. Middlesbrough arts royalty wanted to play it safe rather than take any inspired creative risks... . ...and they paid the price. . You can not both be "On the creative edge" And "Be wary of disrespecting those in power" At the same time. . They blinked They flinched They got nervous. . They lost our bid. .

. Oh Hum… <Shrug> Well, It WAS always an incredibly unlikely long shot… <Sigh> On to the next thang…. . . "Dear Ross, Many thanks again for your application to be the South Tees Poet Laureate, and for the time, thought and creativity you put into your submission. Unfortunately, on this occasion we won’t be taking your application forward. The standard of applications has been incredibly high, and we've been really encouraged by the quality of poetry being written across South Tees, as well as the passion shown for connecting the communities of South Tees with poetry and creativity. We're very grateful that you chose to share your work and ideas with us, and for your patience throughout the selection process. Thank you again for your interest in the South Tees Poet Laureateship and for the work you've put into your application. We wish you all the very best with your writing and future creative projects. With best wishes, The Borderlands Team." . #fail...