3294 - Never stop

Despite still being short of sleep when I woke
At lunchtime left the office, headed out
To the other side of town, a long walk
Had a hilarious tiime having haircut
They know I'm a comedian, dominate
The attention of all three staff these days
Then after work, shopping for things to eat
And once home I did my exercises
Just about managed press-ups, what a feat
Javi was out, so I stayed on my feet
In the living room, played guitar, and broke
The record, I think, for skill, trying not
To look at the strings, with fingers of smoke
I played Sparks melodies. Poem rewrote

3291 - Getting on with it

Wow, what a day, and also a great play
On guitar once back home, and now staying
In tonight, after three nights' comedy
But that's OK, because I am looking
Forward to the Bowie tribute act in
The Ruby Lounge tomorrow night, and I'll
Write a poem first, fit for publishing
In the next 'Evidently' - it's a while
Since so much has been right, there's many miles
To freedom, as the man said, and now hey
It's all getting rather good, I'm hoping
By continued focus, that these things will
Continue to get better still, and they
Will, if I go on doing what I'm doing

3281 - Strum and dusted

Looking forward to a guitar session
Tonight, had a good 'un last night playing
Beach Boys, and there's more of the same to come
It really pays dividends, practising
Well not literally but know my meaning
Can routinely play now quite well without
Feeling a need to slow down by looking
We don't look when we walk, don't think about
It, talk casually, look around, chill out
As we stroll almost mindlessly along
That's what I want when I'm stood there strumming
No effort required, very little thought
And won't be satisfied til I am one
Of that ilk, able to chat, joke or sing

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

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

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!

3266 - Rock this flat

Too tired to think of what to say after
Last night's late night, although I slept til nine
I still didn't get enough. But later
After work was done, guitar went just fine
Practising without looking's what I'm tryin'
And it's surprisingly easy, you know
To travel through a musical goldmine
While watching TV. Stopped wearing shades. No
Need, if I don't look, I don't need to show
The guitar in a dark light. I just stare
At the TV, or at the trees, and I'm
Hardly trying, it seems. Soon I will blow
Them away with my improvement, I'll scare
Them and myself with six-stringed moan and whine

3258 - You're history

Mainly stayed in, done a few things not much
Exciting but useful enough. Hung out
With Javier after he got in, now must
Try to look at historic bank accounts
To check management company's claim 'bout
Me owing them two hundred. Sure that can't
Be right, though I might owe less, wasn't quite
On track with payments in '12. Had a jaunt
To Sainsburys, spent twenty-five, but still won't
Go bankrupt this month, hopefully won't touch
The overdraft line again. Missing out
On comedy rehearsal time - my fault
Cos when I had the chance, with guitar, just
Played along to stuff (but with eyes wide shut!)

3245 - Rain rain, you won't go away

In between two viewings this second evening
Last night, the Polish girl, tonight, Javier
From Spain (with two mates). While here, heard the ring
Of my phone, someone else, she's called Eva
Is coming to view it in half an hour
It's very dark, rain-clouds grey and heavy
Not a great advert for British summer
And tomorrow night, for the comedy
The forecast's terrible, don't think I'll be
Taking my guitar, probably not doing
The song-based act I had planned, so I'll spare
Myself rehearsals of them, and maybe
Instead tonight I'll do some selecting
Of old jokes and write new ones to try there

3241 - Worry flurry

Now for today, what happened, not a lot
Back at work after one day off, and now
I'm feeling tired. I know that I should put
An advert up for the room, start to show
It off to potential renters, allow
Me to improve my lifestyle, get money
Although I admit I'm worried somehow
Who will it be, will we get on, will he
Or she be clean, well-behaved, trustworthy
However, I think probably I will not
Do that tonight. Energy-wise, I'm low
Might play guitar, Chevalier and Rossi
And then Serge G are next up, they are hot
Stuff to play along to (tu sais) you know

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

3237 - Make it hard

Completely forgot to do yesterday's
Sonnet diary. Well, remembered at one
Point, but then forgot again as I based
Myself in the moment, distracted from
A magazine, a TV show. Early on
I painted walls and window sills all white
Trying to cover discolouration
Brown stains and dirty fingerprints. It's nice
Now but not even. Guess I need advice
In decorating technique in this place
Played guitar, struggled at first, the volume
Was a bit quiet to hear the music, plus
I wore my Soviet hat and some dark shades
To make it harder like a performance

About Sun 28 June

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?

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

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

3224 - The fun factor

Think I'll play some guitar soon tonight, not
Doing anything special. I won't paint
The spare room tonight. Its final white coat
Can wait a day or two, but what won't wait
Is guitar practice. My skill will grow faint
If I don't put in a shift frequently
So tonight, when this sonnet's done, a great
Time - some dance, some reggae and R and B
It's time to forget about jihadi
For a minute and produce western art
Decadent art maybe, not of the saint
But then it's a craft, so is comedy
Like fishing or carpentry, could be lost
If someone preserves not just the ancient

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

3212 - The axe man really doth cometh

I've had a blast, playing some mean guitar
This evening after work, played Serge Gainsbourg
Followed by Steve Winwood and Traffic, far
From tired at first, exercised on the rug
Then got out the axe, got the playing bug
Some great tracks, among my faves, hypnotic
Inspiring me to cut a bluesy rug
My hands a blur, a fretboard fanatic
Frenetic fingerwork, be arthritic
Before too long at this rate, thrilled to core
At being able to play this stuff, a dog
On heat couldn't be quite as ecstatic
And now feel like a marathon runner
After crossing the finish line, a star

3196 - Seasons in the sun (and wind)

Soon after work, and eating of my tea
I quickly set to continuing to save
My many holiday pictures, finally
Downloading them all onto my hard drive
Now quickly writing this so I can have
A play on my guitar 'fore relaxing
It's nearly nine, and the sun's still above
The horizon, as we're in the late spring
Mid-May, when nature seems so welcoming
A nice time of year, though it's cold lately
To go out with no jacket would be brave
Although we're almost in June. I'm saving
Money for a while, think I'll boycott the
Concerts and days out I'd planned, but that's tough