TEDx Luxembourg

I'm giving a TEDx talk at the University of Luxembourg on 26th October 2018. If you're around, do come. You can find details here.

BBC World Service Interview

Did a little interview with BBC World Service about me and Dés's piano building project. Starts around 48 mins in. Unfortunately, due to my internet connection at the moment, I can't actually listen to it, so hope it's okay!

If it is no longer available on the BBC, you can listen to it here.

Novel Remedy

Which stories do you turn to when you're feeling unwell? Helen Zaltzman takes a look at the healing power of books.

We’ll Become the Stars

A short story by Gábor Csigás, who did the cover art for Those Rosy Hours. 

We’ll Become the Stars

Sunflower Story

A gentleman in our village recently died. He was very well liked and there was a large memorial service for him. He was also a poet, and one of his poems was on display on top of the font. I hope - wherever he is now - he won't mind me sharing.

Sunflowers

    Sunflowers, like people, stand up and
    look over fences,
    drop their faces against the wind,
    drive artists insane.

    Big yellow suns,
    the compact core shimmering,
    the fire-tongued petals.
    No surprise if sunflowers walked,
    a natural movement for their fluid stems,
    the gesturing leaves.

    But these bodies of fire
    burn themselves out,
    like a spent man bent and withered,
    pathetic victims of their own fierce glory,
    the ages of man,
    the sunflower story.

    - Nigel Townsend

Hollowell Steam Rally 2018

So much fun at Hollowell Steam Rally last weekend. Currently in the UK doing all things British, from cream teas to real ale and pork scratchings. Wonderful summer weather, too. Bit of a write-up here.

ImagineWe Interview

Lovely interview with my friend Nicky from ImagineWe. A fantastic publishing house based in Kigali, Rwanda. I did a bit of editing with them on This is Life so it's great to hear it's done so well. Video from this article: This young author is out to change Rwanda’s reading, writing culture. You can find ImagineWe on their website, on Facebook and Twitter.