3072 - So we win again

Been out for a pub quiz, snowed on the way
At Cornbrook and Chorlton while on the tram
The venue, The Railway, West Didsbury
About nine of us, again our team won
Like last time, got the prize, a beer token
There was a two pound pint left from Christmas
I can admit I had a few of them
And it was tasty, drunk without a fuss
As we got most questions right and it was
A pleasure to meet what's her name, and they
Were all nice. Now I'm wondering what I am
Going to finish off with, statement-wise
Perhaps that silly victories they may
Come and go, but keep happy like I am

Tue 13 January

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!

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

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 

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

3028 - Stud u like

Popped home to drop off Jo's new football boots
Half of her Christmas present (a onesie's
The other half) and also write my thoughts
For the day, tossing off sonnets with ease
As I've done since Sept 2006
When this is done it'll be time to dash
Out again, though my tummy's had its fix
Already, at the Arndale cafe, mash
And mince (cottage pie). Spent most of the cash
From Lou's November rent, lasted throughout
The month, spent so little, just saved moneys
Did go out several times, had the odd bash
But no splurges of dosh. No, lots of loot
And hope to keep it that way, if you please!

3020 - Ball to face

Saturday is seeing Jo day and we
Went shopping in Stockport, mainly Primark
Where I got brown shoes and two jeans, forty
Quid only, then Jo looked for sports shoes, make
Important of course, and what made its mark
Most was the make of CR7 - that's
Cristiano Ronaldo's football boot, dark
Background with glittery finish, such glitz!
It may form part of her Christmas presents
Along with last week's United onesie
It's exciting, I almost want to bark!
Accident in Decathlon - our ball hits
A woman in the face, glasses fall free
To the floor, she complained, she was hard work!

3013 - Present and correct

A fun day visiting Josie Wosie
Hopped on the train to Manc Piccadilly
From there we caught the tram down to Old T
Realised this was an opportunity
To buy Jo's things for Christmas and birthday
For part of her Chrissy prezzy, onesie
In Man U design, looks very pretty
Then for her birthday that's in January
She wants to watch United play with me
So I bought two tickets, Reds v Burnley
She thinks the Reds will win, so she's happy
And for me, this present-buying's early
I can afford it, living frugally
Now in Dec and Jan I'll have more money

2998 - Sensible equals boring - discuss

I'm excited about Friday night in
Who cares what's going on, life is elsewhere
I'm incubating, saving, delaying
I'm savouring, dreaming, floating on air
It's all possible, and if not, who cares?
I'm healthy, happy, at last starting to
Save time and money, no more to squander
It'll be easy paying for tattoos
This month, and car hire, whatever I choose
No money worries at Christmas, even
In the office my workload starts to clear
And all this simply cos I'm off the booze
Soon I'll do exercises, keep in trim
Play guitar, read, watch TV, then retire

2943 - The Big Apple (Rip-Off)

A humid day also a humorous
Day with Josie Wosie in Manchester
The north-west city that's most populous
As usual headed for the Apple store
Where she pleaded again and again for
Me to buy her an expensive i-Phone
The i-Phone 5C (colour, white). I'm poor
Doesn't she know that? Have pity on Tone
My liquid capital would all be blown
I said I'd go halves with her mum, Christmas
It's not so long to wait now, I told her
We're planning Christmas do's now, booking's done
By work colleagues. The Albert Square Chop House
Is where. And now it's time to play guitar

2489 - Topkapi of the pops

Boxing Day fun, as tradition has it
Gathered my kids and drove them in a car
To a meal, the Topkapi on Deansgate
Was the chosen place for our meal this year
Then we walked to the Town Hall, festive cheer
With the lights of the tower and the trees
Louis went off to his mum's flat to cheer
On Man City against Liverpool - he's
A mad Blues fan, she likes the Reds, though she's
Not as fanatical as him. I'll wait
Til Match of the Day highlights to see the
Result, and now I'm back home alone, me's
Content to have a drink and cigarette
While Louis' staying over with Vera

2488 - Hip op tick tock

I forgot yet again to write a poem
My excuse this time? It was Christmas Day
And I was busy having a good time
Stayed with my mum. Although she has a frayed
Right hip, she was up for a hop today
In the pleasant winter sun all along
The prom at West Kirby, our tops arrayed
With Santa hats, mentally both still young
Bringing smiles to all so that nothing's wrong
Some nice food and TV, watering the stem
Of the plant of family unity
And continuity. Year's nearly gone
So we reflect, reflected in sea spume
All the rights and wrongs equally we weigh

Wed 25 Dec 2013

2487 - Sherry Christmas!

It's Christmas Eve, I'm alone in the flat
Only cos Louis' last-minute shopping!
He hasn't bought a single present yet
So he's gone down town before shop-closing
Me, I finished mine long ago. Lying -
'Twas Saturday December 21st
At six I'm hiring a car and driving
To town, pop in on V, P and L first
Then I'll drive on to Mum's, and then we'll rest
In our chairs with a sherry. Don't like that
Normally, but she asked if I could bring
Some to quench her non-alcoholic thirst
With horrible sherry! Have a good night
And a great day tomorrow, jing-a-ling!