Monday 21st January 2019
Busy with usual Monday anxiety. Three hours with intervals just to key in a couple of retrospective lesson plans. The original sessions went well, but once they’re over, I’m done with them, don’t want to analyze. Just want to list the next exercises and get out to the next one. Hate formal paperwork. I booked a visiting poet for April’s Poetry Jam. Got a lovely review of Laughter To Split Glass written by Jane Burn. Tony Gadd posted a picture of ANOMALIES and MY DARK MATTER with feedback on Facebook – greatly appreciated. All the writing-related activity left little time for a decent Steve Achieves. I’ll continue with it coz I’m a stubborn sod, but don’t expect many people to stay onboard. I’ve been asked to write a poetry blog post for Durham University’s Poetry Society. Aim to do that in the coming days. 10.57 pm.
Tuesday 22nd January 2019
Hot chocolate addiction well under way. Might even be tomorrow’s Steve Achieves. Session at Waddy today went well. A2Z of acquaintances, read-through of student work. Cut-up Kennings. Read ‘Location, Location, Location’ essay from the Rose Metal book of Flash Nonfiction. Then A2Z character chain stories. Read more essays on bus home. Listened to Henry and Heidi podcast about Ozzy Osbourne and 1997 Black Sabbath reunion shows. Then upstairs typing. House cold but I’ve got my layers on. Eating well. Chicken and mushroom pasty with full veg and gravy with mint-sauced mash. Been listening to loads of Hanoi Rocks stuff. More than fifty songs. Still remember many of the words learned when I was fifteen. Some of the newer songs I’d need to play to death just to retain the melodies. Funny old brain. 11.29 pm.
Wednesday 23rd January 2019
A photograph of frost on the kitchen window this morning. Looked amazing with the sun shining through. Like veins of an ice angel. I pulled a load of crap out of back room where bikes, vacuum cleaner and lawnmower live in order to get at plastic crates containing “Moodswing” A3 broadsheets and A5 covers. Made up eighteen of them – various issues. Kept six or seven back for myself and will send the rest to Sheila at Red Squirrel Press who wants one to show poet Edwin Stockdale. Thought she might as well have some more to pass on to people who might enjoy the format. Tonight I sent a new poem called PLANET BASTARD to Jenni. Within minutes her response was, ‘Reckon you could slam that.’ Really chuffed. Feels like ages since my last big hitter. Listened to instrumentalists The Messthetics (featuring ex Fugazi rhythm section Brendan Canty and Jo Lalley with guitarist Anthony Pirog) and might go see them at the Cluny next week. Happy days! 11.16 pm.
Thursday 24th January 2019
Didn’t achieve what I aimed for. Got to post office at midday and found Docs next door closed so unable to book annual check-ups. Was in Consett a long time. Wanted a thermometer but couldn’t see any on Boyes, Tesco or Poundland shelves. Good to think about local heavy metal heroes in Consett: ‘There’s Jimmy from Venom going into Home Bargains!’ Sent “Moodswing” package to Sheila. Got some stuff copied up. Prepped for tomorrow’s library session. Endured more Brexit bullshit on Question Time and shit defence of government failings regarding mental health. Some excellent call-outs from passionate audience members though. Usually go to bed early the night before a workshop but tomorrow is a home town session. Tonight is pretty cold indoors but I’m okay. Got enough food. Enough clothes. Money coming in over the next couple of weeks to prop me up. 11.42 pm.
Friday 25th January 2019
Happy Birthday! Good seven hours sleep then another morning pages instalment on blog draft for Durham University Poetry Society. Needs a couple more goes then major edit. Thanks to Consett Writers for going with workshop content and for well wishes. Nice to get so many messages on Facebook. Card and cheque from Mama and Ernie. Nice bike ride down to Gateshead. Got an assortment of treats to eat – Lebkuchen ginger and apricot dark chocolate hearts, black forest gateaux biscuits, lentil and bacon soup and liquorice allsorts from Jenni –plus a food diary and Incredible Hulk socks. Then she took me out to see silent original Phantom of the Opera film with live piano at St Mary’s Church / Heritage Centre next to The Sage in Gateshead. Great atmosphere. Nice to see Juli Watson there. Also Mark and Tracy Speeding. 11.12 pm.
Saturday 26th January 2019
Third instalment of my article draft for Durham Uni. Listened to loads of great tracks from Post Modern Jukebox then me and Jenni went to the Galleries in Washington. Saw loads of great vinyl in a record shop – Adam Ant singles with picture sleeves – Car Trouble, Zerox, Young Parisians, etc. Also some Toyah stuff. Loads of rare metal as well. If I had plenty of cash I would have bought something, but not enough to spare for records I’ll never play. Had a few hours at Jen’s folk’s place. Stir fry, Lebkuchen hearts. Looked at photos, talked about music, bikes and holidays. Belated Xmas presents. Very nice. When we got back to Bensham Jenni gave me more presents that arrived today. A book of Uses for Lemons; Content Provider – a collection of Stuart Lee newspaper columns and stories; and three novels by multiple World Snooker Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan. Various requests to me for gigs and articles and videos recently. Lots of chocolate, lots of liquorice allsorts, hot Ribena. All the cuddles and all the laughs. 11.14 pm.
Sunday 27th January 2019
Morning pages, email checks, gig confirmations for summer. Research reading for journalism and sustained fiction – Stuart Lee and Ronnie O’Sullivan. Thanks Jenni for Lazy Sunday and for getting me out to a gig this evening. And for the chips afterwards. 11.54 pm.
Aim was straight and true and to the centre of the bowl.
Last sheets of paper came perfectly off the roll...
Mainstream omnibus entertainment satisfaction
Courtesy of Weatherfield and four slices of toast
Made in a machine that needed a finger on the lever
Constantly then cheese melted in the microwave.
Braved the icy blast from Bensham to Byker
Where in the back room of The Cumberland Arms
Me and Jenni saw a self-proclaimed rhyming gobshite wax lyrical
About bad cats and dry shampoo; the bard of Long Benton
Was there too playing half songs with foot notes a mile long.
Werbeniuk played upstairs and swapped instruments
Swine Tax kicked ass and filled the room with punk
Then Thomas Truax with his hornicator and mother superior
Home made instruments and southern gothic folk magic.
Chips with Jenni and a dry walk through Gateshead
Then back in the attic in time to type this before midnight.
No comments:
Post a Comment