1787 - Email travails

My email's not working at all right now
But never mind, no time to fix the thing
Tonight, no, because time doesn't allow
And also, this chair on which I'm sitting
Is approaching the end of its innings
And about to collapse through overuse
Not only can I not do uploading
Or emailing, for which there's no excuse
But any minute now I won't refuse
The laws of gravity and I'll crash low
On the floor, accompanied by bruising
It's hurting my back because it's not used
To sitting in a twisted shape just so
I stay on this broken chair while typing
Wed 27 July

1330 - Fourteen lines from a pub poetry night

The sun has just set here on the Wirral
The sky is turning from light to dark blue
Here, over the water from Liverpool
I’m sitting writing this; won’t need to do
It when I get home late, cos I’ve got to
Get up for work on time. Today I just
Read two weeks of emails; well, I tried to
(That, and talking jury service…) I rushed
Through the first day back at work; I’d met most
Of them on Friday evening for a meal
A curry at Zouk’s: the cost 32
Pounds per head, what with wine; the girls were flushed
Before they staggered off to catch their rail
Or taxi rides, hangovers on the brew…
Mon 26 April

1243 - Lair of the liar

I delayed leaving for work, caught a glimpse
Of a surprising sight - the Inquiry
Into Iraq, and Blair’s live appearance
How is he looking? Boyish? Furtively?
How is he acting? Innocent? Guilty?
And how is he answering? Well? Or ill?
Chilcot has got him there, true, but will he
Get him, or set him free? Well, time will tell
But now I had to leave, for duty called
A cold wind blew on Trinity Way, pumps
Pumping me on and on to Ralli Quays
I’m comin’ down the mountain of email
Checkin’ the BBC website for hints
Why war was waged in 2003

1143 - Sinatra Sonata

It’s late, about 12:45, but still
That’s not too late to write a quick sonnet
After all, that’s what I must do until
I drop dead; write one every day, if it
Kills me! Work again, but lunchtime concert
At the Bridgewater: Sadie Fields, violin
And Simon Lane, piano, and the treat
Was the Franck Sonata… (That’s confusing -
Sounds like Frank Sinatra! How amusing…)
They also played a Mozart one. That filled
The day nicely, a break from trying to get
Up to date with emails. This evening,
Organising photos and sonnets. Well,
I’ve made progress, and had some online chat!

1065 - Hadn't had any beer till I wrote this

Feel tired: took too long dozing off last night
Too excited at being back online
Well now I must continue the good fight
Of reading all the emails from that time
I had no net (more than a month), though I’m
Already halfway there; I’ve binned the junk
Now it’s the good stuff: video of rhyme
And music from Bantry, an event sunk
Now in the past, but one of which I think
Lots of images survive. There were quite
A few comments in my inbox, so I’m
About to read and reply. Like a monk
I’m teetotalling for the second night…
Or shall I get some beer? Hardly a crime…!!
Tue 4 August