What can I tell you about today’s scenes? There’s a lot of suspicion, maybe even paranoia (but is it justified?), and a cataclysmic loss of decorum and temper.

Car park shenanigans and closing scenes, Spaghetti-western style - and the first night shoot…

…I could do with a smattering of the Force, ‘cos I’ve got a night shoot tonight until 5:30 in the morning - so the diary proper is going to have to wait until I wake up later tomorrow…

A dramatic week this week, some of it completely unscripted…

A week of firsts: first day of filming and first day filming on the hillside…

Gorropu Canyon. Deepest canyon in Europe, so deep you could fit the Empire State Building in there. Oh. My. God. I have never attempted such a strenuous and physically demanding hike in my life.

…after yesterday, flying from Lisbon to Munich to Olbia, the main cast is assembled in Cala Gonone on the east coast of Sardinia for the first full read of the script…

…and I’m saving the biggest, bestest news until last. After a loooong period of thespian inactivity, I’m going to be an actor again!

In a feature film. In Sardinia…

…we’re not back on the grid just yet, but our local council have very kindly donated a big red generator to our village so we can have light and heat and internet, which is pretty ace.

I joined in for the second half and did a couple of poems - I Am Not and Sanctuary, both of which seemed to go down pretty well.

…I mean, it’s all very well, spending your time sweating over getting the words in the right order on the page - but what about when you have to present it to your friends and peers? Or to a crowd of strangers? It can be kind of nerve-wracking…

…wherever you are, whatever deity you may or may not believe in, do your best to be nice to each other. At least until the Monopoly board comes out.

Bem, aqui estão mais algumas novidades: a partir de janeiro, vou abrir uma nova filial do Wordplay Writers Club em Alvaiázere, juntamente com o Jim, um dos membros fundadores do clube e um tipo simpático em todos os aspetos (além de ser um escritor fantástico!).

Well, here’s some more news - from January 2026, I’m going to be opening a new branch of the Wordplay Writers Club in Alvaiázere together with Jim, one of the founder members of the Club, and all-round nice bloke (he’s also one hell of a writer)!

In this chapbook, Dave Kurley may be the narrator describing something that really happened to him as a kid. He could be retelling a tale he heard about someone he went to school with. Perhaps he’s writing a poetic narrative with an imaginary protagonist to explore an actual occurrence in his past, and maybe make sense of it.

It’s the first of December - officially the start of the inevitable and inexorable build-up to Christmas (unless you work in a supermarket, in which case you’ve probably been stocking the shelves with crackers and wrapping paper since September), so I thought I’d take this opportunity to share a few things with you.

If you would like a copy of Writhing: An Anthology, please message me on here, and I’ll get back to you. The book costs €8, plus postage and packaging.