Seven Days

Monday 19th September 2016

Good ride back from Jen’s this morning. Just three gears again and feet never left the pedals from setting off at Bensham Road till I reached my doorstop. Pleased to discover I’d already done most of the prep for the first session of Waddington Street Centre course starting tomorrow. Chuffed that the library have got me a copy of Alan Moore’s Watchman. I’m not very good at reading comics, but the layout of the book seems okay to follow. Been listening to The Cure for about four hours this evening; first a gig from this year in Chicago and now, just before bed, a tight intimate set from 1984 at Glasgow Barrowlands. Wish I’d seen them back in the eighties. Still, looking forward to a mega set at Wembley Arena this December. 10.42 pm.

Tuesday 20th September 2016

Some of the people who attended the Waddy session this afternoon have worked with me sporadically over a decade. Just as well I’ve got some new stuff lined up for this term. Did all the paperwork for the college including initial assessment but will still end up just bringing a bag of tricks and hope that some of it will suit those who turn up on the day… I’m now on the 21 to Gateshead. Was hoping to get a Facebook message from Jenni but Wifi isn’t working. We are going to the Babble Gum spoken word event tonight. I have a new prose piece, that I might get to read. Bus is full of loudmouths. Older I get the less I’m able to tolerate other people’s bullshit. 4.05 pm.

Wednesday 21st September 2016

Slept at Jen’s last night coz the bus was full of football fans and wouldn’t pick up any more passengers at Central Station. This morning I went to Waddy for a couple of hours and prepped for a session at Appletree then had a chicken rendang and rice. Session after lunch went well. We did eighty minutes and it was good to see people engaging well and staying back. I read a little of WATCHMEN. Keyed in notes this evening, watched National Treasure online, starring Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters, then listened to The Richie Allen Show. Checked out some of Simon Moreton’s autobio- graphical minimalism. He says his Minor Leagues zine will be in the post to me tomorrow. 10.54 pm.

Thursday 22nd September 2016

Rang round some libraries this morning. A few were interested in taking posters for writing courses. Finally got my tooth filled this afternoon. Only been waiting for two months. Filling was okay, but polishing was pretty vicious (mouth still sore eight hours later). Saw two of the Consett Writers in town this afternoon. Both were still missing our Thursday morning sessions. Shame those workshops had to come to end, but one hundred and eleven weeks isn’t a bad little run. Tonight I tweaked a poster, edited some drafts from earlier this year and watched Vittorio Brumotti trials vids. Picked up an Alan Moore biography from the library today. Not getting enough reading done of late. Might manage a few pages in bed. 10.45 pm.

Friday 23rd September 2016

Hit the ground running this morning – copied up some bits and pieces then read a zine by Simon Moreton. Did preliminary set list for next week’s MOSTLY SPOKEN gig. Sent workshop posters to twenty five libraries and community centres across County Durham. Good to get some positive energy into my day. Had a bit of sleep around four then edited more work. This evening I’ve mainly been watching bike and music videos. Top stuff from The Cult from 1985. I think they kind of lost their way on Electric but some of the later material, particularly the 1994 album, is pretty good. Not really doing much until tomorrow. 11.14 pm.

Saturday 24th September 2016

Late rise. Bit grumpy. Had breakfast and keyed in some notes. Tweaked the set for next Thursday’s MOSTLY SPOKEN. Listened to The Mission’s new album ‘Another Fall from Grace’. Played some tracks from the new Neurosis album ‘Fires Within Fires’ as well. Pleasant ride over to Jen’s. Lazy evening of comedy and food. 10.56 pm.

Sunday 25th September 2016

Big long lie in this morning then watched a bit of Sunday Politics show and suffered the anti-Corbyn politicians who are so pissed off that he won. After a great vegetarian chilli made by Jen we watched a couple of episodes of Columbo, then Doc Martin followed by an evening of magic shows – best tricks and epic fails. 10.55 pm.