not expect such a high standard, great night, good poems, cake!, good poems and seriously funny book, friendly atmosphere, cake and friends, just great, good variety, good night good poetry, good room for gig, great, great atmosphere great compere, express poetry hear different styles, drink!, good mixture and good as usual.

Areas for improvement were identified as: more cake!, circle of chairs, lose tables, more room, ban Cayn White, seating layout, more space, drink!

If the general consensus is to return to a ring of chairs it will be done- please discuss!

Photos as usual to follow from the brilliant Seamus Kelly.

Sad to have missed you all. Unfortunately the pull of Billy Ocean was too great.

Hope to see you next time.

It was a great night - well done everyone.

By the way, if anyone found a burgundy cardigan can they get in touch with me please either email paul@writeoutloud or call 0779 647 5490 - Cheers.

Paul Blackburn

Who is Burgundy Cardigan? I think we should be told!

Burgundy Cardigan is not a who.
It's a fine red wine that warms you up.

Ban Cayn White? No - just keep him away from the biscuits.

Just so long as you didn't drop any into your beer.