Sunday 17th March 2013
Nice lunch with Jenni – steak
pie, carrots, green beans, mash and gravy followed by caramel fudge ice cream
with crumbled hot ginger cake and cinnamon squares. Did some editing, Jenni
went to Scratch Tyne. Can’t believe we’re still getting snow. Heating on full
blast. Bedtime won’t be long now. Might chip away at some more pages for a
while. 11.26pm.
Monday 18th March 2013
Sick of the fucking cold. How
long’s this winter going to drag on. Took me ages to get started this morning.
Checked out some mountain bike stuff then workshop prep. Great to see Jenni up
onstage at Lamplight Open Mic. Good readings and performances.
Loved all the anecdotes tonight. 11.26pm.
Tuesday 19th March 2013
Today has been a good day.
Had a nice lie in then checked out bikes online. Watched some old-school street
trials footage from the 2003 Contact video. Great to see Lance Trappe riding
and hear Dull by Samiam as backing. Had a good Writing for All session at Waddy
and discussed with Ali Lee further developments on the cover art for my book.
Checked out bike mags in Durham
afterwards. Slept on the bus to Consett. Home to pasta and an evening of
image-making experiments. Checked out more trials/street riding shenanigans online.
Tonight has gone quickly. Fried egg on waffles then off to bed. 10.24pm.
Wednesday 20th March 2013
Session went okay today,
stayed late. Just one more to go next week. Visited Halfords at Arnison Centre
to check out a new bike for the summer. Only three fit for my purpose
out of an entire showroom, but one of them seemed promising – jump frame, suspension forks – and when I got
home I found some favourable reviews, but tonight I was at the computer too
long and my head started to hurt. Sometimes my tongue runs away with me and I
lose the thread of what I’m trying to say. I tie myself in knots. Need an early
night. 10.09pm.
Thursday 21st March 2013
Great day. The taxi driver
who took me to Willington this morning was the guy who took me to Durham for
The Beast ride in 2011: chatted about the weather and extortionate amount
charged for rock concerts these days. Got to Parkside at ten past eight.
Sessions went well. Some great poems and laughs along the way. Did six 50
minute sessions back to back. Same room as last year. Was going to go to Newcastle afterwards but
knew I’d be too wrecked by about six o’clock to stay on my feet and didn’t want
to lug my trolley bag around the shops. Chicken and mushroom pasta for tea.
That’s after shepherd’s pie then apple crumble with custard mega lunch and a
cooked breakfast. Watched some bike videos. Emailed Jenni a few times. Tried to
watch a bargain basement horror film but slept through most of it. Will try
again another day. Pleased I got the school gig. Need more. 11.00pm.
Friday 22nd March 2013
Slept in quite late today coz
I didn’t go to bed till quarter past three this morning after staying at the
computer watching video clips of Chris Akrigg on various mountain bikes doing
the most amazing rides. Consequently, I forgot to do my morning pages for the
first time in fifteen months and had to make up for it with afternoon pages
instead. Started to feel a bit sluggish by then, a bit grumpy. Made enquiries
about a Mongoose Fireball bike today. Would be nice to have a bike that bridges
the gap between trials and full-on cross-country 27speed. This evening I went
to Morrisons and bought MBUK but no articles in the sealed bagged mag that
interested me. Much prefer watching video clips. It’s freezing cold in Consett
and my wrists, knees, shoulders and lower back all knack. Really fucked off
with this ‘spring’ weather. I did the event page for Poetry Jam. Tomorrow Jenni
is coming over. It will be a good weekend. Don’t think I’ll be doing much work
before Monday. 11.20pm.
Saturday 23rd March 2013
Still surfing the web in
search of a suitable summer bike. (See, I am an optimist, I do believe this
fucking horrible cold weather will eventually fuck off and we’ll all be able to
venture outside again without thermals.) Came close to finding one I liked
second-hand but upon enquiry was told it had already been sold. I’m listening
to Depeche Mode this evening. Still love the early singles. Jenni messaged
earlier - still busy with her chores, doesn’t know when she’ll get away. I did a
bit of book work earlier and obviously keyed in a blog post. Web log. Of late,
I’ve merely been 'logging' my movements. Haven’t written much else, really. Was
hoping to have my little book finished by April but lots of obstacles between
me, it and completion... I am putting on weight, will have to start indoor exercise
if I can’t get back to biking soon. But enough of the whinge. Done. 6.47pm.
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