The Bedbugs Bite Back

A BBC news article (link below) caught my eye the other day for being on the subject of bedbugs; one of the worst types of pests one could suffer an infestation of, second perhaps only to scabies (based on all those that we were trained to treat for).

An unusual article, in that when reporting on an outbreak of bedbugs in Paris, it was uncertain on certain details, questioning whether reports of them biting people on the Metro system were true or just internet scaremongering; an uncertainty that perhaps stems from the extremely out of date notion bedbugs aren’t really a problem anymore. Continue reading

Plans, Trains and Lovers in Turmoil: the story of two

7 174055936_10217013696932974_6618515007772475858_nTwo lovers part on bad terms with an agreement to meet in a year to see if they have a future. Both travel to the meeting on the London Underground, but one is delayed without any way of letting the other know.

Failing to arrive in time could be plenty enough to seal their fate. Do they make it and what caused the rift to begin is told in a sequence of poems from the two perspectives.

The poems originally formed the main body of a review for Ian Arkley’s album ‘two’, the music inspiring a poetic narration rooted in my experience of using the Underground before leaving London at the end of the last century; the tracks remain available in this post, also providing the name for each verse. Continue reading

A review of Ian Arkley’s second solo album via poetic journeys on the London Underground

ArkleyII_COVERIan Arkley’s second solo album two is compellingly converse. Frequently touching on fiercely hunting, it equally remains subtle throughout. two picks up where one left of with bells on thanks to the addition of a dulcimer, lyre and pitched down acoustic guitar for bass. Mastering and layout are by Michael Shaffer of label Opa Loka Records, on which two is released; beyond that, Ian is responsible for all aspects including photographs and artwork. Continue reading