a snippet of my veggie garden going wild
It was a bit of shock getting a letter inviting me to accept a New Year’s Honour (Member of NZ Order of Merit). Like Eileen Duggan I felt a bit flabbergasted, embarrassed and touched by the invitation. I was busy reading my way through Eileen’s archives when I got the letter – which seemed slightly uncanny as I was reading her thoughts on her Queen’s Honour along with poetry, books and New Zealand.
I do want to thank everyone in New Zealand who supports poetry: all the poets, publishers, readers, booksellers, festival organisers, media, reviewers and children poetry fans.
It is a special honour and I am grateful.
And I am so delighted to see the very wonderful Bernadette Hall also honoured.
Helen Rickerby’s Seraph Press published poetry books by both Bernadette and I in 2016, coincidentally.
Best wishes for a fabulous year of poetry in 2017.
Wonderful news and greatly deserved! Congratulations!
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thank you so much
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Totally thrilled by the fact that your passion and talent and dedication have been rewarded. You’ve made my day!
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Wow! What a lovely comment – thanks so much
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Fantastic news; highly deserved; you are an obvious choice!!!!!! Congratulations and jubilations, Paula.
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thank you so much Emma.
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Congratulations to you and Bernadette. All the best for 2017.
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Thanks Tim!
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Congratulations, Paula! What a great note to end the year on … for you and for all of us poetry lovers!
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thanks so much!
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Hi Paula, what absolutely wonderful news! I’m just starting to get back into the swing & catching up on news after having a very offline holiday. Was really delighted to see you being honoured for the huge amount you do to support & invigorate poetry and literature in Aotearoa, not to mention your own poetry. Well deserved!
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thanks – it was a lovely surprise!
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