3203 - Driving Miss Crazy

I've enjoyed my Bank Holiday Monday
Stayed home and did all sorts of things, relaxed
Tomorrow is another off-work day
My driving awareness course that I asked
To attend to avoid points. Harms your track
Record to have speeding points on licence
So I'll have a haircut, head for the trams
To Bury, all the while I will rehearse
My comedy sets for Tuesday and Wednes-
day (King's Arms and Tiger Lounge), though must say
I need to rehearse right now, practice fast
Or I won't see through my sunglasses lens
When I wear shades and hat to look OK
Trying to hide my thin and greying locks

3173 - United in Munich

Am enjoying my evening, had good day
With Josie in Arndale and Old Trafford
A bit of rain but mainly stayed away
And quite warm sunshine meant that it felt good
Strangely when we got to Old T Jo did
Not want to look round the club shop this time
So with the Jappy snappers, stood outside
Then wandered off to Lowry mall, a fine
Mocha in Costa til six, then soon flyin'
Home by tram and train. Now my holiday
Is looking even better, yes I've scored
A hit tonight, I'm meeting Minji Kim
In Munich. For timing that good I'd pray
But no need, it's gonna happen, by God!

3013 - Present and correct

A fun day visiting Josie Wosie
Hopped on the train to Manc Piccadilly
From there we caught the tram down to Old T
Realised this was an opportunity
To buy Jo's things for Christmas and birthday
For part of her Chrissy prezzy, onesie
In Man U design, looks very pretty
Then for her birthday that's in January
She wants to watch United play with me
So I bought two tickets, Reds v Burnley
She thinks the Reds will win, so she's happy
And for me, this present-buying's early
I can afford it, living frugally
Now in Dec and Jan I'll have more money

3009 - Full leather jacket

A quick sonnet before I head off out
On the tram to West Didsbury, an old
Eighties stomping ground, it'll be a trout
(Sorry, treat) to revisit it, I'm told
(No, I'm doing the telling!) Not too cold
So I'll stick with the thin white coat, I won't
Change to the thick black one yet that was sold
To me last year, not had a great amount
Of wearing so far. When temperatures mount
(Sorry, plummet - when they go down the spout!)
As they tend to do when winter takes hold
I'll wear the black one, and also, all count
On seeing me quite soon out and about
In my new brown leather jacket. Clothes gold!

2533 - Buzzing

The rain comes down but I'm now safely home
The tram is easy, got to and from Sale
Destination the pub, the King's Ransom
Opposite the Waterside Centre, ale
Then comedy, where I met some people
First time I've seen the Buzz Club, remember
When it was at The Southern pub, but failed
To see it when it was situated there
Although attended once with wife Vera
And Heather and Mike. Never mind, I came
To Sale tonight, it was quite good, regaled
With some good acts, aided by the odd beer
Watching Match of the Day now, to bed soon
Light rain has replaced the afternoon's gale

2442 - City and United

The rainiest day ever but lucky us
Me and Jo avoided getting wet through
She chose to go - quelle surprise! - to City's
Football stadium, the Etihad, the blue
Side of the city. While there, I bought two
T-shirts, even though I'm no City fan
'Why always me?' - a slogan that's just so
Irresistible, to wear it, real fun
Another City shirt, Joy Division-
inspired. Then back on the tram which took us
To United's ground, Old Trafford, on cue
To look in their shop once more. Then chicken
At KFC, ate so much we might burst
But Jo was late for Kirsty's party. Oh!

2440 - No longer top banana

Poor old Man City lost the Cup Final
To unfancied Wigan, and I was there
Not Wembley, but the Etihad. Struggled
To stay warm watching screens in open air
With a thousand other City fans there
Was fun taking the tram, first time on that
New line, but on the way back, near despair
From fans all crowded in together, but
The mood was lightened by some drunks somewhat
Who sang funny songs, tried to raise a smile
City had some good chances, but went pear-
Shaped at the end, in the ninetieth minute
Wigan headed in the winner. Oh well
My son's a let-down City supporter

2351 - Fun-damental

Not as cold tonight as I expected
Down Oxford Road to the Sandbar again
For a variety night, bad and good
And some who were a little in-between
But good fun cos I just sat and watched them
And drank cappucinos, no alcohol
Nice night out with Janet, also saw Tom
And the tram came straightaway, fuckin' hell
Got headphones on right now, under the spell
Of Roots Manuva deep inside my head
Not Awfully Deep though, it's just Movements
With all this caffeine in me, will I fall
Asleep when the time comes to go to bed
I know what to do - read Solzhenitsyn!

2237 - Light thy fire

A different Saturday, such strange places
Nancy and me went, and such stranger sights
First, Ordsall Hall in Salford - that place is
Now refurbished, formerly black and white
Tudor-style beams replaced with brick and light
Brown unpainted beams like in Tudor days
The black and white fashion came later. Quite
An odd interactive Dickensian play
Based on Oliver Twist. Charles came to stay
There, apparently. Then, a few paces
To the tram, rode to Bury for Light Night
Where we sat in crowded Costa Coffee
Til Andrea arrived. Saw some blazes
But no fireworks. The night turned out just right

Sat 20 Oct

2187 - Manchester, Bury and Scandinavia

Hey, at work today had a real good chat
With Tony Mac, an Irishman, yes sir
That made a long day go quick, then I hit
The tram to Bury, I was on the draw
With Nancy at the Art Gallery where
An Australian gal was posing, was fun
Ten quid well spent. Glad I paid the tram fare
The inspectors boarded on the return
Journey, unexpectedly, eleven
O' clock or later! Then, back in my flat
An easyJet email, led to an air
Flight booking, November, Copenhagen
From Manchester, five days, time to visit
Denmark, and Sweden. Scandinavia!

Fri 31 Aug 2012

2173 - Heated park

A walk over the green bridge in Salford
Connecting it to the Manchester side
I found Cornbrook tram station to then board
The tram to Bury, the aim to alight
At Heaton Park where I met Nancy, tried
To attend a variety night nearby
But it was not on this month, so we spied
A nearby pub and caught up, she and I
Chatting about our lives, both said we'd try
To spice up our lives, cos we can't afford
To go on waiting, we both can't abide
Boredom and want more. But we don't fancy
Each other, we're just friends. There's one that I'd
Go with, and others that I've yet to find...