Yes, it is really happening – I’m off to Chicago with the London Teenage Poetry SLAM for a week of poetry, performance and (I’m expecting) life-changing experience… Together with Artistic Director Jacob Sam-La Rose, poet and SLAM coach Shane Solanki and eight talented young poets from Kingsford Community School in Newham, I’ll be hosted by Oak Park River Forest High School in Chicago. Needless to say, I can’t wait… and I should really get some sleep.

I’ll be keeping a diary while I’m out there and will definitely fill you in when I get back…