Today sees the publication by Carcanet Press of Come Here to This Gate by Rory Waterman. I have to declare he is a mate and other poets are available but he is VERY good and this is a phenomenal collection; moving, profound and occasionally filthy. Perfect. Five Leaves Bookshop or online.

Only just heard the news of the death of Trevor Griffiths. What a writer. Seeing Comedians at Nottingham Playhouse in 1975 was the moment I first felt the truly visceral power of drama. I didn’t understand all of it but I felt every word - and knew I wanted to join in.

Wow! As you know I’m not a boo-er or blamer where Notts are concerned but the level of ineptitude which seems now to be the norm, is astonishing. What’s the answer? How can good players look so dreadful, so quickly? We can’t start next season like this - or we’ll be dead by Xmas.

I'm reading from my new collection (with Naush Sabah) in Birmingham on 11 April, at Birmingham City University, right in the city centre. All welcome, and free! I hope to see you there.

eventbrite.co.uk/e/poetry-night…

Notts were awful tonight. Primarily because their confidence is shot and players are hiding. Which is why booing and heaping more pressure on will do no good. I wanted to scream RUBBISH but the truth is, the more you do, the more it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

I’ve been lucky enough to read a MS copy of this book, and urge you to take a look. It’s unquestionably his finest collection and is utterly compelling.

Certain teams just seem to get the rub of the green don’t they? That cross to Didzy which he ‘handles?’ If that’s Mullins, he catches it, bounces it twice, checks the pressure and then kicks it in - and it’s given. I hate football, me.

So, there’s a plan to introduce ten minute sin bins for footballers who commit cynical fouls, abuse the ref and generally indulge in unsporting shit-housery. Get ready for five a side…

Shakespeare B Trust This looks beautiful. It is a shame you appear to have unpersoned the author & editor of these adaptations - possibly the first woman of South Asian heritage to edit the complete works of Shakespeare for a major publisher in what is a very white industry. That seems unfortunate.

Well, if he’s gone, he got us back and he got us playing. So I say good luck. Football is his career - and he HAS to be pragmatic. It’s really only US for whom Notts is an inalienable state of being - quite right, too. Besides, as Bogart put it: “We’ll always have Wembley.”

Say it ain’t so…

This time last year I made a resolution to read more, get up earlier, and generally cut out the nonsense which blights so much of my life. I coined a rhyme: “an idiot free ‘23.” Tonight’s rhyme: “What I said before, ‘24” Good luck with those promises…

Thanks, Tom. Rest easy.

Having covered the East Midlands for the BBC since the mid 80’s,and lived here most of my life, I’ve decided to hand in my pass and will finish 23rd February. I plan to do other work in the patch like supporting the Child Migrants Trust where I’ve been a trustee for many years👋

Can’t describe the joy of getting ready to watch Notts and KNOWING they will try and play properly, that at times it will be beautiful and mostly, it will a get us a win. Compare that to MANY days in last 50 years when I’ve set off dutifully but with a heavy heart. Happy Xmas!

Come on down! I’d love to meet as many people as possible and have impressive array of card tricks if the questions dry up!

I’ve deliberately kept out of the “what’s happened to Notts” debate cause they’re sixth, having got promoted last season, within spitting distance of automatics, with the best manager in the League, so I’ve just been enjoying myself too much. This? A challenge. Luke will fix.

I’ve been privileged to read this collection, pre publication - and it’s magnificent. Hard and tender in equal measure, it’s strong stuff and essential.

And what a lovely woman! So modest about one of the greatest British films ever!

Watched SOFY at Y in Leicester last. Bloody marvellous. She sings like an angel, writes VERY witty lyrics and has the tightest band. Check her out if she comes close. She’s gonna be massive.