JANUARY

 Monday 1st January 2024

Me and Jenni watched a few episodes of Wednesday (Addams). It was highly engaging and goth as you like. Produced by Tim Burton with music by Danny Elfman, it has elements of Harry Potter about it with the school factions. The casual misanthropy from Ms Addams is quite hilarious. We stopped after three episodes so we could watch other things. I ate chicken sandwiches for dinner and a big veg and meat dinner for tea. We watched a bunch of gameshows including Jeopardy from Stephen Fry. This evening a couple of soap operas and a documentary called Deep Roots of Led Zeppelin, which is all original blues: Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, etc. Canny but I am so sleepy. Hope to have a bit more energy in the coming days. I got another order for the FINAL pamphlet. It contains a couple of really negative poems, but they are fictional so okay. 10.10pm.


Tuesday 2nd January 2024

Me and Jenni went for a little walk down to the Post Office in Gateshead this morning. I sent out a copy of FINAL. Then we went to an antique shop that sells old books and vinyl. I was tempted by a Siouxsie and the Banshees Peekaboo 12-inch single. Jenni got some 7-inch singles and a few books on trains and Winnie the Pooh. This afternoon we watched Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. Yet more sickening corruption. And people wonder why some individuals don’t trust governments and corporations. Tonight, we had Xmas pudding and custard and watched series thirteen episode one of Waterloo Road. Then I got a bus to the Metro Centre and one to Consett. Walked home in the drizzle. Unpacked. Got changed. Soon be suppertime and bed. 11.50pm.


Wednesday 3rd January 2024

Full on workday. Took a while to get my invoices sorted. Then tax return. I wrote a ‘welcome back’ letter for Washington writers then sorted out book stock, and printed pages for a multiple book order. Got my papers together for a DBS form renewal. This evening, I typed up two lesson plans whilst listening to Bastette, South of Salem and Toyah. I'd like to see them all in concert this year. I'd like to see them all in CONSETT this year but that will never happen. I want to get back into reading hard-copy books this year. I've turned off the computer and intend to read for an hour in bed. I've eaten almost half a stollen loaf today. Nine quid reduced to £4.50 reduced to 90p. Me and Jenni know how to do bargains. I am back at Waddy tomorrow for the final session of the late autumn term. The new one begins next week. OK. 10.20pm.

Thursday 4th January 2024

Didn't sleep well last night. Despite ten hours in bed. Think I did morning pages before six but didn't get up till nine. Half ten bus to Waddy. Spent an hour setting up for the final session. We recapped the whole course and did some repeat exercises. Four-paragraph flash fiction plus some alternative Lunes counting full words, not syllables. I bought Best of British Stories 2023 from Waterstones. I got another ream of paper. I sold a copy of Final to a Waddy writer. And I did some test prints for a deluxe version of last April's BULLET YOUR WHOLE DAY. The bus broke down on the way home in Lanchester. Third bus in just over a week. I went to Tesco for supplies. Home by ten past seven. Tomato pasta with chips. Finances. Then tried to watch Hellraiser 2022 but fell asleep. 11.23pm.

Friday 5th January 2024

Still seem to be just playing catch-up. The bus strike knock-on effect last autumn meant I worked through December which is usually my big wind-down month. I think it will be February before I feel anywhere near stable and recharged for new work. Today I made a deluxe Bullet Your Whole Day for a book order. Chuffed to produce a hand-sewn monograph with a glued cover. I printed out some of my other titles. I sent out a couple of orders and did a preparatory run-through of my reading set for this coming Monday's 'Blyth Scribes' Meet the Author event. I didn't include much new material. After a read-through, I listed over fifty recent pieces that might work in future sets. I did a lot last year. I've no idea how 2024 will go. I ate a lot of Reese's chocolate peanut pretzels tonight. A pot noodle. Drank hot chocolate. I am late to bed. Hopefully some good daylight for work tomorrow. 10.59pm.


Saturday 6th January 2024

Most of the daylight was spent bookmaking, replenishing pamphlet stock, and ensuring I had the right stuff for Blyth. I ran out of steam by four. Had a splitting headache and had to lie down for a while. I tried the new remake of Hellraiser again. Some good visuals here and there but no strong characters and some very annoying ones. Read some Carol Ann Duffy before bed. Good stuff. 10.00pm


Sunday 7th January 2024

Got the rest of the books trimmed and inked up. Everything is packed for tomorrow. Got some bits and pieces pulled together for Tuesday's start to the new Waddy term. Buses to Gateshead were okay tonight. No breakdowns. Got to Jen's around eight. We watched Deal or No Deal and Vera. Very tired. Hope I don't sleep in tomorrow. Hope I do well at the gig. 11.00pm.


Monday 8th January 2024

Up at half five to do morning pages then ready to leave Bensham at half seven for Newcastle and onto Blyth. Reached the library at 9.15am, greeted by Elaine Cusack who showed me the writers' group area. I set up all my books. The group arrived early so I did my thing from ten past ten till half twelve. Two performance sets and two Q&As. Good to meet the group and talk about what I do. Was knackered afterwards. Went to Tesco for supplies. Then back to Jen's. Ace tomato and spinach quiche with curly fries for tea. I sent emails to Blyth Scribes. I've been paid by Sunderland Council and should be able to sort my finances. Watched the rest of Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Heads should fucking roll. 9.43pm.


Tuesday 9th January 2024

Rough day. Tickly throat. aggravating. Good chat with Jenni first thing. I got some prep done on the bus to Durham. The session this afternoon was a little strained. Focused too much on New Year resolutions, creative goals, and aims. People weren't ready for it. Most people have lives and more important things to do than scribble. But I think if you have time and talent…. Tonight, I reread ‘Book of Matches’ by Simon Armitage. Upon publication, over three decades ago, one reviewer said it was just marking time. I like half the sequence. Some bits are quite brilliant. 9.55pm.

Wednesday 10th January 2024

Disappointing day. Took a lot longer than expected to scan and send some stuff off. Then I sat number-crunching for an hour or so trying to work out earnings and getting different figures every time. I keyed in some notes, but sitting stationary at the computer just makes me get colder and my brain shuts down. My feet are now numb. I need a hot water bottle. I watched FB reels of John Bishop, Peter Kay, some mountain bike stuff, and bits of rock music. I'm drinking hot Ribena, eating mince pies and crisps. I've not been on a bike for over two months. 11.07pm.


Thursday 11th January 2024

Lazy day. I stayed in bed till nine. My morning pages were ideas for tomorrow's Washington session. Probably got too much material. But pleased to get it done and make it to King Ink in Sunderland tonight. Some great turns. Enjoyed Aaron Wright's THE WORD a lot. Gary the Hat did a good piece about a conversation with a grandson about heaven. Helen Rogers' poem about her son was ace. Joey Avery did some good short pieces including one about vandalism. Chris Hodgson read a piece for Holocaust Remembrance Day. Gaeron played a blues song and read a poem about cold weather. Helen Easley’s set was highly political and well-performed. I was unable to get the five to nine bus back. Now on the five past ten. Still tired on the way back to Consett. 10.41pm.


Friday 12th January 2024

Long day. Enjoyable workshop at Arts Centre Washington. Eleven people came. We looked at past achievements and new goals. Talked about competitions, real writing, keeping going, personal routines, etc. Daniel said we should be able to keep it going permanently. I've been on buses a lot. I've eaten lots of cake. I've read a few articles in Writing Magazine. But all the theory just puts more barriers in my way. I don't think I'm cut out for fiction. I don't think I've got it in me to write anything but thinly veiled autobiography and observed reality. Slices of life. I tried reading some short adult fiction this evening and it bored me. The teenage story ‘Raven’ that I read on the bus to Sunderland last night held my attention, even if the end was a little poor. Fucking freezing. 9.55pm.


Saturday 13th January 2024

Slow day. Got more workshop ideas down in the morning pages and a bit more catch-up on last term's college paperwork. I had a huge chicken jalfrezi with chips, rice and naan for tea then watched Sean Hogan's film The Devil's Business. I fell asleep five minutes in so had to start again when I woke up. Stumbled across a pretty good electro-pop Euro darkwave band called Agent Sidegrinder. 11.16pm.


Sunday 14th January 2024

Most of the day at the computer. I got a new card designed for the 12 pamphlets as a promo handout at gigs. I submitted some writing to Lewis Brown's Spooky Poems anthology. I reposted my Steve Achieves #14 and got lots of nice responses to it. Tried to watch Sanitorium on DVD but fell asleep. Really cold. 11.30pm.


Monday 15th January 2024

Still chugging away at the backlog. I got the autumn term college paperwork sorted out tonight. Half was sent electronically to the office. The hard copy half will be at Waddy tomorrow. I knocked up a couple more copies of FINAL. And I keyed in a load of notes from last year. The Wi-Fi has been poor today. This evening Facebook is on the blink. I've not been on Twitter for a week now. I'll see how long I go. I only started it to follow the writing of Julia Eff. But they've not put out a zine for a good while now. According to the net it's minus four degrees in Moorside tonight. Only my feet feel cold. I haven't shaved for days. I'll need to get sorted in the morning. Listened to a lot of Depeche Mode today. And a bit of Lou Reed. I'm going to turn in early tonight. I aim to be at Under the Arches spoken word night tomorrow. 10.16pm.


Tuesday 16th January 2024

I've been to Tynemouth for Under the Arches. Spoken word gig. It was a great night. I met Sky Hawkins on the way. She accompanied me to the gig. A great mix of poetry and prose. Memoir as well. Time travel. The beauty of pylons. Abusive military man getting his comeuppance. A tender tale about a care home. A great gripe about Christmas waste and reduced-price calendars in January. Two sat navs in one car arguing. Size zero critiques. Also, a poem about why running in winter isn't advisable. Lots of great stuff. Chuffed I got to read some Tiny Tales and a piece from Final. Canny metro ride with Christine and Gaeron. Good workshop today. All poetry. Line breaks. Monologues. OK. 10.15pm.


Wednesday 17th January 2024

So apparently, it's minus six tonight. My feet feel like they've been resting on the metal bars of a freezer for hours and the notebook is making my hand chilly but the rest of me is okay. Today was pretty good. I got the blog up for last November. and the Poetry Jam flyer for February. I've enjoyed an evening of bike vids, and clips of Michael Monroe and Hanoi Rocks that I've been singing along to. Thanks to Jen for her concerns about me in the cold. Thanks to Sky Hawkins for feedback on my Tiny Tales pamphlet. And thanks to Amy from Beamish Hall for asking me to be involved in a wellbeing taster day taking place in May. Concerned about the house at minus six. But temp is set to rise to minus four by midnight so pipes should be okay. I'm off to bed soon. 10.02pm.


Thursday 18th January 2024

Slow cold day. I didn't put the big computer on. I mostly sat on the bed with a hot water bottle to warm my feet and copied up stray worklog and gratitude journal entries. Four months of the latter into the correct notebooks. I didn't finish till eight o'clock tonight. Then an hour pulling material together from three recent workshops to use at Bullion Hall in Chester-le-Street tomorrow afternoon. Hot on the heels of my invite to table a wellbeing event in Beamish Hall in May, I've been asked by Ann Porro to read with other poets at Julie Grant’s gig at the Globe in Newcastle. Also, a request for some of my poems for an anthology. Things are looking up. But I'm getting sick of winter. Haven't biked for over two months. 9.40pm.


Friday 19th January 2024

Up at half eight to get sorted for the Bullion Hall workshop. Out at eleven. Got a little Facebook post done for A WARM SPACE in the library. Then hopped straight onto the Sunderland bus to Chester-le-Street. Paid NI Contributions and went to Bullion Hall. The session was a standard course opener. Like I did at Waddy and Washington. Stayed back twenty minutes to finish an exercise. ‘The Big Why?’ into ‘I shall…’. There were loads of kids in Greggs earlier. I didn’t think school dinners would be so bad these days. 11.20pm.


Saturday 20th January 2024

Me and Jenni stayed in all day and listened to Fury on Spotify and a playlist of old songs. We also listened to ‘High Drama’ the latest Adam Lambert album. Mostly cover versions. We watched a lot of game shows and had the biggest chips ever. With pasties and beans. I’ve slept a bit and had two hot chocolates. And read a bit of John Hegley. OK. 10.20pm.


Sunday 21st January 2024

Planned content for two workshops and sorted my set for Friday’s gig in Blackhill. I went out for a wander this afternoon. Picked up Nutcase by Tony Williams and a Still Game DVD box set in a charity shop. Me and Jenni watched Vera this evening. The wind is nasty now. 10.15pm.


Monday 22nd January 2024

Didn’t sleep well coz of the wild wind. Gusts of 99mph recorded in Northumberland. Luckily just a bit more fence damaged at my place. I got food at Tesco and bus home. Put away all the stuff from the last workshop and set about doing type-ups for the college. Got tomorrow’s session sorted. I’ll be doing more photocopying at Waddy. Listened to a fair bit of Nine Inch Nails this evening. I liked the ‘physical component’ packaging that Reznor did for his EPs. I want to do a journal book midway through the year. Not sure about the sort of content yet. Graphics? Paper stock, etc? I’ve managed to get by today without thermals or sitting with a hot water bottle on my knee. Thinking of going to Morpeth Poetry Library on Thursday. Time is ticking and I’m still behind. 9.37pm.


Tuesday 23rd January 2024

Mam and Ernie visited briefly this morning. I was about to get washed and changed to leave for the half-ten bus to Durham, so they only stayed for a minute or two. I got to Waddy at half-eleven. The set-up didn’t take long. We did automatic writing and reassembled a cut-up Simon Armitage poem. Then we did the Carol Ann Duffy ‘professions’ exercise. Tonight, I tidied the kitchen and sat down to watch a DVD but the TV screen packed in, and I don’t have a DVD drive on the computer. I want to watch films from the comfort of my couch on a TV-size monitor. The microwave oven is dodgy, and the laser printer is leaving faded patches on my pages. Fucking hate being at the mercy of technology. Hot chocolate then bed. 9.15pm.


Wednesday 24th January 2024

Got session handouts sorted for Friday. Printed more copies of my pamphlet FINAL. Had a chicken dinner and sweet mince pies. Watched some short video reels on Facebook – Metallica, Danny MacAskill, Billy Connolly, amongst others. Pleased the printer is now working better – just had to replace the toner cartridge. Today is my last day at 53. Tomorrow I might go to the Morpeth poetry library, Or I could stay local and go see The Old Oak film in Consett. I’m not getting much work done. Still have a load of copying up to do. It’s probably still too cold to do anything physical indoors. Enough here. 11.23pm.


Thursday 25th January 2024

Awake at six with some ideas for a workshop on sequencing material for a gig or pamphlet to share later. Then I got up and made a big full English breakfast. Opened a card from Mam and Ernie. And the new craft device. It scores booklet covers very well, so the colour print doesn’t crack when folded. I phoned a load of libraries in hopes of booking gigs and responded to birthday greetings on Facebook from numerous kind well-wishers. This afternoon I went to the Heart venue in Consett and sat with less than a dozen people to watch the new Ken Loach film The Old Oak. Poet Chrissie Robinson is in it. I auditioned but didn’t make it. Tonight, I had a chicken tikka with rice and chips and naan. Jenni rang me and we chatted for a while. After a lie down I emailed Durham Library. Fingers crossed for some gigs this year. OK. 11,13pm.


Friday 26th January 2024

Today was canny. Even if the buses were a bit shite. Only six in for writing at Washinton today. Two sent apologies. Hope it doesn’t affect the continuity of the course. Still need more work from people for the anthology. We did lots of line break exercises and focused on Carol Ann Duffy’s Education for Leisure at the end. Alwyn gave me a lift to Gateshead and we talked about storm damage. Jenni stayed at home tonight. I did a gig at Blackhill Club. Steve Wood put on a good night. Four people did open mic. I read in the first half and Steve did a full set in the second half. I talked to David Newton, the psychiatric nurse who looked after me in hospital 25 years ago. I sold three books. Only one bus back to Newcastle per hour. I’ve just eaten nine sausage rolls. I won’t reach Jen’s place till about quarter to twelve. 10.56pm.


Saturday 27th January 2024

Jenni gave me a load of lovely presents, including a bike book, a Wednesday Addams book, A Human League album/DVD, a Toy Dolls album/DVD, a ‘crap goth’ David Essex keyring, and a DVD player for the computer. We had some very spicy veg and meat wraps with chips for dinner and watched three episodes of Wednesday on Netflix then standard Saturday TV. 10.15pm.


Sunday 28th January 2024

We watched some Sunday brunch featuring very tedious guests and poor music. I had porridge for two meals in a row. I went out to town for some supplies this afternoon. Watched a few short episodes of Imposter Syndrome on iPlayer – Bradley Wiggins and others. Tonight, George Gently and Murphy’s Law on television. Chicken and mushroom pastries. Hot chocolate and cinnamon buns. OK. 10.42pm.


Monday 29th January 2024

Slow day. Read sixty pages of Nutcase by Tony Williams. Starts with almost cartoonish violence, then gets serious. I’m going to keep it going and hopefully finish it this week. I got some feedback from the libraries and hopefully will be doing some gigs this year. Negotiated a Meet the Author show for Belmont. Listened to ace singer-songwriter Nadine Shah and did lesson plan type-ups. Prepped material for tomorrow’s session. Listened to Don Jolly’s ‘Goth or Not’ BBC Radio programme. Enjoyed it. Chatted online with Jen’s brother Richie. And with Ali Lee. Thanks to Diane and Kyle for birthday money. I didn’t get Poetry Jam stuff done. Will have to be tomorrow night. Almost bedtime. 11.45pm.


Tuesday 30th January 2024

Hand to mouth. Lots of creatures live like that. No bread for a bacon sandwich this morning. Blackcurrant porridge and a quick scrub up at the sink then a walk into town for copier paper. Bus to Durham was slow. Had to buy card so didn’t get to Waddy till twelve. Prep was quite easy. Only used the big Senses chapter from Free Your Mind. Got half the Harry Gallagher second printing done today. This evening, I posted Poetry Jam pix from December. Listened to the South of Salem album. Ate half a box of Toffifee. Read a fair bit more of Nutcase by Tony Williams. I should be done by the weekend. Bus home was over half an hour late. House is cold but not freezing. Hope to get lots done tomorrow. 11.18pm.


Wednesday 31st January 2024

Mixed moods. Had a good morning session making up another run of Echoes of a Pit Village by Harry Gallagher. This afternoon I had online hassle with my invoices and pay-log for the college, but all sorted this evening. I listened to some Creeper songs and pulled out a dozen writing exercises for use over the next week. I don’t have another session till Friday at Bullion Hall. Tomorrow I’m off to Waddy so I can get the second half of Harry’s booklets folded and trimmed. I’ll be tweaking exercises and handouts for the workshop and then getting ready for Poetry Jam. I hope we get a decent turnout. Pleased I got my paperwork and pay log sorted. I still haven’t done December’s blog. Two months behind and here we are hitting February. 10.52pm.

DECEMBER

Friday 1st December 2023

Spent a couple of hours prepping my Arts Centre Washington workshop. I only used about a third of it. Big news today of course is that the bus strike is over. Travel is free next week. I’ll be back at Waddington Street Centre to make up for sessions missed if they’ll let me. After work I started browsing for Christmas presents. Watched telly with Jenni tonight. She ate veggie fish and chips. I had lentil and bacon soup and a strawberry trifle. The last leg is on. Bed soon. 10.42pm.

Saturday 2nd December 2023

Intended to go home but stayed at Jen’s. We went to a little craft fair at Luber Fiend in Newcastle. Checked out the venue for Wednesday’s writing workshop. Four free bus rides. The Voice and Strictly. Cheese and tomato pasta. Sauage rolls. Andy Summers guitar documentary. 10.31pm.

Sunday 3rd December 2023

After the lovely warmth at Jen’s place for a few days, it’s back to the brutal cold of my unheated, stone floored house in Moorside. I tidied up a bit of the kitchen, had a chicken dinner, paid my TV licence fee then ordered some Christmas presents online. I was going to do some typing but just watched bike and comedy clips then printed out some book pages. Bed asap. 10.02pm.

Monday 4th December 2023

“I’ll just pop out to Consett on the free bus to post some books. I’ll be back home on the next one in an hour.” Oh no you won’t, Stevie. Five to two, I left the house. Ten to bastard five when I got back. The two o’clock bus came at half past. And I needed to go to the bank then missed the ten past three bus back coz the queue in the post office took ages. Twenty minutes to get served. And the 20 to 4 bus wasn't due till four o’clock, so I thought I’d go in the library. Picked up a young adult novel. Went back out for the four o’clock. It came at 25 past. By the time I’d reached Moorside and walked back to the house, it was ten to five. Uploaded Poetry Jam pix and an event stub tonight. I’m back at Waddy tomorrow for my first workshop there since 24th October. Six weeks ago. Oh well, soon be Christmas. 10.15pm.

Tuesday 5th December 2023

Canny day at Waddy. Got there at ten. Prepped my session for today and sorted out papers for tomorrow. First part this afternoon was catch up and some warm-ups that I’ll use in Newcastle. Finish the sentence. Absurd words. 26 characters in a jar. Hero poem. I Am poem. Managed to cram all that into 45 minutes. Then did some Tricubes, discussed doing a full writing marathon next week. Made some business cards. The bus home was less than sweet. Some bloke on the phone to someone complaining about having to go to Durham and the shop being shut when he got there. Curry, rice, naan for tea. Watched some bike clips. Did an email to college and finances for Nov-Mid December. I’m freezing and hope I sleep okay. Should’ve been in bed a bit sooner, but should be okay in the morning. 10.17pm.

Wednesday 6th December 2023

Good session at the Cheryl Trust Centre this afternoon. I got to the venue at midday. Took me about half an hour to lay the table. It looked pretty good. 12 people came. Some very enthusiastic people. Good to know that I can still engage the younger set. I did about fifty minutes. The organisers were chuffed. After the session I dropped off all my stuff at Jen’s then went back into Newcastle to buy some Xmas presents. I got a wearable for Jenni, and book for Mam. Alwyn Bathan has made some ace Poetry Jam bunting with cloth letters and gold plating. I was totally blown away by it. A lot of handmade loveliness went into it. I’m going to put it up at Waddy tomorrow night. 10.13pm.

Thursday 7th December 2023

Today was quite stressful. I kept interrupting my marathon writing prep with online admin. By half two I was done and ready to leave for Durham. Dave and Helen gave me a hand at Waddy with the banner that Alwyn Bathan made for us. Unfortunately, she couldn’t attend tonight. We had a fantastic turnout. Wall to wall. Annie Moir stood in for Bridget Gallagher. Get well soon. Jeff Price did a great set about aging and father-son relationships. Jane Burn was on top form and sold a clutch of books. She gifted some mint handmade dolls to me and Jenni. Unfortunately, Jenni didn’t finish work until late so was unable to attend. Open floor was ace. Aaron, Harry, Steve and Pauline May, some new people Rach and partner, Mike Treasure... The bus back was great. Despite the atrocious flooding near Lanchester. Home by eleven. 11.55pm.


Friday 8th December 2023

Got through eight rounds of writing and reading at the Bullion Hall  half marathon and everyone produced some good stuff. I left some sweets and biscuits and cards for the office, then went to Heron foods, bought a box of chicken drumsticks, and ate the lot in the time it took to walk down to the bus stand. The journey to Gateshead was okay but noisy. Went to Tesco with Jenni. Need a big sleep before braving Newcastle shops over the weekend. 11.01pm.

Saturday 9th December 2023

Think I’ve got most of what I need but don’t know how I’m going to get it all home tomorrow. Me and Jenni ate curry tonight, watched Strictly and The Voice. Haven’t read or typed anything today. Device off now. Watching another Corrie then off to bed. Big week ahead for me. 10.58pm.


Sunday 10th December 2023

Went to Gateshead for gift tags and blackcurrant squash while Jenni was at band practice. I pulled out most of this year’s pamphlets but didn’t read much. Hope I don’t repeat myself in the final one of the year. Watched back-to-back episodes of Classic Corrie then an audience with Kylie. Got the X45 bus back to Consett. Walked with four bags of shopping to Moorside. 11.45pm.


Monday 11th December 2023

Got a long-sleeved thermal top in Barry’s Bargain Superstore for three quid. I got twenty-six writing prompts together for tomorrow’s writing marathon. Cut pages to size for Hometown Slog. It’s minus one now, according to online weather site. Should’ve been in bed an hour ago. 10.55pm


Tuesday 12th December 2023

In Waddy by half nine. Marathon set up. Then half an hour to myself. The session went well. Four hours of writing and readbacks. Got through 18 of the 26 prompts. I did two pieces for a couple of them so came up with 20. Got home about half five. Read a Julia Eff interview. Wrote a letter to Tony Gadd. Watched a Creeper interview. 10.10pm.


Wednesday 13th December 2023

Up at quarter to six to do morning pages. Then out to Consett to attempt a Hometown Slog – 100 pages of A5 freewriting before allowing yourself to return home. I did it but don’t have much I can use. So the final book of the year will have to be collected fragments similar to September Scrapbook. It might be typeset. It might be handwritten. I spent a bit of time in Consett bus station, then three hours in the library, then eight hours in the Company Row (Wetherspoons). Got home at ten. Right hand aching. 11.20pm.


Thursday 14th December 2023

Read the first fifty pages of Hometown Slog. Pleasantly surprised to find a fair number of passages quite salvageable. Basically, morning pages on steroids. Got the rest of the shopping this afternoon bar one or two items. Chatted to nephew Kyle for a while and gleaned a few last-minute gift ideas. Intended to read second half of slog tonight but fell asleep. Bacon sandwich. 9.10pm.

Friday 15th December 2023

Out at half eight for a two-hour-plus journey to Washington for the final writing half marathon of 2023. It went well. Seven people joined me. The table was full. Three people stayed back past usual finishing time to complete all the prompts. Then, after goodbyes, I tidied up and went to Durham. Browsed in Waterstones for a while then went to the library. I got a book of inappropriate stories for young people from the teenage section. It reminded me of stuff I wrote this afternoon. Then I went to the Indian restaurant and met Waddy staff. Had a huge chicken jalfrezi with rice, naan and chips. Took ages to get through it all. Then a quick drink in a nearby pub. X15 bus home by eleven. I have so much work to get through in just over a fortnight. Hope I can pull a pamphlet together. 11.41pm.


Saturday 16th December 2023

Made up a new blank notebook for morning pages then switched to wrapping Christmas presents for most of the day. Out this evening for final items. Got a lift back off a neighbour. Spent more than intended this year. In need of a big lie in tomorrow. Must do some booklet work. 11.52pm.


Sunday 17th December 2023

Read through everything from this month and decided the final pamphlet should just be made from the writing half/marathons. I’ve typed up one and a half notebooks. Eaten sausage rolls and cheese and onion toasties. 11.44pm.


Monday 18th December 2023

Got all the activities sorted for the next two Waddy workshops. Keyed in most of the pieces from recent half/marathons and will complete a first draft of the pamphlet by tomorrow evening. It’s basically a companion to September Scrapbook and will be about 32 pages, maybe 28… Good Spotify playlist of Classic Rock this evening. Cleaned the bathroom sink and windowsill. 10.55pm.


Tuesday 19th December 2023

Bag pack, presents sorted, then out on the ten o’clock bus to Waddington Street Centre. Photocopied all my stuff and did the session. We had a visitor so I rehashed some previous exercises before going into ‘The Big Why’ and ‘I Shall Paint My Nails Red’. I got home just after five. Had a chicken dinner then keyed in the rest of the marathon pieces. I’ve made a 32-page printout. It needs some heavy edits. But it should be okay by the end of the month. 11.55pm.


Wednesday 20th December 2023

Bed by two this morning. Up around seven. More work on the new pamphlet but very tired. Bought some long johns this afternoon. Hope medium fit okay. Nephew Kyle says his XXL split after one wear. Slept on the bus to Newcastle. Got a sandwich then spent an hour in HMV. Hellraiser (2022) is only £4.99 on DVD. I met Jenni at The Bridge for excellent Silly Billies comedy show. Great stuff from Zoe. I got roped into chasing the headliner around the room as if trying to swat a fly then thrashed her onstage with a cardboard tube. Hot chocolate before bed. 11.22pm.


Thursday 21st December 2023

Got into a bit of a panic about the final pamphlet. Forty pieces is too much. I did a word count and it’s over twice the length of ‘Queasy, Uneasy’ and almost the same length as ‘So Much for the Sunshine’ from over a decade ago. I’ve turned some of the prose vignettes into poems but ditched a lot that won’t work as verse. I’ve tried to stick to the chronological order of original compositions but needed to move a few pieces to accommodate poems requiring double-page spreads. Still need a cover design. Won’t be printed till next week. I need an early night coz it was half five when I got up this morning. I need to be up early tomorrow for family Christmas stuff. Hope to get proofreading sorted as soon as possible. OK. 10.36pm.

Friday 22nd December 2023

Put tags on gifts and got a lift off Ernie to my sister’s house. Haven’t seen her for over three years. Mam was there. We talked about aging, health, and craft work. This afternoon I tweaked a bit more of the pamphlet. This evening, I tried to come up with a title but the only thing that seems to work is the literal ‘Final’ so that’s what it is. And it now has a very colourful cover. I’ve gone over the contents a few times. Just margins to sort. I’ll take it easy over the weekend. I had a big chicken dinner tonight. 11.55pm.


Saturday 23rd December 2023

Up quite early, wrapped a few more things for Jenni and did tags then switched to the FINAL booklet. Tweaked the cover, made up a proof copy with reset margins. Then had another big chicken dinner. Delivered some cards then went for the bus. Three hours later, and much frustration, I arrived in Bensham. Pizza and chips for supper and The Voice on TV. Quite sleepy but still up after eleven. 11.17pm.

Sunday 24th December 2023

Up quite early. Me and Jenni went into Gateshead for final bits and pieces. We had festive bakes and hot chocolates in Greggs then back to the attic to tidy up for the big day. Visited Jen’s mam and John – listened to Alice Cooper and Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Lots of sweets and little drinks. Knackered. 9.37pm.


Monday 25th December 2023

Bit of a lie in. Waited an hour before opening presents. Got lots of lovely things. Chuffed with the notebooks. And goth stuff, including a Wednesday Addams zip-up hoodie. Free Your Mind hardback. Jenni got a big Tiger hoodie and some snuggles. She liked her books. We listened to BBC Radio 2 shows. One played Nellie the Elephant. Jenni played The Toy Dolls version, so we ended up listening to about ten more of their songs. We had a huge dinner and watched Corrie, Pottery Throwdown and The Piano at Christmas. Spoke to Mam and Ernie on the phone. Enjoyed all my food. Got lots of hot chocolate and Reese’s peanut butter stuff. It’s been a canny day. 10.13pm.


Tuesday 26th December 2023

Was tempted by 160gsm coloured stock in Rymans this afternoon for the FINAL endpapers. Bought Hellraiser (2022) in HMV. Tempted by Candyman remake but will wait awhile. Waterstones was busy. I read a couple of Richard Brautigan short stories but didn’t make a purchase. Proofed my pamphlet again at a table by the window. I checked out music biographies and horror books. Tempted by Robert Aickman stories but have enough to read. Bought apple and blackcurrant squash at Tesco then back to the attic for hot chicken and apple sauce sandwiches. Read some FREE YOUR MIND. Jenni is at work. 10.40pm.


Wednesday 27th December 2023

Today has been shit. Due to smoke coming from the engine through the back seats of the bus at Rowlands Gill, it was taken out of service so people were sat freezing for an hour waiting for a replacement that didn’t arrive. Then the one that did come was super slow all the way to Consett due to picking up all the people waiting for the previous two. I really needed the toilet and had to alight a stop early to avoid wetting myself. I had to use a bus shelter then walk through a gale in the rain to find that Boyes has sold out of the photographic card I used for pamphlet covers and nowhere else in Consett has any. I spent the evening editing brand names out of poems, so I don’t get sued. I have more proofreading to do but covers can be printed tomorrow coz Boyes in Chester-le-Street has the required card. Wish it would stop fucking raining. 11.45pm.


Thursday 28th December 2023

Overwork and under sleep. Still tinkering with text at half twelve and up to do morning pages at half five. Then an in-bed proofread. Another printout. Then a bus-ride proofread. Pamphlet cover printed this morning at Waddy. Looks pretty good. Tweaked pages again this evening. Wrote a letter to a Bullion Hall writer and printed out what I hope is the final proof. My printer isn’t great at present – dodgy toner cartridge or just cold weather? I’ve got a grinding headache due to lack of sleep. Off to bed soon. I watched Alan Moore perform his Old Gangsters Never Die poem from his BBC Maestro course. I will have a few days of rest soon. I hope to be done after tomorrow until Wednesday. Going to get a bite to eat then get my head down. 10.44pm.


Friday 29th December 2023

That’s a big weight off. I’m so chuffed to pull my FINAL pamphlet together and get copies out the door this afternoon. I think the cover, despite being just words on a coloured background, looks ace. Some of the contents wouldn’t look out of place in Laughter to Split Glass. I had hassles with the laser printer mucking up, but it started to behave itself once warmed up. I had a big chicken curry with rice and naan for tea. I did some online publicity for FINAL and am pleased with the initial response. I reckon I’ll do about fifty copies of this pamphlet and push it at gigs. But I’m going to take a big break for a few days now. Then all the loose ends. Invoices to chase up. Self-assessment tax return. More lesson plans. Lots of research reading. Then pulling stuff together for the next ‘proper’ book which will involve placing poems with some reputable magazines. OK. 10.58pm.


Saturday 30th December 2023

Did morning pages very slowly coz my wrist was aching. Got a bacon sandwich then started making a few more pamphlets for despatch. This month has been a big ask. Bus to Gateshead delayed due to rain leakage in driver’s cab. Had a nice time at Jen’s. We watched The Voice then Queen and Adam Lambert. 11.27pm.


Sunday 31st December 2023

Me and Jenni got all the bargains. Rum flavoured mince pies 50p a box. Nine quid stollen reduced to 90p. Christmas puddings for 20p – still fine till 2025. We watched a tiger documentary and the latest Corrie. We had curry with rice, naan and chips. And lots of laughs. Very sleepy. 10.06pm.

FINAL is available HERE

NOVEMBER

Sunday 1st November 2023

Haven't been outside today. Copied up some stuff from last month. Slept a lot. Not a great start to the new month. Very cold. Feet are numb. I need an extra layer of clothing. Good to get a message from Stephen Clark. We would have met up, but he has decorating to do. Tonight, me and Jenni saw the third and fourth episodes of the new Frasier series, back after nearly thirty years. I've eaten four chocolate macaroons. Had a veggie burger with chips. And a tin of lenty-bacon soup with three bread buns, plus cheese on toast. I'm going to drink my hot chocolate then go to bed. I did a little bit of online zine stuff for James Whitman of King Ink. OK. 11.35pm.


Thursday 2nd November 2023

Started getting ready to go to Poetry Jam at nine this morning. I was too slow to go for the half ten bus so I went for the half eleven but it didn't turn up. I got a Metro into Newcastle and the 12.45pm train to Durham. I spent much of the afternoon keying in notes. Low turnout for Poetry Jam. Only eleven of us, including Fergus. Smallest gathering since restarting last year after covid restrictions. All the guests were ace. Great to see Helen Ivory and Martin Figura. Steve May did an ace set too. The open floor people were great: Aaron Wright, Malcolm Barnes, Pauline May, Chris Short, Mel McEvoy, Janice. The train back was late. Most were cancelled. I was lucky to get back to Newcastle. A lad onboard said GNE bus drivers intend to strike beyond December. 11.52pm.


Friday 3rd November 2023

Canny day. Was good to have all my prep sorted well in advance and plenty of time to just get dressed, fed, and out for a lift into Washington with Alwyn Bathan. The writing session went well. Three nouns. Friendly Folks and Foul. Then Dark House into five senses example. Then Armitage Not the Furniture Game. Personal word definitions. Then furniture-game-influenced character sketch poems and discussion about a group pamphlet. I went into Newcastle for a couple of hours. Looked at eight grand full suspension mountain bikes in Start Cycles. Then off to the bank, then HMV. I checked out expensive vinyl and cheap paperbacks. Steve Jones memoir and Charles Bukowski Hollywood novel. Then into Waterstones. Checked out poetry. Then horror in the basement. Me and Jenni went out for supplies at Tesco. Then home for chicken wraps and bits of Corrie. Bed soon. OK. 10.40pm.


Saturday 4th November 2023

Nice lie in. Doom scrolled and had breakfast then me and Jenni went down to Bensham Grove craft fair. Bought a couple of Xmas presents. This afternoon we watched a Sinead O'Connor documentary. Then Saturday gameshows and The Voice. Then a couple of episodes of Still Game. Had hot chocolate and biscuits. Canny day. 11.02pm.


Sunday 5th November 2023

Me and Jenni had an ace day in Durham at Gala Theatre for the Bright Ideas gathering. About ten or eleven guest speakers. Topics included Generation wars, Indy banking, cake baking and engineering, Rubik's Cubes for life, Emotional shutdown, Basque music and Lumiere logistics. Free food. We got the train back to Newcastle, watched four episodes of Breeders. Very, very funny. 10.27pm.


Monday 6th November 2023

First uphill ride for a while. Left Jen's place at half ten. Took me two hours to get to Consett. I went via Watergate Forest Park. Causey Inn and the edge of Beamish. This afternoon I calculated finances for the month. I watched a bit of Tony Robinson's God's and Monster's documentaries about death, demons, religion and superstition. Good stuff. Staking people after death, excavations, digging up a dead pig after three weeks to see how the escaping gases could make you think it was still alive. Listened to a bit of Creeper and responded to Alwyn Bathan’s prose piece. I'll read it again later, offer more feedback. Oh, and the buses are off for longer. 11.27pm.


Tuesday 7th November 2023

Another long day. Too easily distracted at the computer. But I've got my journals keyed in. I don't remember much else to be honest... I wrote some more notes to Alwyn about her story. I've watched quite a few reels on Facebook - comedy, bikes, music clips. I listened to a mid-eighties Lou Reed gig. And South of Salem. It's been nice and bright outside, but I didn't get any further than the wheelie bin. My 60p out of date mince pie didn't harm me. Chuffed I bought it yesterday. Tomorrow I'll need to buy more food. Did some online promo for 'Queasy, Uneasy'. Don't know what the next pamphlet will consist of but it's going to be a struggle. 11.17pm.


Wednesday 8th November 2023

Long day. I've got my workshop ideas sorted for Friday. I won't need to use all of them. But it's good to have options. I listened to a few Oasis songs, read some short fiction. Only went outside to buy Ribena, soup, and biscuits. I cooked potatoes in the George Foreman grill. I'm running low on microwave steam bags. I haven't shaved for days. I'm freezing. Well, my feet are. I'm chuffed to find some rarely used workshop stuff in the old folders and will bring it out in the new year. I've been booked by Hexham Mind to do workshops quarterly next year. Great stuff. Hope weather is okay to bike to Bensham tomorrow. OK.10.50pm.


Thursday 9th November 2023

The bus strike is a fucking pain, and the public is stuck with it. No motorist is going to give up personal transport when being held to ransom by a corporation is the only alternative. I was offered a gig in Blackhill for next year. Thanks to Jenni for the laughs. Enjoyed my bike ride and episode of Breeders. 9.38pm.


Friday 10th November 2023

Long day. Left the house at ten, had to check the train to Chester-le-Street was still running coz a lot were cancelled. I spoke to a bus driver who said the Arriva X12 buses were running half an hour late. Luckily, my train wasn't cancelled. I had fish and chips at Bullion Hall then set up for the workshop. It went well. Six people in. We did Take Three Nouns, Friendly Folks and Foul, hero poems. Then Priorities/Needs, which took us right up to four o'clock. Martin Gollan kindly gave me a lift back to Gateshead. Me and Jenni went to Sunderland to see Every Part of Me is Falling Apart. It was good but I missed a lot of it. Too tired. We were back on the Metro by 20 past nine, then off to Tesco. Back in the attic by half ten. Done. 11.02pm.


Saturday 11th November 2023

Me and Jenni were up super early to get ready and out for the bus to Whitley Bay for writer Sandy Chadwin's funeral. The Crem was packed. The eulogy was a beautiful send off. His family and friends did him proud. We heard some of Sandy's words too. This evening me and Jenni watched Strictly and The Voice and now need an early turn in as we are both rather sleepy.10.16pm.


Sunday 12th November 2023

I rode back from Jen's in under two hours (Half an hour quicker than I rode there on Thursday) and I didn't put a foot down from setting off in Bensham all the way to my own front door. I had a sausage and veg dinner. I read two Roger Robinson books on creativity and poetry. I listened to Punks Not Dead by the Exploited. Watched a lot of bike clips on Facebook reels. It’s really cold tonight. Bed soon. 9.38pm.


Monday 13th November 2023

Braved the wet to go to Consett for supplies. I waited for the Weardale bus, but a woman coming out of Moorside pharmacy offered me a lift. This afternoon I got distracted by all the bus hassle online. Tonight, I watched two runs of The Cult’s ‘8323’ Death Cult set. Los Angeles and Belfast. They were brilliant. 83rd Dream, God’s Zoo, Brothers Grimm, Flower in the Dust; some Cult classics: Spirit Walker, Rain, Hollow Man; they played Moya (Southern Death Cult) and ended with She Sells Sanctuary. If they were playing Newcastle later on the tour, I’d have tried to get a ticket. Duffy’s guitar playing was outstanding and the rest of the band are ace. Astbury still omits vocal phrases all over the place, but on better form than I’ve heard him for a long time. 10.55pm.


Tuesday 14th November 2023

Got word back on the Blyth library gig/talk. It’s going to be 10.30am on Monday 8th January 2024. I watched the Sex Pistols 2007 Brixton Academy gig again tonight. John mucks up on EMI and forgets words elsewhere but the band are super tight. The 5000-plus audience totally into it. I wish I’d known they were playing that year; I’d have tried to get a ticket. Coulda-shoulda-woulda… Looking forward to a year without self-imposed deadlines. Need a title for November’s pamphlet. 10.05pm.


Wednesday 15th November 2023

Tiring day. Don’t really feel as though I got much done. The final Poetry Jam event of the year is posted on Facebook. Keyed in more stuff for the Penultimate pamphlet of 2023. I’m tempted to just call it Penultimate, actually. I’ve been a bit under the weather for a few days. Hope I’m okay to go to Jen’s tomorrow. She assumed I’d be there for the whole weekend. Tonight, I listened to a couple of albums by rock band Fury. We are going to see them at Trillians tomorrow. I saw them twice last year… I’ve not read a paperback for ages. The bus strike is ongoing and unlikely to be over before December. 10.04pm.


Thursday 16th November 2023

Up early so I could get my typing done and out for the Weardale bus to Consett. Quick pitstop in Barry’s Bargains for some iced mince pies, peanuts and fudge bars. First time on a Go North East bus for a weeks: limited 6-hour service X45 to Newcastle. Spent a few hours browsing and getting Xmas ideas. I found a nice Joker hoodie I thought Jenni might like. She wore it for the Crowley/Fury gig tonight. Great to see both bands. Jenni was impressed by Crowley. Fury put on a great show. They have loads of classic seventies/eighties-style riffs. Me ad Jenni had our own little booth in the corner with couches and a viewing platform at the end of the bar. Ace gig. We walked back to Bensham and were in the attic by eleven. 11.16pm.

Friday 17th November 2023

Jen was up for work at half six. I stayed in bed most of the morning. Keyed in pages, then did some tidying up for Jen till about half four then fell asleep. Jenni got us big pizza and chips for tea. We watched House of Games. I’ve been coughing a lot more today than yesterday. Doom scrolled a load of the usual negative shit that doesn’t leave you feeling great. Bed soon. But maybe a bit more pizza first. Maybe another hot drink. 9.34pm.


Saturday 18th November 2023

Big lie in. Slept okay. But my cough is pretty bad. I keyed in some pages. Me and Jenni had the rest of the pizza for breakfast. Watched lots of vintage and current Corrie. Then Strictly and The Voice. Another hot drink then back to bed. 10.10pm.


Sunday 19th December 2023

Felt fine for a few hours then bad chest again. Me and Jenni went to see Tish at Tyneside Cinema. Great documentary film about 70s/80s photographer from Elswick, Newcastle. Probably the best thing I’ve seen for a long while. Tonight, we caught up on Corrie and watched a few more episodes of Breeders. Great comedy. Martin freeman is ace. As is Alun Armstrong. Curry, biscuits. Bed soon. 9.30pm.


Monday 20th November 2023

Good ride home on the bus this morning. Letter from HMRC says I owe them £125. Could be worse; could be a hundred and twenty-five thousand. Got up to date on morning pages type-ups and will begin edits tomorrow for the next pamphlet. 11.37pm.


Tuesday 21st November 2023

Starting to get a bit uncomfortable of an evening at home now. Chilly, cold feet, snotty beak. I got a first edit on all the material so far for the November booklet. No title comes to mind. There’s stuff about the bus strike, stuff about comedown from gigs and workshops, Memories of starting out as a facilitator to current day. Some bizarre and mundane dreams. Notes on events attended, including Bright Ideas and Fury. Notes on the Tish documentary, ageing gripes, and spontaneous blues riffs. It should be pretty good. I listened to South of Salem, PIL, Stray Cats, The Cramps, Bastette and Michael Monroe. Mostly eating porridge, bacon sandwiches and chocolate digestives. 11.07pm.


Wednesday 22nd November 2023

Still over a week to go on the November pamphlet. Still without title or cover design. I’ll read a printout and see if any ideas jump up at me. I’ve just kicked over a cup of blackcurrant squash onto the grubby beige carpet. I’m tired. I’ve turned off the big computer. Hot water bottle, hot drink, some light reading in bed. 9.34pm.


Thursday 23rd November 2023

Slept all the way through the night without a coughing fit. This afternoon I designed the cover for the pamphlet which will be called Penultimate. This evening I uploaded the Poetry Jam stuff then watched a punk documentary. Forgot to shave. I’m out tomorrow and need to be up early to get to Consett then Newcastle then Durham. It’s going to be a long day. 10.15pm.

Friday 24th November 2023

Today was good. Made it to Waddy quicker via Tow Law and Crook than if I’d walked into Consett for the X45 to Newcastle and train to Durham. Big thanks to Peter for printing the Penultimate covers. The X12 Arriva bus was on time to Newcastle this afternoon. Got a front row seat at the John Robb ‘Art of Darkness: History of Goth’ book talk and asked him about The Cult. He signed my copy of the book. It’s a hefty comprehensive tome and will take more than a month to read. Ate chicken drumsticks in the attic. Online chat to Jenni who is staying in York. Bed soon. 10.44pm.


Saturday 25th November 2023

Nice lie in and write up of John Robb book talk in morning pages. Then out for six hours, including an hour in Details cutting A1 sheets down to A4 to make endpapers for the pamphlet. Back to the attic with a few prezzies before meeting Jen at Gateshead Central bar for the really funny Spontaneous Wrecks early Xmas improv show. Thanks to Jon Farthing and Co for complimentary tickets. 10.55pm.


Sunday 26th November 2023

Bit of a lie in. Jenni went out to a band rehearsal. I prepped a workshop for next Friday and keyed in pages for Penultimate. Me and Jenni went for supplies this afternoon. We watched Corrie and The Voice tonight. Ate veggie burgers and chips. The heating was on for six hours. 10.08pm.


Monday 27th November 2023

Walked into Newcastle to retrieve my battered stage copy of Laughter to Split Glass which I left in Details on Saturday afternoon. Then bus to Consett was 20 mins late. Returned a library book, bought supplies including A4 paper to run off copies of Penultimate. I didn’t get started on edits until two o’clock coz the college requested info on how the bus strike has impacted me and the learners. I put in a full nine hours at the computer, editing text for the pamphlet. I need to whittle a few things down so I can add more stuff from the remaining days of this month. I read online that the bus strike might be over by Saturday if the drivers agree to latest pay deal. Fingers crossed. House is freezing. Feet are numb. 11.35pm.


Tuesday 28th November 2023

Another full day on the pamphlet. It’s a bit awkward coz I’m two entries from the finish but I haven’t written them yet and I don’t want the page count to exceed 52 or it won’t staple properly. And I don’t want to sew with needle and thread coz the cover will need to be glued to the endpaper, so I’m having to edit out bits and pieces all over the place to reduce the word count. I’ve got one and a half pages. I’ll see what comes out of the pen before breakfast tomorrow. Add what’s usable, then cut back the previously typed material. I made a test copy and did a full proofread today. I might cut some stuff about the bus strike. Temperature close to zero. My feet are numb, but the hot water bottle has helped my hands. Breathing is a bit sketchy but doing alright. Bed now. 10.45pm.


Wednesday 29th November 2023

Fifteen-and-a-half-hour day working on Penultimate. I’ve proofed it three times. I’ve got the margins sorted, so the covers won’t be a problem when I come to trimming. I must be an idiot trying to complete a book that requires text to be composed and added on the day of publication. I wanted to do one more full-on journal type volume with entries from every day of November, so this thing isn’t ready till I do my morning pages tomorrow. I’ll need to be up early to get them done, typed, and pruned to fit the limited remaining space. 52 pages max plus endpaper and cover. I didn’t finish the final proofread and tweak till half ten this evening. I wanted to have copies printed out with just a couple of pages to add tomorrow but the laser printer is noisy and I’m a considerate neighbour. 11.06pm.


Thursday 30th November 2023

Awake from about four o’clock this morning. I did the final writing for Penultimate before seven. Took an hour to edit. I made seven copies of the booklet in about 75 minutes. Quick backpack and dinner then walk into Consett. Got the last scheduled X45 of the day to Gateshead. I sent out a copy of the pamphlet to Ann Porro and dropped into Central Library with one for Mark Speeding. Then I went into town for supplies. Got bleached on by snow. Did some washing-up back at the attic. Had tomato soup with sausage rolls. Jen got home around half six. We listened to lots of difficult-to-sing songs: We Didn’t Start the Fire, It’s the End of the World As We Know It, Big Bang Theory… I’m hammered and will be in bed soon coz I’ve got a workshop tomorrow. Need some hot chocolate and another sausage roll. 9.20pm.

BUY PENULTIMATE HERE  

Sunday 1st October 2023

I emptied all the wastepaper baskets, except for the one in my bedroom. I made a purple morning pages book. I had a big pie and veg dinner. I watched a werewolf film called Ginger Snaps but fell asleep. It’s getting chilly in the house again. I’ve eaten lots of nuts. Read some very short John Mingay poems and Wayne Allen Sallee stuff. 11.36pm.


Monday 2nd October 2023

Made up more copies of September Scrapbook. Posted some out. Uploaded stills from last month’s Poetry Jam clips and did more publicity. I downloaded some Jam files to USB stick for Waddington Street Centre. And started thinking about the next project. I didn’t get to see a horror film tonight. I listened to songs by South of Salem and Bastette. I forgot to wash some shorts. I’m going to have to splash out on some new batteries for the pocket camcorder. OK. 11.13pm.


Tuesday 3rd October 2023

Washed a lot of bike clothes. Hung some out the landing window to dry in the breeze coz I don’t have a washing line. Listened to South of Salem’s album ‘The Sinner Takes it All’ on repeat. I can still only recall a few songs. I tried to find the cycle route from Gateshead to Washington online. I listened to Bastette again today, my favourite female vocalist at present. I am tired. My back still aches. No exercise. But I’ll be out later tomorrow afternoon to get to Jen’s. 11.35pm.


Wednesday 4th October 2023

Walked into Consett. Very quiet. No buses for folk to get about. I bought new rechargeable batteries for the pocket camcorder. And discovered a small deposit from New College Durham in my bank account. Had another payment from Bolden Library so I’ll be able to survive another week. I got a new lesson plan together for Friday. Then rode down the cycle path to Jen’s place. I ate cheese and cucumber sandwiches. A banana and a bakewell tart. We watched Corrie then a Kurt Vonnegut documentary. He seems quite funny but writes about dystopia. I’ve skinned a finger washing socks. My back is a bit better. I am tired and almost ready for bed. 10.57pm


Thursday 5th October 2023

Big frustrations over travel to Waddy. I got stuff copied for tomorrow. I did some prep for the gig. I’ve written a few pages of ‘horror’ stuff for the next little pamphlet. Poetry Jam was ace. All the guests brought A-games. Juli Watson did a great poem about Nick Cave playing in an empty Alexandra Palace during lockdown. Steve Lancaster included some animal poems and one about a gibbet. Tabitha did ace pieces about gentle blokes, online abuse, army doctors in Syria and scientific uncertainty. I performed ‘Joshua’s Poem’ and ‘Chocolate Onion’. Open floor readings included giants and vegans, fallen fruit and growing snow, overcoming demonic possession, family photographs, thoughts of tomorrow and a potted history of Boris Johnson. Lots of good stuff. Thanks to everyone there. Alwyn Bathan kindly gave me a lift to Gateshead. Back in the attic by half ten. Ate custard doughnuts, cheese sandwiches, peanuts and Edinburgh candy rock. Got a bit of a headache. Now sitting up with Jenni watching an episode of Cracker – A Lemming Will Fall. Still a few more things to sort out for the workshop tomorrow. 11.56pm.


Friday 6th October 2023

Only five hours sleep. Restructured a bit of my workshop. It went well. A2Z Chain Stories. He said, she said. Fesshole. Gaffney Sawn Off Tales, 55-fiction, beginning -middle-end. The Washington Writers were on good form as usual. Many thanks to Alwyn for the lift back to Bensham. Me and Jenni had spicy beanburgers, watched painter Bob Ross documentary and vintage Coronation Street. Read a few Roger McGough poems from his latest collection. And a tiny bit of Kurt Vonnegut. 10.20pm.


Saturday 7th October 2023

Went into Newcastle for a few hours. I looked at poetry books in Central Library, checked out zines at Travelling Man and got 4 comics for 2 quid from Forbidden Planet. Back in the attic, me and Jenni watched Strictly Come Dancing and The Wheel and a channel five magazine programme about 1979 – with clips of Sid Vicious, Viz and… Thatcher! It’s getting grim. 10.25pm.


Sunday 8th October 2023

Read some Kurt Vonnegut this morning. I had winter vegetable soup at dinner time. Back in Moorside. I read up on noir fiction, had bacon and mushroom buns and dark chocolate digestives. Slept for a good while this evening. Lots of work to do this week; a lot of clobber to sort out, brought home from Jen’s in the wheelie case. 11.01pm.


Monday 9th October 2023

I wrote a couple of spooky pieces for the next little pamphlet. But it seems a bit pathetic given the state of things going on in the real world at present. Someone is making a shedload of money from all the death and destruction. The backers of war don’t give a shit about civilian casualties. So long as arms consignments are bought and shipped. Psychopaths. The lot of them. Anyway, I got my little session sorted for tomorrow at Waddy and checked out some crime books available at Consett library. I will try to pick up one or two before the weekend. I have been at the computer all day eating too many chocolate biscuits. I will try to get by on a lot less food over the next couple of days. 10.54pm.


Tuesday 10th October 2023

Out early to get sorted for the session at Waddy. Lots of photocopies. I spent a bit of time downstairs in the Centre for the launch of SCHIZOPHONICS - JIGZLE music CD by a couple of the members. Our workshop went well. A repeat of the flash fiction stuff I did with Washington Writers last week. I’ll be doing it again next week in Chester le Street. I got home a bit later than expected coz I spent a fair bit of time after the session getting all my papers in order. I was chuffed to sell a copy of Tiny Tales today. I hope to pull off another little volume before Halloween. An offer of work came in from Helix Arts today. Hopefully I’ll be able to meet the brief. Tonight, I was too tired to do anything. Listened to Bastette briefly. Doom scrolled and that was about it really. Soon off to bed. 10.55pm.


Wednesday 11th October 2023

So the world is turning to shit and I’m trying to keep out of it. I got the grass cut this afternoon and keyed in my little Halloween extracts. Actually, they aren’t Halloween at all – there aren’t any ghosts and ghoulies and spider webs and pumpkins – my stuff is a bit darker. I’m hoping things work out okay for me in the coming days. I tried hand-inking some silver text on black paper but a run of pamphlets like that would take a week or two and wouldn’t be cost effective. I think I’ll get an early night and hope something good happens tomorrow. Anyway, I’ve had enough for today and want to go to bed asap. 10.15pm.


Thursday 12th October 2023

No work done except an invoice and two pieces of short prose in morning pages. My head is splitting. Feels like a migraine coming on. I’m tired, cold and just want to be in bed and hope tomorrow is better. Suppose I should try to get some porridge inside me in the next ten minutes. But if I don’t lie down soon, I’m going to puke. 10.12pm.


Friday 13th October 2023

Awake at four. Far too early. Wrote a canny little bit of dark stuff in morning pages. I had a bacon and mushroom sandwich for breakfast and prepared for the workshop. I got to Consett half an hour early and I stood in the library for a while but didn’t read much. I ate sausage rolls on the bus to Chester le Street. People arrived for the workshop bang on two o’clock. I repeated the session done twice last week. It went well. I got the bus to Gateshead and ate more sausage rolls. Me and Jenni watched a rather lousy Top of the Pops. And the dramatic climax to a long-running Corrie storyline: Stephen, the killer, triple bill. Ate marmalade on toast. Had a lovely time. I’m a bit chilly now. Watching the Graham Norton Show. Jenni is playing a computer game. 11.00pm.


Saturday 14th October 2023

Absolutely freezing in bed last night. But at least the rain has stopped. I sat and chatted to Jenni about work then went into Gateshead for supplies. Ravioli on toast for dinner. Biked home along the Derwent Walk – two hours. Bacon sandwiches for tea. Been online all evening. Watched Ali Clarkson and Jeff Lenosky bike videos. Read stuff about the war. Life is fucked. 11.20pm.


Sunday 15th October 2023

Long day copying and transferring invoices, checking bank statements, making files of promo material, scanning business plans. I’ve been working since nine o’clock this morning. Only finished about quarter to eleven, with about an hour off for reading and doom scrolling. And now I need to knock up a new morning pages book. 11.40pm.


Monday 16th October 2023

Awake at half four, lay awake till seven. Wrote a rather nasty piece in morning pages then had a bacon and mushroom bun for breakfast. I’ve been concerned about my future as a creative writing facilitator, but I think things are going to be okay. I did the Poetry Jam event page this afternoon. Prepped for workshops. Finished at eleven. It’s two degrees now. I have two fleeces on. I hope the weather is okay on tomorrow so I can ride to Jen’s without too much hassle. 11.45pm.


Tuesday 17th October 2023

I made up a few copies of Tiny Takes this morning. They take a long time. Ride to Jen’s this afternoon took a lot longer than it used to. Showered then fell asleep. Then went out for supplies at Tesco. Me and Jenni watched the new Frasier. It’s canny but only Kelsey Grammer from the original series. Nick Lyndhurst plays his pal from Oxford Uni. Watched Coronation Street. Peter has been arrested for Stephen’s murder. Then we watched a couple of episodes of Still Game. 10.50pm.


Wednesday 18th October 2023

Ready to go to Hexham by about quarter past nine. A lot warmer today than yesterday. I had to take my coat off when walking into Newcastle. I reread September Scrapbook on the train. I really like it and think I’ll keep it in print. Enjoyed setting up at Hexham Abbey. Took pix and made a Facebook post. Eight people including me at the workshop: Finish the sentence, I remember, Triolet, 26 characters in a tub then Consequences and Kennings. Took a while to pack up but got half four train back. Lentil and Bacon soup at Jen’s place. Corrie. Then Still Game – library episode, tablets, Fray Bentos pies and depression. Very funny. 10.34pm.


Thursday 19th October 2023

Day off. Listed names of the Edward Hopper paintings for tomorrow’s workshop. Read twenty pages of David Viney’s ‘In Orbit, Back Soon’ poetry collection. Watched war updates on BBC and C4. Should have been doing type-ups but think I’m just doing a handwritten pamphlet for October. We’ll see. I am very sleepy. Made my voice heard on the GoNE Facebook post about the possibility of bus strike continuing into November. Storm Babet is due to hit NE in the next fifteen hours. I hope it isn’t as bad as forecast. 60mph winds expected tomorrow. As well as over 100mm of rain. I’m concerned about my house. Jenni is at Buskers night. I’m going to bed soon. 9.30pm.


Friday 20th October 2023

Only slept about four hours. Got my bag sorted this morning and was out by ten past eleven. Alwyn kindly gave me a lift to the Arts Centre Washington. Edward Hopper paintings were the inspiration and writers did six vignettes each in an hour before readbacks and discussions for fifty minutes. Really quick turnaround: three and a half hours. Probably the shortest time ever to do a workshop. I got back about half two. Tonight, I was very sleepy. Did prep for next session. Jenni says I slept through a lot of TV tonight. Gaza war is on ten o’clock news. More horrendous weather. The storm has been horrendous. Structural damage, flooding, home evacuations in Scotland and Ireland. I’ve had sausage rolls and cheese on toast. Time for bed now. 10.16pm.


Saturday 21st October 2023

Had a great workshop at Newcastle Central Library with Albatross Writers group. Eight people with me. I went back to Jen’s place for an hour then bused to Consett and bought supplies for the coming week. The house is fine. No storm damage. Metal and punk videos tonight. 11.42pm.


Sunday 22nd October 2023

Spent most of the day at the computer. I’m getting close to the end of the contents section for the October pamphlet. Hopefully I’m able to turn it around by this time next week. I checked out Clive Barker books online. I listened to the new Creeper album and South of Salem. I watched some bike footage and Darkness Over Cumbria documentary about the black metal festival. 10.57pm.


Monday 23rd October 2023

Sorted invoices, emails and online publicity for the week. I’ve been paid for services rendered and had some very positive feedback on my stuff. I’ve put a workshop together for tomorrow. I’ve also had a stinker of a headache after a fourteen-hour day. I only went out to get toilet roll and biscuits. Had a bacon sandwich for dinner then chilli and rice for tea. It’s getting really cold in here again. Good chats with Jenni. I have to be off to bed soon coz I need to be up early to get ready for a workshop. No work on the new pamphlet. Fingers crossed I get it done at the weekend. 10.46pm.

Tuesday 24th October 2023

Good little pamphlet workshop at Waddy today. Unfortunately, I can’t make up the missed sessions caused by bus strikes coz members / learners can’t make it into the Centre this Thursday. I got a lot of my new pamphlet ‘Queasy, Uneasy’ sorted tonight. Still have a fair bit to do, but I think it will come good in the next day or two. The pamphlet is 24 pages at present. I think the cover is going to be hand inked. OK. 11.15pm.


Wednesday 25th October 2023

Up early to get ready for business meeting with Donna Liddle Coaching at Consett Innovation Centre. Before the meeting I chatted to staff in Consett Library about workshop possibilities across County Durham. The meeting with Donna was ace. She knew who I was from her time working at Derwentside Mind where I ran writing workshops for three years. We talked for over ninety minutes: content, marketing, finances, personal value. It was refreshing to hear someone from a business background speak so enthusiastically and take seriously what I do. This afternoon I checked out logistics for travel to Durham on Weardale and Arriva buses so I can get to Jen’s on bad weather days. It will take about four hours and cost about eight quid. Still, better than taxi prices by a long way. Watched some Martin Atkins videos, did more edits on ‘Queasy, Uneasy’. 11.30pm.


Thursday 26th October 2023

Morning pages gave me an essay I should have posted online, but I wanted to get on with Queasy, Uneasy. I spent ages proofing it. The Adler typeface doesn’t have an apostrophe, so I had to insert some from Calibri and Bohemian Typewriter. I got the pamphlet made up with a pretty striking hand-inked cover. I will do final edits / page margins tomorrow then begin to make up the paper copies and get some sent out. This evening I uploaded Poetry Jam pix. And thought again about how to improve my situation next year. I have lots to copy up and key-in. I’ve listened to South of Salem again. Looking forward to seeing them play next week. Didn’t need my extra pair of joggers today. Hope I get a good night’s sleep. OK. 11.52pm.


Friday 27th October 2023

I didn’t go to Jen’s today. I’m going on Monday – three- to four-hour trip on Weardale and Arriva buses. Then, hopefully, I’ll be able to just go back and forth on the bike. I edited ‘Queasy, Uneasy’ pamphlet today. I tried to make up copies this evening upstairs in artificial light but to no avail. I’ll do the first batch tomorrow. I went over bus plans again. Moorside to Tow Law, Crook, Durham, Newcastle. It will cost eight quid at least. Two quid per journey. If I need a train for the last leg it will be ten or eleven. I don’t want to wreck myself on the bike, getting soaked in the run up to South of Salem gig and Poetry Jam. ‘Queasy, Uneasy’ is a twenty-minute read aloud. I might get to read some in Heaton on Monday night. Anyway, I’m chuffed to do another booklet. 10 down, two to go. OK. 11.15pm.


Saturday 28th October 2023

Inked up copies of ‘Queasy, Uneasy’ today. They look pretty good. I was in town this afternoon getting supplies. Spent a bit more than usual. Did some admin back home. Watched a bit of Madonna’s Celebration Tour on YouTube. Listened to South of Salem album. Ordered some toner cartridges. They should be here tomorrow. 10.46pm.


Sunday 29th October 2023

Big busy day. Made up new morning pages notebook. Prepped ideas for Washington workshop then printed out more copies of Queasy, Uneasy. Folded, stapled, trimmed and inked up. Did publicity then workshop plans. Got all my handouts printed / copied, sorted out clothes and other items then checked bus times and numbers for the big ride to Gateshead. 10.31pm.


Monday 30th October 2023

Four buses to get to Gateshead. Weardale minibus to Tow Law, then No 1 Arriva to Crook, then X46 to Durham. Had dinner at Waddy then X12 to Gateshead. Got supplies in Tesco. Me and Jenni had spicy beanburgers and doughnuts then went out to Heaton for the Spooky Poems Night. Brilliant guests Kim Deyn and Haley plus top sets from hosts Megan Pattie and Lewis Brown. All the open floor people were ace. Was good to be a part of the night. I am really tired. Chuffed to get about the region on alternative buses. I’m going to get some supper now. It’s late. 11.46pm.


Tuesday 31st October 2023

Big lie in till after ten. This afternoon me and Jenni went down to the post office and checked out the non-GoNE buses. It’s possible to get to Metro Centre every half hour and there’s a bus that goes round the houses to pick up the elderly. We spent some time in a second-hand shop. Jenni bought a load of 7-inch vinyl including Chas and Dave, Gloria Estefan, Damien, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson. Tonight, Jenni went to a Halloween quiz at Station East. I went to see South of Salem at Think Tank. Mint gig. They played four new songs, a cover of Rebel Yell, and the rest were from the debut album. I didn’t know anything by the support band She Burns Red. I bought South of Salem’s ‘The Sinner Takes it All’ album. I’m ready for bed now. 11.20pm.



‘Queasy, Uneasy’ is available HERE

POETRY AND ALL THAT

Friday 1st September 2023

Big list for what needs to be done next week. Out for more supplies. Some stationery and a watch battery. I bought new lightbulbs but got screwcap instead of bayonet cap by mistake. Got no work done. Totally exhausted all afternoon. Tried to log on to the college system for online training and couldn’t. I watched a great film called Metalhead about a girl who turns to music to cope with the tragic loss of her elder brother. I didn’t think I’d be able to last 100 minutes with subtitles, but it was excellent. I watched a few Adrian Mitchell poems as well. And listened to Bastette, Noel Gallagher and Sinead O’Connor. I’ve had a chicken dinner, and mature cheddar on multiseed bread. I wanted to read but just feel wrecked. I’m so far behind in my work now, I don’t think I’ll catch up. I’m taking next year off. 10.29pm.


Saturday 2nd September 2023

Bit livelier this morning. Got my lightbulbs changed. Read my ‘Big Old Left Toe’ in its entirety. Making more copies on Monday. I went back to Consett for extra supplies then on to Newcastle for book endpapers. Got to Jen’s around five after a brutal fully heated bus. Watched gameshows and a bunch of pop music videos from 1989. OK. 10.22pm.


Sunday 3rd September 2023

Lazy day except for a walk into town to get a big food supply for Jenni. Took me four rest stops to get it all back to the house coz I couldn’t put it on my back for fear of splitting the big rucksack. We watched The Power of Parker and a film called Submarine based on the novel by Joe Dunthorne. Then some gameshows and Gone fishing. Electricity off so I’m writing by torchlight. Hopefully power restored soon. 9.42pm.


Monday 4th September 2023

Been trying to curtail the use of expletives in my writing this year but today was total and utter fucking shit. I’m sick to death of jumping through bureaucratic hoops to find info that I personally don’t use. If you want me to do your bidding then make the route to the task a bit less fucking cryptic. Have a bastard system that works. At least I got my online security reduced from £79.99 to £29.99, so I saved myself fifty quid for a mere forty minutes of effort. But basically, had another mental blowout. I fucking hate all the bullshit.  Sick of living like shit for a bastard pittance. Be a writer? Fuck it. Anyway, this is my daily ‘quota’. 11.19pm.

Tuesday 5th September 2023

Up at six to charge camcorder batteries, do morning pages and make up a book. I prepped some ideas for poetry and fiction sessions. Did some online training. Completed college paperwork. Been out on the Sonder bike. First time in shorts and thin top for months. The big fallen tree that was blocking one of my favourite trails has been removed. I managed a little hill climb off the bridge at Shotley and I’m getting better at keeping the bike up on the back wheel. Sixteen hops. I should be able to nudge myself to the edge of any ledge no sweat. Pity the bottom bracket and crank have started to creak. Sent off college docs. Will take hard copy to Waddy on Thursday. I’d like to read a David Gaffney story tonight but I’m too tired. OK. 11.20pm.


Wednesday 6th September 2023

Busy day. I got a lot of Harry Gallagher’s "Echoes of a Pit Village" pamphlet re-tweaked today. The college sent my safeguarding certificate this lunchtime. I got Harry's cover sorted. Made various versions. I read a couple of David Gaffney stories. Intriguing little tales with some familiar musical references. It’s been super warm again today. But I haven’t been outside. I’m still in shorts and t-shirt at quarter to eleven. I am way behind. Managed to plan a workshop and make up copies of Big Old Left Toe. Tomorrow I will be at Waddy, trying to make up copies of Harry’s book. I will need all my workshop stuff for Friday. I found some old Redbeck Press publicity. And a copy of Off The Wall magazine I had a poem in 32 years ago. So much clutter to wade through. 10.50pm.


Thursday 7th September 2023

Think I was up at half six. Did pages then put all the workshop handouts in order, did photocopying for Washington session. Didn’t need to get copier paper as I managed to find random sheets strewn about the bedroom. I sorted out clothes for the weekend coz I’ll be away till Sunday night. Decided to ride the Rockhopper into Consett, got money from the ATM then asked the doorman of Barry’s to get me two tins of chilli. Then I took my bike into the card factory and bought a birthday card. Then I rode down to Tesco. Thought I might as well get a ream of paper if they’d let me take my bike in. This afternoon I bused to Durham. Got cover samples and two sets of Harry’s booklet pages printed thanks to Peter. I made a book up, had chilli. Ran off more test copies. Did stage notes for Poetry Jam. Hosted it. Tolu, Sam Szanto and Chris Hodgson. And some ace open mic. We were done by 20 past nine. Now on X21 to Gateshead. Will be at Jen’s just after eleven. OK. 10.48pm.


Friday 8th September 2023

Me and Jenni were up quite early this morning. Had breakfast, packed the bags. I polished a pair of DM shoes and got the bus to Gateshead. Bought chicken and mushroom slice, peanuts and bananas for dinner. The buses were okay to Arts Centre Washington. Session was good. New room. Builders cleaned up after themselves before my session. Absurd words, RLF writers, ‘I Write’ into journaling essay. Then steppingstones. Doesn’t sound much on paper but it was full on. Today was super-hot. I wore shorts to and from the venue. Me and Jenni had spicy bean burgers for tea. We watched gameshows including Pop Master. Then the Some Mothers Do Have ’em documentary. Then Greg Davies standup. We talked logistics for the trip to Morecambe in a fortnight. I hope this is autumn is good one. 11.23pm.

Saturday 9th September 2023

Awoken at 5.30am by excruciating pain in my hand which turned out to be a wasp sting. Went to pharmacy on advice of NHS and got the okay. Had beans on toast for dinner with cheese. Met up with Harry Gallagher this afternoon to okay his booklet pages. Had drinks at Station East afterwards. More provisions at Tesco then a pizza and salad for tea. Big sleep afterwards plus Alice Cooper live at Montreux when I woke up. OK. 10.45pm.

Sunday 10th September 2023

Jenni gave me some bread and cheese and checked bus times for me before leaving for Blackpool. I got the 10.34am to Consett. Nearly put my back out carrying all the stuff back after the weekend away. Writing Magazine was on the mat when I got back. I read Written in Blood writers guide to horror fiction. Most How To books for fiction put me off completely. Today I feel like giving up writing – beyond a personal diary – and just getting an ordinary part-time job. But I won’t coz I’ll be okay in a day or two and a proper job would kill me. 11.07pm.


Monday 11th September 2023

Started in on the corrections for Harry’s pamphlet. Worked till about four then switched to my own notes. This evening I listened to Bastette and PIL and read bits about Lydon, Jordan, Emo book ‘Negatives’, and checked out old copies of ‘Screams from the Balcony’ the Bukowski letters online. Jenni appears to be having a good time in Blackpool. I’ve not been out today. The weather is pretty shit. News online likewise. Sick of all the scare stories about New Energy Bill and re-emergence of covid. Hope we don’t get forced into more stupid shit this winter. I think I’m done with writing. I want to keep doing books but I’ve not got a lot left in me. I want to read and listen to music. Hope I get all my notes done tomorrow. 11.07pm.


Tuesday 12th September 2023

Did some tweaks on Harry’s pamphlet master and aim to get some covers printed tomorrow. Been at the computer for about ten or eleven hours. I read the opening pages of Season of the Witch online this evening. I’d like to own a copy. Think I need an early night. Hammered. 9.34pm.


Wednesday 13th September 2023

Left the house at half seven to print fifty booklet covers. On the bus home, three and a half hours later, I noticed some wording had moved slightly. By the time I got back to Moorside I just wanted to be out of the sight of people. I tore all the covers up. I’ll try again on Friday. And be more careful when adjusting margins. I am fucking sick of everything at present. Struggling to keep going. I don’t earn anywhere near what people think I earn. I can’t even afford running hot water. Going to bed soon and hope tomorrow is better. 9.41pm.

Thursday 14th September 2023

Enjoyed the process of collecting material and making handouts for tomorrow’s writing workshop. Greatly relieved to see my bank balance back in the black. I am due a bit more money soon. I bought paper for Harry’s booklet ‘Echoes of a Pit Village’. This evening I went into Castleside quarry but had to carry my Sonder bike around huge pools of muddy water. I found some pallets set up for trials, but a motorcyclist was there, so I’ll try another time. Back home, I fell asleep on the couch. I should be in bed now. 10.16pm.


Friday 15th September 2023

Up at 5.20am. Did morning pages. Packed a bag for book printing at Waddy in Durham. I got fifty copies of Harry Gallagher’s ‘Echoes from a Pit Village’ printed then went off to Newcastle in search of endpapers. Had to buy multipacks to get what I wanted. Took the long route via Beamish back to Chester le Street for Bullion Hall session. One-minute sentences. Small stones and steppingstones. Two hours. I slept on the bus back. One bus didn’t turn up, so I didn’t get home till 20 to seven. Out for twelve hours. Ate crisps and drank squash. Off to bed soon. 10.47pm.


Saturday 16th September 2023

Bacon sandwich then a nip to local shop before starting in on booklet assembly for Harry Gallagher. Got all fifty copies stapled. Had a chicken and veg meal then read through this month’s notes. Not enough for a pamphlet yet. Doing one every month might be the stupidest idea I’ve ever come up with. I might have to so a solo writing marathon. 10.47am.


Sunday 17th September 2023

Pleased to get the initial batch of Harry’s books trimmed for the Boldon and Cleadon Community Library project. Found out afterwards, the library wants an additional twenty copies with option to buy more. This evening I was too tired to do anything except eat my chicken dinner, wash shorts, and get a shave. Read a bit of freelance advice then fell asleep. 11.06pm.


Monday 18th September 2023

Got all of Harry’s pamphlets packed up for collection from Waddy tomorrow. Sent a couple of invoices so hopefully paid by the end of the week. Out this evening on the bike for an hour. Everywhere too boggy. I wanted to ride on the pallets in the quarry but couldn’t get a decent run up due to all the mud. The bike needs a good clean… I’m chuffed with the vignettes that are coming in morning pages. I’m aiming for fictional stuff, not self-referential. A bit like my Tiny Tales from March. These new pieces are character sketches and observations. I’m off to bed soon. OK. 10.15pm.


Tuesday 19th September 2023

Rain didn’t spoil my day. I got all my stuff packed up and out for the half nine bus. Discovered that a Go North East bus strike might taking place in a fortnight. I got more books printed. Harry read a poem in Waddy writing session and talked a bit about the booklet. When he left, one of the writers asked if we could have a guest pop-up poet for the start of every session. Maybe on YouTube, but not for real. I’m pleased to have the required number of participants for my course. Pleased I got to read 'Holiday on Death Row' by Roger McGough on the bus there; then 'Record and Play' by Degna Stone on the ride back. Had chilli and rice then vegetated at the computer. House is starting to get cold of an evening. Hat and thermals soon. 10.10pm.

Wednesday 20th September 2023

Long session copying up two months of stray entries for my work logbook and gratitude journal. Interspersed the work with meal breaks. Cheese and tomato sandwiches. Orange chocolate bars. Mince and veg with Yorkshire puddings. Listened to Black Metal by Venom from 1982. Then a full Public Image Limited gig filmed in Swansea just last week. It went some way to make up for not buying a ticket for this week’s PIL gig at Sunderland Fire Station. 10.42pm.


Thursday 21st September 2023

Made up another twenty copies of Harry’s pamphlet. Got out on the bike for a couple of hours. Shady trails now turned to gloop. No return to my favourite route till next spring. Did the Poetry Jam poster tonight. Got books packed up for Morecambe Poetry Festival. Workshop prep done for tomorrow. I knacked my big toe just crouching down to look through stock in the back room a couple of hours ago. I sat through Question Time. These people seem to live on a different planet from the one where I reside. I don’t think I should really talk about politics, to be honest. I’m pleased with my daily output towards the next pamphlet which, all being well, I aim to pull together next week. 11.55pm.


Friday 22nd September 2023

Up early and a bit stressed getting stuff ready for the big weekend. Got to Arts Centre Washington by half ten. Got stuck, briefly, in the new lift but okay. Nine people attended the session. MA graduates, ex-army and police, ex-head teacher, amongst others. It was full-on. Lots of readings and discussion. A repeat of last week’s Bullion Hall session, with Dilation of a Moment in Time replacing steppingstones. Three people wrote about stuff they’ve been wanting to tackle for a while. Later, I heard a bus driver talking about the strike. If it goes ahead, I will struggle to get to work. Got back to Jen’s at four o’clock. Sat for a while then back out to buy stuff for tea. Had a big lazy evening. Watched highly engaging Bob Ross art show. Landscape in oil. Ate nuts and oranges, drank squash. Still need to tweak bits of my poetry set for tomorrow. I’ll look at it on the train. 9.00pm.

Saturday 23rd September 2023

Awake about half four and couldn’t get back to sleep so I started in on the morning pages. I typed up two days of notes as well. Me and Jenni got up at half six to get ready for the train. We changed at Carlisle, then onto Lancaster, then switch for a ten-minute ride to Morecambe. First poets I saw on the street were Steve Pottinger and Emma Purshouse. Then, outside the venue, John Hegley. Then a rather frail-looking elderly man in a long coat and baseball cap asked me where the poetry would be taking place. It was Roger McGough. I pointed him in the direction of ace festival organiser Matt Panesh. Me and Jenni enjoyed out sets for Born Lippy takeover this afternoon. Thanks to Donald Jenkins and Matt for inviting us. We saw the Nottingham poets then sets from Steve Pottinger and Emma Purshouse who were both outstanding. Jenni had pasta and I had a burger from the artists' menu, then we took our bags to the hotel. Then back into town to see Roger McGough at the Winter Gardens. Gerry Potter was up first, then Jackie Hagan did a mint set. After the break, Roger came on and did some stories about his career to warm up before going into the big hitter poems, some of which were familiar from his early books. He did about forty minutes then was interviewed by Henry Normal. I got 'Holiday on Death Row' signed. Me and Jenni had chips on the way back to the hotel. Both knackered now. 11.20pm.

Sunday 24th September 2023

Me and Jenni had a good full English breakfast. Three courses for me: yoghurt, bacon and eggs, toast and marmalade. Oh, and a slice of watermelon. We saw Rose Condo’s excellent How To Starve an Artist show at Johnny’s Sports Bar then everyone present was treated to a free Sunday lunch. There was so much poetry this afternoon I couldn't process it all. But the standout for me was the "All we've Got Time For" poetry theatre show from Hull’s FOUR JOHNS featuring Jim Higo and friends – none of them called John. Also met Verse Cycle poet Caroline Burrows who did a fifteen-minute set with her bike onstage. Afterwards, she took my photo to send to Elaine Cusack. At the Winter Gardens we saw Jackie Kay, who was warm and engaging. Then Carol Ann Duffy. We’re now back at Johnny’s Sports Bar for the final performances. David Lee Morgan has just been on. Still a few more turns before Matt Panesh closes the show. 11.15pm.

Monday 25th September 2023

I’ve damaged my back carrying a full wheelie case down three flights of hotel stairs this morning. On the way back to Newcastle we stopped off in Carlisle for an hour. Devised a podcast/video series idea that I’ll keep under wraps for now. Suffice to say once off the ground it will make me and Jenni household names. I went back to her place for an hour. Then got a bus to Consett. The strike looks set to go ahead next week. I can’t see my being able to ride a bike if my back is still bad. I am way behind on work but too tired to do anything tonight. Turning in early with hopes of being able to get a good start in the morning. I’m concerned about lack of income. Lack of opportunities. Don’t think I’ve got enough material for a little pamphlet. I’ll see tomorrow night. 10.06pm.


Tuesday 26th September 2023

Excruciating backpain. Couldn’t turn over in bed. Needed painkillers to walk and bend. Did a bit of editing on the new pamphlet. No title yet. Possibly “Cockroaches on Toast” or “Two Plus Two is Five”. I’d like it to have handwritten pages but think I’ll just use the typed manuscript run through the laser printer’s booklet function. My session at Waddy went well. Absurd words. Notebooks. Seven Ways of Seeing. Gulty Pleasures and Secrets. Tonight, I got the booklet down to a better edit. It’s getting chilly. Will need a hat and joggers in bed in a week or so. No biking for a while. Big storm forecast for tomorrow. 11.45pm.


Wednesday 27th September 2023

Long day. Back not so bad. Only used painkillers this evening. Came up with a colour cover for the next pamphlet. Got all the bits and pieces together for tomorrow’s Brunswick workshops. Me and Jenni had a great time at The Stanza. Steve Lancaster gets better and better. He opened with some light animal poems then did a darker piece about a gibbet. Ann Porro is one of the very best on the circuit. She totally nailed her set. Loved her poem The Drop and her genuine interest in skateboarding. Jack and Sam of Silly Billies were hilarious and utterly ridiculous. I love the surreal aspect to their performances. I loved the paintings – particularly Lou Reed with a pensioner. I liked the bear and the bad gig reviews. The blueberry massage is just bonkers. Mandy Maxwell’s Vaseline poem was great. David Roe stood in for Sharon Milley and read a strong piece about failings of the DWP. Open mic had poems about the sea, Halloween and early Christmas; and a story about giving and receiving expensive gifts. And I was particularly struck by some single line poems from Renata Connors. Jenni stayed out in Newcastle with friends. I got a cheap pasty at Tesco and a packet of peanuts. 11.53pm.

Thursday 28th September 2023

Up early to get sorted for my workshops at Brunswick Methodist Church today. I got there at half nine. Reception. Drinks. Then sat in on a prose workshop and wrote a piece from a visual prompt about a dog. Val Scully gave a talk about leaving an MA course to go it alone as a successful writer of self-published historical fiction. My workshops were this afternoon. I did four poetry exercises in an hour with one group. Then repeated the session with a second group. I got paid in cash straight after the session and sold a copy of Laughter to Split Glass. I’ve left most of my stuff at Jen’s place coz unfortunately it looks like the bus strike is going ahead and I’ll need to get a train to Waddy from Newcastle next week. I had tea then got the last X71 of the day to Consett. Spent eight quid on some essential food items then walked home. I read through my pamphlet. It’s now called 'September Scrapbook' and requires further edits. Hopefully good to go by Saturday. 10.21pm.


Friday 29th September 2023

Proofed and tweaked 'September Scrapbook'. Then went to Waddy to get the covers printed. Spoke to Simon Craig’s sister, Alison, on the bus to Durham. I only got to see The Cult at Newcastle City Hall in 1985 coz she had a spare ticket. Tonight, I got more proofing done. The pamphlet contains forty-eight prose fragments and will be published tomorrow. 11.53pm.


Saturday 30th September 2023

Full day getting my little 'September Scrapbook' pamphlet over the line. I could have broken much of the text into free verse but kept it mostly in prose paragraph format. In some instances, up to five pieces on a single page. I’m really chuffed with it. Pleased to take a fictional approach and nothing too self-referential for a change. Nine down, three to go. Wonder what October brings… 11.44pm.

'Echoes from A Pit Village' by Harry Gallagher is available from Boldon and Cleadon Community Library and the author

September Scrapbook is available HERE