Getting There

Monday 4th July 2016

For once I got through the end of term paperwork without throwing a hissy fit. Only slightly lost it afterwards when I though a document I’d spent an hour drafting had been deleted. Managed to find it and sent the lesson plans, scheme of learning, tracking profile and learner group profile via email to New College Durham. Before that I pretty much spent the afternoon trying not to gawp at 2016 dirt jump bikes on Tredz and Chain Reaction websites. I’m nearly forty-seven and still hanker for a bike I can muck around on as though I’m fourteen on my Firebird Freestyler, doing rockwalks, kickturns and rollback 540’s. I got the bulk of my nonsense out the way, ate a pork steak salad and am now, at bedtime, after cheese on toast, considering a can of rice pudding. Read a mint piece on ‘I See You’ Facebook page that a nails backstabbing Labour PLP to the fucking wall. 4.32 pm.

Tuesday 5th July 2016

The World of Kevin Cadwallender book arrived today. Listened to the accompanying cd in it’s entirely and read some poems, as it’s a Greatest Hits most of them familiar to me; but nice to have them all in the handy 56 page volume. This morning I sussed the sort of fork I’d need to replace much disliked Bomber suspension on my Giant street bike. Will see how finances stretch later this summer before making any big decisions. Just two workshops to plan. I have a substantial list of activities we can do and I’ll go with what feels right at the time. I haven’t shaved for a week. Getting itchy. But might as well wait till tomorrow. Read a couple of Maggie Estep stories this evening. Early night coz I want to be away sharp in the morning. Just one day of sessions. Ok. 10.38 pm.

Wednesday 6th July 2016

Awake and working stupidly early this morning. Ditched my intended lesson plan and put together a new one in bed. Breakfast then a fight with a razor to get rid of a week’s white stubble. Lunch at Waddy then over to Cambian Appletree. Pretty full room for the session. Did some fiction exercises. Back to Waddy. Keyed in some work, did the poetry analysis/prompts session. Home by ten this evening. Watched the news. Blair squirming at the podium. Found out Toyah Willcox is playing in Middlesbrough at the end of this month. Loud, Proud, Electric. Bring it on! 11.38 pm.

Thursday 7th July 2016

Went out on my STP Giant 2008 street bike this morning. Suspension terrible. Brakes causing pain in hands. Spotted brand new, as yet to be opened, skatepark near Consett Academy. Who am I kidding? A few gentle bowls would suit me fine but vert concrete? Probably not. Took the bike into shop for repair Not sure it’s worth it to be honest. Hands have been fine this evening. I’d like to ride my trials bike but no good being on the brakes most of the time. Tonight’s Poetry Jam was intimate but a good one. All the jammers were male. Why no more female jammers? I wonder. People who came were great. The guests were great. Enjoyed hearing extended intros from Marianne Pownall during her set. Terry Dobson’s never been to Waddy for a year, so great to see him doing his Patchwork Poet stuff. And of course Kirsten Luckins was top notch as well. Bigly thanks to Waddy Centre for room and Fergus for help and lift home. Watched some online BMX ramp and flatland riding. Checked out some freeride longboards. 

11.35 pm.

Friday 8th July 2016

Waddy Learners’ Awards Day. Bit stressed when I got there. Place totally packed, so I stood in the corridor with a plate of buffet food then got a seat. Scribbled and scrolled updates on my android tablet then listened to the speeches and awards. A lot of sore hands from all the clapping over fifty minutes. Heard Ruth Crofton read from her book ‘A Dead Man’s Gift’. Then Chris Hill read vignettes and poems from his new paperback compilation volume ‘Live from the Cliff of Ghosts’. The throng dissipated a bit after that, but some stayed for a movie-themed game of Pictionary. I left at half three to bus into Newcastle. Meeting Jenni at eat4less then we’re travelling with Scott Tyrrell up to Bardon Mill Village Hall for a triple bill of poets. The locals won’t know what’s hit them. 3.54 pm.

THANKS to James Oates and Kirsten Luckins for putting on the gig; Chris Stewart, Sam Millington, Scott Tyrrell and Sophia Walker for great performances; Scott for the ride there and back. 11.32 pm

Saturday 9th July 2016

Me and Jenni went into Newcastle for lunch. Stood ages in a queue for a double cheeseburger and devoured it in about a minute. Not great. Won’t do that again. Jen got her new glasses. We checked out some second hand DVDs and top notch mountain bikes. Went in various high street chain stores and Tavelling Man book shop then over to eat4less at tea time. Saw David O’Hanlon with Alix’s uke case. Back to Jen’s to watch Hustle. Very sleepy now. 10.48 pm.

Sunday 10th July 2016

Wrote some morning pages about our day out. Watched Sunday Politics and a bit of Columbo. Walked into Gateshead with Jenni before her Scratch Sunderland workshop. I checked out music mags in Newcastle, got an eat4less then bus back home. Caught up on Facebook messages then keyed in some prose. Listened to Lydia Lunch and read political articles. Canny weekend. 11.10 pm.