Another Seven Daze On Planet Steve

Sunday 17th February 2013

Up early – well, eight o’clock is early for a Sunday – to do morning pages. Read some of Philip Hensher’s fascinating book on handwriting “The Missing Ink”. Had my first ride on a trials bike for a year and could only just manage to hop it up a kerb on the back wheel without breaking my neck. Went for a walk in the sunshine with Jenni and ate lots of summer fruits cheesecake upon our return. Bit of editing this evening, a relaxed day really.

Monday 18th February 2013

Monday is a big prep day with retro write-ups and stuff put in place for the next workshops. Found it all surprisingly easy today. No kicking and screaming, no tearing letterheaded paperwork to shreds, just seemed to breeze through it all. Did Lamplight open mic tonight. Great line-up: Aidan Clarke, Sheila Wakefield, Mark Speeding, Jaene Davies, Ron Dodd, Ray Moore, Andy Oates, Sarah Hammersley, Phil Atherton and Grame Fletcher. I videoed most of the gig. I read ‘Milking a Joe Brainard Riff’ from last year’s NaPoWriMo. Reckon it will be much better if I half-memorize it and play about with the pace. Lots of well-wishes for Jenni, who wasn’t up to attending the gig. Thanks to Mark Speeding for a lift home. Jenni has made herself a big bowl of pasta and saved half for tomorrow when I’m out at work. Had myself a steak and kidney pie and an oaty bake. Good to be able to sit up for a while, don’t have to be out first thing tomorrow. 11.35pm.

Tuesday 19th February 2013

Productive day. Morning pages around half eight this morning then a Facebook status about last night’s open mic at Lamplight Arts Centre. Left for Waddy at quarter to eleven, a bit later than usual and could have left even later – all my prep done at home. Session went well. Some really funny pieces of ‘revenge’ writing from the group. I read a whole chunk of Black Coffee Blues from The Portable Henry Rollins on the bus home: lots of great road stories filled with alienation and fatigue. Made me think about the need for more emotion and descriptive relish in journal entries from me.

Jenni and I watched last night’s ‘Black Mirror’ on her laptop in the living room this evening then I uploaded 79 pix from Lamplight and Poetry Jam to Facebook. Spoken word is alive and kicking in County Durham. Jenni is watching Derren Brown’s Apocalypse on tv now. I need an early night. Intermediate Creative Writing in the morning and then hopefully an afternoon sequencing my chapbook. 10.07pm.

Wednesday 20th February 2013

The workshop this morning began with a group discussion on memory. One of the students was talking about making derogatory nicknames about people’s personalities in order to remember them. I don’t remember names very well when introduced to people for the first time. I don’t remember books. I need to hear an album of music at least half a dozen times in order to retain even the vaguest hint of melody. Jenni and I watched a two hour episode of ‘Lewis’ this evening. We both knew we’d watched it together before, but neither of us could remember the unfolding of events. How the hell am I supposed to memorize a whole new batch of material for performance? Never mind, I’ve got all the time in the world, haven’t I? Jenni has gone to bed early coz she needs to be up at half six to return to Gateshead for an appointment. I’m staying up to watch a documentary about online hackers ‘Anonymous’. I didn’t get to work on my book today. But I’ll put in about ten or twelve hours tomorrow. 10.07pm.

Thursday 21st February 2013

Jenni’s alarm went off at six this morning – big declaration of beautiful day from the late great Freddy Mercury. I didn’t get back to sleep so it took me a while to get up to speed this morning. Been working on my book all day while Jen was out. Initially I went with a chronological running order then moved a few pieces around. Pretty much have the first draft of the book. I have three or four more pieces that can be tweaked to push the page count up. I might go for this, then the book will definitely need to be hand-stitched. Jenni read through a couple of things for me when she returned this evening. The book currently has 39 pieces in it. Jenni says I should add another three so that it equals my number of years on the planet up to time of original composition. Might go for this. It’s been good to have a whole day on the project. Got a hell of a lot of work done. Excellent! 9.34pm.

Friday 22nd February 2013

Tired today. Been out in the freezing cold for food supplies and some notebooks for a writing marathon next week. Watched a few bits and pieces of tv. Was meant to be out at a music gig in Washington tonight that Jenni bought tickets for, but unable to get back home afterwards so didn’t go. Had we been staying at her place we could have done it, but Consett is a bugger to get back to from anywhere except Newcastle as far as gigs are concerned. Public transport getting worse. Bus fares rising. Got a little bit more editing done for my book and requested colour samples from Craft Creations for the cover. Hoping to get more edits done tomorrow. 10.32pm.

Saturday 23rd February 2013

Last night before bed I read the opening pages of WINTER JOURNAL by Paul Auster. This morning, when I got up, Moorside was blanketed in snow. It’s not as cold as yesterday but my hands are starting to pack in at the keyboard. Been listening to Sinead O’Connor’s latest album “How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?”whilst typing this morning. It’s probably her best since ‘Faith and Courage’ in 2000. Probably her best since ‘I Do Not Want What I Have Not Got’ in 1990. I saw her play four times that year. Wish I had a ticket for the Barbican show next month. I’m not surprised it’s sold out. Maybe she’ll tour more later in the year. Today I’m going to read and do more editing and try to stay warm. Tomorrow I’m performing in Sunderland, weather permitting. Ok. 10.16am.