Christmas Greetings

(My thanks to David for posing)

...And if you do, this next photo shows the scene that awaits you on the inside of Tranmer House (at Sutton Hoo)...

Mouse inside Tranmer House, home of Mrs Pretty on the Sutton Hoo estate.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...'

Clement Clarke Moore 

You might like to click here to see the sheep Tranmer House. 

Snow, Suffolk, December 2017

Celebrating UNESCO World Poetry Day

'we share in Basil Brown's suspense...'

words from: Shepherd’s Hut, Sutton Hoo (C.G.)

Our friends at NT Sutton Hoo, guarding the mounds

Today is UNESCO World Poetry Day...

...and here in Suffolk we are celebrating with an event at the university. Writers from Poetry Wivenhoe will be joining us and presenting their poems on 'the natural world' in the first half. David will be giving a welcome at the start. Do come and join us if you are within range.

The East Anglian Daily Times/Eastern Daily Press ran a poetry supplement on Saturday to mark this auspicious day. My Sutton Hoo sonnet was included alongside poems about Norfolk and Suffolk by poets 'old' (Wordsworth, Crabbe...) and 'new'.

• UNESCO Director-General's message for World Poetry Day 
• Background to UNESCO World Poetry Day
• The Poetry Society on World Poetry Day
• PEN International
• In need of inspiration? Write a Haiku...

Carillon Sonnet and the Sutton Hoo Shepherd's Hut

I am delighted that my poem, 'From the Shepherd's Hut, Sutton Hoo', has been long-listed in the Carillon 'Sonnets for Charity' Competition. Money raised will go to Worldwide Cancer Research. 

We moved to Suffolk nearly five years ago, and during my time here I have much enjoyed looking out for some of the remaining shepherds' huts that grace the by-ways of our region. 

Shepherd's Hut at NT Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, UK

 You will see some of my other East Anglian hut photos here (in my Christmas post, 2015).

Poetry at Sutton Hoo ~ a Day with Dr Sam Newton on Beowulf

Model of the Sutton Hoo helmet ...

I spent today at Sutton Hoo, site of the incredible Anglo-Saxon ship burial. The site is in the care of the National Trust. The study day, 'An Introduction to Beowulf and Sutton Hoo', was put on as part of the Wuffing Education scheme by Dr Sam Newton, who has written extensively on the subject.

It was an excellent way to spend a January Saturday, and I came home wanting to read Seamus Heaney's translation of the tale and hoping to re-watch the Michael Wood programme, 'In search of Beowulf' (which I believe is only available on YouTube). I also want to explore some of the Anglo-Saxon landmarks in my locality.

This is the framed view of the site, looking down from the level of the mounds to the River Deben in Woodbridge. 

This was my view as I came out from the Old Court to go home. You can make out one of the burial mounds between the trees. 

Seasonal Greetings from Suffolk ...

 Happy Christmas!

Shepherd's Hut at Sutton Hoo