I am starting to get used to the life of a freelance writer. I must say it is a big change from teaching but luckily I am pretty self-motivated and I had some projects lined up already.
I am still missing Matt Simpson terribly. If anyone out there has not heard of this very special poet, then a good starting point is his New and Selected from Bloodaxe, Elegy for the Galosherman. A galosherman was the person who used to collect all the waste from the outside toilets of the terraced houses in Bootle, called so because he wore galoshers, or pumps, to avoid making a noise. Look out too for Matt's Collected Poems, which is going to be a shoestring book at some point in the next few years. He was writing right up to his death and we always swapped poems. I have to do it all on my own now! Luckily I learned so much from him he trusted me to critique his work, so at least I can take care of myself now, thanks to him.
