"Unclean, Unclean!!"

Sunday 5th October 2014

Sunday is usually a lazy day, but much of the time was spent working. Lesson plans, reading and research. This evening me and Jenni watched The Devil’s Arithmetic (starring Kirsten Dunst) about the holocaust. Then I came upstairs, went online to see the nasty party and their benefit card designed to deprive the unemployed of cash. Read bits of Robert Brautigan and Adrian Mitchell. 11.34 pm.

Monday 6th October 2014

Snotty nosed in Consett bus station. At least the rain has stopped. Fifteen minutes till the 45 to Newcastle. Going to see Wayne Hussey at The Cluny. Feeling very rough at present, hope I’m okay tomorrow at work. Sessions are prepped. Staying at Jen’s tonight, so hopefully I’ll get a good start in the morning. I’ve taken ibuprofen and hope they kick in soon. 6.08 pm.

Tuesday 7th October 2014

Snotty nosed sniffling on the bus to Consett, downing ibuprofen like Smarties for temporary relief. I don’t want to be standing over people, giving feedback on their writing when I’m loaded with cold. I’ve already reached the maximum number of tablets for the day. Back to a fucking freezing house. Nose red-raw. Some mint stuff written in Ways with Words this morning. 10.17 pm.

Wednesday 8th October 2014

Phew! Another full-on day. Waddy half-marathon this morning, Colour your Life writing in Peterlee this afternoon then back to Waddington Street Centre for another half-marathon this evening. Thanks to people who attended any of the six workshops over the last couple of days. And to Nicky the Waddy cookery tutor whose class provided the awesome vegetables and onion gravy to accompany my solitary Tesco chicken and mushroom pie this afternoon. Got a morning session at Derwentside Mind tomorrow with the Consett Writers, then hopefully home to reply to people who have messaged, emailed, etc since I left the house for the superb Wayne Hussey gig at Newcastle Cluny on Monday evening. Bigly Thanks to Jenni for the comfy bed after the goth nostalgia. 10.36 pm.

Thursday 9th October 2014

Probably one of the most creative weeks in a long while – written over twenty-five new poem drafts since Tuesday. Got some typed this evening. Think some of them are keepers. The sessions have been really productive. Pretty exhausted this evening. Been looking at photos of the limited edition super deluxe “Push the Sky Away” Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds box set. The 120 page repro book of Nick's working notes looks great. But a hundred and fifty quid on ebay is a bit much for my budget. I didn’t even try to get a ticket for his show at the Sage coz I begrudge the prices. £35 – £65. Triple that on resale sites. Going to see Toyah in Yorkshire at the end of the month. She was great at Legends last year. Signed my copy of Anthem. 11.28 pm.

Friday 10th October 2014

Of course the sky’s blue – I’m supposed to be staying indoors to work all day, why wouldn’t the weather be twenty times better than on my afternoon off? Achieved little. Keyed in some pages, did preliminary prep for next week. Was good to see some John Lydon interviews online tonight. One in particular, with Jon Snow, very moving. Watched the Pistols “There’ll Always Be an England” as well. Sound quality excellent. My nose isn’t so runny now, but chest isn’t too good. I’m trying not to put the heating on but the temperature has dropped rapidly the last couple of nights. Anyway, a day down; must try harder tomorrow. 11.17 pm.

Saturday 11th October 2014

Still a bit lethargic. I have cold sores and mouth ulcers. Weather great for some outdoor activity, but I just trimmed and lettered some monographs, uploaded poetry vids to YouTube; watched John Lydon and listened to Public Image Limited this afternoon. Checked out books and music mags this evening. Read some Thomas Ligotti on the bus to Jen’s. We watched JFK documentary on tv. 10.29 pm.

Sunday 12th October 2014

Another lazy day. Discussions about world affairs. Watched Columbo, had chicken jalfrezi, cherry pie and custard. Watched the Great British Bake Off. In my twenties and thirties food was fuel. Now food makes me drool. Comfort, comfort. Read some Thomas Ligotti stories and watched Homeland on tv this evening. Ok. 11.20 pm.

Monday 13th October 2014

Seems I’d done more prep than I thought, which meant I could take it easy this afternoon – and this evening attend the Red Squirrel Press joint launch of Josephine Scott and Ian Davidson new books, ‘Rituals’ and ‘Tyne and Wear Poems’ respectively. Both poets read well. Sheila very generously gave me and Jenni the collections for helping with the PA system. Both are beautifully produced and I’m looking forward to reading them at my leisure. I gave Jenni first read though as my floors are covered in untouched titles. Was nice to see Charles Gardiner and Anna Lisa out tonight. One the bus back from the Lit and Phil I finished reading work by one of the Tuesday evening class students. A five and a half thousand word short story with a rather gruesome ending. Wanted to watch Gotham when I got home, but got distracted with more prep and missed the start. Oh well… Enough. 10.14 pm.