Haven't been across the doorstep today. The fence builder worked in the rain and single-handedly erected half the garden’s width of the six-foot fence between my property and my neighbour's. Sounds odd: my property. I don't feel like I own my place. And many would say I haven't earned my place. My most treasured possessions are my hard drive, book collections, bicycles and some music CDs. The house saves me a fortune in rent. Which is just as well, coz things could be about to get real lean. Less than half an hour left of the day. October is Halloween month. Goth music and black metal music. Horror films. Spooky stories. The weather forecast is shit for the rest of the week. I am out at Waddington Street Centre for Poetry Jam tomorrow. OK. 11.33pm.
Thursday 2nd October 2025
Felt rushed to come up with something for tomorrow. Morning pages were a slog, and only when I switched to a blank foolscap did I get the full flow of exercise ideas for tomorrow. I was at Waddy by three. Had a meeting with Sheila from the college. She didn't know how I came to be employed by them and at Waddy in the first place. She totally got where I was coming from and said that under the circumstances, she'd feel the same way as me about paperwork and online training obligations... Jam setup took longer today. But worth it. Ace turnout. Brilliant turns on open floor: Tolu and friend, Steve May. Jenni Pascoe, Gaeran Southern, Aaron Wright, amongst others. Great feature sets as well from Sharon Milley, Thom Robson and headliner Ann Porro. I read Thank You Kindly Mr Patten and Boy of Bohemia. It took me about an hour to tidy up and lock up. I'm currently riding the last bus from Durham to Moorside. Another half hour before I get home. I just got a list of dates for Washington workshops that takes me right up to next July. Awesome. OK. 11.23pm.
Friday 3rd October 2025
Caught the 8:23am bus to Consett. Bought a box of pasta, then caught the bus to Chester-le-Street. Bought some fruit, then got the bus to Arts Centre Washington. Setup in the community room was good. Canny turnout. Eight people. Great warm-up using story titles as prompts for new writing. Drafts read back then the original stories from a flash fiction anthology. And an opportunity to submit material for publication. We ended on the theme of Play. Then five people kindly bought copies of Letting the Minimalism Slip. Then Barrie West showed me around WiTCH - an art exhibition about the treatment of women through the ages. Startling stuff. Buses out of Washington's Biddick Lane are problematic. I forgot my mobile device and had to go back for it. Horrid wet weather. I rolled my ankle this evening. Think it's sprained. Watched Ozzy Osbourne documentary. Very sad. Then some editing. Late entry. 12.30am.
Saturday 4th October 2025
Ankle wasn't so bad this morning, no bad bruising. Still a bit sore to walk on. Prepped a gig set for WaterAid. Then worked on formatting of Rave poetry book for Donald Jenkins. Wrote my official resignation letter to New College Durham this afternoon, citing mental health, and planned two workshops on the bus to Gateshead this evening. OK. 11.20pm.
Sunday 5th October 2025
Me and Jenni went to the Soundroom for WaterAid gig. Jenni hosted. Me, Tolu, and Aaron Wright did 20-minute sets. There was open mic from Jen's mam, Ian Hart, Vinci, Ross Punton and Mark Speeding. This evening, Speedy did a set of One Dollar Zombies songs and was then joined by Gary Franks to perform as The Pathos. Great stuff. Watched a Billy Joel concert on telly later. OK. 10.59pm.
Monday 6th October 2025
STUPID FUCKING CUNTING COMPUTER. I DIDN'T EVEN WANT WINDOWS CUNTING ELEVEN! I DIDN'T WANT WINDOWS CUNTING TEN. BUT OH NO, YOU HAVE TO UPGRADE COZ WE ARE DISCONTINUING BACK-UP FOR WINDOWS XP. AND WINDOWS EIGHT. AND WINDOWS NINE AND THREE FUCKING QUARTERS. SO NOW I'VE GOT ELEVEN AND IT'S NO DIFFERENT TO TEN EXCEPT THAT MY LASER PRINTER WON'T PRINT BOOKLETS. EVEN THOUGH THE OPTION IS ON THE FUCKING SCREEN! I FUCKING HATE COMPUTERS. AND THESE FAKE CUNTS THAT WANT US TO HAVE A DIGITAL I.D. CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY BARCODED FUCKING SHEEPLE SYSTEM. CUNT OFF!! GIVE ME A PHOTOCOPIER AND AN ELECTRIC TYPEWRITER. A VHS MACHINE AND A SNAIL MAIL POSTAL SERVICE. FUCK PROGRESS. FUCK LIFE! 11.50PM.
Tuesday 7th October 2025
Better day. First workshop with Waddy since parting with NCD. I waited till the end to tell the members. To say they were pleased at no longer having to do paperwork was an understatement. Jenni came over to my place today. The laser printer needed to be reinstalled. All the drivers needed to be manually downloaded. The duplex booklet function is now working. Some Google updates were very slow. Jen is going to check it all again in the morning. I've not done much this evening. Tried to find a clean Charles Bukowski story at the request of Waddy readers, but I failed. Just about every story in Tales of Ordinary Madness has expletives and is near the knuckle sexually. Not ideal. I hope to be okay to ride a bike on Thursday. I'm out for a bookmaking meeting with Joan Johnston tomorrow. 11.45pm.
Felt rushed to come up with something for tomorrow. Morning pages were a slog, and only when I switched to a blank foolscap did I get the full flow of exercise ideas for tomorrow. I was at Waddy by three. Had a meeting with Sheila from the college. She didn't know how I came to be employed by them and at Waddy in the first place. She totally got where I was coming from and said that under the circumstances, she'd feel the same way as me about paperwork and online training obligations... Jam setup took longer today. But worth it. Ace turnout. Brilliant turns on open floor: Tolu and friend, Steve May. Jenni Pascoe, Gaeran Southern, Aaron Wright, amongst others. Great feature sets as well from Sharon Milley, Thom Robson and headliner Ann Porro. I read Thank You Kindly Mr Patten and Boy of Bohemia. It took me about an hour to tidy up and lock up. I'm currently riding the last bus from Durham to Moorside. Another half hour before I get home. I just got a list of dates for Washington workshops that takes me right up to next July. Awesome. OK. 11.23pm.
Friday 3rd October 2025
Caught the 8:23am bus to Consett. Bought a box of pasta, then caught the bus to Chester-le-Street. Bought some fruit, then got the bus to Arts Centre Washington. Setup in the community room was good. Canny turnout. Eight people. Great warm-up using story titles as prompts for new writing. Drafts read back then the original stories from a flash fiction anthology. And an opportunity to submit material for publication. We ended on the theme of Play. Then five people kindly bought copies of Letting the Minimalism Slip. Then Barrie West showed me around WiTCH - an art exhibition about the treatment of women through the ages. Startling stuff. Buses out of Washington's Biddick Lane are problematic. I forgot my mobile device and had to go back for it. Horrid wet weather. I rolled my ankle this evening. Think it's sprained. Watched Ozzy Osbourne documentary. Very sad. Then some editing. Late entry. 12.30am.
Saturday 4th October 2025
Ankle wasn't so bad this morning, no bad bruising. Still a bit sore to walk on. Prepped a gig set for WaterAid. Then worked on formatting of Rave poetry book for Donald Jenkins. Wrote my official resignation letter to New College Durham this afternoon, citing mental health, and planned two workshops on the bus to Gateshead this evening. OK. 11.20pm.
Sunday 5th October 2025
Me and Jenni went to the Soundroom for WaterAid gig. Jenni hosted. Me, Tolu, and Aaron Wright did 20-minute sets. There was open mic from Jen's mam, Ian Hart, Vinci, Ross Punton and Mark Speeding. This evening, Speedy did a set of One Dollar Zombies songs and was then joined by Gary Franks to perform as The Pathos. Great stuff. Watched a Billy Joel concert on telly later. OK. 10.59pm.
Monday 6th October 2025
STUPID FUCKING CUNTING COMPUTER. I DIDN'T EVEN WANT WINDOWS CUNTING ELEVEN! I DIDN'T WANT WINDOWS CUNTING TEN. BUT OH NO, YOU HAVE TO UPGRADE COZ WE ARE DISCONTINUING BACK-UP FOR WINDOWS XP. AND WINDOWS EIGHT. AND WINDOWS NINE AND THREE FUCKING QUARTERS. SO NOW I'VE GOT ELEVEN AND IT'S NO DIFFERENT TO TEN EXCEPT THAT MY LASER PRINTER WON'T PRINT BOOKLETS. EVEN THOUGH THE OPTION IS ON THE FUCKING SCREEN! I FUCKING HATE COMPUTERS. AND THESE FAKE CUNTS THAT WANT US TO HAVE A DIGITAL I.D. CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY BARCODED FUCKING SHEEPLE SYSTEM. CUNT OFF!! GIVE ME A PHOTOCOPIER AND AN ELECTRIC TYPEWRITER. A VHS MACHINE AND A SNAIL MAIL POSTAL SERVICE. FUCK PROGRESS. FUCK LIFE! 11.50PM.
Tuesday 7th October 2025
Better day. First workshop with Waddy since parting with NCD. I waited till the end to tell the members. To say they were pleased at no longer having to do paperwork was an understatement. Jenni came over to my place today. The laser printer needed to be reinstalled. All the drivers needed to be manually downloaded. The duplex booklet function is now working. Some Google updates were very slow. Jen is going to check it all again in the morning. I've not done much this evening. Tried to find a clean Charles Bukowski story at the request of Waddy readers, but I failed. Just about every story in Tales of Ordinary Madness has expletives and is near the knuckle sexually. Not ideal. I hope to be okay to ride a bike on Thursday. I'm out for a bookmaking meeting with Joan Johnston tomorrow. 11.45pm.
Wednesday 8th October 2025
Jenni took Crap Cleaner off the desktop computer today and contacted TalkTalk about the ultra-shit-slow broadband. There is a fault on the landline, and an engineer is coming out to fix it. It's external, so I don't need to be home when he calls. Me and Jenni had spice bags for lunch at Wetherspoons. Hot chicken pieces in chilli-peppered rice with chips. Gorgeous. I met up with Joan Johnston this afternoon in Details Art Store to look at colour combinations for her pamphlet. Within an hour, Joan had chosen her cover card and endpaper, page paper and preferred printing method. Tonight, me and Jen went to the Earth Requiem exhibition at Arts Centre Washington. Some fabulous stuff on the walls. Barrie West showed Jen his dark installation in the WiTCH exhibition. I told him I sprained my ankle after viewing it last Friday. This freaked him out… Rowan McCabe is in the Radio Times this week. Double page spread. Get in! Well chuffed for him. OK. 11.55pm.
Thursday 9th October 2025
I prepped some ideas for the forthcoming Weardale WordFest workshop today. Much more than the required two hours of material. I wrote to Chris Powell and said I don't mind doing a bit longer if necessary. She said okay, and I can get a taxi both ways and be reimbursed in addition to my fee. This afternoon, I made some trail modifications in the woods near where I live. Typical, it's almost season's end, and now I've got some new bits and pieces to play on. A neighbour let me have some old fence wood to make a ramp against a fallen tree blocking a trail. I'm going to take it there either tomorrow or Saturday. This evening, I watched a grotesque film called Hillside Cannibals. I didn't like it. I tried to watch a Sex Pistols documentary but fell asleep. That's the second time. Third time lucky? OK. 11.52pm.
Friday 10th October 2025
Up quite early and out on the 8.23am bus to Consett. Then one to Shotley Bridge, with part of next door's garden fence. I got off near The Crown and Crossed Swords, then walked along the road, over the bridge, up into the woods, and onto the trail that has a tree blocking it. I used the bit of fence as a ramp. I don't know if it will work yet. I'm going back tomorrow on the Sonder bike... I wanted samples of Joan’s pamphlet printed this afternoon at Waddington Street Centre, but a staff meeting scuppered my plans. I spent a fortune on food supplies instead. This evening, I did work-log and gratitude journal copy-ups. About a month's worth. And sketched out more ideas for my Writing for Performance workshop taking place in a fortnight at Weardale WordFest. Hope to be biking again tomorrow. OK. 11.10pm.
Saturday 11th October 2025
Up early and out on the Sonder bike. I rode the little ramp over the tree trunk. It worked perfectly. I also did a rear-wheel dismount from a four-pallet stack in Castleside quarry. Had a nice chicken salad for dinner, then went to Watergate Forest Park to check out rock-riding possibilities. A woman accused me of being a weirdo peeping tom, so I told her in no uncertain terms to get her facts straight before accusing someone just reading trail lines of doing anything untoward. A kid on a bike said she does it quite often. Jenni and I watched telly and ate snacks. OK. 10.35pm.
Sunday 12th October 2025
Big lazy day at Jen's. Mainly listening to the radio, then watched two episodes of the new Sally Wainwright drama Riot Women. Ate lots of peanuts and hot dogs, tuna and beans. OK. 11.15pm.
Monday 13th October 2025
STUPID CUNTING BASTARD WINDOWS FUCKPIG ELEVEN. WHY THE CUNTING FUCK DOESN'T ADOBE LET ME SAVE A PDF FILE FROM MY HARD DRIVE TO A USB STICK ANYMORE? WHY HAS A 10-MINUTE JOB TO INSERT A THUMBNAIL IMAGE INTO A BOOKLET DOCUMENT TAKEN THREE AND A HALF FUCKING HOURS? AND NOW THAT IT'S DONE, I CAN'T TRANSPORT IT VIA USB. AND THE EMAIL SENT TO THE OFFICE WHERE THE FILE IS TO BE PRINTED – WHICH I CC'D MYSELF IN – HASN'T SHOWN UP IN MY INBOX. FUCKING SICK TO CUNTING DEATH OF COMPUTERS. FUCK OFF!! 11.46pm.
Tuesday 14th October 2025
Poor start. Not enough sleep. Got to Waddy only to discover that I'd forgotten my USB stick with pamphlet files on it. Foul mood for most of the morning, but the writing session cheered me up this afternoon. Bus home was packed. I didn't do any rehearsals. In the last few days, I've been trying to memorise "Tuppenny Chinwag" but it’s slow work. I can dawdle through the first few stanzas, but it will probably take months before I can recite it well at home. And much longer before it's okay to attempt hands-free in front of an audience. Tonight, I tweaked the cover of Joan Johnston's pamphlet. It looks good and she's pleased with it. I watched Mark Speeding's One Dollar Zombies set from WaterAid at The Soundroom on YouTube. Great stuff. And a bit of retro biketrial action. Wish I could still ride like twenty years ago. OK. 11.15pm.
Wednesday 15th October 2025
Went down to Waddy to print a sample copy of Joan Johnston's new pamphlet. It looks really good, but the PDF prints slightly bigger on the Waddy machine than mine. And I need to use the Waddy printer for heavier paper stock. I will sort it in due course. This evening, I gave my Sonder Frontier bike a good clean. I'm toying with the idea of a bus journey to Watergate Forest Park tomorrow with the bike, the pocket camcorder, and a packed lunch. Ideally, I'd like to bus home afterwards. I’ve replenished handouts for Friday's Washington workshop and keyed in notes for Stanhope's Writing for Performance. I've been out to buy supplies. Including paper and pens. The nights are chillier now. My left ankle aches in the cold, but it's fine to walk on. Been sharing "Tuppenny Chinwag" on social media a lot lately. Fuck the Digital ID and cashless society. OK. 10.30pm.
Thursday 16th October 2025
Up early to do a scathing opening to morning pages. Then eased off a bit. Went to Watergate Forest Park on the X70 bus with my Sonder bike on board. I had an ace time doing rock rides, but unfortunately strained my left arm doing one of the big step-ups that I used to do on my Zoo Pitbull bike twenty years ago. I hope it doesn't take too long to heal. I reckon I could ride in Watergate Forest Park until mid-November if I get my arm working again. On the way through Consett, I decided to buy meat. Had a rump steak with curried beans and mushrooms for tea. Then uploaded a few of today’s pics to my Trail Trundler Facebook album. Did some formatting for the next Washington Writers anthology. I've taken three lots of painkillers today. My arm was in a total uproar this afternoon. But I aim to have a good workshop in Washington tomorrow. OK. 11.09pm.
Friday 17th October 2025
The 8.23am bus didn't turn up this morning. I got to Washington at about five past eleven. Set up was easy. A repeat of Tuesday's session from Waddington Street. Thank you, Alwyn Bathan, for the lift to the Metro Centre. Home by half four. Chicken salad, a bit of work on the Writing for Performance workshop. I think it might be the wrong thing for me to be doing. I have no mental retention ability and don't write many performance poems. I hope I can pull it off okay. Tonight, I went to Consett Empire to see Emma Kenny's ‘Killer Couples’ true crime show and wish I hadn't. She knows her stuff and talked fluently, seemingly without notes, for two hours. But I fell asleep. I thought it odd for there to be merch on sale. A book, yes. But not clothing. I got supplies at Tesco and was home by eleven. Big prep day tomorrow. OK. 11.50pm.
Saturday 18th October 2025
Been to Shotley Bridge Hospital today. I have a Popeye bicep tear in my left arm. Luckily, it's not too severe and should heal without surgery. I'm expecting more info on Monday. Getting old is shit. My main hobby is biking. Off-road in particular. I've been told I can ride on tarmac, but no heroics. Tonight, I replenished the handouts for a creative writing taster session. I have four workshops next week. OK. 10.22pm.
Jenni took Crap Cleaner off the desktop computer today and contacted TalkTalk about the ultra-shit-slow broadband. There is a fault on the landline, and an engineer is coming out to fix it. It's external, so I don't need to be home when he calls. Me and Jenni had spice bags for lunch at Wetherspoons. Hot chicken pieces in chilli-peppered rice with chips. Gorgeous. I met up with Joan Johnston this afternoon in Details Art Store to look at colour combinations for her pamphlet. Within an hour, Joan had chosen her cover card and endpaper, page paper and preferred printing method. Tonight, me and Jen went to the Earth Requiem exhibition at Arts Centre Washington. Some fabulous stuff on the walls. Barrie West showed Jen his dark installation in the WiTCH exhibition. I told him I sprained my ankle after viewing it last Friday. This freaked him out… Rowan McCabe is in the Radio Times this week. Double page spread. Get in! Well chuffed for him. OK. 11.55pm.
Thursday 9th October 2025
I prepped some ideas for the forthcoming Weardale WordFest workshop today. Much more than the required two hours of material. I wrote to Chris Powell and said I don't mind doing a bit longer if necessary. She said okay, and I can get a taxi both ways and be reimbursed in addition to my fee. This afternoon, I made some trail modifications in the woods near where I live. Typical, it's almost season's end, and now I've got some new bits and pieces to play on. A neighbour let me have some old fence wood to make a ramp against a fallen tree blocking a trail. I'm going to take it there either tomorrow or Saturday. This evening, I watched a grotesque film called Hillside Cannibals. I didn't like it. I tried to watch a Sex Pistols documentary but fell asleep. That's the second time. Third time lucky? OK. 11.52pm.
Friday 10th October 2025
Up quite early and out on the 8.23am bus to Consett. Then one to Shotley Bridge, with part of next door's garden fence. I got off near The Crown and Crossed Swords, then walked along the road, over the bridge, up into the woods, and onto the trail that has a tree blocking it. I used the bit of fence as a ramp. I don't know if it will work yet. I'm going back tomorrow on the Sonder bike... I wanted samples of Joan’s pamphlet printed this afternoon at Waddington Street Centre, but a staff meeting scuppered my plans. I spent a fortune on food supplies instead. This evening, I did work-log and gratitude journal copy-ups. About a month's worth. And sketched out more ideas for my Writing for Performance workshop taking place in a fortnight at Weardale WordFest. Hope to be biking again tomorrow. OK. 11.10pm.
Saturday 11th October 2025
Up early and out on the Sonder bike. I rode the little ramp over the tree trunk. It worked perfectly. I also did a rear-wheel dismount from a four-pallet stack in Castleside quarry. Had a nice chicken salad for dinner, then went to Watergate Forest Park to check out rock-riding possibilities. A woman accused me of being a weirdo peeping tom, so I told her in no uncertain terms to get her facts straight before accusing someone just reading trail lines of doing anything untoward. A kid on a bike said she does it quite often. Jenni and I watched telly and ate snacks. OK. 10.35pm.
Sunday 12th October 2025
Big lazy day at Jen's. Mainly listening to the radio, then watched two episodes of the new Sally Wainwright drama Riot Women. Ate lots of peanuts and hot dogs, tuna and beans. OK. 11.15pm.
Monday 13th October 2025
STUPID CUNTING BASTARD WINDOWS FUCKPIG ELEVEN. WHY THE CUNTING FUCK DOESN'T ADOBE LET ME SAVE A PDF FILE FROM MY HARD DRIVE TO A USB STICK ANYMORE? WHY HAS A 10-MINUTE JOB TO INSERT A THUMBNAIL IMAGE INTO A BOOKLET DOCUMENT TAKEN THREE AND A HALF FUCKING HOURS? AND NOW THAT IT'S DONE, I CAN'T TRANSPORT IT VIA USB. AND THE EMAIL SENT TO THE OFFICE WHERE THE FILE IS TO BE PRINTED – WHICH I CC'D MYSELF IN – HASN'T SHOWN UP IN MY INBOX. FUCKING SICK TO CUNTING DEATH OF COMPUTERS. FUCK OFF!! 11.46pm.
Tuesday 14th October 2025
Poor start. Not enough sleep. Got to Waddy only to discover that I'd forgotten my USB stick with pamphlet files on it. Foul mood for most of the morning, but the writing session cheered me up this afternoon. Bus home was packed. I didn't do any rehearsals. In the last few days, I've been trying to memorise "Tuppenny Chinwag" but it’s slow work. I can dawdle through the first few stanzas, but it will probably take months before I can recite it well at home. And much longer before it's okay to attempt hands-free in front of an audience. Tonight, I tweaked the cover of Joan Johnston's pamphlet. It looks good and she's pleased with it. I watched Mark Speeding's One Dollar Zombies set from WaterAid at The Soundroom on YouTube. Great stuff. And a bit of retro biketrial action. Wish I could still ride like twenty years ago. OK. 11.15pm.
Wednesday 15th October 2025
Went down to Waddy to print a sample copy of Joan Johnston's new pamphlet. It looks really good, but the PDF prints slightly bigger on the Waddy machine than mine. And I need to use the Waddy printer for heavier paper stock. I will sort it in due course. This evening, I gave my Sonder Frontier bike a good clean. I'm toying with the idea of a bus journey to Watergate Forest Park tomorrow with the bike, the pocket camcorder, and a packed lunch. Ideally, I'd like to bus home afterwards. I’ve replenished handouts for Friday's Washington workshop and keyed in notes for Stanhope's Writing for Performance. I've been out to buy supplies. Including paper and pens. The nights are chillier now. My left ankle aches in the cold, but it's fine to walk on. Been sharing "Tuppenny Chinwag" on social media a lot lately. Fuck the Digital ID and cashless society. OK. 10.30pm.
Thursday 16th October 2025
Up early to do a scathing opening to morning pages. Then eased off a bit. Went to Watergate Forest Park on the X70 bus with my Sonder bike on board. I had an ace time doing rock rides, but unfortunately strained my left arm doing one of the big step-ups that I used to do on my Zoo Pitbull bike twenty years ago. I hope it doesn't take too long to heal. I reckon I could ride in Watergate Forest Park until mid-November if I get my arm working again. On the way through Consett, I decided to buy meat. Had a rump steak with curried beans and mushrooms for tea. Then uploaded a few of today’s pics to my Trail Trundler Facebook album. Did some formatting for the next Washington Writers anthology. I've taken three lots of painkillers today. My arm was in a total uproar this afternoon. But I aim to have a good workshop in Washington tomorrow. OK. 11.09pm.
Friday 17th October 2025
The 8.23am bus didn't turn up this morning. I got to Washington at about five past eleven. Set up was easy. A repeat of Tuesday's session from Waddington Street. Thank you, Alwyn Bathan, for the lift to the Metro Centre. Home by half four. Chicken salad, a bit of work on the Writing for Performance workshop. I think it might be the wrong thing for me to be doing. I have no mental retention ability and don't write many performance poems. I hope I can pull it off okay. Tonight, I went to Consett Empire to see Emma Kenny's ‘Killer Couples’ true crime show and wish I hadn't. She knows her stuff and talked fluently, seemingly without notes, for two hours. But I fell asleep. I thought it odd for there to be merch on sale. A book, yes. But not clothing. I got supplies at Tesco and was home by eleven. Big prep day tomorrow. OK. 11.50pm.
Saturday 18th October 2025
Been to Shotley Bridge Hospital today. I have a Popeye bicep tear in my left arm. Luckily, it's not too severe and should heal without surgery. I'm expecting more info on Monday. Getting old is shit. My main hobby is biking. Off-road in particular. I've been told I can ride on tarmac, but no heroics. Tonight, I replenished the handouts for a creative writing taster session. I have four workshops next week. OK. 10.22pm.
Sunday 19th October 2025
Possibly not wise to go out on the old hybrid bike, but the doctor said it should be okay. My left shoulder ached at the computer this evening. I keyed in more Writing for Performance workshop notes. They are still a bit iffy. I listened to USELESS – THE VERY BEST OF TV SMITH this evening. Ate a beef steak with beans and mushrooms. OK. 11.37pm.
Monday 20th October 2025
Went out for the 8.23am bus. It didn't show up. Back home, I got the call from University Hospital of North Durham. I have an appointment for next week to get another assessment of the damage to my left bicep. I've been assured it's not a full tear, and that with physio I'll be biking off-road again next spring. The workshop in Horden Library today was canny. Eight participants. It ran for over two hours. With a two-and-a-half-hour journey each way. I'm pleased I did it. I re-edited notes tonight for the workshop I'm doing for Weardale Wordfest on Friday. I hope my left arm gets better over the next couple of months. The right one went wrong five years ago. But is okay now. 11.23pm.
Tuesday 21st October 2025
I rediscovered a load of good workshop content that I can reuse in Washington, Waddy and elsewhere. The session at Waddy went well. I road-tested the new content that I'll be using in Weardale on Friday. Instead of doing one half-hour-long lecture-style section, I'm going to break it up a bit and intersperse it with writing exercises. I'm feeling confident about creativity. Not so confident about my left arm. I hope the bulbous lump of loose muscle goes somewhat back to normal. Tonight, I tweaked my essay again for the workshop. And did a bit of an edit on a Waddy writer's story. I responded to work emails. I forgot to buy bread, so supper was peanuts, sultanas and a small orange. My joints hurt as the temperature drops. OK. 11.25pm.
Wednesday 22nd October 2025
Buses to Durham and Bishop Auckland were fine. But the Durham station toilets are still out of order. Anyone who needs two or three buses in a row is likely to need a comfort break. As the weather gets colder, those with weak bladders, trying to make it to appointments, might leave a puddle or two. I've had toilet accidents in the past… Today's workshop was good, but there was some confusion about the time. Half one it started, not one o'clock. I was there before midday to set up, much to the concern of the venue manager. Eight participants. We played Finish the Sentence, did I remember…, Hero poems, 26 Characters, Consequences, Triolets, and ‘I Am’ poems. After the session, I got a selfie with Nosferatu on Newgate Street. Was home by half six. Chicken and chips for tea. Tonight, I listened to the first disc from the ‘Crimes Against Nature’ Lydia Lunch spoken-word box set. Awesome storytelling and brilliant delivery. OK.10.34pm.
Thursday 23rd October 2025
Eleven-hour workday. Got all the workshop exercises sequenced with various handouts for tomorrow. Made a handful of copies of Letting the Minimalism Slip – really enjoyed inking up the covers. Tweaked my essay to include a bit on microphones. I don't like using them. I've probably got far too much material, but we can exceed the original two-hour slot. It should be okay. I watched the video for the new Michael Monroe single. The whole band were in spoof bland clothing and dodgy wigs. It's very odd to see glam/trash rockers in ordinary middle-aged clothes. My ears are ringing, and my knees are grinding. The right arm aches more than the torn left. I don't need to be up too early tomorrow. I'm all packed. And looking forward to a day away. OK. 11.10pm.
Friday 24th October 2025
Great day out at Stanhope St Thomas Church Hall for WordFest Writing for Performance workshop. I got there about twenty past eleven. I rehearsed in the empty hall. Then spent ninety minutes setting up my stuff. We started a bit late because people wanted tea and coffee. I did an extra forty-five minutes and got through almost all of what I prepared, but not in the intended order. It was good to meet new people. There were some very good ‘I Remember…’ and ‘I Am…’ pieces in the workshop. Chris Powell very kindly provided red pepper and lentil soup with buns, and some awesome cake for tea. Then I put a short set together for this evening. There were ten open floor readers and me. Most read two rounds. Steve Wood and Dave Rutherford were there. I did about fourteen minutes at the end. Taxi home was swift. Less than twenty minutes. Hope to get back to WordFest again sometime. Big thanks to all involved. OK.11.35pm.
Possibly not wise to go out on the old hybrid bike, but the doctor said it should be okay. My left shoulder ached at the computer this evening. I keyed in more Writing for Performance workshop notes. They are still a bit iffy. I listened to USELESS – THE VERY BEST OF TV SMITH this evening. Ate a beef steak with beans and mushrooms. OK. 11.37pm.
Monday 20th October 2025
Went out for the 8.23am bus. It didn't show up. Back home, I got the call from University Hospital of North Durham. I have an appointment for next week to get another assessment of the damage to my left bicep. I've been assured it's not a full tear, and that with physio I'll be biking off-road again next spring. The workshop in Horden Library today was canny. Eight participants. It ran for over two hours. With a two-and-a-half-hour journey each way. I'm pleased I did it. I re-edited notes tonight for the workshop I'm doing for Weardale Wordfest on Friday. I hope my left arm gets better over the next couple of months. The right one went wrong five years ago. But is okay now. 11.23pm.
Tuesday 21st October 2025
I rediscovered a load of good workshop content that I can reuse in Washington, Waddy and elsewhere. The session at Waddy went well. I road-tested the new content that I'll be using in Weardale on Friday. Instead of doing one half-hour-long lecture-style section, I'm going to break it up a bit and intersperse it with writing exercises. I'm feeling confident about creativity. Not so confident about my left arm. I hope the bulbous lump of loose muscle goes somewhat back to normal. Tonight, I tweaked my essay again for the workshop. And did a bit of an edit on a Waddy writer's story. I responded to work emails. I forgot to buy bread, so supper was peanuts, sultanas and a small orange. My joints hurt as the temperature drops. OK. 11.25pm.
Wednesday 22nd October 2025
Buses to Durham and Bishop Auckland were fine. But the Durham station toilets are still out of order. Anyone who needs two or three buses in a row is likely to need a comfort break. As the weather gets colder, those with weak bladders, trying to make it to appointments, might leave a puddle or two. I've had toilet accidents in the past… Today's workshop was good, but there was some confusion about the time. Half one it started, not one o'clock. I was there before midday to set up, much to the concern of the venue manager. Eight participants. We played Finish the Sentence, did I remember…, Hero poems, 26 Characters, Consequences, Triolets, and ‘I Am’ poems. After the session, I got a selfie with Nosferatu on Newgate Street. Was home by half six. Chicken and chips for tea. Tonight, I listened to the first disc from the ‘Crimes Against Nature’ Lydia Lunch spoken-word box set. Awesome storytelling and brilliant delivery. OK.10.34pm.
Thursday 23rd October 2025
Eleven-hour workday. Got all the workshop exercises sequenced with various handouts for tomorrow. Made a handful of copies of Letting the Minimalism Slip – really enjoyed inking up the covers. Tweaked my essay to include a bit on microphones. I don't like using them. I've probably got far too much material, but we can exceed the original two-hour slot. It should be okay. I watched the video for the new Michael Monroe single. The whole band were in spoof bland clothing and dodgy wigs. It's very odd to see glam/trash rockers in ordinary middle-aged clothes. My ears are ringing, and my knees are grinding. The right arm aches more than the torn left. I don't need to be up too early tomorrow. I'm all packed. And looking forward to a day away. OK. 11.10pm.
Friday 24th October 2025
Great day out at Stanhope St Thomas Church Hall for WordFest Writing for Performance workshop. I got there about twenty past eleven. I rehearsed in the empty hall. Then spent ninety minutes setting up my stuff. We started a bit late because people wanted tea and coffee. I did an extra forty-five minutes and got through almost all of what I prepared, but not in the intended order. It was good to meet new people. There were some very good ‘I Remember…’ and ‘I Am…’ pieces in the workshop. Chris Powell very kindly provided red pepper and lentil soup with buns, and some awesome cake for tea. Then I put a short set together for this evening. There were ten open floor readers and me. Most read two rounds. Steve Wood and Dave Rutherford were there. I did about fourteen minutes at the end. Taxi home was swift. Less than twenty minutes. Hope to get back to WordFest again sometime. Big thanks to all involved. OK.11.35pm.
Saturday 25th October 2025
Big lie in and a lazy morning. Took me a while to get out of the house because every item I removed from yesterday’s bags prompted me to do something. Ended up trying to select poems for next month's gig in North Shields. I got a bus to Newcastle and bought the endpapers for Joan Johnston's pamphlet. Nipped into HMV and WHSmith. Bit of food shopping at Tesco then Saturday TV at Jen's place. OK.11.33pm.
Sunday 26th October 2025
Awake around eight o'clock. Jenni went out for a train event. I wrote an essay, edited it for three hours, then posted it in a Facebook group. Later, we watched four episodes of Riot Women. Great series. Enjoyed the humour and dark psychology. The band was great as well. OK.11.20pm.
Monday 27th October 2025
The bus was late from Gateshead this morning. I wanted a cooked breakfast at Consett Wetherspoons but didn't get there till midday – and that's when they stop serving. I made do with a banana from Tesco. Then walked in the sunshine to Moorside. The house was as I left it: crumbs on the kitchen carpet and purple stains on the countertop. I had baked beans with cheap curry powder and a tin of tuna. I wrote three emails and sent three invoices. I adjusted the margins on Joan's pamphlet. I had more tuna and curried beans with a baked potato. Tonight, I pulled together a Halloween workshop for tomorrow’s Waddy session and checked early bus times to Durham. I need to be in bed soon if I'm to make my 10.20am appointment at the rehabilitation clinic. OK. 9.55pm.
Tuesday 28th October 2025
Up about half five to do morning pages, then off to Waddy to get another tweaked version of Joan's pamphlet printed. The margins are being a pain. I'll try again next week. We did a Halloween Special for the writing workshop, and everyone rose to the occasion. Enjoyed it. I've been to see the physiotherapist at the hospital; three strengthening exercises to do: bicep curl, hammer curl, and upturned palm arm extension. I did 30 reps of each and reckon I'll be able to lift more or do more reps in a couple of weeks. I've had a night off, save submitting a piece of flash fiction on a Waddy Writer's behalf. Hope they get an acceptance. It's cold tonight. My ears are ringing. I've had a beef medallion steak with curried beans, mushrooms and a baked potato. Hope I don't put on too much weight. I'm biking tomorrow. OK. 10.40pm.
Wednesday 29th October 2025
Over three hours on the Sonder bike down by the riverside. Despite being in the early stages of recovery from a torn bicep, I found that I was able to do all the routes ridden throughout the year, managing to get cleans (no feet down) on lots of obstacles and even managed a grassy ledge step up. My arms were a bit tired, but no major pain. Wanted to read "A Dull Roar" by Henry Rollins, but I fell asleep at teatime. Ate a big salad with beef medallion steak. Had concentrated cherry juice, peanuts and sultanas, and a cheese and cucumber ‘thin’ sandwich. Did physio again tonight. I've now got a little bit of a migraine, and I'm struggling to stay on the lines of the page. Big rippled vision in my right eye, but no headache. I will be in bed soon. Typing and workshop prep tomorrow. OK. 9.10pm.
Big lie in and a lazy morning. Took me a while to get out of the house because every item I removed from yesterday’s bags prompted me to do something. Ended up trying to select poems for next month's gig in North Shields. I got a bus to Newcastle and bought the endpapers for Joan Johnston's pamphlet. Nipped into HMV and WHSmith. Bit of food shopping at Tesco then Saturday TV at Jen's place. OK.11.33pm.
Sunday 26th October 2025
Awake around eight o'clock. Jenni went out for a train event. I wrote an essay, edited it for three hours, then posted it in a Facebook group. Later, we watched four episodes of Riot Women. Great series. Enjoyed the humour and dark psychology. The band was great as well. OK.11.20pm.
Monday 27th October 2025
The bus was late from Gateshead this morning. I wanted a cooked breakfast at Consett Wetherspoons but didn't get there till midday – and that's when they stop serving. I made do with a banana from Tesco. Then walked in the sunshine to Moorside. The house was as I left it: crumbs on the kitchen carpet and purple stains on the countertop. I had baked beans with cheap curry powder and a tin of tuna. I wrote three emails and sent three invoices. I adjusted the margins on Joan's pamphlet. I had more tuna and curried beans with a baked potato. Tonight, I pulled together a Halloween workshop for tomorrow’s Waddy session and checked early bus times to Durham. I need to be in bed soon if I'm to make my 10.20am appointment at the rehabilitation clinic. OK. 9.55pm.
Tuesday 28th October 2025
Up about half five to do morning pages, then off to Waddy to get another tweaked version of Joan's pamphlet printed. The margins are being a pain. I'll try again next week. We did a Halloween Special for the writing workshop, and everyone rose to the occasion. Enjoyed it. I've been to see the physiotherapist at the hospital; three strengthening exercises to do: bicep curl, hammer curl, and upturned palm arm extension. I did 30 reps of each and reckon I'll be able to lift more or do more reps in a couple of weeks. I've had a night off, save submitting a piece of flash fiction on a Waddy Writer's behalf. Hope they get an acceptance. It's cold tonight. My ears are ringing. I've had a beef medallion steak with curried beans, mushrooms and a baked potato. Hope I don't put on too much weight. I'm biking tomorrow. OK. 10.40pm.
Wednesday 29th October 2025
Over three hours on the Sonder bike down by the riverside. Despite being in the early stages of recovery from a torn bicep, I found that I was able to do all the routes ridden throughout the year, managing to get cleans (no feet down) on lots of obstacles and even managed a grassy ledge step up. My arms were a bit tired, but no major pain. Wanted to read "A Dull Roar" by Henry Rollins, but I fell asleep at teatime. Ate a big salad with beef medallion steak. Had concentrated cherry juice, peanuts and sultanas, and a cheese and cucumber ‘thin’ sandwich. Did physio again tonight. I've now got a little bit of a migraine, and I'm struggling to stay on the lines of the page. Big rippled vision in my right eye, but no headache. I will be in bed soon. Typing and workshop prep tomorrow. OK. 9.10pm.
Thursday 30th October 2025
House is freezing today. Two pairs of joggers, two fleeces. Hot water bottle for hands at the keyboard. And nowhere near proper winter yet. The price paid for shedding two stone of fat. I need a ton of protein in the next ten weeks. I want to come back in 2026 fully revived and with good upper body strength... Today I replenished the handouts for the Halloween creative writing session. Listened to I LOVED YOU AT YOUR DARKEST by Behemoth. Watched some Jeff Lenosky bike vids as well. I did fifteen ‘Over 50s’ strength training exercises today. I aim to get out to Watergate Forest Park on foot with the camera after tomorrow’s Washington workshop; I'd like some shots of big rocks and trail lines. OK. 10.35pm.
Friday 31st October 2025
Up around 6.30am for morning pages. New clothes on and out to Consett. ATM withdrawal, then bus to Chester-le-Street. Bought peanuts, checked protein content in various cuts of meat. But seems like tuna is the best source financially. The workshop today was in the lower barn. I was a little shaky in places, but the exercises went well. Wrote two new pieces. Group members wrote more. After the session, Alwyn Bathan kindly gave me a lift to Watergate Forest Park. I took pics of rock clusters and the big boulder that buggered my left bicep. I don't know if I'll be there on the bike this side of Christmas. Maybe. I went into Gateshead afterwards for food supplies. Lots of protein. Watched Psycho II with Jenni but fell asleep before the end. Ate four pork pies. I will have to live on tuna and fruit for a couple of days. I’m going to be busy next week. Having a lazy weekend. OK. 10.37pm.
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