Heather Moulson

Made Up

Hello Poetry Lovers

Today, we cover one of my favourite subjects – Beauty.

Particularly cosmetics. A more painful learning curve than you would think, and an upward climb to getting that perfection right (if you ever do).

I think many memories here will resonate with most of us. Do read on…

Made Up

Mum went out the house with a smudge

of lipstick and face powder.

Sister would do some self-mutilating

eye liner and spit on cake mascara.

I longed for false eyelashes and disco

pink blusher

But toner took off half my skin,

loose powder granules swum in my handbag.

Mascara on my pillow,

traces of red lipstick on a teacup.

Tan-soaked tissues on the dressing

table – all slovenly attempts at beauty.

Foundation’s only good for covering

up love bites – and tears, yet it flowed like velvet.

And, with a dusky bronzer, glamour

found me. I had another face at last.

HM 2026

Phew! It was exhausting getting to that particular face, I tell you!

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry shenanigans real soon….

Cat on Holiday

Hello Poetry Lovers

Now, I’m reluctant for Dobby to see this poem as it wonderfully describes Trisha Broomfield’s lovely cat, Perry going on holiday. I do not want Dobby to get ideas!

However, if we keep it hush-hush, we can enjoy this great pantoum from Trisha and all the preparation our cats demand from us when they’re going away.

Do read on

Perry Packs for his Holiday

Perry packs for his holiday

insisting on gold lame boots

of course he will ask me to pay

he’s taking red and white swimsuits

insisting on gold lame boots

he’s cleaned his tux for dinner dates

he’s taking red and white swimsuits

a pair of sparkly roller skates

he’s cleaned his tux for dinner dates

his carry bag is full of treats

a pair of sparkly roller skates

he’s fussy about what he eats

his carry bag is full of treats

he’ll munch through Dreamies every day

he’s fussy about what he eats

his saxophone he plans to play

he’ll munch through Dreamies every day

of course he will ask me to pay

his saxophone he plans to play

Perry packs for his Holiday

©TB

Wasn’t that a great piece?! Thank you so much, Trisha, and I hope Perry has a great time! Will you get a postcard?! Let us know.

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…

To Ann

Hello Poetry Lovers

My second dedication in the Slummy Mummy collection is to Ann Buxton.

One of those people you meet over a crowded playground and never look back.

Ann was a warm and welcoming human being, taken from us far too soon. A great loss to everyone particularly her four daughters and her lovely husband Mark.

Funny, even though we were good friends, it was hard to write about Ann. So I’ve kept it very simple in a series of haikus. Do read on

Your silky long hair

You were a playground force

I take home children

You took on the world

And still smiled at everyone

I only complained

Unforgettable

You’re still there in the school yard

I still get maudlin

HM 2026

The economical references gave me a clearer picture of Ann. I hope these pieces did the same for you.

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. Next week we have a cat going on holiday. Don’t touch that dial !!

Slummy Mummy Dedications

Hello Poetry Lovers

Okay, I’ve plugged Slummy Mummy but now it’s time to feature the real reason for its emergence.

This book is dedicated to two of my school mum friends who left us too soon. I’ll feature Kate Dodd in this post, and the lovely Ann Buxton in the next.

Katie was adorable and a real bolster on the afternoon school pick-ups. My son was close friends with her boy in those intense years of 3 & 4.

I have no photos of Katie, we weren’t so camera obsessed in the early noughties, but I’ve drawn pictures from my rosy memories of her. Anyway, read on;

Kate

Kate, I hope you like this material

and that it makes you immortal

I wonder if I can feel your presence

although I don’t believe in the paranormal

I will never forget Petersham Nurseries

where we had lemon cake and coffee

Trying not to choke on their fancy prices

and the lovely Senem ordered banoffee

She went back to Turkey

and our boys grew up and apart

We moved to chatting in the street

But friendship still ingrained in my heart

then a former school mum

told me that you had abruptly left

Twickenham suffered a terrible blow

and Petersham Nurseries was bereft

Did you fly through their glass panes?

in the guise of red breasted robin?

a symbol of a departed soul?

I hope not because I’m scared of them!

H Moulson 2026

Kate had a great sense of humour and she would appreciate that last line! Why do people leave us like this?!

Anyway, back to plugging the book…..stay tuned.

Slummy Mummy

Hello Poetry Lovers

As you may have noticed, I’ve dropped very subtle hints that my pamphlet Slummy Mummy is out now!

Please see a wonderful review of these child rearing capers from Sharron Green.

A review of Slummy Mummy by Heather Moulson

Just when you thought it was safe to enter the playground…

by Sharron Green

Heather Moulson has cleverly crafted a party platter of nostalgic nibbles that anyone who’s been a child will relish.

The joys of nappies, free school milk, spiteful teachers and fickle friends are intricately examined, providing an education and a relatable comparison to modern days.

Heather contrasts her childhood experiences with those of parenting this century, and we discover both how little, and how much, has changed.

The shock of adulting; parental growing pains; the torment and torpor of waiting at the school gate; are spiced up by pen portraits of the mummies of today.

That’s where the eponymous Slummy Mummy emerges (whose ‘work is never done’), and her bandmates Yummy, Eco, Scary and Average.

The pages are dripping with dry humour and keen observations. My favourites combine this with touching wistfulness – the little boy who’s ‘grime knee’d and puppy dog tailed’ but ‘when you finally fall asleep… I will miss you’.

Accompanied by Heather’s wonderful illustrations which capture the essence of her poetry, Slummy Mummy can be consumed in one delicious sitting – but you’ll definitely return for second helpings.

Thank you so much, Sharron for that fabulous review.

Well, PL’s! Why are you still sitting there?! Get out and get a copy now! Available from Amazon and Julie Slagg’s Emporium.

Body Shop

Hello Poetry Lovers

It’s that time of year again, the weather is warmer and we show parts of our body that are hidden away in winter.

Who wouldn’t be critical as our bare flesh emerges?! Wonderful poet Trisha Broomfield tells us what we’re all thinking in this very personal piece that sums this all up beautifully

Where did my body go?

Where did my body go
the one that fitted all my clothes
without that struggle or breath
in

what happened to that skin
taught and tight and snappy
not rolled over waist bands but
thin

I’ll have to donate clothes to the bin
charity cases all of them
looking good on hangers is a
sin

I like baked beans from the tin
have developed a passion for
chocolate, despite exercise I can’t
win

too lazy to try a class and spin
I’ll buy a bigger size,
develop a glow from
within.

©TB

Wasn’t that a terrific and painfully true piece?! Thank you so much, Trisha. Please keep them coming.

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry adventures real soon…

Dobby at Centerparcs

Hello Poetry Lovers

As I may have mentioned (once or twice), I recently had a holiday in Centerparcs.

Now, of course you would know that I missed Dobby terribly – even if she does cause trouble!

So I began to think what it would be like if Dobby had tagged along. Assuming it was a successful trip, this is how I think it would go….do read on.

Dobby at Centerparcs

If Dobby came to Centerparcs

She’d fool around, have such larks

For once, the tricky feline won’t be bored

With a roomy villa, bed and board

Of all the activities, they are offering

Quad biking would be her favourite thing

Then Go Ape, swinging off a tree

While I pay, sit and have a cup of tea

Now swimming, she would find repulsive

But I agree, it is not seductive

Dobby and I prefer to keep dry

Because we have bigger fish to fry

Archery, go-carting and the rest

But my cat likes her afternoon sleep best

The pampered feline dreams of fishy goods

Before she explores out in the woods

First of all, our heroine treads in fear

In case she encounters a roaming deer

But as we pack up to go home

She has connected with them on her phone!

HM 2026

Do our pets have their own WhatsApp? Give secret messages to each other! Let rip about us? I wouldn’t be surprised.

I hope you enjoyed that, PL’s. Please send in any pet on holiday adventures our way.

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry capers shortly.

Adventures of a Poet

Hello Poetry Lovers

I’ve been offline a bit here so I thought I’d update you as to what I’ve been up to.

First stop was to Nottingham where I stayed and caught up with my lovely friend Pat Iger. We go years back so there was a lot of rich ground to cover.

Talking of rich ground, I was invited to feature at Speech Therapy by the wonderful Keith Ford on 5th June. I was proud to be part of the Nottingham Poetry Festival

Although shy and daunted at first, it didn’t take me long to come out of my shell, and the audience were welcoming and receptive.

All talented poets themselves, there were genius pieces read out.

Okay, so we come back south – to Walton on Thames in fact.

We had a great Booming Lovelies gig with the U3A, as part of the Elmbridge Literature Festival. This was organised by talented poet Katie Griffiths. Thank you so much, Katie for inviting us.

Then a week at Center Parcs in Woburn with the family. I wouldn’t say it was a relaxing holiday but I enjoyed the cocktails!

And then I arrive home to this

I know! I know! Finally here…

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry adventures real soon…..

Slummy Mummy Out Now!

Yes, Poetry Lovers. It’s here at last! Get your copy now!

The Slummy Mummy Launch Party part II

Okay, Poetry Lovers, despite Dobby’s exile, the Launch Party got seriously out of hand!

And things began to get nasty…

The Police had to intervene…

The main troublemakers, including the Times Literary Editor and two thirds of The Booming Lovelies, spent the night behind bars. Protected from society