Barry Smith invited me to read here yesterday. Arrived at 7 at the Vic Institute to be met by the MC Mike Carey, a dab hand at the piano as well. I was on first and read a set dealing with thin hair, Genesis, death and love (of course, after all it’s our 50th anniversary at the end of the month) to an audience who were not that used to poetry, but I made them laugh in a few places, and there was a decent applause at the end. In the second half, Maria Jastrezebska read some poems from her book “Small Odysseys” which are still rattling my head at the moment. I was also treated to some songs by Amanda Waring ( Noel Coward and music Hall) and she also took part in a double hander with Bill Brennan. a spoof of Brief Encounter, and the Theatre Designer who explained how he makes 3D designs rather than draws then so he can see the actors in space.