1760 - The madness of King George and others

1760 - George II dies
Aged 77, and George III
Replaces him as monarch of these isles
Ireland in fact becoming united
With Britain in 1801. We've heard
Of so many events of George's reign
He reigned so long he even outlasted
Napoleon's rule, though feats of Wellington
Were after dementia set in, unknown
To the old blind George. The Yanks cut their ties
To Britain in '76, stated
Independence and then went on to win
It in war. The Prince Regent was despised
As extravagant, with huge costs incurred

1759 - Birth, marriage and death, 1759 style

1759, so much that year
George Washington got married to Martha
The British Museum opened its main door
And of course there was the Seven Years' War
Which reached its height over in Canada
Wolfe beating Montcalm at Quebec, but the
Price for both was death. At Quiberon, a
Big naval victory over the French, their
Navy never recovering. In India
Britain and France clashed once more, off the shore
Robert Burns was born, Adam Smith's lectures
Were published, Mary Wollstonecraft first stirred
Also born, German poet Friedrich Schiller
Not forgetting William Pitt the Younger

1758 - Two strikes and we're out (Britain and Greece)

The strikes are back again, see them increase
As workers' benefits and jobs are cut
Not only here in England but in Greece
Where it's far worse due to that state's huge debt
The crowds are gathering, somehow they'll get
To Syntagma Square, maybe by Metro
Since the strike's affecting other transport
Glad I'm not flying there this year. To go
To the airport to be told there are no
Planes would be maddening. The PCS
(My union) and the teachers' NUT
Are both out on Thursday, so I will throw
My lot in with them and strike, take my ease
At home, but also give them my support

1757 - The Seven Years' War

In '57 the Seven Years' War
Was in full swing, between Britain and France
Inevitably, both competing for
Colonial spoils, domestic circumstance
Improved at another's cost, the Indians
Of North America, most certainly
The Prussians also fought the Austrians
The Prussian Hohenzollerns under the
Great Fred, against the Habsburg family
With its huge army. War was all glamour
In those days, pretty uniforms, cannons
No wonder little boys pretended they
Were battle heroes. Dying was just a
Fun game, and worldwide travel a bonus

1756 - Wolfgang bang

That great player and composer, Mozart
Was born back in 1756
He was composing soon as he could fart
His dad Leo taught him some nifty tricks
On the violin, but his fingertips
Seemed most at home roaming the keyboard's black
And white hills and plains. So they went on trips
Father, son and older sister, went back
And forth to Italy, England, some dark
Times, learning, writing, improving his art
Settled in Salzburg, not feeling he fits
So to Germany, then Vienna. Took
A post there at last, popular concerts
Overspent, sickened, died at 36

1755 - Lisbon and Lichfield loom large

In 1755 the main two
Events I think are of interest are first
The Lisbon earthquake, dispatching up to
90,000 poor souls. A great wave burst
Upon the shaken shore just like the last
Big one in Japan this March. Also that
Far-off year, Samuel Johnson had released
His great Dictionary, erudite and fat
Like Sam himself, the Lichfield boy who'd got
Himself noticed in London. Boswell, you
Preserved much of his bluster and his thirst
For tea and lack of sympathy. And that
Was not all. David Garrick also grew
In Lichfield, then acted in London, too

1754 - Calm down, calm down

These last two months and more I've lived healthy
Cutting right down on booze and fags and stuff
It's beneficial economically
My bank account's not looking quite as rough
Even when I go out I rarely stuff
Much grog down my neck, so that I can drive
Lots of the poets round here are quite soft
Anyhow and don't drink; they just arrive
For the readings and then shoot off. I'll strive
To continue this course. More recently
(This week) I've found a way round quite a tough
Elbow strain threatening to wreck plans for live
Guitar performances. Practice can be
Done if kept brief and focused, which I love

1753 - The God profusion

I'm nearing the end of that massive book
'Gargantua and Pantagruel,' and next
Up is 'God Collar' by Marcus Brigstocke
A new-published, anti-religious text
In a comedy vein, so more relaxed
Than 'The God Delusion' (Richard Dawkins)
Although I've not read that, not seen pole-axed
The idea of deities, thrown in bins
Held up to scorn, though I've seen many times
Professor Dawkins on TV, that look
Of disdain for the superstitious sects
And their defence of faith along the lines
That science is a belief too, and stuck
Behind, not having answers that are fixed

1752 - Beware of Greeks receiving gifts

There could be more riots soon in Athens
Like those last year in May when they went mad
Since then it's had to be the government's
Policy to impose this really hard
Austerity, buy what they can afford
And no more, pay off all their creditors
In the eurozone all must keep their word
And balance their books, collect their taxes
These EU bailouts are hurting voters
Especially in Germany and France
Let them go bust is the cry, even heard
In Greece itself, the nationalist voice
Rising against those lending billions
But imposing conditions from abroad

1751 - Lazy Louis

Louis, he has been a naughty chappie
He's been down in the big smoky city
His mobile phone's always off, battery
Needing recharging, or it's credit-free
He was supposed to return on Friday
Then changed it at last minute to Monday
Last night I waited up, but no Louis
I went to bed without too much worry
Knowing how unreliable is he
At keeping in touch, or indeed any
Boring task he sees as unnecessary
It's thoughtlessness most likely, or lazy
Refusal to take things seriously
He's coming back tonight, allegedly

1750 - The heat is on

The heat is on - I'm drying the bedsheets
On the radiators, having washed them -
But that's not the only source of this heat
There's aches and pains in elbows and knees when
I play guitar, walk far, or try to run
When will something go right, big style, or will
It all prove wasted effort to go on
Trying to succeed when everyone's still
Deaf, dumb and blind to all but a quick thrill
Or searching for someone they can exploit
For their own ends, competing with my ends
They are so often oppositional
Or indifferent, keen also to compete
For attention so grudgingly given

1749 - Feast of Faust

In the year of 1749
Goethe was born, classicist, romantic
Author of Faust, and something that it's time
I read, Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship
He was mad about Shakespeare, took a trip
To Italy and Sicily; his log
Of that journey had such a readership
It's satirised in 'Middlemarch' - a book
I have fond memories of. Father's Day took
Me to see Josie, ate Mexican, mine
Was Aztec Jambalaya, hers a thick
Burger I helped her eat! We were in luck
This weekend with the sun, yesterday's fine
Day at Tyldesley Festival, fantastic.

1748 - Irish-American tragedy

The Kennedys are on TV again
A drama series, documentaries
Fifty years since JFK's election
We're treated again to their tragedies
First, domineering Joe Senior, his eyes
On the White House, opposes FDR's
Wartime policies, pays a heavy price
Knowing he'll never get there now, he has
A plan. His sons will simply take his place
But his favourite Joe Junior's wartime plane
Is shot down. Now Jack must aim for the skies
In his place. He gets there but in Dallas
Is also shot down. Bobby, next in line
Is shot down too, the kids left in pieces

1747 - Jacket required

Normally from April to October
I go out without a coat, if it's dry
But apart from April it's been colder
This year, and the coat's been on all through May
And the first half of June, and it's been my
Donkey jacket I've worn, so thick and warm
The wind's blown so hard, otherwise I'd fry
Normally, but not in this summer storm
I've ordered a new jacket - it should come
Any day now. The material's cooler
It's a Mod jacket, I suppose. I'll try
To look like it's '80 or '81
For the Berlin weekend I need new gear
As my old jacket's pockets rot away

1746 - Bye bye, Charlie be good

Bonnie Prince Charlie was a hard drinker
And since the French invasion had not come
To help his cause in time, his forces were
Dispirited, retreating to the gloom
Of Scotland in winter, not home to him
Despite beating Hanover at Falkirk,
Another win like Prestonpans, he'd some
Drinking to do in Bannockburn House, work
Of reclaiming the throne on hold, the talk
And smiles of the fair Miss Clementina
Of more interest, perhaps. No general's son,
He commanded badly and had to take
Flight from Culloden to Hebrides' shore
And thence to French mistresses and boredom

1745 - The Flying Scotsmen

Here we are at the '45 Rising
The Scots and Tories dreaming of Stuarts
Back on the throne's got Protestants fuming
Only a small minority of Scots
Supporting Charlie's fantasies, they're not
In the mood for more absolutism
Life's not so bad joined in this British knot
Best we all resist French domination
By Madame Pompadour and Louis Quinze
And George II was quite impressing
Leading the troops at Dettingen, without
Running like James in '90 at the Boyne
The Irish Brigade may do their talking
But from Derby back north go flying Scots

1744 - The old guard of the new wave

Can I write this sonnet while listening to
Old hits from late seventies radio
Of a new wave variety, so you
Should maybe think Annie Nightingale, though
Also Janice Long, Kid Jensen, but no,
Not really John Peel. Think the Boomtown Rats
Think Ian Dury, the Motors, Devo
Think Squeeze, Joe Jackson, Adam and the Ants
Hong Kong Garden's on this CD though - that's
Good, and Do Anything You Wanna Do
Rock Lobster's playing now. Life In Tokyo
Is coming up. Germ-Free Adolescents
(R.I.P. Poly). But now, Video
Killed The Radio Star fades out of view

1743 - What the Baxter saw (and heard)

Round-up of films seen, DVDs, CDs
Bought or borrowed, and lying on my desk
A DVD watched lately - 'My Name Is
Joe'. Still got two from Coen Brothers box
Set to see. 'Batman Begins'... that quite rocks
As does 'Kill Bill 2'. Yesterday, saw 'War
Of the Worlds' and 'Edward Scissorhands'. Chops
Hair, then gets the chop himself. Listened for
The last few days to library CDs. Poor
Warren Zevon (now dead), Toots, 10cc's
Hits, Zombies and Argent. Steve Winwood knocks
Good stuff out still, with 'Nine Lives.' When I saw
Some music on Amazon I was pleased
With compilations, buying five, no less!

The first of the five compilation CDs has just arrived, and that alone is three CDs of 'new wave'!! Better get started with the listening, then!

1742 - Day of restlessness

Sunday, the day of rest, nearly, not quite
Got up, watched a political show, then
Wrote a new song which is called 'Hypnotised'
Then crossed the road to Sainsbury's in the rain
Like yesterday, resisted temptation
And only bought good things, saving money
Played library CD (Warren Zevon)
While curating recent photography
Okay, only mobile phone pix, Sony
Ericsson make though, not any old shite
Sent pix to Josie, now my virtual pen
Is typing this sonnet. Lunch hurriedly
Then I'll watch TV until nine tonight
When I'll rehearse my songs till after ten

1741 - Bashing Bashar

Syria's Bashar is just like Gaddafi
Another mad unelected tyrant
Except the difference between them is he
(Bashar) inherited his dominant
Position, while Libya's leader had planned
And carried out a military coup
In '69. Now Misrata's the front
Line in Libya, while Syrians protest to
The watching world. Cowardly governments who
Fire on unarmed people, the West can't be
Seen to support them, or it simply won't
Be winner of the war of hearts. And who
Deserves to win anyway? The greedy
Top dogs of the western business world pant

1740 - Old Fritz was here

In 1740 Frederick the Great
A man who was innately artistic
Became the ruler of the Prussian state
And schooled by his harsh father, used the stick
On Austria and Silesia, a quick
Grab of land, but after that, seeking quiet
Retired to Sanssouci in Potsdam, thick
With art and learning, where Old Fritz would write
Music and letters to Voltaire, decide
How to rule a just kingdom, or debate
The vexing question in enlightened ink
The Hohenzollerns went on to unite
Germany one day, their Brandenburg Gate
A once battered but now restored relic

1739 - A not so close shave

I never seem to find the time to shave
And as I try to work my neck's itching
An itchy neck is not the thing to have
When concentrating and not distracting
When focusing, not mentally drifting
When keeping to the point, not off the rails
When getting things done, not doing nothing
When steering a ship and avoiding whales
An itchy neck can increase your travails
An itchy neck's to lose rather than save
An itchy neck, or itchy anything
Makes most other slight irritations pale
Nevertheless, for now I must be brave
And try to concentrate on my working

1738 - Part of the union

A day of showers. Pearl's blue umbrella
Helped keep me dry once more, out at lunchtime
For a union meeting where each speaker
Spoke against the Con-Dem government's trying
To push back social gains that have been signed
Up to over sixty years. NHS,
State pensions, safe employment. Now we find
These all under threat, workers start to flex
Muscles, like before Thatcher's handbag vexed
The socially inclined. Enough of her -
But her U.S. model's not in decline
Or so it seems across the globe. The next
War could be on the domestic front, a
Mirror of the recent Arab springtime

1737 - Back to strife

There's much to do when you get back from leave
It makes me feel it's hardly worth going
When coming back's so stressful. I believe
You might as well do little or nothing
My son would probably agree, I think
Wanting and doing nothing is the key
Buddhists and Stoics push that kind of thing
So I feel they would probably agree
The ultimate goal of philosophy,
Old and new age religion's to achieve
The peace you had before you were living
And you will have again eventually
So you won't need to cause relatives grief
By topping yourself, but can keep smiling

1736 - The British Museum hasn't lost its charm

It must have rained all night, but I dropped off
Quickly after reading The Observer
When morning came, the deluge from above
Hadn't yet ceased. Was loaned an umbrella
(Thank God) by Pearl, said goodbye, and caught the
Number 91 bus to St Pancras
The 'Dirt' exhibition I'd seen posters
For was closed today - not a real surprise -
So on to the British Museum - yes!
At last! And it's free... You have got to love
Seeing parts of The Parthenon all there
The horses, soldiers, mythical creatures
In relief, rescued from Greece after rough
Times, decay, faces chipped off, cannonfire...
Mon 6 June

1735 - The real South Bank Show

Surprisingly, the clouds, and then the rain
Not what I want from semi-tropical
London, but a brilliant day all the same
Overground train to Richmond, slight rainfall
Popped into Marks and Sparks, then past Town Hall
And a right, to the Thames Bridge and beyond
The rain increased; bookshop browsing a while
Then to the South Bank. Pearl texted a friend
Who works there... Free viewing before the end
Of the day at Hayward Gallery; name
On the door, Tracey Emin, visual
Aperitif, then food at Giraffe, and
Cheap seats for the Philharmonia, playing
Really well at the Royal Festival Hall
Sun 5 June

1734 - London Fried

Of course London is hot when Manchester
Is what I'm used to, and today was hot
Breakfast outside, then Islington; had a
Tattoo (the Underground logo), a spot
Of pain for lifelong gain, though you might not
See it that way, then coffee and meeting
With David; then we (me and Pearl) struck out
For Brick Lane, near Shoreditch, an interesting
Couple of hours, though she was not feeling
Too good at one point. Bishopsgate, and The
Gherkin. Liverpool Street Station, I got
An Oyster Card. On to Soho, teeming
Saturday evening. Starbucks, then we were
Back home. A drink or three, a heart to heart
Sat 4 June

1733 - Giant Monopoly Board

The first really hot day we've had for weeks
Was the first day of my trip to London
I queued for Megabus with all the chicks
Spilled fizzy water everywhere upon
The bus floor as I screwed the top undone
When the bus reached Victoria I trekked
All the way from there to Caledonian
Road, where my daughter lives, so I reccied
The whole route for future reference. Effect
Of passing Buck Palace gave me some kicks
Walked up The Mall to Trafalgar Square, on
Up Charing Cross Road, aiming to connect
With Tottenham Court Road, Euston Road, past King's
Cross / St Pancras... At last the journey's done!
Fri 3 June

1732 - Blue sky blues

The sky is blue, the sky is blue, is blue
Here in Manchester, here in Manchester
Who would have thought it, who would have thought, who
It's just like summer, it's just like summer
I know it's that time of year, time of year
But this is the North, this is, is the North
It's not the South up here, not the South here
Up here the clouds spill forth, the clouds spill forth
Our streets are like the Firth of Forth, of Forth
Och aye the noo, the noo, och aye the noo
We were welly wearers, wellies we wore
To keep dry, to keep dry clothes, keep dry clothes
But the clouds flew, they flew, the clouds all flew
That should have impressed ya, have impressed ya

1731 - Questions without answers

Why do I always spill juice down white shirts?
Why are plastic bags so hard to open?
Why does the sun shine so that my eyes hurt
But it goes in when I close the curtain?
Why do ads start when my TV goes on?
Why do I get aches when I play guitar
And aches in my lower limbs when I run?
Why do I stop myself from going far?
Why do I settle for earth and not star?
Why am I active only in short spurts?
Why do I wait until the race is run?
Why do I want things but don't really care?
Why don't I find more people of my sort?
Why don't I - or am I the only one?