3286 - Oh FFS

Need to get tickets if any are left
For the FFS gig, I'd like to see
Sparks and Franz Ferdinand combined. A deft
Talker, Louise, who I met Saturday
Is going, and although it's patently
Not as good as seeing a Sparks gig, I
Might enjoy this nonetheless, and I'll see
The Mael brothers again. Three years gone by
Since I saw them live, and it was a high
And Saturday, something I don't do oft
Watch a 'tribute' band - Absolute Bowie
Sounds potentially fun, fake oddity
Not done much today, just watched films and stuffed
My face! Well yesterday was mainly beer!

3275 - From Thailand to Spain via Croatia

Nice day at work, just three of us were in
And at lunchtime I met Pearl for a meal
We went to Thaikhun, two courses, filling
And tasty, catching up with news of Pearl
She's off to Croatia soon, me as well
But I'll be there about two weeks later
We're both visiting Split, it looks a real
Nice place. This evening at home, played guitar
I'm starting to play it now like a star
Although of course it's harder when playing
Live, trying to sing at the same time, tell
Me about it. Watching Barcelona
Play Roma on Spanish television
The commentary's so quick, can't catch their spiel

3270 - A pizza the action

Hello, you little bastards. now I will
Summarise what happened this evening, try
Anyway. Assorted losers, a fill
Of people who have failed and yet still I
Have had a laugh with them. Pizza we try
To cook in the oven, tomato, cheese
The most basic boring pizza, sigh, sigh
But we're eating this basic stuff, oh please
But then again, my stomach will now squeeze
Some shit pizza in, try to get my fill
I forgot about food, hunger bye bye
But I shouldn't do that, no, I must seize
The day, and this shit pizza, if you will
Oh no, I said that, how stupid am I?!!

3268 - Lots of strings attached

I'm getting hungry after my guitar
Session, which went quite well, again, and now
I play without looking, not like before
And strangely, it feels easier somehow
KJ and S & the B's were a wow
In my hands, all seems now so straightforward
And more practice to come, that will allow
Me to not just stand still but move forward
And then of stage performance, no coward
No comedy performers will compare
And if I keep it simple I should grow
In confidence and then become well 'ard
Anyway, before I become a bore
I'll quit this and start cooking, and so ciao!

3267 - More poems about working and food

Still a bit knackered. Like to play guitar
In a while, not much else that I could do
But first, hang out my washing, and prepare
Some tea, I'm getting hungry, and so too
No doubt is Javi who is sitting there
On his phone. Heard him this morning, a few
Giveaway noises about half-past four
(In the morning), yes, he has that nightmare
Start to the day, shift starts at six, but you
And me would I think probably rather
Have a real nightmare in bed than have to
Get up that bloody early, it's not fair
Oh God, I'm really feeling this hunger
Better finish now. For reading, thank you!

3265 - Now is now

Good evening out with Dermot and Richard
Popped in to see Fat Roland and old Phil
Busby, Debbie's brother, and he was good
But that so hot back room at the Castle
Is a bit much, so we did a shuffle
To the bar and had a good chat therein
Discussing time and other concepts, the while
Knocking back good beer, but got a soaking
On the way home. Dermot he went shopping
For pizza, of which I had a slice, pard-
on me, Now I'm typing this, really should-
n't this late on what's now Monday morning
But it's good fun, live for now, it's not hard
Life is short, make it quite enjoyable

Sun 26 July

3264 - Hippy barthday

Always satisfying to hire a car
And get it back safely without a prang
Especially to Chorlton, that's a place where
I always lose my bearings, and feel anx-
iety, but I did it. Special thanks
To my mother, her birthday today, God
Knows how old she is, but no tanks
Could stop her in her tracks. We had
A nice meal at Ellie's. I should have had
Cod and chips, the chorizo was a far
Cry from filling, the lemon tart seeming
Far from big enough to fill my real bad
Appetite. Big up to Jo and Vee for
Being good company, we even sang!

Sat 25 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

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

3233 - E-fish-ent

Another long day of work and pleasure
This evening after work, it was a meal
To celebrate Nancy's birthday, and a
Costly but memorable meal, the real deal
Sushumi, it's called, raw fish, it appealed
To my tastebuds, and so did the green sprigs
And even a flower was not withheld
From my digestive system. So that ticks
Off another experience. A good mix
Of friends around the table, most strangers
To me, but I knew Liz, that memorable
Fancy dress night two years ago that sticks
In my thoughts. Cos we hadn't met before
Some had nerves, but it wasn't bad at all

3231 - Not enough hours in the evening

Phew - been busy this eve since I got home!
And it's not the end yet, still time to go
Not painted tonight, but exercise done
My muscles are improving, can now do
Eighty press-ups. The first time I tried to
Do them, could only do three! Muscles need
Regular usage, and my walks and few
Exercises play their part, yes indeed
Transferred a debt balance from card to card
Also phoned O2 on my mobile phone
Got new SIM-card-only contract, woo-hoo
Ten quid a month's enough. Cooked and ate food
Great guitar session, comedy part-learned
Will learn more, but must ring Tania and Jo

3228 - Souper trouper

What a long day, woke just after seven
Dozed for a bit, rose seven twenty five
Well, lying in bed is close to heaven
And I drifted, listening to Beeb Five Live
Got to the office at eight twenty five
It seems like yesterday, technically, it is
Worked hard as usual, annual report jive
Queries and such, the usual thankless biz
Some laughs with Emma, who is quite a wheeze
And quite a sneeze with her hay fever. Then
Walked to the station, met Jo, caught train to arrive
In Manchester, to Vee and Pearl's flat, these
Last moments with Pearl, meal at half seven
Tampopo, Laksa soup, Walked miles. Survived.

Fri 19 June

3183 - Munching in Munchen (at last)

A hot day, did not need to take my coat
Got the U-bahn to the Olympic zone
Really liked the stadium and how it's set
In a park with great views of tower and town
If you climb the hill built on things knocked down
And turned to rubble by British bombing
In the war, then they let grass grow upon
It all, and hey - some nice hills! Tasting
Currywurst for the first time. Interesting
But too much tomato. Then, welcome seat
On the tube to Allianz Arena, home
To Bayern Munich football team. Going
Back to the centre. New museum's got
Lots of info on Nazi Munich. Boom!

Tue 5 May

3172 - The Greek Sheikh

Good evening, just got back from a big meal
At Dimitri's in Manchester, a Greek
Restaurant that has served us up a real
Great slap-up occasion, though it was steep
Thirty-four quid per head, could make you weep
But with some wine (or beer) down your neck, who
Cares anyway? Soon there'll be time for sleep
Now I must digest all that grub and try to
Get a bit more drunk cos it's Friday you
Know. Drinking makes everything somehow feel
Okay for a while. At least I'm not deep
In debt (yet). Well I am if I think too
Hard about it, with this mortgage to deal
With. I need money, not much as a sheikh

3169 - Rock around the clock

A lovely sunny day and lovely lunch
At the new Dockyard just over the bridge
It's a good place when it comes to the crunch
It's better than anything in the fridge
But of course you can't always have that binge
Most days you have to cut your cloth and save
Just now and then you can see to that itch
But most times you must make yourself behave
And act sensibly and try to be brave
Since then I've had a good evening of grunge
Playing guitar, I've improved just a smidge
As we do each time we try to improve
There's no secret, you just find time to punch
The clock at the place where you feel most rich

3162 - Tomorrow is here

I didn't realise it was so late
It's nearly half-past two and I have got
Work tomorrow, and time it just won't wait
I got a good night's sleep last night but not
Tonight, it would appear, I've missed the slot
And I'm eating bags of crisps left behind
By Louis in February, forgot
But discovered the other day, a find
Naughty but nice, hang on, It's true I've pined
For more for long enough, I've got to sate
My appetite with a third crisp packet
It's better than smoking, it's time to wind
Down and get to bed, if I can relate
To settling down now and losing the plot

Tue 14 April

3157 - The price isn't right

Another evening in, with no spending
Although I raised my eyebrows at the bill
In Sainsburys for a few items. Falling
Prices they say due to the price of oil?
Yet my bill seemed too high. But then I still
Saved by not going out. Most people that
Go out regularly don't drink, just swill
Out their chops with water or Cola Lite
I should do that myself when I go out
Instead I stay in to save on drinking
And don't even write much stuff, but it's brill
Lately for guitar practice, trying to get
Better. Now watching Question Time, thinking
Of a late night snack, my tummy to fill

3156 - No beer today

A fast-paced day at work sorting out files
A fast-paced evening at home doing lots
I'm almost ready for my tea, but smiles
All round as I get ready for the pots
And pans - well, just pans really, got no pots
As such, I keep it simple, my kitchen
Is small, like my cooking skills. Got the hots
For fish fingers, baby - that's haute cuisine
By my standards, so soon I'll pop 'em in
The hunger's growing, starting to beguile
My thought process, despite those three biscuits
I scoffed at work, they're wearing off. Still thin
Though, sort of, and should stay that way since I'll
Be keeping off the beer til travelling starts

3153 - Knock knock who's there? Dunno

Enjoying the evening light as it faaaaades
I see a pale yellow sun through curtain
Tomorrow builders are here, not with spades
To do three floors and leave 'em spick and span
Must remember to get up earlier than
Nine, or soon afterwards, cos by 9:30
They'll be knock-knocking. Yesterday was fun
Pearl met Jo for first time in 3 months, we
Went to Koffee Pot on Oldham Street, the
New location for a good breakfast. Plates
Of mushrooms, eggs, beans, and a real mountain
Of tasty toast. Later, King's Arms to see
Some improv comedy. While no side-aches
It was at least different. A drink or ten

3132 - St Patrick's hat-trick

Woke up at nine, still tired but thought I could
Watch The Championship, but it wasn't on
Why not? I could've slept longer in bed!
Still, though I stayed in, managed to have fun
Need to recuperate after not one
But two rather late nights with some drinking
Actually, lots of drinking. It was fun
Friday out with Helen, and enjoying
The St Patrick's Day vibe, and then driving
To Greasby to see Mum and have a good
Meal and laugh there at Ellie's Restaurant
Followed by a night out, drinks and chatting
Today mainly I dismantled the bed
In the spare room. Goodbye bunk bed (wooden)!