2363 - Pizza with Josie

It snowed today in Wilmslow as we dined
In Pizza Express, sat by the window
Josie and me both struggled hard to find
The pizzas of our choice, because she's no
Fan of vegetables. She chose to go
For a simple Margherita, and me
A hot Calabrese, forget the snow
Afterwards went to the bookshop where we
Looked at the section labelled history
Searching for Anne Frank's Diary on shelves lined
With war books, biographies. Tomorrow
It's an early start for me - 4.30
A.M. I have to be in dark and wind
Waiting for John's car. Then, to Morocco!

2362 - Piano 40

A much-needed coffee as I type this
Not much going on tonight - I have to save
My finances and all my energies
Because the holiday's close now. I have
Tonight to relax, tomorrow to shove
Things into a bag, passport, boarding card
A few clothes, new woolly hat, some warm gloves
Early Sunday, John and me climb aboard
A jet to Malaga. Marquis de Sade
Is my new book, collection of stories
Just finished Solzhenitsyn's, of the brave
Wars in Soviet days. Pearl's no longer bored -
The keys have arrived to her happiness
At last, a new piano, which she'll love!

(Pearl's my older daughter, who lives in London, and after about 3 years without a piano, she has now got one at last!)

2361 - Two pints of lager and a Nazi salute, please

I'm being naughty, eating pork crackles
But I'll cook a meal later on tonight
There may well be European football
On TV, Spurs in France - there was a fight
Last night when fascists did Nazi salutes
Then attacked a pub in Lyon where fans
(Some may have been Jewish) held football chat
And pints in their football-supporting hands
Is this really still happening in France?
It happened to Spurs fans in Rome not all
That long ago (November), so it's quite
The trend, it seems. And by coincidence
Today downstairs at the Palace Hotel
Our diversity conference was alright

2360 - To your health

There's nothing quite as satisfying as
A late night snack, such as mince and pasta
After watching The Brits, and before that
35 press-ups, proving I'm fitter
Than for several years, that's 5 more than the
Previous best of 30, so how 'bout that?
OK, so I smoked and drank straight after
I earned the right, get a life all you twats
Sorry, just trying to rhyme (quickly), that's
All, so I can go to bed. Bought a hat
Suncream and lip balm, I'm ready for the
Holiday in Morocco and Spain, what
Else? Oh yeah, some euros and some dollars
Now I'm ready to go to Africa

2359 - Cold comfort

A cold night on the town, to comedy
Just watching, but it wasn't very good
Until the last act, which was both funny
And visually memorable, not too proud
To laugh at himself, and the impressed crowd
He was a juggler by trade, juggling balls
Including heavy bowling balls, and wowed
Them with his cloth-pulling, and then shocked all
By putting it back again! Bus was full
On the way back, Nancy got on it, she
Had been to a gig nearby, where I had
Gone to many student gigs an awful
Long time ago, way back in the eighties
Showed her my new tattoo - she said it's scarred!

Tue 19 February

2358 - Song without words

Quite quiet at work today, but very warm
Went for a walk at lunchtime to find out
About Moroccan currency, which can't
Be obtained in advance. Could take some pounds
But dollars are accepted just about
Everywhere there, so I'll get some greenbacks
And some euros for Spain. This evening, got
In another great guitar session, slapped
Along to soulful jazz, and Beach Boys tracks
Minus vocals, which was the perfect storm
Of memory and technique. Tomorrow, out
Again, hopefully down to Jabez Clegg's
For a performance night, not to perform
But probably just to watch and to chill out

2357 - Manchester's got talent

Got back from an abortive open mic
At the Crescent, Salford, it's happened more
Than once before, but at least it's no hike
Into town, it's just near home, on our door-
Step, and the beer was great! Could have drunk more
But we tore ourselves away, went back home
And here I am now, like others before
Wondering if I should organise my own
Talent night, some place where people could hone
Their acts, comedy, music, anything they like
It all costs money though, people get bored
Of losing cash, getting nowhere, alone
In a world of apathy, but to stick
On a night is too tempting to ignore

2356 - Snowdrops and daffodils

Today we went a-walking everywhere
Round the roads and leafy lanes of Wilmslow
Me and Josie, but my new boots I wore
For the first full day, the ones I'm to go
A-walking the mountains of Morocco
In, are basically just trainers, and not
Really suitable for long hikes, but no
I've spent enough already, and to boot
There are still more things I still need to get
Today the weather was lovely and fair
Just right for country lanes - bit muddy though
The alpacas all running to get fed
At White Peak Farm, and sheep, oh, and beware
Of cyclists. Blue sky with sun and moonglow

2355 - Map of dreams

Hey hey it's Friday, and we're home and dry
All those workers who long for the weekend
Work's alright (apart from the work), mostly
But it's nice having some 'me-time' to spend
What to do tomorrow? It's time I found
Out what Josie wants. Meanwhile, today, I
Looked at the map of where we'll be around
That's southern Spain and Morocco, and by
The end of this month we'll both think and sigh
At the excitement we had, both on ski
And on Morocco's elevated land
It's amazing, Africa's so nearby
I should brush up my Arabic, maybe
After less than a year, it's forgotten!

2354 - Music of the mountains

A great guitar session this Thursday night
And then arranged the coming holiday
It's going to be an interesting time, right
Enough, the hills of Morocco by day
Smoking by night in an old-fashioned way
Then ferry back to Spain for some ski-ing
In the Sierra Nevada by day
And beer by night, no doubt. We'll be doing
The kind of things you can't do alone, things
Best done with friends. I'll be shooting down white
Rocks, and maybe there'll be some time to stay
In Granada, where I'm remembering
The Alhambra, still, from when I was quite
The teenager - so long I've been away

2353 - Snowbird

A snowy day, I made my way downtown
To King's House for a taxation conference
On the way home the snow had turned to rain
But not heavy, in the weather's defence
Nice to see many faces since years hence
I haven't seen, and topics of interest
The EU, and UK customs defence
But a test of mental resilience
To keep up with convoluted concepts
A great guitar session, fingers have flown
Along with my mind tonight, such strong winds
Of fast music demand strong responses
Man United one-all in Madrid, shown
On TV now 'People Like Us'. Immense!

2352 - How did I do it?

My eyes ache, got almost no sleep last night
Two cappucinos kept me wide awake
In fact when I got up (before the light)
I cleaned the floor of the flat, thought I'd take
A shower, but first, why not have a quick
Press-up or two? Unbelievably, I
Beat my record by two! That ain't good luck
That's super-strength, that is! After shut-eye
You usually feel much too dozy to try
Exercises, your arms are weak, your weight
Pulls you down, the mind's dull, it's a mistake
But on this occasion I seemed to fly
Up and down, no sleep had not sapped my might
As I thought it might. Showered, early to work

2351 - Fun-damental

Not as cold tonight as I expected
Down Oxford Road to the Sandbar again
For a variety night, bad and good
And some who were a little in-between
But good fun cos I just sat and watched them
And drank cappucinos, no alcohol
Nice night out with Janet, also saw Tom
And the tram came straightaway, fuckin' hell
Got headphones on right now, under the spell
Of Roots Manuva deep inside my head
Not Awfully Deep though, it's just Movements
With all this caffeine in me, will I fall
Asleep when the time comes to go to bed
I know what to do - read Solzhenitsyn!

2350 - Snakes alive!

A cold day but managed to use the train
To Wilmslow to see Josie, then back to
The station, to Cheadle Hulme, the mission -
A girl guide's top on John Lewis floor two
Dull design, I thought - mix of grey and blue
But looked good on her. I bought a mirror
With frightening close-up thrice-magnified view
Something I've needed though for many years
Much better for shaving off my whiskers
We then went to a Chinese restaurant,
Rainbow 88, first day of the new
Year of the snake, a big dragon's head there
And decorations like Christmas again
All we could eat was eaten - ah, thank you!

2349 - 35 Skidoo

A cold Saturday, at home trying to stay
Warm, but it's not as bad as in the States
Tomorrow I'll have to dress warm when me
And Josie spend a day in snowy wastes
Maybe we can just stay inside like toast
And eat and drink! Mind you, some snow is fun
Especially for ten-year-olds! With warm mitts
And good boots, we can slip and slide and run
And fall. If I do go abroad with John
There's a chance of some ski-ing for a day
In the Sierra Nevada. If dates
Are correct, it is thirty-five years on
Since I last skied (in Switzerland). Might say
Yes, but can't really afford it. Must buy boots!

2348 -It's all good!

It's been a good Friday, I felt refreshed
After a good night's sleep, and I worked well
Then afterwards, met the guys, and we meshed
In chat, as usual, but then John L. spelled
Out plans for a trip to Morocco, hell
For booze but heaven for everything else
Walking in the Rif Mountains - he could sell
That to me easily, still got a pulse
And so why not? Despite financial ills
You can't turn down new chances that refresh
Your life in unexpected ways. A call
Just now from Louis, one of those great calls
Looks like he might be moving here, the best
News I could have, things are turning out well!

2347 - Let the waves pound

Deflated feeling, but I will revive
In fact last night had its positive bits
But disappointment's like a twisted knife
Made worse by others receiving plaudits
From the same folk who to me took the piss
But when you notice a room of people
Most smiling, many giggles, one git
Is all it takes to spoil it - one, that's all
Was it even worth one small beer bottle?
Back to tonight, and after work, was brave
And had a new tattoo - memories of what's
On the Copenhagen shore - rocky girl
With a fishtail, she's here for my whole life
See how I've had to put up with some pricks!

2346 - Laugh, you bastard!

Not a great night for me, good for Janet
We went to the Ape and Apple fun show
And both did a set of comedy but
Mine was spoiled by a loud man from Glasgow
Oh well, maybe my character was no
Good, too fake, my northern accent not real
Enough to convince. Had some good jokes though
And raised some sniggers. Maybe my appeal
Was dulled by all my jokes about a small
You know what, which I haven't got. And it
Was like a rerun of those years ago
At the Frog and Bucket, my set was full
Of dirty toilet jokes, gradually drowned out
By conversation. Learning curve, you know

2345 - Slippin' and slidin' in Salford

Snow leaked through my brown shoes, made my socks wet
(I need new shoes, and socks, for they have holes)
On the way in to work, gingerly stepped
On slush and ice, there were no thick snowpiles
Luckily the walk is barely a mile
Just time to listen to a few old songs
A way to make that same old walk in style
As music complements the surroundings
Augmented by vehicle roars and rumblings
Around the corners they accelerate
Others expending health on daily toils
Like me, that's the way to be, the mind clings
To activity, loosens to stalemate
Work's a great benefit, it keeps us whole

2344 - Upstairs at Sainsburys

A hailstorm on the way home as I neared
Sainsburys, so I sheltered near its door
When along came Janet, all unafraid
Of hail or rain, no matter how it poured
Her glasses needed wiping once indoors
We went to the upstairs cafe and drank
A cappuccino each, and wondered where
To go next week. This week, don't need to think
Because Wednesday night we'll set 'em laughing
At the Ape and Apple - we won't be scared
There's no stage, you just stand there on the floor
And ten minutes go by in just a blink
But that's Wednesday, when the snow should have cleared
I like snow, and I look forward to more

2343 - Come chill with me

It's rather chilly, yes, it's fuckin' cold
The heating's on, though, to dry the washing
Relaxing day in the flat, in the fold
Apart from brief supermarket shopping
Just watched the fourth episode of Blandings
Realised it's Paloma Faith as the girl
Now Come Dine With Me's on, showing cooking
By people who can't cook, hardly at all
Then maybe guitar, but a rehearsal
Of Wednesday night's comedy is what's called
For above all, but will finish reading
My 'annoying the French' book, possible
If I finish this sonnet, get embroiled
In the last fifty pages of sniping

2342 - Moor moor moor

On a freezing but sunny February day
Too cold and windy for walking about
What better than hiring a car to stay
Warm and see the Pennine moors somewhere out
There through the moving windscreen as gusts shoot
Towards us but bounce off the glass and flags
Flutter perpendicularly and point
To Yorkshire, over those pale yellow crags
We'd found the road to Holmfirth with no snags
Via Oldham this time, an interesting new way
Instead of through Greenfield and Saddleworth
Just a straightish moortop road that just hugs
The hill's edge, passing cyclists who obey
The call of the wild wind with strength of youth

2341 - Come Whine With Me

Feeling a bit tired, woke up earlier
After a drink last night, which was naughty
Justified by payday, and staying in the
Black despite Christmas expense, January
Birthdays of everyone in my family
Then today, a hard morning, a deadline
That just had to be met, stress aplenty
And now, having done exercise, decline
In energy levels, watching Come Dine
With Me, from up in auld Edinburgh
Why some o' them are so snobbish beats me
It loses votes when people pose and whine
Fake smiles, competitiveness and hauteur
Doesn't go down well down in old GB