so i was meant to be in Ireland reading, had booked my ticket (a great price too, $1287 return from sydney to glasgow – never heard of such a thing!) however i very randomly got very sick, very suddenly and ended up in hospital and had to cancel the entire thing. so that wednesday, rather than sitting on a supremely uncomfortable airplane chair, calling the air hostess to bring me one of those tiny bottles of gin, i was instead, lying in a hospital bed nil-by-mouth. but some glorious people, namely my incredible friend and extraordinary poet Anne Casey, Irish Poet Eleanor Hooker & Australian-Irish Poet Nat O’Reilly read my poems at the readings on my behalf.  A generous and touching gesture i’ll remember till i die. which i don’t anticipate being any time soon.