Out and About

Monday 31st October 2016

Full on work day. Did some prep for a beginners’ novel workshop as NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow. Loads of stray entries to copy up into main journal book. Knocked off at nine to watch Dark Angel, new ITV two-parter about nineteenth century serial killer, Mary Ann Cotton. Didn’t do any real Halloween stuff tonight. Selected poems for Waddy 35th Anniversary gig. Good to be away from the computer for a few hours and luxury to put the heating on. Hope this is a good week for me. 10.42 pm.

Tuesday 1st November 2016

Procrastinated a bit this morning but managed to be out in good time for the bus to Durham. Read lots of text in session, no writing. Looked at the plots of Hellbound Heart, Dracula, Withnail and I. Spent a couple of hours sequencing poems for Waddy gig set. It’s probably too long and will need revising. Keyed in morning pages and student stuff. 10.35 pm.

Wednesday 2nd December 2016

Seven people in at the Cambian workshop this afternoon. Mainly did personal definitions of key words and a marathon prompt. Back to Waddy just after half-three and more set prep for anniversary gig. Then off to Pop Recs in Sunderland for Jess Green’s headline gig. A bunch of students from East Durham College were in. And some familiars – Tony Gadd, Barrie West and Chris Hodgson. We all did mini sets then Jess did her thing. Good response. She closed the set with a piece written after the Paris attacks and encored with Dear Mr Gove. An early finish. Some WiFi action on the bus back and home by eleven. 11.22 pm.

Thursday 3rd November 2016

Knock-on effect of being out last night meant I was up late this morning and didn’t make it to East Durham Trust event in Peterlee until lunchtime, so missed Jess Green, but saw the group poem from her workshop participants. Lots of good stuff on the afternoon including Granby Four Streets presentation. Also met some writers from East Durham Arts Network, who are keen for me to deliver a bookmaking workshop for them before the end of the year. Poetry Jam was great. Splendid sets from Charley Reay and Terry Dobson. We started big, but ended up as an intimate huddle by the time Jane Burn read. She kept us spellbound for close on half an hour. Thanks to Alan Snelson of Consett Writers for lift home. Two jam doughnuts for supper. Ok. 11.20 pm.

Friday 4th November 2016

Today has been a good one. Felt really privileged to be part of the Waddy 35th Anniversary celebrations today – nice 45 minute gig with the writers this afternoon. Some truly inspiring speeches, loved the music performances – great singalong in the morning, plus a selection of originals and covers this afternoon – The Cure, Mazzy Star, Nirvana, amongst others. Back home for a while this evening to pack for tomorrow’s Whitby trip. Buses really screwy this evening. Going to have pizza and lattice fries for supper. 

9.25 pm.

Saturday 5th November 2016

Woke at about half-four this morning and couldn’t get back to sleep. Me and Jenni were up a few hours later and prepping for the trip. Had a little pit-stop in Middlesbrough. Ate our packed lunches on steel seats in the National Express waiting room next to the ‘free books’ case. Read extracts from a crime novel and kids’ cautionary tales. I suggested Jen try Pat Barker’s ‘Blow Your House Down’. She read some chapters on the bus to Whitby and the extracts I read were good. Whitby was dry and chilly but pleasant when we got there. Jenni was quite taken by the sea foam blowing along the street by the amusement arcades near the West Cliff. Took us a while to find the B&B but we were pleased with our little box room. Managed to walk straight past The Pavilion in the dark at half five. Backtracked and once inside checked out some stalls and stage times. Asked if Jenni would be able to access some part of the venue later, despite not coming to the gig. The answer was probably not, so we decided to just go get hot food and hang out in an arcade for a while before braving the hellish high winds to get back to our room. Lots of silly photos. Jenni is on the ginger wine and I’m knocking back doughnuts. The Mission are due onstage at eleven. I’m not fussed about support acts so I’ll probably go down to venue around half-ten. 8.17 pm.

Sunday 6th November 2016

The Mission were superb last night. Online comments from fans say the band were at their best. Bacon (me) and fried egg(Jenni) sandwiches in the lounge at Lavinia House this morning then a day of wandering about Whitby – Spa Pavilion, Leisure Centre, Brunswick Centre. Cheese and tomato / pickle sandwiches for lunch then a photo shoot, visits to numerous Goth shops and The Elsinore pub then chippy for tea. X93 from Whitby. Half-hour layover in Middlesbrough this evening then X10 back to Gateshead. Very sleepy and ears ringing loudly, despite ear plugs at gig. A good weekend with Jenni. 11.10 pm.