3124 - Steakpool

Day out in Liverpool with lil Josie
The living was cool cos it was quite hot
For the first time this year was uneasy
Walking around wearing my winter coat
I carried it around all day. We both
Walked past the shops looking for a lunch place
In the centre there wasn't a good spot
So we headed towards the Mersey waves
And found somewhere in Albert Dock, two steaks
Headed back to the shops, Jo said that she
Needed a Mother's Day present. She shopped
Around for make-up or clothes, couldn't face
Getting the wrong-sized dress, so finally
Got stuff from Boots which, well, cost quite a lot

3089 - Big new Apple

Josephine's 12 today, though not quite yet
Not til ten to midnight, strictly speaking
Last night was awake for hours, so bit short
On energy today, but still going
To Manchester with her and enjoying
It (not the 'Pool as planned - not enough time)
She got an i-phone 5C, was fondling
It all day (it's not from me - from her mum)
I bought her a pink phone case. That was from
The Apple store. Lunch at Essy's. She got
Gammon as usual. I was finishing
Off her uneaten beans. With our full tums
More shopping, then Starbucks. Time to collect
Her, mum, then train back, and now, just resting

3088 - Future travel

It's Friday night, I'm home, should have been out
But that fell through because of the weather
So now I'm preparing to be without
Wakefulness, because tomorrow is the
12th birthday of Josie, and we both are
Gonna go to Liverpool. Before that
Get a parcel from the post depot where
It lies. That's Claire's present, then I must meet
Josie, then get the train to Scouseland. What
That means is an early-ish night, allowed
No late night, got to rest and recover
Today I booked my flight with easyJet
To Prague in late April, when I will shoot
Around Central Europe. I'll soon be there!

About Fri 30 Jan

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

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

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

2782 - Greasy chops in Greasby shops

This is a day late, why, I've no excuse
I got back about 8 last night, I think
From a nice day out with Josie, Mother's
Day visit to her grandma, my ma, in
Greasby, across the Mersey from sprawling
Liverpool, a small town with its fair share
Of retirees, Greasby offers eating
In several pubs and restaurants, and where
We ate was Ellie's. Jo had steak, not rare
While I had Thai green curry, had to force
It down, tasted lovely but so filling
Mum had hash and spuds, also food to spare
On her plate. Got home, but did not abuse
Memory with booze, just forgot my writing!

About Saturday 29 March

2561 - On the beat

It's late so I'll be quick, it's one thirty
Been down to Liverpool to watch The Beat
With Dave Wakeling on vocals and Roddy
Radiation of The Specials complete
With covers of Rat Race and of Concrete
Jungle, the ageing Scouse skinheads getting
A bit lively to that old two-tone beat
The gig was I'd say equal to Ranking
Roger and his band's gig seen that evening
In Hebden Bridge last month. Wrote comedy
This afternoon, a sketch that I think's neat
Tomorrow's the last chance for me to think
Of some one-liners for the BBC
To add to the sketch, then to submit it

Sat 8 March

2524 - Write on cue

Hey hey I woke up early, wrote some stuff
Before going to work, it's good doing that
Might do it again when not feeling rough
The brain works fastest then, it's far more smart
Had arranged to go out tonight, but not
Going, it's too cold out for my liking
And Tom's not going either, he has got
Somewhere else to go to, less travelling
For him, it's in Liverpool where he sings
Quite often. Meanwhile, I'm happy enough
A date has been set up after a chat
On Facebook. Not sure when it's happening
But I can't wait for it and that's the truth
I'm tired now so I'll read, then early night...

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

2477 - Not a bad day

Good day today, drove to Mum’s. Jo, Louis
With me in the hired car, they’ve not seen her
For a while, it was fun, very noisy
As usual with Josie, the big talker
(What’s wrong with that, I might add?) It’s not fair
For Mum to expect Josie to be quiet
She’s a chatterbox, a cuddly toy bear
(I don’t mean she’s big!) We went out to eat
Then watched City / Arsenal in the Red Cat
(A ‘posh Scouser’ pub over in Greasby)
City’s win seemed to make the Red Cat purr
The Liverpool fans were pleased, cos they thought
Arsenal’s defeat might leave The Reds free
To take top spot. Dream on, oh you Scouser!

Sat 14 December

2450 - Souper duper hooper

Still recovering from day in Liverpool
But had a nice day out with Josephine
Hopped on the train to Manchester, the fool
Suggested the B-Lounge as place to dine
Although usually they keep you long waiting
And you have to keep asking, Where's the grub?
It worked out in the end, them reducing
The bill by half before we left the pub
Next, to Selfridges, Josie bought a tub
Of lip balm that her friends like, made her drool
As it got dark, we headed for the train
Her mum rang, basketball game coming up
Manchester Giants, and true, they'll be tall
So off they went, and I went home again

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/basketball/21034953

2449 - Livingituppool

Today, the day after the night before
(Isn't it always?) it was a pub crawl
Woke up just in time, to miss it is poor
Caught the train with others to Liverpool
But fate had a twist which could be called cruel
I was too pissed from last night to enjoy
Beer (on a pub crawl!) Well, I ask you, LOL
My own fault, but in fact didn't destroy
A good day at all really. This good boy
Was to ill to knock back the booze. No bore
However, still had a nice chat, and all
Manner of laughs with the crew, and my ploy
Was to drink coffee, then Coke. Ten hours
And only two pints drunk, but had a ball

Sat 16 November

2484 - Liver Bird Party

I'm writing Monday's sonnet on Tuesday
The reason? Thought I'd come home on the late
Train, but in vain - didn't miss it - I stayed
Out drinking and dancing with two poet mates
Way beyond half eleven - it was light
When we left the club, walked past the shut shops
But found Burger King open for a bite
And two much-needed coffees for a shot
Of recovery after the beer glut
The Liver birds were flying on Monday
Around the dance floor in such tight short skirts
Wonder how the locals would all react
If I'd worn my nurse outfit on Mersey-
side streets - would it be trouble, or just great?

Written about previous evening / night / morning of Monday 24 June / Tuesday 25 June

2477 - This be not the verse

I had intended going on the train
After work to Liverpool, poetry
On the agenda, old faces again
But couldn't face the long trip with just me
For company, and I should be thrifty
For a change after so many nights out
(Friday, Saturday, and tomorrow-day)
Shame, but important not to throw about
Money I'm running out of. Quite a lot
Of diary clashes now - that's a good sign
Guitar and Verse, or the Psychology
Group with Nancy and Liz? Tempted to get
Back with the girls after Saturday's fun
As nurses and gangsters - but we will see...

2181 - Trip to the Pool

Hello, it's late on Saturday night now
I've been to Liverpool today with Jo
The weather forecast was dire, that we knew
Brollies at the ready, all set to go
Soon after arriving there, ate well, though
My haddock was quite small, not Jo's pizza
At The Hub. Tall helter skelter, quick go
For Jo, and a bubble on the water
Was fun, then on the Mersey ferry. The
Rain fell thinly at first, the started to
Bucket down from then on. We got wet through
But sheltered in Lime Street. To Manchester
Then on to Wilmslow. Got back home somehow
In time to see the footy, don't you know!

Sat 25 Aug

2121 - You gotta laugh if you live here

I hopped across the north to Liverpool
This evening, and a nice evening it was
Raining in Manchester, the puddles full
Yet it got sunnier as I headed west
My tea was milk and scotch eggs as I crossed
By train to Lime Street station. Walked around
The shops and cafes of Bold Street, not lost
Yet, passed Chinatown's arch, up a hill, found
Hope Street, but where was Windsor Street? Confound
These Google maps! Got to Toxteth late. Cool -
Others turned up for the comedy course
Worried the tutor might have gone to ground
In the end it was most enjoyable
Nice people, good material, a buzz!

1981 - Class of '81

Greece joins EC, and earthquake in Athens
Hostages released, deal struck by Reagan
Poland has martial law against unions
Brand new stainless steel car, De Lorean
Tejero waves his gun around in Spain
And I go on a school camping trip there
Reagan shot, Bobby Sands self-starvation
London Marathon, Buck's Fizz, streets on fire
In Brixton and Toxteth, Columbia
Space shuttle, Pope shot, in France Mitterand wins
Yorkshire Ripper jailed, AIDS, Ian Botham
Charles and Di, MTV, Sadat beware
CIA helps Contras, Marley succumbs
Tom Baker morphs into Pete Davison

1829 - Train of events

In 1829 the early train
Stephenson's 'Rocket' won the Rainhill Trials
Between four engines on the flat terrain
His company won the contract, the miles
From Liverpool to Manchester uncoil
Rapidly now, without horse power, just steam
Meanwhile Greece was at last free, its struggles
Freeing it from the Ottomans, the dream
Of Byron coming true, though he'd not seen
The great day, but his death was not in vain
To this day the Greeks and Turks both revile
Each other and Cyprus is now the scene
Of a fierce dispute, while others remain
Unlike mosques in Greece, long since smoking piles

1782 - On your Deutschmarks

Preparing for my trip to Germany
Flying from Liverpool in the morning
I remembered to get passport ready
Otherwise I'd really have been groaning
Grounded as I would certainly have been
Left behind as the other lads flew on
I've checked the weather over in Berlin
It looks like a mixture of rain and sun
So I've packed my brolly, good Englishman
That I am or maybe aspire to be
Will it get through security checking?
One thing's for sure - I won't pick up a tan
Also in Germany is the Grand Prix
But that's further west, at the Nurburgring
Fri 22 July