Half-way through and spirits are bouyant (From Ledbury Reporter)

Half-way through and spirits are bouyant

11:57am Wednesday 9th July 2008

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Festival director Chloe Garner shares her latest thoughts with us.

We are now half way through the Festival and spirits are buoyant! After the hectic pace of the weekend, the middle of the week seems slow. It isn't.

As I write Joy Roderick is leading a sold-out poetry reading workshop on religion. The sold-out Architecture of Ledbury walk is setting off and thankfully it is raining but not pouring. Soon Jehane Markham and her jazz trio will begin their rehearsal and Jackie Kay's sold-out workshop will start.

Is there a theme emerging? Yes we have had a good number of sell-outs, but we are hoping for many more!

Last night I went to Icebytes to the open mic led by the Homend Poets. The café was full and people were gaily tucking into crepes and coffees and cakes, while listening to poetry and music. I had to blink and remind myself that I had not been transported to San Francisco café society, where Beat poets read their poems and Allen Ginsberg prowled the City Lights Bookshop.

There have been many poets browsing the bookshops of Ledbury since the Festival started and they have said how great it is to see wonderful poetry-inspired shop windows ranging from a Velvet Bean chocolate Ledbury Poetry Festival sign to poems in the Cottage Florist window.

I think all these gestures, from displays to posters in windows make the visitors to the Festival feel really welcome, increasing their excitement and sense of being part of something special. Which they are!

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