"I Don't Want to See Your Nasty Bandage!"

Wednesday 18th December 2013

Amazing how much you can get done in a day if you stay away from your computer. The house has been a bugbear for months. Really pleased to get most of downstairs sorted. Listened to The Mission, Fish and Toyah whilst ‘filing’ away papers. Just the cooker to clean and freezer to defrost. Was so nice to just sit in a tidy living room and not feel a deadline looming. Not for long though. I still haven’t bought any presents for family yet. Feel a headache coming on, so I’ll soon be in bed 10.44pm.

Thursday 19th December 2013

Bus to Newcastle very slow for the first twenty-five minutes, then the driver put his foot down. Final gig of the year for me, and just as well coz I’m exhausted. Some guy at the back is coughing his guts up, so I guess I’ve got that to look forward to. Sophia Walker is headlining JibbaJabba tonight. Been looking forward to her set for months. BBC Slam champion 2013, best Edinburgh Fringe spoken word show 2013 – she’ll be awesome. And she has a pamphlet of her work out. Been playing the Mission’s The Brightest Light again today. They got a good online review for the Revelations tour. Still think I got a better deal seeing a longer set with a smaller audience. Have a feeling I’m going to be late into town. Metro Centre bound to be chock-a-block busy. Half-four meeting with Annie, Aiden and Jenni at Tyneside tea room. 3.56pm.

Friday 20th December 2013

Only need to be away from home twenty-four hours and the place gets so cold that even with the central heating cranked up again upon return it takes ages for rooms to warm up. Been out Xmas shopping since about one o’clock this afternoon straight from Jen’s. She was a good help. On my own I’d probably have bailed it and given everyone a selection box. We were still in Eldon Square at quarter to nine. Jenni says she’ll go back into town Monday or Xmas Eve. I didn’t get home till ten this evening. Spoke to Mam and Ernie on the phone. They were in Consett last night. They might manage another visit on Monday. 11.44pm.

Saturday 21st December 2013

Full of cold. Out again today to buy more bits and pieces. Didn’t get any books sent off. Was late out of bed. Been wrapping presents this evening and checking facebook. Pleased I don’t have to go out tomorrow. 11.55pm.

Sunday 22nd December 2013

Rough as hell all morning. Woke early and did morning pages on magic and religion. Got the freezer defrosted by lunchtime using hammer, screwdriver, hairdryer and washing up bowl. Ice growing out the door. Cleaned the cooker, had a shave, did some online stuff and copy-ups. Wrapping more presents tonight and watching television. Wish this cold would fuck right off! 7.05pm.

Monday 23rd December 2013

Four food expeditions today. Weather so chronic not many people around town, which means tomorrow will be fucking mayhem. Still lots of housework to do. Delivered things to Diane’s this evening. Then back to Tesco for things missed earlier, including the essential ‘bathroom tissue’. A whole day of buying, carrying, stacking. Pleased I don’t have to travel tomorrow. It’s good to be back home in a warm living room, eating my steak pie and beans. Gonna wrap a final couple of presents then try to relax a bit so I can get some sleep. 11.29pm.

Tuesday 24th December 2013

Another lie-in, safe in the knowledge that I don’t have to go out to the shops again. Finally got the bathroom tidy and hovered the stairs. Unfortunately cut my finger on a sliver of glass at the foot of the stairs. A double cut, wouldn’t stop bleeding. Had to hold blood in my mouth until I got up to the bathroom. Jenni arrived early this afternoon, wrapped presents downstairs while I wrote out cards and tags upstairs. Had a nice spicy pizza and curly fries tonight. QI is on tv. Santa is the patron saint of prostitutes. I like the double alliteration on that. A big spider just scuttled across the beige carpet. Been a bit of a trying day. Hope tomorrow is a bit more fun. Looking forward to making a big dinner. 9.20pm.

Wednesday 25th December 2013

Bigly thanks to Jenni, Diane, Hilary, John, Mam and Ernie for all the presents. Got some lovely things. Particularly enjoying the three volumes of ‘Henry and Glenn Forever’. Cartoon comics of Rollins and the big Misfits/Samhain/Danzig man. Jenni liked her tiger puppet and got numerous books and videos. I got a jumper, sox and aftershave from Diane; money and body lotions from Mam and Ernie; notebook from Jen’s mam and John. Got Miranda book, Willem Dafoe Nosferatu film, Queen Classic albums Night at the Opera dvd, the Riverside venue book, a splat man coaster, dead man pen holder, Rochester’s non alcoholic rum and raisin, Rochester’s non alcoholic ginger wine, black bedspread, long johns and Bang Said the Gun book from Jenni. We had the dinner nailed in about ninety minutes. Not as much as previous years – Jenni almost finished the meal in one sitting. Bit of a sleepy afternoon then watched the grim soap and MR James documentary. Jenni has been facebooking but I’m leaving it until tomorrow. Quiet but enjoyable. 11.16pm.

Thursday 26th December 2013

Got all my work books ordered for 2014 with gift money from Mam and Ernie. Keyed in my pre-Christmas grumpiness and am going to spend the rest of the day downstairs with Jenni amid books, sweets, food and fine video or televisual entertainment. Hope everyone’s having a fantastic festive season and looking forward to kick-starting a cracking 2014. Keep it going! 2.54pm.