1737 - Back to strife

There's much to do when you get back from leave
It makes me feel it's hardly worth going
When coming back's so stressful. I believe
You might as well do little or nothing
My son would probably agree, I think
Wanting and doing nothing is the key
Buddhists and Stoics push that kind of thing
So I feel they would probably agree
The ultimate goal of philosophy,
Old and new age religion's to achieve
The peace you had before you were living
And you will have again eventually
So you won't need to cause relatives grief
By topping yourself, but can keep smiling

1736 - The British Museum hasn't lost its charm

It must have rained all night, but I dropped off
Quickly after reading The Observer
When morning came, the deluge from above
Hadn't yet ceased. Was loaned an umbrella
(Thank God) by Pearl, said goodbye, and caught the
Number 91 bus to St Pancras
The 'Dirt' exhibition I'd seen posters
For was closed today - not a real surprise -
So on to the British Museum - yes!
At last! And it's free... You have got to love
Seeing parts of The Parthenon all there
The horses, soldiers, mythical creatures
In relief, rescued from Greece after rough
Times, decay, faces chipped off, cannonfire...
Mon 6 June

1735 - The real South Bank Show

Surprisingly, the clouds, and then the rain
Not what I want from semi-tropical
London, but a brilliant day all the same
Overground train to Richmond, slight rainfall
Popped into Marks and Sparks, then past Town Hall
And a right, to the Thames Bridge and beyond
The rain increased; bookshop browsing a while
Then to the South Bank. Pearl texted a friend
Who works there... Free viewing before the end
Of the day at Hayward Gallery; name
On the door, Tracey Emin, visual
Aperitif, then food at Giraffe, and
Cheap seats for the Philharmonia, playing
Really well at the Royal Festival Hall
Sun 5 June

1734 - London Fried

Of course London is hot when Manchester
Is what I'm used to, and today was hot
Breakfast outside, then Islington; had a
Tattoo (the Underground logo), a spot
Of pain for lifelong gain, though you might not
See it that way, then coffee and meeting
With David; then we (me and Pearl) struck out
For Brick Lane, near Shoreditch, an interesting
Couple of hours, though she was not feeling
Too good at one point. Bishopsgate, and The
Gherkin. Liverpool Street Station, I got
An Oyster Card. On to Soho, teeming
Saturday evening. Starbucks, then we were
Back home. A drink or three, a heart to heart
Sat 4 June

1733 - Giant Monopoly Board

The first really hot day we've had for weeks
Was the first day of my trip to London
I queued for Megabus with all the chicks
Spilled fizzy water everywhere upon
The bus floor as I screwed the top undone
When the bus reached Victoria I trekked
All the way from there to Caledonian
Road, where my daughter lives, so I reccied
The whole route for future reference. Effect
Of passing Buck Palace gave me some kicks
Walked up The Mall to Trafalgar Square, on
Up Charing Cross Road, aiming to connect
With Tottenham Court Road, Euston Road, past King's
Cross / St Pancras... At last the journey's done!
Fri 3 June

1732 - Blue sky blues

The sky is blue, the sky is blue, is blue
Here in Manchester, here in Manchester
Who would have thought it, who would have thought, who
It's just like summer, it's just like summer
I know it's that time of year, time of year
But this is the North, this is, is the North
It's not the South up here, not the South here
Up here the clouds spill forth, the clouds spill forth
Our streets are like the Firth of Forth, of Forth
Och aye the noo, the noo, och aye the noo
We were welly wearers, wellies we wore
To keep dry, to keep dry clothes, keep dry clothes
But the clouds flew, they flew, the clouds all flew
That should have impressed ya, have impressed ya

1731 - Questions without answers

Why do I always spill juice down white shirts?
Why are plastic bags so hard to open?
Why does the sun shine so that my eyes hurt
But it goes in when I close the curtain?
Why do ads start when my TV goes on?
Why do I get aches when I play guitar
And aches in my lower limbs when I run?
Why do I stop myself from going far?
Why do I settle for earth and not star?
Why am I active only in short spurts?
Why do I wait until the race is run?
Why do I want things but don't really care?
Why don't I find more people of my sort?
Why don't I - or am I the only one?