Seven Days

Monday 14th May 2018

I worked Saturday to have today off at Jen’s place. Woke early but lazed in bed. Watched two episodes of Hustle. Talked about workshops and grants for arts projects… I’m aiming for extra summer sessions at Waddington Street Centre and starting autumn with Northumberland College. Watched The Doctor Blake Mysteries then walked into Newcastle. Sat in the park for a while until Jen left for her gig in Jesmond. Returned to Bensham for the bike and rode home. Ten minutes quicker than yesterday’s ride. Everything hurts. But good to have time in the sun. 11.00pm.

Tuesday 15th May 2018

Back on early morning pages. Been doing them after breakfast a few times recently. Sometimes you just need to change the routine. I did listings for writing course flyer drops. Keen to spread the word, keen to do the work. Peter at Waddy printed more stock so I went over to Clayport library, but what they do these days is place copy in a display book rather than on the wall. Prepped my afternoon session. Mid-term recap, so pretty easy-going. Then out to Chester le Street, South Moor, Stanley and Consett libraries. Too tired for much this evening save watching the C4 news and typing up notes. I tried peanut butter in my porridge, but not good. Had to counteract with extra chocolate spread. Early night. 10.32pm.

Wednesday 16th May 2018

Jenni said she’d come over and take a look at the dodgy desktop computer in a couple of weeks. If today’s malfunctioning was anything to go by, it might not last that long – kaput due to burnout, or my foot kicking the shit out of it. Poetry Jam admin took nearly four hours; usually takes just over an hour. Didn’t get round to any work on the books. Pleased with the response to Poetry in the Park poster that Helen Steadman made. Looking forward to the gig next month. Tonight, I just tried to tidy up a bit in the bedroom and do some washing up. Then out for food supplies. Bumped into a skate metal friend from my teens. Me and John were on the same YTS printing course. He now works on tech and front of house at Durham Gala Theatre. Thirty years ago we’d be discussing the merits of ‘And Justice for All’ by Metallica. Tonight we referenced Educating Rita. John says he’s like to do some stand-up. I messaged him a link for Arch Remarks poetry, music and comedy night. Think I’ll be awake for a while yet… 11.21pm.

Thursday 17th May 2018

Good to get the Writing Half-Marathon prepared for next week. Lesson plans typed up and filed. Took nearly two hours to cut the grass this afternoon. Hands okay, back isn’t. Had to lie down. Listened to The Great Annihilator by Swans. Then keyed in some morning pages. Watched some ‘where are they now’ footage from a TV series I used to love in the nineties called My So-Called Life. Had more interest in the workshops but none of the courses are secure yet. Will have to do a lot more promotion next week. Tuesday I can get stuff printed first thing then flyer places around the Durham area. Takes a lot of effort to make any headway. 11.00pm.

Friday 18th May 2018

Enjoyed having the whole day at home. Got a couple of set variations rehearsed for my Word Slam guest appearance at The Stag’s Head in South Shields next week. Today is Toyah Willcox’s 60th birthday - got her Anthem album when I was eleven. And the anniversary of Ian Curtis’ suicide - I heard Love Will Tear Us Apart long before I knew it was Joy Division. Somehow found myself blitzing the number crunching for 2017-2018 finances this afternoon. Only took about four hours. I’m trying to clear the decks in hopes that I can get on with ‘Anomalies 1989-2014’ next week. Did more abdominal exercise and ate another salad. Posted a page about Evel Knievel from my ‘Milking a Joe Brainard Riff’ monograph on my childhood neighbour’s Facebook page this evening. Watched some David Bowie stuff on TV. I refuse to swallow the BBC news now; but as I’m still paying the licence fee, I might as well see the music documentaries. 11.26pm.

Saturday 19th May 2018

Did the morning pages then designed a new Talking Pen card for the next round of publicity. Rode the bike down to Gateshead again, half an hour quicker than last weekend. Jen wasn’t back from her workshop so I just went to sleep for a while. This evening we went to the Frankenstein live storytelling event at Gateshead library, which was part of THE LATE SHOWS. Then down to Bensham Grove to check out the pottery and ukulele playing. Bought a pizza for supper and caught the end of Rebus on TV. Very tired. 10.32pm.

Sunday 20th May 2018

Woke at half-five, did my pages, watched television all morning with Jenni then out for food supplies. Back for beef ravioli on toast and more light entertainment. Cinderella, The Chase, Little Big Shots. Ate half a cold Tesco plate apple pie. Watched Midsomer Murders for the first time ever. Long-winded, but okay. Fell asleep a bit. 10.05pm.