John Hegley, Banksey and Chelsea gardens

1. John Hegley's poems are unexpectedly great. Sean lent me two slim volumes: "Can I Come Down Now Dad?" and "Five Sugars Please". The latter contains a brilliant little poem which SOD pointed to as one he really likes and relates to. It's called "Talking about my feelings ain't my cup of tea". This little poem is a very elegant summary. Here's a few of lines I particularly like from it....
"....I keep my cards so near my chest
even I can't see the way I feel.
I used to be closer to my emotions
or maybe they were close to me.
In the past I've been very open
the last time was when I was twenty-three
months.
They say bashing pillows is beneficial
and it helps to hug a tree.
They say problems shared are problems halved
but they don't say it to me
because revealing how I'm feeling it isn't my Darjeeling".

2. Banksy is a hero. I like his work a lot. Sean was kind enough to give me his spare copy of "Wall and Piece" which is a collection of photographic images of Banksy's artwork graffiti published in 2006. Sean bought this book at a remaindered price which has a certain perfect irony to it. One of my favourite images (of many) is of the two policemen kissing. Years and lifetimes ago I lived in Nottinghill just off Portabello Road. I had a friend there, Geoff Marsh, a gorgeous human being who used to do typesetting for International Times and who had a thing for making (clever and intelligent) graffiti especially and particularly added as comments or additions to billboards. I should never had let that friendship slip away. I was horrible. Sorry Geoff. You are a diamond.

3. I think that Chelsea Flower show might be a bit overrated but I would say that as I have never yet been. I watched the television programme tonight on BBC2. One garden which won a gold and was incredibly beautiful. The Laurent-Perrier Garden designed by Tom Stuart-Smith. Green is this years green at Chelsea which makes me feel very cool because most of my garden is green too. And, incredibly, I meant it to be like that....I find both gardens beautiful. But mine is in York.