PAMPHLETS, ETC

 Saturday 1st March 2025

In the dream there are two issues of a glossy magazine. Both of them have multi-page features on goth rock singer, poet, novelist Rosie Garland. She is visiting a drop-in centre down the street. But by the time I get there from the newsagent’s she's gone.

Here we are in the third month already. I slept through the night without having to get up to go to the toilet. And that's with the temperature at zero before turning out the light. Every day, I go into my grotty little kitchen and see my lovely Sonder Frontier bike patiently waiting to be ridden down trails, through streams, over rocks, in between trees, up sketchy woodland climbs. I haven't been on the bike since November when we had a couple of decent days before things got really chilly. I wanted to be out on my old bike by now, in preparation for the new season, but I've been too busy…

Up early for morning pages. No typing. I had another medical assessment this morning. An hour on the phone. I recorded it on my pocket camcorder so I can retain what I said. I got side-tracked and was too late for paper-stock hunting in town. I met Jenni at 7pm for Cooper Robson's book launch. A bird shat on my shoulder on the way home. I was once told it's good luck. OK. 11.50pm.

 

Sunday 2nd March 2025

Cooper Robson's book launch gig last night at The Cumberland was a sellout. About seventy people in attendance.

Amy Langdown warmed the room with a poem about the north east then introduced Rowan McCabe, the door to door poet, who did a short support set.

Rowan's poem about snails was ace. As was the commissioned poem for baby Gloria"s christening - and the one he made up from a list of suggestions some precocious primary school pupils gave him to work with would satisfy even the most discerning lyrically inclined youngster. Memory issues prevent recall of specific details, but in the moment it came across as one of his most relaxed and entertaining performances.

Cooper Robson, however, was pretty full on. A lot of the poems are loud, in your face, built on robust rhymes aimed at political and social opponents. His stuff might be too crude for BBC upload, save perhaps Tyne and Tyne Again, but the gathering upstairs in the Mecca of north east spoken word was onside. I haven't heard such a roar of applause for a solo spoken word show in a long time. Tories are horrible. The royal anus isn't serviced by upper class specialists. Posh pretend-poverty-stricken university students are a pain. And who could argue with his views on the destruction of Gaza. I know, he says, let's cheer ourselves up and dig a big hole on Longsands Beach for a birthday treat.

He's got filthy jokes and the stage presence of a loveable lumberjack/grizzly bear - big beard, wild hair, big heart. The only young poet, after sixty minutes onstage, to get an encore.

Cooper's book is called Robson and Marras. It's a skinny, glossy version of a fanzine with all his cleverly crafted verses of vitriolic resistance crammed in amongst the colourful graphics.

Cooper Robson calls himself a gobshite from Heaton. Stand-up/performance poetry may never be the same again.

Good day. Really chuffed with the little review for Cooper and Rowan this morning. And to get the cover design in the bag for my forthcoming pamphlet, which shouldn't be too much of a problem to assemble. I was tempted to buy Revenge of the Lawn by Richard Brautigan today and You Get So Alone At Times That It Just Makes Sense by Charles Bukowski.

THANKS: Cooper, Rowan and Amy for feedback on the review of their gig. Thanks to Waterstones for all the graphic design inspiration and to Jenni for feedback on the cover design of Letting the Minimalism slip. OK. 11.55pm.

 

Monday 3rd March 2025

I got two workshops prepped by half four then switched to desktop PC to get some work off an audio file from Weardale Wordfest last year. Keyed in a new piece and did my journal voice-input. Got all the Poetry Jam pix uploaded to Facebook and archived the videos. Great to see and hear Catherine Ayre’s backstreet aggro poem again. Enjoyed revisiting Rachel Dunlop's workshop. Had a huge corned-beef-and-potato rissole for tea. Only been out to get chocolate. I won't be back at the PC till Wednesday. For invoices. And edits on the poetry pamphlet – I only really have a week to proof it. Need to be printing a week on Friday. Hope it all goes well. Still tech phobic. OK. 11.25pm.

 

Tuesday 4th March 2025

Got through all the material that I planned for Waddington Street Centre workshop. Ten Nouns. What Matters? Writing to Feel. Emotional honesty. Various forms of flash fiction. Person Trajectory. Hope to repeat it all on Friday at Washington. Tonight, I just needed time off. And yet I still managed to do some correspondence for booklets. Me and Elaine seem to be on the same page with colour combinations for pamphlets. Tonight, I stayed mostly downstairs and about quarter to ten just wanted to hear a bit of music. I put on The Damned – Don't You Wish That We Were Dead documentary DVD and really enjoyed it. I can only name about four or five of their songs even though I've played several of their albums loads of times. Oh well, tomorrow is a big proofreading day for me. OK. 11:45pm.

 

Wednesday 5th March 2025

Went through first proof copy of Letting the Minimalism Slip and took my time reading the pieces, noted required changes of punctuation, jotted down intros to say when I read some of the pieces at Gateshead. The computer is causing concern. It doesn't switch off easily. I need a new external hard drive just to be on the safe side. I printed out a copy of the re-edited little booklet and made a copy up with the silver ink on blue cover from yesterday. The words read well. I'm really chuffed with it. I'm sure there'll be a few more glitches but I think I'm nearly there with it. 11.50pm.

 

Thursday 6th March 2025

Up till two this morning tweaking the poems and rereading. I tried to have a lie in but was awake at seven. I've got lots more to do on my booklet. I got sample inks onto black card for Elaine’s pamphlet this afternoon. It took me about 45 minutes to set up the room at Waddy for Poetry Jam. All the guests – Kevin Robson, Helen Alexandra and Aaron Wright – did good sets. They were all at the recent writing marathons. We had over 25 people in the room tonight but a few left at half time. Brian James of The Damned and Lords of the New Church died today. He was a great guitar player. RIP. 11.46pm.

 

Friday 7th March 2025

The buses were on time. The community room was ok. Cracking session at Washington Arts Centre. The writers responded well to the tasks and most participants read at least one piece back. We did emotional honesty on the page. Then angels and devils – the Tomaz Solomon poetry exercise. Some quite startling pieces read out from it. I finished the session with Charlatan from Laughter to Split Glass. Thanks to Alwyn Bathan for a lift to the Metro Centre bus station and for positive feedback. I bought A1 sheets of Fabriano for endpaper from DETAILS today for my new pamphlet. I'm still tweaking and agonizing over the inclusion/removal of expletives. Fingers crossed it'll be okay at Gateshead library on Monday 17th March. OK. 10.45pm.

 

Saturday 8th March 2025

Early morning pages. Then a load of copy ups. I've printed a preview pamphlet which looks very impressive. Jen says £7.50 a copy. I think that’s a lot. But we will see. I vowed never to charge more than a fiver. But never say never. Anyway, great Paul Riley show at Dance City this evening. He did about 75 minutes. Mainly talking about Still Game but a bit about Motorhead as well. OK. 11.17pm.

 

Sunday 9th March 2025

Me and Jenni went to Quayside Market then the Baltic. The photography exhibition was great. Good textiles, knotting and graphics too. Can’t remember any names. Watched Dancing on Ice and Britain's Got Talent. 10.10pm bus to Consett. Only just made it home to the toilet. Big week of work ahead. OK. 11.47pm.

 

Monday 10th March 2025

Been focusing on the pamphlet for much of the day. I've pushed through another proofread and still found a few more things – an apostrophe here and an acknowledgement or omission there. And I might budge the poems in a few millimetres where possible till the side margins match the top. I might have to manually type page numbers rather than use automatic inserts. I'm probably overthinking it, but I'd like it as good as possible. I still need to write a few more intros and links for next week's gig at Gateshead Library. I didn't start workshop prep till about seven this evening. Fish (ex-Marillion) bowed out with a final gig in Glasgow tonight. If not for the tinnitus, I could have been tempted. Happy retirement, Derek. 11.45pm.

 

Tuesday 11th March 2025

Today's session at Waddy went well. Still focusing on fiction. We did some transposing self to third person then two little character sketches from the big A2Z poem. Then we looked at emotionally charged days of the week. And chose one to write about. Then we did pairs of ‘I Am’ pieces giving voices to characters. I think I might do this session at Arts Centre Washington a week on Friday. But if time allows will do prose monologues as well as the poems. I just read a long thread about a Fish (ex-Marillion) fan feeling let down coz the big man didn't allow a post-show selfie last night. The whole fame and identity thing was brought sharply into focus. Fish is no more; Mr Derek Dick is now a crofter relocating to the Outer Hebrides. 11.00pm.

 

Wednesday 12th March 2025

I was tired starting off but made three colour combos for Elaine Cusack's mini pamphlet. The 120gsm white paper seems to have worked okay. Maybe we can use that through my home printer. Or we could try to manually align sheets front and back on the big office laser printer at Waddington Street Centre and go for 150gsm cartridge paper pages. This afternoon I had a care plan meeting with a mental health nurse. Then I got the margins and page numbers sorted for my new pamphlet. I made another printout then did self-employment finances for the month. I've keyed in notes and listened to bits of Fish online. Please this morning's flurry of snow came to nothing. I hope to be back on the books again tomorrow. 11.38pm.

 

Thursday 13th March 2025

Really knackered this evening and still finding fault with my pamphlet so can’t start the print run yet. Fingers crossed I'll be good to go in the morning. I don't know how anyone can proofread a novel. Just a little selection of poetry can soon start to get very wearing. Three more proof copies today. I will try to get a good read through in the morning. Then I need to go into town for a while. I reckon I might have to stay home this weekend to get the pamphlet done. I did a poster but might change the wording and do a little blurb instead of physical description. I had to knock off about 8 o'clock because my head was stotting. All I've done since sleep this evening is read some Fish comments and voice-enter some notes. I want to be in bed by 11 o'clock. OK. 10.45pm.

 

Friday 14th March 2025

With help from Jenni on a few phrases, the pamphlet is good to go: I've printed 20 copies for the launch and will assemble tomorrow. I aim to get out to more libraries and spoken word gigs. I aim to get more journals and poems prepared for publication. And I'd really like to publish a definitive version of Anomalies 1989-2014 as a paperback on Lulu. OK. 11.54pm.

 

Saturday 15th March 2025

Weird pain in right thumb. Thought it might have hindered book production. But I've done OK. I made 20 copies of the new pamphlet. Will trim them tomorrow. I'm tired. I did more vocal entries. I can hardly stay awake. Still have the writing half marathon stuff to sort out for Tuesday. Off to bed soon. 11.49pm.

 

Sunday 16th March 2025

Awoke around six and did some final tweaks on a page of the pamphlet and inserted a fresh verso. It's taken me a long time to proof to a good standard. I think it's all as I want it to be now. I got the bus to Jen’s this evening and went over my links and intros for tomorrow's Gateshead Central Library event. OK. 10.37pm.

 

Monday 17th March 2025

Good little launch at Gateshead Library this afternoon. I did about 45 minutes with the readings then a Q&A. I was chuffed to read a piece from Shades of Grey in response to a question about my writing approach. I think the new material works well as a set and I'll be keen to do it again elsewhere. Thanks to all who bought copies of my books. And thanks to Mark Speeding for a free first edition David Almond book. Sleepless Nights was his first ever collection of short stories, published by Iron Press in 1985. I was still at school then. The book is in mint condition. This evening me and Jen watched Corrie. I've been asleep a fair bit as well. Jenni is playing piano music by Michael Nyman. Relaxing, dreamy. I will be in bed soon because I have a workshop at Waddington Street Centre tomorrow. OK. 10.18pm.

 

Tuesday 18th March 2025

I got to Waddington Street about half eleven and prepped a half marathon in an hour. Five people got through nine prompts. I wrote mostly in rhyme. Everyone did mint stuff and it gave me the opportunity to road test prompts for next week in Sunderland. I knocked up a couple more booklet samples for Elaine Cusack. I did loads of vocal entries on the mobile from my journals and I'm chuffed to have kept on top of things for nearly three months. I want to edit bits for a journal book and want to get some poems out to magazines. OK. 11.08pm.

 

Wednesday 19th March 2025

Me and Jenni walked to Team Valley Retail Park. I only needed an external hard drive for the computer. Jenni got a couple of jackets in a second-hand shop. In Halfords I felt a big stabbing pain in my chest. Jenni and the shop assistant were a bit more concerned than me. But it went away after about quarter of an hour. I bought a new bike helmet. This evening Jenni made a delicious vegetable curry. We watched Coronation Street. I left around 9:00 but forgot the mid evening buses from Askew Road only go as far as Blackhall mill. So I had to go to the Metro Centre and hang around till 10 o'clock for an X45. I slept most of the journey back to Consett. Arriving just in time to get the last bus to Moorside. Home by eleven. OK. 11.52pm.

 

Thursday 20th March 2025

I left my morning pages at Jen’s place last night and have been a total stress head all day. I posted samples to Elaine. Then bought black 340gsm card, a pack of USB sticks, and food. Home by three. I shaved then did publicity for Poetry Jam and printed out eighteen different resources for tomorrow's workshop. If we get through six or seven of them, I'll be pleased. I am keen to get out on a bike. 11.43pm.

 

Friday 21st March 2025

Pitstop at Tesco this morning to retrieve the bank card I left in a self-service machine. Lucky to get it back. Only five takers for Washington writing session. Big poetry focus. I went to Jen's for an hour this afternoon. Got morning pages book then back to Blackhill. I lost my woolly hat and had to buy another. Then I went to Blackhill club. For Better Or Verse had a great turnout. Over 30 in the room. David Rutherford and Aaron Wright were both mint. As were the open floor poets. I read Sound System and Thrill Time. Shifted two pamphlets. Went to Tesco for supplies and caught the last bus home. Bed soon. 11.50pm.

 

Saturday 22nd March 2025

Today was a hassle. The buses were unreliable. Got to Jen’s with just a few minutes to drop my bags off before Queen at the Planetarium show at Centre for Life. Good surround screen graphics and decent sound level for the big hits. I copied up and keyed in some notes but not much else. OK. 11.00pm.

 

Sunday 23rd March 2025

Went to an indoor second-hand market at Lubber Fiend music venue. I bought a pakamac for two quid. Jenni got a load of good zines plus Batman and Joker comic books very cheap. She helped me to get me find Mother's Day presents in Newcastle. Cherry pie with custard then musicals. OK. 10.59pm.

 

Monday 24th March 2025

Me and Jenni got some bargains from Consett charity shops and tried out little treats from the big Lidl bakery. Jenni very kindly came to my place and sorted the disc drive and external hard drive for the desk top computer. Couldn't really focus well on the work tonight, but think I have enough options for the final Waddy session tomorrow. I've eaten junk all day but need to ditch those calories for the next few months. Need good sleep and exercise. Durham County Council took £300 from my bank today. Extremely tired. 10.32pm.

 

Tuesday 25th March 2025

I made up marathon books and sorted prompts for tomorrow’s Sunderland session. Put up Poetry Jam posters around Waddington Street Centre. I’m falling behind on my journal key-ins. I need to be away to Sunderland by about one o'clock. I am pretty knackered at present and hope things go well this week. 10.22pm.

 

Wednesday 26th March 2025

Eighteen people came to the Holmeside Writers half marathon at Ship Isis in Sunderland this evening. With several small round/rectangular tables instead of a single large one, and several people seated way off at opposite sides of the room, it was quite a challenge to keep the focus; I had to split participants into two groups taking turns on alternating rounds for readbacks. It was good of James Whitman to book me, and some good material was produced, but the set-up jarred and blocked energy. I came away deeply disappointed. I have a stotting headache and need to get to bed. 11.35pm.

 

Thursday 27th March 2025

Thanks to Helen Alexandra for unexpected positive feedback on last night's writing half marathon at The Ship Isis. I've been feeling a bit out of sorts and today has been a bit of a struggle. Not fit for much. I hoped to get on the bike this afternoon but didn't feel up to being outside. I tried to watch a film called ‘When She Was Out’ this evening but the DVD kept slipping so I switched to ‘A Night to Remember’ concert video by Seal. I fell asleep and missed the middle of it. Achieved little save a few vocal entries on the mobile. I hope to sleep better tonight and get out for an hour in the morning before I start work. It's getting late. 11.35pm.

 

Friday 28th March 2025

Pleasantly surprised to find riverside trails firm and dry this afternoon. Only a couple of muddy bits further into the woodland. Had I known it was going to be so good I'd have ridden the Sonder Frontier bike instead of the old Specialized Rockhopper. I did a couple of hours, including some on-foot rock rambling. I found a few lines I want to try when I'm a bit fitter. I'm aiming for better calorific intake than mere comfort food from now on. It took three hours from my place to Jen’s tonight because I forgot that some of the bus services go wrong around eight o’clock. I’m not eating any more until tomorrow. 11:26 p.m.

 

Saturday 29th March 2025

Out early to Newcastle for card, paper stock, a silver ink pen, and a copy of You Get So Alone At Times That It Just Makes Sense by Charles Bukowski then over to the post office on Jackson Street in Gateshead to post out a copy of my pamphlet Letting the Minimalism Slip before a long walk to the Central Library for an excellent One Dollar Zombies gig. Back home, the Bukowski was disappointing. 10.46pm.

 

Sunday 30th March 2025

Chatted briefly on the phone with Mam and Ernie then got some journal stuff transferred to word. got Poetry Jam pictures uploaded to Facebook watch the mint Frippcox cover of Kashmir on YouTube and listened to great One Dollar Zombies album The Secret of Serendipity. OK.11.43pm.

 

Monday 31st March 2025

Loads of hassle trying to get paid. Had to ditch run of pages coz toner wouldn’t fix to 120gsm paper. Managed to get a short run of pamphlets made and inked up for Elaine Cusack in time for her 40th Anniversary gig in Blyth on Saturday 5th April. My desktop computer is making a dodgy whirring noise. Just as well everything is saved to external hard drive. Pleased to see the back of this month. OK. 10.04pm.