Seven Days

Monday 12th March 2018

 

Lessons sorted by half five. Good evening meal of steamed veg and grilled sausages, caught the Salisbury updates on six o’clock news and watched half an hour of 'Cobain: Montage of Heck' on YouTube. Read a cracking article about Nirvana’s first UK gig, Newcastle Riverside, in 1989. Wasn’t there, but saw posters at the time. Did some 2018 book edits, read a blog by 'Telegram' perzine author Maranda Elizabeth on disability, freaking out and Marilyn Manson. 11.09 pm.

Tuesday 13th March 2018

Enjoyable ride into Durham reading Nirvana book. Set up workshop for half an hour. More photocopies and handouts sequenced. Chatted to Sam about ‘setlist’ website and to Craig about postponed job interview. This afternoon was journal prompts, daisychains, cinquains, blank verse, English sonnet. Good two hours. Email checks then bus over to Jenni’s place for lentil soup and laughs then off to Alphabetti Theatre for ‘Write Something’. Sixteen playlets, five minutes each. A nice change from poetry sets. Didn’t feel like hanging back in the bar afterwards so left for chips, sausage and gravy at Clayton Street Chippy then bus to Consett. 10.32pm

Wednesday14th March 2018

Read the rest of Nirvana Tour Diary by Andy Bollen. It flits back and forth a bit and has some dodgy typos but fantastic first hand day by day account of 1991 UK shows. Private workshop went well tonight. Didn’t use all the material, will do for next week. Got my food in Tesco, then last bus back to Moorside. Nostalgia rock and metal. Cheese on toast, jam tart, crisps. OK. 11.38 pm.

Thursday 15th March 2018

Got Poetry Jam event page up a week early. Aimed to put a gig set together this afternoon but a headache forced me to lie down. Listened to a mellow ‘Best Alone’ mixtape by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Comments back and forth with Charlie Bramley about lack of provincial tour dates and scalping touts buying up London tickets before fans had a chance. I had to lie down a second time after my tea. Jenni off work with upset stomach. I listened to Nirvana Unplugged in New York  then went out for hot chocolate and cranberry biscuits. Bought Consett and Stanley Advertiser newspaper, which may be of some use. 10.17 pm.

Friday 16th March 2018

Up at six to prep for interview at Northumberland College in Ashington. Took a few hours each way on public transport but hey, if people show interest I could have a couple of courses closer to home by September. Bought 'Cobain: Montage of Heck' DVD in Newcastle then over to Bensham. Jenni is feeling a bit better and tomorrow will be delivering the first of her workshops in the run-up to The Word Slam this summer. Chatted for a good while and watched TV. Snow’s a pain again, but buses okay. Read some complaints abut NIN Royal Albert Hall ticket sales. Some appearing on resale sights at up to ten times face value. Queue at venue, in person with ID - that’s the way it should be, I reckon. 11.33 pm.

Saturday 17th March 2018

Finally got a set together for Gung Fu poets gig on 29th March. Took days to select material and whittle list to fit allotted time. I can’t memorize, but want the rhythms in my head so I can just glance at the book now and again. Good to hear that Jenni’s workshop went well today. This evening it’s 'Cobain: Montage of Heck'. 9.37 pm.

Sunday 18th March 2018

Supposed to be doing admin but decided to read and watch music videos instead. Saw ‘A Classic Album Under Review – In Utero’ and started reading 'Renegade – The Lives and Tales of Mark E Smith'. It’s very readable but at times he annoys the shit out of me. He doesn’t like musicians and thinks most of his band members are wimps. Fifty pages in, so I’ll stick with it. Fuck the snow. 

10.42 pm.