3239 - In a pint pot

Listening to 'In A Rut' - no special cause
Except it's on my headphones, my playlist
Just got in from work, left there 'early doors'
(Yuk, I hate that phrase!) Next I shall get pissed
Starting off at the Brewdog, then visit
A few more places maybe, during which
Time I'll discuss with John recent tourist
Activities of ours, then we will switch
To planning our jaunt in September, ditch
Suitcases, just a bag each, not all floors
We'll be on, or pavements, but hills that twist
And potholes in the Balkans. Had some chips
At lunchtime from the Hip Hop Chip Shop - now's
Tea-time but think I'll miss it, miss miss missed

3238 - Heatwave nights

Too tired to do much tonight, don't know why
So tonight's a write-off, but I've done well
Last two nights being good and staying dry
They say a heatwave's starting. It's been cool
Most of the spring, but tonight could be hell
If it gets too hot. I still like the heat
Of summer though, short-lived, excitable
It's like being abroad, you lie and sweat
And feel young again from head down to feet
I'm struggling now with this, I cannot lie
My mind's unwinding, falling down a well
I feel dead on my feet, completely beat
Drink tomorrow night with John, then Wednesday
Off work, catch up, got a spare room to fill

3237 - Make it hard

Completely forgot to do yesterday's
Sonnet diary. Well, remembered at one
Point, but then forgot again as I based
Myself in the moment, distracted from
A magazine, a TV show. Early on
I painted walls and window sills all white
Trying to cover discolouration
Brown stains and dirty fingerprints. It's nice
Now but not even. Guess I need advice
In decorating technique in this place
Played guitar, struggled at first, the volume
Was a bit quiet to hear the music, plus
I wore my Soviet hat and some dark shades
To make it harder like a performance

About Sun 28 June

3236 - Is it safe?

Been to see Josie, and her mum with her
Broken back in a brace, recovering
Or trying to, while perched on the sofa
Didn't go to Manchester, worrying
About terrorist attacks is spreading
Her mum and her were worried of the threat
Especially in Ramadan, with frightening
Reports on the news of some beheaded
Victim, or a mosque bombed, or beach of death
So went to Heaton Chapel, big dinner
(Lunch) and cheesecake, my stomach was hurting
Couldn't finish my Coke. Then to Stockport
Wandered round the shops and sat in Costa
Pleased that tonight, from drink I'm abstaining

3235 - Flaming flamenco

As predicted, I'm continuing to drink
Following last night's excess of booze
The sun still shines, it's rays have yet to sink
These summer nights are kind of an excuse
It invites partying, you cannot lose
But then so does the winter when it's dark
All seasons point at me like they accuse
But let's accept their dictates and their mark
It's useless to resist, it is mere talk
Life is being alive, no time to think
Just watched a great TV prog 'bout the blues
Not from the States, but Spain, flamenco rocks
Great gypsy passion, dancing, guitar, drink
And cigarettes, flame on, how can you lose?

3234 - One more for the road

Another good night, third night in a row
This was at Fitzgeralds Bar, Speakeasy
An interesting group, people from all o-
ver, Spanish, American. Portuguee
Just exactly how it is socially
And Dermot as well, of course, booze was had
Is it wrong, to do this on a Thursday
Is it wrong to do this, yes, is it bad
Probably, but this has been done, not sad
Or maybe it is, I don't know. I know
Now that I only have one more night free
To drink, that''ll be tomorrow, to add
One more bad night this week then I must go
Back into hibernation. So naughty...

Thur 25 June

3233 - E-fish-ent

Another long day of work and pleasure
This evening after work, it was a meal
To celebrate Nancy's birthday, and a
Costly but memorable meal, the real deal
Sushumi, it's called, raw fish, it appealed
To my tastebuds, and so did the green sprigs
And even a flower was not withheld
From my digestive system. So that ticks
Off another experience. A good mix
Of friends around the table, most strangers
To me, but I knew Liz, that memorable
Fancy dress night two years ago that sticks
In my thoughts. Cos we hadn't met before
Some had nerves, but it wasn't bad at all

3232 - Early night - just after midnight

I'm doing well in keeping off the sauce
On week-nights - just been out to comedy
And had just one pint, not enough of course
To get into that spiral so needy
Where I crave more, and fags too, indeedy
I buy more on the way home and drink more
Staying up late, dehydrating, money-
Terminating, stagnating, staying poor
Even if I've had a good night before
During and after. I got some applause
Doing my God act, playing God (hee hee)
But although I was sober, failed before
Them all, forgot the words, felt a lost cause
Whereas I should've gone on fearlessly

Tue 23 June

3231 - Not enough hours in the evening

Phew - been busy this eve since I got home!
And it's not the end yet, still time to go
Not painted tonight, but exercise done
My muscles are improving, can now do
Eighty press-ups. The first time I tried to
Do them, could only do three! Muscles need
Regular usage, and my walks and few
Exercises play their part, yes indeed
Transferred a debt balance from card to card
Also phoned O2 on my mobile phone
Got new SIM-card-only contract, woo-hoo
Ten quid a month's enough. Cooked and ate food
Great guitar session, comedy part-learned
Will learn more, but must ring Tania and Jo

3230 - It'll be all-white on the night

I'm happy with my Father's Day alone
Been out plenty, Friday and Saturday
Had cards and prezzies, pictures on my phone
But felt a bit worn-out, late yesterday
So I decided I'd stay in today
Need to refresh, and also to rehearse
My comedy, which as usual, was way
Rushed, had a quick read of it while the noise
From the washing machine span round my ears
Yet more white paint on bedroom wall, it's done
Now more or less, the paint tin's near-empty
And at last the walls look white like they're s'posed
To, not so streaky and brownish. Backbone
Broken, poor Tania's in a ward today

3229 - They don't know what to do with their lives

I must admit I don't feel quite tip top
I should hopefully sleep quite well tonight
May have overdone it slightly, yep
Too much work and walking yesterday, quite
Knackered and slightly ill now. But despite
That, a drink or two, time to celebrate
Relaxing for a few hours now, a flight
Of fingers on my guitar, then acquaint
Myself with Big Brother, I was too late
Last night to see which housemate got the chop
Channel 5 doing its usual job to slight
The British working classes without jobs
Where are the jobs nowadays we create
For the less gifted, less rich? None in sight

3228 - Souper trouper

What a long day, woke just after seven
Dozed for a bit, rose seven twenty five
Well, lying in bed is close to heaven
And I drifted, listening to Beeb Five Live
Got to the office at eight twenty five
It seems like yesterday, technically, it is
Worked hard as usual, annual report jive
Queries and such, the usual thankless biz
Some laughs with Emma, who is quite a wheeze
And quite a sneeze with her hay fever. Then
Walked to the station, met Jo, caught train to arrive
In Manchester, to Vee and Pearl's flat, these
Last moments with Pearl, meal at half seven
Tampopo, Laksa soup, Walked miles. Survived.

Fri 19 June

3227 - Don't break the rules

It's hay fever season, almost mid-year
The summer solstice only days away
I love the late light evenings while they're here
Watching Big Brother, keeping blues at bay
Not drinking, my new plan is still okay
Which is to only drink two nights from three
At the weekend (from Friday to Sunday)
That's do-able, logical and thrifty
Must set rules that are realistic for me
Good advice in the office from Emma
Not to buy a new bed yet in case they
(The lodger) has their own, though it will be
Hard to get a heavy bed up the stairs
And into the flat. We'll see what they say

3226 - Saving it

A nine hour day at work today, by God
Consequently, I'm not too energised
Glad I did the painting last night when could
Though started late, the sun was out, I rised
To the task, stepped up to the plate, surmised
It would be lighter than tomorrow (now)
And that was right, today's dull cloudy skies
Have produced lots of rain during work hours
But I kept dry inside as drank the flowers
The heaven-sent liquid manna, like blood
Into a vampire's throat, fangs sank in thighs
I'm sort of up to date, I'll rest my bod
Saving money, relaxing, it feels wise

3225 - The One Day Late Show

Oops, one day late, I did so much last night
I didn't post a sonnet, clean forgot
The main reason was painting the walls white
In the spare room (I didn't start til 8)
Then played guitar, watched Big Brother til late
And went to bed with 'Mrs Dalloway'
By Virginia Woolf, depression and fate
Of a gloomy end looming large each day
As borne out by Ginny's watery way
Of ending it all, fed up of her plight
In real life (and death). Well, now that I've put
This belated entry online, today
Will be covered shortly, when I shall write
About Wednesday - that's today - not as hot

Tue 16 June

3224 - The fun factor

Think I'll play some guitar soon tonight, not
Doing anything special. I won't paint
The spare room tonight. Its final white coat
Can wait a day or two, but what won't wait
Is guitar practice. My skill will grow faint
If I don't put in a shift frequently
So tonight, when this sonnet's done, a great
Time - some dance, some reggae and R and B
It's time to forget about jihadi
For a minute and produce western art
Decadent art maybe, not of the saint
But then it's a craft, so is comedy
Like fishing or carpentry, could be lost
If someone preserves not just the ancient

3223 - Age of enlightenment (of the hair)

Went with Josie to Old T yet again
This time there was a fun match on
Man U Legends (old players) up against
Bayern Munich All-Stars, including one
Old great from my childhood years, the German
World Cup winner from '74, Paul
Breitner, then he had an afro, long gone
Now just thin grey hair ... how the hair does fall
Out in places, and get thinner. It's all
So inevitable, Paul. Yes, a win
For the home team, Jo's brought luck when we've gone
To watch games there, three out of three. Walk tall
United fans, though they're below the en-
emy, City, at present (they've less funds...!!)

3222 - Buy Shitty Rollers

A fairly good day, painted the spare room
Having found some paint, well eventually
After Argos, despite web claims, had none
I bought a new doormat, and shirt from T.
K. Maxx, then walked up Regent Road to see
If I could buy some paint from a big store
Thought there might be one there near PMT
Music shop, and there was a Screwfix there
I listened to cassettes while everywhere
On the spare room walls tried to remove gloom
Finger marks, nasty stains that they won't be
Pleased to see if they view the room. I swear
It's still not right, one more time I must zoom
Over the walls with yet more paint, Monday

3221 - 'Good' and 'fun' don't mix

Is it the right thing to do, to cut down
On cigs and booze, although it's healthier
Does it mean I'm boring and old and brown
Tired, burned out, over the hill, washed up, square?
Boozing is partying, fun, debonair
Being good is like my parents, boring
What's the point of that, boredom's heard to bear
Aren't I allowed a Friday night's drinking?
Psychologically weak at resisting
Like English footballers in big games, found
Lily-livered, bashful and full of fear
As has happened before, just the thinking
About this on a Friday night is grounds
For rushing out to buy booze, just, once, more...?

3220 - Get in!

I'll quickly write this, then play my guitar
Then watch Top of the Pops 1980
Not sure if I'll do much after that, for
It'll be getting late, and energy
And will-power running out. Still, I am free
To decide to do anything, nothing
That's not always a possibility
Want to stop drinks and smokes the remaining
Half of this month and beyond, and looking
For a new bed, but first task's buying a
Paint roller and white paint, brighten up the
Unused bedroom, then start advertising
For a tenant for it. Could be before
My September Balkan break, hopefully

3219 - Through the media darkly

Very tired, often am in midsummer
When those light mornings get inside my mind
Spent what seemed like hours listening to the
Night-time radio, hearing horror of blind
Hate and sexism in Middle East land
I think that made it hard for me to drop
Off for a while, so hard to understand
But how much do we really know from top
To bottom, is it all bad or to stop
Believing what you hear and see, media
Bias towards the west we understand
Can prevent the whole truth being served up
Life is chaos, it's very rarely fair
All we can do is work hard til the end

3218 - Yesterday, today, tomorrow

Oh no, we didn't win the quiz tonight
First time we've not won when I have been there
A sinking feeling, when losers unite
I'm doing my best to fend off despair
Maybe my mistake was offering no prayer
Still there's always tomorrow, so they say
Next time maybe we will win once more
Trying to write this before a new day
Don't think I'll do it, one minute away
Can write quickly, but not that quickly write
Listening to Paperback Writer, writer
The Beatles on my headphones, Yesterday
It was yesterday when I heard that, right?
But now it's today, tomorrow is here

Tue 9 June

3217 - The Russian wind is coming

Not enough sleep last night, can't wait to get
In bed, no energy left. Watched two hours
Of a French film, will watch the rest the next
Time I get the time, between sun and showers
The sun's still up, but will it allow us
To finish before its gold light has gone
It's fairly chilly, Russian winds blow us
Or Arctic or Atlantic, where've they come
From, not sure. Tomorrow, presentation
At work, and a submission to submit
And later, a quiz in the pub, where pours
The beer once more, as it did last night. Fun
I suppose, but I think I must try yet
Once more to stop for a while, get focus
 

3216 - I am an anarchist

Hello, it's me again, well who else would

It be on my blog? It's late Sunday night

I've had a few pints and I'm feeling good

Now it's my task to put in words my plight

I'm sorry, but things are going quite right

Misery isn't what you'll get from me

Quite the contrary, most things are all right

Despite what you might try to do to me

No, the truth is that though I'm not healthy

Because I don't subscribe to normalhood

I'm still here, unabashed, and with some fight

Left in me, what can you do? Should you be

Apologetic? No, of course not, in your hood

You feel safe, but in the world, this feels right

Sunday 7 June

3215 - Hexagon of life

The Champions League Final has just ended
And Barcelona did beat Juventus
As expected, yes, as I predicted
And they deserved it, they played the best stuff
The Cup's about to be dished out, Suarez
With his teeth will be smiling, no doubt. And
Today hung out with Josie Wosie, she's
In that pre-teen phase where she could offend
Her parents. Parents - hmmph! Old folks, the end
Of respectability for us. Did
The usual walk round the Arndale, purchased
Presents for Grandma Anita. Things end
But new things begin, grab them with both hands
Only one life, as they say to all us!

3214 - Have a break, have a chit-chat

A nice sunny summer evening. Trouble is
I'm finding it hard to resist the lure
Of a relaxing drink and smoke, though this
Is what I did last night, had so much brew
While out and then back at home, had to pour
The last half-bottle away down the sink
Just had to go to bed at last, before
There wasn't time to sleep before getting
Up for work. At work, not that many in
Our team were there, but good old Emma was
And so we had a good chat, good jaw-jaw
Some fun and some quite serious discussion
It's reassured me that sometimes at least
Some people aren't so bad as others are

3213 - Nothing ventured...

As ever, it's always worth venturing
Out. I was invited to a poetry
Slam at Fuel Bar, not imagining
I'd win, and I didn't, but met Tuesday
Tony, a comedy compere, he told me
I should go to Montpellier next Thursday
Which I will do and do some comedy
Which seems to be my God-given forte
And then there's an event on Saturday
At Tiger Lounge, so it was worth going
Out tonight, and I also saw Jackie
Who told me about another fun day
Sorry, evening at 3MT starting
A new weird quiz she said was right for me!

3212 - The axe man really doth cometh

I've had a blast, playing some mean guitar
This evening after work, played Serge Gainsbourg
Followed by Steve Winwood and Traffic, far
From tired at first, exercised on the rug
Then got out the axe, got the playing bug
Some great tracks, among my faves, hypnotic
Inspiring me to cut a bluesy rug
My hands a blur, a fretboard fanatic
Frenetic fingerwork, be arthritic
Before too long at this rate, thrilled to core
At being able to play this stuff, a dog
On heat couldn't be quite as ecstatic
And now feel like a marathon runner
After crossing the finish line, a star

3211 - Hidden treasure

I've just been looking for poems to read
On Thursday night at Fuel Bar, Withington
After being invited today. Need speed
Therefore to select material to win
The so-called Word Cup poetry slam, book in
Hand in my case, can't memorise jack shit
Not with the other stuff that I'm volved-in
No time, and work besides. Good news - I've writ
(In February) a new rant that's never split
From my lips, spraying spit, bile and kill-weed
I'd forgotten its existence. It turned
Up on my hard drive this evening. Eyes lit
Up as I saw that now there was no need
To write a new poem, because it's done

3210 - Blow brother blow

The weather's disgusting, cold, such strong wind
The trees outside are waving like mad fans
At a concert, the sound of much moaning
Like banshees clinging on to every branch
I thought a tree might fall down with a crunch
Against my flat, crashing through the window
Knocking me over, unconscious til lunch
It's not an evening for somewhere to go
Count myself lucky that I'm inside, bro
I hope the spring leaves have fully strengthened
And can cling on despite the gale to clinch
Their place for the summer that's started. Oh
Yes it has, it's the First of June. Begin,
Season of warmth, sweaty nights and sun-tans