3259 - Account Dracula

Up late last night with bank accounts all spread
Over my desk. Emailed Block Company
To ask accounts man why on earth he said
I owed two hundred quid, that's too many
I reckoned it was just half that money
No reply yet. Paid off my Post Office
Credit card, now just the one left to pay
That's my Tesco card, lone source of my debts
Apart from the mortgage... but come now, let's
Not dwell on that just now. Keep a cool head...
After work, wrote and practiced comedy
Will try to do more when I've written this
But first, a shave, trim eyebrows, get sorted
While there's still some light so I can see me

3227 - Don't break the rules

It's hay fever season, almost mid-year
The summer solstice only days away
I love the late light evenings while they're here
Watching Big Brother, keeping blues at bay
Not drinking, my new plan is still okay
Which is to only drink two nights from three
At the weekend (from Friday to Sunday)
That's do-able, logical and thrifty
Must set rules that are realistic for me
Good advice in the office from Emma
Not to buy a new bed yet in case they
(The lodger) has their own, though it will be
Hard to get a heavy bed up the stairs
And into the flat. We'll see what they say

3226 - Saving it

A nine hour day at work today, by God
Consequently, I'm not too energised
Glad I did the painting last night when could
Though started late, the sun was out, I rised
To the task, stepped up to the plate, surmised
It would be lighter than tomorrow (now)
And that was right, today's dull cloudy skies
Have produced lots of rain during work hours
But I kept dry inside as drank the flowers
The heaven-sent liquid manna, like blood
Into a vampire's throat, fangs sank in thighs
I'm sort of up to date, I'll rest my bod
Saving money, relaxing, it feels wise

3217 - The Russian wind is coming

Not enough sleep last night, can't wait to get
In bed, no energy left. Watched two hours
Of a French film, will watch the rest the next
Time I get the time, between sun and showers
The sun's still up, but will it allow us
To finish before its gold light has gone
It's fairly chilly, Russian winds blow us
Or Arctic or Atlantic, where've they come
From, not sure. Tomorrow, presentation
At work, and a submission to submit
And later, a quiz in the pub, where pours
The beer once more, as it did last night. Fun
I suppose, but I think I must try yet
Once more to stop for a while, get focus
 

3209 - Evenings of light

Last day of May, the best month of the year
Or sometimes it's June, hotter, lighter nights
June starts tomorrow, and I'm off the beer
For a while, not totally, but I might
Have a good go at cutting down, despite
Since payday going out on Friday and
Having a few beers, but was still a slight
Amount really, and rest of the weekend
I've had none and I wanted none. I'll spend
(Hopefully) a lot less this month and gear
Things up to, saving for autumn's travels, flight
To Bulgaria's already paid for. Planned
Purchase of bed this month, tattoos, not sure
Maybe, maybe not. Hail, evenings of light!

3070 - Time and a lit up cathedral

The time has gone, the moment has gone too
It's gone one, the night's gone, it's gone, that's it
Although I could say one, I could say two
And whatever I say, it don't mean shit
Could be the early nineties now, no, bit
Of that maybe, but who gives a shit, what
Does it matter, whether it is a hit
Or not, and I'd prefer if it is not
It's not the seventies, it's not that hot
So long ago, cathedral lit up to
Some spiritual ideal same time as lit
Up Yes and Genesis, Status Quo rocked
All over the world, The Jam said stuff too
How is it better now, it's not, it's shit

Sun 11 Jan 15

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

2905 - Not going Hungary

My last full day in Hungary - oh, shame!
Big breakfast followed all too soon by lunch
Enjoyable food though, guilty all the same
For not eating more delicious duck. Scrump-
tious it was, but if I had munched more munch
It would have been greedy. Hopefully they
Can enjoy it this coming week. Feet crunched
On gravel, trod lightly on sand, away
On Szentendre Island beach campsite, my
First river swim, and it's the Danube.* I'm
So pleased we went there. Then, ferry to Vac
Wandered round that old town. Miklos showed me
Some of the sights of Leanyfalu* though time
And light was against us. Supper. Wine. Slump

* The very small beach was at the head of the island in the Danube, just beyond the small island resort town of Kisorozso
*Leanyfalu, pronounced something like Layanfalu

Tue 29 July

2858 - Wheels in motion

It's a hot day, like up the devil's ass
It's almost midsummer, it comes round fast
But I'll not be too down as light gets less
Again, got two hols in Europe, a blast
To look forward to. Hungary and North West
Greece (and Albania). In Hungary, Miklos
Waits to welcome me, but partying first
In a youth hostel, central Budapest
That's late July, coming home in August
Good news when I got home. I'm on the list
To tell 'Tales of Whatever' Monday next
I'll get the cycling story off my chest
Whenever I recount it, they're impressed
I'm off to Vee's to watch some football next...

2835 - My regeneration

Absolutely cream-crackered-amundo
Not only do I still have a bad cold
Still? It just started a few hours ago!
But I woke at five-thirty, and I failed
To get back to sleep! No, my dozes tailed
Off in the broad daylight of my late spring room
I can expect more of this. The light trails
Into the flickering eyes and brain, a broom
Sweeping away, not cobwebs, it's too soon
For them, but regeneration - Oh no!
Cut off, cut off! Still, early to work, rolled
Up and surprised 'em. Thought they'd turned to loon
No doubt, when they saw me turn up, and sooooo
Damn early! Thank God, now this tale is told!

2493 - Welcome to life

This is today, as far as now exists
Squeezed in between before and next, so slight
A window of time, a will o' the wisp
A shadow in the middle of the night
Life's a sudden explosion of bright light
Like a supernova in the heavens
Energy in the void, wonderful sight
But surrounded by unseeing atoms
Made up of the same, we evolved persons
No control over anything, subsist
In a random machine, in aimless flight
Channelled by no-one, dependent orphan
Inventing philosophies with a twist
To diminish our existential fright

2489 - Topkapi of the pops

Boxing Day fun, as tradition has it
Gathered my kids and drove them in a car
To a meal, the Topkapi on Deansgate
Was the chosen place for our meal this year
Then we walked to the Town Hall, festive cheer
With the lights of the tower and the trees
Louis went off to his mum's flat to cheer
On Man City against Liverpool - he's
A mad Blues fan, she likes the Reds, though she's
Not as fanatical as him. I'll wait
Til Match of the Day highlights to see the
Result, and now I'm back home alone, me's
Content to have a drink and cigarette
While Louis' staying over with Vera

2382 - Mellow Malmo mood

Hello again! I'm back from a big night
At the King's Arms (where else?) and it was good
Dermot mislaid his Jesus beard, not right
And I was playing God, complete with beard
It's hard to make divine sense with covered
Mouth, but I've got eternity, practise
Will make perfect, I pray. Our spoken word
Of holy wisdom will win when once it's
Accepted by the powers that be, those shits
Listening to Paul Simon as I type, quite
Reminding me of Malmo's neighbourhood
Where I wandered last November with this
In my earphones, before the dark was bright
With light installations. Now - time for bed...

Tue 10 Sep

2522 - This butterfly life

Football is back! Yes, the new season's here
Swansea are playing Malmo down in Wales
It's cooled down now, today's once more hotter
After some days of rain. At work, told tales
Of new tattoos, but suddenly there's walls
To climb, there's rivers and bridges to cross
Tomorrow could be awkward. Must try all
I can to keep cool, talking to my 'boss'
Even though shit is going down, no less
Good to see white butterflies grace the air
After the rain, still alive, their white sails
Fluttering in my face from canalside bush
They'll have enjoyed today, the atmosphere
The light, the plantlife, and all life's appeals

2485 - Dirty stopout

Too tired at work to do much, up all night
Got forty winks on the train from the 'Pool
The sun shone warmly now, with brighter light
As I walked up Oxford Road feeling cool
From the station to Ralli Quays, the rule
Of sleep broken, fresh rested waves passed by
In business skirts or headscarves, it was still
Early, quarter to eight, feels like you're high
On young rebellion, invoke teen memory
Of all-night parties, home to sound and sight
Of milkmen on their round, trying not to spill
Just clinking as I'm thinking 'Cool is me!'
Back then - and yet it still can happen quite
Like that. We can be dirty stopouts still!

2467 - Woke early from a dream

How am I still awake? Woke up in light
At five-fifteen, am ready for bed now!
Strange, but I feel quite ashamed to say it!
Silly! I'm seeing Josie tomorrow
So hope I get good rest... and said I'd go
Out on the town with Dermot, evening time
If I've the energy after Wilmslow
With my daughter. When will Louis arrive
So I can hit bed in double quick time?
He's been to see a film, maybe seen twice
Maybe gone to his Mum's, hey, I don't know
My eyes are hurting, I need some dark time
Been talking about Katy, Rob got quite
Upset, but knows they just have to split now

2466 - Morning warning

Woke up at half-past four, like, oh my God!
It was so light and warm, thought it was six
Maybe, but when I saw the clock I had
A shock. Wide awake, a headful of thinks
Got up and went on Facebook in two ticks
Watched breakfast news, had to pass time until
The office was open at seven. Walks
Along the canal at that time are still
And quiet, no disturbance from cycle
Or jogger. My foot feels OK, all good
Except at work they rang, said I should fix
Some time to have it looked at in Eccles
Drop-in surgery, so I decided
A week's wait to get sore underfoot checked

2453 - Sun and train

Passing a power station in the rain
Now passing a sunlit field full of sheep
You might've guessed I'm writing on the train
You won't know that I just awoke from sleep
Spots of sunlight strobing me as they peep
Through gaps in passing trees like a disco
Hosted by God & Branson, as we creep
Up the western mainline, both fast and slow
Now brilliant white cumulus, grey below
Adorns the bright blue sky to the refrains
Of Frank - Here Comes That Rainy Day - and keep
Your big umbrella up as Pennies flow
From Heaven, past the moving window pane
Sinking into the track, ever so deep

2352 - How did I do it?

My eyes ache, got almost no sleep last night
Two cappucinos kept me wide awake
In fact when I got up (before the light)
I cleaned the floor of the flat, thought I'd take
A shower, but first, why not have a quick
Press-up or two? Unbelievably, I
Beat my record by two! That ain't good luck
That's super-strength, that is! After shut-eye
You usually feel much too dozy to try
Exercises, your arms are weak, your weight
Pulls you down, the mind's dull, it's a mistake
But on this occasion I seemed to fly
Up and down, no sleep had not sapped my might
As I thought it might. Showered, early to work

2324 - Salford Crescent Moon

Halfway through January, and the light
Is slowly coming back each day as I
Walk home from the office, a welcome sight
It's easier to see broken glass, pass by
It and dog shit, as in rude health I fly
Along the pavements of eastern Salford
A crescent moon observes through slitty eye
As I happily make my way homeward
This time of year we always look forward
To an improvement on the season's blight
We should remember though it won't be dry
Or sunny this summer - a time of flood
Is more likely, it seems there's no respite
And other countries, they're tinderbox dry!