That's it - I'm off to Croatia for a week and a bit. I hope my web of nerves will stand the temperature. My favourite seasons are autumn and spring which is probably why I write more summer haiku than for any of the other seasons. It's a reactionary thing, I guess.

Currently planning a chap-book, which may come to something, or it may not.

Here's a few of my summer haiku that have been published in the past:

oppressive heat
from the block of flats
a tuneless song

scent of car wax
resting on the bonnet
a ladybird

heat haze...
slumped with their ice creams
the firemen

fading tattoos
he hauls her wheelchair
from the beach

(oppressive heat, scent of car wax and heat haze were first published in Blithe Spirit, fading tattoos was first published in Presence)
(the first three inspired by London: Hackney, Stoke Newington and Hornsey respectively. The last one was written in Swanage, Dorset)

Before I go, excuse me while I plug my other blogs:

Dave's Magical Brain is my Multiple Sclerosis blog
phase - one is my general diary-style blog that I have only just started - it's early days, so be nice to it.
I also have a twitter presence, so I can be checked out there too - no haiku but general observations, remarks etc.

If I get web access while on holiday, no doubt I'll post something. In the meantime I am packing a notebook and pen.

August 2006

taking Mum the long route
back to the hospice -
the heather in bloom

carku (?!?)

in the old car
an old man and
an old dog

The beauty of an in-car notebook is that you can jot down ideas, random observations and proto-haiku while at traffic lights, in lay-bys etc and then forget them. Until one day (today in my case) you decide to take it out and trawl through for anything worth working on.

here's a few more...

long day -
my car's central locking
clunks it's welcome

later
on the same road
the dead crow
still points the way

mizzle
dotted across the moor
the backs of sheep

hospital car park
a woman with a neck brace
reversing

[...or should it be gnisrever? - as awkward to read as it is to manouver]

driving the line
between green and blue
spring hilltops

By way of explanation - I drive a hundred miles a week between work and home through the hills and back lanes of Derbyshire. It is one of those rare occasions that I find myself alone, so driving familiar routes away from the rat runs gives me space to think. I also think I need a camera living permanently in the car.

suddenly noticing it
the sideways    _dart
of a hoverfly

Important word plinth spot online

Alan Summers' plinth spot is now viewable online. I know one follower of this blog (Herr Broeker) had his word read out.

Check it out at http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/Alan_S

Well done Alan!

Oh, yeah, ermmm...... "SERENDIPITY!!!"