Slouching towards Sunday

Monday 15th April 2013

Sad day today. Lee Halpin’s funeral probably the most upsetting I’ve been to. So many people there. At The Cluny most of the afternoon. Stayed until six then off to Lamplight Open Mic. We made the most of it. Didn’t mind making a fool of myself to give people a laugh. Jenni was on top form. Her NaPoWriMos are really good. Wish I had her consistency, adherence to prompts, humour. Good of Sheila to drive us over and for Mark Speeding to bring me home. Have yet to plan tomorrow’s Writing for All session. Oh well… 11.25pm.

Tuesday 16th April 2013

Pretty stressful day. Took ages to find a folder of work for Waddy. Couldn’t remember what colour it was. Should’ve guessed it was a black one. Which doesn’t show up very well on a black fitted bed sheet covered in black clothes. Session went okay but I’m a little out of practice with regards to bureaucracy. Some great bits of writing from the group though. And three new participants. Finally bought the thick board for the inner cover of my book but am not happy with positioning of pieces on the last ten pages. Talked to Mam and Ernie on the phone. They have had one of the Broadgate Farm members working with them for ages and only last week made the connection about the writing courses I ran there. Did a bit of tidying up in the kitchen coz it was really annoying. Running out of time now. My next few days are pretty much mapped out so I won’t get much personal creativity time this week. Jenni phoned. She’s good. Ok. 10.18pm.

Wednesday 17th April 2013

Had a good day. Waddy session went well despite a few hiccups here and there. Had to use a scrappy little verse for NaPoWriMo but so far have uploaded something each day within the time frame. Me and Jenni had a look around town. Paperchase had some Kraft scrapbooks – pages might do the job for my Sunshine book jackets. We looked in the sports shop afterwards for Jenni a pair of trainers but came away without any. Ric Hool and Degna Stone launch very good. Particularly liked the last piece of Ric’s about the rain. And Degna was on top form. I received the Red Squirrel Press annual award. Had no idea, but pleased to accept it. Drinks with various squirrels and associates in The Bridge afterwards. Really windy out tonight. Marie Lightman wasn’t exaggerating. Walked from Consett in a gale and pleased I didn’t get the last bus back from Newcastle. Pleased to be home. 11.45pm.

Thursday 18th April 2013

Not a great day. Took me a while to get going. Got paper bag sample for book and in the process of ironing out creases managed to melt the print on my cutting matt. Looked online but it has been discontinued. Out late in the afternoon to get food supplies. Trying to cut down on the calories and spending. Seem to have lost the day. This evening I got the Poetry Jam stuff done. Pleased about that. Hope we get another good turn-out for May. Be cool to see Ann Porro in the Waddy Centre. I didn’t get there today. Watched a BBC Maureen Lipman documentary on memory. Watched the news and now Question Time is on. Thatcherism and now compulsory vaccinations. Oh well, another fucked up day. 11.11pm.

Friday 19th April 2013

Reluctant to rise knowing I’m supposed to glean a poem from my morning rambles. Wrote one after breakfast about small press publishing then surfed the inty web for a while. Had some editing work to do up till lunchtime then got distracted by domesticity. Gathered together a load of laundry and got myself sorted for going out. Shave, clean clothes. Off to Hot Words at the Chilli this evening with Jenni then staying at her place. Wanted to get more editing done but haven’t been to the Chillingham for a couple of months now. Just seen Poetry Jack’s posting of a slam in Durham for 5th June. Never done a slam since January so I might have a go. There’s a good top prize so it will probably attract some big names. Not really in the mood to do open mic tonight. Will stuff a few NaPoWriMo in my cargo pocket and we’ll see how the night goes. Quite sunny this afternoon. Should’ve been out on my bike. Ok, half an hour to get sorted then out for the bus. 4.40pm.

Saturday 20th April 2013

Lazy day. Good lie in. Watched Frasier, Big Bang Theory. Me and Jenni went to Newcastle this afternoon. Had a look at footwear in Scorpio. Can’t believe how expensive Doc Martens are these days Ninety quid for a pair of shoes. Lots of food shopping. Jenni had an eye test and I went to Paperchase. Still haven’t sorted book. Managed to get a little poem for NaPoWriMo online this evening. Very sleepy. Probably gonna have an early night. 9.36pm.

Sunday 21st April 2013

Another lie in. A biscuit and cold drink in bed till Jenni put some money on the key for electricity meter. Checked out three reviews of Sheila Wakefield’s Limerance online. Forgot how meticulous small press critics can be, but lots of praise for the collection. Jenni went to Scratch Tyne rehearsal club and performance. I have nothing new memorized so didn’t go. Back home in Moorside, got a new NaPoWriMo down and stuck to the official prompt for once – a fortune cookie poem after Frank O’Hara. Took me a couple of hours to get from first words to final version online. Hands are hurting from typing. Enough. 8.00pm.