This is my new beginning

I went to Cheltenham to hear my favourite poet speak. Everyone said I should meet her, so I did. That was a low point. But everything else was wonderful.

When I was in my early 20s, I went to Latitude Festival - maybe it was the first year it ran - and listened to Patti Smith recite her poetry. It was truly wonderful.

Afterwards, I queued up to meet her.

My boyfriend, at the time, had bought me a festival ticket for my birthday, knowing I loved Patti Smith, and he filmed me as I approached the front of the queue.

I’d written Patti a poem, which I handed to her. I was giddy and starstruck. I asked her a question. She threw the poem to one side, mumbled a response and quickly signed my book.

It was deeply disappointing. And embarrassing. There is still a film of it out there somewhere.

That was nearly 20 years ago, so when I got a last-minute ticket to hear Wendy Cope, who is my favourite poet - or, at least, the author of my favourite poem (After the lunch) - speak at Cheltenham, I thought I’d try again.