All That's On TV Is Chat Shows, Doctor Who and Bloody Nazis

Monday 18th November 2013

Mixed feelings as end of term approaches. Pleased there’ll be more time to get on with other projects but always stressed by all the tying up of loose ends. You can overdo it, of course – planning – trying to be innovative. Spent a full day yesterday and again today. Sickened myself with it now… Me and Jenni were offered a London gig this evening. Still waiting on more details before we green light. Other gig news: MATERIAL magazine launch 11th December in Newcastle. And Nine Inch Nails are playing a UK arena tour next May. Of course, not playing here. Best bet for me would be Manchester or Nottingham… Watched some Smiths stuff on video. They weren’t theatrical enough for me as a school kid, but I’m quite interested now… Haven’t done much work this evening.  Final evening class at Clayport Library tomorrow. All the paperwork is ready for that one. Done here. 8.42pm.

Tuesday 19th November 2013

Got quite a bit done in Waddy session – A2Z narrative, character chain stories, Bukowski and Rollins. Then a few hours till final Clayport. Talked a lot about poems, did some Cinquains, Triolets and Kennings. Sold five books. One of the students – ex teacher – gave me a lift home as she lives around the corner. Home by ten o’clock. Jenni is in good spirits and we’ve had some laughs. She sneaked off with my corned beef… “Imagine” has a programme on Outsider art. “Most of these are mad men,” says one of the guys interviewed… It’s been good to just sit and scribble after the session. Good to play with patterns and chill out. 10.55pm.

Wednesday 20th November 2013

Tiring day. Despite finishing and getting home early last night I still felt hammered this morning as it takes a while to come down after the sessions, good or bad. Mini-marathon went well this morning. We did it in a rather relaxed way, got through six rounds. Came straight home to find poor Jenni in pain. “Got any tablets,” she winced. I gave her the ibuprofen and minutes later she was curled up on the couch. A while later she felt better. I tried to work this afternoon but was way too tired. This evening we watched bits of a war documentary. Saw a copy of the limited edition homemade Swans cd NOT HERE NOT NOW that I bought last month now on Ebay for $125. Need an early night – full day of workshops and HOT WORDS at the Chilli tomorrow. 10.11pm.

Thursday 21st November 2013

Two good workshops today. Morning pages and analysis at MIND this morning with a little furniture game exercise tagged on the end. After a few false starts on the bus to Durham, I pulled together another set of exercises. At Waddy I worked with Barbara, Josh and Rachael. We did word-wheels and triads. Then an A2Z collaborative poem… Tonight I’m going to read two pieces at HOT WORDS. One from Sunshine and one from yesterday’s marathon… The Goose isn’t so full now. I’m at a little round darkwood table in view of the carvery. All the veg you can eat. Being a human dustbin, I shovelled a second helping of leek, carrots, sprouts, cauliflower, mash and roasties onto my little platter and smothered them with mint sauce and gravy. Feel okay but haven’t stood up yet. Gonna ink up some books before the gig. Be great to sell a couple of copies of Sunshine tonight. Ok. 6.18pm.

Friday 22nd November 2013

Superb HOT WORDS at the CHILLI last night. Thanks to all the great performers and excellent hosts Annie and Aidan for putting together such a stellar line-up. Alix Bromwich-Alexandra was fantastic. The audience loved her. Open mic was great - first half almost like a structured sequence - thanks to all the fine people who took part and especially Penelope Newcastle for helping me fit into that. Always good to encounter someone in performance for the very first time: newbie Vinny was very entertaining - and will hopefully appear at another event very soon. Great to get such generous sets from the guests. Enjoyed stand-up Julian Lee's one-liners and big thanks to Ian Williams for 'Spoon' poem and the Jenni/Steve references – yes this so-called Goth doesn't mind a bit of Abba. Excellent reading from master wordsmith Bob Beagrie. Mr Morbid was in fine form - great adlibs and intros to his illuminating poems from Dark Matter. Co-author Mandy Maxwell was absolutely on fire - seems to up the ante every performance she gives. All this plus choice poetry cuts from the hosts and a long overdue surprise return to performance poetry in second open mic from Ian Waugh and Juli Watson. Alix played us out with two more of her brilliant songs. Just one of the best nights at the Chillingham. If you've never been to HOT WORDS then give it a try. Next month's event is sure to be a lovely winter warmer. Keep it going!

Thanks to Aidan Cant and Jessica Johnson for each buying a copy of Sunshine.

Late Friday night. All that’s on tv is chat shows, Doctor Who and bloody Nazis. At least the cheese and pickle hot dog toasties do the trick. That is when Jenni isn’t hiding the ingredients or nicking bits. Pleased to get the Poetry Jam event on Facebook. Looked for some new stage boots online but they all look too heavy, too extreme or just too expensive. Don’t know how the day has gone so quickly. Only done a bit of admin and food shopping. Coughing my guts up at present. Should really have an early night. Pleased the migraine was gone when I woke this morning. Jenni is away for a couple of days from tomorrow. She doesn’t want to go. 11.26pm.

Saturday 23rd November 2013

The house seems colder when Jenni isn’t here. Ordered a load of gifts online. Intended to make up some books tonight to replenish stock after recent sales, but found myself editing a new poem that I road-tested at Hot Words on Thursday night. Had it not been for Mandy Maxwell’s positive feedback I might not have even bothered typing it up – but I’m pleased I did. Looks like I might have a new performance poem to memorize – Mandy liked what I put on Facebook tonight. Love it when a piece carries you away into it’s own world. Love editing poems. Will do the books tomorrow. 9.23pm.