3183 - Munching in Munchen (at last)

A hot day, did not need to take my coat
Got the U-bahn to the Olympic zone
Really liked the stadium and how it's set
In a park with great views of tower and town
If you climb the hill built on things knocked down
And turned to rubble by British bombing
In the war, then they let grass grow upon
It all, and hey - some nice hills! Tasting
Currywurst for the first time. Interesting
But too much tomato. Then, welcome seat
On the tube to Allianz Arena, home
To Bayern Munich football team. Going
Back to the centre. New museum's got
Lots of info on Nazi Munich. Boom!

Tue 5 May

3128 - Wrestling with women

I'm tired, even though I slept til near nine
Stayed up quite late, two nights out in a row
And I can't even be bothered to iron
Would rather read more of that book, to go
Closer to the end of the huge thing, know
That I can then take books on the train once
Again, books that don't weigh a ton, don't grow
Too big and heavy, like two wrestlers' sons
Do women wrestle? Yes of course they can
Sit on each other, but I wonder when
They wrestle, do they violently throw
Each other around, is their style like men's?
And women's rugby's a favourite of mine
Think I'd like to watch it. Watch your ears, though!

2996 - Like the desserts miss the rain

I'm cream crackered and wet through to the skin
Been out for a nice bite to eat and chat
Been awake since 6:30 of morning
I don't like waking up early as that
And now I feel like a drowned cat or rat
Manchester's autumn rain not let me down
Think wetsuit rather than a cricket bat
I just got home from a night on the town
Can't wait for bed, but first got a nice brown
Toffee-flavoured yogurt to be eating
Or are Muller Lights simply a dessert
I think they're healthy or am I a clown
The strawberry one seems yogurty when
I have that, but I've not fond of that fruit

2978 - Rugger bugger

Interrupted sleep last night, loud party
After an hour turned light on, read my book
Neared the end of Mary Barton quickly
But left the last few pages, which I flicked
Through on the train to Cheshire, on the track
I was on track to finish, and I did
Reach the conclusion before getting back
To Manchester. What did we do? We sped
By train and tram once more to Old Trafford
St Helens and Wigan met there, rugby
Grand Final, striped shirts, beer bellies, the look
Ate curry at the Quays mall, then we heard
Loud horns blown. Back in town, bought for Josie
A phone case for her i-Phone 4 - it's slick

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

2490 - Cricket batty

Woke halfway through the night, heard the cricket
On the radio - the sport, not the insect -
England bowled Australia out, believe it
Or not, my sport reportage is correct
Went back to sleep after two hours had ticked
And slept til almost ten. Thank God the things
I left in the hired car had not been nicked
Two plump new pillows to give my sleep wings
And the new cardy Pearl bought, amazing
It is, with posh buttons. Then had to get
My new wireless router, had to collect
It from the postal depot. I'm looking
Forward to April in Paris, tickets
For Eurostar now bought. Bags almost packed!

2475 - Amy, you're driving me crazy

I keep waking up halfway through the night
Why, when it's the darkest time of the year?
I sometimes do this in midsummer's light
When dawn comes early, but why, how now, sir?
I wake from a dream, my mind starts to stir
Last night I kept singing Amy Winehouse
In my head, of course, nothing you could hear
Apart from radio, all quiet as a mouse
TV reception's bad these days, I lose
The chance to watch most channels now, so might
Move to BT Sport, it should be cheaper
Than Sky broadband (with football as bonus)
Let's hope there's an end to my sleepless plight
I hate being tired, it's not clever or fair!

2450 - Souper duper hooper

Still recovering from day in Liverpool
But had a nice day out with Josephine
Hopped on the train to Manchester, the fool
Suggested the B-Lounge as place to dine
Although usually they keep you long waiting
And you have to keep asking, Where's the grub?
It worked out in the end, them reducing
The bill by half before we left the pub
Next, to Selfridges, Josie bought a tub
Of lip balm that her friends like, made her drool
As it got dark, we headed for the train
Her mum rang, basketball game coming up
Manchester Giants, and true, they'll be tall
So off they went, and I went home again

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/basketball/21034953

2405 - A good sport

Got wet on the way home - the rain is back!
No shopping either - trying to save money
Splurged Monday night, and tomorrow my neck
Will swallow lots of beer, well, hopefully
And then Saturday, I've hired a mini-
Size car to take Josie somewhere different
Though starting at the Toby Carvery
If I have my way, big plates heaven-sent
Last night Josie rang to say that she'd bent
Her pinkie playing basketball, a crack
Was visible on X-ray - poor Josie
You'd think, but she was laughing as she went
On talking about it. It seemed good craic
To her, bless her. Little trouper, Josie!

Toby Carvery in Stockport

2531 - Life's a racket

Rainy morning and sunny afternoon
Fulfilled the plan of tennis with daughter
Bought new rackets from Sports Direct for ten
Pounds each, and then had knockabout with her
She's played a few games at school, but whether
That's enough to get good, don't think it is
Her serve is weak, but with practice, better
As everything gets better with practice
She wants to beat her mates playing tennis
But autumn's nearly here, and very soon
The games change - hockey, rugby, in water
She's really good (swimming), basketball - she's
Quite sporty, bless her. Pearl will be pleased when
Me and Jo visit til start September...

2530 - Freaky creaky

An early night needed after two lates
Comedy Wednesday and jamming Thursday
Got soaked carrying guitar back from Leeds
Then a hard day's work, issues aplenty
Could be a hard week next week, I dare say
Tomorrow, tennis with Josie and then
Rehearsal with Dermot or make my way
Home and watch footy highlights. Just past ten
And I'm knackered. Bed calls like a siren
Though it's just a bed! Bed and me are mates
I find that my bed's always a nice lay
Even if it creaks when I move or turn
Newsflash - Hazel's out - girl the public hates
I'm talking about Big Brother UK

2524 - When you're down and out

I brought no money out with me, except
What little was left after last night's drinks
Five pounds seventy five for train ticket
Got on the train to Wilmslow with these thinks -
I'll draw out more when I get there. It stinks
When you can't do that, you have no bank card
And only about six quid left. Swam, thanks
To a kind lady, let us off full charge
Just enough for snack and drink afterwards
Which we had in the park. Dogs kind of got
On our wick, with their runnings and barkings
Walked to Styal Mill through the pretty woods
But shops were closed, no-one was there, we left
No money for a drink, no thirst quenching

2497 - Comedy!

It's late, nearly half one, work tomorrow
Been out in Salford, with Dermot, nutter
Before that, let it be said, Murray, oh
Surprised us all, winning Wimbledon, yeah!
I was with Josie, in the hot sun, there
Getting exhausted, I made my way home
Through the Gay Village, I heard a great cheer
Seemed like Murray was winning Wimbledon
By the time I got home he'd really won
Then I showered, ate sardines, I felt low
On energy, but we must persevere
Comedy is king, madness is such fun
We rehearsed our routine for tomorrow
It's mad enough, but we must get madder!

Sun 7 July

2495 - If you can stand the heat

A hot hot day, evening is closing in
Been in the last two nights, soon I'll be out
Rehearsing, then a few pints we'll knock down
Me and my comedy partner, Dermot
Meanwhile, the tennis goes on on this hot
Day, men's semis, Del Potro, beaten by
Djokovic, now Murray's centre court slot
Against Janowicz, as shadows apply
Their cooling agency, body and eye
Relieved from the heat and light, evening
Almost Mediterranean, sultry heat
But not oppressive, made for revelry
And after a week of work, unwinding
Like hot logs cooling on their downstream float

2493 - Manchester calling

The sun's still somewhere, pleasant evening light
I played guitar while watching Wimbledon
Andy Murray reached the semis with quite
A struggle, that means the hype will go on
Personally I'm not that interested - he won
La-di-da, blah blah. Now The Apprentice
Is on, and I'm ready to cook real soon
Come dine with myself, although Louis is
In his room, blogging, in between some fits
Of job-applying - good luck with that plight!
Hope something good turns up down in London
Where most of the media jobs are - film scripts
Would be ideal. Competition is tight
But he has a good CV - good luck, son!

2492 - Rain on my charade

Dark grey evening, yet this is comedy night
Will anyone turn up, are they serious
About laughs, or does rain give them a fright
Make them stay home, is it too perilous
To venture out for a cheap humorous
Experience in Salford that's valuable
Listening to Family as I type this
That's a group from the seventies, able
To switch from blues when called for, comparable
To some eighties groups. My keypad won't write
On my phone. Need an upgrade. The tennis
Goes on, the Wimbledon roof enables
Play despite rain. The same is true tonight
At the King's Arms, the roof will shelter us

2491 - What the Dickens...?

I'm keeping one eye on tennis highlights
While typing this - yes, Wimbledon is back
Serena Williams hits the dust and bites
To a German player - it's a real shock
Andy Murray is through, although his lack
Of personality's a real problem
Before, played guitar, gave it a good thwack
I certainly made strings and airwaves hum
As I did far far more than merely strum
Thought recedes, action precedes, digit flights
They go where they will on their axe attack
The treble fairy dust, the bass strings thrum
Tonight I must be good, stay in, all quiet
Read 'Nicholas Nickleby' in my shack

2489 - Walk the walk

I've walked more today than for several years
My legs are slightly limp and my feet ache
I've walked on pavements, crossed roads, trudged on grass
At first cloudy, then under sun we baked
Had to buy Jo some school shoes - for God's sake
That's the second month I've spent 40 quid
On footwear for her! From there, a short walk
To Bruntwood Park, Cheadle, down slides she slid
As usual, but what's changed lately, she's mad
On running, so we spent a couple hours
With Josie doing sprint practice. It took
So long the cafe was closed. Visited
The chip shop near Cheadle Hulme station, was
A big queue there. Walked her home, walked back. Walked...

2441 - Manchester's got talent

A wet day, spent mainly at home, watching
The Grand Prix from Barcelona in Spain
Won by Alonso, Mr Eyebrows, win
For the local fans to cheer, sun there, rain
Here, which continued, as the long long reign
Of Ferguson climaxed at Old Trafford
With a late win for United against
The mighty Swansea. Sir Alex's words
Were brief and terse as ever. We crossed swords
Me and Janet, caught with their fans walking
Into Manchester after that great game
Our goal, The Comedy Store, the applause
Sparing for New Jokes Night, but appearing
Was a 14 year old, now appearing
On Britain's Got Talent. God help Britain!

Sun 12 May

2395 - Got to get up

Felt very tired today day two of course
Advanced Policy Development, well
It was 5 days compressed to 2, of course
It was therefore hard to follow, felt, well -
Knackered by the end, then hastened like hell
Through thin snow flakes home, had tea, then walked to
The King's Arms for some beer with John, went well
Then upstairs to the play, called Sparks, in two
Acts. More beers, then home, now it's time to do
This sonnet, and it's nearly done. I must
Get up early tomorrow, drive like hell
Pick up Josie at eight fifteen, woo hoo
I hope that I will sleep just like a horse
That's fallen in the Aintree Grand National

Wed 27 March