Further Adventures of the Booming Lovelies

Hello Poetry Lovers

Well, what can I say about our gig at Cranleigh Arts Festival on 12th May?! A great reading with a terrific and supportive audience. And our fourteenth BL show.

This is us, Trisha applying her beautiful lipstick, Sharron doing a soundcheck and me – er – limbering up!

Thank you to Jeremy Elson for his great organisation, and to Chris Dubois for the marvellous lighting and sound.

Also thanks to the lovely and supportive volunteers whose names I didn’t catch. Forgive me. You, and the terrific audience, all made our third appearance at Cranleigh an unforgettable one.

The following day, we set off to Weybridge to record poetry for Brooklands Radio Poetry in Motion feature, with the great presenter Brea Gosling and resident poet Lesley North.

It was a unique experience and thanks to producer Graham Laycock for his support and patience with me.

What a couple of days!

Tune in to hear us on Brooklands Radio on the Poetry in Motion show on Tuesday 19th May at 8pm

And our next Booming Lovelies performance is on Sunday 7th June at Elmbridge Literature Festival

www.riverhousebarn.co.uk/events/156349

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

Seasons

Hello Poetry Lovers

Well, Summer is in sight and not everyone is wild about it. Hands up who’s not that keen! Tell me I’m not the only one!

Well, here’s a piece that expresses my true feelings.

As you can from the above montage, Dobby is also ambivalent about this season. Although she does sunbathe in the garden a lot. However, Dobby approves of this triolet, so read on

Summer

Memories of past summers sit on my skin

Some of them not worth recalling

Boring, lonely, only fit for the bin

Memories of past summers sit on my skin

Even good summers don’t get a look in

Perhaps they were just as appalling

Memories of past summers sit on my skin

Some of them not worth recalling.

HM 2023

Now, wasn’t that the most miserable poem about summer you have ever heard?!

Or not?! If you know of any worse summer poems than that, then send them on a postcard to Dobby! We would love to see them.

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

Grown Up

Hello Poetry Lovers

Hopefully I should have my Slummy Mummy pamphlet out soon.

It’s not just about parents, it takes us back to our own schooldays too.

Why I want to revisit those schooldays, or go back to the school run is a mystery to me but…..

Anyway, here is a piece from this second collection titled Grown Up. I wonder if a lot of us have questioned the situation we found ourselves in. Hope you like it ……

Grown Up

A gold band on a swollen finger.

No half fare on the bus.

Pregnancy scares now welcomed,

awaited, encouraged!

When’s the next one? A standard response.

What happened to Tiger Feet at the disco?!

Scrubber Browne going behind the girls toilets?!

Why is the off-licence now a vape shop?!

And the Wimpy Bar a Café Nero?!

What treachery is this?!

From a girl’s pink bedroom, I’ve been carried 

 over the threshold to a grown-up house,

full of people who need me.

But my platform shoes must still be under the bed?!

And my mates will call for me at 7?! 

Instead of going out at 3 for the school run?!

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. Slummy Mummy will be available soon.

The Booming Lovelies at St Albans

Hello Poetry Lovers

Yes, the Booming Lovelies made it to St Albans, kindly invited by Ver Poets. We had been looking forward to this reading for some time.

St Alban’s library had a terrific performance space and it was nice to see Stephen Claughton again, and to meet Mark Randles face to face.

A little nervous in an intimate space, we performed our set to a great audience. The crowd were receptive and enthusiastic. Not a Julie in sight, so that was a relief!

It was our new show and we appreciated the support.

After a short break, we had a joy of poets performing at the open mic, including the vibrant and prolific Dennis Tomlinson.

We were moved and touched by how many poets bought our books, and we were energised by the support we were given.

We finally let Stephen and Mark go home, and sought substenance at Bakers & Baristas, a local cafe.

Julian, Trisha’s husband, is on the right, who had kindly brought Trisha and Sharron. (Took them home too, natch).

Meanwhile, I did some sightseeing and explored the Tesco Metro before heading off myself, tired but happy.

Thank you, Ver Poets, for such a terrific day.

We can’t wait for our next show at Cranleigh Arts Centre on 12th May. We hope to see you there. Booking link below

https://cranleigharts.org/event/the-booming-lovelies-are-back-2026-05-12/

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

Puss Shoa

Hello Poetry Lovers

I’d like to feature another Shoa poem today.

You remember this form – six lines each stanza with 4 syllables each line. (come on, keep up!).

Wonderful poet Trisha Broomfield has written a marvellous piece on our favourite subject! Cats! Especially the ‘gifts’ her cat brings her.

It’s terrific, do read on

Holiday done

now we’re back home

cat’s brought a mouse

into the house 

welcome home gift

pleased with himself

I’m clearing up

parts he won’t eat

he can’t see why

I sadly sigh

‘No more mice puss,

we’ve had enough.

I know its all

calculation

you want Dreamies,

a life of ease

these mice are bribes

you’re insistent

persistent puss,

but you leave heads

on my clean floor

now, out the door!’

Crestfallen cat

understands not.

©TB

They are persistent, aren’t they, these feline joys. I bet he got Dreamies in the end! Wonderful piece, Trisha. Thank you so much. More please.

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s for our cat hour. We’ll be back with more poetry antics real soon…

Pet’s Corner

Hello Poetry Lovers

Welcome back to Pet’s Corner.

Now, we’ve had pieces about cats, this time it’s the dog’s turn.

Lovely poet Sharron Green shares with us the turmoil of having a new puppy. A wonderful upbeat piece, despite the sheer slog of a new arrival, do read on…

Ooops I did it again …

I thought getting a puppy
sounded a good idea,
but I’ll admit to second thoughts
now that he is here.

I’d forgotten the disruption,
of the early days,
the sleepless nights and puddles,
the bold and wilful ways.

The holes in clothes and scratches;
the sharpness of each tooth;
the constant in- and outing;
attempts to puppy-proof.

The covering of surfaces;
blocked nooks and crannies too;
the squirrelling of treasures;
he might topple or gnaw through.

Anxiety at illnesses
that could catch him unawares,
and oh so many perils
to pepper my nightmares.

I thought getting a puppy
sounded a good idea,
but I recognise the challenges
now that he is here.

@rhymes_n_roses

Hmm…I bet Sharron wouldn’t swap him for the world though! We love these animals despite everything!

Wasn’t that a terrific piece?! Thank you so much, Sharron. More please! Perhaps you Poetry Lovers have a tail(!) of your own about your loved pet. Answers on a postcard please….

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

Standing Room Only

Hello Poetry Lovers

I thought it was time to feature some Spike Milligan and his wonderful children’s poetry.

As we have just had Easter, it would be nice to stay on a religious theme (albeit a tongue in cheek one).

My children loved this piece when they were small. I think they were shocked by the last line.

A stunning poem from a very talented man. Do read on…

Standing Room Only

‘This population explosion’

Said Peter to St Paul,

‘Is really getting far too much,

Just look at that crowd in the hall.

Even here in heaven

There isn’t any room,

I think the world could do with less,

Much less fruit in the womb.’

Thus heaven is overcrowded,

the numbers are starting to tell,

So when the next lot knock at the gates,

tell ‘em to go to hell. 

Spike Milligan

Wasn’t that a wonderful piece?! Very wry and clever. I’m afraid I don’t know the date of this poem so I’ve just put Spike Milligan’s name there.

Any favourites of this genius that you have, please send in to the usual address.

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

The Booming Lovelies Etcetera

Hello Poetry Lovers

Well, the big day arrived for the Booming Lovelies at the Etcetera Theatre in Camden.

We got there early to the Oxford Arms where the Etcetera Theatre lived upstairs. Camden was vibrant and crowded while we had our – er business meeting!

With enough Gin inside us, we made our way upstairs at 2.30

’Our’ dressing room was bijou and delightful.

And then, at last, we were on! I adored that moody lighting and that we couldn’t see the audience! A real proper theatre again.

Our set went well on that tiny stage, and we had a great audience.

Downstairs we had our own production party. Gals on the inside, guys on the outside. I did my level best to merge them together!

Even the cold weather and manic pace of Camden could not spoil that afternoon. Thank you to all our friends for coming!

What a gig and occasion. Catch us on the 12th May at Cranleigh Book Festival. Can’t wait

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

Undie Corner

Hello Poetry Lovers

Racy title eh? Inspired by the enigmatic Alan Gregory, this is my attempt at a Shoa poem.

And who can resist writing about underwear?! And why do we get through so much of it?! This is a lament to the underwear we have loved and lost. Do read on…

Underlings

Knickers and bras

Grey and dusty

Once splendid

Your life ended

Fit for the bin

But keep in touch  

Loose elastic

Loveless and slack

Uninviting

Unexciting

You’ve had your day

Don’t be strangers

Cotton gussets

So soft and new

Reassuring

Somewhat boring

Brings me new life

Give me a ring

My Petticoat

Grows discoloured

Their secret noise

Attracted boys

Now gone silent

Send a postcard

HEM 2026

So, did you think that was a fair assessment, PL’s? With the correct syllable count too!

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