GREAT FORTNIGHT

Monday 20th May 2019

Morning pages were quite epic so I spent a while keying them in and editing for ‘Steve Achieves’ before moving on to the lesson plan for tomorrow. Did edits on Waddington Street Writers’ anthology, added new pieces. Out on the bike tonight; trail by River Derwent is hard pack with grass trimmed at sides. Exhilarating, darting through trees. Saw my cousin Gordon walking his dogs near Shotley Bridge rocks, chatted awhile. A few rolls of thunder but no downpour. Out of practice on the bike; was wheezing a bit uphill. Did a run-through of the set for tomorrow night’s Babble Gum; just under twenty minutes. 11.30 pm.

Tuesday 21st May 2019

Woke too early, tired all day. Waddy session went well. Five people in. Read David Almond stories plus Exploring Home essay. Anthology edits, map drawing, free association sentence maker. Put up Poetry Jam posters then bus to Newcastle. Good to meet up with Jenni and nice of her to buy tea. Then she had a shift at Tyne Theatre. I had a near miss with body functions – got to Eldon Square toilets just in time. When I left the cubicle some guy at a urinal was ranting away to himself and calling imaginary people a pair of fucking queers. I raced over to The Cumberland Arms for Babble Gum. It was a good night; enjoyed seeing new people. I tripped over a few lines but did okay. I left at ten o’clock. Got a steak pie at Sainsbury’s and missed the bus by seconds. Went to see if Jenni was still at Tyne Theatre but the place was locked up. I am now at Central station waiting for the last bus. 10.55 pm.

Wednesday 22nd May 2019

Feeling wrecked due to lack of sleep after last night’s gig. Set actually went well. Particularly ‘Poetry Veteran’ from Steve Achieves. But I was too tired to really enjoy it. I’ve done some online reading, listened to ‘The Downward Spiral’ by Nine Inch Nails in its entirety for the first time in years. Watched the news; looks like PM is finally getting kicked out of office on Friday. Been reading political articles and wondering who to vote for in European Elections. Not keen on fence sitting of Mr Corbyn. But Green Party won’t move mountains. Lib Dems got into bed with Tories, so completely out of the question. I’ll probably, reluctantly, vote Labour… Fell off the bike tonight but no great damage to body or machine. 11.21 pm.

Thursday 23rd May 2019

Woke with a dull ache in my head; tried to ignore it but concerned it might be a bit of mild concussion after falling off the bike last night. Haven’t been sick, but have a fuzzy head and staring at the computer screen makes my brain throb. I voted this afternoon. Labour need a kick up the fucking arse but still got my vote. I edited some Anomalies Deluxe – the neverending book – after the computer finally let me upload files from tablet. Watched a Sonic Youth documentary and listened to their ‘Goo’ album. TV reception so bad I missed the end of Question Time. Someone who voted Remain in the referendum but respected the Leave result has now voted for the Brexit Party. What the absolute fuck. 11.38 pm.

Friday 24th May 2019

Penultimate Consett Library session went okay. Got the word from librarian Robin at twenty past ten that the prime minister is stepping down; immediate concern is BoJo might be voted in by Tory Party members. I sat with Consett Writers a while this afternoon. Got shopping in. My TV has no reception. I watched news on tablet: poor quality picture on iPlayer. Listened to Hanoi Rocks and Michael Monroe solo; watched Back Flag mini documentary and Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) interview; then Newsnight. 11.42 pm.

Saturday 25th May 2019

Five hours sleep. Did morning pages. Honey and hot lemon drink. Scrolled Facebook, watched Alan Moore interview Stewart Lee for ‘Content Provider’ promotional video on YouTube. Jenni bought me a copy of the book last year. Read bits and pieces but need to read it all. Biked to Jen's via cycle track; drive chain starting to click again. Got to Bensham around one o’clock. Had a chicken wrap; watched Lewis. Then Jenni went to work, I went to Tesco for supplies. Intended to read tonight but fell asleep. Ate ravioli on toast then some fresh pineapple; watched QI and Mel B interview. 10.03 pm.

Sunday 26th May 2019

Morning pages. Porridge with chocolate at ten then Andrew Marr Show. Out for food in Gateshead. Home to watch The Chase and Dragons’ Den. Final episode of The Big Bang Theory. Film called Now You See Me – pretty good. Dog tired, hopefully will stay awake till the end. 9.49 pm.

Monday 27th May 2019

Lazy day. Morning pages on various subjects. Chatted with Jenni about poetry gigs and earning a living. Ate big chip butty with curry sauce for dinner; laughed at old episodes of Emmerdale and Corrie. Then watched mint second episode of Years and Years. Checked out the EU election stats; despite Brexit Party coming top, the Remain parties combined had a higher percentage of the vote. Labour might push for a second referendum or confirmatory vote and oppose no deal. Me and Jenni went to Arch Remarks spoken word tonight. Enjoyed all the guests; Louise Young easily one of the best stand-ups I've seen for ages; Steve and Pauline May double-header poetry set with guitar accompaniment from their son; Julian Lee was on form with quick-fire gags. Some canny open mic acts as well. Good to get pasta and vegan sausage roll supper included in price of admission. Made it through the rain with split shoe soles back to Jen's place without getting my feet wet. 11:53 p.m.

Tuesday 28th May 2019

Rode home through hard rain. Damp smell as soon as I opened the front door. I dismissed it as a stink in the bin, got on with admin. Had tomato soup, keyed in more Anomalies Deluxe; watched Years and Years online. Discovered wet smell is from the kitchen carpet. Bastard wet from back door to front of the sink. Just like back in 2015 when all the diseased brickwork around the back door had to be replaced. Rainwater in the back door, it seems. I've seen it seeping under the front door before. But it would have to be pretty fucking bad to soak under the back door right through into kitchen again. Hoping it's just a blast of rain not damp out of the brickwork. What a bastard. I'll take another look tomorrow. 11:50 p.m.

Wednesday 29th May 2019

Day wasted on domestic bullshit; kitchen smelling due to water getting in the back door again. Inspecting damage outside, I found the back door column’s brickwork green and damp again – more fucking hassle. Went online to get help and after posting pics on Facebook got some good suggestions. Thanks Terry Dobson, Dick Trucker, David Roe, Helen Steadman and others. I went back outside and witnessed for the first time ever – despite knowing it’s happened before – water from the cistern overflowing down the wall. Cousin Gordon is fixing it tomorrow. Tried ordering new toner cartridges for my laser printer tonight but couldn’t complete without being forced to sign up for Amazon Prime. Sick as fuck. Stressed at having very little money coming in and what I do have being eaten up with shit I didn't anticipate – stupid fucking toilet. At least I got some of the writing half-marathon almost sorted. 10:52 pm.

Thursday 30th May 2019

Cousin Gordon was down this morning to fix cistern overflow and gave advice on damp kitchen wall. Carpet is salvageable. Was in town this afternoon to buy food and do bank transactions. Felt rough when I got back. Took a hairdryer to back of carpet by kitchen door; after an hour it was much better, but I'll leave it a couple of days. Concrete floor also drying well; I’ll see how things are when I get back from Jenni’s place on Sunday. Pity windows can’t be left open whilst away. I got rest of writing half-marathon sorted tonight but little else. Might watch question time in bed, might just go to sleep. Hope things pick up soon. At least ‘Steve Achieves’ is moving along. Bit of a headache; hope it’s not due to the damp. 10.11 pm.

Friday 31st May 2019

Writing half-marathon went well this morning. Took me a couple of prompts to get warmed up; Consett Writers on form as usual. Went to Wetherspoons for an hour afterwards; then Tesco for baking soda for the kitchen carpet. Needed a couple of hours sleep – tension headache getting bad again. Maybe I need to change glasses. Carpet not bad since being dried out and windows open all day. Did more work for July writing marathon at The Lodge in Blackhill and Consett Park. Put baking soda on carpet; it’s meant to absorb smells and neutralise the nasty. I’ll leave it overnight then vacuum first thing in the morning. Hope it works. The sight of bare concrete indoors depresses me. Trying to watch ‘Queen: News of the World Tour’ documentary on iPlayer but wifi connection is shit tonight. 11.00 pm.

Saturday 1st June 2019

Still had a bit of headache when I woke; did morning pages then vacuumed baking soda up off the kitchen carpet. Got shaved and bought more baking soda for concrete floor. Caught the bus to Consett. Saw Bev from school in station. She didn't recognize/acknowledge. Suppose it has been 34 years. Read ‘Truck Face’ perzine on the bus but hard to concentrate with loud kid behind me. I think he had ADHD. His mum was having a hard time. Got to Jen's around one; went out for food. My head was still a bit cloudy. Bus to Birtley this evening was okay. Venue (Thought Foundation) was amazing. Great art space on Durham Road: loads of images on the walls; a café and an old mobility fibreglass car. Had a great gig. Lisette was on top form. Good to see Kev Howard play; Sarah Crutwell, Sky Hawkins, Ken Brady, Julie Watson, plus numerous others new to me. Thanks Lisette for buying my book ‘Laughter To Split Glass’. I ate a blueberry muffin at the bus stop. Ride back to Gateshead was okay. 11:29 p.m.

Sunday 2nd June 2019

Hot lemon and honey drink. Morning pages. Lazy day. More Facebook responses to last night’s gig. Watched a little bit of News 24 till Jenni got up. Spaghetti bolognese on toast for dinner. Diagnosis Murder on telly then Good Omens drama online. Out to Tesco for baguettes. Pointless and Dragons’ Den on telly. Then Britain's Got Talent – disappointing selection of finalists. Pleased I didn't invest in watching all week. Left about 10.15pm. Spoke to Marie Lightman on the bus – work, self-employment, etc. Bus has fucked suspension, or it certainly feels that way. Or do they just not bother resurfacing the roads on this route. Fingers crossed the house is okay when I get back towards midnight. 10.55pm.