Tuesday March 24

A full big table, despite apologies from several regulars. Zoe Meyer said she was putting her Sage Publishing books (see July 16 blog) up for sale: any offers? Kent Barker has another potential volume for Bristol Book Publishing, whose publisher expressed thanks to Rohan Barnett for his help in getting the website up and running. Penny Tweedie, back from Australia, has been asked by the NUJ to do a slide show of her work for the annual photographers conference on May 18: Penny wonders if a few Groucho people would be prepared to give her critical feedback if she can organise some kind of pre-viewing. Tuesday is (sometimes) darts night at The Bull, so we were a little overwhelmed towards the end.

Monday March 10

The Monday evening always comes round quickly. For those who haven't got the hang of it yet, it works like this:
The get-togethers are held every fortnight, and so that we can catch people who have specific days of the week they can't make, we rotate through the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – not Friday because that's getting into quality time. This get-together being a Moday means that the next one is a Tuesday.
Mondays are always a lightish night, but nevertheless there were enough of us there to have at least three conversations going on at once. Clare Clifford-Jones was a welcome new face. She is living in Cranbrook, used to be in TV and video production and is looking for work. Kent was helpful with broadcasting avenues.
Clare is the 40th person to join the disreputable ranks of Groucho.

Thursday, February 26

Well, that was a good party...
Simon Spanswick had just returned from the IADIS International Conferece Mobile Learning 2009 in Barcelona, where he had chaired a discussion on broadcast and mobile convergence. He brought news of the lastest mobile phones with inbuilt projectors to show powerpoint or watch movies etc.
Talk of software ranged from script programmes to ensure continuity (Dick Stevenson), Scrivener for writers (Rohan Barnett), and Freeway web software (Clive Crook), on which there is a discount for the over-60s!
Ruth and Giles Clark returned, Giles with news about his new Wave and Tidal Energy News webzine, an addition to his biofuels web journal: he is an in-demand alternative energy talking head these days, frequently popping to the BBC studios at Tunbridge Wells. Ruth got into a huddle with Zoe Meyer and hatched a project, which no doubt we will hear about in due course.
Kate Crook promised to chase up shy artists and encourage them to attend. Caroline Radula Scott said she had not heard back from David Hemmings about his Caribbean project.
At 7.48 Emma Freeman made an entrance. She photographs children, and you can see her mainly black-an-white work on her website – click on her name below right.
Another newcomer was Nick Snow, publisher and editor-in-chief of €uromedia. He lives just up the road and it's a wonder he has not dropped by before.

Thanks to all those who responded to Kate Stevens' question about work experience for her son William.

Next Groucho: Monday, March 9

Wednesday February 11

There is a new Groucho South-East Resources page, with local Mac support, websites etc on it. Check it out (www.grouchosoutheast.blogspot.com, or click on the link in the blurb in the box, top right) and let me know what you think. All additions are, of course welcome...

Tuesday, January 27

I cannot recommend more highly a book called Imperium, reportage from Russia by the late, great Ryszard Kapuscinski.

Has anybody tried using Google's My Maps for plotting the way to their house, their favourite pubs or places they have visited/ photographed/ reported from around the world? Will we ever be allowed to get away from our screens?

I have a book launch at Stamfords in London tonight (a travel guide to the Silk Road, since you ask, in which I played a small but not insignificant role), so I may be absent. You will not notice.

The next Meejabub is tomorrow (Wednesday), at the Hotel du Vin in Tunbridge Wells as usual.

Monday, January 12

First get-together in 2009. So much to talk about, including...
Revolution! Cuba '58, Kent's new book about the Cuban revolution, published on-line. Did you hear him on Radio 4?
Penny Tweedie's classic Aborigine picture snapped up by a new book on The Survivors, about indigenous peoples around the world.
Unfortunately neither of them were there to receive our accolades...

However... Bruce Hemming was there to tell us about his photographic project of Lewes bonfire night. It will be exhibited later this year in Pelham House in Lewes, and in Hastings Town Hall.
The usual suspects were joined by Caroline Radula Scott, sub and editor, her first visitation since th old Grouch days in Goudhurst. And was nice to see Minnie Garnier again, though I was at the far end of the table and failed to catch her news.

Tuesday, December 16

Last get-together before Christmas
You can all buy me a drink! Well, to be fair, you usually do.

• Christmas gift idea of the week from Death-top Publishing. We publish your life story in a short run, to be distributed to friends and family at your funeral. The speed of modern publishing means it could include your last words!

• There's a Meejahub meeting at the Hotel du Vin in Tunbridge Wells on Wednesday, from 6pm to 8:30pm in the Dom Perignon Lounge.