@davidbelbin
Nottingham novelist. Poetry reader. Music nerd. Movie lover. From October 25-March 26, I'm publishing 'Greeneland' a serial novel set 100 years ago, covering Graham Greene's 4 months in Nottingham davidbelbin.substack.com. A dog, a job, a woman & a church.
Photo of author Cecil Roberts at the age he was when he met Greene (mid-thirties but always looked older),
Who was Cecil Roberts? As popular & respected as Ian McEwan or William Boyd in his day, now remembered, if at all, as a Graham Greene footnote. And even then he was excised from 'A Sort of Life'. I explain why in this bonus post to serial novel, 'Greeneland'. davidbelbin.substack.com/p/cecil-robe...
Begin our analytical journey here: cantabit is a verb, a doing word: it’s the 3rd person singular future active indicative of the verb “to sing” and means he or she will sing. (And O, ain’t it a fine thing to sing! – And if you can’t sing, try whistling.) Then vacuus is an adjective, a describing word, or modifier if you will (if you will use a fancier word). It’s masculine nominative singular, because it's describing, or modifying, a masculine nominative singular noun (viator) and it means "empty" or, in the context of this phrase, "empty-handed”. The next word on our grammatical odyssey is coram; it’s a preposition (not a proposition; the proposition will come later, if you play your cards right) governing the noun which is headed our way and means "in the presence of". And here is the noun it’s governing: latrone, a "robber" or "highwayman"; it's masculine ablative singular, if you really want to know, and you do, for we are all here to learn. What else is there beyond learning and, of course, good taste? And who, I hear you ask, is the subject of this syntactically intriguing sentence which has been hijacked for use as the title of this scribble that purports to be a poem? It's the viator, the "traveller" or "wayfarer". And so: the empty-handed traveller will sing in the presence of the highwayman.
The Empty-Handed Traveller. Love this witty new Martin Stannard poem over on Stride (and you learn some Latin). stridemagazine.blogspot.com/2026/03/the-... @imcmillan.bsky.social
My favourite comic of all time. I can't tell you how much I've spent on my (near complete) collection over the last thirty odd years, but it was money well spent. Bargain.
This is sensationally good. Thanks, Andy. 48 years old & the instruction at the start to plug your video player into your stereo remains apposite. I'd bookmark it for now then play large & loud at the right moment (which I just found, pedalling furiously on an exercise bike). Will be watching again.
I am playing Your Love by The Outfield, which I'd never come across. It's no Like A Prayer, is it?
TBH the speeches were all in Iranian so hard to say... no banners, just flags.
Small demonstration against US invasion of Iran, Sunday March 1st, Nottingham Market Square.
Woman in Iranian flag colours dances in Nottingham market square.
Got the day wrong for the fourth anniversary Ukraine demo and instead turned up for the first demo protesting the invasion of Iran. Couldn't understand the speeches but enjoyed the dance. And there was free food, which I resisted. Still, nice thought and good to see.
I read this recently and would have to say not. Of its time. Interestingly, my copy came from the library of the late film director Hugh Hudson (Chariots of Fire). There was a dedication from Fowles at the front which made it clear that Hudson was hoping to make a movie of it. Can't see it myself.
🔴 Paul Conroy’s Last Photo Essay: Cuba’s Moment of Reckoning,
Veteran war photographer and correspondent Paul Conroy died of natural causes a day after returning from Cuba with this report of another city under siege. He never stopped bearing witness
open.substack.com/pub/bylineti...
Enjoyed my first play yesterday (good thing as I'm seeing them four weeks tonight, a Belbin family outing). Now downloading the inevitable Japanese bonus disc. So much Gorillaz stuff out there, suspect I won't remember half what they play live but there's too much to go back to for pre gig homework.
After four months and thirty-seven chapters, each of them appearing a century to the day after the one it describes, Greeneland reachs its conclusion. Graham leaves Nottingham. The whole novel can now be read online (with an epilogue and bonus posts to come).
davidbelbin.substack.com/p/thirty-seven
Excellent news. Well done and see you soon.
About to settle in to The Book of Jonah, by @lukekennard.bsky.social my appetite whetted by this rave review from Rupert Loydell, in Litter.
www.littermagazine.org/2025/11/revi...
Watched it with my nephew who I'd turned onto The Big Lebowski to the point where it's his favourite film. Love Torturro but we were.. uh, disappointed.
Where Are You Tonight is my favourite number on Street Legal, which it closes. Delighted when Dylan played it at Blackbushe (my second Dylan show: the first being the opening night at Earl's Court, just before Street Legal came out, both in 1978). Pretty sure it was the highlight of that gig for me.
Was delighted when they played it at Blackbushe (my second Dylan show in 78, the first being the opening night at Earl's Court, just before Street Legal came out) and it was the highlight of that gig for me.
Craig Finn & McCrary Sisters play Where Are You Tonight? from Street Legal in the encore section of the Bob Dylan Center's Blonde on Blonde at 60 celebration in Tulsa. This was posted on facebook at my request and I thought I'd share it here. @raypadgett.bsky.social
www.facebook.com/reel/1991769...
The Unlimited Dream Company. Loved this 80 minute JG Ballard documentary, free to view. BJA Samuel uses numerous sources to create the best available intro to Jim's world. I owe JGB an enormous debt, for he accepted my first published short story, for Ambit, in 1989.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj0V...
And here's one of their splendid Ukranian-style reinventions of rock classics. I'll leave you to identify the number. Slava Ukraini!
Slava Ukraini! On the fourth anniversary of the invasion, here are The Ukranians opening their farewell tour at the Ukranian Cultural Centre in Sherwood last weekend. And remember there's a rally and march in Nottingham next Sunday. Meet Brian Clough statue in the Market Square, starting at 1.30PM.
It's all on Netflix UK now and it's a treat to be able to catch up in order rather than recording random episodes with stairlift ads from ITV3!
The Secret Agent is a slow burn: always involving and ultimately absorbing. It's not afraid to be bizarre, serious, complicated or moving. Well worth venturing out on a rainy night to see. www.theguardian.com/film/2026/fe...
Love guideline that 'you can review the work of someone you’ve had dinner or drinks with, but probably not someone who’s put you up at their place, especially for more than one night. Some incestuousness is inevitable... But you have to draw a line somewhere, or you’ll end up married to your cousin'
That was my first Van tour too, so keen I went twice. The first time in Sheffield, he did St Dominic's Preview. Fantastic. A few days later, in Derby, he didn't, and the whole performance felt phoned in. My favourite from Wavelength is Hungry For Your Love. Smiled at *postscript btw. Weren't we all?
Photo of the fascist+ pedophile president of the US at his desk in the Oval Office with caption 'Aide wearily begins 5th explanation of why Trump can't pardon Prince Andrew.'
Classic Onion.
Advert for Kiss me Again starring Marie Prevost and Monte Blue, directed by Ernst Lubitsch.
Today’s chapter of Greeneland is a few minutes late, but during the delay I did manage to locate a poster for the Ernst Lubitsch film Graham goes to, which I’ve never seen. Anyone know it? Sadly, the only version I can find is the 1930 remake. davidbelbin.substack.com/p/thirty-three
Either Larry Clark's Kids or a dreadful Britflick called The Final Cut, both of which I left within half an hour
Waiting for Cecil Roberts. There are three short chapters from Greeneland this week, before the epic conclusion at the end of the month. Time to catch up before the epilogue in early March.
davidbelbin.substack.com/p/thirty-one...
If you missed this the first time, do check out YP's time capsule now. The box set version of 1974 in the pop charts.
1992
