Sounds like a fab day freckle. Are you going to post your report on the FPS blog?
Originally Posted by freckle
Attachment 3801
Armitage report
He is my report of the day that the fell poets spent with Simon Armitage. A day punctuated by a sense of magic, surreality and laughter!
HHH, Hes, OW, Freckle and two canine friends (who shall remain anonymous) set off with a steady trot to Dufton Fell at around 10:10am yesterday morning. We were aiming to meet Simon at Garrowgill at around twelve....Mmmm lets see! At first the weather was not too inclement however once we got to higher ground it began to get decidedly chilly, misty and windy and our minds turned to Simon who we knew would be going across Crossfell in such conditions. It was hard to believe that it was July up there but the fells remained eerily beautiful clad in mist , dotted with cottongrass and the occasional unusually painted sheep (Hes took a very good picture of this).
As time pressed on we were beginning to wonder if he had abandoned mission but we eventually bumped into Simon at around 1:30pm after a combination of running, walking and generally mucking about. He was looking decidedly weather beaten and cheesed off, in fact he was so relieved to see us that he actually gave HHH a hug! He immediately informed us that there would be no “running” involved on the way back to Dufton, however it has to be said that the boy himself kept a very respectable pace as myself and Hes fell into various bogs whilst simultaneously looking elegant and glamorous! The next couple of hour or so took us through some fairly treacherous conditions but we made the most of it playing aeroplanes in the mist and generally being daft whilst chewing the fat with a leading poet. It was a relief to drop down a bit into the valley. Simon himself came across as a very amiable person. He was even prepared at one stage to let Hes have one of his precious Mars Bars (his wife had sent him off with a huge supply). Once back at Dufton we set everything up for the poetry reading which began at around 8pm. There was a really good turn out (50 +) in the lovely little village hall. People seemed genuinely excited by it all with one lady saying that “nothing like this ever happens round here”. Fellow forumite Mr Brightside was a welcome sight as was one of NSP runner Barry Young. Each member of the audience received a commerative bookmark ticket provided by our Hes adorned with what must now be the Fell Poets logo I think !
At 8pm Simon turned up and immediately commanded the audiences attention in a seemingly effortless and charming manner. I have to confess I wasn’t too sure what to expect from a poetry reading, I was actually worried it might be a bit...well..boring! but actually it was quite mesmerising! What really brought the poems to life was the little anecdotes Simon told before each one. The poems ranged from those which were quite sad and poignant (e.g., “an Accomodation” from his new book “Seeing Stars”) to the comedic, but all were multi layered and delivered with his unique soft Marsden lilt. A particular favourite of mine was the one which referred indirectly to his “lost weekend” on the rampage (ironically with his father) which told of his belated rebellion at being good! ("The delegates"- again from his new book seeing stars). At the end of the reading Simon thanked us all before a sock (not a hat!) was proffered and the audience asked to donate what they thought he was worth.
After we tidied up we retired to the Stag Inn to reflect on a wonderful day and enjoy conversations about lemonade versus bitter and the benefits of drinking the vinegar from pickled onion jars (you had to be there for that one really!).
I would personally like to thank HHH, OW and Hes for all of the hard work which culminated in a really lovely event, I would also like to thank Mr B and Barry for making the effort to come over and adding to the convivial atmosphere in the stag! oh and of course many thanks to the man himself who had to get up yet again this morning to face High Cup Nick in some pretty awful Helm winds again! (Next time we will bring him some fell shoes as you suggested OW!)
THANKYOU all x
PS we hope to plan another fell poet evening soon, any ideas welcome and the more the merrier!
PPS Alf you were missed!
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