Six Days

Friday 22nd June 2012

Falling asleep at the computer, cup of lemon juice slipping from my fingers, and the phone rings. I stumble out the room, steady myself on the banister and down to the living room, catching the call just before the answer machine is about to kick in. The line is silent. Really annoying. Surname way down the alphabet I’m susceptible to crankers on a Friday. If I don’t hear a live wire the instant the receiver goes to my ear I put the thing down.

Today I have edited work, submitted poems to 'Ink, Sweat and Tears' and resubmitted to a mag that accepted work last autumn but didn’t publish it.

This evening, as the sky brightens and the wind rises, I’m going to Gateshead. Staying over at Jen’s the night before our visit to Middlesbrough Literature Festival. Don’t know how long our sets are but I’ll prepare a bunch of pieces and stick to ‘reading’ rather than performing.

Been listening to a lot of Attila the Stockbroker songs. Ordered one of his out-of-print books from the library. Also ordered New World Order by John Pilger. Really keen to read that one.

Filling the page is a struggle. My right wrist is tingling. RSI? Hope not. 6.52pm.

Saturday 23rd June 2012

Today I got the express bus to Middlesbrough. Gig in Central Library. An open mic hosted by Black Light Engine Room’s PA Morbid. Writers taking part I knew were Jo Colley, Pippa Little, John Glasper, Chris Stewart, Peter Nolan, Dave Cozens and Mandy Maxwell. Some funny poems, some serious. Some newcomers really strong. Me and Jenni are back in Middlesbrough tomorrow to host Scratch Tees rehearsal club. We met through the poetry but don’t work together very often. This evening we’re watching junk tv. I’m trying not to eat too much. Jen is struggling as she’s trying to give up smoking and has the munchies. 9.27pm.

Sunday 24th June 2012

Workshop at Scratch Tees was great today. Jenni took the lead and I co-facilitated, passed on info at half-time, encouraged newbies to check out spoken word nights. Did Death Street. Great set from Aidan Clarke, one of the finest on the north east circuit.

Watched The Sweeney and a little bit of Minder. Borrowed a copy of 1984 off Jenni and read the opening pages on the bus home. Think I’ll need a week off work to read it. Want Simon Armitage’s new book Walking Home but not going to buy it yet. Too much to read already. Ate lots today. Glutton. 11.19pm.

Monday 25th June 2012

Absolutely brilliant Lamplight Open Mic tonight. Lots of great stuff – funny family sayings about men in mountains and other verse from the delightful Jean Laws; a whacky prose-piece about marriage by Ron Dodd; sweet and sour romance from Karen Sikora; stand-up about Olympic torch let-downs and awesome hand-dryers in Asda toilets from Andy Oates; musical interludes from the wonderful Jaene Davies; pithy angst from Australian newcomer Melanie Hood; Jenni Pascoe treated us to some more of her NaPoWriMo wordcraft; Mike Treasure made a cameo appearance with a new poem about light, the universe and human perception; and a welcome return for Lamplight’s prodigal son, the very fine James Oates, who read superbly from his "Levitating Rust", a poetry sequence written to accompany artwork by Barrie West – who was also there with Kay Robson, both promoting their new art exhibitions at the Centre. Thanks to everyone who came to the events this season. MEGA THANKS to Martin Weston of Leisureworks and all the staff of Lamplight Arts Centre who support us every month. Next open mic is in September. Cheers! 11.27pm.

Tuesday 26th June 2012

Still really buzzing off Lamplight Open Mic last night when I got home so didn’t get to bed till after midnight. Cut some stills from video snippets of the event for facebook photos; they’re a bit grainy but I like to have visual documentation to promote the nights whenever possible. I talked briefly to Cheryl from Arts on Prescription last night and she is keen to go ahead with creative writing. I’d still like to do something at Waddy of an evening as well.

I haven’t caught any news on tv yet. Wonder how Cameron’s housing benefit cuts agenda is reported by the corporate media. If the Lib Dems had any shred of humanity they’d pull out of the coalition and put a stop to the Tory machine. Fucking cunts!

Outside engines droning. Clanking bottles. The rumble of wheelie-bins. The shower of broken glass into the crusher. I really should be up now.  I’ve waffled on for three sides of A4 paper and I’ll be pushed to salvage anything. Oh fuck, there goes my phone again. 9.10am.

Got quite a bit of feedback for stuff on Facebook today. Poem accepted by “Ink, Sweat and Tears”. Haven’t caught up with my worklog book since last week. I have a gig set to do for Thursday. Supposed to be having next week off but I reckon it’ll be used for catch-up. Fuck it, tired. Pissed off – well, not pissed off but burnt out and in need of a total change of pace and scene. A lot of my stuff is self-motivated. Does it need to be done? Sometimes stacking shelves seem a more viable option. But I have got an easy ride compared to many. This entry is a disgrace. 10.29pm.

Wednesday 27th June 2012

Woke up this morning thinking about my set for the gig in Sunderland tomorrow night. It’s fifteen to twenty minutes and I want it to be a good showcase performance. Don’t really want to use the page but would like to sell some books. Would really like to include some stuff from Shades of Grey.

This morning’s session at Waddington Street Centre was the last one for this term. I reach this point each year and wonder how I’ve managed to stay the distance. Courses only continue if we have ten people signed up for them. Luckily things seem set to continue in September.

I stayed back this afternoon and rehearsed in the computer suite with an online stopwatch. I have approximately seventeen minutes of poems and prose pieces sequenced ready to go. Even with a couple of adlibs I won’t exceed the twenty-minute time limit. The gig is at Studio Q and I’m really looking forward to seeing similar length sets from the other performers.

I read some more Pilger on the bus home. Some of it is a bit hard to swallow. Power mad governments committing total fucking genocide in the name of freedom and democracy. I don’t want to start soapboxing coz what I know about foreign policy wouldn’t fill a postage stamp. What do you do - devote your life to investigating something that you feel powerless to change and make yourself ill with disgust in the process, or keep your head down and continue in blissful ignorance?

In the morning I’ll buy my weekly food supplies then get some serious admin sorted. I’m pleased I’ve managed to get this far. Ok. 9.57pm.