3097 - Not feeling the heat

Passing time on Sunday evening, heat on
As it's still pretty darn cold. Tried to read
This enormous hardback that's really long
But it made me feel sleepy in the head
So now I've listened to some Wilko. Need
To familiarise his stuff for the gig
In March at The Ritz. Louis has indeed
Got the bus to London, where he's staying
At Pearl's and searching for rooms. He's coming
Back next weekend though to collect what's on
The bedroom floor, still. Most of it lies neat
In wheelie bins now, out of sight, thinking
Life somehow feels a little less humdrum
Each day I do what I want, so I am pleased

3090 - Feeling cold then warm

A relaxing day at home in my cool
Flat. Kept the heat on until 4:30
In the afternoon, then I couldn't fool
Myself any longer. Get heat for me!
I went into the other room to be
Warmer throughout the flat, the switch went on
By the boiler. I'd watched the DVD
Of what I've just read - 'Great Expectations'
Featuring Robbie Coltrane and Ralph Fiennes
I also worked on Tuesday's material
For Dave's birthday fun night, which Dermot G
Might also go to. Going out again
(Maybe) Wednesday, acoustic night, I will
(Maybe) do a few cover songs (badly)

3073 - Untitled cos I'm a lazy sod

This is yesterday, looks like I forgot
To write anything, maybe cos football
Was on in the evening, and was not hot
So I felt tired, cold, what with that withal
And with all that was not happening, I stalled
And could only think of heading for bed
In my head, so headed for my bed, falled
Onto my bedding, and soon was installed
Under the duvet, and there I was hot
Well, maybe not hot, but comfortable
In no time at all, I was so settled
That I slipped away where things are as not
As they are here but are better, unreal
Where wants and desires are all cheaply fed

About Wed 14 January

3057 - Cold cold winter

Back to work, like back to school, just as bad
Quiet though, few in, a few chats here and there
A bit more of the condoc written, had
The chance to do more, but by four, no more
Could be borne, I was bored, so at half-four
I wound my way home, via Sainsburys
Yes sir, yes sir, two bags full but no more
But nothing that will help me with the freeze
Keep the door shut, don't want balcony breeze
Easing its way in, stay out there, I said
To the wind which I talk to, I can't bear
It on a winter night though, silences
Are fine, put conversation to the sword
Wrap up real warm and turn on the heater

3056 - Chiller thriller killer

A cold day, mostly wasted feeling ill
Thanks to last night's whisky Christmas present
Couldn't do anything, felt sick and killed
Time sitting on the sofa, ears attuned
To the football on the radio, and ground
My way through the afternoon, finally
Feeling able to eat at tea-time, sound
Constitution, didn't puke, the whisky
And Stella combination inside me
Inducing nausea. Despite the intense chill
I visited Nancy as I was meant
We had a good chat up there in Bury
(Nice chocs, by the way, those things tasted brill)
Now home again, sadly, the weekend's spent

Sun 28 Dec

3049 - You are my sunshine

This is the shortest day of the whole year
A day I like even though it's horrid
And dark, because you know the time's now near
When it'll get lighter again, take heed
Of this change for the better. In your bed
You'll see a slow earlier lightening
Maybe that's not in itself all that good
If that causes earlier awakening
I don't like darkness except for sleeping
Common sense says that's a time to be clear
Of danger and cold, home comforts enjoyed
Maybe it can be warmed with a short fling
Though that's hard for me to do without tears
So useless with people, easily led

3042 - The lamb in winter

Sunday Sunday at home today Sunday
Think there should be no punctuation now
I have begun this unorthodox way
Its OK if you are enough highbrow
A bit ee cummings Im an off show
Its cold in winter thats a big surprise
Not I should say like the size of a cow
Although it could be a baby cow size
Never assume words are true could be lies
All these are are pastimes to pass time hey
Best to pass time easily cant somehow
Motivate to activate pressurise
Myself to get big things done just the way
Ive always been can I ever change though

3041 - Tram o'shanter

A chilly day but I was warmly dressed
Met Josie at her house, then Manchester
As usual. And, as usual, the dest-
ination was Old T, United's lair
No match on, just scanning the usual fare
In the Reds'shop, though this time I bought nowt
For her. We walked to the Quays. Harvester
Was where we dined, but it needs sorting out
I may have been overcharged by about
Ten quid. May walk there tomorrow, may rest
Instead and forget about it - see where
Fate takes me, with a whimper or a shout
Any road, it's so parky, need a vest
And thermals, hot water bottle, good sir

Tram o'shanter simply because we travel to Old Trafford by tram!

3039 - Cold comfort flat

Jeez, hope this cold weather won't last too long
Though I suspect it may last all winter
Just what we don't need, big bills to prolong
The general austerity. Guess the poor
Will either freeze or go bankrupt this year
Food banks, that's another 'big issue' now
Luckily, I don't yet need a voucher
To get free handouts of food, if I plough
This work furrow as I'm doing, allow
Myself to pay off debts, I can belong
With the somewhat-better-off, if not the
Decidedly-better-off, and highbrow
Nature means I can always go along
Cheaply, reading, walking, playing guitar

3034 - Santa's a Red Devil

A chilly day but not too cold. Again
(Yet again) Jo wanted to go to Old
Trafford, and we did, and again I spent
On her while there, but I shouldn't self-scold
It was a Christmas present I was sold
Which was a United away shirt, dark
Blue, with Di Maria on the back. A bold
Move then by Jo which paid off, played off park
I was by her tactics! Still, we had a lark
I looked for the trainers I saw within
Sports Direct in Salford last night, but failed
To find them in town. Think I'll have to walk
Around in shoes til January, tattoos ain't
Affordable now either - they're on hold

3031 - Cold (it's)

Feel wide awake, and that's even despite
A day of presentations. Goes to show
That sometimes, if you don't stay up all night
Almost anything can be OK, so
That encourages me, I didn't slow
Or drop off to sleep as I sat and watched
Clear sky last night, a touch of frost. To go
Out last night wasn't appealing, and scotched
Plans to go out tonight too. There's a match
On (Sunderland v City) that I might
Watch with Louis. Before that, fingers flow
On the guitar for an hour or so, catch
The wind through the strings on its quick light flight
And edge that bit closer to goodness knows

3030 - Mind your language

Although it's Word War One, think I'll stay in
And watch a game with Louis, not done that
In a while, plus it's cold outside, shiv'rin'
Out there's not a prospect that flats my bat
Oh God, I think before long I'll have shat
Got the urge to evacuate bowels
Never quite sure when I write words like that
You know, bowels, one or two syllables?
Soon I'll wipe my bottom with paper towels
Hope this ain't too gross, hope you're not eatin'
This last week's seen two anti-Jewish spats
Or storms in teacups maybe, two big fools
From the football world, Balotelli and
Whelan, both of them are a pair of klutz

3018 - Dreams in a cold climate

Trying to write, but what to write about?
What's happened today, boring work day, see
The difficulty? Was tired, went without
Good night's sleep, too cold to doze off quickly
Took me til almost two to finally
Check out of Tuesday and into dreamland
Tried hard at work to be a busy bee
One worthy of Manchester's symbol found
In and around the Town Hall, and around
My arm in tattoo form too, looks quite cute
Beethoven's Eighth is playing now slowly
But now it's the last movement, and I'm bound
To finish this sonnet and hit the fret-
board of guitar for an hour, then TV!

2837 - Both sides of Dylan now

Here I am, 3:15 on Friday night
Been out on the town with Nance and Dermot
Listening to Dylan on headphones, I write
It's easy when you know how, or know not
Hope I can read this tomorrow, a lot
Of hope there, it may be hope that's misplaced
But I hope not, I hope all's in the pot
And that when all's done, I won't be disgraced
In life you mustn't go too fast, be paced
You can plumb the depths and can hit the heights
Life can be cold and life can be red hot
These things can be avoided or be faced
Until the end you never quite know quite
So I'll end shortly with that timely thought

Fri 23 May very late when drunk and listening to 'Another Side of Bob Dylan'

2834 - Who nose?

From somewhere I have developed a cold
So I've not bought beer or anything bad
Just chatted to Nic, first time for age-old
And before that, wrote a few pages at
The Salford Arms, for next to nothing. Had
A 50p cup of coffee, sugar
Too, a special treat. I've managed to add
About 10 pages last two evenings. Ah -
I know redrafts will be needed, else there
Will be wasted ideas. Characters fold
On the hastily written script, it's sad
How they may never be unearthed. Should care
Enough to do it write. Work hard. I'm told
It's the best way. Don't be a lump of lard!

2831 - Manchester Castle Magic

It's been a sunny day, a nice warm sun
A clear sky, stayed out late, then it got cool
First off, met Josie, went to Decathlon
Bought her a skateboard, on which she's no fool
She got good at it in Stockport and all
The way home. Met Nancy in Manchester
Predictably we went to The Castle
And the strange thing was, though I drank some beer
I never got drunk. Switched from the porter
To Titanic. Got wi-fi on my phone
There, which over time should prove real useful
Can sit in the room or the yard, confer
With folk on Facebook, Twitter - what fun
It's now 4:30 a.m. Birdsong rules

Sat 17 May

2810 - Jacket required

Been out all day with Josie, but I felt
A bit ill, and cold too, had no jacket
We went swimming, a good day for the health
But think I've a slight cold, so feel bit shit
The staff made us get out, unexpected
So everyone grabbed all the changing rooms
Had to wait for one to be vacated
Girls all drying their hair, hairdryer tunes
As usual, went to Macs afterwards, soon
We left, cos I didn't get fries, and helped
Ourselves to a train to Alderley Edge
It was cold in the park, but couldn't run
To buying a new jacket. Money melts
Out of my account this month. And that's it!

2528 - Ape and falafel

Still been quite high today after last night
Applied to take part in a coupla shows
While on that high, even managed to write
Some new material about TV shows
For tomorrow in Salford, and who knows
Who might turn up to watch, though sometimes few
Bother. For some reason they go to the
Ape and Apple, though laughs there are real few
What's happening tonight? The rhymes seem to
Accidentally duplicate. Trying to write
In the normal way, but has my mind froze?
Pretty cold tonight, my nose has turned blue
I'm also hungry, might just grab a bite
Then early to bed, so early to rose (!!)

2447 - Live in Leeds

It's a cold night and I've got a bad back
But still I'm going to Leeds this evening
Make sure I'm well hatted, suited and wrapped
Closeted tight against the night wind's sting
However, one concession - I won't bring
My heavy guitar in its case along
Can't face that weight twisting my spine, hurting
Last time I went there for a jam and song
There was an array of guitars along
The sofas, a bass, a piano, good craic
Last time I took a mouth organ, trying
To play along to The Doors, maybe wrong
But who cares? The Strokes' music seems to lack
Harmonica - til tonight! I'm coming!

2441 - Dinner date

I'm fighting with temptation, may not win
What else is there to do on Friday nights?
Because I'm staying, should be saving
And also trying not to put on more weight
Those pictures of our show, I look quite fat!
And I've not done my exercises. Poor!
Mind you, when I got in, I couldn't wait
To get dinner on soon as in the door
Tomorrow I fancy hiring a car
From Avis, seeing as it's cold and rain
That's forecast, so next, Avis's website
Back to tonight, and staying in's a bore
The mind freezes just like a frozen thing
So the question remains - can I resist?