3575 - Vote with your feet (second thoughts, use your hands)

A warm sunny morning, cool afternoon
Changeable, and very stormy down south
Long day at work - one left and then I'm gone
To Iceland! Be still, my excited mouth!
Got home, made bed, ironed, played guitar, truth
Is I'm getting good, faster and faster
I don't want to appear very uncouth
So enough about that. The media
Is full of the referendum once more
Referenda are fun. It went well doon
In Bonnie Scotland last year, with a growth
In popular politics way up there
Now the whole UK's voting in one soon
In or out's the choice in the voting booth

3574 - Hear ye, hear ye!

Not done much, but cleaned my bedroom (part two)
The Matterhorn of dust under the bed
Has been growing ages, and not a few
The thought of it was doing in my head
But now the grey pile's been outside tipp-ed
While Lou made a phone call, I wandered round
The shops, spending on Shakespeare, as film-ed
In The Hollow Crown (first series), the crown
Being Dick 2, Harry 4 and 5, sound
Dramatizations of the Bard, look you
(As the Welsh soldier, Fluellen, had said)
Also a Spirit 4 CD set - drowned
In the obscure 60s Yank band, but you
Know I want to hear them afore I'm dead!

3573 - Here Comes The Sun (No, The Guardian)

Sunday at home, rose at quarter to nine
Watched TV while reading the Guardian
Good articles about Civil War Spain
Eighty years ago now since it began
And also about where I'm going - Iceland
Then I cleaned my bedroom, well, half of it
Now there's less dust and more space, but a mound
Of dust still under my bed I must shift
To shift that I must give the bed a lift
I'll do that tomorrow, I have the time
This long weekend where the sun's so far shone
I also did some shopping - a new coat
For outdoors use, and sleeping bag. A fine
Guitar practice, and reading Wooster's done

3572 - Bigmouth tries to strike again

A pleasant day, and good to see how Jo
Is getting better, tonsilectomy
Gradually healing, talk a little slow
At times, but spirits reviving nicely
She rang me when I was back home to see
What had happened to me in Turkey back
In '09, bullied into a big spree
On unwanted carpets that hurt my bank
Account badly. While I type, in the back-
ground is the Champions League final. It's two
Spanish teams again, Atletico v
Real Madrid, the whites mounting attacks
An eleventh trophy win likely, though
Who knows? The second half is yet to be

3571 - Ice cream for Jo

A fun day at work, though I felt quite tired
Fire marshals' meeting, and some other things
Some jokey chat, chicken soup I devoured
And flurries of late Friday emailing
I messaged Jo, asked how she was doing
Not too bad, eating ice cream, which helps to
Cool down and reduce the pain and swelling
Of her ex-tonsils, of which she had two
Til yesterday! I'll see her tomorrow
Briefly at home. She deserves a reward
Wonder what to get her? Maybe mooching
Round the Manchester shops before I go
To the station, then I can jump on board
With a treat for her to leave her smiling!

3570 - Two much two soon

A close shave. Went for a drink with colleagues
After work - an Italian visitor
Was the excuse, and as I drank the dregs
Of the second pint, I then made plans for
Buying some bottles of beer and get more
Drunk at home, don't ease off, step on the gas
Maybe buy cigs and smoke them all, no law
Against it, Louis' in London, I guess
There's no harm in it, just this once, the mess
It'll make of my lungs if I smoke cigs -
Lungs that are now clean - will soon disappear
As long as it's just this once ... but success!
I resisted, I saw sense. Two pints makes
You waver, but eat, don't drink three or four

3569 - Atlantic records

A busy but fun day, got up to date
With everything, got holiday money
All set to go to Iceland, got to wait
Less than a week now, then it's a journey
Further north than ever before, up the
Atlantic towards the Arctic Circle
After work, played guitar quite handsomely
Rocking along to Sabbath and Purple
For the first time (and it's not difficult!!)
Yesterday at comedy, sort of played
The ukulele - it's not that easy
Tomorrow I'll learn how to play, tackle
It properly, learn chord shapes, cos I( just hate
Carrying heavy guitars publicly

3568 - The Colour of Tony

Two main things today, first a new haircut
And colouring, with black over the white
I had last time (or pale blonde) - it looks good
Some of the blonde colouring's still in sight
I wanted a mixture of colours, quite
Dramatic but all black and white and grey
(For now anyway) - I mustn't excite
Too much adverse comment in my work day
It can't be that dramatic though, cos they
Didn't remark on it tonight - they would
Have dome if it was red or blue or bright
Yellow. Tonight went out to comedy
At the King's Arms. New faces from far out -
Middlesbrough, Leeds and USA, tonight

3567 - Friends, kronas, and colleague-men, lend me your shears

A pleasant day, soon did all work to do
Thanks to Friday's grafting. Had time to make
A hair appointment set for tomorrow
And to walk to the Post Office to stake
My claim on currency I'll need to take
Icelandic krona's the coin that I speak
Of fondly, anticipating our break
In the Northern Atlantic just next week
'Our' being me and John. It's not unique
The idea of driving round Iceland, no
Barbie Mugabe's friend (that's no mistake)
Has done it, and so has Juliette, colleague
In Southend I spoke to on the phone, who
Is going to Istanbul soon. Piece of cake...

3566 - Saul Good

It's quite late, busy day, but still feel fine
Walked to town, saw Josie, walked home again
Played guitar, watched Better Call Saul two times
With Louis, now writing this, eleven
At night. So was it the medication
Or am I better from my own powers
Of recovery? Either way, I'm done
With feeling ill, prepare for me to blaze
My trail, a clean system, no fags, no booze
Plenty of sleep. My plans tomorrow? I'm
Going to arrange a hairdo, and then
Maybe some black hair dye this time, confuse
People who think my hair's really white. Buyin'
Icelandic krona too - Iceland trip soon!!

3565 - Finally...

Today just Sainsburys and recycling and
Washing clothes and cleaning up and thinking
About my comedy next Tuesday and
Choosing for the MP3 some new songs
And playing the guitar, some cool strummings
Sinatra, Sweet and dance anthems, different
Music each moment, ad libbing, changing
Hope I can Julian Cope with Teardrops spent
As soon as I finished, attention went
To the FA Cup Final, sat down and
Watched with a coffee, United winning
Beating Palace two-one. Let's hope this meant
Van Gaal can go happy enough. England
Meanwhile must find room for Rooney (sobering)

3564 - It's yesterday no more

Annoying behaviour at work but I
Got loads of stuff done which will benefit
Me a lot next week, I'll have time to try
For a new haircut, maybe a new tatt
Or two, if Lou pays his rent! I'm a bit
Late with this sonnet, late by a whole day
So why was I preoccupied last night
Forgetting my diary? Just watched TV
Pretty much, after guitar (which hurt me
In the ribs area, still mending my-
Self from my cold and coughing damage). It
Was Friday night's Beeb 4 documentary
On Queen, then EMI, then Kate Bush. By
Midnight I was tired, and I just forgot...

Fri 20 May

3563 - One pint was enough!

A trip on the tram to see N again
I thought it would be a bother, but no
A good old chat, I had cottage pie, then
After one pint, some cordial, heave ho
To cigs that were offered, too - good old Toe
He's saying No to temptation, not that
It was hard, it wasn't at all. Also
I've still got my cold, am not better yet
The forthcoming Iceland trip, I must get
Better in time, but beyond that, what when
Me and John go drinking, will I be slow
To keep up with him? Anyway, it's not
Possible to drink heavily there, seeing
As we're driving each day, Can't get blotto :(

3562 - The Hunt for Red Defence

A disappointing night for Liverpool
And their mercurial coach, Jurgen Klopp
Sevilla turned them over, looked like fools
And in the second half, the Reds were crap
Good goal by Sturridge, though. England line-up
For the Euros becoming clearer, squad
Announced by Hodgson, who just cannot stop
Picking Rooney, of course. Wilshire's an odd
Choice, been injured for months. It will need God
To smile (for a change) on them, for their rule
Over the tournament to open up
More likely they will just fall on their sword
First full day on medicine - must get well
And I do feel better, though not yet top

3561 - Ram the Hull

Doctor, doctor, please give me medicine
And confirm I'm not dying, well, not yet
Fortunately, that is what did happen
When I visited the clinic, upset
(But playing it down, of course). Next, collect
The pills from Sainsburys, and pop one in
When I get home, and so I did, then felt
Good enough to play guitar like a djinn
Then watched Better Call Saul with Lou. Listening
To Hull v Derby now, they are playing
The play-off semi, second leg. No bet
On Derby, 3-0 down at home, was sane
But as half-time nears, Rams are closing in
2-0 up, only one behind - that's great!

3560 - Time is getting tighter

I thought once more I was getting better
But today, still coughed up a bit of blood
My left side aches a bit when I bend, a
New development. Workmates said I should
See the doctor, so after work I did
Go round the corner to the clinic to
Make an appointment, though the timeslot slid
To tomorrow at eleven. And you
Wonder whether it's serious. I'd say no
But I at least need something to help the
Fight, some prescription that might do some good
Iceland is getting nearer. I can't go
On that trip feeling ill, must act quicker
Before driving on that north island road

3559 - Hello Louis, goodbye Louis Van Gaal?

A warm and sunny day, and although still
Not back to my best, it was the day when
Louis moved in. Cleaned the flat, waited til
Twelve, then drove the hired car there, across town
Packed his things into the small car, drove round
To mine, and carried it upstairs, all timed
So we could then watch the Premier League end
(Swansea v Man City) game. City signed
Off quietly, only a draw, they declined
To hand a top four spot to their rival
United, whose own game was abandoned
Because of a suspect package. It's timed
To be played on Tuesday evening, and will
It be LVG's last in charge? Bye, clown!

3558 - Weight on my mind

I'm STILL ill, second weekend unable
To see Josephine - simply staying in
Got an invite just now to go out, will
Not take it up, not well enough, resting
Is all I'm fit for. Iceland is drawing
Near, so I need to be in good health, but
Have not kept fit, lost weight maybe (hoping -
Especially from the belly and the gut!)
Louis moves in tomorrow, so I've got
To take it easy today, not wobble
In my sensibleness, not that a drink
Remotely tempts me right now - it does not!
Although I'm saving, I just feel feeble
Can't do much - my mind's as weak as my limbs

3557 - Free car? No thanks!

Talk about Friday the Thirteenth - bad luck
Had some good luck, got offered a free car
By Vee, it belonged to her mum. Got stuck
However on the insurance, by far
More than I expected, seems that it's near
To a grand if you've no no claims bonus
Never mind I'm over 50, it's clear
It's not good value. I'll just stick to bus
Train and tram, hire a car now and then. Just
This weekend I'll do that, help Louis back
Here with his stuff. My place is well-placed for
Walking to public transport. Stuff the cost
Of a car, even a free one! I'll walk
And keep fit as I've done these last few years!

3556 - Shiver and shake

A dreadful night in bed, I was shaking
And shivering like Shakin' Stevens, then felt
Increasingly sick, hurriedly jumping
Out of bed, heading for the bathroom, knelt
Over the bath and puked in there, then helped
By bog roll, wiped the resulting mess, though
In volume terms, there wasn't much, and smelt
Fairly innocuous. Shivering below
The duvet, just couldn't get warm. I so
Worried I'd be like that all night, thinking
I'd have to drag myself to the doc's, built
Up fears of malaria from Malta - how
Long does it take to incubate? Waking
Too soon to builders' racket. Tired to hilt!!!

3555 - Sunny bunny

Still recovering my health. When that man sneezed
On my hand, on the airplane, I knew I
Might come down with a bug, I wasn't pleased
To put it mildly, and, with nose not dry
These last few days, I've suffered, had to lie
Low and do not a lot, had several naps
Like last night before going out, to try
To re-energise, make batteries less flat
Looking forward now to a day's leave that
Should be sunny, and I may take my ease
On the lawn outside my flat, the blue sky
And blinding sun making my highlights white
And topping up my tan. What a great wheeze
(To sound like Bertie Wooster) - my oh my!

3554 - Muffin to lose

A quiet night at the King's Arms, but still fun
To chat over a drink and just chill out
Two weak pints were drunk, and the odd muffin
Was scoffed, with chocolate chips, and while no doubt
The muffins weren't too healthy, drank no stout
Have only quaffed two pints this entire week
And won't be having any more without
More nights down the pub planned. No, the mystique
Of booze is gone, there's no desire to sneak
Down the garage shop tonight to buy cans
All I want's to go to bed and conk out
I'm still suffering a bit, my nose still leaks
But by the time Louis arrives, all done
With the germs, I hope - they'll all have gone south

3553 - Balcony epiphany

I've felt better today, worked fairly long
And hard, then came home and played the guitar
A lovely sunny day, my soul upon
This rare good weather has taken things far
With the long-overdue fix of plaster
On the balcony roof, the builders have
At long last scraped it off, I hope, with a
View to re-plastering it. I just love
Their taking three years to do it, a sloth
Would have been quicker! Saw them stood along-
side each other as I came out the door
At eight, suggesting work being done, forsooth
The wet winter's prevented for so long
The scaffolding's been up since November!

3552 - Brown door

A nice sunny day, so much so I saw
Sunbathers on the lawn, to my surprise
Me, I've missed out, I've been too ill, my door
Has not been crossed, tried to re-energise
Dozed on the sofa as Arsenal prised
A draw at the Etihad, meaning that
City's top four place stays within the sights
Of rivals United, a nightmare start
For Guardiola if they lose their Hart
Felt better than yesterday, not too poor
In health to do stuff, played guitar, likewise
Read some Jeeves, ironed clothes, missed lunch, so what
Is going on with my tum, by now sure
Should shrink a bit faster, say its goodbyes

3551 - Euuurrrghhh!

Euuurrrghhh, I've been feeling so dreadful today
My cold has taken hold with a cold grip
I stayed at home, though Saturday's the day
I usually see Josie, the little imp
(Not so little now!). As my nose has dripped
I have however finished 'The Idiot'
Through 130 leaves I flipped
And reached the finale before I stopped
(Concluding with the introduction, not
Reading it first, because quite naturally
I didn't want the denouement unzipped
Before I even began with the plot
That was a good decision). Think I'll lay
In bed before ten, again. Late night? Scrapped!

3550 - The not so merry month of May

Got news just now about Jo's tonsils op
It's on 26th this month of May
Poor thing, I know it's not pleasant. On top
Of that trauma, I'll be going away
To Iceland a few days later, can't stay
And look after her as I'd like to do
It'll just be Mum and Grandma, hope they
Believe me when I say wish I could do
Much more to help and just be around Jo
I remember Pearl's tonsillitis op
When she was 9, sat in bed - not easy
To watch, or even worse, have done to you
I'm not well myself currently - could drop
From exhaustion, bad cold - need bed, early!!

3549 - View from a balcony

Short on energy, struggling with a cold
Ironically, I'm living healthily
Now - in good time for when Louis has told
Me he's moving back in (next Saturday)
Makes life easier if I'm not secretly
Longing for this or that behind his back
And great when I come home late I don't buy
A bag of booze and pack of cigs and stick
Myself on the balcony, start to smoke
As though it's some great release from the hold
Of tension... What tension? It's so silly
In fact it's just delusion, a mere trick
To fill the time from now til I am old
By doing nothing satisfactorily

3548 - Euro round-up

Just got back from Louis' and Vee's and seen
Man City lose miserably to Real
Madrid, so that's over now. The two teams
Are once again both Spanish, a final
That in excitement terms is bound to fail
I'll treat it like Eurovision - Euro
Crap, not worth watching. We're just bound to wail
Our weak song, dance badly, avoid zero
Points maybe, but there'll be no Brit hero
Same's true of the Euro competition
In France this year - will Rooney once more spoil
English hopes, Hodgson once more look as though
He daren't trust to the best we have? And mean-
while, in or out is the be all end all

3547 - Born and bread

First day back in work for a while, showed off
My tan, and my white hair highlights as well
Caught up on emails and banter, a laugh
Or two, good team spirit, sunshine, though still
A little chilly. Read an article
Saying make starchy food part of your diet
So I'll have bread with lunchtime soup, lentil
Dhal today, with bread roll, and you should eat
(So it said) more at lunch, and less when late
In evening or even teatime. Enough
Fruit and veg eaten each day by me, all
Considered. Bought glucosamine tablets
For joints (on Emma's advice). It was tough
But joined AirBnB - places to dwell

3546 - Ads bodkins

Today was Bank Holiday Monday. I
Began by looking on Gumtree at ads
Posted by tutors and companies. They
Were examples of what I myself need
To put up to attract students. I tried
To note down what should be in mine, but stopped
Short of posting my own ad - was afraid
I guess, although I rejoined Skype. Have Skyped
Before, years ago, but memory's wiped
How it works, plus my email's changed. The sky
Was grey but I walked to town, had to hide
In a doorway from the rain, but I hoped
To walk a musical tour that's in my
Book. Soon I'll walk it with my student dudes...!!!

3545 - Tuscanini

I'm feeling a bit tired this afternoon
But all I've done is book a holiday!
In August, we're not going to Milan
Instead it's Pisa, Florence, Tuscany
That's good, 'twas recommended recently
By some Italians I met in Malta
Although they also raved 'bout Sicily
Don't know if I can afford October
In Poland now, perhaps just December
For pre-Christmas break in Krakow as planned
A while ago. Such fun to go away
Four breaks should be enough for me this year
Next, fly me to Reykjavik (not the moon)
In just one month I'll be there, hip, hooray!