Peter took my temperature at Waddy today. “It isn’t too high is it?” I asked. “Bordering on hypothermia,” he replied. We wrote some canny bits and pieces in the half marathon this afternoon. Prompts were all in my notebook and numbered. Participants picked a number, I read the prompt, they stipulated how long we wrote for. Doing more next week. I don’t know if I’ll be taking paperwork to the college or posting it to the office. Shopping didn’t cost much this week. I will start on Xmas presents soon. I’m supposed to be going to see a Sonder Frontier bike at Alpkit later this week. I want to take my bike in to compare frame sizes. But the weather is forecast to be abysmal after tomorrow until next week. Three degrees and soaking wet probably isn’t the way to go. Tonight, I watched YouTube vids on stripping paint from aluminium bike frames. I like my brushed aluminium Specialized, my Zoo Pitbull had the same finish. A paint job on a new frame would be a novelty but if it started looking shabby, I’d get it stripped bare, polished and re-decaled. Arm not too bad today. I’m not quite ready for bed yet. 11.46pm.
Wednesday 2nd December 2020
Phoned Waddington Street Centre for confirmation on pick-ups for the end of term papers. I rang Alpkit at the Metro Centre. I can take my bike in to check frame size against the Sonder bike. I’d like to keep biking as long as possible this winter. Enjoyed listening to old hits by the Cult: Rain, She Sells Sanctuary, Resurrection Joe. And some Lou Reed. All I’m bothered about now is fulfilling my obligations to the college then sorting Xmas.
An established ‘live poetry’ practitioner put out a shout for tips on embarking on a spoken word career. There was a long thread of good advice – don’t give up the day-job, get funding, teach, be prepared to travel and work hard at your art, etc. I said this: Sorry to piss on people's chips but 2020 isn't exactly the best year for beginning a career in spoken word. Unless you are a zoom/video-only artist. Since we were all advised to avoid pubs, clubs, theatres, etc in March the thriving 'spoken word' scene I was part of has pretty much disappeared; whereas - and I hate to make the distinction - 'page poetry' seems to be doing pretty okay. Books still coming out, radio appearances for the more popular... But in-person writing workshops also dried up due to the virus – I'm down to one a week and no sign of getting any more until social distancing is long gone. Hopefully things will pick up again by next summer. I've been facilitating and doing live appearances for over fifteen years. I've survived coz I give myself a weekly allowance of little more than jobseekers’ allowance plus travel expenses. I haven't been able to afford central heating for nearly two years. I'm writing this with a woolly hat on my noggin, hot water bottle on my knees and three pairs of socks between flesh and slippers. Poets don't live purely from performance fees alone. Get on the schools circuit if you can - if that's your target audience you might be onto a winner. But to me, 'spoken word', really, is getting up there and talking off the cuff (I'm shit at it), not agonizing over a few stanzas for a month and memorising. Most poets recite, I'm being arsey and pedantic, but 'spoken word' is closer to stand-up - Connolly, Rollins, Lydia Lunch... Poetry is something else.
I was the party pooper. Until you have an audience you can’t make a living from live performance. And playing to a camera in an empty room isn’t the same as playing to a crowd in a small club. I’m keen to get sorted for next year. 11.19pm.
Thursday 3rd December 2020
Bit hammered. The college paperwork was tough. I only do one course a week and have no idea how I used to do paperwork for three or four back in the day. My head is really throbbing. Have to keep taking my woolly hat off coz my head is overheating but starts freezing almost immediately. I’ve got three pairs of trousers on, four pairs of socks and three tops. I listened to Olivia Hyde’s online gig for the launch of her solo demo album. I bought it. She has done loads of online gigs this year and played some of my requests via Facebook. It’ll be nice to have an album of her new stuff. Sonder bike is out of stock in medium again. Don’t know if I’ll get to Alpkit store tomorrow coz of the weather. I still have a tracker sheet and some student notes to type up. I’ll need signatures on student drafts for the college. I’ve enjoyed listening to The Beautiful South this evening. I need an early night, so I won’t be watching Newsnight. I haven’t read anything but online articles and done no shoulder exercises today. Really knackered. Just want to be in bed. 10.20pm.
Friday 4th December 2020
Much of the day spent on remaining paperwork. Student appraisals took a while. Even though I already had preliminary notes. Took about three-and-a-half hours to do five pages. I tried to do some press ups this afternoon. Couldn’t do a single one. Even a plank on my forearms was a struggle. But after some physio stuff for the shoulder my arms have felt okay. It will be a while before arms are half decent strength-wise. I’ve been gawping at Surly and Specialized bikes. The Specialized components are similar to that of the Surly Karate Monkey. The Planet X On One ‘Bootzipper’ would be no good because the max tyre clearance is 2.35-inches. My rear trials tyre is 2.5-inches. I even checked out a Voodoo Hoodoo bike. Good value at £600 if you are okay with a cheap wheelset and suspension fork but I doubt it would work fully rigid. The more I look at my 2006 Rockhopper the more I think I should just stick with it. Anyway, Marilyn Manson and Katie Melua on the sound system. 11.55pm.
Saturday 5th December 2020
Scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast. Pleased the weather was a bit better. Spoke to Mam and Ernie on the phone. They aren’t bothering much with Christmas. I still haven’t decided on any presents. Can’t see the point of passing vouchers back and forth. I got sorted to ride over to Jen’s at half twelve. Was just about to pedal away from the house when a postman appeared with a large flat parcel. “It’ll be from America, that,” I said. “Aye,” he replied. “It is.” It was the Henry Rollins book ‘Stay Fanatic!!! Vol 2’. I didn’t open it. I just put it indoors and locked up again and set off. I stayed off mud trails and just rode the tarmac cycle path. I tried to keep the bike dry. Okay until I got near Team Valley. Big black cloud over Bensham. Stayed in a bus shelter till the rain stopped. Cold in the house tonight. But had a canny chip butty with Jenni and the game shows on TV. Tomorrow I think we’ll be out for a few Xmas things. 11.07pm.
Sunday 6th December 2020
Chocolate porridge for breakfast. Chatted with Jen about Christmas logistics. Great cottage pie and veg dinner. Got money out the bank so Jenni could pick up a couple of copies of Sunday for Sammy as Xmas presents. I’m going to be spending quite a bit this week. I don’t know what to buy for Mam and Ernie – it’s their birthdays soon after as well. Jenni put baubles on her little tree this evening. We had sandwiches and yoghurts and Bovril and Ribena. We saw Chris Akrigg doing his bike sequence for the Old-World-Movie up in Scotland. Full camera crew. We watched Tipping Point. And then the ‘top toys’ on channel five. No Action Man or Evel Knievel. But lots of horrible Cabbage Patch Dolls and Barbies; Lego, Meccano. Top of the list was Rubik’s Cube… Ben Zephaniah is on later. I’m having a steak pie for supper. Will be a while before we go to bed, but I want to be up early so I can get over to Alpkit at the Metro Centre to check out the Sonder bike. Enjoyable weekend. Bit chilly. OK. 10.03 pm.
Monday 7th December 2020
Me and Jenni had big laughs at the Mad Cow in the Music Box alarm. Jenni was out of bed before me. She had poached eggs for breakfast. I had my chocolate porridge. We watched a bit of morning TV. Covid doctor said highly unlikely to get infected from a Christmas card envelope. I left at half ten to brave the roads around the Metro Centre to the Alpkit shop. Pleasantly surprised that most of the route was accessible by footpaths. The staff were mint. The Sonder Frontier bike in medium with 27.5 wheels is the one for me. The green actually looks good up close, but I’ll go for the black. The head angle looks a little slack, but I can fit a longer stem it if need be. They said no problem ordering after Xmas, possibly able to switch cranks and chainring so it takes a bashguard. Ride back to Bensham only twenty minutes. Then over two hours taking it really easy on the muddy trails back to Consett. I had a look at the new Rollins book when I got home. Pretty much the same format as the first volume of ‘Stay Fanatic!!!’ He had good things to say about Newcastle and Beatdown Records shop. I made some gift tags for bottle bags tonight. Typed up an unfinished Waddy villanelle. Jen says she had a good day. Her dad is going to get help in hospital. I’m listening to The Beautiful South then watching Newsnight. OK. 10.32 pm.
Tuesday 8th December 2020
Woke at seven, up at eight. Breakfast by nine and out by ten past ten. Two hours in a facemask. Steamy glasses. The anti-fog wipe no longer works. At least the buses weren’t busy. And I got into Waddy before half twelve. Most of the paperwork now sorted. Session went okay. Got papers signed then spent rest of session on writing half marathon exercises. Good to get Waddy cards and presents sorted. I tried to get other stuff in Durham. No Marks and Spencer so no Edwardian Lady stuff for Mam. I watched some Michael Monroe clips online and read about streaming sites not paying artists a decent unit rate. Too tired to move. Hope I’m in better fettle tomorrow. 10.45pm.
Wednesday 9th December 2020
Morning pages came out okay and might provide something for the next zine. More editing to do for college end of term. My microwave oven is looking a bit worse for wear, all the paint is peeling inside. I’m hoping to bodge it with electrical tape. I watched a bit of Olivia Hyde’s gig. Haven’t played her album download; I’ll wait until the CD arrives next week. I looked at Paper and Ink zine tonight. And some microwave ovens. Newsnight is Brexit. My feet are cold. I need supper. Porridge or banana on toast. Jen says Born Lippy spoken word was good online. OK. 10.59pm.
Thursday 10th December 2020
Chapter two of ‘Stay Fanatic!!! Vol 2’ by Henry Rollins: bits on Hawkwind, Iggy Pop and visiting a massive Russian record shop. I only got out to Consett at ten past two. Fuck, it was cold. And foggy. My glasses wouldn’t stay clear. Enjoyed a good browse in Boyes. I like looking at the outdoor clothing section. I didn’t find any white electrical tape. I forgot to buy a birthday card. Tonight, I read a bunch of poems from forthcoming Smith/Doorstop pamphlets. I’m tempted to subscribe to – or at least purchase the next issue of – The North magazine. I’d like to check out the January copy of Writing Magazine, if possible. I need to get the rest of the Xmas stuff. Tried to buy a calendar online but Amazon insisted on pushing Prime, so I emptied the basket. Supposed to be in bed early. 11.17pm.
Friday 11th December 2020
Awake at two thirty this morning. Didn’t get back to sleep till six. Didn’t get through pages until twenty past ten. Scrambled eggs on toast by eleven. A scroll of social media then unexpected extra college bits and pieces. Porridge for dinner. Rang Mam and Ernie. Conversation turned to ‘no deal’ Brexit. Britain seems to think it is indispensable to the rest of the world and I don’t think that is the case. Ernie agreed. As did brother Mark later. Good to reminisce about bikes. Mark says riding in a straight line is boring. He doubts he’ll be able to do much good on a bike due to poor eyesight and a bit of weight gain. He told me about being pissed off with a manoeuvre I used to do on my Zoo Pitbull trials bike, which I couldn’t remember. But it seems I was quite agile in my mid-thirties. He used to be much better than me on urban obstacles and could launch up walls whereas I preferred rutting about in the woods on low rocks. I heard Paul Young’s cover of Tom Waits’ ‘Soldiers Things’ tonight. Good to chat online with Jenni. Suppertime. 11.38pm.
Saturday 12th December 2020
Woke quite early and did the pages. Had scrambled eggs, did some copy-ups. Porridge for dinner. Then stuff sorted to go to Jen’s. Really damp outside: puddles, greyness, but not too cold and not actually raining. I enjoyed just plodding along the trail near Consett. The bike got a bit clarty but my hands didn’t freeze to the bars. When I got near the Causey Inn everything went really dark. And the rain came down. And I got a bit damper. But it didn’t dampen my enthusiasm. All okay, until I got a puncture at the bottom of Jen’s street. I’ll fix it tomorrow. Was good to get a shower and a drink. Jenni did pizza and chips then we watched evening television. 11.46 pm.
Sunday 13th December 2020
I replaced an inner tube then bought a new one. We got some bagels. Good to go for a walk. It was only drizzling outside. Jen tried her anti-fog cloth on my glasses, but it didn’t work very well. Later, we watched three hours of Coronation Street. Then a brilliant new Queen and Adam Lambert documentary on Sky Arts. Lots of good live footage. Now it’s Simon Armitage on the same channel. They showed a clip of Zoom from the nineties. The one with the washing line. Great poem. 11.13 pm.
Monday 14th December 2020
Egg muffin then marmalade bagel for breakfast. Watched a short Chuck Berry documentary. Then two programmes about actors: Jean Simmons and Christopher Plummer. Jenni got ready for work and I had midday porridge. One o’clock before I got out to town. Pleased shops weren’t busy. And mask didn’t steam the glasses. Chuffed to buy a couple of gifts for Mam and Jenni. Good to get round M&S without feeling anxious. Went back to Tesco for a couple of copies of the new Victoria Wood biography. Hope it works for Mam and Jen’s mam. Still a few things to get for Jenni and Ernie. This evening I wrapped the stuff up that’s staying in Gateshead and will have to get the rest home on the bike tomorrow. So, fingers crossed the weather is as good as it was today. I watched Corrie then laughed at Ainsley Harriot reminiscing about his school dinners. Jenni came back at eight. We laughed at Poundland documentary then enjoyed the Alan Bennett one. 11.32pm.
Tuesday 15th December 2020
Me and Jen had chip butties for late breakfast then she got ready for her big DIY day at her mam’s place. I sorted the Xmas stuff that needs to come back to Consett. Then out on the bike. The back tyre stayed pumped up over the weekend but when I rode on it the new tube went flat as well. At Watergate Forest Park I had to put in another one. Pleased I had it. Got home okay. But my knees were hurting. Took me a bit longer than usual. Card from Alan Snelson of Consett Writers on the mat when I got back. I’ve just spent early evening watching bikepacking videos and a West Highland Way speed run from a Santa Cruz rider whose name I can’t remember. Read a few news articles. Looks like the Xmas relaxation of covid restrictions is a major mistake. I watched a couple of Venom videos. Checked out Damaged Society website. Their Marilyn Manson beanies are eighteen quid but only a tenner in the Grainger Market. I’ve had a chicken curry with grilled potato slices. I’ve had a fried egg bun. And I’m going to have a cheese and mixed pepper toastie. The Greedies (Sex Pistols/Thin Lizzy collaboration) are knocking out Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas on TOTP2. I have lots to copy up to do in the coming days. 10.44 pm.
Wednesday 16th December 2020
Didn’t get outside coz it was too wet and windy for walking around Consett especially with Xmas presents. Read another chapter of ‘Stay Fanatic!!! Vol 2’ but wasn’t impressed. I don’t care about test pressings of singles or simultaneous releases with different fonts on the labels. I’m hoping for more musical anecdotes instead of examples of how much disposable income the author can chuck at rarities. It’s not like it’s even putting money in the artists’ pockets; it’s going to private sellers at hiked prices. Rollins, I am in agreement with you on many things, but if you’re prepared to buy every vinyl colour variant of every single or album then the record company has seen you coming, mate. It took me a while to get my files emailed to the college. The new computer automatically saves files in a space that the attachment function of my email account can’t access, so I had to resave them elsewhere. Watched all the stuff about Covid Christmas restrictions. Listened to Bowie. And Liv Hyde, who covered Winter (by Tori Amos). And some Geoff Hattersley stuff. Online chat with Jenni. Big dinner and big supper. Choc porridge and cheese on toast. I’m late but so what. 12.51am.
Thursday 17th December 2020
Phone call got me out of bed. Mam said she and Ernie were coming up to deliver presents. Half ten or half twelve? I said make it later coz I’d not wrapped anything up yet. I dashed out unwashed and unshaved to Consett to buy a few more things. Managed to get another Jenni present. Was home by quarter to twelve. Took me an hour and a bit to wrap all the stuff. Chatted with Mam and Ernie in the garden. Mam kept her mask on. After soup I went back to Consett and got a few more things. I had a fish finger sandwich for tea and watched the news. We are staying in tier three over the next week. Hope my shoulder gets better. I’ve had a couple of blowouts. Tonight’s was coz I couldn’t remember the password to access the college site to get paid. Good to see a David Bowie documentary. Newsnight is all about the tiers and looming January lockdown. Basically, we’re fucked. 10.56pm.
Friday 18th December 2020
Waited an hour for a college security check for new password. Done by lunchtime. Wrote out Xmas cards this afternoon. Then watched a couple of Chris Akrigg bike videos. Commented on a really awful Giant trials bike prototype (blue banana?) from pre-2006 then took the cards to the post office at the convenience store. Queue out the door coz staff were loading in deliveries. We used to have proper Post Offices in Moorside and Castleside but they were closed down. And now it’s a fifteen-minute walk to the Grove. The girl serving came outside to let the queue know she can’t process parcels today coz the computer is broken. On the news: hospitals are filling, ambulances are queuing, the gov won’t rule out a third lockdown. School headmasters are annoyed coz the gov has issued mass testing plans on the last day of term. 11-17-year-olds are the biggest spreaders in society, apparently. Got presents wrapped up. Read a review of ‘Ducks, Newburyport’ by Lucy Ellman. Modern Ulysses. Done here. 10.55pm.
Saturday 19th December 2020
Jokingly told Jenni in a FB message that I was going for a plodge in the woods. And it turned out not to be a joke. Never seen the trail in Deneburn Wood so sludgy. I go for a bit of peaceful communication with nature and the place is overrun with infants in search of Xmas elves. And teenagers not into social distancing, doing big group photoshoots. Got past them all and didn’t slip in the gloop. Even the gravel path near Allensford was sludge. Better the further away I got. Walked up the steps to the top of the slagheaps and through a few of the lesser-used trails. Was out for a couple of hours. Only in the house a short while when the online notifications started blasting in about new Covid restrictions and Christmas being cancelled. What! Fuck’s sake! Actually, it’s the south of England that has moved into tier 4. South, and all of central London. Great to see Bill Bailey win Strictly Come Dancing. Enjoyed the Paul McCartney interview as well. Jenni rang just as I was off to bed with supper. I stayed home this weekend but will be there on Wednesday evening. Got a bit of a headache. 11.15pm.
Sunday 20th December 2020
Good sleep and ace morning pages that might go in the next booklet. Chapter 4 of Stay Fanatic!!! Vol 2 by Rollins was good. Had soup for dinner then got ready for the bike. It was raining when I went out, but I don’t care. In order to enjoy stuff, you can’t allow you day to be dictated by the weather. Not all the time, anyway. I tried to get up the slagheap steps, but the wood slats were super-slippery. I managed the final 27 steps okay though. I’m going to give it another go on a dry day in spring. I rode around the slagheap trail and over to Derwent Walk. Played on a couple of the mounds over there and found an ace little trail down towards Shotley Bridge Hospital. It was very sludgy. Thought there’d be no hope of getting back up it with bald tyres but, apart from one little dab, I made it then back along the cycle path and up few more slopes, then down all the steps. Went really slow. Did okay. Mint two-hour ride. Pleased I went out. Sky cleared for the last hour of it as well. Back home to a steak pie and veg dinner. Looked at more Jeff Lenosky bike techniques. Jenni was in touch about Xmas cards. I watched Bowie: A Reality Tour DVD. It sticks and jumps almost every track until half-way through the gig. Could be a shit DVD player. 11.08pm
Monday 21st December 2020
Yeah, I don’t really want to do journal today. Don’t really want to do much of anything. I wanted a year off and I pretty much got one. Couldn’t even bring myself to pack a case for Christmas. Maybe it’s the weather. Tomorrow is supposed to be a bit brighter. I want to clean the bike a bit as well. I had a great cheeseburger and chips for tea. Done no typing or copying up. That will come tomorrow. I watched a British motorbike trials championship round from March this year on YouTube. Jenni says she watched Sunday for Sammy at Ken’s place but is now on her way home. We messaged back and forth about the food for Friday. Hopefully, I’ll feel a bit more enthusiastic about Christmas nearer the time. 10.54pm.
Olivia Hyde’s solo demo album ‘Tales from the Northern Quarter’ arrived this morning. It opened with the Ghosts of Storthes Hall. Good to have some winter goth in my life. Warrior made me cry. I’ve heard it many times this year online and to see Liv playing it live each month on Facebook was ace. I think Spider, Surrender and No I.D. could all be full-on Bad Pollyanna songs. The album seems like it would work best by sticking to piano and acoustic guitar. Great to finally own the songs on disc. 11.59pm.
Wednesday 23rd December 2020
Still quite lethargic. Did copy-ups and notes on Olivia’s album. Took me ages to do kitchen stuff. Enjoyed my cheeseburger and chips. It was good to get cards written and to speak to Mam and Ernie. I delivered a few cards then got ready to leave for Jen’s place. No passengers on the bus till I got on. The driver said it’s been dead most nights. There were quite a lot of kids in the bus station. I bought custard in Iceland then checked my finances at the cashpoint. Eight o’clock bus to Gateshead was a bit late. I was the only one on till Burnopfield. A guy in a Kagool and sports shorts got on looking like a drowned rat. When he got off at Sunniside another bloke got on. When I got off at the limited stop at the bottom of the hill in Bensham it was pouring down. Waited for the next bus up the hill. Me and Jenni watched Jesus Christ Superstar. Then I got porridge. Now gogglebox is on. Jenni has a new mattress and 16-tog duvet. She says it’s geet warm. 11.33pm.
Thursday 24th December 2020
Took us a while to get up this morning because Jen’s new mattress and 16-tog duvet are very toasty. Had a Bovril and some Cherry Bakewell chocolate digestives then a big bowl of porridge and then a trip to little Tesco for some apple sauce. Sweet and Sour for dinner. Helped Jen with the washing up. Watched a Bee Gees concert. Barry Gibb’s thinning hair was very distracting. Wrote out a few cards. Had curry and rice made by Mr Naj. Enjoyed a Michael Buble gig/documentary much more than I expected. Then three comedians spending a night in Hamley’s Toy Shop was a laugh. I fell asleep a bit but good to have a nice lazy time. 11.19pm.
Friday 25th December 2020
Merry Christmas! Woke at eight and did fastest morning pages ever. Fifteen minutes. Had a Bovril and some Cherry Bakewell chocolate digestives. Then Jen got the presents out. Got some cool books: For Fuck’s Sake punk rock memoir and Rosie Garland poems. Man-food tin in the shape of an old-school mono tape recorder had sweets, razor blades and a crocheted Incredible Hulk inside. Got some super winter warmer shoe insoles. I got a DVD and other stuff. Nice slippers off Jen’s mam. I got money and smellies and new thermal gloves and a hat from my Mam and Ernie. Jenni also got me a lovely furry hoodie for big winter sub-zero days. We went out around twenty past eleven to deliver a couple of cards then over to Jen’s mam’s flat. She liked her presents and was blown away by the mobile phone. Jen did the Christmas dinner herself coz the kitchen was too small for more people, but the meal was huge. Amazed that Jen’s mam got through most of it but saved some meat for another time. Jen ate her meal over two sittings. Later I had Christmas cake and a drink of Rochester’s non-alcoholic ginger. We watched Oliver, Queen at Wembley, Corrie and Britain’s Got Talent. Returned to Jen’s around ten. She has done a lot of work to make a good Xmas happen this year. Pleased the day went well. 10.39pm.
Saturday 26th December 2020
Long lie in till ten. Didn’t do the Bovril and Cherry Bakewell thing, just porridge. Sat looking at my Xmas presents. Love the book ‘For Fucks Sake’ by Robert Nelly Hunter that Jen got me. It’s got some gigs close to home in it, including Venom at Newcastle City Hall in October 85, the first I ever went to. (The balcony was closed coz they didn’t sell anywhere near enough tickets. My ears rang or three or four days afterwards.) We looked at Jen’s ‘Writers Kit’ box set. We watched Calamity Jane – second film that’s as old as the hills that I’ve only just got round to seeing in its entirety. We watched the David Bowie documentary. Jen did an ace buffet tea before that. Veggie chicken sandwiches, quiche, crisps, nuts and sultanas. Good to see Kate Fox on University Challenge. She was team captain for Loughborough University; they won by over a hundred points. We had Christmas pudding and custard. Watched a great Victoria Wood sketch compilation. Now Father Ted is on. We’ve had lots of chocolates and drinks. The weather is getting a bit shit now. High winds and more rain forecast. Hope my house is okay. 11.02pm.
Merry Christmas! Woke at eight and did fastest morning pages ever. Fifteen minutes. Had a Bovril and some Cherry Bakewell chocolate digestives. Then Jen got the presents out. Got some cool books: For Fuck’s Sake punk rock memoir and Rosie Garland poems. Man-food tin in the shape of an old-school mono tape recorder had sweets, razor blades and a crocheted Incredible Hulk inside. Got some super winter warmer shoe insoles. I got a DVD and other stuff. Nice slippers off Jen’s mam. I got money and smellies and new thermal gloves and a hat from my Mam and Ernie. Jenni also got me a lovely furry hoodie for big winter sub-zero days. We went out around twenty past eleven to deliver a couple of cards then over to Jen’s mam’s flat. She liked her presents and was blown away by the mobile phone. Jen did the Christmas dinner herself coz the kitchen was too small for more people, but the meal was huge. Amazed that Jen’s mam got through most of it but saved some meat for another time. Jen ate her meal over two sittings. Later I had Christmas cake and a drink of Rochester’s non-alcoholic ginger. We watched Oliver, Queen at Wembley, Corrie and Britain’s Got Talent. Returned to Jen’s around ten. She has done a lot of work to make a good Xmas happen this year. Pleased the day went well. 10.39pm.
Saturday 26th December 2020
Long lie in till ten. Didn’t do the Bovril and Cherry Bakewell thing, just porridge. Sat looking at my Xmas presents. Love the book ‘For Fucks Sake’ by Robert Nelly Hunter that Jen got me. It’s got some gigs close to home in it, including Venom at Newcastle City Hall in October 85, the first I ever went to. (The balcony was closed coz they didn’t sell anywhere near enough tickets. My ears rang or three or four days afterwards.) We looked at Jen’s ‘Writers Kit’ box set. We watched Calamity Jane – second film that’s as old as the hills that I’ve only just got round to seeing in its entirety. We watched the David Bowie documentary. Jen did an ace buffet tea before that. Veggie chicken sandwiches, quiche, crisps, nuts and sultanas. Good to see Kate Fox on University Challenge. She was team captain for Loughborough University; they won by over a hundred points. We had Christmas pudding and custard. Watched a great Victoria Wood sketch compilation. Now Father Ted is on. We’ve had lots of chocolates and drinks. The weather is getting a bit shit now. High winds and more rain forecast. Hope my house is okay. 11.02pm.
Sunday 27th December 2020
Watched ‘The Queen and I’ based on a novel by Sue Townsend in which the monarchy is abolished and the royals have to rough it on a run-down housing estate. It was pretty good, and Jen says the ending was a lot more credible than the book. We watched best 30 British novels of all time programme then phoned Mam and Ernie. Jenni spoke to them more than me; it’s been a good while since they last heard from her. We watched gameshows and a documentary about Saturday Morning TV. Then the Freddie Mercury tribute concert. They cut much of the banter out but it’s still good to see it again. Jen played videos of a few Queen covers tonight: Foo Fighters – Under Pressure; Lilly Allen – I Want to Break Free; and Katie Perry – Don’t Stop Me Now. Then Adam Lambert’s ‘American Idol’ stuff. My feet were a bit numb for much of the evening. I feel like maybe my feet are wet, but they aren’t. Enjoyed the big mushroom pie Sunday dinner. And the buffet tea. Lots of Ribena. Not so much hot chocolate. OK. 11.47pm.
Monday 28th December 2020
Twix for supper. Ratatouille for tea. Mediterranean veg pizza and chips for dinner. Lazy day watching telly. Breaking Dad with Barney and Bradley Walsh. Then ‘It’s Been A Pleasure’ Billy Connolly retrospective. It was good to hear Pamela Stephenson talk about Billy not having a scripted set list, just doing it off-the-cuff, improvising what’s on his mind. I always cite Billy as true spoken word, not written and memorized recital. My feet are freezing. Jen is in bed. I’m gonna get another little drink then I’ll get ready myself. Enjoyed my Christmas in Bensham. I’ll be heading home for a couple of days from tomorrow. I will do the tax return and try some typing. I am struggling to motivate myself creatively this winter. My feet are numb again. I did no work today. I don’t give a fuck. 11.03pm.
Tuesday 29th December 2020
Couple of hours with Jenni this morning but she had to go to work this afternoon. I stayed in the attic and read a bit of Rosie Garland’s new poetry collection What Girls Do in the Dark. But having left the telly on, I couldn’t concentrate. The best film adaptation of Jane Eyre was on and it was fucking tedious. I’m sorry but costume dramas about people pairing up at parties and obsessing about marriage proposals – a whole plot based on what sounded little more than schoolyard romance just seemed totally unnecessary – I know, I’m ignorant, shoot me. The kids cartoon with the little rabbit cop was better. I had a curry for tea, watched the early evening Covid then a bit of world’s strongest man. Farmers Walk, mega-weight squats and monster truck component carrying. Then I walked down to the bus stop and got on the X70. Only three people downstairs. Good connection at Consett for the No 16 to Moorside. Hardly any snow and the house is okay. Got triple-layered against the cold and had a cup of hot chocolate. Unpacked all my stuff. Read more Covid and put iPlayer on. Caught some of ‘Metal Britannia at the Beeb’ – Gillan, Saxon, Maiden, Uriah Heap, Black Sabbath, Diamond Head… Then Metallica at Glastonbury. I’ll stick with it till at least midnight. Tomorrow, I have more end of year stuff to sort. 11.03pm.
Wednesday 30th December 2020
Running a little later than usual but should make the midnight deadline. Was good to get the tax return done this morning. And the money transferred for National Insurance contributions to HMRC. Woman in the bank asked me what I do. I said I was creative writing tutor but not so sure since Covid. I still have Waddy, but don’t know how things will go besides that. I had a nice afternoon. It was bitter cold but air was still, and the sky was awesome pale blue, peach and cream on the way back. I got a few things for the pantry. Think I might be okay financially, for a couple of months anyway. I had a cheeseburger and chips for tea. I watched the news. Tier 4 stuff and Brexshit. I did an end of year review but haven’t posted it online yet. I’ll do it tomorrow. I need to get this page done in four minutes. I watched the Ozzy Osbourne documentary. Good that he and Sharon are still going – lots of ups and downs. Jenni is online. My feet are warmer in just two pairs of socks instead of three. Too many tight layers inside footwear cuts off circulation. Anyway, done here. 11.59pm.
Thursday 31st December 2020
Hardpack snow and ice. Near bald tyres. What could go wrong? Actually, nothing really. Great ride over to Gateshead. I forgot how good it is to hit frozen dirt trails. I need to get out on the bike in zero temps more often. Although, in 2004, that’s what broke my Saracen trials frame. Anyway, today’s ride took about two-and-a-quarter hours. There were loads of dogwalkers. Watergate Forest Park car park was pretty full at quarter past three. Bone dry when I got to Bensham. Jenni was out. I got changed, un-taped a package from my handlebars containing a drum of sugar and bottle of tomato ketchup. I drank some hot chocolate. Got covid updates around five. Jen did an ace little buffet again. Got to see Newcastle fireworks from the big window at six o’clock. I’m currently alternating Ribena and Dandelion and Burdock. The Last Leg is on. I’m expecting F-bombs from Lorraine Kelly at any moment. It would make my night. There is only ninety minutes of 2020 left. I’ll probably eat more stuff before midnight. Cheese and crackers or another mince pie. I have a bit of a headache but nothing serious. Hope 2021 bring some good stuff and coronavirus fucks right off. OK. 10.32pm.
Watched ‘The Queen and I’ based on a novel by Sue Townsend in which the monarchy is abolished and the royals have to rough it on a run-down housing estate. It was pretty good, and Jen says the ending was a lot more credible than the book. We watched best 30 British novels of all time programme then phoned Mam and Ernie. Jenni spoke to them more than me; it’s been a good while since they last heard from her. We watched gameshows and a documentary about Saturday Morning TV. Then the Freddie Mercury tribute concert. They cut much of the banter out but it’s still good to see it again. Jen played videos of a few Queen covers tonight: Foo Fighters – Under Pressure; Lilly Allen – I Want to Break Free; and Katie Perry – Don’t Stop Me Now. Then Adam Lambert’s ‘American Idol’ stuff. My feet were a bit numb for much of the evening. I feel like maybe my feet are wet, but they aren’t. Enjoyed the big mushroom pie Sunday dinner. And the buffet tea. Lots of Ribena. Not so much hot chocolate. OK. 11.47pm.
Monday 28th December 2020
Twix for supper. Ratatouille for tea. Mediterranean veg pizza and chips for dinner. Lazy day watching telly. Breaking Dad with Barney and Bradley Walsh. Then ‘It’s Been A Pleasure’ Billy Connolly retrospective. It was good to hear Pamela Stephenson talk about Billy not having a scripted set list, just doing it off-the-cuff, improvising what’s on his mind. I always cite Billy as true spoken word, not written and memorized recital. My feet are freezing. Jen is in bed. I’m gonna get another little drink then I’ll get ready myself. Enjoyed my Christmas in Bensham. I’ll be heading home for a couple of days from tomorrow. I will do the tax return and try some typing. I am struggling to motivate myself creatively this winter. My feet are numb again. I did no work today. I don’t give a fuck. 11.03pm.
Tuesday 29th December 2020
Couple of hours with Jenni this morning but she had to go to work this afternoon. I stayed in the attic and read a bit of Rosie Garland’s new poetry collection What Girls Do in the Dark. But having left the telly on, I couldn’t concentrate. The best film adaptation of Jane Eyre was on and it was fucking tedious. I’m sorry but costume dramas about people pairing up at parties and obsessing about marriage proposals – a whole plot based on what sounded little more than schoolyard romance just seemed totally unnecessary – I know, I’m ignorant, shoot me. The kids cartoon with the little rabbit cop was better. I had a curry for tea, watched the early evening Covid then a bit of world’s strongest man. Farmers Walk, mega-weight squats and monster truck component carrying. Then I walked down to the bus stop and got on the X70. Only three people downstairs. Good connection at Consett for the No 16 to Moorside. Hardly any snow and the house is okay. Got triple-layered against the cold and had a cup of hot chocolate. Unpacked all my stuff. Read more Covid and put iPlayer on. Caught some of ‘Metal Britannia at the Beeb’ – Gillan, Saxon, Maiden, Uriah Heap, Black Sabbath, Diamond Head… Then Metallica at Glastonbury. I’ll stick with it till at least midnight. Tomorrow, I have more end of year stuff to sort. 11.03pm.
Wednesday 30th December 2020
Running a little later than usual but should make the midnight deadline. Was good to get the tax return done this morning. And the money transferred for National Insurance contributions to HMRC. Woman in the bank asked me what I do. I said I was creative writing tutor but not so sure since Covid. I still have Waddy, but don’t know how things will go besides that. I had a nice afternoon. It was bitter cold but air was still, and the sky was awesome pale blue, peach and cream on the way back. I got a few things for the pantry. Think I might be okay financially, for a couple of months anyway. I had a cheeseburger and chips for tea. I watched the news. Tier 4 stuff and Brexshit. I did an end of year review but haven’t posted it online yet. I’ll do it tomorrow. I need to get this page done in four minutes. I watched the Ozzy Osbourne documentary. Good that he and Sharon are still going – lots of ups and downs. Jenni is online. My feet are warmer in just two pairs of socks instead of three. Too many tight layers inside footwear cuts off circulation. Anyway, done here. 11.59pm.
Thursday 31st December 2020
Hardpack snow and ice. Near bald tyres. What could go wrong? Actually, nothing really. Great ride over to Gateshead. I forgot how good it is to hit frozen dirt trails. I need to get out on the bike in zero temps more often. Although, in 2004, that’s what broke my Saracen trials frame. Anyway, today’s ride took about two-and-a-quarter hours. There were loads of dogwalkers. Watergate Forest Park car park was pretty full at quarter past three. Bone dry when I got to Bensham. Jenni was out. I got changed, un-taped a package from my handlebars containing a drum of sugar and bottle of tomato ketchup. I drank some hot chocolate. Got covid updates around five. Jen did an ace little buffet again. Got to see Newcastle fireworks from the big window at six o’clock. I’m currently alternating Ribena and Dandelion and Burdock. The Last Leg is on. I’m expecting F-bombs from Lorraine Kelly at any moment. It would make my night. There is only ninety minutes of 2020 left. I’ll probably eat more stuff before midnight. Cheese and crackers or another mince pie. I have a bit of a headache but nothing serious. Hope 2021 bring some good stuff and coronavirus fucks right off. OK. 10.32pm.
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