3235 - Flaming flamenco

As predicted, I'm continuing to drink
Following last night's excess of booze
The sun still shines, it's rays have yet to sink
These summer nights are kind of an excuse
It invites partying, you cannot lose
But then so does the winter when it's dark
All seasons point at me like they accuse
But let's accept their dictates and their mark
It's useless to resist, it is mere talk
Life is being alive, no time to think
Just watched a great TV prog 'bout the blues
Not from the States, but Spain, flamenco rocks
Great gypsy passion, dancing, guitar, drink
And cigarettes, flame on, how can you lose?

3220 - Get in!

I'll quickly write this, then play my guitar
Then watch Top of the Pops 1980
Not sure if I'll do much after that, for
It'll be getting late, and energy
And will-power running out. Still, I am free
To decide to do anything, nothing
That's not always a possibility
Want to stop drinks and smokes the remaining
Half of this month and beyond, and looking
For a new bed, but first task's buying a
Paint roller and white paint, brighten up the
Unused bedroom, then start advertising
For a tenant for it. Could be before
My September Balkan break, hopefully

3214 - Have a break, have a chit-chat

A nice sunny summer evening. Trouble is
I'm finding it hard to resist the lure
Of a relaxing drink and smoke, though this
Is what I did last night, had so much brew
While out and then back at home, had to pour
The last half-bottle away down the sink
Just had to go to bed at last, before
There wasn't time to sleep before getting
Up for work. At work, not that many in
Our team were there, but good old Emma was
And so we had a good chat, good jaw-jaw
Some fun and some quite serious discussion
It's reassured me that sometimes at least
Some people aren't so bad as others are

3162 - Tomorrow is here

I didn't realise it was so late
It's nearly half-past two and I have got
Work tomorrow, and time it just won't wait
I got a good night's sleep last night but not
Tonight, it would appear, I've missed the slot
And I'm eating bags of crisps left behind
By Louis in February, forgot
But discovered the other day, a find
Naughty but nice, hang on, It's true I've pined
For more for long enough, I've got to sate
My appetite with a third crisp packet
It's better than smoking, it's time to wind
Down and get to bed, if I can relate
To settling down now and losing the plot

Tue 14 April

3048 - Time is a drag

Not quite sure what to do tonight. Wanted
To play guitar, but Louis' gone to bed
So it would be selfish, some might have said
To do that which I had contemplated
So I'll find something else to do instead
At least there's no need for booze in my head
Although the time is dragging now, I've fed
Myself well, something I once neglected
When I had beer and fags I'd collected
Mind you, writing about this makes me dread
That I might start wanting it. I have read
To the end 'The Land of Green Plums.' I sped
Through it last night, this morning completed
It, and chose new listening tracks. Excited!

2984 - Big night out

That's a landmark occasion, knew I could
Do it, and so I have, that first night out
In pubs with friends (from work), but drank no Bud
No lager, no wine, no spirits, no nowt
My mind's still present within me, without
Any decline in bodily control
Also, no need to turn the waterspout
On in the bathroom, or risk getting cold
On the balcony, listening to those old
Songs on the headphones, drinking, smoking. Dud
Lifestyle, deathstyle, leaves willpower without clout
I'm blazing a trail, office colleagues hold
Judgement, see if I succeed. Some friends could
Decide they don't like me no more, no doubt

2983 - Healthy, wealthy and .... let's leave it at that!

Well here we are, the big day's here and so
Me and Louis begin our big challenge
Mine's no booze (or fags), permanently no!
Louis is giving up junk food, no gunge
No sweets, no sugar, jelly or blancmange
Not even Coke. Can he do it? Can I?
It won't be very hard, if we expunge
These evils from our lifestyle, if we try
And succeed, that'll mean it was easy
And it'll be easy because we'll know
That's what we want, we'll soak up like a sponge
The benefits, it'll be a new high
Like being a kid again, and you know
Nostalgia's not like it used to be - cringe!

2980 - Fuck off fags and booze

I tell you world, that I'm giving up booze
Because booze equals fags, and both are bad
I've done without either, don't need to use
Nicotine, or the chemicals I had
Each time I inhale. It makes me so sad
And unable. Fuck it, it's time to be
Me unfettered, I don't need to be tied
To corporations, it's time to be me
It's far better that way, spiritually
From now on, I'll forge my path, self abuse
A thing of the past, my mind unfettered
That will be amazing, a sight to see
No longer will I squander talent, lose
Out, I will be myself, be loud and proud

Mon 13 Oct

2979 - Opportunity drops

I had a good day, physically fit
After a good night's sleep, did lots of stuff
Including THREE new poems that I writ
Cos I meant to go out tonight, but fluffed
The opportunity, my powder puff
Work ethic failing me again, using
The England match as my excuse! Enough
Nights later this month though, and my showing
Up is now vital, even the playing
Music night this Wednesday. Now that I've quit
Drinking and smoking (for now), I should have
The clarity of mind, the free thinking
To go out and do more, cos I had writ
The material especially. Rise above!!

2977 - No smoke without burnt money

Continuing my effort to stay clear
Of wasted money on booze, fags, whatnot
And so far doing well, first week is near
Saved money in imaginary pot
Piling up slowly but surely, the slot
By which coins enter becoming well-worn
OK, I'm only talkin' 'bout a slight
Amount, a few quid, so far, but I'm sworn
Against transgressing these days, feels I've grown
Out of the habit easily (yes, cheer!)
Those urges replaced by healthy things that
Also improve the mind. Evenings have flown
Just as much as if drinking yet more beer
Life can still be fun, not losing the plot

2975 - Keep on improvin'

Hey, it's all a comedy of errors
Can't believe how stupid some people are
But there you are, just have to deal with those
Meanwhile, it's as though I've joined Stoptober
I didn't mean to at month's start, but there
It is, and I'm better for it. My bank
Account's still got plenty in it to spare
Keep on like this, and I can finally sink
Some cash into plumbing repairs, I think
And maybe tattoos too, you know, because
I've got a few lined up to do, from far
Off days visiting places exotic
Or high-tech or both, European tours
And I'm reading 'Mary Barton' - hurrah!

2973 - See it through

I suppose it could have been worse, if I
Had argued back, but that doesn't work, so
Who gives a shit, I'll let worry go by
And work on what I can affect, won't go
But also won't get stressed out, so you know
And no apologies for that, suckers
Anyway, more importantly, things grow
On the friendship front, and all the smokers
Will have to share elsewhere, I'm none of theirs
At least for now, which means I'll save, bye-bye
To ashtrays, unnecessary beer flow
It's time for common sense, exercises
Oh that all sounds boring, I know, but try
For a while, be determined, go go go!

2972 - Eat, drink, save, repeat

I'm pretty pleased, pretty pleased, pretty pleased
That I've quit fags (again), quit fags (again)
And I've noticed, I've noticed, I've noticed
That my beer consumption, beer consumption
Goes down, down, it goes down, down, it goes down
Tonight with Nancy, tonight with Nancy
I had no beer but had fun. no beer, fun
That's happened before to me, to me, me
So there's no problem, you see, you see, see
I save money when I do this, do this
And feel better all round, better all round
Taxman, you're getting less duty, duty
Plumber, tattoos, I must pay for these, these
I've also got Lou's rent, Lou's rent, Lou's rent

Sun 5 Oct

2578 - The Red-Faced Devils

Today was mostly about the derby
Match between Man United and City
The Reds had slightly improved recently
Beating Olympiakos at home by three
Then West Ham away by two, with Rooney
Scoring a freak long-distance goal, then he
Scored a freak close-up one. Moyes was happy
For a day or two, but, real sneakily
This derby game approached, and certainly
This would be a true test for the Old T
Faithful and their Red Devils. But sadly
For them, the Reds lost to the Blues 0-3
Dzeko got two, one from Ya Ya Toure
And I'm kicking the fags again - hurray!

2574 - Play it cool, man

It's an extremely quiet Friday night
I've taken two hours to drink one bottle
While watching 'Shame' again, maybe it's quite
Hard to get into beer with no fags. Well
I've found that before. Just want to settle
Down and go to bed early, drift away
This winter's been warm, hot water bottle
Not needed, thank you. Twitter's calling me
But I'm not really in the mood today
You shouldn't feel this pressure to post, right?
It's Friday night, no-one's online, people
Have better things to do, right? So they say
At any rate, don't wanna play tonight
Just keepin' it cool, keepin' it real cool

2473 - The cost of Christmassing

It's been a cheap December - well, so far
Just as well, cos from next week, it takes off
Comedy pub night, with a few beers
Then work Christmas ball at the Midland - toff
Location, but we've got funds to set off
The cost! But I forgot! Also driving
A hired car to Mum's, Saturday, enough
Expense there! Also, Yuletide gift-buying
Yet to happen, and there's more car-hiring
To come, at Christmas itself, and meals for
The kids! Yes, financially, it's quite tough
But so far so good for penny-pinching
When you're like me you have to save lucre
With now and then a quick binge, smoke and quaff

2423 - Here's to your bad health

It's now been sixteen days since cigs were bought
And since I've not bought cigs, my drinking's dropped
Which means my health's risen, my bank account
Has also sought new heights, and hasn't flopped
If you break a habit, come out on top
Over those demons, success feels real nice
Evenings last longer, never seem to stop
Opportunities knock, not once but twice
As time slows, you move faster, like the flies
Pigeons seem to walk slower than they ought
As your wheels draw real near, they stroll, heads bob
No problem, they have time, thanks to their eyes
I've been to this lesson before, self-taught
Then as boredom has set in, I've self-mocked

2408 - Fading embers

Feeling quite sleepy, afternoon, post-meal
The heating's on, helping my drowsiness
Louis is out watching films where we all
Used to go - Parrs Wood, by his old school. There's
Not much happening, but off to rehearse
Comedy in an hour's time, maybe I'll
Wake up a bit then. We usually disperse
To the pub when we've done, drink beer, inhale
Fags, but no more, thanks. Time for one more trial
Of wits and wills, kick smoking with a squeal
Into the gutter with the other mess
I'll save money, and help health not to fail
I'll tell Derm to say no if I reveal
A weak-willed craving. Can I pass this test?

2515 - No show

It's getting dark, can I complete this poem
In time before I need the kitchen light
Feel like a shit, I've been smoking again
I mean I want a shit, not feeling shite
Got beer in to go with cigs. In tonight
Was goin to Buxton to see ole Jack Bruce
But cancelled, pneumonia his latest blight
Poor old guy, got throat cancer too, his juice
Is running out, the cream is used up, sluice
Is blocked, I've missed my chance to observe him
In that or any place in this life - night
Replaces morning story - what's the use
Still, he's had a place, people know of him
Is that important? Maybe only quite...

2366 - Where are we?

What an amazing journey had today
From Chefchaouen to Tangier into Spain
Tarifa, Algeciras, and then hey!
Bus to Malaga - there's been recent rain
But the weather's been great, we can't complain
Went out for a few beers, some food and wine
We drank in Malaga - our main complaint
With Africa has been that you can dine
But you can't drink, evenings aren't genuine
So we returned to the hotel early
But here, everything is working out fine
The Moroccan stuff, it is working fine
I am too pissed to continue this way
We need sleep now, sorry to be a pain

Tue 26 February