3544 - Here I go

A late night sure enough, but I stayed strong
After the evening in Lost In Tokyo
I'm safely home, I'm back where I belong
Followed Matthew's advice, somehow said no
To buying beer and cigs as I would do
Routinely til recently, but no more
Not tonight, and so happily tomorrow
I'll be clean despite the late night, ensure
I'll feel good, hopefully well rested, for
Two days of usefulness, don't come along
That often, Bank Holiday Monday, so
Sunday, Monday, instead of being a bore
Can be two days of hard work, I'm not wrong
Could advertise for pupils - good to go!

3543 - Itchy fingers

A day at home, but kept fairly busy
Researched Milan, and posted my Malta
Album on Facebook, ironed, watched TV
Listened to several CDs, and read the
Guardian online. Later, played great guitar
I'm still making progress. Found I could play
Along to jazz and Spanish, after a
Single listen before I went away
On holiday. Can jam to all that they
Can throw at me. These boils irritate me
On my hands, they're the itchiest by far
Got them on neck and face too. They won't stay
Long, I hope. Mosquito bites from the sea
Coast of the Med, I do seem to suffer

3542 - Malta Day 4

Last day in Malta, had a good long chat
At breakfast to Italian couple and
Jessica the hostess, Portuguese chap
And his Spanish girl too. Saw I was tanned!
My white highlights highlighted in the sun
(No comments on that though - only I know
They are highlights...) Caught bus to airport, zoomed
Along nicely, last view of Malta, though
I take back fond memories of the place, oh
And the people, so friendly. I think that
I could spend the winters there when wizened
And old, live in a hotel like Brits do
Then go back home for summer! Salford flat
And Malta hotel - cool!!! Dreams never end!

3541 - Malta Day 3

Good sleep, chat with Virginia at breakfast
Just cereals and toast, and coffee too
Got bus to Gozo, ferry was quite fast
From Mgarr, bus to Ramla Bay, not true
The sand is red, but it relaxes you
After an hour or so, bus to ancient
Megalithic dwelling - Ggantija!
The oldest in the world, or so they claimed
Nipped in just before the crowd. Next, I went
By bus again to Victoria / Rabat
(The main town of Gozo). Sky now clear blue
My head and face a little burnt, and sent
Mad with itchy spots. Some unseen insects
Have bitten me here and there (like in Corfu)

Wed 27 Apr

3540 - Malta Day 2

First full day in Malta, slept well in my
Quiet single room, nice warm duvet, breakfast
At eight, then checked out market stalls nearby
The hostel. bus to Mdina / Rabat
(Old medieval city), then Dingli, fast
Real fast, saw cliffs there, two more buses to
Golden Bay, it was well worth it, great laughs
In the sea, big waves, good sand. I tried to
Dry my underpants and get a tan, blue
Skies with small white clouds, not too hot, but why
As a Brit, would I miss out? It was less
Cold than a British resort. Had hoped to
Walk round St Paul's and Bugibba, but I
Missed out, stayed on bus, Sliema at last!

Tue 26 Apr

3539 - Malta Day 1

No sleep at all last night in the airport
Sat downstairs, in Arrivals, busy 'til
One thirty a.m. - and I even ate
To pass the time... Slept on the flight, a real
Stiff breeze after touchdown, bus to town, swirl
Of dust and sand whipped by the wind, but nice
Popped into hostel, met Jessica, goal
Was now to walk round Valletta, a trice
And it was done, late lunch of rabbit sauce
Was good, and local ale too. Fridge magnet
Of Malta bought, but now started to feel
Like a rest in my room needed. Shut eyes
A couple of hours. I still need to sort
Out wi-fi. Also, no heating - oh well...!!

Mon 25 Apr

3538 - Here comes the sun and fun

I've done most of the packing for Malta
So now I'm doing today's poem now
Before I head off down town, watch soccer
With Louis, then to the station, cos how
Can I sleep at home? Time will not allow
It, as my flight's at six in the morning
So I'll sit in the airport, sleep somehow
If I can, or just read and wait, listening
To some music, and chilling, clock-watching
So I'll write this now while still at home, a
Grey somewhat chilly morning, showers sour
The atmosphere, nicely justifying
My sunshine break, so long since hot weather!
But tomorrow, mid-Med's where I'll be. Wow!!

3537 - You're twisting my Milan

Nice day out with Jo, talked ourselves silly
But didn't do much of interest, again
Still, exciting deciding where we'll be
For our short summer trip. She chose Milan
That's quirky enough to be interesting
And easy too, euro a-go go, hey
Which leaves Krakow for Christmas in Poland
She didn't want to go there, Italy
Was more (for some reason) her cup of tea
Or cappuccino - well, coffee's more me
Than her, she don't like it. She's now drinking
Water, which is good to see, more healthy
Than sugary fizzy Coke. Dined in Essy's
My lasagne not the best that there's been!

3536 - Hair 'em scare 'em

A better day, woke at 4:15 but
After two sleepless hours and growing light
Had two more hours of dozing, so I felt
More refreshed than yesterday, bit more spright-
ly. Growing excitement, I could not quite
Forget my looming hair appointment with
Lisa, deciding whether my highlights
Should be blond or white, but what goes best with
Grey hair? I thought white was right, so went with
That. Funny cap on my head sitting at
The hairdressing mirror - comical sight
Like some old lady, but I'll give the youth
A style lesson in future with each cut
And colouring, banishing grey hair's blight

3535 - Princes and Queens

Second cheap night out this week, this time no
Booze at all, all I bought, a magazine
About football, with pages still to go
Classical concert, free tickets, I've been
To the Bridgewater Hall, yes the same scene
Of the Hacienda night. What a contrast
Tonight, Bach and Schumann. While since I've seen
The Halle and its choir, was quite a blast
Great choral singing, and exciting brass
Though I was in the Circle, far from low
And the front row, at times raised quite a din
But in a good way. Prince's life has passed
(The pop star) but the Queen still doesn't slow
Her 90th birthday on the TV screen

3534 - Neighbours from Hull

What a racket from next door, or below
You never can tell which flat noise comes from
It inspired me to have my own noise show
Provided by my guitar. Noticed some
Quiet followed after I'd strummed my strum
For a while. Were they listening to my stuff?
I hope it's listenable. I would be glum
If my jamming was annoying, that's tough
If after all these years it makes folks gruff
Or stuff fingers in ears, or turn on oh
So loud TV or computer games. Hmmm...,
These things matter, 'bout that I cannot bluff
If people let me down, one thing I know
I can rely on guitar, bass and drum

3533 - Not high or dry

Just got back from the pub, not at all pissed
I'm off the booze right now, so took it slow
Blackcurrant pint with shot of gin, came first
Then a pint of mild that was real mellow
A packet of crisps went down well, you know
It plugs the gap when booze ain't an option
And so I've had a night out but can go
To bed not dehydrated, and my skin
Is not all paper thin and dry. Even
Saved on money. No more nights out, that's most
Hurdles out of the way before I go
To Malta, hale and hearty, I'll be in
My own room too. Can work on writing, most
Likely my comedy. Bar? Maybe no!

3532 - As go by the years

Why am I tired, when I slept for 8 hours
Or even more? Oh God, not Osborne's voice
That squeaky mouse-like whimper as he pours
Out fear - Thou shalt remain! - Thou hast no choice!
Me, I'm not sure, uncertainty annoys
Had some pie tonight, but studies say meat
Isn't good for us as go by the years
Instead we should switch to veg and nuts, eat
Fish, mushrooms, tomatoes ... wait, no, please wait!
There's no way I'll be eating tomatoes
Or salads, they are not the food Rolls-Royce
More like the food Trabant. What else to hate?
Oh balls, I need a shave, as daylight goes
Making it hard to see where chin hair grows...

3531 - Best-laid plans

Just over a week to go til Malta
So started today at home by reading
The whole of my Malta guidebook, got a
Good feel for the main things that're worth knowing
History, language, places, food and ting
But after lunch I was too mentally
Burned out to come up with comedy sing-
Songs (of my own this time, not covers!). The
Air is spring-like, it's sunny, though chilly
So I cleaned the place, scrubbed off mould, had a
Change of phone tones, uploaded pix, learning
About the Edinburgh Fringe, Josie
And me might go this August. That for sure
Will be great fun! (I've stopped beer and smoking!!!)

3530 - Cold Trafford

Expected rain today, but was OK
Quite sunny, with a strange shower made of snow
In little frozen lumps, we watched as they
Splattered on us and the Old Trafford show
Yes, once again, I sat out there with Jo
Although we were outside, not in, the Reds
Narrowly beating Villa, who now go
Down one division, to Villains fans dread
Still, they'll play the Blues next season, a dead
Exciting Brum derby game. Derby stay
In the play-off mix, but shame that for two
Years running, they've stumbled just when they led
The promotion push briefly, fell away
Once more, can't see them going up, oh no!

3529 - Hours and showers

Last night I wrote this about half-past one
Well, not THIS one, of course, but yesterday's
After the evening lasted rather long
But not been in the Castle much these days
It's good to move on from a previous phase
Good meal at Infamous Diner, High Street
Rare minute steak the highlight, curly fries
With chicken gravy, but made so complete
With two fried eggs - well, that's always a treat
My new thin summer jacket I had on
Didn't keep me warm, but it looked good, says
I. Today, worked on the HO10, feat
Accomplished, left in light rain, got back home
But tomorrow, jacket by coat replaced!

3528 - Beardy

Rather late home, it's gone one, I'm afraid
One final can of beer as I type this
One final can of San Miguel got rid
Of, then hopefully sunk in deep sleep bliss
I bought a new blue jacket at Sainsburys
A thinner one for the spring and summer
Something I haven't had for a while. These
Thin jackets are hard to find here and there
But I've got one. And I think I should wear
It to work tomorrow, but to parade
In it in the rain's something I must miss
So really must check the morning weather
I've got several day's beard growth. Bought razor
Pack of ten but no time to use them, I confess

3527 - I'm right as usual

A long but fun day, work as usual, hard
Not appreciated in the short term but
A good job done, despite what they have thought
An amazing amount achieved despite
Others' limitations that try to cut
You down to their size. But they won't
Because I've been taught to think, and I shut
Out their bullshit, and see through it all, paint
It black if necessary, so they don't
Influence me with their bollocks, my sword
Of trusty truth swipes through, and I will cut
Their smug social assumptions, swallowed words
They can't defend, received wisdom that's smart
Unless you look at it, and see it's shit...

3526 - Three dog nights

Oh dear, I had some good stuff but fucked up
Forgot both lyrics and chords, I stumbled
Nonetheless it wasn't too bad, I hope
Played guitar, did OK with material
I knew well, saved the day, sang along well
And I'm drinking tomorrow, so I kept
Tonight's consumption low, a few beers swilled
But overall, within boundaries, adept
At managing it. Now things have swept
Onto the second night of three. We'll sup
A few beers tomorrow, John and I will
Discuss our Iceland trip, and Thursday, supped
Teas and milkshakes, rehydrating each cup
So now I'm off to bed, all worries dulled

3525 - Hazy phone-tayzee

Feeling tired now, late night golf excitement
Dropped off about half-one, at a rough guess
And woke up roughly six hours later - meant
To sleep for seven hours, but more is best
But that was all I got, got up, got dressed
A fun day at work, soup for lunch, but quiche
Tomorrow, for a change (good as a rest)
Two days' lunch for a quid ain't bad, tight leash
On spends this month, Malta's approaching quick
And I've been debited a hundred, spent
On a year's home insurance! What a mess!
And worse still, when photographing some geese
And dogs in the park, Sunday, my pix went
Hazy, worse pix than Samsung, much worse, yes!

3524 - Park loaf

A nice day with Jo, went to Heaton Park
In the sunshine, though was feeling off
She recovered later, went on a walk
Round Manchester shops on Sunday, a laugh
As usual with the characters we love
To see, the buskers, weirdos. street vendors
And most of the time, big blue skies above
Surprisingly, Jo said let's go indoors
Into that weird old junk shop, one that stores
Old vinyl, books and things bought for a lark
I got some funny badges and a love-
ly little book  of local music tours
How lucky it was that I found that book
My pupils would like that, I'm sure enough

3523 - Long-lost friend

An incredibly long sleep, though nothing
Drunk last night, just hard work and enjoyment
Out of bed at ten, breakfast, then first thing
Was to listen to music, forgotten
How easy a way it can be, has been
Got so much ignored stuff in the bedroom
Brought out a pile of CDs midweek and
Looked like I'd never find time, find some room
To listen to it all, musical tomb
But then I played 'em, one by one, but bring
Something to do at the same time, it went
Real quick as I went online, or I zoomed
Through the long-winded Pete Townshend book, fling
It aside today, 'The Idiot''s waiting...

3522 - Back to school!

Got confirmation today that I passed
The TEFL course - 92% I
Do believe is my score. It was a test
To get it done with all else flying by
Like Christmas, birthdays, work, to Germany
Even, but the last month or so's been cool
I've got the second half done, blink of eye
So now I can start thinking of my school
Of language, culture and who knows, I'll rule
With the most creative, inventive class
There'll be no rivals, nobody should try
My certificate's coming, on my wall
It could be proudly displayed, so at last
I can be a great English tutor guy!

3521 - It is finished!!

Yes! What relief! I've done my last assign-
ment on the TEFL online course. Hooray!
I'm happy with its quality, so I'm
Hoping I will pass the course. Anyway
Last night, even before doing it, they
Had my overall course mark as 90
Per cent! Tomorrow's my TEFL last day
So my tutor has all day to mark me
Then I can tout for business, quality
Teacher, well-qualified to help them climb
The linguistic ladder to fluency
Whether they're from Spain or from Italy
Or maybe somewhere farther off, like Chin-
a or Japan. Come on, please step this way!

3520 - Que dia!

What a day! Intense discussions, morning
Of a highly technical nature and
With really tight deadlines a-looming
Then some well-deserved soup gratefully downed
(Chicken and sweetcorn, like me it's sweet and
Corny). More hard work, afternoon, til five
Too late for comfort, really, as I'd planned
To go home and do TEFL and then I've
Promised to watch the match at Louis'...saved
What I'd done, no time to complete, walking
To town, avoiding rain, got there, was sound
Watching a good away draw, City still alive
In the Champions League, PSG struggling
At home. Then finished TEFL at eleven!

3519 - It's not such a hard knock life!

What a day, did appraisal and Form 10
At work (jargon, I know, sorry) and that
Was hard going enough, but back home, then
I did exercises and ate, then put
My mind to TEFL, final week, a fat
Double lesson and two tests passed with high
Marks! Only one more test to go, then what
Else? - the last assignment, and then, well,  I
Will have qualified, and can say goodbye
To studies, can advertise for students
But won't do that til Malta's visited
Might start teaching in May, before I fly
To Iceland, but probably not. There's been
News of Iceland's finances (they are shit!)

3518 - Class of '16

Well, it's been quite a day, starting to tire
But I've accomplished quite a lot, mainly
Getting a reasonably good mark, higher
Than for the last four years, so happy me
I feel at last they're managing fairly
Though of course I won't forget what has passed
Back home, still sunny, exercised promptly
Ironed lots of shirts, tried to be quite fast
About it, ate tea, then before the last
Of energy and resolve died, I fired
Up my teacher's brain, homework lay ready
To do, the last part of my online class
My course is close to its end, it inspires
Me to press on to the line by Friday!

3517 - Hire and hire

A busy day with quite a lot achieved
The main three things I did were as follows
Booking a room in Malta - I'll soon leave
For island sun, and so before it goes
To someone else, you must grab with ten toes
Palazzo Sant Ursula, Valletta
I also booked a hired car for the froze
Island (by contrast) of Iceland, but yeah
It'll be warmer then, in midsummer
Good price too, from Sixt (Reykjavik), deceived
Almost by another site, almost chose
A car for a hundred more! But still more
Important was to do TEFL. Believe
There's less than a week left in which to close!

3516 - North West Odyssey

A lovely day, it started off rainy
But, as was forecast, the sun soon came out
And so we wandered the town, Salford Quays
Walked thru Ordsall, thru Coronation Street
Past Salford Lads Club, journey was complete
When we arrived at the Lowry Centre
Where observed the old nerds, the misfit
Playing with his Baby Bels, so weirder
It was still light then, heading for summer
Got the tram back though to Piccadilly
Drunk men on the train, characters about
Town everywhere we went, so funnier
Then ever before, it's quite a city
Now I'm back home, watching football highlights

3515 - Phone pome

Luckily, I got lots of work done last
Week, and early this week, so been able
To sort out a new i-Phone, and it's just
About up and running. Tomorrow will
See Jo and we can explore apps, get still
More familiar with it, sitting in some
Coffee shop in town. Need a case, that's real
Cheap from a stall in the Arndale. Glass came
By post, but it's the wrong size, oh how dumb!
So instead of twenty quid for strong glass
Cover, I'll get a refund, and avail
Myself of cheap glass from the stall! Job done
Things going well, got Malta boarding pass
Ready now to relax. May drink as well