Haven't been outside today. Copied up some stuff from last month. Slept a lot. Not a great start to the new month. Very cold. Feet are numb. I need an extra layer of clothing. Good to get a message from Stephen Clark. We would have met up, but he has decorating to do. Tonight, me and Jenni saw the third and fourth episodes of the new Frasier series, back after nearly thirty years. I've eaten four chocolate macaroons. Had a veggie burger with chips. And a tin of lenty-bacon soup with three bread buns, plus cheese on toast. I'm going to drink my hot chocolate then go to bed. I did a little bit of online zine stuff for James Whitman of King Ink. OK. 11.35pm.
Thursday 2nd November 2023
Started getting ready to go to Poetry Jam at nine this morning. I was too slow to go for the half ten bus so I went for the half eleven but it didn't turn up. I got a Metro into Newcastle and the 12.45pm train to Durham. I spent much of the afternoon keying in notes. Low turnout for Poetry Jam. Only eleven of us, including Fergus. Smallest gathering since restarting last year after covid restrictions. All the guests were ace. Great to see Helen Ivory and Martin Figura. Steve May did an ace set too. The open floor people were great: Aaron Wright, Malcolm Barnes, Pauline May, Chris Short, Mel McEvoy, Janice. The train back was late. Most were cancelled. I was lucky to get back to Newcastle. A lad onboard said GNE bus drivers intend to strike beyond December. 11.52pm.
Friday 3rd November 2023
Canny day. Was good to have all my prep sorted well in advance and plenty of time to just get dressed, fed, and out for a lift into Washington with Alwyn Bathan. The writing session went well. Three nouns. Friendly Folks and Foul. Then Dark House into five senses example. Then Armitage Not the Furniture Game. Personal word definitions. Then furniture-game-influenced character sketch poems and discussion about a group pamphlet. I went into Newcastle for a couple of hours. Looked at eight grand full suspension mountain bikes in Start Cycles. Then off to the bank, then HMV. I checked out expensive vinyl and cheap paperbacks. Steve Jones memoir and Charles Bukowski Hollywood novel. Then into Waterstones. Checked out poetry. Then horror in the basement. Me and Jenni went out for supplies at Tesco. Then home for chicken wraps and bits of Corrie. Bed soon. OK. 10.40pm.
Saturday 4th November 2023
Nice lie in. Doom scrolled and had breakfast then me and Jenni went down to Bensham Grove craft fair. Bought a couple of Xmas presents. This afternoon we watched a Sinead O'Connor documentary. Then Saturday gameshows and The Voice. Then a couple of episodes of Still Game. Had hot chocolate and biscuits. Canny day. 11.02pm.
Sunday 5th November 2023
Me and Jenni had an ace day in Durham at Gala Theatre for the Bright Ideas gathering. About ten or eleven guest speakers. Topics included Generation wars, Indy banking, cake baking and engineering, Rubik's Cubes for life, Emotional shutdown, Basque music and Lumiere logistics. Free food. We got the train back to Newcastle, watched four episodes of Breeders. Very, very funny. 10.27pm.
Monday 6th November 2023
First uphill ride for a while. Left Jen's place at half ten. Took me two hours to get to Consett. I went via Watergate Forest Park. Causey Inn and the edge of Beamish. This afternoon I calculated finances for the month. I watched a bit of Tony Robinson's God's and Monster's documentaries about death, demons, religion and superstition. Good stuff. Staking people after death, excavations, digging up a dead pig after three weeks to see how the escaping gases could make you think it was still alive. Listened to a bit of Creeper and responded to Alwyn Bathan’s prose piece. I'll read it again later, offer more feedback. Oh, and the buses are off for longer. 11.27pm.
Tuesday 7th November 2023
Another long day. Too easily distracted at the computer. But I've got my journals keyed in. I don't remember much else to be honest... I wrote some more notes to Alwyn about her story. I've watched quite a few reels on Facebook - comedy, bikes, music clips. I listened to a mid-eighties Lou Reed gig. And South of Salem. It's been nice and bright outside, but I didn't get any further than the wheelie bin. My 60p out of date mince pie didn't harm me. Chuffed I bought it yesterday. Tomorrow I'll need to buy more food. Did some online promo for 'Queasy, Uneasy'. Don't know what the next pamphlet will consist of but it's going to be a struggle. 11.17pm.
Wednesday 8th November 2023
Long day. I've got my workshop ideas sorted for Friday. I won't need to use all of them. But it's good to have options. I listened to a few Oasis songs, read some short fiction. Only went outside to buy Ribena, soup, and biscuits. I cooked potatoes in the George Foreman grill. I'm running low on microwave steam bags. I haven't shaved for days. I'm freezing. Well, my feet are. I'm chuffed to find some rarely used workshop stuff in the old folders and will bring it out in the new year. I've been booked by Hexham Mind to do workshops quarterly next year. Great stuff. Hope weather is okay to bike to Bensham tomorrow. OK.10.50pm.
Thursday 9th November 2023
The bus strike is a fucking pain, and the public is stuck with it. No motorist is going to give up personal transport when being held to ransom by a corporation is the only alternative. I was offered a gig in Blackhill for next year. Thanks to Jenni for the laughs. Enjoyed my bike ride and episode of Breeders. 9.38pm.
Friday 10th November 2023
Long day. Left the house at ten, had to check the train to Chester-le-Street was still running coz a lot were cancelled. I spoke to a bus driver who said the Arriva X12 buses were running half an hour late. Luckily, my train wasn't cancelled. I had fish and chips at Bullion Hall then set up for the workshop. It went well. Six people in. We did Take Three Nouns, Friendly Folks and Foul, hero poems. Then Priorities/Needs, which took us right up to four o'clock. Martin Gollan kindly gave me a lift back to Gateshead. Me and Jenni went to Sunderland to see Every Part of Me is Falling Apart. It was good but I missed a lot of it. Too tired. We were back on the Metro by 20 past nine, then off to Tesco. Back in the attic by half ten. Done. 11.02pm.
Saturday 11th November 2023
Me and Jenni were up super early to get ready and out for the bus to Whitley Bay for writer Sandy Chadwin's funeral. The Crem was packed. The eulogy was a beautiful send off. His family and friends did him proud. We heard some of Sandy's words too. This evening me and Jenni watched Strictly and The Voice and now need an early turn in as we are both rather sleepy.10.16pm.
Sunday 12th November 2023
I rode back from Jen's in under two hours (Half an hour quicker than I rode there on Thursday) and I didn't put a foot down from setting off in Bensham all the way to my own front door. I had a sausage and veg dinner. I read two Roger Robinson books on creativity and poetry. I listened to Punks Not Dead by the Exploited. Watched a lot of bike clips on Facebook reels. It’s really cold tonight. Bed soon. 9.38pm.
Monday 13th November 2023
Braved the wet to go to Consett for supplies. I waited for the Weardale bus, but a woman coming out of Moorside pharmacy offered me a lift. This afternoon I got distracted by all the bus hassle online. Tonight, I watched two runs of The Cult’s ‘8323’ Death Cult set. Los Angeles and Belfast. They were brilliant. 83rd Dream, God’s Zoo, Brothers Grimm, Flower in the Dust; some Cult classics: Spirit Walker, Rain, Hollow Man; they played Moya (Southern Death Cult) and ended with She Sells Sanctuary. If they were playing Newcastle later on the tour, I’d have tried to get a ticket. Duffy’s guitar playing was outstanding and the rest of the band are ace. Astbury still omits vocal phrases all over the place, but on better form than I’ve heard him for a long time. 10.55pm.
Tuesday 14th November 2023
Got word back on the Blyth library gig/talk. It’s going to be 10.30am on Monday 8th January 2024. I watched the Sex Pistols 2007 Brixton Academy gig again tonight. John mucks up on EMI and forgets words elsewhere but the band are super tight. The 5000-plus audience totally into it. I wish I’d known they were playing that year; I’d have tried to get a ticket. Coulda-shoulda-woulda… Looking forward to a year without self-imposed deadlines. Need a title for November’s pamphlet. 10.05pm.
Wednesday 15th November 2023
Tiring day. Don’t really feel as though I got much done. The final Poetry Jam event of the year is posted on Facebook. Keyed in more stuff for the Penultimate pamphlet of 2023. I’m tempted to just call it Penultimate, actually. I’ve been a bit under the weather for a few days. Hope I’m okay to go to Jen’s tomorrow. She assumed I’d be there for the whole weekend. Tonight, I listened to a couple of albums by rock band Fury. We are going to see them at Trillians tomorrow. I saw them twice last year… I’ve not read a paperback for ages. The bus strike is ongoing and unlikely to be over before December. 10.04pm.
Thursday 16th November 2023
Up early so I could get my typing done and out for the Weardale bus to Consett. Quick pitstop in Barry’s Bargains for some iced mince pies, peanuts and fudge bars. First time on a Go North East bus for a weeks: limited 6-hour service X45 to Newcastle. Spent a few hours browsing and getting Xmas ideas. I found a nice Joker hoodie I thought Jenni might like. She wore it for the Crowley/Fury gig tonight. Great to see both bands. Jenni was impressed by Crowley. Fury put on a great show. They have loads of classic seventies/eighties-style riffs. Me ad Jenni had our own little booth in the corner with couches and a viewing platform at the end of the bar. Ace gig. We walked back to Bensham and were in the attic by eleven. 11.16pm.
Friday 17th November 2023
Jen was up for work at half six. I stayed in bed most of the morning. Keyed in pages, then did some tidying up for Jen till about half four then fell asleep. Jenni got us big pizza and chips for tea. We watched House of Games. I’ve been coughing a lot more today than yesterday. Doom scrolled a load of the usual negative shit that doesn’t leave you feeling great. Bed soon. But maybe a bit more pizza first. Maybe another hot drink. 9.34pm.
Saturday 18th November 2023
Big lie in. Slept okay. But my cough is pretty bad. I keyed in some pages. Me and Jenni had the rest of the pizza for breakfast. Watched lots of vintage and current Corrie. Then Strictly and The Voice. Another hot drink then back to bed. 10.10pm.
Sunday 19th December 2023
Felt fine for a few hours then bad chest again. Me and Jenni went to see Tish at Tyneside Cinema. Great documentary film about 70s/80s photographer from Elswick, Newcastle. Probably the best thing I’ve seen for a long while. Tonight, we caught up on Corrie and watched a few more episodes of Breeders. Great comedy. Martin freeman is ace. As is Alun Armstrong. Curry, biscuits. Bed soon. 9.30pm.
Monday 20th November 2023
Good ride home on the bus this morning. Letter from HMRC says I owe them £125. Could be worse; could be a hundred and twenty-five thousand. Got up to date on morning pages type-ups and will begin edits tomorrow for the next pamphlet. 11.37pm.
Tuesday 21st November 2023
Starting to get a bit uncomfortable of an evening at home now. Chilly, cold feet, snotty beak. I got a first edit on all the material so far for the November booklet. No title comes to mind. There’s stuff about the bus strike, stuff about comedown from gigs and workshops, Memories of starting out as a facilitator to current day. Some bizarre and mundane dreams. Notes on events attended, including Bright Ideas and Fury. Notes on the Tish documentary, ageing gripes, and spontaneous blues riffs. It should be pretty good. I listened to South of Salem, PIL, Stray Cats, The Cramps, Bastette and Michael Monroe. Mostly eating porridge, bacon sandwiches and chocolate digestives. 11.07pm.
Wednesday 22nd November 2023
Still over a week to go on the November pamphlet. Still without title or cover design. I’ll read a printout and see if any ideas jump up at me. I’ve just kicked over a cup of blackcurrant squash onto the grubby beige carpet. I’m tired. I’ve turned off the big computer. Hot water bottle, hot drink, some light reading in bed. 9.34pm.
Thursday 23rd November 2023
Slept all the way through the night without a coughing fit. This afternoon I designed the cover for the pamphlet which will be called Penultimate. This evening I uploaded the Poetry Jam stuff then watched a punk documentary. Forgot to shave. I’m out tomorrow and need to be up early to get to Consett then Newcastle then Durham. It’s going to be a long day. 10.15pm.
Jen was up for work at half six. I stayed in bed most of the morning. Keyed in pages, then did some tidying up for Jen till about half four then fell asleep. Jenni got us big pizza and chips for tea. We watched House of Games. I’ve been coughing a lot more today than yesterday. Doom scrolled a load of the usual negative shit that doesn’t leave you feeling great. Bed soon. But maybe a bit more pizza first. Maybe another hot drink. 9.34pm.
Saturday 18th November 2023
Big lie in. Slept okay. But my cough is pretty bad. I keyed in some pages. Me and Jenni had the rest of the pizza for breakfast. Watched lots of vintage and current Corrie. Then Strictly and The Voice. Another hot drink then back to bed. 10.10pm.
Sunday 19th December 2023
Felt fine for a few hours then bad chest again. Me and Jenni went to see Tish at Tyneside Cinema. Great documentary film about 70s/80s photographer from Elswick, Newcastle. Probably the best thing I’ve seen for a long while. Tonight, we caught up on Corrie and watched a few more episodes of Breeders. Great comedy. Martin freeman is ace. As is Alun Armstrong. Curry, biscuits. Bed soon. 9.30pm.
Monday 20th November 2023
Good ride home on the bus this morning. Letter from HMRC says I owe them £125. Could be worse; could be a hundred and twenty-five thousand. Got up to date on morning pages type-ups and will begin edits tomorrow for the next pamphlet. 11.37pm.
Tuesday 21st November 2023
Starting to get a bit uncomfortable of an evening at home now. Chilly, cold feet, snotty beak. I got a first edit on all the material so far for the November booklet. No title comes to mind. There’s stuff about the bus strike, stuff about comedown from gigs and workshops, Memories of starting out as a facilitator to current day. Some bizarre and mundane dreams. Notes on events attended, including Bright Ideas and Fury. Notes on the Tish documentary, ageing gripes, and spontaneous blues riffs. It should be pretty good. I listened to South of Salem, PIL, Stray Cats, The Cramps, Bastette and Michael Monroe. Mostly eating porridge, bacon sandwiches and chocolate digestives. 11.07pm.
Wednesday 22nd November 2023
Still over a week to go on the November pamphlet. Still without title or cover design. I’ll read a printout and see if any ideas jump up at me. I’ve just kicked over a cup of blackcurrant squash onto the grubby beige carpet. I’m tired. I’ve turned off the big computer. Hot water bottle, hot drink, some light reading in bed. 9.34pm.
Thursday 23rd November 2023
Slept all the way through the night without a coughing fit. This afternoon I designed the cover for the pamphlet which will be called Penultimate. This evening I uploaded the Poetry Jam stuff then watched a punk documentary. Forgot to shave. I’m out tomorrow and need to be up early to get to Consett then Newcastle then Durham. It’s going to be a long day. 10.15pm.
Friday 24th November 2023
Today was good. Made it to Waddy quicker via Tow Law and Crook than if I’d walked into Consett for the X45 to Newcastle and train to Durham. Big thanks to Peter for printing the Penultimate covers. The X12 Arriva bus was on time to Newcastle this afternoon. Got a front row seat at the John Robb ‘Art of Darkness: History of Goth’ book talk and asked him about The Cult. He signed my copy of the book. It’s a hefty comprehensive tome and will take more than a month to read. Ate chicken drumsticks in the attic. Online chat to Jenni who is staying in York. Bed soon. 10.44pm.
Saturday 25th November 2023
Nice lie in and write up of John Robb book talk in morning pages. Then out for six hours, including an hour in Details cutting A1 sheets down to A4 to make endpapers for the pamphlet. Back to the attic with a few prezzies before meeting Jen at Gateshead Central bar for the really funny Spontaneous Wrecks early Xmas improv show. Thanks to Jon Farthing and Co for complimentary tickets. 10.55pm.
Sunday 26th November 2023
Bit of a lie in. Jenni went out to a band rehearsal. I prepped a workshop for next Friday and keyed in pages for Penultimate. Me and Jenni went for supplies this afternoon. We watched Corrie and The Voice tonight. Ate veggie burgers and chips. The heating was on for six hours. 10.08pm.
Monday 27th November 2023
Walked into Newcastle to retrieve my battered stage copy of Laughter to Split Glass which I left in Details on Saturday afternoon. Then bus to Consett was 20 mins late. Returned a library book, bought supplies including A4 paper to run off copies of Penultimate. I didn’t get started on edits until two o’clock coz the college requested info on how the bus strike has impacted me and the learners. I put in a full nine hours at the computer, editing text for the pamphlet. I need to whittle a few things down so I can add more stuff from the remaining days of this month. I read online that the bus strike might be over by Saturday if the drivers agree to latest pay deal. Fingers crossed. House is freezing. Feet are numb. 11.35pm.
Tuesday 28th November 2023
Another full day on the pamphlet. It’s a bit awkward coz I’m two entries from the finish but I haven’t written them yet and I don’t want the page count to exceed 52 or it won’t staple properly. And I don’t want to sew with needle and thread coz the cover will need to be glued to the endpaper, so I’m having to edit out bits and pieces all over the place to reduce the word count. I’ve got one and a half pages. I’ll see what comes out of the pen before breakfast tomorrow. Add what’s usable, then cut back the previously typed material. I made a test copy and did a full proofread today. I might cut some stuff about the bus strike. Temperature close to zero. My feet are numb, but the hot water bottle has helped my hands. Breathing is a bit sketchy but doing alright. Bed now. 10.45pm.
Wednesday 29th November 2023
Fifteen-and-a-half-hour day working on Penultimate. I’ve proofed it three times. I’ve got the margins sorted, so the covers won’t be a problem when I come to trimming. I must be an idiot trying to complete a book that requires text to be composed and added on the day of publication. I wanted to do one more full-on journal type volume with entries from every day of November, so this thing isn’t ready till I do my morning pages tomorrow. I’ll need to be up early to get them done, typed, and pruned to fit the limited remaining space. 52 pages max plus endpaper and cover. I didn’t finish the final proofread and tweak till half ten this evening. I wanted to have copies printed out with just a couple of pages to add tomorrow but the laser printer is noisy and I’m a considerate neighbour. 11.06pm.
Thursday 30th November 2023
Awake from about four o’clock this morning. I did the final writing for Penultimate before seven. Took an hour to edit. I made seven copies of the booklet in about 75 minutes. Quick backpack and dinner then walk into Consett. Got the last scheduled X45 of the day to Gateshead. I sent out a copy of the pamphlet to Ann Porro and dropped into Central Library with one for Mark Speeding. Then I went into town for supplies. Got bleached on by snow. Did some washing-up back at the attic. Had tomato soup with sausage rolls. Jen got home around half six. We listened to lots of difficult-to-sing songs: We Didn’t Start the Fire, It’s the End of the World As We Know It, Big Bang Theory… I’m hammered and will be in bed soon coz I’ve got a workshop tomorrow. Need some hot chocolate and another sausage roll. 9.20pm.
Today was good. Made it to Waddy quicker via Tow Law and Crook than if I’d walked into Consett for the X45 to Newcastle and train to Durham. Big thanks to Peter for printing the Penultimate covers. The X12 Arriva bus was on time to Newcastle this afternoon. Got a front row seat at the John Robb ‘Art of Darkness: History of Goth’ book talk and asked him about The Cult. He signed my copy of the book. It’s a hefty comprehensive tome and will take more than a month to read. Ate chicken drumsticks in the attic. Online chat to Jenni who is staying in York. Bed soon. 10.44pm.
Saturday 25th November 2023
Nice lie in and write up of John Robb book talk in morning pages. Then out for six hours, including an hour in Details cutting A1 sheets down to A4 to make endpapers for the pamphlet. Back to the attic with a few prezzies before meeting Jen at Gateshead Central bar for the really funny Spontaneous Wrecks early Xmas improv show. Thanks to Jon Farthing and Co for complimentary tickets. 10.55pm.
Sunday 26th November 2023
Bit of a lie in. Jenni went out to a band rehearsal. I prepped a workshop for next Friday and keyed in pages for Penultimate. Me and Jenni went for supplies this afternoon. We watched Corrie and The Voice tonight. Ate veggie burgers and chips. The heating was on for six hours. 10.08pm.
Monday 27th November 2023
Walked into Newcastle to retrieve my battered stage copy of Laughter to Split Glass which I left in Details on Saturday afternoon. Then bus to Consett was 20 mins late. Returned a library book, bought supplies including A4 paper to run off copies of Penultimate. I didn’t get started on edits until two o’clock coz the college requested info on how the bus strike has impacted me and the learners. I put in a full nine hours at the computer, editing text for the pamphlet. I need to whittle a few things down so I can add more stuff from the remaining days of this month. I read online that the bus strike might be over by Saturday if the drivers agree to latest pay deal. Fingers crossed. House is freezing. Feet are numb. 11.35pm.
Tuesday 28th November 2023
Another full day on the pamphlet. It’s a bit awkward coz I’m two entries from the finish but I haven’t written them yet and I don’t want the page count to exceed 52 or it won’t staple properly. And I don’t want to sew with needle and thread coz the cover will need to be glued to the endpaper, so I’m having to edit out bits and pieces all over the place to reduce the word count. I’ve got one and a half pages. I’ll see what comes out of the pen before breakfast tomorrow. Add what’s usable, then cut back the previously typed material. I made a test copy and did a full proofread today. I might cut some stuff about the bus strike. Temperature close to zero. My feet are numb, but the hot water bottle has helped my hands. Breathing is a bit sketchy but doing alright. Bed now. 10.45pm.
Wednesday 29th November 2023
Fifteen-and-a-half-hour day working on Penultimate. I’ve proofed it three times. I’ve got the margins sorted, so the covers won’t be a problem when I come to trimming. I must be an idiot trying to complete a book that requires text to be composed and added on the day of publication. I wanted to do one more full-on journal type volume with entries from every day of November, so this thing isn’t ready till I do my morning pages tomorrow. I’ll need to be up early to get them done, typed, and pruned to fit the limited remaining space. 52 pages max plus endpaper and cover. I didn’t finish the final proofread and tweak till half ten this evening. I wanted to have copies printed out with just a couple of pages to add tomorrow but the laser printer is noisy and I’m a considerate neighbour. 11.06pm.
Thursday 30th November 2023
Awake from about four o’clock this morning. I did the final writing for Penultimate before seven. Took an hour to edit. I made seven copies of the booklet in about 75 minutes. Quick backpack and dinner then walk into Consett. Got the last scheduled X45 of the day to Gateshead. I sent out a copy of the pamphlet to Ann Porro and dropped into Central Library with one for Mark Speeding. Then I went into town for supplies. Got bleached on by snow. Did some washing-up back at the attic. Had tomato soup with sausage rolls. Jen got home around half six. We listened to lots of difficult-to-sing songs: We Didn’t Start the Fire, It’s the End of the World As We Know It, Big Bang Theory… I’m hammered and will be in bed soon coz I’ve got a workshop tomorrow. Need some hot chocolate and another sausage roll. 9.20pm.
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