Workshops, Gigs, Bookmaking, etc

Monday 2nd March 2015

Pleased the house wasn’t as cold today. Still struggled to work at a decent pace. Had to go out for supplies after lunch as I’ve no way of drying clothes, so no point washing any. I’ve only really prepped for one session. I thought Jenni might be here today but unfortunately she’s not feeling up to travel. Will have to cancel Wednesday evening’s session to get home and let Gordon in to fix the heating. I planned tomorrow’s evening class, in the process of which I discovered lots of prose pieces – dialogues, scenes – some from 2008 and a lot more written over a five day period in September 2000. (Some of the latter found their way into Hypomaniac.) Think I might revisit and send pieces out to various small press magazines. A good find. Put in a fourteen hour day, feel a bit of a headache coming on. Need to be in bed soon. 9.57 pm.

Tuesday 3rd March 2015

Much better than yesterday. The dialogue and setting exercise with Writing for All worked well. Spent the next two hours preparing for a picture marathon. Took so long to find paintings I wanted to use, but I got them. Evening was okay. Numbers down a little, but we had quite a full-on session, like the afternoon with a few slight alterations. Sleepy on the bus home. Jenni was going to come over but didn’t realise I’d be working late. Only two sessions tomorrow coz I’m hopefully getting the central heating sorted tomorrow evening. I’d forgotten about it until I got home. It’s previously been a lot colder than today though. Will appreciate the creature comforts a bit more after this little hurdle is behind me. Haven’t had the big computer on today. Not got up to speed with the android tablet yet. 10.28 pm.

Wednesday 4th March 2015

So chuffed that the central heating is back on. Was good to hear some stories from my cousin about work, holidays abroad and family life. Never had much fancy for travelling abroad, but that’s probably coz I’d not want to return if I did go. Sessions were okay, a picture marathon that I did twice. It’s been good to have the evening off. Checked out some John Pawson minimalist interior design. It would be good to have a little less clutter in my life. 15 years ago I had space. Now I live in a total mess of books, bikes, piles of clothes, crap. But never mind. Not happy with the stuff I wrote today. Will need some major editing. But I really needed a bit of time out this evening. 11.14 pm.

Thursday 5th March 2015

Session at Mind produced some good pieces from the picture marathon. I read one at Poetry Jam this evening. The guests were all great – David O’Hanlon, Adrienne Silcock and Tom Kelly. Was good to have page orientated poets on World Book Day. And those who had merch sold some. The crowd expanded at half-time. We had a good atmosphere in the room. Some star turn jammers… It went well. And a nice chat about authenticity in poetry afterwards at the Bridge Hotel. Now on the 43 to Stanley. 10.40 pm.

Friday 6th March 2015

Long lie in this morning. Read some Calum Kerr flash and Tom Kelly poems before getting up. Then uploaded the Poetry Jam pix to Facebook. Lots of feedback. Pleased people enjoyed the gig. I’ve not been out today. I look forward to a Friday at home. Watched some Lydia Lunch stuff and listened to the Heidi and Hank podcast. Watched some crime documentaries this evening and keyed in journal stuff. Tomorrow I have a slot at the Writers’ Café speedy open mic. Three minutes. Will probably just do Yesteryear’s Lunch. Got asked if I’d be interested in taking part in a poetry slam at Northern Stage next month. I’d need the month to memorize the poems. It’s been good to have some time off today. 11.09 pm.

Saturday 7th March 2015

Morning pages prompted me to put a nine poem set together for a three minute open mic slot. Very brief poems. One for each of my books and pamphlets. Took me three hours to select and sequence. I made a little pamphlet but didn’t have time to produce a batch for the gig. Two buses and a twenty minute walk to the venue, The Tower, tucked away on Stepney Road, Ouseburn. The room we’re performing in is very small, probably standing room only. This will be an interesting experience. 6.50 pm.

LATER: Gig in basement was good. Some great turns, some blues jams, comedy – good poems by Mandy Maxwell, AJ McKenna, Asa Maddison, Jenni Pascoe, Alix Alixandra, Vinni McHugh, Ira Lightman, Rowan McCabe, etc. I did my nine poems in three minutes. Some nice feedback. Some guy did Hoochie Coochie Man and Rowan played guitar as well. Now at Eldon Bus Station waiting on the 45. Won’t be home till ten to one. 11.12 pm.

Sunday 8th March 2015

Took nearly three hours to get from last night’s venue to my house, so a bit of a lie in. Went out to buy pens and paper stock and food supplies then made Sunday dinner for me and Jenni. Made up a copy of There Are Easier Ways of Living than Bleeding to Death, my first self-published paperback from 1992, for a buyer. Sleepy evening but managed to stay awake to watch The Adjustment Bureau on Film Four. Full-on prep tomorrow. Hope it’s a bit easier than last week. 11.23 pm.