3271 - Shirt scene

Hello, can you hear me, or at least see
It's Saturday night, nearly half-past ten
I've been out of course to see my Josie
We went to Man United, she's a fan
And today was the first day, the day when
You could buy the new shirt by Adidas
The shop was crowded, we went there again
Juan Mata shirts were there, but populous
Was the Rooney shirt, guess that's no surprise
After getting home, guitar playing spree
The old French stuff by Trenet and Sablon
I've listened to this stuff repetitious
And now I can play it, oui, oui, merci
It's so much fun, oh yes it's so much fun

3218 - Yesterday, today, tomorrow

Oh no, we didn't win the quiz tonight
First time we've not won when I have been there
A sinking feeling, when losers unite
I'm doing my best to fend off despair
Maybe my mistake was offering no prayer
Still there's always tomorrow, so they say
Next time maybe we will win once more
Trying to write this before a new day
Don't think I'll do it, one minute away
Can write quickly, but not that quickly write
Listening to Paperback Writer, writer
The Beatles on my headphones, Yesterday
It was yesterday when I heard that, right?
But now it's today, tomorrow is here

Tue 9 June

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
 

3191 - Not very Prague-matic

Why did I choose to end my tour in Prague
(Where I began?) What a dumb decision
Should have flown home from Vienna. A drag
This last day, waiting near the bus station
For a four hour bus to Prague, no reason
To do this, I realise now, all too late
A waste of time and money, but it's done
At least all my travelling has turned out neat
Let's hope this applies to today - that's great
A successful and varied trip. I dug
Everywhere I went, though Munich was one
Big disappointment how few friends I made...
Last night in Vienna, a good chinwag
With a few people. Last day there was fun!

Wed 13 May

3174 - Phoney baloney

Phone trouble on the eve of holidays
This is bad timing, the camera is broke
Can't connect to Facebook or read emails
If I don't get this sorted, travel's fucked
And holiday snaps will go up in smoke
Not sure what to do, guess I'll have to talk
Tomorrow lunchtime to O2 shop guys
Or maybe the Samsung repair shop, walk
In there for the third time before goodbyes
To the UK? But time is short, it flies
Before I fly spray-on tan orangeways
That's EasyJet to you and me, a look
Out of the window at the clouds always
Cheers me on my way, this time it's to Prague!

3163 - Strange days and nights

Too tired to think of anything at all
I thought maybe I'd even need some sleep
On the sofa at tea-time or I'd fail
To get through the evening, but no, I'm deep
Into it now, hanging by fingertips
Til a reasonable bedtime. The reason?
Went to bed at three a.m. after quips
At the King's Arms and Salford Arms again
That's bad enough when work follows the dawn
But I woke at six thirty! Nerves prevailed
Perhaps, worried that I might oversleep
And be real late for work, reputation
Suffering accordingly because of ale
And late night banter with comic people

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

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

3152 - Yes

OK so you think I'm inferior to
You but that's nonsense, because that ain't so
I don't really know how to compare to
You, because you seem to be so superior to
Me, as do most, but time will tell me so
Time does not exist, even though you say
It does, well there's things you don't know
And as for me, it's not clear that today
I know what's goin' on today, I pray
No I don't, I don't believe unlike you
I don't accept that things should be like so
That things should be like they say, like they say
No, on the contrary, that's not the way we do
Things round here, although we should do, although

Sat 4 April

3142 - Midweek drink

Good night out with Pearly on Tariff Street
First, Kosmonaut, then El Capo, and then
The Whisky Jar, although that was no treat
Five quid for a sip of whisky, I drained
It in no time, but never mind, I've been
In there and that's good, I've sampled it now
A cool part of Manchester, though nothing
Compared to London, as Pearl said, and wow
She's been to many places down there, how
Many great nights she's had, that can't be beat
By anything up here in this Northern
Powerhouse, as it's now called down below
Back home in time for a drink as the night
Draws on, as time moves on, as life moves on

Wed 25 March

3138 - Floor talk

I went out last night soon after sonnet-
Writing, so just as well didn't waste time
Before I got the call. Had a good chat
With Dermot, just back from Milan, and time
Was one of our themes, as was films. Not rhyme
But comedy and comedians, funny
To take the piss out of some who still climb
On stage but never get a laugh. 'Bout three
When I hit the sack. Talkin' bout beddy-
Byes, was looking at new beds today at
Benson's For Beds near Old T, and think I'm
Settled on one I'd like for spare room, be
Easier to find a lodger, but first, got
To improve the flooring, make home from home

3107 - Tireder than you

I'm really tired, this is almost the last
Thing I need to do today, following
Last night's late night in the Salford Arms, post-
Comedy event at the King's Arms. Think
An early night is called for! There's nothing
Particularly to do or to watch
It's still only eight, so I'm wondering
How to pass the time til ten, when I'll snatch
Some shut-eye. No sound can be quite a match
For the deep sleep I'm planning. I'll just coast
Along, drifting like a leaf, just flowing
Had lots of cake at work, thanks for that, Ange
But I'm not looking forward to breakfast
That bag of oats and bran tastes so boring!

3090 - Feeling cold then warm

A relaxing day at home in my cool
Flat. Kept the heat on until 4:30
In the afternoon, then I couldn't fool
Myself any longer. Get heat for me!
I went into the other room to be
Warmer throughout the flat, the switch went on
By the boiler. I'd watched the DVD
Of what I've just read - 'Great Expectations'
Featuring Robbie Coltrane and Ralph Fiennes
I also worked on Tuesday's material
For Dave's birthday fun night, which Dermot G
Might also go to. Going out again
(Maybe) Wednesday, acoustic night, I will
(Maybe) do a few cover songs (badly)

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

3060 - Bury the hatchet

Quick, the football starts soon, must write this now
The heat's been on since afternoon to beat
The cold, I've read Viv Albertine's book, ploughed
Through most of the long second half of it
The post-Slits period. This morning the light
Of dawn was seen in a strange room after
A few hours' much-needed sleep, for last night
Was, of course, New Year's Eve. I strayed from the
Path of righteousness, sobriety a
Victim of circumstance more than a vow
To party like crazy, get my throat wet
With booze. It just happened, okay? No fear -
I'm straight back on the wagon. Last year bowed
Out nicely, now this year I must compete

3059 - On New Year's Eve

It's New Year's Eve, Eve, if your name is Eve
It was New Year's Eve Eve, yesterday, Eve
And even if it wasn't New Year's Eve
It would be an eve of a new day, Eve
New day, new year, even new decade, Eve
Evens out in time, don't give Adam, Eve
It's even odd for Eve on New Year's Eve
Odds on it's odder on New Year's Eve Eve
Add Adam and it's oddly Eden, Eve
This evening, stay even, best believe, Eve
Leave boredom, heave a sigh of relief, Eve
Behaving is the brave thing, even Steve
Says it's even stevens. Is New Year's Eve
For mischieving or achieving, Eve? Eve??

3056 - Chiller thriller killer

A cold day, mostly wasted feeling ill
Thanks to last night's whisky Christmas present
Couldn't do anything, felt sick and killed
Time sitting on the sofa, ears attuned
To the football on the radio, and ground
My way through the afternoon, finally
Feeling able to eat at tea-time, sound
Constitution, didn't puke, the whisky
And Stella combination inside me
Inducing nausea. Despite the intense chill
I visited Nancy as I was meant
We had a good chat up there in Bury
(Nice chocs, by the way, those things tasted brill)
Now home again, sadly, the weekend's spent

Sun 28 Dec

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

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!

3042 - The lamb in winter

Sunday Sunday at home today Sunday
Think there should be no punctuation now
I have begun this unorthodox way
Its OK if you are enough highbrow
A bit ee cummings Im an off show
Its cold in winter thats a big surprise
Not I should say like the size of a cow
Although it could be a baby cow size
Never assume words are true could be lies
All these are are pastimes to pass time hey
Best to pass time easily cant somehow
Motivate to activate pressurise
Myself to get big things done just the way
Ive always been can I ever change though