Well done, class of 2010!

After the initial embarrassment of walking into the wrong lecture theatre, I managed to fine the right room for the Student Publication Launch. Most of the final year Creative Writing students lookws more nervous than I need to say.

I wasn't looking forward to it. Two hours seemed far too long to sit down and listen to other people talk about their work. Little did I know what a treat was in store for me.

After a short introduction from Jonathan Taylor the first group took to the podium. No doubt their stomachs dropped as they faced the audience of around 60. But what a marvellous job they did. Jordan Bacon, Tom Haymes and Rob Cotterell started the launch with a bang and soon got the audience in fits of giggles as they interpreted the language of the north for the benefit of southerners.

Highlights of the second half included T-shirts for dogs to raise money for charity. Good thinking Alexia Polemidioti, but I have to agree with Jonathan Taylor that there should be a range for cats too. There was also ia rather raunchy, graphic but humorous poem from Simone Byer and a website from Lauren O’Brien, who combined fashion and writing with fascinating results.

I’m left with a heavy feeling in my stomach from the realisation that at this point in two years I’ll be standing up there - most definitely quivering like a leaf and crying for my Mother. It was an outstanding event and I can’t deny that all deserve recognition for their hard work over the past three years.

Well done, class of 2010!

Natalia Chrystalla Boileau

How awful!

As I sat watching the third-year, soon-to-be-gone creative writing students discuss their work, it was difficult to think that I and my fellow first years would also inevitably have to face this daunting task at some point too.

How awful.

The third years had produced all sorts of publications, from menus to poetry books, websites, short stories, table mats and even dog T-shirts. One by one they told us why they chose to do their pieces and made it seem almost simple.

All the time my cowardly self was thinking, "Jolly good - but rather you than me standing up there." Yet most of the students seemed calm and genuinely proud to be showing their work.

I only hope that in around two years time I'll feel that way - and that the years don't go too quickly.

Leigh Connelly

More than a bunch of readings

I attended the creative writing launch, to check out what I'd be doing in two years time, and wasn't sure what to expect - maybe just a bunch of readings?

But, no it was actually really good, and I was impressed by everyone! To think that will be me, not too far in the future, is scary!

There was a strong sense of creativity in the pieces and the way they were presented. It was obvious the whole group was passionate about writing.

Some of the highlights in the session were Claire Baldwin's Japanese poetry on postcards, Simone Byer who gave a strong reading of her poem "It's been a while", Tom Gray's poetry on wooden blocks (different, but it worked really well), Becki Griffiths' fantastic website based around women's views about getting older, Jennifer Jumbo's poetry based on her religion, George Martin and his professional-looking website, Tom Newport's placemat poetry, not to mention the dog T-shirts... a little bizarre, but really funny and with a good message.

The huge array of different ideas, both in terms of presentation and ideas was fantastic, and gave me lots of ideas to think about. It was definitely the highlight of cultural exchanges so far!


Gemma Carey

Launching the Demon Crew

The Demon Crew Launch was definitely not what I was expecting. I feared some boring, normal readings or monotonous droning, but was really impressed with how much work had gone into all of the pieces - not to mention the pure guts it must have taken to stand up there and read and show their own work. There was quite a range: postcards, train tracks, websites ... even doggy t-shirts.

Not only was all the work of an exceptional standard, the students were all great performers. They really knew how to work the audience so that we were laughing when they wanted us to, and silent and thoughtful when that was needed.

I only hope they haven’t set the bar too high for when I get to that stage in a few years time. I’m starting to practise my cues now.


Rachel Robson

Rum, anyone?

Booking events for Cultural eXchanges proved rather problematic. Each time the website declared it was 'timed out' - an obvious lie. I knew it couldn't take twenty minutes to book four tickets. This caused me to lose the little faith I had in the festival. Spending a week at home, tucked up in my bed, clutching a copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula seemed much more inviting, even if I was reading the novel before beginning the essay I'd already put off for weeks.

Fortunately, my faith was restored after Michael McMillan's The Front Room, a poignant yet humorous presentation, speaking of the lives of immigrants moving to Britain during the 1950's and 1960's. Their expedition to England was 'like going to the moon,' leaving their old lives behind, and creating a new identity amongst the terraced houses which seemed so unusual to the newcomers. McMillan described England as 'the land of milk and honey' which, in all honesty, greatly amused me. I'd much rather be sat on a Caribbean beach, soaking up some of those much needed sun-rays and sipping on some good ol' rum.

Later, Alexei Sayle made an appearance, after being delayed in London traffic during the rush-hour. I was too young to know The Young Ones so my friends took the opportunity to educate me prior to Alexei’s visit. I endured watching the comedy on retro VHS, wondering what on earth the characters were wearing. Sat right at the back of the lecture theatre, all I could see were the tops of two bald heads. Despite this, I laughed on numerous occasions, and left the Clephan Building clutching a signed copy of Alexei Sayle's Mister Roberts - and knowing his mother had never allowed him to watch Bambi.

Laura