3392 - Get out and walk

Paris is hosting a climate change meet
At which many world leaders can be seen
This is the top topic, this is the great
Challenge, this and over-population
They're all saying once more, time for action
I thought that was Kyoto, way back in
'97, big things were called for then
Then the USA and Asia, even
Europe wriggled out of obligations
So why now should we believe what they spout?
Try grappling with the car industry. Gone
Are the days when American cars ran
Their economy anyway. Oil might
Be replaced, even must be, sometime soon

3391 - No matter where I roam

Javier left soon after four a.m., I
Heard him, and hopefully he got back home
OK (must have a look on Facebook). Tried
To get into the hired car later on
This morning, but no dice, the battery'd gone
Some chump had left the lights on since last night
Luckily there was another car on
Whitworth Street West. I was half an hour late
Collecting Jo from Zenay's, but had quite
A nice drive in the Peak District. Had pie
With Jo in the George Inn, Tideswell, and roamed
(By car) on old familiar country routes
Then round Burnage and even to Old T
Now back in empty flat. Javier, bye bye!

3390 - The reign of Spain (is over)

Javier woke with a hangover after
A final evening session over here
Early tomorrow he leaves Manchester
Flying back to his home town of Murcia
So for now that was his last taste of beer
(Not the lager they drink!) Today also
He went out for a last meal, now he's here
Getting to sleep, early start tomorrow
At half-past four, so I won't see him go
I hope the taxi comes on time and there
Are no flight delays. Then Jo and me are
Riding around in a car. Tonight Jo
Is staying at Zenay's house just over
In Alderley Edge. Might see Pearl, Vera...

3389 - Antiques Recordshow

I didn't write comedy today as
Intended because other things needed
Doing just after work. Exercises
And paying the last of my credit card
Debt, after all these years. Boy that was hard!
I had to help Javier book a taxi
For early Sunday morning. I'll have snored
Through his departure to Spain, hopefully
I don't want to wake up at 4:30
I recorded more records. First one was
Pete Shelley's 'Homosapien'. I last heard
Probably about 1983
Then it was 'The Specials' I recorded
Hearing this old stuff again's quite a buzz!

3388 - Stage of composition

Felt better today, not like yesterday
Morning when I had dazed vision and could
Barely speak! A reasonable work day
Lots of talk of my interview. How should
I give myself the best shot? Back home, did
Exercises, was going to play guitar
But now don't think I will. I really need
To think about my comedy, think hard
At the coffee shop over a mocha
And devise a good act, one that might sway
A paying audience. I must not feel scared
But the best way to achieve that's be clear
About my act, don't chop and change, know thy-
self, comedy-wise. or you'll be stage-dead

3387 - On the job

Dog-tired today after two sleep-deprived
(Not sleep-depraved) nights, but there was good news
I got a job interview, now must strive
At every opportunity to use
Some good advice, beat the interview blues
Hard work in this area will literally pay
I must get help from the experienced crews
At work who know exactly how to play
The game in interviews, when often they
Conduct them themselves. Learn how to behave
In front of the panel, how to give views
How to walk in, sit down, and what to say
This evening, watched Man City lose to Juve
With Louis. Now drinking last of my brews

3386 - Moneyocracy

Well here we are now, but now will be then
Then is now and now is then, you'll agree
Then was then, now is now, now is not then
And now is not zen, extra specially
All I'm saying is that now is today
Today what did I do, who cares, I don't
I just need to write this, then I am free
Or rather, now I'm free, while you are not
Even in Nottingham, Windsor, Didcot
So forget your Windsor knot, or Le Pen
Let's not forget that France must remain free
Same is true you say of the UK, but
This front for democracy will end when
We see it's bullshit and all 'bout money...

3385 - Singing from the same hymn sheet?

A tense day at work at times, it's hardly
Surprising given the lack of support
Anyway, helped Farah and Helen, they
Needed it, I gave it, though I'm taught
By my bosses that unlike them, I ought
To feel lucky to escape 'Must Improve!'
Our bosses demand more staff MUST be caught
In that category. I suppose they prove
Their own worthiness every time, unmoved
If others do the same, for they must see
The quotas achieved, that's a leader's sport
They feign friendliness, but they feel no love
Win the race, never mind the quality
No vocation, it's about their wallet

3384 - It's been a hard day's rest

Before I get tired, I'll write my diary
You could say it has been a day of rest
Well, it's Sunday, after all, used to be
That in the old days, told by God and Christ
But we always played hard, we didn't waste
Precious weekend time out of school, although
In later school days the evening was passed
At the dinner table struggling to do
Homework while TV sounds cruelly slipped through
The yellow sliding doors. Adults, did they
Have it harder than us kids? I would guess
Not. Childhood's hard precisely because you
Have no choice, can't escape from your duty
Which you don't choose, can't see yet, or resist

3383 - No show for snow

Cold day though it was sunny earlier on
No porridge, so two fried eggs for breakfast
Set me up nicely, hopped onto the train
And soon in Wilmslow, waiting, til at last
She turned up, train to Manchester, of course
Tripped to Old Trafford, but too cold for her
So went straight to the mall, fish and chips bought
While eating this, suddenly saw Farah
From work, and said hello. After that, there
Was not much left to do there, so returned
By tram to town, looked round the shops and passed
The town hall market. In Oklahoma
Got a small red Christmas tree, lots of fun
Back home, watched a film and got my clothes washed

3382 - Mucho mocha mucho rocker

It's Friday night, I'm staying in, resting
Although I've done exercises, guitar
And even a pile of my ironing
Now I'm writing this. Wait, there's something more
I went to the coffee shop straight after
Work to write some comedy for Tuesday
It's topical, let's just say that, a stir
Could be caused maybe when I start to play
But pushing the envelope is the way
To reduce fear through confidence building
I still haven't eaten my tea so far
I had a mocha while in the cafe
I've got the TV on now, I'm watching
A bit of 'jungle' like all others are

3381 - Exercise Six

It's turned cold, but that's hardly surprising
Is it, in late November? So enough
Of that, today was fun, I'm enjoying
Work a bit more, although I still would love
The validation of promotion, have
Renewed ambitions in that area
Getting things done quickly and well is proof
Or should be things can only get better
Tonight did exercises, played guitar
And at last did some TEFL, achieving
A good score of 94%, bluff
I don't. Present simple, continuous, a
Further grammar lesson, it's confusing
Even for me, who's lived here all my life!

3380 - News and do's

There's been a lot in the news 'bout Paris
Since Friday night's killings there by ISIS
I must admit I was out getting pissed
With Tony Mac, and next night Lukas's
Birthday party which was a big surprise
For him, then Sunday with Jo, then Monday's
Struggles to remove the old sofa, it's
Now in the local tip. Then last night's quiz
At the Railway, and mostly the rain's pissed
It down the whole time, my new shoes have passed
The test so far, their cheap soles will resist
An influx of puddle water and last
A while longer. They've started refurbish-
ment of my block, Good news when it's finished!

3379 - Pub swizz

After work, played guitar to the Banshees
Then recorded The Clash, Cockney Rebel
Converting these two into MP3s
From my old copies on still clean vinyl
Though both albums they still jumped a little
The needle stuck in places, alarming
But got back in the groove after a while
I think they are OK, the recordings
I then hopped on the tram. It was raining
Even inside the carriage, and the breeze
Was strong outside as I walked to the Rail-
way pub for a quiz. It was frustrating
That we lost by one point, so sad to lose
Now to watch highlights of the night's football

3378 - Sofa so far away

Straight after work I walked into the town
And got in the hired van, drove to my flat
Slowly through the rush hour jam, up and down
The clogged Mancunian Way. I sure was grate-
ful for Javier's help helping me move that
Heavy but knackered old sofa out of
The flat at last. A small table would suit
The space created, with two chairs. I'll have
To shop for these quite soon. This year I've moved
The flat on nicely, looking better. Soon
I might also paint at least one wall at
Odds with the current all-white. I approve
Of a splash of colour, even light brown
Can be OK, creamy dreamy and light

3377 - I thought it was going to rain today

I'm quite tired, think an early night is good
It didn't rain much today, hired a car
Thinking it was gonna pour, but it did
Not. Drove Jo to towns in North Staffordshire
Like Talke, Audley and Chesterton. We are
Not aware of these places, they are small
Compared to Manchester, and so obscure
In Toby Carvery had a huge meal
No breakfast though, and no tea, should be full
All evening after that mountain of food!
Don't feel like doing much now, to be fair
Been out several nights in a row, and well
There's still lots to come, so without being rude
I'll just say, enough for now, and end here...

3376 - Good night

And so here I am, nearly three o'clock
It could have been later if I had stayed
But the club was quite shit, the music sucked
So I said my goodbyes, wasn't afraid
Before that though Lukas' party played
Itself out nicely, a good bunch of peeps
I don't quite know how I managed, but laid
Myself on the line, and not be a creep
When you're so much older than most, but keep
Your behaviour in check and trust to luck
Just be yourself and to their credit they
Were all nice to me. The learning curve's steep
But I think I've got there, I didn't suck
It was a good night by the people made

3375 - Late in the day

This is a day late, I was out all night
Not up all night, quite, but I was up late
Staying at Tony Mac's house after pints
At Mulligan's after work. Had a chat
A good one, but can't remember 'bout what
Towards the end (as ever, with him). I
Lost my bag AGAIN, what a bloody tw*t
The same as last time WITH HIM! I must try
To retain my wits next time, or maybe
Just not take a bag! Just this Thursday I'd
Paid for that bag to be mended. I hate
Losing my diary, done it again.  Try
Harder maybe  to stay in control? Quite
Annoying. I shouldn't get in that state!

About Fri 13 Nov

3374 - The Hunger Fun and Games

After a long hard day drafting a new
Job application, punctuated by
A long lunch hour when my lunch vanished through
A black hole, meaning that I had to try
To get it back, and did eventually
I went home then back out to Home cinema
To see a Killing Joke documentary
Two and a half hours long, and my hunger
Grew, though it was a fun viewing for sure
KJ, one of my fave bands, what a crew
Of great musicians now in their fifties
Still singing 'bout the Eighties, but they roar
Saw them last week, live, at the Ritz. Jaz, you
Are a madman, but keep going, old boy

3373 - Job's a good 'un

Bought new clothes on the way home in the rain
New shoes (old ones are being repaired), some socks
And a new dark blue shirt that will look fine
Tomorrow when I turn up for more shocks
And surprises at the office. With luck
Some work on my job application will
Get done, did some today, but often fucked
Up by demand-led work and stuff that still
Isn't finished. When I got home, a brill
Guitar session, and next? I don't know when
I'll have my tea, but potatoes are dropped
From my daily menu, because I fill
Out the mirror these days, my belly's in
Expansion mode, got to reverse its track

3372 - Pub blub

It's half-past twelve at night, we got back in
From comedy night at the King's Arms where
The usual motley crew did their own thing
A night of awkwardness beyond compare
Although we did have an awkward compere
I just didn't get in the mood, maybe
The material was rushed, or is that fair
It was OK in part, but failed with the
Anecdote about going to Newquay
The audience uninterested, am thinking
About how anecdotes can work. Have fair
Amount of success in real life, story-
Telling, but it's different in the setting
Of humour. Of marriage they're unaware...

3371 - Easter in November

A windy rainy day, but temperatures
Are mild, so much so that I keep heating
Up uncontrollably in my coat. Was
A busy day at work, not much eating
Nipped to Tesco Express, then was 'treating'
Myself to a warmed-up chicken and mush-
room pie, though I did some chocolate snacking
Some Easter eggs brought in by Helen, much
To our bemusement, but was a nice touch
After work, wrote some comedy ideas
In the coffee shop. Feels like I'm rushing
Madly to get it all done. It's a lux-
ury though, being single, free to rush
Around doing my own specialised thing

3370 - TEFL on, Tony

A lot to do but interrupted it
To go see Louis and Vee at their flat
Saw Man City fail to beat Villa, but
They were unlucky not to win, then that
Was followed by a draw at the Emirates
Between Arsenal and Spurs. For fifty quid
I bought a TV box from Vee, Can squat
On the sofa now watching Netflix. Could
Have done it on my laptop, but I would
Rather watch it on the screen. Have I got
A suitable cable though? I must get
On with some TEFL tonight, must study
For my teaching credentials. There's a lot
To get through before I can say I've taught...

3369 - Cheshire chat

A fun day driving around Cheshire in
A hired City Car Club car with my Jo
Drove at random, headed for Altrincham
But struggled to find our way out. To go
Left or right's always the thing you don't know
Eventually we found Dunham Massey
And Little Bollington, saw a sign to
The Swan With Two Nicks pub, went in, and we
Had a nice meal, and a nice and funny
Chat. Afterwards we continued driving
While it remained light. Lymm, Bowdon. Although
We kept returning to Altrincham, seen
The shoppers, with a Christmassy feeling
As darkness descended and the lights glowed

3368 - Hard going

Very tired, late night last night, a party
In a tower block in Stockport, where we watched
Fireworks for a while light up the night sky
I just made the last train, I ran to catch
It and today my legs ache just a touch
I surprised myself how well I kept going
At work and did quite a lot. Packed some punch
But think I'll sleep well tonight, be dozing
Happily and unconsciously drifting
The rest of the evening is up to me
Don't plan to do anything very much
I guess right now I should be following
Derby's progress against Forest. Are we
Winning, in which case the top spot is clutched!

3367 - New Shit Station

Train to Birmingham, arrived in good time
Steve joined at Stockport, but our seats were full
Walked to the next compartment, trying to find
A spare seat, found two where we then could mull
Over the meeting's topics. Underwhelmed
By the new New Street station, media buzz
But it was better before, I can tell
Birmingham has fucked up once again, does
It really matter, it no longer was
A place of importance since in my mind
And body moved to Manchester, I will
Not really care about the place. It was
A fun evening at Ged's party, aligned
On the sixteenth floor, beers aplenty. Cool.

3366 - Memories of the Dockyard

Yesterday, for yes, this is tomorrow
I'm one day late, got to remember what
I did yesterday, well, workmates did go
At lunchtime to The Dockyard for a sort
Of pie which was disappointing, a squat
Edifice with paltry filling, poultry
Maybe, I'm not sure, it was diddly squat
As far as I'm concerned, my memory
Was last time it was good, a takeaway
But this time, no, everybody said so
After work, listened to The Fall, Dragnet
First time for thirty years or more, memory
Plays strange games, sounded OK now although
At the time sounded, well, it sounded shit

3365 - Kick start

Javi's off out to watch a Spanish game
But I'm staying in, it's the Manchester
Game that interests me more, City playing
Sevilla away, while United are
Playing CSKA Moscow right here
In Manchester, almost Salford, it is
While I'm Salford, almost Manchester, yeah
The build-up's going on, it's big business
European Champions' League's a success
Though English clubs have done badly, they're lame
In Europe, although few English players
Play in their ranks nowadays. They've the best
Players in wage terms, why are they so tame
In Europe? Derby's playing QPR...

3364 - Dynamite Day

A very long day, lots done, glad I did
Not drink last night after the gig, but went
To bed soon afterwards! I profited
From quite an early start. Later on met
New team leader Andy G, and we sat
In the corner chatting, getting to know
Each other better. Stayed so late, could not
Quite find enthusiasm 'nuff to go
To the cafe to write for a fun show
Instead, straight home to do stuff, and I did
Even some exercises late as eight
Played a record, first time since years ago
Kevin Coyne's 'Dynamite Daze' - took the lid
Off thirty-five years, songs that I'd forgot

3363 - The day after Halloween

My ears are deafened, that's loud gig syndrome
You may be asking who's responsible
Well, Killing Joke, they were the main act on
And before that, bass-heavy Jah Wobble
Great to see those two acts, a time bubble
But no edge lost over time, hence my ears
Humming (The Hum is a memorable
KJ song, but they didn't play it here)
Jaz looked scary as usual, he appeared
Suitable for Halloween, but that's gone
Now. This weekend, I've converted vinyl
To MP3, and it sounds great to hear
So fresh and crisp, with that nostalgic hum
Crackle and pop of needle on vinyl!