Hot, Hot, Hot

Monday 9th July 2018

Been reading Truckface zine all about working for a struggling school in Chicago. It’s a bit like the films ‘Triumph’ and ‘Beyond the Blackboard’ me and Jenni watched yesterday. Type-ups at Gateshead Library took ages due to repeatedly nodding off at the keyboard and sporadically scrolling latest fallout from Brexit resignations. Hilarious to see Tory party implode, but not so funny the whole country being led to a cliff edge because of stupid internal disputes that should never have been put to the general public. Saw a great little book called ‘Mindful Thoughts for Cyclists: Finding Balance on Two Wheels’ by Nick Moore. Might buy it. Returned to Jen’s place for food, read the last few pages of Truckface then out to Station East for Edinburgh Preview shows. Comedian Rahul Kohli and performance poet Robert Garnham both very funny. Supplies for me and Jenni at Tesco afterwards then back to the house. 11.38 pm.

Tuesday 10th July 2018

Good ride back to Consett, despite gears slipping a bit. Knees sore after using big chainring all the way – except for granny ring uphill through Consett Park. Got two books from library: ‘Paper Promises’ by Phillip Coggan and ‘The More You Ignore Me’ by Jo Brand. Humour and mental health aspect of latter true to life – well, I relate to it, anyway. Salad sandwich at lunchtime. Looked at biketrial videos by Lance Trappe, Jeff Lenosky and Danny McAskell. Egg salad meal for tea. Checked out discontinued bike components on second-hand and remaindered stock sites; my Onza bike is eight years old. Cheese and tomato sandwich for supper. Bit more of Jo Brand’s novel in bed. 10.47 pm.

Wednesday 11th July 2018

Lower back pain returned. Must try exercises to alleviate. Bad posture at the desk can lead to trouble on the bike, according to Cycling Weekly. Watched more bike videos, listened to Bad Pollyanna, ate minestrone soup and later some tomato pasta with pork sausages. Been working on ANOMALIES book again. Sewed up another proof copy of standard version; trimmed and flicked through for a couple of hours. Still undecided on paperstock and dust jacket. I’m under no illusion about extremely limited appeal of this project to the average small press book buyer, but want to be able to say I wrote, edited, printed and bound my own hardback retrospective book and have it available to buy. 11.20 pm.

Thursday 12th July 2018

Good little session on the trials bike this afternoon. Did some admin for courses and copied up notes. Checked out Henry Rollins’ titles now only available as eBooks. Love my first editions and multiple versions of his most popular paperbacks. Disgusted by pomp and ceremony for fuckwit puppet flying into Britain today. Watched a load of biketrial stuff, including footage of people I used to see competing in the Yorkshire Tyke Trial series back in the day. Shaved my head. 10.50 pm.

Friday 13th July 2018

Woke at six. Out at ten past nine to Durham. Saw some lush notebooks in Paperchase. A woman busking in market place brought a tear to my eye with a superb version of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ so I put some coins in her bucket. Walked down to Waddington Street Centre for Learners’ Awards Day. Listened to music group, had lunch, talked to a few people, listened to speeches. A good celebration and reminder of all the ace work Waddy does for people with mental health issues. I’m a bit knackered at the moment. Right ankle twanged so didn’t ride longboard tonight. Had lentil and bacon soup then dark chocolate. Watched eighties Top of the Pops programmes and a Meatloaf documentary. Scrolled Facebook. 11.40 pm.

Saturday 14th July 2018

Read an online article outlining reasons to consider ‘Great Briton’ Winston Churchill a contemptible racist, warmongering, genocidal monster. Had breakfast and did late morning pages. Ended up writing comments about Rollins books on a group Facebook post. Went to Bits 4 Bikes to pick up the Rockhopper. It’s much better with new chain, middle ring and rear cassette – but still a minor click each full revolution of cranks. Possibly still duff bearings in right pedal. Did a personal best of one hour 13 minutes on cycle path to Jenni’s place. Would have been two minutes quicker if chain hadn’t come off at Askew Road. Watched TOTP till Jenni got home. She said Sunderland Summer Streets Festival was mint. 11.10 pm.

Sunday 15th July 2018

Late rise. Porridge and chocolate spread. Decent morning pages. Ravioli on toast. Columbo then out for apple pie and ice cream at Tesco. Hook film then feature-length Diagnosis Murder. Headache during Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Room too hot. Cold wash, top up of fluids, bed. 10.54 pm.