Pamphlets, Gigs and Pigging Out

Friday 14th November 2014

Lethargic. Didn’t get out of bed till twenty to eleven. Took ages to get anything started. Lots of research this afternoon for next term. Nothing if not professionally optimistic, ha! Done a few emails here and there. But not much constructive. I’m listening to TV Smith’s album USELESS. It’s totally brilliant. I’m somewhat embarrassed that it’s taken me till I’m in my mid-forties to switch on to his music. He’s playing Leeds in February with Louise Distras. A cracking double bill. I’m spending quite a bit of money of late. I’d like to see Jarboe as well. And I just found out that The Jesus and Mary Chain are playing Newcastle next February as well. Think I’ll be on austerity drive in 2015. Need to buckle down and get the next book written. I’m loving the TV Smith stuff tonight. Going to see him play when I’ve familiarised myself with more of his material. My short term memory is shit. Takes ages to absorb/recall lyrics/poems. 11.20 pm.

Saturday 15th November 2014

Another long lie in. The house cold and messy. Can’t remember what I’ve done besides listen to TV Smith and read bits of Rollins and Hattersley. Toothache for the last three days. Read some of Simon Green’s memoir on the bus to Jenni’s. We’ve eaten fruit pastries, salmon and cucumber sandwiches, crisps and scones, watched politically incorrect seventies programme and now a war poets documentary. 10.38 pm.

Sunday 16th November 2014

Morning pages gave me a vignette today. Usually it’s just pre-breakfast whinge or a mega to-do list. Was good to be in Newcastle on a Sunday for a change. Jenni went to Scratch rehearsal club. I trawled the bookshelves of WH Smith then went to Rymans and Paperchase. Checked out album box sets and DVDs in HMV. Nice to chat with some of the NE poets before going back to Jen’s for Rogan josh. OK 11.42 pm.

Monday 17th November 2014

Productive day. Sorted my session stuff whilst listening to Queen Forever this evening. Two mini anthologies to put together. Whole file of poems to reformat. The new Queen compilation made the work a lot easier. Just took my final picture of the black and white photo challenge, having been nominated by Mark Speeding last Thursday. I like a couple of them. But I’m no photographer. Almost eleven at night. I’ve not shaved today. Haven’t put the bins out. My jaw isn’t so sore today. Think I just have a gum infection. No snail mail today. I was expecting an Albert Huffstickler  book. I’d like to buy the Ian Curtis book ‘So This is Permanence’ but I’ve spent too much money of late. 11.05 pm.

Tuesday 18th November 2014

Grateful for the lift home this evening from Chris, one of the Tuesday Evening writers. Paper stock for next Talking Pen pamphlet (Chris Harland) was taken in by a neighbour. And ‘Why I write in Coffee Houses and Diners’ by Albert Huffstickler arrived. Forgot my notebook today but sessions went well. Even had time to add more Wednesday writers’ pieces to the anthology file. Head is starting to pound a bit. Would like to be in bed soon. Only two sessions tomorrow. Morning and evening. Will be making up booklets at Waddy in the afternoon.

10.45 pm.

Wednesday 19th November 2014

Super productive day. Morning session well attended, strong engagement with all exercises. Afternoon, I got a batch of books printed, collated and stapled for one of the Waddy writers then worked on proof drafts for Wednesday evening anthology. Before session I had time to go over a student’s book proposal. Evening was fun. Group chuffed to see their poems printed out in booklet form. Lots of sequencing and fine-tuning to do, but we’ll do it. Another keen bunch. I read some Albert Huffstickler poems on the bus but wasn’t able to remember much – bit tired by nine. So why am I still doing admin as the clock hands get closer to Witching Hour. It’s in the blood: complaining but still kicking. 11.38 pm.

Thursday 20th November 2014

One of those evenings off when nothing seems right. Try reading, try typing. Try watching a tv series enjoyed last year but it doesn’t cut it. As per usual, having gone flat out since Monday I’m just too hammered to enjoy anything this evening. At least toothache has gone away. Prepped a new notebook for solo marathon tomorrow. Hope I feel alive enough to do a ten-hour stint. 9.53 pm.

Friday 21st November 2014

Home Town Slog – the usual self referential ramblings with occasional passages worthy of development. Done one hundred A5 pages in a day once a month since January. I’ll do the December section then never again. Self conscious throughout; quantity over quality – a race against time. I’ll edit down what I can and see if it’s usable. Was out over twelve hours. An elderly couple sat at the table I was using in Wetherspoons just as I was coming to the last page. We chatted afterwards for ten minutes. They’d been married sixty years and lived in Bridgehill. They were going to a karaoke and then a few more pubs… My Adelle Stripe hardback arrived from Blackheath Books. Hand bound, spray-painted cloth cover. Impressive. Looking forward to reading it. 11.30 pm.

Saturday 22nd November 2014

Tried to read Amanda Palmer on the Newcastle bus but fell asleep. Spoken word symposium at Live Theatre was fun. Got to shout and moan a bit. Food was delicious: cheese and pickle in tomato bread; lemon cake and peanut butter cookies. Architects of Our Republic was great. Carmen Thompson was ace. AJ McKenna too. Charlie Darke, Dizraeli and Cate Ferris. Free Trade Inn afterwards with some NE poets. Good day. 9.38 pm.

Sunday 23rd November 2014

Me and Jenni had a lovely meal with Emma and Steve then on to Free as a Bard this evening. Good to see Scott Tyrrell perform again. Good to chat with Harry Gallagher afterwards. Metro back to Newcastle then bus to Consett. 10.47 pm.

Monday 24th November 2014

Not getting to bed till after one this morning made for a lethargic start to my day. Took till about one this afternoon to be able to do any real work. Blitzed a pile of college paperwork. And I’m ready to print off a copy of Chris Harland’s pamphlet tomorrow on the good stock. Got some colour sample PDFs of Jane Burn’s pamphlet cover off to her this evening as well. My session is prepped for the final evening class tomorrow. Back in work mode. Contracts, proofs, edits, lists – no time for much else but head shave and a pizza. 10.45 pm.

Tuesday 25th November 2014

Made up two copies of Chris Harland’s pamphlet on the good paper and card stock. Got student papers written up. Lovely curry for tea. Evening session was good. Shame some people couldn’t make it. They told me weeks ago they wouldn’t be able to make the final session. But we had a great little publishing workshop. Showed the Sunshine production and how to make a monograph, notes on getting an agent, poetry versus fiction, how to put your own book together. Threat of migraine on the bus home. Trimmed pamphlets but not 100% satisfied – might get them pro guillotined. Will show Chris on Thursday. This is work log. 10.55 pm.

Wednesday 26th November 2014

Megabus to Leeds: whingeing kids, raindrops leaking through the skylight; a shared double seat. Plenty heat. Probably don’t need this hoodie on. Twenty minutes on board and we only just passed the Angel of the North. Slight exaggeration, perhaps, but it feels like it. Seatbelts for our safety. Not to act as a form of bondage please. I got the window seat. Would’ve preferred the aisle seat. But it’s only two hours. Really tired. Been awake since five this morning. Did a good two hour session with the Waddy writers. I’m going to see Wayne Hussey solo tonight. Holy Trinity Church on Boar Street. Apparently only a couple of minutes walk from the train station. Gig finishes at eleven so I should be okay to get back for the train at twenty to twelve. Too tired to write or read. Uncomfortable. Too hot really. 3.05 pm.

Gig was great. Wayne came on about quarter to eight and played for nearly three hours, had a fag break, did a brief Q&A then started signing stuff and getting photos taken with fans. Pleased I went. Now onboard train. I’ll hang around York for half an hour then onto Newcastle. 11.40 pm.

Thursday 27th November 2014

Nice lie in this morning. Me and Jenni had a lazy time chatting and looking at pamphlets. This afternoon we went to the Goose for tea. Stupidly, I ate two platefuls and felt a little ill afterwards. Jenni took pix and posted on Facebook. Luckily I perked up on the walk over to Byker.

Friday 28th November 2014

Jibba Jabba was tremendous last night. Great to see the Cumberland Arms filled with words and music. Sky Hawkins was good. Guitarists too and I liked the comedy. Full-on quality open mic as well. Then Tim Clare played an absolute blinder. Didn’t finish till after eleven so I stayed at Jen’s again. Home this lunchtime to financial admin hassles. Hopefully rectified this time next week. Really lethargic again. Friday seems to be my drop-out day. Listened to TV Smith, The Damned and Sisters of Mercy. Made up a booklet for a student and keyed in some text. Bit more negotiation on Jane’s book this evening. 10.28 pm.

Saturday 29th November 2014

Slept in quite a while. All the writing marathon places are filled now. I got my gig set sorted for the Buddy Wakefield support slot. Decided to go for a showcase rather than just material from So Much for the Sunshine. Got the card for Jane’s cover. Me and Jenni watched quite a lot of Columbo, ate lots of sweets, lazed all evening. 11.56 pm.

Sunday 30th November 2014

Read the first sixty pages of Post Office by Charles Bukowski while Jenni slept this morning. We had chicken jalfrezi and polished off the rest of the sweets and crisps. Watched more Columbo and caught bits of a film called Ink Heart when I could stay awake. Good to have my emails back on this evening. Dresden Dolls on Spotify and a bit of typing. 10.57 pm.