Monday 26th February 2018
Awake at four. Morning pages by five. Breakfast and shave by seven. Bus at half past. Two fucking hours from Moorside to Chester le Street. Arrived for business course just in time, but highly annoyed. Proceedings geared more towards community groups attracting more business rather than solo operators attracting community groups. But I stuck with it, got some good advice from the tutors.
Course finished early so I went into Newcastle. Checked out Paul Auster interview book and John Cheever short stories. Also a bit of Bukowski – the bloke passed away twenty-five years ago yet a few of the books on the poetry shelf I’d never seen before. Some of them are said to contain some of his best poetry. Went to Details to check out cardstock – selection somewhat diminished since last time. Bus back to Jen’s. She made me a veggie burger. Then Sheila arrived with very generous supply of ‘Hypomaniac’ and Shades of Grey’ paperbacks on her way to Carte Blanche event.
Me and Jenni braved the cold and headed off to Arch Remarks spoken word night in Gateshead. Top open mic with loads of newcomers. Jenni did a turn. I was asked, but too drained. Comedians particularly strong this month. Enjoyed music by The Girl With the Replaceable Head. Keen to hear more from them. Strong sets from Cath Campbell and Marie Lightman. Enjoyable night.
Walked back over the bridge with Ian Waugh to Central Station. Chips and gravy, then touch and go if last bus would come when it’s bleaching down with snow. Row of stupid fucking taxis parked at the bus stop, so had to stand in the middle of the road to flag down the 45. ‘You see these arseholes?’ I said, pointing towards the black cabs. – ‘I know,’ replied the bus driver, who then told me he’d like to shoot each one of them in the head – which seemed a tad extreme. I got onboard, nevertheless, and thought, Ah well – I might get wet at Consett, but at least I’ll get home tonight.
Awake at four. Morning pages by five. Breakfast and shave by seven. Bus at half past. Two fucking hours from Moorside to Chester le Street. Arrived for business course just in time, but highly annoyed. Proceedings geared more towards community groups attracting more business rather than solo operators attracting community groups. But I stuck with it, got some good advice from the tutors.
Course finished early so I went into Newcastle. Checked out Paul Auster interview book and John Cheever short stories. Also a bit of Bukowski – the bloke passed away twenty-five years ago yet a few of the books on the poetry shelf I’d never seen before. Some of them are said to contain some of his best poetry. Went to Details to check out cardstock – selection somewhat diminished since last time. Bus back to Jen’s. She made me a veggie burger. Then Sheila arrived with very generous supply of ‘Hypomaniac’ and Shades of Grey’ paperbacks on her way to Carte Blanche event.
Me and Jenni braved the cold and headed off to Arch Remarks spoken word night in Gateshead. Top open mic with loads of newcomers. Jenni did a turn. I was asked, but too drained. Comedians particularly strong this month. Enjoyed music by The Girl With the Replaceable Head. Keen to hear more from them. Strong sets from Cath Campbell and Marie Lightman. Enjoyable night.
Walked back over the bridge with Ian Waugh to Central Station. Chips and gravy, then touch and go if last bus would come when it’s bleaching down with snow. Row of stupid fucking taxis parked at the bus stop, so had to stand in the middle of the road to flag down the 45. ‘You see these arseholes?’ I said, pointing towards the black cabs. – ‘I know,’ replied the bus driver, who then told me he’d like to shoot each one of them in the head – which seemed a tad extreme. I got onboard, nevertheless, and thought, Ah well – I might get wet at Consett, but at least I’ll get home tonight.
11.46 pm.
Tuesday 27th February 2018
Weather wasn’t too bad this morning. Got to Waddington Street Centre okay. Did bits on iambic pentameter, daisy chains, free verse, page size constraints… Got the 3.30 pm bus home. Snow really bad later this evening so decided to cancel tomorrow’s writing session. Don’t want people coming out and getting stuck; already a couple of accidents in Consett. Did a bit of prep, but when I saw the state of play I just knocked off. Good to get a big chicken dinner today. Good to listen to The Mission’s AURA album on Spotify. Watched ‘SloMo’ video online – brilliant little film about a doctor giving up the day job to ride inline skates. Be nice to live somewhere I could skate every day and not knack myself up. 11.38 pm.
Wednesday 28th February 2018
Took the difficult decision to cancel tomorrow’s Poetry Jam. Weather reports and eye-witness vids from Consett on Facebook swayed me: buses cancelled, Lloyds bank and shops closed, bus and car collision, gritter overturned in Castleside. All booked guests were very understanding. March line-up rescheduled for May. Didn’t intend to be online at desktop today, but needed to do admin that can’t be done easily on the tablet. Jenni is okay, has food and is keeping warm. Mam and Ernie in touch, also okay. Well wrapped, I’ve been hot all day, despite zero temperature. Dug myself a path to the street this afternoon with a shovel sellotaped – I kid you not – to a broom handle. Hey, it worked. Shop sold out of essentials – bread, milk, fruit, veg – but people seemed cheerful. Had a chicken dinner and copied up notes. More bad weather and disruptions tomorrow. 10.31 pm.
Thursday 1st March 2018
Lots of snow blown in, rather than fresh fall. Wanted to work but got sidetracked by digging, attending to temporarily blocked sink, and checking updates on road conditions. Out to shop again and lost a fiver somewhere. Got some basics – cheap soups, cheese, toilet rolls and biscuits. Read a short story from ‘How to Make Monsters’ by Gary McMahon. Then fell asleep whilst reading about publishing. I've been very lucky to have three books officially published, with another on the way. Bit of online conversation with Jenni this evening. Then reading 'A History of Heavy Metal' by comedian/musician Andrew O’Neill. Informative, witty. I’m on the couch in all my layers with a slanket. Chicken soup, beans on toast, cheese on toast. Question Time: Brexit/Wrexit - customs union, Irish border, etc… Enough!
11.10 pm.
Friday 2nd March 2018
Thoroughly wracked off with winter. Sick of being wrapped in multi-layers and blankets coz I can’t afford the heating. Decided to go out to Consett. And what a fucking chore. Mix of deep snow and slush on most of the walk into town. Main road is clear, so why no Moorside bus? None here since Tuesday and a 7-day pass in my wallet… Many supermarket shelves were bare. Took a few goes to find vegetables. But Barry’s still had plenty cakes and chocolate. Dodged cars on the road walking back home. Took a backstreet where snow had at least been compressed a bit. Sod’s Law – shortly after I got back the No 16 was reinstated but only as a straight line from Consett to Castleside. Messaged Jen. Too sleepy now to venture out again. Had sausages and scrambled egg, cleared the kitchen and read from 'A History Of Heavy Metal'. 10.55 pm.
Saturday 3rd March 2018
Stayed at home this weekend. Wrote a new flash fiction (or vignette) this morning. Bit of online chat with Jenni, putting the world to rights. Fried eggs on the George Foreman grill with bacon and sausages. I’ve been on the couch most of the day reading the rest of the Heavy Metal book: very funny and comprehensive guide to lots of the darker and more extreme aspects of music. Explored the roots of death metal and all the subtle nuances; but playing clips on tablet revealed all sound pretty much the same – bloody awful! Listened to a minute of Cannibal Corpse; they sound like a mutant bog monster trapped in a cement mixer. Still bad outside. 10.31 pm.
Sunday 4th March 2018
Intended to do my Monday shift today, but got sidetracked by various online discussions. I tend to keep my opinions on politically charged stuff to myself. I’ve been allowed to live as I please for pretty much the last two decades, trying to avoid stuff that riles the shit out of me. Self-indulgence is an unfortunate bi-product of being a bit of a loner and I have it in spades. The day has flown away and besides some very engaging online chit-chat with Jenni and a full tank of meat and veg, all I’ve got to show for it is this blog post. Cheers! 8.29 pm.
Tuesday 27th February 2018
Weather wasn’t too bad this morning. Got to Waddington Street Centre okay. Did bits on iambic pentameter, daisy chains, free verse, page size constraints… Got the 3.30 pm bus home. Snow really bad later this evening so decided to cancel tomorrow’s writing session. Don’t want people coming out and getting stuck; already a couple of accidents in Consett. Did a bit of prep, but when I saw the state of play I just knocked off. Good to get a big chicken dinner today. Good to listen to The Mission’s AURA album on Spotify. Watched ‘SloMo’ video online – brilliant little film about a doctor giving up the day job to ride inline skates. Be nice to live somewhere I could skate every day and not knack myself up. 11.38 pm.
Wednesday 28th February 2018
Took the difficult decision to cancel tomorrow’s Poetry Jam. Weather reports and eye-witness vids from Consett on Facebook swayed me: buses cancelled, Lloyds bank and shops closed, bus and car collision, gritter overturned in Castleside. All booked guests were very understanding. March line-up rescheduled for May. Didn’t intend to be online at desktop today, but needed to do admin that can’t be done easily on the tablet. Jenni is okay, has food and is keeping warm. Mam and Ernie in touch, also okay. Well wrapped, I’ve been hot all day, despite zero temperature. Dug myself a path to the street this afternoon with a shovel sellotaped – I kid you not – to a broom handle. Hey, it worked. Shop sold out of essentials – bread, milk, fruit, veg – but people seemed cheerful. Had a chicken dinner and copied up notes. More bad weather and disruptions tomorrow. 10.31 pm.
Thursday 1st March 2018
Lots of snow blown in, rather than fresh fall. Wanted to work but got sidetracked by digging, attending to temporarily blocked sink, and checking updates on road conditions. Out to shop again and lost a fiver somewhere. Got some basics – cheap soups, cheese, toilet rolls and biscuits. Read a short story from ‘How to Make Monsters’ by Gary McMahon. Then fell asleep whilst reading about publishing. I've been very lucky to have three books officially published, with another on the way. Bit of online conversation with Jenni this evening. Then reading 'A History of Heavy Metal' by comedian/musician Andrew O’Neill. Informative, witty. I’m on the couch in all my layers with a slanket. Chicken soup, beans on toast, cheese on toast. Question Time: Brexit/Wrexit - customs union, Irish border, etc… Enough!
11.10 pm.
Friday 2nd March 2018
Thoroughly wracked off with winter. Sick of being wrapped in multi-layers and blankets coz I can’t afford the heating. Decided to go out to Consett. And what a fucking chore. Mix of deep snow and slush on most of the walk into town. Main road is clear, so why no Moorside bus? None here since Tuesday and a 7-day pass in my wallet… Many supermarket shelves were bare. Took a few goes to find vegetables. But Barry’s still had plenty cakes and chocolate. Dodged cars on the road walking back home. Took a backstreet where snow had at least been compressed a bit. Sod’s Law – shortly after I got back the No 16 was reinstated but only as a straight line from Consett to Castleside. Messaged Jen. Too sleepy now to venture out again. Had sausages and scrambled egg, cleared the kitchen and read from 'A History Of Heavy Metal'. 10.55 pm.
Saturday 3rd March 2018
Stayed at home this weekend. Wrote a new flash fiction (or vignette) this morning. Bit of online chat with Jenni, putting the world to rights. Fried eggs on the George Foreman grill with bacon and sausages. I’ve been on the couch most of the day reading the rest of the Heavy Metal book: very funny and comprehensive guide to lots of the darker and more extreme aspects of music. Explored the roots of death metal and all the subtle nuances; but playing clips on tablet revealed all sound pretty much the same – bloody awful! Listened to a minute of Cannibal Corpse; they sound like a mutant bog monster trapped in a cement mixer. Still bad outside. 10.31 pm.
Sunday 4th March 2018
Intended to do my Monday shift today, but got sidetracked by various online discussions. I tend to keep my opinions on politically charged stuff to myself. I’ve been allowed to live as I please for pretty much the last two decades, trying to avoid stuff that riles the shit out of me. Self-indulgence is an unfortunate bi-product of being a bit of a loner and I have it in spades. The day has flown away and besides some very engaging online chit-chat with Jenni and a full tank of meat and veg, all I’ve got to show for it is this blog post. Cheers! 8.29 pm.
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