SEVEN DAYS

Tuesday 30th June 2015

Sent a parcel of ‘Milking a Joe Brainard Riff’ monographs to the Legal Deposit Office. Listened to some really old Rollins spoken stuff whilst keying in journal this evening. Very hot outside. Was only exposed to it for about ten minutes. I have two workshops and a ton of paperwork to get through but have totally fallen behind on my own writing. Every morning I dream up ideas for chapbooks, monographs and prose / poetry collections. I have the raw material. Struggle to find the time to get any of it edited. Only admin and workshop prep. Getting more and more frustrated by the week. 11.10 pm.

Wednesday 1st July 2015

Mint night at Jibba (ish) in Whitley Bay. Some cracking open mic. Brilliant to be asked to guest vocal on a Michael Gira cover version with Nev Clay. Another good set from Marianne Pownell. Lovely to see Jenni get a strong response when she stepped in after one guest had to drop out at the last minute. Now on the metro. Some rowdy people are on. I don’t like loudmouths. The windows are rain-flecked as we pull towards Meadow Well. Chuffed to get Jane Burn’s pamphlet covers printed today. Hope to have assembled and into the print shop by the weekend for trimming. 10.32 pm.

Thursday 2nd July 2015

Watched Back on Track – a short mountain biking film featuring trials legend Martyn Ashton who was paralyzed from the waist down in 2013. His sheer love of bicycles and determination to get back on one has been remarkable. I actually sobbed whilst watching the film – seeing him being strapped onto a modified bike and going down a trail with Chris Akrigg, Danny MacAskell and Blake Samson; freewheeling and using only his upper body – just awesome. The positive mental attitude of the guy is just incredible…

Rushed to get out to Durham this afternoon. Had my chicken balti and rice at Waddy, did notes for this evening then rehearsed tomorrow’s set for The Soundroom. I really want to include a lot more new stuff, but will deliver a ‘best of’ as I don’t want to risk being a let-down. This evening’s Poetry Jam was great. Guests all did extended sets and we had somecracking open floor. Had a drink with Jenni, Sheila and Donna-Lisa afterwards. Now on the 43 to Stanley. 10.42 pm.

Friday 3rd July 2015

Approaching Swalwell roundabout on a sunny Friday afternoon. Bus journey to Gateshead okay – except for the morons at the back. Oh and “The next stop is…” continues to annoy the hell out of me. Me and Jenni are performing at The Soundroom this evening. Hope we get a decent turn-out. Good to get out and get the grass cut this afternoon. Means I’ll get to work on Jane’s pamphlet tomorrow. 5.55 pm.

Saturday 4th July 2015

Morning pages on old friends and mountain bikes then some copy-ups at the good old drop-leaf table. Then got all of Jane’s covers folded. Had a good ride over to Jen’s place on the bike. Only took me 90 minutes. Not bad for a first ride along the cycle track. Had some laughs watching Rebus on tv. 10.38 pm.

Sunday 5th July 2015

Sat on the landing in Jen’s and wrote my morning pages. Had chicken dopiaza then watched a couple of episodes of Tales From the Dark Side. Walked into town and bought some pens, toiletries, cherry pie and ice-cream. Watched Columbo and final Breaking Bad of the first series. Didn’t get home this evening due to thunderstorm. Watched a film called The Forger then Humans. Felt lethargic most of the day. 10.07 pm.

Monday 6th July 2015

Woke around seven and did some morning pages. Finding it hard not to mention work when I wake. But that’s my challenge for July. Don’t mention writing or the making of books within those pages. I stayed at Jen’s last night coz the weather was bad. So pleased that I did – just riding along the cycle path on a dry breezy morning was torture enough. Being battered by driving rain and the threat of lightning strikes on a Sunday evening would have been a lot worse. It was good to get Jane’s poetry pamphlet assembled this afternoon and off to the print shop for trimming. Posted some more production pix on Facebook and the response has been great. We are hoping to get a venue booked this week and be good to go. I’m not taking pre-orders for this one. There will be copies at the launch and we’ll take it from there. Great to listen to Swans Live 1995/97 this evening. They don’t write them like they used to. 10.25 pm.