2230 - Bury buried

Good night's sleep at Matt and Jude's, Mottingham
Cold, but the sleeping bag was my saviour
After Marmite on toast, to the station
Up to London Bridge, then hopped onto the
Train to Brighton, but hopped off long before
(Three Bridges), met Louis there, then the bus
Into Crawley, then walked a mile or more
To the football ground. The match today was
Crawley 3 Bury 2, yes, very close
Sunny spells but it wasn't very warm
After, we had a meal, I had pasta
The place was run by friendly Portuguese
But no chance of making Covent Garden
For the poetry night taking place there

2229 - Manchester evening blues

This is the stuff of legend, those stories
That you can tell people for years to come
I came for a London weekend to see
My daughter, but her mum, my ex-wife's, gone
And made the front page of the papers, from
A car crash last Easter, she's a teacher
Does that make it newsworthy? That's the sum
Of a big news story up north? Daughter
Got stressed-out call from mum, and she caught the
Train north as I caught coach south, meaning she's
Not there (to quote The Zombies). Mottingham
Is where I'm staying, with good friends, so the
Weekend is saved from homelessness. Crawley's
Where I'll be, watching football with my son

2228 - Tyrannosaurus Mex

Family traumas are happening all around
Car crashes, court cases, and lots of stress
Been out late this evening trying to help out
Waiting for cabs in pouring rain, hopeless
Trying to stay dry. Been off work, but less
Done than normal with my free time - I just
Had no energy, was feeling listless
Couldn't even think up lyrics - the most
I managed was one line. On sofa, dozed
Briefly, and watched a silly film that found
Cowboys fighting dinosaurs somewhere west -
No, south - of the Rio Grande. They were toast
As the T Rex advanced but it was bound
With rope, and carted off to a zoo. Bless!

2227 - On the road, on the track, on the runway

These are the countries I've been to so far -
All parts of the UK, also Ireland
France (mainly north, but also Basque area)
Austria briefly, twice to Switzerland
Liechtenstein, Belgium, Germany, Holland
Friendly northern Portugal, much of Spain
Some Italian cities, Slovenia, and
Eastern Greece, western Turkey by both train
And bus, the USA, but tried in vain
To see the Falls over in Canada
Next month I'll add both Denmark and Sweden
Maybe Hungary next year. Hop on a plane
Enjoy the view from way up in the air
Drive through strange towns, from trains observe the land

2226 - You better believe it

Slight runny nose - wonder whose germs I've got
Hopefully my immune system will win
It's fighting ability's usually hot
Even when I've got a cold deep within
Right now I just can't seem to stop sniffin'
Meanwhile on TV Christian creationists
Are arguing against evolution
Even now, some people seem to have missed
The intellectual ark. Just let them twist
Reality into myth, lose the plot
I'd rather stay free to be enjoyin'
Life the way I want to, same as they must
Feel about their belief. Now - Oh My God -
Transporter 2 is on - more mush for brains!

2225 - Let the children play

It's made the news that Sir Jimmy Savile
(Now dead) did things the old boy shouldna done
It's alleged that he was a paedophile
Single people can always be picked on
Why aren't they married? They're weird, every one
Nevertheless, children must be kept safe
In Wales a week ago, lil April Jones
Was taken in a van. Though there's no proof
Yet that she's dead, she's been so long removed
The kidnapper's been charged with murder while
The hunt goes on. Horrible things happen
But let's not throw out baby with the bath
Water - let kids play, let them run a mile
We wouldn't need gyms if we learned to run

2224 - Playing around

Had a good play on the guitar again
Not my own songs this time, just played along
To CDs - it was good to hear the strain
Of old tunes and riffs I've known for so long
Made from my own hands that have become strong
In their practised art, ad lib repeated
Jazzy approaches, heavy bass lines slung
Beneath the more ethereal hues painted
On the upper reaches of the axe fret
Rhythms that make me move while I'm playing
Head, feet, hands and mind, they're all in motion
Music as exercise, music not read
But felt as it was felt down memory lane
Years vibrate into life like a hit gong