3284 - Taking a raincheck

What a wet day, the rain's gone on and on!
So much so that there's now a giant hole
In the Mancunian Way, please don't fall in!
The rain's enough to make of us a mole
Burying ourselves deep down like lumps of coal
It's eased off now, and the weather forecast
For the weekend's OK, so I will roll
Up at Piccadilly station, half-past
Twelve tomorrow, with a big group, a taste
Of beer and the Glossop folk train to come!
Should be fun, while Jo's in Spain and I'm all
At a loss for what to do these two Sats
Last week, Huddersfield, this week, Glossop. Fun
And beer are intertwined, be still, my soul!

3191 - Not very Prague-matic

Why did I choose to end my tour in Prague
(Where I began?) What a dumb decision
Should have flown home from Vienna. A drag
This last day, waiting near the bus station
For a four hour bus to Prague, no reason
To do this, I realise now, all too late
A waste of time and money, but it's done
At least all my travelling has turned out neat
Let's hope this applies to today - that's great
A successful and varied trip. I dug
Everywhere I went, though Munich was one
Big disappointment how few friends I made...
Last night in Vienna, a good chinwag
With a few people. Last day there was fun!

Wed 13 May

3188 - No trouble brewing

What to do, my second day in Salzburg?
I hadn't a clue, Hellbrunn Palace was
The favourite, someone had been there who dug
It, but Vienna has got palaces
That are better. Looked at maps, references
To Stiegl Brewery tours where you can learn
About the brewing process - thought this is
A better way to spend the day. It turned
Out it was a free event. Austrian
Families were there in droves, wore clothes so snug
Trousers above the knee, flouncy dresses
Brass bands, huge amounts of beer, and mountains
In the background. Climbed Kapuzinerberg
Afterwards, then bought six-pack Stiegl beers

Sun 10 May

3187 - This is where I got that hat

Woke quite early and caught bus to Salzburg
At last I'm in Austria properly
Looked at a map, saw things to take a look
At, and noticed a guided tour. Quickly
Walked down to Mozart Square in time for the
Usual pseudo-historical affair
It was quite boring but necessary
However, after wondering what else there
Could possibly be to do, the sun's fair
Rays started shining. My unguided walk
Was most enjoyable, up in the trees
Above town, on the big rock. Market wares
Attracted my attention, and I splurged
Lots on an Austrian hat (for comedy!)

Sat 9 May

3186 - Lake Dischtricht

My good luck on this holiday has held
Berchtesgaden's an outdoor kind of place
The sun shone til 4:30, so we sailed
(Me and a guy called Jet) on this high lake
Called Konigsee (King's Lake) and saw the face
Of Mt Watzmann, the second highest peak
In Germany. At the far side, amazed
At the beauty of Obersee, and walked
Alongside it and beyond, trying to seek
A route up the steep hill to waterfall
Was successful. Next, because of footache
No more long walks, but cable-car technique
Took us up Mt Jenner, where we beheld
Great views of lake and Berchtesgaden. Ace!

Fri 8 May

3184 - A father, who art in Munich

This is my last full day in Munich and
It was very similar to yesterday
But reversed in order. First, art. Began
With a visit to the Alte Pinakothek
You just gotta love a Flemish master
Or fifty. Plus Rubens, Rembrandt, works not
As well-known to me simply because they're
Not housed in London. After I came out
Of there, the sky cleared, and I had a good
Walk round the 'English Garden' which was grand
Except that I just kept losing my way
Never did find the Chinese Tower! I fought
My way out of that maze to watch Bayern
Get hammered 3-0 by Barca today

Wed 6 May

3111 - Pavilion panorama and paranoia

I've caught my first cold this winter, and so
I'm staying home, not off to see Josie
Glad I'm not out in rainfall and wind blow
Some good pictures from Brighton - you should see
The previous two days' diary, the entries
Containing pix taken when the sun shone
Which makes the whole scene look much more friendly
And stunning as it lights the Pavilion
Yesterday stood in Vic and Bert's bedroom
Funny to think they lay there long ago
Perhaps even producing a pickney
Put off though by unwanted attention
From the local commoners; didn't go
Back there too often, oh spoiled royalty!

3110 - Brighton and Gloomyton

On the train from Brighton to Manchester
Changing at Gatwick, Reading, Birmingham
Not been able to use my phone charger
The phone lasted long enough, just, to aim
It at some Brighton sights. Of course, the main
One being the famous Pavilion
Of George IV. That building looks so glam
I've always wanted to visit. It's done
We also had a great stroll on the pier
As the sun shone, but then replaced by gloom
Took refuge in Bar Revenge, then in one
More pub, back to Kipp's Hostel, and then on
To Brighton station, plenty of time there
To catch the trains that are taking us home

Sat 21 February

3087 - Bananas in Split?

I'm writing this tomorrow morning. Yes
I forgot to write my daily sonnet
I was down the Egerton Arms, and guess
Who goes to that pub? John L, yes, and it
Was in order to plan September's get-
Away to the Balkans. Bulgaria
Is first, cheap flight to Sofia, then flit
Through Macedonia to Albania
Where we'll stop in Tirana, make up for
Not quite getting there last year. Then we'll bus
It to Shkoder and walk the hills. Then it's
To Montenegro, through to Croatia
No time to stay in Dubrovnik, confess
But we'll finish up in Split - then we'll split

About Thur 29 Jan

2992 - Titchy car car

First car hire day for months, it's fun to drive
And the new parking bay's so near my flat
Walk over the canal by bridge, arrive
On St George's Island, and that is that
It's five minutes' walk, no need to break sweat
Toyota Yaris five-door, but was hard
Squeezing in Josie's bike that had a flat
Tyre and broke brake, but drove it to Halfords
For repair, then repaired quickly towards
The Toby Carvery for lunch. Sigh of
Relief - could go to Didsbury, and what
Charity shop bargains all can afford
But none today. Then Bramhall, Marple, I've
Got her bike back, then one more Starbucks chat!

2905 - Not going Hungary

My last full day in Hungary - oh, shame!
Big breakfast followed all too soon by lunch
Enjoyable food though, guilty all the same
For not eating more delicious duck. Scrump-
tious it was, but if I had munched more munch
It would have been greedy. Hopefully they
Can enjoy it this coming week. Feet crunched
On gravel, trod lightly on sand, away
On Szentendre Island beach campsite, my
First river swim, and it's the Danube.* I'm
So pleased we went there. Then, ferry to Vac
Wandered round that old town. Miklos showed me
Some of the sights of Leanyfalu* though time
And light was against us. Supper. Wine. Slump

* The very small beach was at the head of the island in the Danube, just beyond the small island resort town of Kisorozso
*Leanyfalu, pronounced something like Layanfalu

Tue 29 July

2898 - Muggy Magyar

What a hot day, the last before my trip
And tomorrow's also going to be hot
I think therefore I am, no, I will, slip
Tomorrow morning into some clean shorts
And a thin t-shirt, for the shortish flight
To Budapest, capital of Hungary
There's the Danube, the Parliament, first sight
Of Castle Hill, the bustling streets I'll see
Once ruled by Soviet tanks, now they're all free
And in the EU, though tips, if I tip
Will be in forints - euros they do not
Use (very sensible)... Beer's cheap, hee hee
I'm so excited, that to get some kip
Tonight, beer's needed. An excuse I've got!

2896 - It was a sunny day

This is a day late, no time yesterday
To write a sonnet, too busy you see
After the Shrewsbury trip followed by a
Late night in Salford pubs... Today, Josie
(My last visit before my holiday)
A nice sunny day, we both went to town
I bought some clothes for when I go away
Couldn't resist an apparent bargain
New jacket and World Cup t-shirt now owned
Josie tried clothes on in Hollister. Me
I just sat in an armchair, patiently!
Ate at Pizza Express, Wilmslow. Back down
To Manchester, met Nancy to have a
Chit chat, back to flat, more chat, late beddy

About Sunday 20 July, written Mon 21 July

2895 - Piccasilly

A long day, in which lots of beer was had
Whether that was wise, I don't know, but I
Feel kind of OK just before my bed
The day was mainly spent in Shrewsbury
The rain fell hard towards Piccadilly
But as it went on, it became nicer
The four of us visited hostelries
Of ancient repute, and necked good beer
Towards the end I lost them but they were
Waiting for the same train and so we shared
Conversation on the way home, nearby
A very sexy woman. Then after
I got home, went out again, watched some lads
Edinburgh preview, and more pints, oh why????

Saturday 19 July

2894 - Dehydration City

I'm dehydrated, and it's a hot night
So hot today I wore a loose white shirt
Although it's Friday dress down day, I might
Have worn a t-shirt and jeans, but I hurt
With over-heating when I tried to put
My jeans on in the morning. Anyway
I walked to work, quite smart but cool, a chat
With a workman at the building site. They
Are all off on holiday at work. Hey -
Me too, next Wednesday, when I'll catch that flight
To Budapest, touch down at the airport
And find the hostel, hopefully quickly
Tomorrow, Shrewsbury pub crawl but quite
Unwell right now, bad cold and feeling shit

2875 - Nota bene

I've had a cool relaxing day at home
Not spent a penny, ate well, and worked on
My short stories for a while, for a tome
Of child-friendly fun characters all from
The town of Oldcastle-under-Lemon
A fictional town down in Staffordshire
Found a new hardback notebook sitting in
The living-room cupboard, so that is where
I'm transferring (and redrafting) my store
Of funny stories written so far, some
Already read out loud with some aplomb
And received well, specially Chocolatey Claire
She's my fantasy girl, sweet, mixed with rum
And good enough to eat all summer long

2873 - Moving fast

Yesterday was fraught with looming deadlines
As I helped Nancy move back to Bury
First, the van wasn't brought back there on time
So was forty minutes late already
Right at the start. Sofa from Chorlton - she
Wasn't happy I was late. Drove to town
Picked up Nance, then drove to Glossop for the
Odds and ends from where she'd been renting round
By the hills. Motorway to Bury, found
Some junk for the tip in the garden, tryin'
To drive it to the tip, it couldn't be
Done, the clock said, but we did it somehow
Then got two mattresses, hi-fi, entwined
In them we got them upstairs, painfully!

2869 - Dreaming, scheming

Another scorcher, nice day to be out
But it was Monday, was in the office
Mainly, but walked with Steve in midday heat
To a work conference inside the Palace
Hotel, Oxford Road. Saw the odd old face
Not seen for a while. After work, I met
Nancy for a bite and natter, kept pace
With her Edinburgh trip, and our attempts
To get a love life going with our pet
People, or maybe just friendships. We ate
Not at the usual curry place. Chopstix
Instead was the venue. We tried to sort
Arrangements for Thursday, van hire, and flight
From Glossop to Bury. What a business!

2819 - Here's the beef

Bank Holiday Monday, unexpected
Day out with Nic, we went to Hebden Bridge
Ate at The Old Gate, like days departed
While there it was fine, it was not a fridge
And with Nic for company, it's not tradge-
ic, not with Nic - that girl, she is so great
Friends is fine, but she looks just like a madge-
ic pixie, sometimes tricks me. Had a plate
Of beef sandwich with gravy. Would donate
Some to that big grey hound acting ill-fed
But the owner said No thanks. Then we trudged
Back to the car with big glass bowl we placed
Gingerly in the small boot. At hers, met
The housemate again. Lift home. No porridge!

Mon 5 May

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