Cranberry Android Tin Foil Influenza

Monday 15th December 2014

Spoke to Mam and Ernie this morning. I’ll be getting a visit on Friday before they go up to Scotland for Christmas. Hopefully I’ll have stuff bought and wrapped by then. Christmas doesn’t really hit me until I’m filling a trolley with food on 22nd or 23rd December; buying tin foil and cranberry sauce. It’s a good week or so when I don’t have to be anywhere. A time to recharge the batteries… I listened to The Cure at Bestival from 2012 while I typed today. Had no idea they are playing three Hammersmith dates next week. Bet those shows sold out in seconds. I listened to the Buddy Wakefield interview recorded at the Cumberland. He was talking about Convenience Stores and how it can sometimes take three months to write a poem. I checked out some Diamanda Galas posters and tidied the kitchen. Jenni wanted to come over this morning after staying out all night, but she’s better off in her own bed. My place is a tip and I’ll be working all week. 11.21 pm.

Tuesday 16th December 2014

Managed to be up at a reasonable hour. Answered emails and worked on a pamphlet for a while. Mixing in the creative with the domestic. Slowly going over the house over the next week. Physical chores rather than being at the computer all day trying to stay warm or cranking up the gas bill hour upon hour. Got some work done on a group pamphlet this evening, listened to some interviews on the Richie Allen Show. He touched on the massacre that took place today. I listened to his guests with their mind-blowing info. Don’t know what to believe anymore. Don’t have time to check everything out. Bukowski’s book arrived. Will read some in bed tonight. 10.50 pm.

Wednesday 17th December 2014

Another good sleep. Got Chris Harland’s pamphlet to the trial print stage and will be taking it in to Waddy tomorrow to see how it looks. All being well we should get it done next week. Wrapped up some presents and read bits and pieces of poetry and reviews online. Encountered a book called Never Mind the Inspectors – Here’s Punk Learning. Some people gave it the thumbs up; one or two think it’s contrived bollocks – no pun intended. Been making up a hardback book block tonight. Haven’t sewn multiple signatures together for a good while. Probably about a year. Hope to get this book made before bed. Had to take a little time out due to a headache coming on. 10.25 pm.

Thursday 18th December 2014

The weather is fucked. Warm breeze in December. It’s fourteen degrees in Durham this afternoon. Didn’t get to Waddy till half-two coz I was up after midnight working. Good to get some final proof copies of Chris Harland’s pamphlet printed today. We are almost ready to go. Just a couple of adjustments that another eye wouldn’t notice – but I like the production as near perfect as possible. Of course it isn’t always possible, but if you let tiny things slide throughout the process the cumulative effect leaves you with a bloody mess… Was good to get some presents delivered today. Still got lots of work to do. It’s Jibba Jabba tonight. Sara Hersh and Pipe Riot and others whose names escape me at present. 5.06 pm.

Friday 19th December 2014

Bigly thanks to Jenni for accompanying me on my Christmas shopping trip today. With her help I managed to get 80 % of purchases in just over an hour. It was the two-and-a-half hours searching every children’s clothing department we could think of in hopes of getting white woollen tights for a three-year-old that started to wear us down. Nice to chat to Sky Hawkins this afternoon. Bus service delayed so didn’t get back to Consett until five. Managed to get the tights there and the remainder of my second spree items. Good to see Mam and Ernie this evening. 11.30 pm.

Saturday 20th December 2014

Marathon admin then out to town for more fun in the supermarket. A woman in Home Bargains walked off with my shopping seconds after I paid for it. Pure accident. The shop assistant ran off after her to get it back. I made up a little hardback book this evening and de-cluttered the back room. Still a bit to do. Soundtrack was Queen live at the Rainbow. 11.25 pm.

Sunday 21st December 2014

Round two of the back room clear out. Defrosted the freezer. Listened to Queen whilst editing work this evening. Just found out actress Billie Whitelaw  has died aged 82, a day before the anniversary of the death of Samuel Beckett, whose plays she appeared in. Always someone at Christmas. 11.45 pm.

Monday 22nd December 2014

Printing stress. I’m in knots, stomach churning, pacing the floor anticipating disaster at every step of the process, but the pamphlet has come out pretty bloody excellent. Took ninety minutes to print. Probably take about nine hours to fold, staple and trim. But I love book making so it’s okay. I printed up a couple of copies of a poetry collection I wanted to make as a hardback. A couple of Xmas presents got damaged on the way home – bag split; book corners scuffed, pages marked – so I gave them to an elderly woman on the bus. Will buy my sister something else now… Anyway, it’s been a full-on day. I’m in the middle of gluing up two hardbacks so I reckon I’ll be working till about two o’clock in the morning. Fighting a headache. 11.31 pm.

Tuesday 23rd December 2014

More tired than usual. Up till three working on a little book project. Spent most of my day and money on food. Been wrapping presents since about half nine this evening. Haven’t watched telly at home for a while. My licence expired a while ago. Best get it renewed before Jenni arrives. Bit too hammered to care about Christmas. Maybe I’ll feel better after a full night’s sleep. Another late one might just finish me off. 11.50 pm.

Wednesday 24th December 2014

My morning pages were pretty much full of next year’s plans. Good to see my sister Diane this afternoon. Me and Jenni had sweet chilli chicken pizza this evening and I eventually mustered up the energy to deliver half a dozen Christmas cards. Fell asleep on the couch and missed the end of Lewis. My room is filled with the fragrance of fabric conditioned Jenni clothes. Facebook is slow and I don’t expect to be online much over the next few days. 10.18 pm.

Thursday 25th December 2014

Despite being up by eight and presents opened by half nine, me and Jenni didn’t get cracking with the dinner till about twelve. The meal wasn’t as huge as last year but still took Jenni two sittings. I slept quite a bit this afternoon, watched some soap, Miranda, Tim Rice show and now a film called Marvellous. Thanks to Mam, Ernie, Diane and Jenni for the lovely prezzies. Jenni loved her black/purple BANNED bag. She got quite a few books – Tim Minchin, Rowan McCabe, Stephen Fry – and lots of chocolate. And she liked the handmade purple velvet hardback collection of her own poems too. I got lots of things, including a Nick Cave dvd, John Lydon autobiography, new set of pans, android tablet, two Ian McMillan pamphlets, a book of horror stories by comedians, some Hulk socks, toiletries, a contact lens mirror, a Grue money box and a new Hi Tec bag. Have got a bit of a sore throat but feel okay. No phone calls, no internet on. A good day off from the regular routine. Will be taking it easy for the rest of the week. 11.29 pm.

Friday 26th December 2014

Not such a great day. Full of aches and pains. Spoke to brother Mark on the phone at lunchtime. Never seen him for a couple of years. I got frustrated with the android tablet coz I’m just flat-out exhausted. Tried to read bits and pieces but kept falling asleep. I’m aiming to be in bed a bit earlier this evening, fully clothed to keep out the cold. 11.10 pm.

Saturday 27th December 2014

Difficult to get a good night’s sleep. Really sore throat and aching limbs again. I’m grateful for the Ibuprofen which masked the irritation for most of the day. Grateful to Jenni for showing me how to use the android tablet. Enjoyed a day of research and tv. Fish and chips and caramel ice cream with ginger cake crumbles and lemon curd slivers. Watched The Hunger Games tonight. Jenni has a cough and runny nose. 11.41 pm.