2186 - Space racing

The universe is almost infinite

It can't be truly infinite because

There may be other universes that

Could be infinite too, both in numbers

And size, and meanwhile the planets and stars

In our insignificant galaxy

Rush apart as we go through the light years

Thanks to that mysterious dark energy

That though invisible, beats gravity

And stretches space past the outer limits

Faster than light, if we can see far as

Thanks to Hubble we seem able to see

Though we feel separate, we're all part of it

All subject to the same natural laws

2185 - Hairem scarem

Can't decide what to do about my hair
A lot of people like it long, it seems
My locks get lots of looks when I'm out there
But after I wash it I want to scream
It gets so thick and curly, a bad dream
When I'm out of the flat and in public
I only wash it now and then, it's been
Getting greyer for years, so I now stick
Dark brown dye on, but that's not symmetric
With my chest hair that keeps getting whiter
Even the odd pubic hair's now light cream
I had short hair for ages and got sick
Of it, but my receding forehead's where
My long-haired look falls down. So - haircut time?

2184 - Thoughts on whatever

Loud music blocks my creativity
Yet I will try once more to blast on through
While listening to songs simultaneously
Type anything perhaps that comes to view
Like a writing exercise, not think too
Hard about what comes out, just let it flow
That way there might be thoughts that seem brand new
Personally I'm not a fan of all that though
Such artificial techniques they fool no-
One, aren't proof of originality
Just tools for those with dull brains who want to
Impress the gullible, so I say no
The music's nearly done, it's time for me
To close this sonnet and depart on cue

2183 - Shelter from the storm

After two days out, staying in today
Horrible weather, not as bad as thought
Read 'Vanity Fair' (W. M. Thackeray)
Still nowhere near the end, but it has caught
My interest, by Gad, by Jove! Also sought
Out my Amy Winehouse CDs and then
Mark Ronson. While cooking, managed to draft
Some quick new lyrics, then back to the pan
Will work on this new song when I am done
Writing this sonnet. Can't seem to obey
My own wishes sometimes, my will is fraught
With fear and inertia. No dates have come
Yet. Too honest, was I? In that case they
Are typical love fools I won't support

2182 - Mystery train

An unexpected second day with Jo
Her mum's recovering from an op and she
Invited me to take Jo out and so
I did, beginning with a carvery
At The Rifleman's - not a single pea!
Tasty though, but we saw Steve, ex-neighbour
And decorator. Then we walked to the
Train station, deciding as we went, where
We should go today. On the map, she saw
Sheffield, so I thought yes, that's where we'll go
I've been before, not walked round the city
Though, so we did. Sat in Millennium Square
Then walked round the corner and had a go
On the dodgems. Egg fried rice for our tea

2181 - Trip to the Pool

Hello, it's late on Saturday night now
I've been to Liverpool today with Jo
The weather forecast was dire, that we knew
Brollies at the ready, all set to go
Soon after arriving there, ate well, though
My haddock was quite small, not Jo's pizza
At The Hub. Tall helter skelter, quick go
For Jo, and a bubble on the water
Was fun, then on the Mersey ferry. The
Rain fell thinly at first, the started to
Bucket down from then on. We got wet through
But sheltered in Lime Street. To Manchester
Then on to Wilmslow. Got back home somehow
In time to see the footy, don't you know!

Sat 25 Aug

2180 - Love you, hate your dog

Wet Bank Holiday weekend coming up
Something to look forward to then, all right
Starting tonight, nothing on telly, stuck
All by myself on this damp Friday night
Last night I spent time on the dating site
Left a nice, funny unreturned message
That's OK, just wait, women, and the slight
Will be returned when one of you manage
To send me a one-liner with a large
Emoticon or exclamation mark
Or kiss, expecting that this slight effort
Is all you need to make for me to forge
A long and adoring relationship
Well I got some news for you 'babes' - it ain't

2179 - Spider's website

No luck yet on the dating front. I have
Ignored one message from America
What the fuck is the point of being in love
With someone that far away, I ask you?
It's wasted time - maybe they don't have a
Good grasp of geography? I'm English
And live in the north west, in Manchester
If you've got your rod out and want to fish
Please remember I'm in the Isles British
Stick to your own continent, big enough
And populous enough for you, I'm sure
Right now, singing about love, it's Otis
He'd have gone on dating websites full of
Women of all kinds, some less prettier

2178 - Let there be bathroom light

The electrician came to fix the light
In the bathroom that had not shone so bright
For weeks now, in fact it was dark as night
In there, except for just one small spotlight
Above the mirror. Shaving has been quite
Difficult after dark, been risking sliced
Neck and chin because of lack of clear sight
It's a frequent occurrence in daylight
So God knows this needed to be put right
I shouldn't admit this, but the man's quote
Was reduced by ten quid, no VAT
If I paid in cash, so I did - not right
Morally, but let our leaders be white
Themselves before they tell us to live right

2177 - Yesterday's man

Oops, I did it again, forgot to write
Dunno why really, was OK last night
The radio on in the background, quite quiet
With football commentary, Rams with a fight
On their hands at Bolton, and just not quite
Good enough to get a draw, though they hit
The post and deserved a penalty spot
Kick. What else was I doing? I had hit
Upon the scheme of dating - joined a site
And was looking at pictures - quite a lot
To look at. There were three I felt I might
Want to meet, so quite timidly I typed
Messages to them, the types who quite liked
Their lives now, but still felt, well, not quite right

2176 - Radio nights

I've been to work today but now two days
Off work to look forward to! Last night lay
Awake listening to the radio, cos
There was a piece on northern soul, then they
Went on to a feature on comedy
Old Americans, Groucho, George Carlin
I'd left the radio turned up quite loud - see
You don't do that when you have been drinking
Cos when you wake up, the thing is blaring
Out conversation, laughter, tunes - it was
That which woke up my mind, then long delay
In getting back to sleep, which was tiring
Me for the day ahead. So now I'll laze
On the sofa, read, hear United play

2175 - Sketch and the city

Hello, it's me again, it's Sunday night
Another night out, and I'm pissed again
Life drawing, a male nude, sketches are like
Cartoons done in three minutes are such fun
A thick pencil or charcoal and I'm done
A couple of coffees and hot chocolate
Then on the way to Odd Bar we are stunned
To hear the open mike night's off, and chat
To Nearly Dead Poets, discuss a twat
Then we go there anyway, have a bite
To eat, very tasty, chinwag, and then
I walk home and arrive in time to sit
And watch Match of the Day. Man City might
Screw up here but they just beat Southampton!

2174 - August isn't the coolest month

A hot day, shorts-wearing weather for sure
My feet ache cos I wore pumps and walked far
Went swimming with Josie and then bought her
The new season's new Man United gear
From Sports Direct, Stockport, fifty knicker
But that's cheaper than the United shop
At Old Trafford by some way. Soon it's the
First Match of the Day, in some ways the top
Time of the week, the climax til the drop
Back towards the working week. I'm quite poor
Now, it's been a high-spending month, summer
Being a time for going out, non-stop
Sightseeing, fun and mad expenditure
A time to live wildly til September

2173 - Heated park

A walk over the green bridge in Salford
Connecting it to the Manchester side
I found Cornbrook tram station to then board
The tram to Bury, the aim to alight
At Heaton Park where I met Nancy, tried
To attend a variety night nearby
But it was not on this month, so we spied
A nearby pub and caught up, she and I
Chatting about our lives, both said we'd try
To spice up our lives, cos we can't afford
To go on waiting, we both can't abide
Boredom and want more. But we don't fancy
Each other, we're just friends. There's one that I'd
Go with, and others that I've yet to find...

2172 - Hungry but happy

Hey, days off work are great, like retirement
Come early, when you're still younger and fit
Because I've still got a lot of leave left
I can take two days off a week til it
Gets too autumnal, darkness and that shit
Today I read 'The Corrections' and wrote
Some new song lyrics, continuing to hit
That road in a new direction, the road
To happiness, and we must not forget
It's the journey that counts with contentment
Not the arrival. Cliche, hit the spot!
It's a wonderful life, and you can't tempt
Me with religion, disillusionment
With life's definitely not where it's at!

2171 - Virgin on the ridiculous

They're arguing about who runs the trains
Virgin on the ridiculous, they're gone
First have won the new contract, they have gained
The dear-won confidence of government
For the West Coast mainline down to London
First promise their passengers improvements
Like more seats and some new destinations
But I think they're a bunch of fucking shunts
Watch for price increases, not those announced
Already for January, but more pain
In the pocket as First try to hold on
To making a profit, not easy since
There's a recession, inflation remains
An issue. But I'm laughing at Branson

2170 - Faithful friends

It's been fun today on my own at home
I've read 'The Corrections' and heard  music
Reflecting people who are left alone
How could I for one minute think I'm sick
When these high achievers do the same schtick
Soul Sessions, Van Morrison's Veedon Fleece
And Into the Music, MC5, pick
In hand I played for a while, a reprise
Of my own songs, indie from the 90s
Then moved on with some beer, Charles Trenet, homme
De Paris, followed by Sia, Topographic
Oceans is next, got lined up Welsh choirs
Jackie Wilson, Otis Redding to come
And by then I'll be satisfied, tock tick

2169 - End of a friend

Monday means back to work, but tomorrow
I'm off again, glad I'm using up leave
In the summertime, not when the sun's low
It's for the Olympics now we all grieve
It's like the end of a friend, narrative
Of loss, of happy routine, excitement
Without effort, like a drug, that just gives
Without taking, or so it seems - but spend
Too long watching, that's not good for the mind
Two weeks, a holiday from life, borrowed
Time from duty and ordinary life
And for the lucky few, love, undermined
In my case recently, but athletes know
- And golfers - gold's there if you have the drive

2168 - Golden sunset

Last day of Olympics competition
More medals for GB - boxing and the
Women's modern (and quite strange) pentathlon
Also finished a book of poetry
By John Clare. Now to watch a DVD
Accident, film, 1967
The third of the Pinter film trilogy
That I've seen recently. Must get moving
As free time has a habit of leaving
I need to have a free television
For the Olympic closing ceremony
These two weeks have been full of sporting fun
So many golds for GB - 29
And today saw the return of footy!

2167 - Staffordshire knot a bad spot

The last day's Olympic competition
Just got home late, I'm watching the highlights
Went out with Josie, good use of the train
And the Family Railcard discount which cuts
The cost in half. Two to Stoke and back just
Eleven quid. Went to Trentham Gardens
Resplendent in the sun. Monkey Forest
Adjacent, cheaper, but she said, less fun
The barefoot walk was the main attraction
For her, walking through knee-high mud, shorts on
Thank God it was warm enough for those shorts
Beautiful lake and Italian Gardens
Then Crewe, Wilmslow, Manchester, back again
Everyone in Stoke has tattoos! Good night!

2166 - Looking for lust

Good to talk to Tania and Josie, they
Supported me, especially little Jo
Just to hear her voice, I feel sure that she
Will always be there for me, and me too
For her. We have fun. Looking forward to
A hot day with her tomorrow, the last
Day of the Olympics, the end of two
Tumultuous weeks. As summer'll soon be past
It would be nice perhaps to try to cast
Out my net soon to find a new love. They
May come, they may stay a while and then go
Perhaps I shouldn't care if they don't last
I should just plunge right in there anyway
And have some fun, have more highs and more lows

2165 - These golden days

Off work today, and boy I'm glad I am
Not only is it sunny, but I've seen
Some really great Olympic contests, and
Some more golds for our team of Great Britain
(Shouldn't that be the UK?). First, open
Water swimming in Hyde Park, BMX
Bike racing, spectacular crashes on
The bumpy bendy track, taekwondo kicks
To the head (come on Jade!), saw women box
With Nicola Adams from Leeds all golden
Rhythmic dressage, which is equestrian
Dancing to music, dancing in the seats
As a Brit girl won. Tonight, Bolt will run
In the 200 metres. Yeah, come on!

2164 - Back on track

I'm back on track - tonight, did comedy
Upstairs at the Ape & Apple, oh yes
This time of year it's a bit quiet, maybe
So the audiences are smaller, with less
Top-rate comics around also, the best
Of them up at the Edinburgh Fringe
This morning as I was off work, read rest
Of my counter-culture book. It was strange
To finish it at last. John Clare's free range
Country and madness poems begun - he
Ended in an asylum, seventy plus
When he died. Although judged as quite deranged
He has still left a timeless legacy
The ambition of many men, I guess

Wed 8 August

2163 - Love lies limp

Oh dear, what can the matter be, oh dear
Katy and kids have gone, no longer here
I got a text, one I'd started to fear
As I left work, and it all became clear
I'd had my head in the sand last few days
Saw the warnings, but even I'm amazed
Never thought after leaving home, the stay
Would be so short, are women all this crazed?
I know she's not happy with her boyfriend
She left him for me but she's back again
Is it just homesickness? It must be when
She'd said she was fed up of him back then
Dear, you've thrown it away, you'll be nothing
When loving me, you'd have been everything

2162 - Ram tattoo

A strange day, poor Katy got no sleep and
Then, after I went to work, I got a
Text from her, and off to the West Midlands
She goes, with kids, trouble with her mama
I've yet to find out what's happened with her
They're somewhere down there, or on the way back
I don't know. Meanwhile, my new tattoo's a
Derby Ram, on my upper left arm, black
Ink, quite small, signifying years of lack
Of football success, and a recent planned
Rendezvous with you know who! Now to the
Business of eating. I think there's a lack
Of decent food here, but there's Sainsburys brand
Frozen fish. But, dear Katy, where are ya?

2161 - Laugh along with Andy Murray

I had a few hours to myself today
Which I tried to make the most of, because
Katy took the kids swimming, walking way
Down Oxford Road, to the big swimming place
The water was too shallow, Katy says
They also walked round the shops and had lunch
Then went to the museum. This was ace
It gave me the chance to prepare to launch
Myself into comedy for my crunch
Ten minute slot in Manchester, Wednesday
I also watched Murray beat nemesis
Federer for Olympic gold. It was such
A thrill watching Bolt this evening - he's way
Faster than the rest. We knew that, of course...

2160 - There's gold in them thar Welsh hills

A lovely day trip in the car to Wales
To be precise, Llangollen, via Wrexham
A sunny start, later on some rainfall
But not enough to spoil things - brollies came
Out as needed, Pearl and Josie found some
Cute knick-knack shops in this touristy place
This misty place, with wooded hills, the sun
In hiding, but still a warm Welsh embrace
Meanwhile at the Games, things went on apace
Rowing, cycling produced three gold medals
I got home, however, at the right time
To see Jessica Ennis's last race
She won heptathlon gold, long jump guy falls
Furthest, and then 10k gold too- well done!

2159 - Fun and frolics!

A hectic but fun morning - interview
For a job for Katy which went quite well
Meanwhile me and the kids found things to do
In a fun museum, called the People's
History Museum. Couldn't see all
The displays properly - it was too hectic
Racing around like mad things! Then a call
From Katy's mum made tension rise. A quick
Chat, then Katy rang her ex, both hearts ticked
As accusations flew. But though they flew
They're all about the past, and there's no will
To go back there again. The clock has tricked
And now there's so much more to see and how
It's time we rang the celebration bell!

2158 - Your move

I couldn't sleep last night, filled with worry
So I got up and read till half-past four
I knew something was wrong with poor Katy
Turns out it was homesickness, nothing more
When you leave your home town and folks and pour
Your eggs in one far-off new basket, it's
A hard thing to get used to, I am sure
The nearest I can remember to this
Is '83 when I finally left Prince
Rupert's Way, Lichfield, university
Calling from the great north, from Manchester
Suddenly left in my small room with bits
And pieces, and strangers. If she loves me
And soon finds friends, so much will be in store!

2157 - Bring me sunshine and showers

A fun day out today in Manchester
A day of sunshine and heavy shower
First, Katy went to Salford Jobcentre
And sorted out her much-needed welfare
Which she's due til she gets her job - carer
Of nursery kids. Next, the cafe over
The road from work for lunch, tattoo parlour
(Next tattoo, Derby Ram, Monday), then the
New medical practice to register
Us all with a good NHS doctor
Then a short walk to town for a wander
In and out of shops and art gallery where
Victorian art is hung, then back to the
Plaza near home for some new shoes to wear