I took part in the 'Current Debates in Classical Studies Conference between 18-20 May and under the heading 'The Roman Poet Horace Meets The Workers of Teesside - The Poet Maureen Almond in conversation with Stephen Harrison (Oxford University)', presented poems from 'The Works' and from my current work in progress.

This was a particularly enjoyable event for me, especially having Professor Harrison there with me because ours has been a a wonderful collaboration. I found it most satisfying and surprising that so many people from around the globe can identify with my poetry. Copies of 'The Works' are now at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Tel Aviv in Jerusalem as well as all points of the compass here. I always hoped that my poems would have a universal appeal, but never imagined they would travel so physically far afield!

My grateful thanks go to Professor Lorna Hardwick and to Carol Gillespie for inviting me to address this conference at The Open University and of course my continued thanks to Professor Harrison.

I did my second reading at the University of Durham on 5th May as part of their Augustan Poetry Day. My presentation, 'Horace in Other Words' was a good opportunity to read some of my work in progress from my recontextualisation of Odes Book I.

I'm very pleased to say that these were well received which is most encouraging at this stage of my PhD.