2959 - Up and down Corfu

It's the final day of our holidays
Although humid, there's been a lot of cloud
Some sunny spells. The timing was OK
We got a bus from out of Corfu Town
To Mount Pantokrator, the highest mount
On the island, 3,000 feet, not tall
Compared to some in Greece, but a foot-pound
All right. Was worried sun will make us boil
And sweat profusely, but it clouded well
And screened us from sun on our upward way
We walked through clouds, it was cool but the shroud
Of mist hid the views. The sun came out while
We were at Agni Beach, cooling sea spray
Great last treat on the same day we fly out

Mon 22 Sep

2958 - And wine not?

It may be Sunday, but who gives a fuck?
Today we went from Saranda to Corfu
Most of the day was Saranda, as luck
Would have it, then the ferry took us to
Corfu from Albania, travellers me and you
Dragged my suitcase to the hotel, sweaty
Changed tops, a bottle of wine by the sea
Lots of midges biting, not biting me
Then to a restaurant, prices not low
But what can you do, when you're all at sea?
Corfu, Albania, it's all the same sea
Ionian, south of Adriatic, pluck
One from the other, all comes down to luck
I'm pissed, that's all I'd like to say to you!!

Sun 21 Sep

2957 - I owe an Ionian

Bit of a lie-in, for a change on this
Holiday in Greece and Albania
Not a good breakfast, was taking the piss
In Hotel Giraldo, Gjirokaster
Walked up the hill to the old town, then the
Time came to catch the bus to the resort
Of Saranda. The beach was pebbly, a
Trial for bare feet. John actually got cut
On the feet. Swam in the sea, quite far out
The Ionian Sea, nice and warm it was
Concluded the day with a meal and beer
Nearly 50 lek spent from our account
But for two two-course meals and booze, well it's
Not that much. Overall, it's still cheap, yeah?

Sat 20 Sep

2950 - Old wave

Not done much today, mainly just reading
Through the Encyclopedia of New Wave
The author's American, he's using
A Yank definition of who to save
For inclusion, and who not. Meanings weave
In and out as you fly the Atlantic
Different interpretations, some which they've
Adapted and altered from historic
UK roots. We before that twisted, tricked
Continental words, subtly transforming
The Latin sound and meaning to less suave
Maybe, the Anglo-Saxon Germanic
Brutalising the mellifluous ring
To that monotonous drone that we have

2848 - Default is all mine

I've been out again to The Castle and
I missed the Frog and Bucket, cos Nancy
And Dermot were chatting, there was no end
But that's OK, their chat made me happy
I spent a lot on beer, like frequently
It's a default mode when life deals you bad
As it does frequently, I'm sure you see
You react to it, try not to be sad
It's important to conquer it. I've had
Lots of practice, not lots of cash to spend
People think I live paradisically
They don't know, but then again it's been said
Meanwhile, nights come and go, and just like sand
On the beach, merge, and are washed by the sea

Mon 2 June

2488 - Hip op tick tock

I forgot yet again to write a poem
My excuse this time? It was Christmas Day
And I was busy having a good time
Stayed with my mum. Although she has a frayed
Right hip, she was up for a hop today
In the pleasant winter sun all along
The prom at West Kirby, our tops arrayed
With Santa hats, mentally both still young
Bringing smiles to all so that nothing's wrong
Some nice food and TV, watering the stem
Of the plant of family unity
And continuity. Year's nearly gone
So we reflect, reflected in sea spume
All the rights and wrongs equally we weigh

Wed 25 Dec 2013

2472 - Tall tales told

The gentle rain fell as I walked towards
The office alongside the old canal
In my earphones I heard the beats and words
Livening up the walk, so I walked tall
The day's work done, I retraced the same trail
And before long, out once more, Manchester
Calling, Tales of Whatever, not tall tales
But true stories embellished as they were
By the telling to a room of hearers
Nancy turned up, and second up, Dermot's
Description of kayaking in North Wales
And swimming off the Isle of Arran where
Some poets meet annually, though I would
Not really fancy it - the sea's too cold

Wed 12 June

2309 - Catch me if you can

I'm staying in on New Year's Eve - are you?
Currently wondering whether to get drink
While I wonder, here is a chance to do
Today's sonnet - well, the remembering
Is not so good these days, I keep missing
Them and having to write two. The film is
'Catch Me If You Can,' it's my first viewing
Though it's now ten years old and more. The year's
Ending, 2012 was mixed, it had highs
And lows like Frank in this film. Nothing's true
Like Frank's words, all words have little meaning
And yet words are beautiful, they caress
The ears and mind like waves from sea so blue
Like our own thoughts, soothing and receding

2259 - Malmo is blue and yellow

The final full day in Scandinavia
A drizzly morning kept me in, planning
My next comedy set. Tried my humour
On the Danes - they liked it - but no laughing
From the Swedes, there's been no chance for testing
Because they're much more reserved. Sun came out
I caught the bus downtown. First, tried finding
That tattoo shop - found it but it was shut
The sun encouraged me to walk about
Headed for the world-famous Turning Tower
Close to the sea - residential building
Sea breezes of November through my coat
Strolled through parks and cemeteries, but back here
Before dark to do cooking and writing

Sun 11 Nov

2209 - We'll keep a welcome by the seaside

Another day out in Wales - Llandudno
By train - a two hour ride from Manchester
A bit crazy, didn't get there til four
But after all, there's still some good weather
Poor little Jo's not seen the sea this year
So she paddled in the freezing cold brine
Me, needless to say, I didn't bother
Then onto the pier, ending in that kind
Of penny arcade from long ago times
The change machine rattles good luck, you go
Lose money but enjoy it, but better
Than Vegas - a small loss like this is fine!
Quick meal in Barnacles, eggs, chips, you know
The deal, then late train home, good chat to her...

2196 - Do mention the war

Read more Vanity Fair, then headed out
To Water Street Car Park and my hired car
It wasn't the usual Duke Street grey Fiat
It was a nice white five-door Toyota
The acceleration could be better
Anyway, we headed for the Wirral
A small northwest England peninsula
My mum lives there, Josie's grandma - we all
Went for lunch (Grandma paid!), got very full
Then to the beach at West Kirby. Despite
The grey clouds it was fun. Tried to fly our
Butterfly kite in the sea breeze. We called
On Grandma again, had tea, talked about
The war for Jo's school project - home once more

2046 - Sink the Titanic!

I wish the Titanic had never sunk
Then this week's hundredth anniversary
Would never have happened! Just quickly, think!
No long-drawn out films starring Leo Di
Caprio and Kate Winslet. Celine Di-
on's heart would not have gone on. We'd be spared -
All of us! So many ships sank at sea
Especially in the wars when food was scarce
And sailors risked their lives so we'd be fed
I think that's more tragic than lots of drunk
Rich people having their cruise suddenly
By a cheeky iceberg interrupted
Next time it's mentioned I'll just do a bunk
Or maybe I'll eat some ice cream for tea

1972 - Glam shock

Bloody Sunday in Derry, the Claudy
And Belfast bombings, retaliation
Aldershot's innocent deaths lead to the
Official IRA ceasefire. Nixon
Visits an ill Mao and Chou, but undone
By Watergate, the original 'gate'
Who paid for the break-in and spying on
The Democrats? Tricky Dicky does beat
McGovern, though. Asians told to get out
Of Uganda by Amin. Atari
Video game 'Pong'. The Munich Games go on
Though terrorists kill Israeli athletes
Last Moon landings confirm the place seems dry
Second Cod War, and Oz PM Whitlam

1953 - Climb every mountain

In '53, Godot at last arrives
The hydrogen bomb is the latest wheeze
Tito's top in Yugo, Uncle Joe dies
Malenkov, then Khrushchev now have the keys
To the Kremlin. A flood in the North Sea's
Drowned lots, DNA's described (Crick, Watson)
Everest Hill's climbed and Edmund Hillary's
Most pleased, while Fleming's written of James Bond
The Korean fighting comes to an end
The States agrees to help MI-6 spies
Keep the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company's
Oil flowing from Iran, and imprison
Mossadegh, while the Shah runs off and hides
And Ike likes nukes - the States need more of these

1856 - Opium of the Chinese people

Hey China, get hip, tune in and turn on
We'll sell you drugs to help pay for our tea
OK, there was more to it, but Britain
Did not mess about in those days when we
Ruled the waves and the markets forcefully
Using the gun to conquer Asian lands
Or in China's case, enforce some treaty
Free trade for our merchants among demands
Open your ports to the west! Also France,
The US and Russia sent forces and
Technology beat sheer numbers quickly
After Pearl River, Britain could expand
Its small Hong Kong base to include Kowloon
Russia gained land and Vladivostok's sea

1827 - Barbarians from Barbary and elsewhere

Piracy is a serious thing, of course
Even today, Somalis make the news
Each time they rob or kidnap. There were wars
Fought over this in the past. One of those
Was in the time of Barbarossa, close
To Mediterranean ports here and there
Much later France and the USA used
To lose ships and men round about Algiers
And Tripoli. Barbary pirates were
To blame, and so on Africa's north shores
Were trained the guns of navies, and then Charles
The Tenth of France invaded soon after
An Arab chief had struck a Frenchman's face
They stayed for 130 years

Mon 5 Sep

1790 - The Ancient Mariners of Ashton

Spending a night in the Indian Ocean
Is not suitable for the faint-hearted
The rise and fall of your expectation
Of being served leaves you disappointed
We all turned up at the time appointed
The restaurant of that name made us seasick
Tossed aside, crossly discussed, debated
Were our options, rescue unrealistic
Dashed hopes, plate-smashing wishes, as fish-like
Waiters with bright teeth dished up for someone
Else, while stood on deck, now heavy-hearted
Dry-lipped, albatrosses around each neck
We waited for the end, for night to come
To be ancient mariners of Ashton fated
Sat 30 July

1770 - Hoylake ahoy!

Stayed at Mum's, then from Greasby to Hoylake
For a day's poetry, and hobnobbing
File full of poems I'd chosen to take
Currently not in the mood for talking
But still it's nice, the meeting and greeting
Co-readers wandered off, I wandered down
To the prom where artists were displaying
Their works on the seafront railing. Around
The corner were picked up various sounds
Country and western or a bagpipe's croak
The prom was where most people were milling
Locals on their Sunday strolls - what they found
Surprised them but they took the chance to look
At art and the artists all there, selling
Sun 10 July

1763 - In the Pool

A hot sunny day with Pearl and Josie
And the plan was to go to Liverpool
But thought it wise not to tell Jo's mummy
As she gets worried. Saw the cathedrals
Then parked at Mount Pleasant.St George's Hall
Was next, then to the shops, especially
To Liverpool One. On to the Big Wheel
Then drove to Southport, parking by the sea
Though of course it was way out. Shells are free
So she picked several but shan't sell any
Next, drove to Churchtown's big Botanical
Gardens, then late home. Missed the final day
At Wimbledon. Watching highlights to see
Who won. Ah, so Djokovic beat Nadal
Sun 3 July

1755 - Lisbon and Lichfield loom large

In 1755 the main two
Events I think are of interest are first
The Lisbon earthquake, dispatching up to
90,000 poor souls. A great wave burst
Upon the shaken shore just like the last
Big one in Japan this March. Also that
Far-off year, Samuel Johnson had released
His great Dictionary, erudite and fat
Like Sam himself, the Lichfield boy who'd got
Himself noticed in London. Boswell, you
Preserved much of his bluster and his thirst
For tea and lack of sympathy. And that
Was not all. David Garrick also grew
In Lichfield, then acted in London, too