THIS SNIPPET IN THE GUARDIAN THIS MORNING

TUESDAY OCT 16 (MAN BOOKER DAY)

As if to live up to her image as a voracious consumer of literature in Alan Bennett's recent novella The Uncommon Reader, the Queen is throwing open Buckingham Palace for poetry today. There will be a lunchtime reception, readings and recitals given by luminaries such as Andrew Morton and Roger McGough.

Several hundred teenagers from schools across London will be attending the 28 workshops, held in state rooms across the palace, with the aim of encouraging them to read and write poetry of their own.

Other poets present will include Wendy French, Chrissie Gittins, Coral Rumble and Jacob Sam-La Rose.

Bookman Beattie says good on you your Majesty!

Roger McCough pic from http://www.rogermcgough.org.uk/gallery.htm

And on the subject of poetry these lines from Wendy Cope, poet and Man Booker Prize judge this year, as quoted in The Independent this morning:

The day he moved out was terrible

That evening she went through hell

His absence wasn't a problem

But the corkscrew had gone as well.

And this snippet from The Times today:

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Sir Ian McKellen spoke of taking tea with Sir Edmund Hillary while the actor was filming The Lord of the Rings in New Zealand

"He was complaining about the steepness of his drive," McKellen said of the Everest hero. "Which was ironic."