Tuesday 5th October. It's been a bit of a productive but fraught week. The Wayne Jacobs dinner last Thursday was my second best selling day after the launch, and it was the best ever week, but if my best week sees net sales of around 150 Pounds it tells you how things are going.
The business has been running under a 'New Deal For Claimants Training Allowance' scheme. I signed on, got my dole, Poll tax relief, and 15 quid extra; and I didn't have to declare earnings from the business. I am still under the New Deal scheme but the allowance has run out and things are going to get complicated.
I had always intended to carry on with primary supply/substitute teaching, but I have had no work since April. When things go well I really enjoy supply teaching, and I'd hate to think I'd never do it again, but the life of a supply teacher has changed greatly to the worse, and nobody cares, least of all the teaching unions. Bradford Education is now run by a private company that is trying to kill off it's supply section because it makes them no profit. I will not work for an agency because they take between 15 and 25 percent of my wage as fee and charge the schools at least 40 pounds above the cost of hiring me via Bradford Ed. That's 70 pounds, plus, being sucked out of education for the benefit of parasites, for every day an agency supply teacher works.
One of the productive things I did last week was discus the possibility of Trident (the Urban Regeneration Scheme that helped my business) subsidising me to go into the local schools as an author. Even if they only buy my books as a gift for the schools it would be very beneficial for me to go into the schools with them. It means I could carry on teaching and develop a portfolio as a writer/artist/publisher in schools. One that links to the National Curriculum, and possibly GCSE's later, forged through practical testing rather than form filling, if it's ticked it must have been learnt, lesson planning.
Wednesday 30th September, late. I have just got back from Wayne Jacobs' testimonial dinner. I am leaving it until tomorrow to count up the books left and the takings, but I am confident I sold at least twenty Wayne Jacobs handmade Little Red Head Book's. Gavin Oliver bought one with a fiver that was more sellotape than fiver, Paul Jewel claimed someone else had taken the money he'd got out to pay me with (you can take the Scouse out of Liverpool but you can't take the Liverpool out of the Scouse), John Aldridge paid straight away (and was very funny) and comedian Jed Stone bought a Walburgas as well (and was even funnier).
Sunday 26th September.I have just got back from a shopping trip to L**ds (that's the way it has always been spelt in The City Gent magazine, and being the assistant editor I feel duty bound to maintain the tradition). I met some old friends, which was nice, and saw at least four times the number of shops open and people shopping as I see in Bradford on a Saturday. Bradford was a rich city, measured by the number of Bentleys, but the rich grew fat on corruption and fleecing the poor and left. Now it is too big for its boots but too small to punch the weight; although buying my books will make a small but significant contribution to the artistic and economic life of this city.
25th September. My New Deal for Claimants Business start up funding ends in a week and things are getting a little tense. While it is still early days for Bradwan as a business, and I will carry on with it regardless, I am making so little money from it that I will either have to sign-on or get other work. I did always intended to continue primary supply teaching, but things are tight in Bradford and I have had no work in six months.
On a happier note: I live in Little Horton, part of an Urban Regeneration Area called Trident ("The poorest square mile in Britain!") I had massive help from Trident, in the form of a start-up grant, and went to one of their bussiness forums last night at the excellent Omar Khan's restaurant (although Omar still owes me for a book. He asked to look at one, and the next thing I know it's the flipping first prize in the raffle!). They had a slot for new businesses to introduce themselves and I got up and spontaneously did 'Life in Little Horton - watching my neighbour's privy explode!'. My first stand-up comic set. It went down a storm, although I only sold one set of books afterwards, to Pat from Folding Sliding Doors Ltd (and if that's not the right name Brain will be letting me know, loudly). If John from New York is reading this: get in touch if you fancy going to a City game, and tell Janice to get her hand down for a book.
I then went on to The Peel for more beer. This is probalby the Bradford boozer that has changed the least in the 25 years I have been here, and I should go more often. I met some really nice people, including a pretty woman who asked me to write my web e-ddress on the back of her hand. It may have been her drink talking, but it was another first for me.
19th. There are more important things in life than football, it's just when your team wins at home for the first time in weeks, and 4-1 (against Bristol City) at that, and you have ticket receipts for 23 years of Bradford City watching, 15 years of which were tickets to watch donkeys, you tend to forget what else is important. I did not drink any more alcohol because Bradford City won, it's just that when your Lada is passing GTI's with ease the oil is obviously working much better than you're used to.
Drinking because you're happy is much better than drowning your sorrows, although my 'New Deal for Claimants' business start up fundings runs out in less than a fortnight, so I may join the drowning soon. I have just worked out that it runs out the same day that we play Accrington Stanley in the 'God! What's that van trophy called now?' Good job my happiness does not depend on a football team managing to win.
16th. I have just returned from a grand trip to the country (Wales), nay, even the town (Gorseinon) of my birth. I did see Bradford City lose at Wrexham, thanks to Mr Warren being incapable of refereeing a coin toss, let alone a football game, but apart from that, and a bed and breakfast in Wrexham with floorboards that sounded like the cannons of Trafalger, I had a grand time.
13th September. Birth date of J.B. Priestley, and me. Feel free to celebrate. I usually try to have a meat and potato pie and a cup of tea, in memory of the steaming pie shop Priestley immortalised in a war time broadcast. A brass band playing On Ilkley Moor Bah'tat makes a fine accompaniment.
Tuesday 7th September. I went to a Supporters Trust meeting at Bradford City to hear Colin Todd (manager) and Bobby Davidson (Assistant). I was very impressed. Todd is honest, humourous and and very good at handling a crowd. He also deftly managed to avoid buying a Wayne Jacobs Handmade Little Red Head Book. Bobby Davidson got his hand down and bought one though. Top man.
Saturday 4th. City lost 0-2 to Port Vale today. I was as sober as a stone at the match, for the first time for, apart from when I was too ill to drink, a good few years. I am not sure of the best balance. Sober means I am indifferent. 3 pints means I care, but wonder why I bother. Drunk means I can't recogonise the teams, but can guess that any goals have been scored by the other side. Finding the Bradford City road to nirvana? It's hard enough with alcohol to oil the wheels of the Lada. I am not sure how tea totallers can cope without the options.
3rd. As a result of me fiddling, and Roger Beaumont fixing, this site has a limited amount of background colour for the first time. Please
if you have any comments.
Sunday 29th August.I was lucky enough to have a cold on Wednesday, and so missed Bradford City losing to Notts County. Unfortunately I was well enough to see them lose to Chesterfield yesterday. Normal behaviours have returned (see below).
21st. Had a grand day out in Stockport. Got a lift there from my mate Steve. Saw Bradford City win (which prompted some rarely seen behaviours). Sold loads of City GENTS, and a couple of brace of books. Met some really nice people on the train back to Bradford. Drank some beer.
19th First websale! The obviously highly intelligent and deeply artistic Nadine Exner, from the Saarland, has become the first person to buy Walburgas forgetting - forgiving direct from this site. Why not follow her lead?
16th After a busy weekend the site now has PayPal buttons for Walburgas forgetting - forgiving. I have sold out of The Little Red Head Book so that's only available by cheque, until I have time to make enough for stock.
My brother Basil (editor of the A&C Black Book of Saints) has just been on a visit. Highpoint of which was fixing the guttering with the loss of a small amount of my cash and skin.
4th August. It's Bradford holiday week, although you would hardly notice. I have become assistant editor of The City GENT, on account of quickly shouting: "Him!" and then ducking when the question "Who's going to be the next editor then?" was asked.
26th July. I made and sold a few copies of the Wayne Jacobs Handmade Little Red Head Book. On Saturday at 5 Pounds.
23rd. Was on TV with Wayne Jacobs advertising his testimonial game (24th) and the book I have made about him. Unfortunately printer problems means the book production will be very limited.
9th July. Went to see Bradford City's first pre-season friendly at Harrogate Town (Won 0-5). I talked with Wayne Jacobs, and will almost certainly get involved with his testimonial year (on account of me admiring Wayne, and paying to see Bradford City, not because football is sexy, although it isn't now, so all you middle class fashion victims, with your bratty, spoilt children, with their ' I wont a new Manchista Neunited stwip Mummy. I wont NOW!' can stop pretending to like football, and can go back to rugby).
Received a letter today, from Bob & Jane Carr of The Quince Tree Press saying: Glyn, great event - many many thanks for all your efforts, it was well worthwhile.
5th. It's felt like a week of shovelling after the Lord Mayor's show; although I had a grand two night break in Whitby.
24th June. Tis done! Tis done! They've come! They've come!! There were problems even up to this morning, but I have just got home with the books. I feel numb, and not a little ill, but the book looks well.
23rd. The eve of the feast of St.John the Baptist. In my mum's home village of Karkku (in what was Finnish Karelia) this was the night they burnt their old fishing boats on the shore of Lake Ladoga.
21st. Summer Solstice. I watched the sun rise from my traditional vantage point; the attic skylight. It mystically appears between the tower blocks on Manchester Road. They were obviously built by people who understood the cosmos. I got a letter of good wishes from David Bell,. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools. I also fixed a mistake on the cover (Kenneth with 3 e's) just in time
19th. I fixed my spin dryer, and used a chimney rod to unblock the communal drain that serves the block
