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?

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
 

3196 - Seasons in the sun (and wind)

Soon after work, and eating of my tea
I quickly set to continuing to save
My many holiday pictures, finally
Downloading them all onto my hard drive
Now quickly writing this so I can have
A play on my guitar 'fore relaxing
It's nearly nine, and the sun's still above
The horizon, as we're in the late spring
Mid-May, when nature seems so welcoming
A nice time of year, though it's cold lately
To go out with no jacket would be brave
Although we're almost in June. I'm saving
Money for a while, think I'll boycott the
Concerts and days out I'd planned, but that's tough

3190 - Fancy Danube

My last full day, and due to tiredness
Of feet from yesterday, travelled about
Extensively by U-bahn. First stop was
The bus station, to buy a bus ticket
To Prague for 20 euros - no repeat
Of my last journey which cost 50... Yikes!
A very hot day, so tried to keep out
Of the sun. Next stop, seeing as I liked
Vienna's vast streets and buildings, unlike
Anywhere else, the architecture place
In the Museums Quarter. In the heat
I checked out Schonbrunn Palace, but I hiked
Away immediately, preferred quietness
Of the Danube, north of the tourists' shouts

Tue 12 May

3189 - Lost in Austria

I've walked further in one day than ever
Before - at least that's how it feels right now
My feet ache so much and I need a shower
I had one this morning, but need somehow
To clean every part again, yes I do
I paid a huge amount to Austrian trains
(Should've got the bus) from Salzburg and to
Vienna. Took some time to check me in
At the hostel, so didn't start walking
Round Viennese sights til half-two. But the
Day's been marvellously sunny, and allowed
Me to walk almost everywhere within
The tourist area of old Vienna
Amazing buildings. Nineteenth century wow!

Mon 11 May

3186 - Lake Dischtricht

My good luck on this holiday has held
Berchtesgaden's an outdoor kind of place
The sun shone til 4:30, so we sailed
(Me and a guy called Jet) on this high lake
Called Konigsee (King's Lake) and saw the face
Of Mt Watzmann, the second highest peak
In Germany. At the far side, amazed
At the beauty of Obersee, and walked
Alongside it and beyond, trying to seek
A route up the steep hill to waterfall
Was successful. Next, because of footache
No more long walks, but cable-car technique
Took us up Mt Jenner, where we beheld
Great views of lake and Berchtesgaden. Ace!

Fri 8 May

3166 - Saturday sun

A lovely warm day, me and Jo were sat
In the sunshine on the railway platform
It felt like a holiday there, just that
Passing time on a bench, sat in the warm
With blue sky overhead, watching ants worm
Their way along the ground looking for things
I cut the day short so that I'll have time
To think about Monday night's act, writing
A few new gags - magic's the theme - keeping
The two comedy songs already got
So in fact it won't take long. Monday's theme
Is magic. Would be tragic though to fling
This gig away, must give it a good shot
Need two good nights' sleep, then I'll be on form

3153 - Knock knock who's there? Dunno

Enjoying the evening light as it faaaaades
I see a pale yellow sun through curtain
Tomorrow builders are here, not with spades
To do three floors and leave 'em spick and span
Must remember to get up earlier than
Nine, or soon afterwards, cos by 9:30
They'll be knock-knocking. Yesterday was fun
Pearl met Jo for first time in 3 months, we
Went to Koffee Pot on Oldham Street, the
New location for a good breakfast. Plates
Of mushrooms, eggs, beans, and a real mountain
Of tasty toast. Later, King's Arms to see
Some improv comedy. While no side-aches
It was at least different. A drink or ten

3137 - Black hole moon

Oh hell, I forgot my exercises
And now I've eaten a big meal, so I
Don't think I can do press-ups and stretches
And stomach-straining stuff, or I might throw
This morning, nipped out of the office to
See the partial eclipse up on Bridge Street
And of course I took a picture or two
I saw a crescent sun briefly shine bright
My eyes felt dazzled for several minutes
Once I had sat back at my desk. It was
The first here since '99, after my
John o'Groats to Land's End bike ride, that feat
Remembered in a tattoo. My task is
Tonight to finish that huge book. I'll try!

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

2949 - Get us to the Greek!

That's it, my last day's work done, now I can
Concentrate on my upcoming travel
To Greece and Albania along with John
Might be more difficult this time to 'pull'
For those who think I'm a magnet for girls
(So untrue). Still not got my currency
Do they use the euro in Greece? Same thrill
As last time when I went there, hopefully
Sunshine, signs all in Greek, all that we'll see
Blue sea around Corfu, then the mainland
Walking a great long gorge, hope that goes well
Then crossing into that strange old country
Albania, what will it be like, and when
We reach Tirana? Soon I'll know and tell...

2920 - While the sun shines

Came home early, got quite a few things done
Nothing interesting, cleaning, ironing shirts
Getting a little warmed up, the sun shone
Through the window of the flat, its rays hurt
Magnified in intensity, they cut
The skin in tiny ways you can't help feel
Nevertheless, I still had time to put
On the guitar and play, and had a real
Go at some Magazine tracks with appeal
That I knew from years ago, as a son
Sitting in the back room, speakers were shit
But still I soaked it all up, tried to fill
The gaps in my mind that are still not gone
Though I have learned to keep them more secret

2868 - Beach balls

As for today, Sunday, a sunny day
I forgot my phone, was late arriving
At Josie's but we went out anyway
Headed as usual for Manchester, in
The big sandy pitch where they are showing
The World Cup matches, and some beach football
Today England's men gallantly trying
In the sand against Costa Rica, all
In vain, a 6-6 draw, but Jo enthralled
The nearest she's been to seeing guys play
Real-life football, and today she's asking
If we can see a United game. Small
Expense (not), maybe, maybe, maybe, may
Be able to watch a cup match (Carling)...

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

2830 - These charming men

Sunshine! Too hot to even wear a coat!
I know it's mid-May but I've been changing
Back into my winter coat, had to float
In clothing terms between seasons and swing
One way, then another, never knowing
Just which way to go. Tonight I'll just stay
In, maybe connect on social networking
Sites, as I've been busy this week. But why
Does Twitter not allow me to post my
Snapshots? What's wrong? Morrissey did a tweet
The other day, so now I'm following
Him, and Andy Rourke. But didn't obey
The call of Johnny Marr! I read about
Him in the Moz autobiog. Charming!

2800 - Redhead

First day back at work, some good laughs despite
My possibly being marked way way too low
For last year's performance, but like a kite
I lift myself on the breeze and just go
Not just in France, sunny weather here too
My head's slightly red, now the sunshine burns
The top of it through my thin hair! Swallowed
An enormous lentil dhal soup that turned
Me into a hydrated state. I learned
That I've got Friday off. It's 'Good.' So quite
A short working week this week! Getting slow
Now in my thought processes, I've returned
To vegetable as day becomes night
An early night will do me good, you know

2798 - Gardens of delight

Sunny day, not too hot but quite breezy
They delayed getting up. I read 'Bleak House'
We checked out, then to the boulangerie
Last chance for French croissants - they are more nice
Than English ones. First off, hopped on a cruise
Along the Seine, pictures and video
Those sights seen on a sunny day, can't lose
Quick picnic, walk round St Germain, then to
The Jardins du Luxembourg - no grass to
Play ball on (not allowed) - but fun to see
The little sailboats on the lake. Enticed
Them to McDonalds for tea, spent euros
On books, and Jo bought braces! A jiffy
Later, Eurostar to London, Pearl's house

Mon 14 April

2788 - Spring in my step

I'm watching Graham Norton with Kylie
And Russell Crowe, and Cameron Diaz
And someone else whose names just escapes me
Perhaps I should be smoking something. Grass
Grows green at this time of year, leaves smell fresh
As I walk to work, sniffing plants, sometimes
I get a whiff of waccy baccy as
I make my way through Salford, the sun shines
In April, spring in my step, traffic lines
Up on Regent Road, then I cut through the
Sainsburys car park, away from the cars
And lorries, so I hear music that shines
Over the traffic's roar, and that makes me
Happier, to hear the bass, not just the brass

2526 - On the edge

Hired the Toyota, this time Cambridge Street
Like Sound of Music, a fine place to start
Drove to Josie's house, now not so petite
The wind whipped and the clouds refused to part
February's cold, but the light lengthens, the heart
Quickens as spring's distant finger beckons
Headed for Macclesfield, Josie said wait
I said, what about Jodrell Bank, the suns
And planets observed by the dish that swings
In different directions. Sat down to eat
Then as before checked out the place. Depart
We did for Wilmslow, Costa Coffee, and
Lastly to Alderley Edge (Oxfam's neat)
Got some classic books in my shopping cart

2500 - The late late show

Two thousand five hundred - what a milestone
That's how many daily sonnets I've done
Each one a fourteen line poem, each one
A summary of my day under sun
And moon, and very often it's been moon
What with lots of late nights and having fun
It could still be better, got to press on
If riches can't be mine, then some things can
And one of them is living in this land
Another's having a permanent band
Playing in my head. And there's my quick hands
Almost able to reproduce the sounds
In my head. And there's odd glimpses of fans
They pop up like mirages in the sand