Gearing Up

Monday 16th September 2019

Lie in at Jen’s then morning pages in rough book. Orange and water melon breakfast. Bus to Consett. Walked to Moorside. Prepared workshop. Keyed in a fortnight of notes. Listened to first eight David Bowie albums as I worked. Previously only heard Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, Low, Outside and Scary Monsters in their entirety. To be honest I find most of them pretty patchy – in the same way that Madonna’s albums are patchy… Wanted out on the bike tonight but not enough time. 10.40 pm.

Tuesday 17th September 2019

Reluctance to rise first thing. Did well to make it to Waddy and keep face. Session okay – standard welcome, intros and icebreaker assessment exercises. Nearly a full room. Bus back was a bit much. Note to self: never get the afternoon students’ bus. Listened to three more Bowie albums. Not struck on Young Americans. Station to Station lacks cohesion but contains a couple of good tracks. Low is an album of two halves (songs/instrumentals) that I’ve owned since the nineties… Had supper too early; twenty to ten. Also a fair bit of chocolate. Too knackered to bike; too knackered to do Jam stuff. Should be okay tomorrow. 11.34 pm.

Wednesday 18th September 2019

Frustrating day. Internet off so couldn’t do Poetry Jam stuff. Got on with Newton Aycliffe workshop plan for Friday. Things back to normal this afternoon. Event page now online. More bastard slugs in the kettle. Had an evening of Bowie tracks and Twisted Sister. Saw five minutes of Dee Snider’s ‘Strangeland’ film. Newsnight asks: Is it possible for any British PM to strike a deal with the EU? Will we actually leave? I doubt it. 10.49 pm.

Thursday 19th September 2019

Good day. Nice to speak to Mam and Ernie on the phone this morning. Travel sorted for tomorrow. More proofreading on Anomalies Deluxe. Bike trundle to Beamish and back. Lay down with Scary Monsters and Super Creeps. Favourite Bowie album so far, chronologically. Bought biscuits and headache tablets. Got a good shave and clothes sorted for tomorrow. 11.10 pm.

Friday 20th September 2019

Up at seven for workshop. Lousy morning pages. Bag pack and out just after half eight to Consett. Gas bill, bank transactions. Read about Kate Tempest and Brexit stuff in Metro on the bus. At Waddy earlier than expected. Trimmed business cards then caught Arriva 7 to Newton Aycliffe. Chatted to Ernie about Terror in the Trees and Food banks. Had ham and cheese sandwiches, orange juice, quick hello to Mam then lift to Xcel Centre. Good set up. Nice room. Ten of us for ninety-minute taster session. Talked to a goth NHS doctor afterwards. Ernie drove me back to the house. Watched arts and crafts programme with Mam. Had meat and vegetables then trifle. Lift home. Quick bag change and buses to Gateshead. Watched Scarborough and Room 101 with Jenni. Ate late chip butties with fried onion rings. Saw a bit of New Tricks. 11.27 pm.

Saturday 21st September 2019

Big lie in. Loads of clean clothes for Terror in the Trees thanks to Jenni. Sweet and savoury mission in Gateshead. Pizza and fries. TV game shows. Then an hour and a half swearing at Britain’s Got Talent. 10.47 pm.

Sunday 22nd September 2019

Diagnosis Murder. Curry and curly fries. Walk into town with Jenni. Bus to Beamish and walk to hotel. Great to see all taking part in this year’s ‘Terror in the Trees’. Well chuffed with response to my rehearsal. Great to see everyone else do their roles. Some scare zones this year are sick as fuck. Contractually bound not to give game away. Roll on October. 11.30 pm.