3059 - On New Year's Eve

It's New Year's Eve, Eve, if your name is Eve
It was New Year's Eve Eve, yesterday, Eve
And even if it wasn't New Year's Eve
It would be an eve of a new day, Eve
New day, new year, even new decade, Eve
Evens out in time, don't give Adam, Eve
It's even odd for Eve on New Year's Eve
Odds on it's odder on New Year's Eve Eve
Add Adam and it's oddly Eden, Eve
This evening, stay even, best believe, Eve
Leave boredom, heave a sigh of relief, Eve
Behaving is the brave thing, even Steve
Says it's even stevens. Is New Year's Eve
For mischieving or achieving, Eve? Eve??

3058 - Fretting about things

Quick, write a sonnet before my guitar
Session, which has to be before Derby
Play Leeds at quarter to eight. Revenge for
The Rams, I hope, for somehow losing the
Away match at their place. Come on Johnny
Russell, Chris Martin and chums, fill the net
More than Santa's stocking, foot of the tree
Piled high, stack the goals up, make Leeds regret
Beating us last month! Warming up the fret-
board I'll soon be, 'fore you know where you are
But what to play? Doesn't matter to me
Variety's good, so genres don't dictate
I'll play anything, anyhow or where
But first, it's a wee toilet trip for me!

3057 - Cold cold winter

Back to work, like back to school, just as bad
Quiet though, few in, a few chats here and there
A bit more of the condoc written, had
The chance to do more, but by four, no more
Could be borne, I was bored, so at half-four
I wound my way home, via Sainsburys
Yes sir, yes sir, two bags full but no more
But nothing that will help me with the freeze
Keep the door shut, don't want balcony breeze
Easing its way in, stay out there, I said
To the wind which I talk to, I can't bear
It on a winter night though, silences
Are fine, put conversation to the sword
Wrap up real warm and turn on the heater

3056 - Chiller thriller killer

A cold day, mostly wasted feeling ill
Thanks to last night's whisky Christmas present
Couldn't do anything, felt sick and killed
Time sitting on the sofa, ears attuned
To the football on the radio, and ground
My way through the afternoon, finally
Feeling able to eat at tea-time, sound
Constitution, didn't puke, the whisky
And Stella combination inside me
Inducing nausea. Despite the intense chill
I visited Nancy as I was meant
We had a good chat up there in Bury
(Nice chocs, by the way, those things tasted brill)
Now home again, sadly, the weekend's spent

Sun 28 Dec

3055 - Veggie table

Last few hours at Mum's, went shopping for her
Before it rained, then taxi to station
Train to Liverpool, changed for Manchester
Popped into the flat, saw Pearl, Lou, Vee and
Then drove P and L to Wilmslow, the fun
Began as Josie joined us, then drove to
The Sanskruti in Fallowfield. Meal-time
It was a veggie place, I didn't know
When I booked it, but it was nice, and Jo
Enjoyed hers too. Back to flat of Vera
Where we played 'Articulate' - tempers ran
At times, but it was a laugh. Me and Lou
Beat the girls. Yay! Dropped Jo off, curly hair
Impressed us all! Now one night on my own...

Sat 27 Dec

3054 - Dozy Boxing Day

This is a day late, I confess. Spent at
My mother's house in Greasby. Robin was
Here til 3pm, then he drove in that
Downpour which turned into a blizzard fast
Back to Lichfield for a pub gig. I spaced
Out a bit in the afternoon, think it
Was tiredness, but football updates helped pass
The time. Birmingham thumped 4-0, a great
Result for The Rams, anchored in third spot
Almost finished that novel - what was it?
Oh never mind, didn't give me a buzz
It's Viv Albertine's autobiog fate
Has decreed I read next, and now I've got
Two more good books as presents for Christmas!

Fri 26 Dec

3053 - Yes, it really is Christmaaaaas!

It's Christmaaaaas! Noddy's driving Santa's sleigh
I was awake til half-past one last night
Messaging on Facebook, joking away
Preventing my own sleep by the phone light
Miraculously, slept til light was bright
The light of dawn, that is, the phone recharged
Was used pretty soon for pictures that might
Raise smiles online. Then into Robin's large
Hired car, up the road, to a hill with gorge-
ous views of the Mersey and of the Dee
Estuaries, up that hill the wind had bite
Since then we've eaten and talked, not yet played
Scrabble, but there's still time. Juice in the fridge
Sweets, biscuits, chocolates. One more? I just might

Thur 25 Dec

3052 - It's Christmaaaaaaas!

I must admit I forgot my sonnet
Yesterday (Christmas Eve), I'm a day late
I'll try and remember not to forget
Next time, but Christmas puts you in a state
I went to work, made my brain operate
As far as I could, with Christmas looming
Left early, got the train to Mum's, was great
To be with her and bro Rob, both catching
Up on news and what have you. Relaxing
In the evening, no drink for me, no wet
Alcohol, not even to celebrate
The time of year that's now fast approaching
I read for a while before going to bed
Then went on Facebook, late chat to create...

Wed 24 Dec

3051 - Ho ho ho hum!

Been at work today, I'm there tomorrow
Quite quiet in the office, people gone
Preparing their family Christmases, so
Busy and stressful they make it sound, on
They moan, although I think they think it's fun
Me, I've got a few decorations this
Time, unlike normal Yules of tradition
When I do very little. The Christmas
Meal's booked for three on Saturday, a nice
Indian place that does veggie food, that's so
Important for Pearl and Louis, they've been
Veggies since birth. Sanskruti's a good choice
It's on Mauldeth Road, Fallowfield. A go
At Christmas comedy tonight. Ho! Hum

Tue 23 Dec 

3050 - If reggae be de food of love

Just cooking dinner in the cool evening
It's cold out there on the old balcony
Glad I'm not out there in my coat shivering
Instead I'm digging some reggae CD
While cooking something nice, warm and tasty
This is the second disc from the set that
I played in the car. Barrington Levy
Is singing 'Too Experienced' - and what
A different version to Jackie Edwards
Next, Shaggy, 'Oh Carolina' will bring
Back the early 90s for you and me
A few tracks further on it's Eddy Grant
Not to mention classic Junior Murvin
And last, Sophia G's Girlie Girlie

3049 - You are my sunshine

This is the shortest day of the whole year
A day I like even though it's horrid
And dark, because you know the time's now near
When it'll get lighter again, take heed
Of this change for the better. In your bed
You'll see a slow earlier lightening
Maybe that's not in itself all that good
If that causes earlier awakening
I don't like darkness except for sleeping
Common sense says that's a time to be clear
Of danger and cold, home comforts enjoyed
Maybe it can be warmed with a short fling
Though that's hard for me to do without tears
So useless with people, easily led

3048 - Time is a drag

Not quite sure what to do tonight. Wanted
To play guitar, but Louis' gone to bed
So it would be selfish, some might have said
To do that which I had contemplated
So I'll find something else to do instead
At least there's no need for booze in my head
Although the time is dragging now, I've fed
Myself well, something I once neglected
When I had beer and fags I'd collected
Mind you, writing about this makes me dread
That I might start wanting it. I have read
To the end 'The Land of Green Plums.' I sped
Through it last night, this morning completed
It, and chose new listening tracks. Excited!

3047 - No whisky bravo

Just four hours' sleep last night, I rose early
Rather than listening to the radio
In bed and drifting back to sleep, maybe
Got up at 5:20 and said hello
To Lou who was watching the Daily Show
On his laptop, he sure got a surprise
To see me come in the room and then go
For a shower. Didn't get soap in my eyes
At work by 7:30. No real cries
Of amazement from others, shockingly
Despite my tiredness, worked hard like a pro
It was a time to say Christmas bye-byes
To some at least. For me there's no whisky
This year, which is weird but good. Humbug? No!

3046 - Switch off switch on

Not much on TV, a chance then to write
But no, I think once more I'll play guitar
Because it's what I want, to get it right
To play fast solos, made up as they are
Now I'm bass, now lead, now rhythm player
But I'm not there yet, need to find a way
Of playing, in my own style, mingling the
Three types of playing, a one-man display
That impresses them, but's easy to play
So easy I can sing too, with spirit
And soul expression. But should just aim for
A simple rhythmic style while singing,stay
Within the possible, then take to flight
When mouth and mind are freed up and can soar

3045 - Choosing losing boozing

The TV's got turned off cos it's going on
About Christmas, and 'Santa' and nonsense
Like that. I'm pleased to say that I have done
A good job of avoiding it, and hence
Will continue to. Especially incensed
By stupid jingly-jangly musical
Bells and balls, hate it all, not on the fence
On this one. I'm not in consumer thrall
Au contraire! (Why French? There's less syllables)
I'm saving in December! No lies spun
No web of deceit. I've been saving since
I quit the booze. Though mad fun's had to fall
(Like Abba's loser), I'm getting more strong
Now to find REAL fun, and at less expense!

3044 - Ram Raiders in Chelsea

Derby have just kicked off against Chelsea
In the Capital One Cup (the League Cup)
Listening to that match as I type quickly
Not spending too long pondering, but stop
Towards the end of each line, coming up
With a suitable rhyme. The Rams attack!
No - they've messed it up. They've been at the top
Of the Championship (Div 2), but slipped back
Slightly this month - against Leeds they were slack
And at 'Boro could have lost heavily
But kept it to a two-goal loss. We'll flop
Against the UK's top team now, odds stacked
In the Blues' favour with their quality
Come on the Rams - keep trying 'til you drop!

3043 - Buzz saw doctors

Left-handed buzz, post-guitar sessioning
Playing these days itself is a real buzz
But I don't play each day would be pushing
It in terms of hand health, mite dangerous
Got to be careful, don't want arthritis
But I play so fast these days, work the joints
In my left wrist and my left-hand fingers
Zooming all over the fretboard. Yet once
Back when I lived in Stockport, strained my brains
Trying to memorise positioning
By note names on the guitar fret - pointless
The way my mind works, it falls down and grunts
When memorising words or info in
Quick time. No, music has to be thoughtless

3042 - The lamb in winter

Sunday Sunday at home today Sunday
Think there should be no punctuation now
I have begun this unorthodox way
Its OK if you are enough highbrow
A bit ee cummings Im an off show
Its cold in winter thats a big surprise
Not I should say like the size of a cow
Although it could be a baby cow size
Never assume words are true could be lies
All these are are pastimes to pass time hey
Best to pass time easily cant somehow
Motivate to activate pressurise
Myself to get big things done just the way
Ive always been can I ever change though

3041 - Tram o'shanter

A chilly day but I was warmly dressed
Met Josie at her house, then Manchester
As usual. And, as usual, the dest-
ination was Old T, United's lair
No match on, just scanning the usual fare
In the Reds'shop, though this time I bought nowt
For her. We walked to the Quays. Harvester
Was where we dined, but it needs sorting out
I may have been overcharged by about
Ten quid. May walk there tomorrow, may rest
Instead and forget about it - see where
Fate takes me, with a whimper or a shout
Any road, it's so parky, need a vest
And thermals, hot water bottle, good sir

Tram o'shanter simply because we travel to Old Trafford by tram!

3040 - Just about alright now!

Wow. Despite everything, the Christmas do
Came and went with me keeping myself dry
All those hours, others knocking back wine, you
Also see them with pints, they all get high
While you don't, and you're tired, last night you'd lie
In bed listening to neighbours' noise through wall
I heard them singing 'Alright Now' though I
Didn't recognise it at first. The wail
Of a student voice really couldn't fail
To wake me up and keep me awake through
Several hours of the morning. Then apply
A few hours at work, then a long work meal
Pleasant enough, but long, then a disco
And karaoke. Long hard victory!

3039 - Cold comfort flat

Jeez, hope this cold weather won't last too long
Though I suspect it may last all winter
Just what we don't need, big bills to prolong
The general austerity. Guess the poor
Will either freeze or go bankrupt this year
Food banks, that's another 'big issue' now
Luckily, I don't yet need a voucher
To get free handouts of food, if I plough
This work furrow as I'm doing, allow
Myself to pay off debts, I can belong
With the somewhat-better-off, if not the
Decidedly-better-off, and highbrow
Nature means I can always go along
Cheaply, reading, walking, playing guitar

3038 - Roma-loma-ding-dong

I'm looking forward to an evening in
Which will be spent on Spotify, firstly
And then when Louis gets up (it's evening
But he's asleep) we will then watch City
Attempt to win against Roma and the
Odds in the Champions League. Too cold and wet
To collect Claire's Christmas parcel for Josie
Hopefully tomorrow evening I'll get
It. Need to buy i-Tunes vouchers, not yet
Been to Tesco. They're for Lewis, cousin
Of my three kids Josie, Pearl and Louis
Back to last night, although I don't regret
Ad-libbing with Dermot, need to refine
The act a bit to make more comedy

3037 - Drunk as a sober skunk

A rainy day, a cat and a dog day
Bad weather in Manchester shock, oh my!
First time in a month, comedy, hurray
Maintained, while doing that, my state of dry
I.e. no beer for me, though Dermot tried
To knock back Guinness, only two pints, mind
Not like the old days, five or six pints plied
And necked on a long session. Now we're kind
To wallets and bodies. Not hard to find
Non-alcoholic beer that tastes OK
Today it was Bavaria, nice to try
I've got a trip there in the spring, I've lined
Up Munich as one stop, on holiday
Next spring, when I'll drink real beer, me oh my!

3036 - Sounds rebound

At work this morning our team moved en masse
To different desks. That was quite exciting
At lunchtime I got a haircut at last
It's like my haircuts of old, some shaving
Around the neck and ears. Feels like going
Back in time... After work, went to see Vee
She's perking up after a depressing
Interlude. She fixed my phone cleverly
Even the sound's come back - I'm so happy
Good news then, I won't have to splash the cash
Upgrading, paying double, though thinking
An i-Phone would be nice. Maybe July
I'll get one then when my contract's up. That's
All the news from me today. I'm smiling!

3035 - No trouble

A cold day at home, glad I'm not out there
Got a film to watch, it's about Keith Moon
So might put that on. Is it a drama
Or documentary? Well, I'll find out soon
Could be a lead zeppelin, punctured balloon
Or maybe dramatic, like the man's life
Unlike Moon, I'm well on the bandwagon
I mean I'm off the loopy juice, I'm safe
From drunkenness, even though without wife
Or is that more likely with wife? Don't care
As long as I'm succeeding with this boon
Enjoying this lack of trouble and strife
No cause to blot it out, no, now I stare
At and appreciate it, grin like a loon

3034 - Santa's a Red Devil

A chilly day but not too cold. Again
(Yet again) Jo wanted to go to Old
Trafford, and we did, and again I spent
On her while there, but I shouldn't self-scold
It was a Christmas present I was sold
Which was a United away shirt, dark
Blue, with Di Maria on the back. A bold
Move then by Jo which paid off, played off park
I was by her tactics! Still, we had a lark
I looked for the trainers I saw within
Sports Direct in Salford last night, but failed
To find them in town. Think I'll have to walk
Around in shoes til January, tattoos ain't
Affordable now either - they're on hold

3033 - Zing went the strings of my guitar

Just had a blistering guitar session
In which largely I managed not to look
It's quite easy when you practice, skates on
Ice, riding bikes, swimming just like a duck
Or anything really, fish on a hook
It's all possible with regular graft
But still got some way to go til I pluck
The strings and courage to test my stagecraft
Til then it remains stagefright, and my pact
With myself's to keep practising alone
It's fun anyway, no pressure, a track
Playing in the background, my mind abstract
Free of all words and thoughts, I strum along
Or play lead or bass, rarely I get stuck

3032 - Food isn't rude

I fancy a late-night snack, yes I do
I'll see what there is, don't think I've got much
I don't buy snacks, no biscuits, cakes, a few
Things, maybe a bit of cheese I could munch
Wait, I've got some tinned salmon yet untouched
So that could be the answer what to eat
Got Ryvita if it comes to the crunch
With some Marmite on, that would taste complete
So pleased there's some food here, I want to bleat
Like an ecstatic sheep in morning dew
A late night snack is more than just a crutch
It's enough to make you snug in your sheet
When you go content to bed and then you
Drift away happy and healthy and such

3031 - Cold (it's)

Feel wide awake, and that's even despite
A day of presentations. Goes to show
That sometimes, if you don't stay up all night
Almost anything can be OK, so
That encourages me, I didn't slow
Or drop off to sleep as I sat and watched
Clear sky last night, a touch of frost. To go
Out last night wasn't appealing, and scotched
Plans to go out tonight too. There's a match
On (Sunderland v City) that I might
Watch with Louis. Before that, fingers flow
On the guitar for an hour or so, catch
The wind through the strings on its quick light flight
And edge that bit closer to goodness knows

3030 - Mind your language

Although it's Word War One, think I'll stay in
And watch a game with Louis, not done that
In a while, plus it's cold outside, shiv'rin'
Out there's not a prospect that flats my bat
Oh God, I think before long I'll have shat
Got the urge to evacuate bowels
Never quite sure when I write words like that
You know, bowels, one or two syllables?
Soon I'll wipe my bottom with paper towels
Hope this ain't too gross, hope you're not eatin'
This last week's seen two anti-Jewish spats
Or storms in teacups maybe, two big fools
From the football world, Balotelli and
Whelan, both of them are a pair of klutz

3029 - Falling down and rising up

Come Dine With Me this week's in Manchester
I might see a face I know - I hope so
There's a Dom. I know two, though one's Cheshire
Wait - there they all are, and the answer's no
I don't know this Dom. 'Tracksuit Dom,' you know!
It looks as though it will be amusing
Forgot to wear a belt today, oh no!
When I got to work, trousers were slipping
A bit too far down! Will be correcting
That mistake tomorrow, so when I'm there
My pants won't fall when I get up and go
Meanwhile, today I saw the opening
Of the new multi-storey. Took picture
Or two of Father Christmas outside. Ho!