Awake at half five. Morning pages. At the computer by half seven. Re-tweaked the Washington anthology cover. Wrote to Arts Centre for new logos. Swift reply so I got the final version done this afternoon. Made a 120gsm sample of Susan Brownless’s booklet. Typed up notes then spent the evening on lesson plans and sorting all the paperwork for tomorrow's final session of the summer term. In the process, I found lots of stuff from the Wallsend workshop that I can use for King Ink. Got lots of session notes and handouts. Aiming to blitz everything by the end of the month so I can bike in August. Done for today. 10.45pm.
Tuesday 2nd July 2024
Hassle packing stuff up. Lots to print out at Waddy for my King Ink workshop on Friday. I got some samples printed for Susan’s booklet. It was good to take time out to see Jenni. We somehow bought each other the same Anniversary Card and laughed when we opened them up. Tonight Jenni took me to Alphabetti Theatre. Harry and Bridget Gallagher were there. I didn’t know what the event was until the staff announced the auditorium was open for a screening of Withnail and I. Great film. I know a lot of the dialogue. Staying at Jen’s tonight then home tomorrow for more work. I’ll be pleased when it’s all done. 10.50pm.
Wednesday 3rd July 2024
Nice to get an early start. Bus ride back from Jen’s to Consett. Got some food supplies and did revisions of a booklet cover. Then switched to prep for Friday's workshop. Lots and lots of photocopying. Good to get Poetry Jam pics from last month online. OK. 11.33pm.
Thursday 4th July 2024
Absolute bastard of a day. Why the fuck did a PDF that fit the page perfectly when I printed from my computer in black and white print the wrong size in colour in Washington. I got there at 20 to 12. I didn’t leave till 25 to five. All I wanted was thirty booklet covers. Poetry Jam was sparse but good. Enjoyed it. All the guests were mint. Ace open-floor poems. I’ve eaten junk food all day. Part necessity, part anger. Hope tomorrow is better. 11.55pm.
Friday 5th July 2024
Canny day but low turnout for the King Ink workshop. Two hours to reach Sunderland. Then a seven-quid taxi to the venue. People were nice. I bombarded them with paper and prompts. They liked it. Sharon Milley walked back through Sunderland with me to the bus station. Another two hours to Consett. Then a bus to Moorside to drop the bags off then out to Consett for groceries. 10.52pm.
Saturday 6th July 2024
First ride on the Sonder Frontier bike since getting Martello tyres. Much grippier, instilling lots more confidence. Out nearly four hours. A little rain at one point. Now I’m aching all over. Walked into Consett tonight as there were no buses from Moorside due to a road closure coz The Castleside Inn was on fire. Possibly an insurance job. Me and Jenni watched MTV. 10.55pm.
Sunday 7th July 2024
Early rise. Bike-related morning pages. Went to Tesco for a birthday present for Jen’s mam. Got back just before the rain clashed down. Still a bit achy off the bike. Formula One on TV. Brian May was there. Wonder Woman on telly but we watched Still Game instead. 10.35pm.
Monday 8th July 2024
Canny walk into Newcastle this morning. Into Details at half nine for some coloured Canson Mi Teintes paper for the Washington books. I did finances and work list for the week in a notepad on the bus back to Consett. This afternoon I started on booklets. The ones with Canson endpapers look ace. The standard ones with pastel endpapers look good too. Didn't finish the trimming till half eight. I think a couple of copies are duff, but we have enough for the launch on Thursday night. I didn't get my tea till half nine. Less than an hour later, I'm eager to get to bed. Tinnitus is really loud tonight. I don't expect to be at any more music gigs. I'm tired now. I'm pleased the Washington books are done for the time being. 10.33pm.
Tuesday 9th July 2024
Good day. Very busy. I got through a lot of work. Did promo stuff for the King Ink workshop. For the Washington launch and my own stuff. Booked a workshop with Durham Carers Association for early November. Done about fourteen hours today. Chuffed to be making progress. I like the new design cover plate for the blog post. I've listened to some Annie Dressner songs and lots by 76th Street. The latter will probably never play the UK. Their song Party of One is brilliant. I still don't think I'll be going to music gigs anymore. Not big ones anyway. I had chicken and chips. I've not been outside. I'm hoping to get all my work sorted by tomorrow afternoon so I can take things a bit easier on Thursday before the book launch. 11.55pm.
Wednesday 10th July 2024
Two final samples for Susan's booklet took a while. 120gsm doesn't go through my printer, not printed both sides anyway. I got stuff packed for despatch. Went to Queens Road surgery this afternoon for follow-up tetanus jab after last month's little incident with the nail through my left foot. Rain necessitated public transport. My appointment was for three. I got the jab at twenty-five to four. Then stood till four waiting for another bus. Copied and sequenced all the handouts tonight for Saturday’s 17nineteen workshop. Well, all except Not the Furniture Game. But I'm sure I've got way more than I'll use. I'm not taking as many books as I did last week. Hope tomorrow's Washington launch goes well. Ready for bed now.11.45pm.
Thursday 11th July 2024
Long day. Very little done before embarking on the big journey to Washington. Two and a quarter hours. Great to see a canny crowd there for Washington 60 exhibition. Chuffed we were able to read from Lucky Dip of Life. The booklet looks good. Everyone read well. The audience laughed in the right places and applauded. I didn't drink enough water at the event and felt sick on the bus home. Tinnitus raging. Hope I don't throw up. 10.10pm.
Friday 12th July 2024
Pleased to wake up at a reasonable hour. And feeling much better. Got set up for the writing half marathon by twenty to twelve. As expected, the group was quite chatty about last night. They were very appreciative of the response we got. Today we did three hours of writing and readbacks. Got through all thirteen prompts. Linda and Kay both gifted me chocolate and thank you cards. Various foodstuffs contributed to the table. I didn't go home afterwards. Sat in Consett Wetherspoons and copied out four pieces from today. Then read them at For Better or Verse at Blackhill Club. Great turns on open mic. Strong work from Steve Wood. And ace set from headliner Harry Gallagher who kindly gave me a lift home afterwards. Cheers! 11.00pm.
Saturday 13th July 2024
Today was great. I got to 17nineteen venue by half twelve. Spent about an hour setting up for the workshop. Eleven people attended. We got through a lot of exercises and the writers enjoyed it. James Whitman, the organiser of the series, gave positive feedback and I sold a few pamphlets. Got home okay. I'm now knackered and looking forward to a day off tomorrow. 11.03pm.
Friday 12th July 2024
Pleased to wake up at a reasonable hour. And feeling much better. Got set up for the writing half marathon by twenty to twelve. As expected, the group was quite chatty about last night. They were very appreciative of the response we got. Today we did three hours of writing and readbacks. Got through all thirteen prompts. Linda and Kay both gifted me chocolate and thank you cards. Various foodstuffs contributed to the table. I didn't go home afterwards. Sat in Consett Wetherspoons and copied out four pieces from today. Then read them at For Better or Verse at Blackhill Club. Great turns on open mic. Strong work from Steve Wood. And ace set from headliner Harry Gallagher who kindly gave me a lift home afterwards. Cheers! 11.00pm.
Saturday 13th July 2024
Today was great. I got to 17nineteen venue by half twelve. Spent about an hour setting up for the workshop. Eleven people attended. We got through a lot of exercises and the writers enjoyed it. James Whitman, the organiser of the series, gave positive feedback and I sold a few pamphlets. Got home okay. I'm now knackered and looking forward to a day off tomorrow. 11.03pm.
Sunday 14th July 2024
Up early. Looked at my bike and cursed the shit weather. Got ready and walked to Consett. Bought shoe insoles, checked out ten-inch tablets and small wheelie cases. Got X45 to Newcastle. Bought a strength training book and two chicken slices. Then to Jen's. We watched a dramatic episode of Corrie - basically a two-hander about physical abuse. Jen asked me to stay for the footie. I did. Bus home. 11.52pm.
Monday 15th July 2024
This afternoon I needed time away to clear my head so I went down to Swalwell on the Rockhopper bike. Then up to Watergate Forest Park. Rode home via Beamish. Out about five hours. Rode over forty miles. Slept for a while then listened to REMs Imitation of Life and The One I Love. Then slept again. I’m going to need a big lie-in. 11.43pm.
Tuesday 16th July 2024
Full day at the computer. Only been outside to put stuff in the bin. Very tired after yesterday’s ride and very hassled about remaining work commitments. Hope I still get my August time off. I got more samples made for Susan. I don’t think I’ll be printing any more 100gsm pages on my printer. Only 80gsm. Keyed in some stuff and sent an invoice, made some copies of Lucky Dip of Life and wrote a letter to the Writers group. 10.43pm.
Wednesday 17th July 2024
Pleased to get the Poetry Jam poster and event page sorted. I put a short set together for a support slot at tomorrow’s Gary the Hat’s pamphlet launch. I’ve been listening to the band Suede. I’ve never heard a full album by them before and about thirty years late to the party. But have enjoyed watching a couple of documentaries about them this evening. I should have been out to get the grass cut. But I'm taking things easy coz I’m out all day tomorrow. Probably about sixteen hours. Then out again on Friday. Then I’m done till 1st August for the Poetry Jam. I aim to get housework done, get back into exercise and get some good bike rides done. 10.32pm.
Thursday 18th July 2024
Didn’t reach Arts Centre Washington till 20 to twelve this morning. But thanks to Linda I got another print run of booklet covers. Tried to sort out more printing hassles in Durham but with little success. I’ve selected a load of poems from some Waddy booklets to read at the Learners Awards event tomorrow. This afternoon I had lentil and bacon soup and got the five fifteen bus to Sunderland. Great night for Gary the Hat at his Premeditated Ignorance booklet launch. Lots of poets read, including Lian Maltas, Gaeran Southern, Mel and Thom. Aaron Wright, amongst others. Gary’s new booklet is super well produced. Totally handmade. Top-notch punk poetry. I’m chuffed that he sold a canny few copies. After the gig I was tempted to get a takeaway but didn’t have time. So I ate a three-pack of Snickers bars instead. 78 bus to Consett. 10.28pm.
Friday 19th July 2024
Today went well. I reread all of FINAL on the bus to Durham. 22 pieces of prose and verse. Think they still stand up pretty well. Watched the indoor archery at Waddy before lunch. Then sat in on the speeches and award presentations for Learners Day. Then listened to the musical duo who were excellent. Then me and Chris Short did a forty-minute head-to-head poetry slot. I mostly read other Waddy writers' work but included two pieces of mine – ‘Cigarettes’ and ‘I am Not a Work of Fiction’. Chris read about nine or ten poems. 11.28pm.
Saturday 20th July 2024
Up early and into Consett for groceries, got some cheap chicken and a load of salad stuff. Too tired for much this afternoon. Tonight, I persevered with a temperamental printer. Fingers crossed, almost ready to print Susan’s books. Listened to lots of live Suede and Hanoi Rocks and ate maple peanuts with fudge and raisins. Needed a big day off. Very hassled. 10.47pm.
Sunday 21st July 2024
Lie in. Read half of Brett Anderson's Coal Black Mornings. Had soup then went out on the bike for a while but shouldn’t have coz I felt rough and the terrain was muddy. I fell off three times doing nothing remarkable. Read the rest of Coal Black Mornings this evening. Great memoir from the Suede frontman. Busy week coming up. 10.25pm.
Monday 22nd July 2024
I’d like to be able to do something constructive every day but sometimes I need to just sit back and let the day flow as it wants. I managed to be in Consett just after nine this morning to get more paper for booklet pages. Back home, I copied up stray journal entries and info for the college course but just felt wiped out by mid-afternoon and slept for a couple of hours. After a chicken and baked potato salad I listened to a couple of onstage Brett Anderson interviews about his book Coal Black Mornings. Then read up on writing to beat depression. Then a big one-hour and forty-minute Henry Rollins interview on a 12-year-old kid’s podcast. The lad was really bright and had done his homework. I’m getting a pot noodle then I’m off to bed. It’s been a canny day. 11.44pm.
Tuesday 23rd July 2024
And I didn’t get much done
coz the much is such that I procrastinate
when chores make me irate and I need to sit it out
and listen to songs I missed first time round
back in the nineties when
I was too busy trying to escape
And under lamplight there’s a truth I can’t hide
but reluctant to share coz it just might scare
I didn’t get much done and I don’t enjoy no sun
as the weeds spike and the paint cracks
and the summer lacks
that magic we used to grasp
And I didn’t think it wise to play
but all work ever did was cripple Jack
I didn’t get much done coz
fuck protocol
and it’s time to turn out the light
time to say goodnight
11.35pm.
Wednesday 24th July 2024
I cut the grass for about ninety minutes this morning then pruned away the creeping vines from the back of my property for an hour. After dinner, I went back out and got rid of the overgrowth around the edges of the lawns. I was back indoors by three - then slept for ninety minutes. After a chicken and baked potato salad, I cleaned the Sonder bike. The tyre treads still have a bit of dirt on them but the side walls and wheel rims are clean. I tried to read Stay Fanatic!!! Volume 3 by Henry Rollins but I’m not in the mood for yet more lists of imported 7-inch Bowie singles or anyone else’s to be honest. Cardstock for booklets should arrive tomorrow. 10.00pm.
Thursday 25th July 2024
Big thanks to Jenni for talking me through some computer procedures today. I’d be lost without her help. I’m finding computers to be a real pain at present. I’m about three days behind on my work. Still aim to be done by this time next week. 10.55pm.
Friday 26th July 2024
Up early, did morning pages, shaved, packed a bag. Got covers for Susan’s booklet printed at Waddy in about five minutes. Ridiculously long bus journey to Newcastle. Bought lined notebooks for August. Then Afternoons with the Blinds Drawn by Brett Anderson and Lonely Boy by Steve Jones from HMV. Also a copy of Beautiful Ones: The Very Best of Suede 1992-1998. Finally, some Canson coloured paper from Details. Walked to Jen’s. Sat a while, then walked into Gateshead. Bought a Karrimor jacket for eight quid in a charity shop. The tedious Olympic ceremony is ongoing. 10.20pm.
Saturday 27th July 2024
Me and Jenni watched music videos today. Pet Shop Boys, Emilie Autumn, Paul Heaton. Then 70s, 80s, 90s medleys by Martin Miller session band. I read the first few pages of Brett Anderson’s second volume of memoir Afternoons with the Blinds Drawn. 11.13pm.
Sunday 28th July 2024
Up quite early. Talked to Jenni about music and work and arts grants. She went to band practice around midday. I read more Brett Anderson. Jenni bought an epic surprise Sunday dinner. We watched bits of the Olympics and a great film Wicked Little Letters. Bus home. OK. 11.55pm.
Monday 29th July 2024
Slow day. Focused on some admin for a few hours before working on booklets. Printing fairly straight forward. No paper jams and only a few scuffs to replace. Put in an invoice for the last three workshops and checked Spooky Anthology proofs. Made an album of Poetry Jam stills from video footage. 11.50pm.
Tuesday 30th July 2024
Spent most of the morning food shopping. Been tired for about ten days now. Had a little chicken sandwich then slept for ninety minutes. At three I started folding booklet pages. Two and a half hours. After steak bake and beans, I read the final chapters of Afternoons with the Blinds Drawn. It’s ends in the early noughties after a poorly executed Suede album. Jaene Fitzgerald shared the sad news that Stanley-based poet Ron Dodd has died at the age of 92. I last saw him onstage at Lamplight Arts Centre over a decade ago. RIP Ron. Early night for me in hopes of better output tomorrow. 9.57pm.
Up early. Looked at my bike and cursed the shit weather. Got ready and walked to Consett. Bought shoe insoles, checked out ten-inch tablets and small wheelie cases. Got X45 to Newcastle. Bought a strength training book and two chicken slices. Then to Jen's. We watched a dramatic episode of Corrie - basically a two-hander about physical abuse. Jen asked me to stay for the footie. I did. Bus home. 11.52pm.
Monday 15th July 2024
This afternoon I needed time away to clear my head so I went down to Swalwell on the Rockhopper bike. Then up to Watergate Forest Park. Rode home via Beamish. Out about five hours. Rode over forty miles. Slept for a while then listened to REMs Imitation of Life and The One I Love. Then slept again. I’m going to need a big lie-in. 11.43pm.
Tuesday 16th July 2024
Full day at the computer. Only been outside to put stuff in the bin. Very tired after yesterday’s ride and very hassled about remaining work commitments. Hope I still get my August time off. I got more samples made for Susan. I don’t think I’ll be printing any more 100gsm pages on my printer. Only 80gsm. Keyed in some stuff and sent an invoice, made some copies of Lucky Dip of Life and wrote a letter to the Writers group. 10.43pm.
Wednesday 17th July 2024
Pleased to get the Poetry Jam poster and event page sorted. I put a short set together for a support slot at tomorrow’s Gary the Hat’s pamphlet launch. I’ve been listening to the band Suede. I’ve never heard a full album by them before and about thirty years late to the party. But have enjoyed watching a couple of documentaries about them this evening. I should have been out to get the grass cut. But I'm taking things easy coz I’m out all day tomorrow. Probably about sixteen hours. Then out again on Friday. Then I’m done till 1st August for the Poetry Jam. I aim to get housework done, get back into exercise and get some good bike rides done. 10.32pm.
Thursday 18th July 2024
Didn’t reach Arts Centre Washington till 20 to twelve this morning. But thanks to Linda I got another print run of booklet covers. Tried to sort out more printing hassles in Durham but with little success. I’ve selected a load of poems from some Waddy booklets to read at the Learners Awards event tomorrow. This afternoon I had lentil and bacon soup and got the five fifteen bus to Sunderland. Great night for Gary the Hat at his Premeditated Ignorance booklet launch. Lots of poets read, including Lian Maltas, Gaeran Southern, Mel and Thom. Aaron Wright, amongst others. Gary’s new booklet is super well produced. Totally handmade. Top-notch punk poetry. I’m chuffed that he sold a canny few copies. After the gig I was tempted to get a takeaway but didn’t have time. So I ate a three-pack of Snickers bars instead. 78 bus to Consett. 10.28pm.
Friday 19th July 2024
Today went well. I reread all of FINAL on the bus to Durham. 22 pieces of prose and verse. Think they still stand up pretty well. Watched the indoor archery at Waddy before lunch. Then sat in on the speeches and award presentations for Learners Day. Then listened to the musical duo who were excellent. Then me and Chris Short did a forty-minute head-to-head poetry slot. I mostly read other Waddy writers' work but included two pieces of mine – ‘Cigarettes’ and ‘I am Not a Work of Fiction’. Chris read about nine or ten poems. 11.28pm.
Saturday 20th July 2024
Up early and into Consett for groceries, got some cheap chicken and a load of salad stuff. Too tired for much this afternoon. Tonight, I persevered with a temperamental printer. Fingers crossed, almost ready to print Susan’s books. Listened to lots of live Suede and Hanoi Rocks and ate maple peanuts with fudge and raisins. Needed a big day off. Very hassled. 10.47pm.
Sunday 21st July 2024
Lie in. Read half of Brett Anderson's Coal Black Mornings. Had soup then went out on the bike for a while but shouldn’t have coz I felt rough and the terrain was muddy. I fell off three times doing nothing remarkable. Read the rest of Coal Black Mornings this evening. Great memoir from the Suede frontman. Busy week coming up. 10.25pm.
Monday 22nd July 2024
I’d like to be able to do something constructive every day but sometimes I need to just sit back and let the day flow as it wants. I managed to be in Consett just after nine this morning to get more paper for booklet pages. Back home, I copied up stray journal entries and info for the college course but just felt wiped out by mid-afternoon and slept for a couple of hours. After a chicken and baked potato salad I listened to a couple of onstage Brett Anderson interviews about his book Coal Black Mornings. Then read up on writing to beat depression. Then a big one-hour and forty-minute Henry Rollins interview on a 12-year-old kid’s podcast. The lad was really bright and had done his homework. I’m getting a pot noodle then I’m off to bed. It’s been a canny day. 11.44pm.
Tuesday 23rd July 2024
And I didn’t get much done
coz the much is such that I procrastinate
when chores make me irate and I need to sit it out
and listen to songs I missed first time round
back in the nineties when
I was too busy trying to escape
And under lamplight there’s a truth I can’t hide
but reluctant to share coz it just might scare
I didn’t get much done and I don’t enjoy no sun
as the weeds spike and the paint cracks
and the summer lacks
that magic we used to grasp
And I didn’t think it wise to play
but all work ever did was cripple Jack
I didn’t get much done coz
fuck protocol
and it’s time to turn out the light
time to say goodnight
11.35pm.
Wednesday 24th July 2024
I cut the grass for about ninety minutes this morning then pruned away the creeping vines from the back of my property for an hour. After dinner, I went back out and got rid of the overgrowth around the edges of the lawns. I was back indoors by three - then slept for ninety minutes. After a chicken and baked potato salad, I cleaned the Sonder bike. The tyre treads still have a bit of dirt on them but the side walls and wheel rims are clean. I tried to read Stay Fanatic!!! Volume 3 by Henry Rollins but I’m not in the mood for yet more lists of imported 7-inch Bowie singles or anyone else’s to be honest. Cardstock for booklets should arrive tomorrow. 10.00pm.
Thursday 25th July 2024
Big thanks to Jenni for talking me through some computer procedures today. I’d be lost without her help. I’m finding computers to be a real pain at present. I’m about three days behind on my work. Still aim to be done by this time next week. 10.55pm.
Friday 26th July 2024
Up early, did morning pages, shaved, packed a bag. Got covers for Susan’s booklet printed at Waddy in about five minutes. Ridiculously long bus journey to Newcastle. Bought lined notebooks for August. Then Afternoons with the Blinds Drawn by Brett Anderson and Lonely Boy by Steve Jones from HMV. Also a copy of Beautiful Ones: The Very Best of Suede 1992-1998. Finally, some Canson coloured paper from Details. Walked to Jen’s. Sat a while, then walked into Gateshead. Bought a Karrimor jacket for eight quid in a charity shop. The tedious Olympic ceremony is ongoing. 10.20pm.
Saturday 27th July 2024
Me and Jenni watched music videos today. Pet Shop Boys, Emilie Autumn, Paul Heaton. Then 70s, 80s, 90s medleys by Martin Miller session band. I read the first few pages of Brett Anderson’s second volume of memoir Afternoons with the Blinds Drawn. 11.13pm.
Sunday 28th July 2024
Up quite early. Talked to Jenni about music and work and arts grants. She went to band practice around midday. I read more Brett Anderson. Jenni bought an epic surprise Sunday dinner. We watched bits of the Olympics and a great film Wicked Little Letters. Bus home. OK. 11.55pm.
Monday 29th July 2024
Slow day. Focused on some admin for a few hours before working on booklets. Printing fairly straight forward. No paper jams and only a few scuffs to replace. Put in an invoice for the last three workshops and checked Spooky Anthology proofs. Made an album of Poetry Jam stills from video footage. 11.50pm.
Tuesday 30th July 2024
Spent most of the morning food shopping. Been tired for about ten days now. Had a little chicken sandwich then slept for ninety minutes. At three I started folding booklet pages. Two and a half hours. After steak bake and beans, I read the final chapters of Afternoons with the Blinds Drawn. It’s ends in the early noughties after a poorly executed Suede album. Jaene Fitzgerald shared the sad news that Stanley-based poet Ron Dodd has died at the age of 92. I last saw him onstage at Lamplight Arts Centre over a decade ago. RIP Ron. Early night for me in hopes of better output tomorrow. 9.57pm.
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