Caffeine - August 21 2002

08.46 am I did try getting up earlier, but without the alarm going
off, I didnt. Looks a bit warmer today.

I woke up early yesterday (20) and fed the cats who enjoyed what I had
picked for their breakfast. They usually do. I went online and wrote my
journal, had a look at the board - see what new stuff had been posted.
Then I played my guitar. I used the Bullet and the Strat, and found a
new way to strum. I'd play a song one way and they try it another. A
lot of the material I have I am using different chords on to see how it
all works.

I had a bath. Then my wife went for a run, then came back. I went out
about 11.30 and went in Leigh Record Exchange and had a look at some
new stock that had come in, and bought the Hollies first album. I
expected it would be quite tinny, allowing for the truly primitive
recording methods available at that time. Then I rang Erin. No reply. I
walked into Leigh and went in Ugos which was open, and had a chicken
baguette and latte. While I sat there eating I tried to look at the
people in the place to see if any might be good characters to use in a
story. I rang Erin again. No reply.

I left and went to the Salvation Army shop and looked at the clothes in
there. I was looking at the shirts when Erin messaged me back. So I
rushed out the shop and rang her back. We talked and I went in the
Library Gardens and sat on a memorial bench and we talked for nearly an
hour and a half about writing, and characters and lots of other things.
And it was good. For once I felt I didnt have to rush what I was saying
as I have had to do in the past. I described what I could see, and
asked if Erin could climb trees. At one point I was lying stretched out
on the bench looking at my boots. It looked like rain but only a few
drops fell. The air was alive. When she had to go I walked home and I
felt alive again.

I got home and a bloke turned up to give an estimate for clearing the
garden, and said he would have to come back on Wednesday to give a
proper quote. We are hoping that he will be cheaper than the other
quote we have already. I listened to the Hollies album which was indeed
tinny, but you could see how the songs could be improved, with
contemporary instruments and production methods.

We drove into Southend and I bought a YinYang neckerchief. I went in
Virgin and bought Blink 182's Budha album and the Less Than Jake
"Borders and Boundaries" album which I had been looking for. They were
all grouped on a stand called Metal/Hardcore/NuMetal so that's what I
listen to now. Well mostly Hardcore I suppose. Punk Rock. And if it
wasnt for the tape Erin sent me I wouldnt have heard any of this
music.

Then my wife and I saw Men In Black II at the Odeon. There has been
mixed reaction to this film, all I would say is that if you liked the
first one, you should like the second. While the story is a bit thin,
and there are no really spectacular stunts or FX, there are lots of
little scenes which in themselves are funny.

We drove home. I had a steak for tea, which I didnt really want, but
ate anyway. Then I chatted to Erin for most of the evening. I sent her
a script I had written last year, which I had to edit as some of the
gags were a bit stale, but I think it's still okay. At one stage Erin
went off line for a long time and I wasnt sure if it was something i
had said, but it wasnt it was just difficult for her to sign back into
chat.

I am listening to Dookie again, and finishing the can of self heating
coffee I had bought recently, which I have tried out now. The coffee is
fine, not boiling hot but drinkable.

Tomorrow (21) is panic day, as I have to buy food and water and bog
paper and pack my bag and work out what to take to Reading. I will take
a notebook as well for writing. I also need to get a disposable camera
or two for pictures. I dont know if I can take pictures of the bands
though, I'll assume that I can unless there is a big notice saying that
i cant. I feel with the amount of stuff I will be taking I will look
like an extra from a Kubrick film. I hope it doesnt rain. My tent is
blue.

I told Erin that her tape has led me to find a whole new range of
music. A new sound. If someone had told me three months ago that I
would be listening to metal hardcore punk, wearing biker gear and going
to Reading or even writing poetry I wouldnt have believed them, but I
am, I do, and I will be. It's pretty amazing.

Wagons roll tomorrow morning.