This, That and The Other

Friday 28th August 2015

Thought those gig sets came together too quickly this morning; rehearsing this evening, I had to cut three minutes from the first one and extend the intros on a couple of poems in the second set. Some people make a rough plan then, onstage a couple of minutes before the end, ask if there’s time for another poem. I don’t like doing that. I want to know what I’m opening with, what’s in the middle and what note to leave on. When I first started performing I’d record sets with scripted intros on tape to ensure I stayed within the time frame and didn’t waffle between poems. I am not much of a storyteller; I’ll give some background or intro to the poem, I can stitch a narrative or a theme together throughout a set, but that’s it. Listened to Richie Allen Show. Guy on there, Geoffrey Gilson, who wrote a book called Maggie’s Hammer about eighties political corruption. Sounded interesting, but when do I ever sit and read a 250 page paperback cover to cover these days? Good to hear from Jenni. Pleased to get some admin out the way. Would like to watch a punk dvd. 11.22 pm.

Saturday 29th August 2015

 

HUGE THANKS to Jaene Davies, Kevin Reay and friends for putting on the cracking Stanley Fringe event in the Bamburgh Suite at the Civic. Thrilled to see a full room of people enjoying acoustic music and poetry on a Saturday afternoon. Guests were fantastic - Tom O'Donnel, Percy Oberonic Sound Project, Jane Burn, Nev Clay, Joan Johnston and amazing Chloë Mary Anne Watson. Well done to all the open mic people, particularly Simon Green for closing a great session with his powerful words. Thanks to everyone who chatted to us and those who bought pamphlets. Venue was mint, food was lush. Chuffed to perform in Stanley Civic again. With the response everyone got today, it's difficult not to pine for the writers' nights down in the auditorium bar again. Thanks once more to everyone for an excellent afternoon.

Sunday 30th August 2015

Day off. Needed to just chill out and catch my breath. Enjoyed a lot of the Metallica documentary clips. And Motorhead. Answered a few emails. Housework left until tomorrow. The weather was okay – I could have been biking or doing the garden. Always feel guilty when I take it easy. Lots to do, but a pause for thought is a good thing, I suppose. 10.52 pm.

Monday 31st August 2015

Typical pissy bank holiday weather. Grass grows longer, nose gets snottier. Spent much of the day tidying the kitchen and living room. Want the house decent before I start work on the new term for college. Sorting through piles of stuff cluttering my table and window ledge. Found some perzines and workshop ideas. I like to use the de-clutter as a warm-up for looking at lesson notes, unused handouts. Was good to not be stuck in front of the VDU for the day. Checked my tablet a few times but haven’t had the desktop computer on. No music, no tv. Read a little bit of Amanda Palmer’s The Art of Asking. So many books I haven’t put a dent in yet. Shouldn’t really buy any more for the next year or so. 11.14 pm.

Tuesday 1st September 2015

Struggling to get back into work mode. Copied up gratitude lists and sent out copies of Fat Around the Middle by Jane Burn. Put fresh covers on marathon books for tomorrow’s attempt at the workshop. Spent an hour writing instructions on how to make a pamphlet using a standard Word file and booklet function laser printer. Searched for a UK stockist of ‘Stolen Sharpie Revolution’ for someone who doesn’t want to order the book from America. Otherwise, just listening to Queen, Roger Taylor and Alice Cooper’s ‘From the Inside’ album and reading emails, etc. Up and out early tomorrow, should be asleep already. 11.05 pm.

Wednesday 2nd September 2015

Did a mini marathon this morning. Only a couple of other writers in but we did okay. I have lots of new drafts to work up in due course. Got quite a bit of prep done tonight. Still some unfinished paperwork. Good to listen to PiL. Saw an article on Lemmy pulling out of a gig three songs into the set. “I can’t do it,” he told the audience. The guy is sixty-nine and in poor health now. Don’t think Motorhead will be doing many more shows. Lots of stuff online about the plight of refugees. Jenni wrote a strong post about it. How do we stop world leaders starting wars in neighbouring countries? How do we stabilize the planet? I haven’t a clue. Conspiracy theorists would say it’s all part of the agenda. I’m too ignorant, I know nothing but my own personal history. Takes me ages to learn anything. How do you protest when someone is pointing a gun at your head? 10.54 pm.

Thursday 3rd September 2015

Full on day. Great session at Mind with Consett Writers. Only did one exercise and the rest of the time spent looking at outlets for writing – ways of publishing, formats for books, doing live gigs. Home to a bit of admin for the college then out to Durham for Poetry Jam. Really pleased with the turn out and the guests were great. Particularly enjoyed Keith Parker’s set: twenty minutes of well crafted poetry and insightful intros – piece about the crisp packet and his stuff on multiculturalism just brilliant. Great to see Julie Egdell in Waddy again: some powerful stuff from her about abuse. Ian Williams gave us a varied set of poems in the performance camp – football, bureaucracy at work, technophobia. Really enjoyable. Lots of good open floor readings. Mint to see so many Consett Writers there. And bigly thanks to Fergus of Waddington Street Centre for setting up the room and the ride home. In the house again before half ten. 11.02 pm.

Friday 4th September 2015

Hammered. Worked on admin last night till well after midnight in hopes it would allow me to have a good sweep at other stuff today, but not to be. Managed to type up a piece of work and write a couple of emails. Had to stop for quite a while to alleviate hellish headache. Made some supper and decided to go to bed early. Trying to get to sleep, I realise I’ve not done the journal so here I am scribbling again. Listened to the new PIL album earlier. Can’t remember much of it. Will give it another couple of plays tomorrow. Hope the grass is dry enough to cut. Tired and sick of all the bullshit. Hassles for paperwork, etc. Really tired. Anyway, it’s just a bit of fatigue. Should be ok tomorrow. 9.35 pm.

Saturday 5th September 2015 

In town for bank transactions and food supplies. Went looking for cardstock to make book covers. Checked out music magazines. Grass still quite damp so put off cutting it. Tomorrow will be a better day weather wise. Copied up some work, read Albert Huffstickler poems and listened to Public Image Limited. Feeling a bit drained. Hope I’m not wimping out. Was good to be outside today. Good to get ten hours sleep. 10.44 pm.

Sunday 6th September 2015

Made up a new morning pages notebook and read some journal stuff then had a frustrating ninety minutes hacking a month's growth of grass with a crappy little hovermower. Good to have a day away from the desktop. Fell asleep early evening. Woken by phone call from Jenni. She had a good time at Lindisfarne festival, winning new converts to spoken word. Reading quietly on the couch this evening fine for me. 11.00 pm.

Monday 7th September 2015

Good to take advantage of the return to summer weather this morning and get out on the bike. Parts of the trail really muddy down towards Allensford. Did quite a bit on road after that up A68 then turned right along towards Snods Edge. Never been down Devil’s Dip on a bike for years. Back into Shotley then a bit more off road by the river to the new bridge, back out by the garage and then right up to Sandy Path, along near Stinky Burn then more off road up to the Grove and down into Moorside. Bit unnerving to discover back home that the noise coming from the bike was the loose front wheel. Another brush with danger. Saturday after a pizza I left the oven on overnight for eleven hours. And people say double checking is a sign of OCD – I need to fucking triple nay quadruple check. My concentration and memory getting worse. Hoovered throughout the house, copied up some notes and read a bit of prose for a while this evening. Jenni won’t be here till Thursday. 11.03 pm.