day 1

Okay so I'm more than aware that a blog post after 12 hours of homelessness, creates the impression that if they were to continue so frequently it'd become tedious to read and uninteresting very quickly. Therefore there will only be one per day including pictures and quotes and all that good stuff.

Disclaimer: I'm on my phone in McDonalds typing this which is a lot less convenient than the macbook I've been using previously but that's only my problem. So if posts are shorter than usual or any minor changes that's why.

Okay now to the 'good' stuff. Firstly! Here's a few tasters of what the homeless community (the ones I've experienced so far anyway) tend to do SEVERAL times a day.

Also. I'm fine. I didn't try: spice, heroin or crack. I've had 4 cigarettes, 3 beers, a double cheeseburger, two coffees and a £1 block of Galaxy. None of which I paid for other than one of the coffees, brought the other with me. Didn't steal, brought the galaxy with me, my sister bought it.

No I haven't begged yet! Although my 'friends' have! Although I'm nowhere naive enough to actually believe these people are my friends, I used the term simply to indicate that regardless whatever lifestyle they lead (mainly NOT through choice however more convenience!) they up to now haven't raised any red flags in any of these areas:

Malicious intentions

Sociopathic tendencies

Able/planning to inconvenience me in ANY WAY WHAT SO EVER

Planning to stab me in my sleep and wear my garms! (Not that I've slept yet.)

So ill start at leaving my house. Told my sister to photograph me against the wall in my homeless get up. As if I was going on a residential with year 6 and my mum really just loved the idea of it and wanted to capture the memory forever. Then I left. My bagpack is heavier than anything I've ever carried. My other bag containing jumpers and chargers I'm sure will act as a fabulous pillow.

So anyway I got the met. Jibbed it obviously. To Deansgate/Castlefield and then I walked around town aimlessly for about an hour overall just contemplating what I'd got myself into! So I walked down canal street, like I often do, usually at least getting chirpsed but unfortunately not this time. Later found myself in northern quarter. This is where it plunged me in the deep end. So I recognised this guy who was an a acquaintance in the past (he potentially lived on the outskirts of being my friend when he wasn't homeless!) for arguments sake (and the fact at first when I said I was documenting my travels he assumed id been assigned this mission by either mi5 or bbc3 and he was somehow gonna be famous. Proudly flaunting his face in all the pics. Until he  eventually realised after having told him at least 12 times I was simply not employed) call him Jonny. So I was like "Jonny????????? Surely not?! Jonny is that you?" Thought I was in a sitcom clearly! Anyway took about 3 sentences each before I was part of him and his homeless crew. (Let's actually bare in mind, I'm altering my intelligence level to match theirs, however still allowing them to know I'm bouncing if you try any form of a ting!) so anyway in the first 3 minutes I'm faced with BOTH of my biggest fears (at the time, they've now altered drastically) DIMP PICKERS and DIMP PICKERS WHO SHARE DIMPS. literally, saving each other half of a cigarette that was initially ashtray length. Even offering me some! I fully understand I may sound shallow or insensitive to the situation but like I say I've changed already.

So they're asking strangers for change etc, I'm silent in terms of begging however still speaking to my new 'friends.' These times I'm still flossing my earphones and acting like I'm flaunting down market street mid July

Sorry but who evem says flossing hahahaha. Anyway. I'm talking so much, the iPod really isn't even getting listened to so I put it in one of my many pockets as to save battery! So we're walking to "score" which basically means pay £5 for b&w (brown and white, heroin and crack, drug dealers have business cards on which they call it brandy and whiskey and act as though it's alcohol.) £5 will get you 0.07g of any of the two.

So we're trailing round looking for this guy to "score." I'm actually at this point certain it's the opposite of actual scoring which is usually followed by cheers and incomprehensible happiness! In terms of sports. Although for them they were practically cheering and happy as Larry, my gag reflexes were running on over drive. THE FIRST FUCKING TIME I SAW IT. By this point I'm fucking ecstatic for anyone who "scores" as this lifestyle needs a fucking metaphorical goal. So anyway they score, analyse that the bags are shit and all that jazz and we head to the carpark where I assume they're going to smoke these illicit substances. As you've already seen they didn't. Except one who wasn't even homeless just enjoyed the lifestyle, and the drugs.

The whole time I'm tagging boinkshe on walls, gobsmacked, violently scribbling notes as if I'm four minutes from my English literature exam and I've only just looked at my anthology and thinking wow my mum is a SCRUFF.

My ability to charm strangers and gain comfortability at an alarming rate working in my favour. Anyway next, we were there for about an hour I'm dropping in questions subtly, reminding them throughout my job is simply to get an insight and broadcast their feelings and thoughts. At which point I suspended judgement. Not that I was judging in a way that made me vacate, obviously, but I was still thinking like a person who has a home. So I just decided to get smacked up and see what all the fuss was about. IT WAS AMAZING. Joking you fucking mad. But I'll now bullet point:

*all points from their mindset not mine from now on*

- SPICE HEADS (people who take spice as apposed to alcohol or b&w!) ARE THE DEVIL. (I'm yet to meet one but I'll take their word for it)

- You have to make £20 throughout the night to get breakfast. Which here means 2 £5 bags of heroin and crack. If not, "ya start rattlin!" Speaking of rats saw a dead one with guts out.

- They get argumentative if you wrongly assume they got 2 bags of b and 1 of white as apposed to 2 bags of white and 1 of b. :/.

- They all look out for each other

- They no matter how fucked, always seem to "pin" precisely. Pin meaning stab a syringe in their body parts.

Okay I understand so far I'm sounding like the opposite of what I'm here to do. I'm referring to them as 'them' and probably acting as though I'm superior. This is however how to initially get the sceptical audience on side. I know most of the people reading this are only trying to confirm what they already believe! Which is usually, they're all drug addicts/alcoholics and that's all they'll spend their money on. However this is wrong. Partly.

Fair enough SOME homeless people may do exactly that. However, from your bed, living room, cocktails with your friends or car it's easy to turn a blind eye. You've got your own problems right? There's bigger fish to fry than someone else's shitty mackerel? Agreed (at one time.)

But it seems clear SO FAR. Most people with stable parents, homes, families, friends, schooling etc, can easily prosper in life! Done your coursework? Nah couldn't be arsed? Same! But you was always aware that it should've been done? And you was always aware you was procrastinating? (Granted people without those circumstances can also prosper obviously!)

But now imagine your mum's got 7 kids, had 4 taken off her, to 7 dads, all absent. Didn't even buy you a school uniform and certainly didn't care whether you attended or not. Didn't help you with homework nor stress the importance, however did stress if you didn't go to school you wasn't eating that day! Didn't have much in terms of money, luxuries or even necessities. Didn't have a basic general knowledge or even common sense. Soon as you turn 16 she told you to fuck off. Now by age 20 you've been sleeping rough for 4 years as you didn't have any other family. The only clothes you have are the 7 layers you're currently wearing. The various charities and organisations around to help homeless people you're not even aware of. You're now, still aged 20, part of a community with similar people with more extreme cases and pasts. Tell me now, coping mechanisms aren't essential? Whether it cocaine, crisps or catching caterpillars, most of these people didn't ask nor want to be homeless? Who would?

It's becoming apparent though, the longer I'm here, the more dirty looks I get for having a massive bag and probably a stank face! Homes seem to be the only thing they lack! Theirs an overwhelming sense of community, love and pleasure. Granted most of these things are present when drugs are being shared but so fucking what. Me and my friends have shared drugs in the past. Probably will in the future before we die. Who cares.

Extra bits:

- The average amount earned per day through begging according to 5 sources is £130?!?!?!??? Are you fucking mad. If you're a none drug user/alcohol drinker (or atleast payer forer) you're sure to be a fucking multi millionaire in a week.

- Most don't want homes at this point.

- 3 of the people I've met have at least 3 kids, even the ones as young as 20.

- One person welcomed me to the streets by handing me a receipt in which I could receive a double cheeseburger and fries for free.

- Up to now, everyone I've offered food to has declined and said they're not at all hungry.

- I made actual friends with this drunk man from Stockport who came with me to see homeless people making beds out of cardboard and blankets who cried and gave everyone 24 beers.

There's more but I'll actually just add it to the next one! Going to central library to draw and watch YouTube videos.

Ps. Got two meetings today with people hoping to document my journey!

Pps. Going to get a free sleeping bag from something called barny something.