3289 - Snigger Lounge

Amazingly, despite last night's late night
And a busy day at work following
I went out tonight to comedy night
At Tiger Lounge, 'bout which I been hearing
And enjoyed the acts, sitting there watching
A Guinness then two cheap ciders I drank
Met a few new people, reacquainting
Myself with Tuesday Tony, and to think
Some of these guys were good, no, no-one stank
So not much time but tomorrow I might
Have to up my game to be impressing
What will I do, will look at the jokes bank
And look at the material from last night
I didn't do, and do quick rehearsing!

3282 - Pyramid theme

Had thought maybe I'd go and watch Derby
Play in the Carling Cup, but think I'll stay
In instead, on the radio there'll be
Updates at least, and maybe I can pay
Attention to writing comedy. They
Have asked for a theme that doesn't inspire -
Egypt or belly dancing - I won't say
I'll ignore the theme, cos I am a tryer
But Ancient Egypt, I am not a buyer
I could do an anecdote 'bout belly
Dancing - remember Istanbul? - but hey
Not sure if anecdotes are my desire
At least of alcohol and fags I'm free
Til I go to Glossop this Saturday

3279 - Costa del Stockport

A nice trip out to Stockport with Josie
She wanted white trainers, Nike brand, so we
Looked for them in the mall, and in JD
Sports we found some that fit, fairly quickly
And she put them on instead of her D
Ms (Doc Marten boots) - she gave them to me
To carry round. So humid, so thirsty
We went to Costa soon after McD
For more drinks. I took her back home early
Probably wise, tomorrow is her holiday
To Nerja near Malaga, with mummy
Who's recovering from a back injury
I hope they both relax, take things easy
And don't get sunburn, keep nice and shady!

3278 - Tutti footy

Hello fool, I have somehow got back in
Time to watch the first week's football highlights
At 9pm of the Football League, been
In Huddersfield all day, drinking. I might
Not only have missed this, but the great sight
Of the first Match of the Day of this year
Or season 15-16, the first night
Javi's still out, but he'll soon be back here
I hope when they show Derby's game I'll cheer
I saw some Rams fans en route to Bolton
Also lots of Reds fans hoping they might
See MUFC beat Spurs, a slight fear
In their hearts maybe, but they got a win
Now one last line, then sit back, hit the heights

3261 - Days of wine and PIN numbers

So tired today, didn't stay up THAT late
But woke up 7:15, that's early
For me. At my office desk, felt eyes start
To close, rescued by speaking to Julie
She said she'd bring some chocolate wine for me
Tomorrow, that's something that will be new
I mentioned the chocolate beer casually
And she said 'I'll bring chocolate wine for you!'
I said, 'Just for me, or for the whole crew?'
Angela said maybe on her palate
She might place a few drops quite gingerly
Meanwhile helped Javier deal with phone folk who
Were asking tricky questions all about
His debit card - needs new PIN number, see?

3257 - Yesterday art gone

A day late writing this, was just too keen
When I got in last night to watch TV
There was a prog on Beeb 4 'bout the scene
In the 70s with David Bowie
Was out all day and most evening, busy
Hangin' out with my ex-wife, Vee, she's not
In the best shape, she's not all that healthy
But trying to improve her little lot
We had fun, a day out looking at art
The refurbished Whitworth Art Gallery
It's a nice size, bigger, but not obscene
Then afterwards we hung out at her flat
Had a few cans of Kronenbourg, that's been
The first drink since last Sunday - good for me!

About Sat 18 July

3252 - I'll drink to that, maybe

Last week I drank on four occasions, not
The two I was aiming for, but that's a
Result of an invite, Saturday night
With Sunday as a follow-up, drank the
Remaining cans (and of course bought some more -
Six downed in all). Now back to twice a week
Should be easier from now on, when Javier
Has moved in. Company can make you seek
To be more on your best behaviour. Bleak
Loneliness is banished, and we can put
Down that beer can - unless they're a drinker
I kind of hope not, but the truth will leak
I can't rule that possibility out
Hope we can be friends and he stays a year

3249 - Don't weaken at the weekend

Quite easily dispensed with booze Friday
I mean I didn't get any tonight
Quite pleased with that, the saving anyway
But then I've been messaged and now I might
Nay, will be out for a drink, not a bite
On Saturday. Oh well, I can afford
It this time, thanks to Javier's deposit
Still largely unspent. Sunday, though, I would
Like to buy a table and chair he could
Sit at in that room. Bed arrives Monday
And he arrives Tuesday - early that night
I hope. And now I'm thirsty, so I should
And will knock back some milk very shortly
As soon as this last line I finally write...

3242 - Poor young soul

Straight after work I went to Home, the new
Trendy cinema, the new Cornerhouse
In Tony Wilson Place (ha ha!), and you
Know it's near the 'Hacienda' flats that house
The spawn of the rich, beards and lower face
With hairy covering, and the men too
Why did I go to Tony Wilson Place?
To see the film 'bout Amy You-Know-Who
It was fun watching clips when she would do
Her fun teenage stuff, but it seemed although
She was a top singer from those young years
With good friends, she needed weed and booze too
Everything else was bound to happen to
Her, talent notwithstanding, poor lil mouse

3240 - Yesterday's no more

Oops, I forgot to do this yesterday
No excuses either, I was at home
But as I played guitar like crazy
(Nico, Elvis, Beefheart), the aroma
Of a fag drifted up from the smoker
In the flat below, through my open door
Onto the balcony, felt the desire
And so popped out to the Sainsbury store
To get three bottles. That means can't have more
Now for the rest of the week, not Friday
Or the weekend, even. I can't have some
More booze til Monday. Twice per week's my law
Need to succeed with it, to save more pay
To put towards the holiday to come

about Wed 1 July

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

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

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

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

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

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