Trying to work, whilst creatures lurk
In Alien 3, is not so easy.
It’s not the horror, instead the bother
of working out, without a doubt,
the actors names, their claims to fame
some thirty years on from their fearful slaughters.
The son and I caught up with Alien 3 this evening (a few years late in my case!) What an amazing cast – although I had to age them 30 years to work out why they looked familiar.
(20.05.26)
It’s not the ride but the wait,
the mounting anticipation
that builds adrenaline,
the queue that snakes beneath
the rising ride. It twists
then plunges. You duck,
knowing you’re safe but
just in case. ‘What if?…’
you wonder, then try to thrust
the thought away. Some shriek,
excitedly, showing off
their fear, whilst others stand
in silence, trying to
contain it. And then the gates.
A moment’s bracing then
release, a screaming release,
a rattling, rolling, tumbling
release of laughter, joy,
so utterly alive!
From the smallest to the largest, today we’ve packed them in.
(18.05.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
Were the minor prophets
The same as Mackenzie Crook’s,
And did they also conjure
Homunculae from books?
Did old Ezekiel
Work at B&Q?
Or was he simply shorter
Than folk like me and you?
Just emerged to find the brilliant Small Prophets on the box at the end of a full day. It won’t make sense if you haven’t seen it.
(29.04.26)
Frank-N-Furter struts
Fetch sparkling hats and fishnets
Bring anticipa………
At the Dominion for the Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th anniversary celebrations – not my usual Sunday evening.
(19.04.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Voices awaken London’s chilly streets,
A rousing swell of sound announcing life.
Their notes disperse upon the swirling wind
each one a seed of joy. They scatter through
the city stirring statues from their sleep.
Their vigil ceased they stretch and smile with us.
It was wonderful to watch our daughter’s choir, Bristol Show Choir, performing outside St. Paul’s today.
(28.03.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Apprentices flogging rubbish
Squeezing out every penny
Hype and exaggeration
Evening celebrations
Thanking foodbank leaders
For humbly serving for free
Watching TV after saying thank you to our two magnificent foodbank leaders who have given everything for fifteen years. What a contrast.
(27.03.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Badly cooked cuisine
And half baked shenanigans
Refunds all around
Catching up on The Apprentice at the end of a full day.
(06.03.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Nejc Soklič on Unsplash
Welcome to our town
Here we are born, live, love, die
Generation stained
Just back from watching the brilliant Michael Sheen in Our Town. Tremendous.
(03.03.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
A word out of place is ….. awkward
It forces us to walk around it,
navigate its corners carefully
lest we should bump ourselves.
The temptation is to ….. shout,
ironic really when you think
about the reason for its angle.
But grace is difficult and costs.
Grace calls on us to be the ones
who ….. hold the tower up when things
begin to topple. This may be
against the rules we share but such is ….. love.
It’s such a shame that what should have been such a celebration of John Davidson’s work at the BAFTAS was turned into something else.
(23.02.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash
The credits end. Silence.
Tracks on either cheek,
More eloquent than words
Went to see Hamnet today, what a wonderful piece of cinema.
(07.02.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Ode for the Day 