3271 - Shirt scene

Hello, can you hear me, or at least see
It's Saturday night, nearly half-past ten
I've been out of course to see my Josie
We went to Man United, she's a fan
And today was the first day, the day when
You could buy the new shirt by Adidas
The shop was crowded, we went there again
Juan Mata shirts were there, but populous
Was the Rooney shirt, guess that's no surprise
After getting home, guitar playing spree
The old French stuff by Trenet and Sablon
I've listened to this stuff repetitious
And now I can play it, oui, oui, merci
It's so much fun, oh yes it's so much fun

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
 

3066 - Poor people of Paris

Sad news about the killings in Paris
Religion strikes again, closed mind syndrome
A schizophrenic world-view, a virus
Which glorifies death and thy kingdom come
Let's not say that this is only Islam
There's been enough crusading previously
And it's not limited to religion
There's political ideology
That divides and rules with philosophy
No matter what we believe, seems we must
Resign ourselves to conflict both at home
And abroad. Education is a key
But what philosophy lies behind this
And must it always be liberalism?

2880 - Rain in vain

A rainy afternoon and evening
In Manchester, not really a surprise
A half-day's work, then plenty of eating
At Buffet City, belly big as eyes
With Nancy, first night out for two weeks. Sized
Up the chavs, ate our fill, then up the road
To the B-Lounge (The Brunswick) after five
Watched Germany beat France, chatted a load
Stayed there, few Guinnesses, Brazil allowed
By hook or crook to progress, denying
Colombia a good goal. Had surmised
Brazil would go through. Decided we should
Relocate to The Castle. More drinking
A long night in the end, said my bye-byes...

Friday 4 July

2871 - Stodge dodge

Only four hours' sleep, alarm 6:30
To Liverpool today, a conference
Civil Service Live at the Adelphi
I was curious to see it, this immense
Stone building, and that sight was recompense
For, at times, stodgy discussions today
Well-presented though by stalwarts with sense
Of what's required so corporately to say
Train home with Steve, then on foot made my way
From Oxford Road to Salford rapidly
In time to see Argentina's advance
Confirmed. Nigeria, they will also play
In the next round. Nic's now at Glastonbury
While I'm watching Ecuador versus France

Wed 25 June

2852 - Peril on TV

It's the 70th anniversary
Of D-Day, and the hymns are being sung
While veterans all now aged around 90
Stand in the Arromanches afternoon sun
That last hymn was 'for those in peril on
The sea' - a hymn we often sang at school
Little knowing this was advance training
For a time when (maybe they thought) our rule
Would be under threat in war, and we'd all
Yet again have to board the warships, be
In 'peril' ourselves, dying protecting
Someone else's property, made to kill
Or be killed. I hope the schools of today
Don't still sing that psycho-warmongering

2800 - Redhead

First day back at work, some good laughs despite
My possibly being marked way way too low
For last year's performance, but like a kite
I lift myself on the breeze and just go
Not just in France, sunny weather here too
My head's slightly red, now the sunshine burns
The top of it through my thin hair! Swallowed
An enormous lentil dhal soup that turned
Me into a hydrated state. I learned
That I've got Friday off. It's 'Good.' So quite
A short working week this week! Getting slow
Now in my thought processes, I've returned
To vegetable as day becomes night
An early night will do me good, you know

2798 - Gardens of delight

Sunny day, not too hot but quite breezy
They delayed getting up. I read 'Bleak House'
We checked out, then to the boulangerie
Last chance for French croissants - they are more nice
Than English ones. First off, hopped on a cruise
Along the Seine, pictures and video
Those sights seen on a sunny day, can't lose
Quick picnic, walk round St Germain, then to
The Jardins du Luxembourg - no grass to
Play ball on (not allowed) - but fun to see
The little sailboats on the lake. Enticed
Them to McDonalds for tea, spent euros
On books, and Jo bought braces! A jiffy
Later, Eurostar to London, Pearl's house

Mon 14 April

2797 - Madame Pompidou

Ignored the alarm, stayed in bed til ten
Heard the Sunday bells ringing, and the street-
sweeper sweeping, recorded it, and then
We got snacks from the baker's shop to eat
Firstly to Pearl's old restaurant, then Centre
Pompidou, still too expensive to view
The art, browsed in the shops, had more to eat
Then Memorial de Shoah we went to
And it was moving. Fixed a rendezvous
It was good fun chatting to her again
Had to leave, met up with daughters tout de suite
At the hostel, ate again, out to view
Montmartre by night. Jo bought a beret in
Dark red, then Hotel du Loiret (last night)

Sun 13 April

2796 - An Eiffel of Paris

Woke at 9:30, to boulangerie
Quiche again, then headed up to Montmartre
Went in Sacre-Coeur, like more by Josie
Than Notre Dame. Listened to harp player
On the steps in the sun. Pigalle, then the
Flea market, Clignancourt. I bought some pants
Three for ten euros. Back to hotel for
Tea, then to the Eiffel Tower with a sense
Of excitement, climbing its highest heights
With it all lit up, saw what we could see
In the dark city below. Been before
But not been to the top at night, the lights
Blazing. Came down at midnight, the pretty
Flashing light display the grand finale

Sat 12 April

2795 - Alors alors, I will say this only once

Woke at 9:30, left hotel an hour
Later, to the boulangerie nearby
Bought quiche and croissant, pan au chocolat
For Josie. Walked round the Ile St Louis
With Pearl. Jo bought an orange watch to see
The time. Then Notre Dame, then the Left Bank
Coffee and macarons at Laduree
Eiffel Tower (twice) although we didn't hang
Around. Quai Branly, big exhibition
Of art from places non-European, our
Tendency to concentrate on nearby
The familiar, overturned. Then we hung
Onto the rail on the Metro, half-hour
Ride back to Hotel de Ville. Alors - bye

Fri 11 April

2794 - Eurostar, Eurostar, shiny suit and a big cigar

A restless night on Pearl's sofa, flatmate
Came in late, I thought she'd come in the room
Dropped off about midnight, that's rather late
Considering I was so tired. We zoomed
To London Bridge, then St Pancras, and soon
We were on Eurostar, the train to France
Jack Whitehall's dad and mum were both there too
We reached Gare du Nord, then the Metro lines
To Hotel de Ville, the weather was fine
We walked to l'Arc de Triomphe, and we ate
Petit baguettes and crepes. There was more room
On the Metro than in London. Still time
To walk to the Eiffel Tower, then caught
The Metro back to our cool hotel room

Thur 10 April

2792 - I should be so lazy

Today is today, day of my diary
I forgot to write yesrerday's, you see
And yes, you could say to me I'm lazy
Perhaps I should be Beyonce, Jay Z
But as we both know, I'm not them, I'm me
The main thing to say, we're off to Paree
In France, me, Pearly, and Josie-Wosie
Two daughters of mine with their big daddy
We won't be there tomorrow, though. First we
Will catch the train to capital city
London, stay the night at Pearl's flat, nicely
Ready to catch a Eurostar quickly
Conveying us to Paris with a P
Hotel du Loiret awaits. Now - bonne nuit!

2508 - Scandal roundup

I turned on the news, and what did I see?
Four trials of famous people, two three four
Sexual offences composed the first three
Ken Barlow was first through the courtroom door
Next it was DLT accused of more
And then, briefly, Rolf Harris - gooday, mate
Rebekah Brooks, newspaper editor
Brought up the rear. Did the Brookses pervert
The course of justice, as alleged? Let's wait
And see. At the Palais de l'Elysee
Francois Hollande, le President, is floored
By sexual scandal. Wife recuperates
En hopital, a Paris. Merde! Paris!
Nous arriverons la en printemps, alors

2445 - News of the whirlwind

The massive typhoon hit the Philippines
The island of Leyte lies to the east
Taking the full force of Pacific winds
Leaving little of houses on the coast
Roofs ripped off, removed by the roaring blast
Families torn apart between live and dead
Sadly the aid can't get through very fast
But at least today the death toll has had
A reduction from around ten thousand
To two thousand five hundred, which has been
A relief. Other news being discussed
The Egyptian night-time curfew lifted
High energy prices, one of the themes
I also see there's discontent in France

2398 - Jesus shave me

It's been quite intense hard work this evening
I took a work DVD home with me
It was an hour and a friggin' half long
But during it I had a shave and wee
Afterwards, did exercises, fifty
Press-ups seems the right figure, a hundred
Sit-ups, well, half-sit-ups, arguably
Some stretches, then guitar practice, quite hard
This time, but good practice, playing the parts
As best I could to Charles Trenet's singing
With a few Jean Sablon numbers swiftly
Following on. Maurice Chevalier's pants
He's next, but I'll simply be listening
Not playing, walking to work on Friday

2434 - Money - that's what I want

Excuse me, I'm well pissed, just so you know
Stayed in today, but went out this evening
During the day saw two games, but with no
Excitement til Chelsea got the ball in
United's net - well done, Mata! Now things
Are getting interesting. Rehearsal was
The point of meeting Dermot, but nothing
Was really advanced, we chatted, because
Coffee and several beers diverted us
Never mind, we'll meet again. He will go
To Paris, then we'll rehearse once again
Our comedy act. Right now it's a fuzz
My ex-wife's given me some money, so
I'm OK to go out out and do my thing

Sun 5 May

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

2337 - Great British cuisine

What have they done to the rain? Didn't fall
Quite as forecast. Finished 'Great British Wit'
(Though I didn't get Great British wet...), all
Ready to read the even larger script
Of another comedic history hit
'1000 Years of Annoying the French'
Over seventy pages read - yes, it's
Nice, light reading, set to the mystic crunch
Of beans on toast, cheese and Marmite sandwich
Or some just as incomprehensible
(To foreigners) British snack they think shit
Most of my fridge contents they wouldn't pinch
And I'm glad about that, I can reveal
Listening to soul, then guitar practice treat

2240 - Portuguese stroll

Drank so much coffee today, I'm buzzing
So now I'm knocking back some beer while I
Watch Man United, currently losing
At home to Braga, Portuguese town I
Visited in 2009, why?
Because it has many fine old churches
And city walls. The sun shone from on high
Though it was October, the temperatures
Rose, as did my excitement, adventures
In the Basque Country, Portugal and Spain
Tonight, after work, played some Sparks tunes, why?
Because last night I saw them live, then Yes
(Close to the Edge). Like to choose challenging
Stuff to hone my guitar ability