Step Away From The Desktop

Monday 31st July 2017

Caught up with admin. Still some bedroom clutter to shift. Wanted it all out of the way before August, but wishful thinking… Ordered Tim Cummings ‘Apocalypso’ poetry book. And two perzines from Matt Resist in Minneapolis. Spent a large portion of the day keying in stuff whilst listening to Fugazi albums back to back followed by The Beautiful South. Trawled the net in search of a ‘Quench’ t-shirt, but apparently the artist who did the cover art took exception to his work being cropped for tour merchandise and sued TBS for thirty grand. Maybe that’s why I can’t find one. Would I get into trouble if I printed a one-off just for myself? Probably. Half-ten before I realised I need a new morning pages blank book knocking up for August. Bugger, you take a week off… 11.14 pm.

Tuesday 1st August 2017

Best laid plans shot to shit. Expected to get out on the bike today but stuck inside doing more workshop prep. Tension headache kicked in this afternoon. Knocked off after bag pack and head shave around nine to watch television for an hour. 10.12 pm.

Wednesday 2nd August 2017

Final session at St Cuthbert’s Hospice went well. Mainly fiction exercises for an hour and a quarter followed by read backs. Then the group gave me a big Sorry You’re Leaving card with individual messages of thanks. There was a huge chocolate cake. They gave me a big slice. I stayed back three-quarters of an hour, having group photos taken. Nice way to finish. Afternoon at Appletree in the upstairs meeting room. Then over to Sunderland for the Punk Recs Ltd lecture: Chardine Taylor-Stone on Black / Working Class Feminism, Queer Identities and Punk. Main event finished at eight so I legged it for an early Consett bus into a torrential downpour. Pleased to get home okay. 10.49 pm.

Thursday 3rd August 2017

Took ages to get sorted for Poetry Jam. Read some Cliff Yates’ poems on the bus. Went through workshop writings before tea to gauge what might go in a new handwritten personal zine style book. Guests at Poetry Jam – Charley Reay, Ian Williams and Jenni Pascoe – were all great. Plenty open floor jamming. Fergus gave me a lift home. Great pix from final St Cuthberts session now on Facebook. 11.33 pm.

Friday 4th August 2017

Three hours to edit stills from videos and post online as photos from last night’s Poetry Jam. Bank transactions, more Cliff Yates poems. Walked into town again this evening, 45 bus to Jen’s place. Watched Bob Hoskins and Frances Barber in The Street. I like the way those dramas develop everyday conflicts – such as someone being barred for smoking in pub toilets leading to threat on landlord’s wellbeing and whole community shit scared of local bully. Clever writing. Jenni off to bed. Won’t be long myself. A few more crisps and scroll of the tablet first. 10.36 pm.

Saturday 5th August 2017

Up around half seven for casual rambles in morning pages then packed up and out with Jenni to Newcastle. Train to Hexham, picked up by David Roe and Doreen and off to Rochester for Redefest. A few downpours but great day. Top poetry sets from David, Jenni and Peter (Roe) and open floor poet Matt. Enjoyed doing mine (with paper but thankfully no mic). Lush pavilion venue onsite. Listened to a lot of the live music whilst being attacked by flies. Left about half seven. Train got into Newcastle just after nine then Tesco for food supplies. Lentil and bacon soup for supper. 11.13 pm.

Sunday 7th August 2017

Long lie in. Jen helped with ‘Laughter to Split Glass’ book corrections. Only six small things to tweak since April manuscript. Then pulled pork pasty with leaks, broccoli and mash for lunch. Watched a film called Identity about a multiple personality killer then a powerful episode of Cracker. Dairylea, apple pie and fruitcake for tea then Dr Blake Mysteries followed by best ever Father Ted: Kicking Bishop Brennan Up the Arse. Half-ten bus to Consett. 10.38 pm.