2125 - Existential crisis

Forgot to take my mobile phone - oh no!!!!
The modern existentialist crisis
These days of course we do not even know
The numbers of our nearest and dearest!
I knew Katy would be in some distress
But hoped she'd realise what I had done
Or rather not done - it was meaningless
Certainly no snub, darling! You're my hun!
Apart from that a good day, rain and sun
Me and Josie went to a Syrian show
Raising cash for the poor and the oppressed
Back home. Talks in Geneva haven't gone
As far as calling for Assad to go
We're lucky our lives are safe! Thanks for this!

2124 - The artful tax dodger

There's been a lot in the news recently

About tax dodgers who so artfully

Defraud the Treasury, HMRC

Of much-needed millions for military

Hospitals, schools and whatsits. There's Jimmy

Carr, who slags everyone else off loudly

Caught with his pants down, most shame-facedly

And even before that, he was ugly

Corporation tax - that's where BIG money

Is siphoned from our 'big society'

Into the havens of really wealthy
Selfish individual and company
Capitalism and prosperity
Don't recognise things like morality

2123 - She's leaving home (soon)

It's a pleasant Thursday, but this weekend

Is expected to be rainy (surprise!)

Yesterday, got great news from my girlfriend

That makes up for these regular grey skies

She handed in her notice, gave advice

To her horrid boss that she's leaving town

Soon she'll be gone for good, and she won't miss

Her home town or her job that brought her down

She's got a lot to give, but why a frown

When Manchester and me can help unwind

Years of tension caused by the enemies

Of decency. They won't have her around

Much longer - her heart is already sent

My way, and she'll forever be Tony's!

2122 - My dream job

I don't like to write sonnets too early

In the afternoon there's nothing to say

But sat at work, time ticking so slowly

I must do something to keep sleep at bay

Snoring at my desk wouldn't be OK

In the old days we'd all have our own rooms

In which we'd snore safely late in the day

But open plan offices spelled the doom

Of secret snoozing and the desk-based dream

At least of those surreal visions that we

Are shown by our chaotic snooze-freed play

Of imagination. But there's still room

For daydreams, schemes, shopping lists, texting... See

And hear sights and sounds - sirens, kids at play

2121 - You gotta laugh if you live here

I hopped across the north to Liverpool
This evening, and a nice evening it was
Raining in Manchester, the puddles full
Yet it got sunnier as I headed west
My tea was milk and scotch eggs as I crossed
By train to Lime Street station. Walked around
The shops and cafes of Bold Street, not lost
Yet, passed Chinatown's arch, up a hill, found
Hope Street, but where was Windsor Street? Confound
These Google maps! Got to Toxteth late. Cool -
Others turned up for the comedy course
Worried the tutor might have gone to ground
In the end it was most enjoyable
Nice people, good material, a buzz!

2120 - Strike while the irony's hot

Went into work on strike day - sod unions
There's only so much loss that I will take
It's not made the news anyway - no-one's
Even aware of this third recent strike
By PCS. This story's overbaked
And so's my bank account - no, overdrawn
Or it was til recently. Trying to make
The books balance is not helped by forlorn
Attempts like this to change things - it just warns
Us we're wasting our time. This evening's
Diversion, which I walked to straight from work
Was a workshop. My chosen theme - love poems
A subject of which I know my onions
Then we read poems in between drink breaks

Mon 25 June 

2119 - Wayne Rooney is small leggy

I got drunk and I went to bed, forgot
To write my daily diary, it seems
There's nothing worse than drink, makes me omit
My highest calling, my loftiest themes
My daily sonnet, source of self-esteem
It's not that I expected victory
Although optimism cautiously beamed
But had England not lost the penalty
Shoot-out against the Blues of Italy
Their Pyrrhic gain would have been to get shot
By German marksmen, goal-hungry machines
In stark contrast to poor short fat Rooney
Who without help from mates at United
Once again proved no thespian of dreams

2118 - Torch of the gods

A lovely day with Josie, that started
With her rowing badly with her mother
I almost had to leave her, but after
A few minutes, and me brushing her hair
Josie came with me, off to Manchester
Via Altrincham (on the tram), just to see
The Olympic torch procession on the
Main drag, Deansgate. Workmates Tracey, Julie
Were there with their kids and Tracey's hubby
Several buses and lots of police motored
By, the last thing we saw, the torchbearer
Himself, gone in a flash of fire, holy
Greek flame from Zeus that sadly has sputtered
Out a few times in wet British weather

2117 - The hot gates of the Greek goalposts

As Germany play Greece, will the result
Reflect the economic thrashing the
Germans have given the Greeks, an insult
To the proud engine of democracy
The unfortunate answer's probably
The Germans are one up, here comes the flood
One suspects, or can, like Thermopylae
The Greek warriors hold the enemy, blood
Notwithstanding, still standing, making good
Their proud ambition, not leaving the field
Alive except with full integrity
And honour befitting their bronzed manhood?
I can't see it, but miracles aren't foiled
By narrow mortal thought - they are crazy!

2116 - Promising the earth

I'm listening to the voice of Sinatra
His first album, of that name, all romance
It dates from the forties, d'you remember
When escapism was the thing, slow dance
As well as the jitterbug, ants-in-pants
Fast dancing styles, the jive and hep cat stuff
Zoot suits would outrage stiff-necked dads and aunts
Problems would go in one atomic puff
They'd smoke and kiss, kiss and smoke - such true love
Old Frankie with, at best, receding hair
Hat at a jaunty angle, s'got big plans
Like them all, babies fall down from above
The stork's on overtime after that war
We'd soon see the great boom time for humans

2115 - Salaam, so long!

The last Arabic class ended today
These lunchtime sessions were hard work, it's true
But now it's over I'll look back fondly
Fifty quid rarely proved such good value
Although Hannah the teacher's not on cue
Most weeks, and rushes through the coursework then
Leaving us dizzy, questions in a queue
That's not always dealt with. Pick up your pen
And quickly write your homework, for again
You'll not be told. She's not harsh, she's OK
She's from Greece, she's had seven kids, and knew
Arabic because of twenty years spent
In Saudi, met a man from Sudan, they
Now live in Prestwich. So, salaam to you!

2114 - It'll be all white on the night

A good sort of day at work - I even
Checked out some local schools for Katy's kids
I had a sore throat and took aspirin
Again, and muddled through, did what I did
Got home, had a good strum, and played with pride
Talking of pride, and playing - the football
Went well tonight for English lads in white
Beating Ukraine 1-0, defensive wall
Holding out again, lions giving all
OK, they're still shit, far too shit to win
Anything, but Roy Hodgson's team's well led
Italy on Sunday, next obstacle
Meanwhile, tomorrow, Arabic's all done
No time for homework, only time for bed

2113 - Summer's horizon

It's been a hard day's work, though not too long
Came home cos Katy said she'd ring, and did
Her battery was low. Discussed timing
Of her move up here. Looks like August. Mid-
Year's better than winter's depths. Smiles miles wide
On that day when Katy and kids move here
Though some down there may be disappointed
At work I emailed the solicitor
About a case in hand, they've made severe
Threats to sue the Department. Yeah right! Wrong!
Try it and see just how far you get, bud!
After this, and some bank biz, it's guitar
Practice, and then, because of cold, staying
In to watch footy. Last night, my nose bled

2112 - Cheshire chicken

I've got a slight cold, I thought it had gone
But last night I felt a bit full of snot
And today I found it quite hard to run
And carry Josie when we mess about
Nevertheless we had the usual riot
I cycled there, with some help from a train
Debuting my Two-Tone Specials T-shirt
The usual pump of the back tyre again
Before each cycle ride. It was a pain
To get the train to Bramhall and then come
Back again after just an hour, but that's
Sunday trains - there aren't enough. In slight rain
We sat on a bench eating fried chicken
Sharing strawberry water, laughing lots

2111 - Embryonic gin and tonic

Last night's gig was OK, thought it went well
The King's Arms upstairs room isn't that big
A good sound quality, a ringing bell
Compared to some I've done which were a drag
Thanks to the guys at Embryo. Some cigs
And beers were had afterwards, sad to say
Some pints in the pub, some beer at home, fog
Of smoke and booze needed partly to stay
Relaxed and not hyper, plus England played
Sweden and beat them. I'd missed it live - hell,
I was busy! - but caught highlights post-gig
I didn't get wet either! Janet stayed
For the second half. I sneaked off. The spell
Of home drink and fags I must once more break

2110 - Nerves of jelly

Drank lots of beer last night watching football
And talking to my girlfriend on the phone
It was a two and a half hour phone call
I was naughty - I drank and smoked at home
For the first time since March, but won't let one
Such slip-up trip me back to my old ways
I badly need to save - that's one reason
Also, Katy and kids won't like smoke haze
It didn't even help me sleep. I'm dazed
From tiredness on the day when I'll be all
Exposed to a paying audience for ten
Minutes... But that's not long, it should just race
By in a blink. I hope that this rainfall
Spares me walking there tonight from my home

2109 - I don't have a dream

I'm more in love than ever, my mind is
More on my Katy than tomorrow night
At the gig, I'd rather forget that. Miss
Is ringing shortly, she's what makes me right
Wish she was here - I'd soon pull down her tights
But no, I should focus on other things
There must be other things that still excite
But they're not physical, it's that that brings
The most thrills per square inch, the most tinglings
The things that make you scrunch all your features
That must beat highest intellectual heights
Because they rarely pull all the heartstrings
As tightly, tying you up with a kiss
Prison can be better than the outside

2108 - Deutschland uber alles in fussball

One of these days Germany will have bad
Luck in a major football game, and go
Out even though they may have played well. Had
Decades of luck in tournaments. Although
They're rarely favourites and usually below
Others in flair, they always get the luck
Take that World Cup game just two years ago
Lampard's shot lamped the crossbar, and then fuck!
It bounced out to the keeper, so darn quick
The ref didn't know it crossed the line. And
Yet, a few days ago, in the Euro
Match with Portugal, the latter's shot cracked
The German bar and didn't go in. Would
It be too much to hope for German woe?

2107 - A fridge too far

It's Tuesday night, the week is flashing by
I've had a quick guitar practice just now
Also reread some Arabic, but why
Can't the teacher get it right? Tell me how
Can I do homework when she can't seem to
Photocopy all the pages we need
To do it? I also rang Three. Somehow
Last month, on my phone, managed to exceed
My call allowance, meaning I'll have paid
Far more than usual this month! Soon, Katy
And I'll be gabbing again, don't you know
I'll keep an eye on Poland / Russia, feed
Myself with more snacks from the fridge, then I
Will have a shower and wash hair with shampoo

2106 - Balls of confusion

Alone again in body, not in mind
Another week begins, dominated
By the gig on Friday evening I signed
Up for. I'm now starting to look forward
To it - am pleased I'm on early, no dread
All through the evening, waiting... makes it worse...
I could even nip home and watch England
Play Sweden, but probably won't. Will rehearse
Next three nights, make sure that I know the words
Tonight, it was France 1 England 1. Kind
To England, I thought, quite leaden-footed
As ever, clearly not going to burst
To the final stages this time around...
Or anytime soon. They are ill-fated...

2105 - Love parade

A morning of love, like so many years
Ago, it feels like the eighties are back
Katy's giving nature, she has few peers
Humanity is not something she lacks
I love seeing her from the front, the back
Or any angle, she is pretty and
More importantly, she's quick to react
To what I do with mouth, body and hand
This afternoon, tattoos were our joint brand
But first we sat by the river, no beers
Two coffees, two teas, bathed by sun, then clapped
Eyes on the Manchester Parade, clapped hands
Great display along Deansgate, among cheers
Katy's back home now, but soon she'll be back

2104 - Love weekend

The Euro 2012 tournament's here
But more importantly, Katy is here
I'm dizzy, in a tizzy, out of sheer
Excitement, exhaustion, secreting tears
Of joy at times, as we overcome fear
We don't mind where we do it, there or here
In a parked car, the windows aren't too clear
People were walking past, they seemed so near
I should be more tired, but when we are near
We live on adrenalin, living here
Together for the weekend, but soon we're
Together forever, for that's what we're
Planning, hand in hand, heart in heart, players
In the game of love, winners with few peers

Sat 9 June

2103 - Deconstructing Tony & Katy

Day off waiting for Katy to come north
Cleaned up, then watched 'Deconstructing Harry' -
Noticed some parallels with Woody's life
And even paused the Lovefilm DVD
To write some song lyrics reflecting the
Exciting train arrival of my love
From somewhere down below to my city
Where we will have a long encounter, mouth
To mouth excitation, before we shove
Off to a pub or two to have a laugh
Over a pint or three, Holts beer, maybe
I'll carry her heaviest bag as we move
Towards my flat, hugging for all we're worth
When we get there, what a night it will be

2102 - Fantasy in K

I'm in preparation mode for the day

When Katy moves up here to live with me

Two kids in tow, too - mustn't forget they

Will have their needs, and schooling needs to be

Organised for them both very quickly

Katy needs a job - nursery's the plan

Or nail bar, something to bring in money

Something we'll need to avoid such problems

As getting into debt. My intention -

To move to a bigger flat. Fantasy

Perhaps, unless we make more bread, Katy

And me. Our incomes combined could expand

Enough to make that move viable, say

A few months down the line, realistically

2101 - Don't want it to always be good

Oh it's all good at the moment, why can't
It always be? Well the answer to that
Is that if there wasn't bad, there couldn't
Be good, it would all in fact be grey, flat
Like permanently living in Pripyat
Or Shetland, North Scotland, or Alaska
Somewhere cold and northern, where you need fat
And there are no vitamins of solar
Source, no soul to speak of, just ground molar
Against molar, till the end's found. The hunt
For happiness is often put off. What
An easy route, a sellout, civil war
Where cowardice wins, where the head kills heart
Where excitement is slain all for comfort

2100 - Heads, knobs and broomsticks

I went back down to Whalley Range cafe
It was a fun time for all, life drawing
Though at one point I didn't know which way
To look, as a guy I know was stripping
Off right in front of me, firstly reading
A poem, then posing for ten minutes
With a mad smile on his face. My drawings
Were the first I'd done on my sketchpad since
2003, amazingly. Pics
In my pad take me back to some good days
Out sketching with Pearl, sometimes then driving
To distant country places like the Peaks
Or Wales. Agata, the artist today
Really liked one of my charcoal sketchings!

2099 - The incredible lightness of Jubileeing

A nice Bank Holiday with two daughters
Pearl and Josie, driving to Jubilee
Fun in Wilmslow Park, then Macclesfield - there's
No fair there, we find - that's not fair! - then we
Stopped by Alderley Edge, took pix as the
Sun still shone on distant trees, fields and hills
The solstice isn't far off now, soon be
Getting darker again, so then until
It does, enjoy the light time, have your fill
Of this Jubilee Gig, and the Euro's
Football tournament. Then later, Katy
Moves up here. The Olympics, they could well
Prove exciting (come on, they aren't always)
The summer's full as a big beer belly

2098 - Long may she rain

The Crescent's cancelled for Bank Holiday
So not going down there tonight (thank God)
I'll put off playing til another day
The rain, you know, the gloom, it's just a sod
Going out with the guitar. It's not good
I hate carrying things, like my arms free
I spent the day doing, well, not a lot
Watched the boats on the Thames, the jubilee
Ruined by rain, ho ho, on the TV
The Queen was not best chuffed, one's safe to say
Though her and the Duke did well, how they stood
On that boat not puking's a mystery
They both seem good for years yet, though Charles may
Want to hug the throne, though not made of wood

2097 - Rainy Saturday on the Range

My left hand feels numb, or is it the wrist -
Playing guitar was tricky today - but
When that was done I made sure that I picked
Up that computer screen that has been stuck
On the living room floor this last year, put
It in a binbag, carried it to town
If it still works, I'll get six quid for it!
Then met Nancy, and we caught the bus down
To Whalley Range, despite the rain, walked round
The art show, then spent a few hours in which
We had a fun discussion, and I shoved
A late breakfast down me. Pleased that we found
Two groovy cafes there. Plan to visit
Them again this long weekend. They were cute

2096 - Just another jubilee

It's not just any Friday night, you know
It's a four day weekend, Bank Holiday
Monday after Sunday, and that's followed
On Tuesday by the Diamond Jubilee
Of Queen Liz Two, Her Royal Majesty
That stuck-up... I mean, down-to-earth monarch
Buck House is gonna see a real party
She's gonna shake her booty in the park
Her crown will slip but she won't stop her shake
It ain't Alzheimer's, she's just on the flo'
Shakin' it like a pro, all night and day
The Duke's drunk so much he might easily puke
I remember '77, so
Long ago, Liz's Silver Jubilee