A major publisher wanted my poetry collection

But it never happened. And while at first, I was gutted - I’ve now realised that creatively, it might have been for the best.

It’s the summer of 2021 and I’m in Margate. The sun is beating down on the hot grey paving stones, as it always is when we come here, and my shoulders are probably burnt.

We’ve been swimming in the sparkling sea and celebrating our wedding anniversary, drinking Negronis and eating sourdough pizza in the square. The kids are happy, we’re happy.

Everything …