4056 - Pink rain

Good time with Jo, and we visited Vee
Dodging the rain, buying an umbrella
For Jo to keep her hair dry. Sadly she
Forgot her spending money for trousers
(Pink ones!) We ate in that awful upstairs
Food Hall in the Arndale Centre. Oh well -
It was bloody cheap! Enjoyed seeing Lola
The Cat at Vee's, and listening to some cool
Music, some chosen by Jo from her full
Knowledge of new young bands, and the Monkeys
From Arctic lands, who came via Yorkshire
Back home, met Luca, Carla's brother - cruel
To dash our hopes of a bar trip but she
Was way too tired! Now I'll watch the soccer!

4055 - Rumble in the jungle

What's new in the news? Catalonia
Holding an independence referendum
On Sunday, Spain's police hysteria
Trying to stop it happening to them
Meanwhile a volcano's starting to hum
And hiss on Bali, residents beware
The monkeys and snakes have gone on the run
They feel the rumblings and they're getting scared
Humans, take note and move on out of there
In Yosemite Park, California
Could there be an earthquake about to come
The mountains are shedding their stone and the
Climbers are at risk. In Estonia
About Brexit, Theresa must keep schtum

4054 - Tesco fiasco

Not seen Carla so far today except
Before she got up, was recovering
From yesterday's tense trip to Leeds I 'spect
Which ended well, good show there, arriving
Home at twelve thirty, thank goodness being
Safe and sound, then a few hours' rest before
Another day working at Pret serving
Coffee buyers. Myself, I had a poor
Experience in Tesco trying to pour
Coffee from a machine. It was inept
And in the end I got a free serving
Of cold latte from the assistant for
My pains. Then for two hours I hope I helped
Some colleagues with info about learning

4053 - Big story

Oops, nearly forgot to do diary
And now the footie highlights have begun
The big story yesterday - comedy?
Well, yeah, that went well, but another one
Loomed larger. Poor Carla, Italian
Girl trying to make her way against the odds
In the so-called civilised land, England
Gets pushed over and hurt, hit the wall hard
Then dragged inside out of sight by some bad
Example of cowardly man from here
Next door, in fact. She bravely waited in
The shadows for the police, and reported
The crime. Tonight she's in Leeds - comedy
Gig. What a girl! And it went well. Well done!!!

4052 - Charlie Chortleworth

Despite waking at five, I've just written
Some new jokes and sketches, and a spoof song
It's the King's Arms, not a big occasion
Maybe that takes the pressure of - no gong
No malicious comperes, no heckler's tongue -
Now I'm looking forward to the night out
Armed with Kim Jong Un jokes soon to be flung
Producing giggles, sure as tea from spout
Some chortleworth thoughtful mirth, I've no doubt
But who cares anyway, not me, not them
But at least it's some fun, that can't be wrong
Let's hope the King's Arms barman has some stout
Not just that usual pale ale shit again
But must be careful not to get too drunk!

4051 - Taking it on the chin

A long day at work followed by acting
Meanwhile my beard and moustache are itchy
But that's a hell of a big job, shaving
All that facial hair off, but soon I'll be
Forced to do it, however painfully
So I can have a haircut and no fuzz
Down below on the chin-chin-chin-cheree
There's no way this can be done without fuss
Discomfort and annoyance, and doubtless
Some tender skin and signs of reddening
Even bleeding's a possibility
Just had time to look at Scotland - I must
Fulfil my ambition, go travelling
In its south-west, see the autumn country

4050 - There's no smoking without a liar

Went out with N and D last night and drank
Lots for the first time since the holiday
(The first part, with John) - except when I drank
Rather a lot after the comedy
Nearly two weeks ago. I knew fags lay
Unsmoked in the drawer that night, and so I
Bought wine on the way home, but since then the
Aim, which I've achieved, is to once more try
To quit smoking. Last night, somehow got by
Although I drank much beer and wine, I thank
Bacchus I was not tempted too badly
Nancy sneaked off for a cig, but cos I
Was chatting, I avoided being sunk
By her example. Still no fags! Hurray!!!

4049 - Day in, night out

No plans for the daytime, maybe Louis
Would get in touch, but no - football comes first
For him - anyway, I checked out movies
Starting with arthouse 'Home' venue, and best
Choice it was - 'In Between' - set where I'd just
Been this April, Tel Aviv, so I knew
I'd love to see that, and it wasn't lost
Time, powerful drama, hunorous too
About three women, all three struggling to
Get by in a sexist world. I should see
More films set where I've been on wanderlust
Belgium this December is in my view
Maybe Cumbria and Scotland could be
A few good days' drive through the autumn mist...

4048 - A sunny day in London town

Work trip to London, got a bit of sun
Like a return to sunny climes of late
You see, it's sunnier down there in London
While in the north it rained. Read at a rate
Of knots, 200 pages celebrate
The later years of Bowie and the end
Of that book and that life, and less than eight
Days since I bought it, shopping last weekend
This time, no Jo, she's Duke of Ed-ing, when
She's got to live rough in the country, one
Of a big bunch of fun-loving schoolmates
I'm going out at night though with two friends
Tania wants to talk tomorrow - it's some-
thing to do with Jo, but what? Have to wait...

4047 - Rocket man, but not on a suicide mission

Felt good today, like on Monday, and when
I got home, exercised, got that habit
Back now, and it was time to eat again
A big bowl of peppery green rocket
Most of it's gone now from that big packet
That only cost one fifty and is still
In the fridge. This is a lesson in what
I should eat when I'm old and poor, able
However, to stay healthy and quite full
Of life - and if you believe that... Again
I played on my uke, feeling really fit
Gonna read the Bowie biog until
Question Time. Tomorrow I'm in London
8:30 train, must make sure I catch it

4046 - Bottoms down!

Despite eating lettuce, white fish and beans
Last night, and getting enough sleep, I still
Felt more tired than yesterday. I have been
Very healthy. I no longer feel ill
With a cold, so why have I gone downhill?
Still reasonably OK though, because
I didn't succumb to booze when the thrill
Of comedy's cancellation was news
No show in Whalley Range tonight, the guy's
Not told me til I checked Facebook, not seen
Any reference to it there, but he'd killed
The show off. Now what, now the evening lies
Ahead, empty of purpose? Get some cans
Maybe cigs? No, no, I said. Let's stay well!

Wed 20 September

4045 - The point of power

Another clean-living day, benefit
Of no booze and a good night's sleep, I went
On a one-day course up on Oxford Street
In Peter House. It turned out time well spent
The aim of the course, to learn to present
A talk, PowerPoint slides, or interview
The latter was the thing that of those meant
Most to me, and I got help from a few
People there, especially after my two-
Minute mock interview. I also hit
On why I have had such disappointment
In trying to get promoted. Leaders who
Are 'drivers' - achievement-obsessed and strict
And 'amiables' like me - oh so different!

4044 - La La Voom

A day when at last energy levels
Rose to maximum - I felt great all day
And into the evening at acting skills
Class - the result of no drinking, I'd say
And a good night's sleep that took me away
To La La Land for repeated visits
It's always good when for an hour I lay
There trying to open my eyes, like slits
I'm trying to force open wide, but it's
Near impossible, it's far from simples
But when I finally wake up, I may
Feel so refreshed, I could do pirouettes
Of mind and body, performing marvels
Who'd have thought it? Teetotalling's healthy!

4043 - Johann Wolfgang von Bowie

I've read so much this weekend, it's not true
It's the main thing I've done, to be honest
I finished the Goethe, now I'm on to
A David Bowie biog, which I'll blast
Through, no doubt, easy reading, finish fast
Already on page 88 of it
(By Paul Morley) and I'm certain that that's
Nowhere near as far as I'll today get
By bedtime, bearing in mind that I got
Through the last 40 pages of the stew
Of Goethe's sober self-obsessed mind, blessed
With fame, full of self-doubt, travelling round hot
Italy in the 1780s, knew
Places I've seen - Naples, Rome and Florence

4042 - The Christmas rip-off comes early!!

Met Jo for the first time in, um, three weeks
Maybe four, she had a cold, so took it
Easy, but pretty normal box of tricks
Wandering round the Arndale and Market Street
I had some lamb, mash and gravy - a treat
Jo had pizza carbonara. And then
While still in our Bella Italia seat
She told me of a gig near Christmas when
Liam Gallagher would be playing in
Manchester Arena. She thinks he rocks
So I said OK I'll buy two tickets
Right now using your phone. Shouldn't have done!
It came to £300 - what a shock
Not sure if I'll get any back, dammit!!!

4041 - The bucket that didn't kick

More energetic today, but still not
Quite 100%, still got that cold
At work went out to Waitrose for a hot
Free coffee, buying iced buns, and they sold
Two chocolate doughnuts to me too which filled
A hole nicely. Another terrorist
Bomb in a London tube train - hasn't killed
Anyone this time, luckily. It fizzed
In its bucket and sent a fiery mist
That singed those nearby, but this time, remote
Control or timer device method failed
No suicide warrior hoping to blast
His way straight to heaven, and that has got
To have saved those commuters young and old

4040 - Missed debates

Staying in, still tired today, still recovering
I think from holidays and from virus
At least I played my uke tonight, playing
It rather well, trying not to use my eyes
I need to play by feel, so I can rise
To the challenge of singing as I play
Question Time's back on TV, Dimbleby's
Chance to influence debate to Tory
Advantage once more, not caring that they
While beneficial to him, are making
A mess of society, not just careless
But uncaring, atomised, we will stay
Divided and ruled in a land being
Torn apart by money and selfishness

4039 - Wining and reclining

Really tired after yesterday's night out
On Monday, at acting, felt energised
But Tuesday's comedy night, while a hoot
Has left me tired, but I can't be surprised
I woke at 6:30, 9 hours with eyes
On my work screen, then walk home, then rehearse
My set, then walked to pub neath rainy skies
And bought wine to drink when back home... Far worse
Energy levels, no exercises
Possible today, that's gone up the spout
Didn't even want to play uke - surmise
Then how knackered I must be! Not like this
Even on hols, walking the hills without
Any sleep! An early night would be wise!

4038 - Fun in the pub

A fun day, at work, at play, at home and
At the pub, in the rain, not many had
Ventured out, but I did, and just like sand
Resisting the tide, it wasn't too bad
The Kings Arms was attended by some lads
And it was fun, they drank pints, the banter
Was good, it was nonsense, but it was good
Ed and Mike were great audience, were there
In body and spirit, not regular
They were genuine, more fun than that band
Of semi-serious comedians
It was about fun, and temporary fare
Like pals, not suckers, people, unpaid fans
Liking each other, happy and not sad

4037 - Dry Dry Dry

First full day back in the normal routine
A day of heavy showers to be dodged
I woke quite early and I was quite keen
To get to the office, which I managed
To do, to say hello, and then to snatch
The laptop and carry it home without
A soaking. It was so quick, I could catch
Up on two weeks' emails in just about
Three hours, benefiting from homely quiet
I then cooked dinner, pie, pasta and beans
And after it was in my stomach lodged
A great uke session followed, hands in flight
And then, straight out to acting class, seeing
New faces all with enthusiasm touched

4036 - Ode to travel

So nice to be back home. Love travelling
But rucksacks and travel bags, I don't like
Limited clothes, supplies, all sorts of things
Are the drawbacks of being on the hike
But it's so mind-expanding, like rare steak
With red Ukrainian wine at a table
Watching Ukrainians having fun, a break
In the sun before the weather turns chill
As autumn unfolds. I've missed terrible
Weather here in Manchester. I'm smiling
When I see my tan, and I merely take
My thoughts back two days to Black Sea paddle
And sunbathe on Odessa beach. Thrilling!
It's travel that gives us a drug-like spike!

4035 - Ukraine Day 12

A day by which time I've already seen
The delights of Odessa. What to do?
Well firstly, last night's video song had been
Inaudible, so gave it one more go
Capturing people, cars and trams in flow
On Panteleimonovskaya Street. Next?
Several hours to fill, and Ukrainian dough
To spend, and quickly. Found a house of steaks
On Deribasivska, a place that makes
Good money from high prices. Ukrainian
Red wine, too. Next? The beach! But I failed to
Find a way through. Instead I found some rest
In a cool art gallery. Now I'm in
The air between Warsaw and huge Heathrow...

Sat 9 Sep

4034 - Ukraine Day 11

Got up at ten, but still an action-packed
Day out in Odessa. I was concerned
It looked gloomy, nay rainy, could have fucked
Up plans for sunbathing on the beach. Turned
Out nice again. Headed for Potemkin
Steps and port area, took lots of photos
Of these, the beach, and old-style cars parked in
Suitably old-style and Eastern Bloc pose
As the afternoon went on, the sun rose
And it was great on the beach. Then I tucked
Into a fab fish at a small place on
The prom, and no longer needed to go
For tea anywhere. Soon I felt knackered
Lots of walking. Hopefully, bit sunburned?

Fri 8 Sep

4033 - Moldova - Ukraine Day 10

A challenging but rewarding sojourn
First thing, so many things needed doing
I needed Moldovan lei, I had none
But also find the coach station, having
No map, or guidance from the hostel in
Kishinev (let's use the Russian name, eh?)
I got a taxi to Northern Station
And with no delay, bus to Odessa
At 11, arriving at 4 in
Or rather, near, the bus station. Asking
A lad on a bench helped me find my way
To Berloga Hostel. Roamed and found a
Travel place which gave me a map, and grand
Advice on where everything was. Smashing!!

Thur 7 Sep

4032 - Romania - Moldova Day 9

After frantic online reservation
Last night, Umbrella Hostel, Bucharest
Of the bus to Moldova, settled down
In the kitchen for a great tete-a-tete
With Alexa, a Swiss girl. Then the rest
Of the evening was beer and Facebook posts
This morning, changed euros for lei - I used
This for a taxi, and to pay the cost
Of the bus to Chisinau, which was just
80 lei - about £15 - and fun
Talking all journey and day long with best
Travelling companions Marc and  Anna, hosts
In teaching me about the whole region
And, in Chisinau, a lift to my rest

Wed 6 Sep

4031 - Romania Day 8

A good morning buying three new t shirts
From a cheap place round the corner from here
At the Umbrella Hostel, then hurtled
Towards Unity Square, Bucharest. there
Just in time for  the tour, which went to squares
And so-called palaces, and museums
There's actually quite a lot to like, but spared
Myself the tour of the inside within
The massive Parliament building that sums
Up Ceaucescu's madness. Ended up shot.
His wife Elena was a little queer
They were shot in '89, Christmas-time
After the tour I walked til my feet hurt
Now I've seen Bucharest, I can declare!!

Tue 5 Sep

4030 - Romania Day 7

Not much sightseeing today - moving on
From Brasov, heading towards Bucharest
At Brasov station, said goodbye to John
And caught the train from platform 3, no less
Than two and a half hours - old carriages
You still find in eastern European parts
With sliding doors and corridors, God bless!
It had been chilly and cloudy, but starts
To get warm by arrival time. False starts
With  finding the hostel, but I asked in
A small grocer's store, and she helped me best
To find the small street where the hostel sits -
Umbrella Hostel. Got some shopping done
And planning tomorrow's also addressed!

Mon 4 Sep

4029 - Romania Day 6

Woke up earlyish, was woken by John
Who  thought he'd heard my alarm, which was false
We had breakfast at the Ambient, then one
Wasted walk trying to find a bus, but all's
Spoiled - it was the wrong street. We felt like fools
But walked up  the right one later and found
The bus station. The bus, yellow, with wheels
Was so hot inside, but cheap. Took us down
The road to Bran, where on a hilltop mound
Stands the castle that somehow has become
Known as Dracula's Castle. In its walls
We saw not that much, actually. Around
That time there was a terrific thunderstorm...
In the evening, Brasov once more - beer calls!

Sun 3 Sep

4028 - Romania Day 5

Not much sleep in that crowded dorm up in
Podragu, near the top of the mountain
Maybe half an hour, that was all I had
Nevertheless, the long walk down was hard
And took hours to reach Victoria, the town
Nearest the peaks, where Saturday afternoon
There was nowhere to eat, so bought a snack
And waited for the bus to a railway shack
In nearby Ucea. A two hour ride
To Brasov (Kronstadt) - had to put aside
Economy, and pay a lot for this
Place, the Hotel Ambient, then a Chinese
In the town, then a hostel bar, then wine
Fell in the dark hotel room, chair upturned...

Sat 2 Sep

4027 - Romania Day 4

Slightly better night's sleep in Sibiu
Breakfast at the nice Pension Cardinal
Omelette with ham, then John and I walked to
The bus station near Thalia theatre, full
Of coaches, but no minibus, but all
Was OK when the man arrived with car
And drove us up a long and winding trail
Up into the Carpathians - see so far
From up there! Then began the long trauma
Of the day's walk to Podrigu, where you
Can stay up in the mountains. I'm not well
I'm sniffing and shivering, fed up and far
From at my best, but tonight I will do
Very well to sleep in the dorm. It's hell...!!!

Friday 1 Sep

4026 - Romania Day 3

Felt tired and ill, thank God no long walking
Got the bus from Turda to Sibiu
Tried to sleep but it wasn't happening
A nice warm sunny day, just had time to
Check out the main square, sort out tomorrow
(Bus tickets to the mountains), a few beers
For food I had pasta - was good value
Though energy was low, sun setting, fears
I couldn't last much longer, but appears
That my stamina's still good, still writing
This at twenty to twelve, and sniffing too
Bad cold and knackered, but must sleep, then gear
Myself up to walking the mountains in
The highest part of Romania, look you!!

Thur 31 August

4025 - Romania Day 2

Was so pissed, almost had a hangover
Good filling breakfast in hotel courtyard
Then got a taxi to the gorge quite near
To Turda, walked the valley, then a hard
Climb in the hot sun up the gorge toward
The top, then down again steeply, back at
The starting point, an iced coffee deferred
The dehydration for a while. Set out
To walk back to Turda, but it was not
Easy, about 12 km, wear
And tear on the old feet, couldn't afford
To give up, kept on walking. Finally got
To central Turda. A meal, but the beer
Had to wait til I felt I'd recovered

Wed 30 August

4024 - Romania Day 1

Met John at Oxford Road station, got train
To the airport in Liverpool, from there
To Cluj Airport, a taxi without strain
To Turda, Romania, and then a beer
And trout with mashed potato, and more beer
A pleasant, warm evening til sun went down
Then had to get our coats on for more beer
Ursus beer is the local beer in town
We had a few of them, and got on down
To politics with two guys without strain
They said Romania is corrupt, but they're
No different to so many all around
Looking forward to tomorrow, the main
Holiday will start, in Transylvania

Tue 29 August