Hello dear friends and followers, here is my report/summary of my four-day trip away to the “Clunes Booktown Festival”
* Thursday Evening.After dinner, I was out walking Frankie, and when we returned home there wasa special parcel on my doorstep, a freshly baked fruitcake, for me to enjoy while I was busy at the bookstall. (Thank you to Roberta, a fellow daily walker) * Friday Lunchtime.My brother and sister arrive from Ballarat to take me, Frankie, and my Car back to Ballarat(My siblings understand my deficiencies) * Friday 3.30 pm.I drove up to Clunes (only 15 mins from Ballarat) to set up my bookstall. There were no tables in my allocated Marquee, but after phone calls to the appropriate organizers, the tables were eventually located and placed in the Marquee.
Friday afternoon, waiting for a table – Agatha’s, Lounge & Wine Bar
* Friday 6.00 pm.I found a quaint bar to chat and drink with other authors before we attended the “Introduction Event”. At 7.30 pm I was super tired and decided to head back to my sister’s in Ballarat for dinner and a well-earned rest.
The Clunes Town Hall and other historical buildings in Clunes.
. * Saturday 8.15 am. I headed off to the Clunes Festival for a 9.00 am start and I met the other vendors in our Marquee.
My neighbours, Karen and Damien
Our Marquee held ten Book Stalls
Overall, not many books were sold, however, I had a wonderful time chatting with customers, and my “Lucky Dip Bucket, Take a Poem Home”, was extremely popular.
Saturday 5.00pm.It was time to close up and head home to Ballarat.
Sunday Morning.Another 9.00am start, but I decided to take Frankie to the Festival as my little helper.While walking from the car to the Marquee, a young lady kindly offered to carry Frankie’s fold-up camp chair. I thanked “Louise” for friendly assistance, and later on she came to my stall and purchased a copy of “Until Eyes Hear Sound”.
He instantly became the centre of attention, which coincided with my increased book sales. We finally shut shop at 4.00 pm, by which time I was definitely looking forward to the Clunes Booktown Festival’s closing chapter. While we were packing up, a young lass from the “Phairytale Bookfolds” stall in our Marquee, presented me with a magical gift, which personified the friendly aura within our Marquee, and the little “Bookmouse” was a perfect finale to an amazing weekend.
Monday Morning. After a long and restful sleep, it was time for me and Frank to return to Geelong, again with the invaluable assistance of my wonderful siblings. (heartfelt thanks to Miffy & Lawrie)
I found a poem in my old files yesterday, from September 2018. Here I have revised the wording slightly, but without losing any of the original’s impressive imagery. Dear friends and followers, as you read my article today, I am on my way to the “Clunes Booktown Festival” and won’t be back until Monday afternoon. But, I have been busy writing and have ‘Scheduled’ a post each day while I am away, but my blogging ‘Comments’ will be minimal … >> https://www.clunesbooktown.com.au/
Purple Tomatoe Ferns (Revised)
I have hallucinations of Vikings sailing in the cold
Plundering forgotten hearts and pilfering gold
I am dreaming of the old farmer’s wife
Milking cows, cleaning, and baking for life
I have feelings for the king, in his isolated castle
Looking forlornly upon his drawbridge, a foodless trestle
I am wandering through an empty paddock
Kicking dew off the grass, searching for a lover’s locket
I have plans for the planet’s desolate future
Growing purple tomatoe ferns until they are mature
I remember her bravery, her ever-lasting smile
Crawling over jagged garden beds, every painful mile
This is the second piece that I wrote on Monday morning (Sunday afternoon PDT) when I attended the Writing Circle Poetry Group via Zoom with our host/convener, the gracious Ali Grimshaw >> https://flashlightbatteries.blog/online-writing-circles/ and after listening to her recite a second selected piece of poetry, we were then encouraged to write our own poetic response in “6 mins” … and mine was a short 6 line poem
Somewhere, Beyond My Time
Please give me more time
Time to lay a foundation stone
So, I can build my marble stairway
The stairway I need to create
The stairway that I must climb
A climb to somewhere, beyond my time
Until Eyes Hear Sound Not available on Lulu or Amazon yet … but you may purchase it from me, via this web page or my email >> ivorrs20@gmail.com
On Monday morning (Sunday afternoon PDT), I attended a Writing Circle Poetry Group via Zoom with our host/convener, the gracious Ali Grimshaw >> https://flashlightbatteries.blog/online-writing-circles/ and after listening to her recite a selected piece of poetry, we are then encouraged to write our own poetic response in “6 mins” … mine was a rough draft, and here is my completed poem.
Wishing Tree
I spend my time with words
My time is not just about words
My words evolve from my thoughts
My thoughts are the fruits
Of my life’s Wishing Tree
Faded wishes and lost dreams
Of where my heart has been
New wishes and dreams
Of what my soul is trying to achieve
My time is not just about words
Until Eyes Hear Sound Not available on Lulu or Amazon yet … but you may purchase it from me, via this web page or my email >> ivorrs20@gmail.com
The Event is probably the biggest Book Festival in Australia and “I’ll be there this weekend, March 23rd & 24th”, in one of the many “Book Trader Marquees”.
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 