4075 - Red today, blue tomorrow

Wear Red Day over, the main task today
Was applying for two jobs, because I'm
Not at work tomorrow or on Monday
My four day break means I'll miss the deadline
For those two jobs. So yes, it's nearly time
To drive to Scotland, the land of hard rain
I've packed and set the alarm, which will chime
At 6:45. 8 is when I aim
To drive off in the hired car to Morecambe
And several Cumbrian towns, the Solway
Firth, the border crossing. Should be a fine
Drive, some great scenes and memories that remain
And I'll have a house to myself, to play
And write in, where I'll try once more to climb

4074 - A pound for your sports

At work I organised a Wear Red Day
It was to protest against racism
The national day for this will be Friday
But I'll be driving north, I'll be absent
So I held it today - we had some fun
And some donated a pound to the tin
Sports people will be teaching schoolchildren
Not to be prejudiced, to keep within
Their minds latent prejudice, accepting
Not rejecting those from minorities
Meanwhile Carla's job interview has gone
Well, she's got a job in Leeds. She's staying
Here for one more week with no rent to pay
She just needs to find accommodation

4073 - Bloody computer!

I've just applied for a new job, at home
The internet wasn't working back in
The office, so I brought a laptop home
But when I tried here, still no connection
So I had to do it all on my own
Laptop - although strictly speaking it's not
MY laptop, it's Carla's, wait - I disown
That statement too - she lent it from that twat
Who she doesn't see now, the one who fought
With her and pushed her over - now she's goin'
Thanks to him. But my job application
Is sent. If I don't get it, 'twill be naught
It's boring tax stuff. I'd much rather home
In on that job that's in education!

4072 - Technique

Monday's a long day - work and then acting
It's fun, though, acting class, with good people
Joining me to learn the basics and ting
At last we're onto the technique of full
Immersion in performance, so I feel
I'm really talking to that other girl
Or bloke, and that conversation is real
Imagination was the word until
This term, now concentration is what will
Carry me through, live the moment, thinking
And feeling now, not rehashed rehearsal
Work hard, learn lines, be confident, fulfil
Your inner belief in yourself, showing
Off, saying you are really wonderful

4071 - Red letter days

A nice sunny Sunday in Manchester
I hope this bodes a weather improvement
For the journey to north of the border
Meanwhile today Josephine and I met
And I bought red trousers, money well spent
Only 25 quid from T K Maxx
Ready for Wear Red At Work Day, intent
Being to raise money and have some laughs
In the office on Wednesday with my tax
Colleagues. Back home, Carla is packing her
Stuff into boxes, ready for shipment
To her new place, lots of clothes, lots of books
She's been here now for well over a year
But she is running short of pounds and pence

4070 - Scot to trot

At home, trying to lie low and not spend
Jo stayed at home too, to watch United
We'll meet tomorrow, and then it's Scotland
In the forefront of my mind. Reminded
Me, I need to book a car, get prepared
Plan my route along the Cumbrian coast
Pop inland to Wastwater, water-fed
From the lakeland uplands so green and moist
Sellafield visitor centre may host
My wandering wheels and feet. Northwards I'll wend
My way towards the border, excited
Through Dumfries to Kirkcudbright, parking close
To the house on High Street, time to unbend
Think and maybe write, in the quietude

4069 - Pick a card...

Friday the thirteenth, a wet day again
I fancy watching horror films tonight
Meanwhile I played uke and I played it mean
I heard from Louis who said that he might
Stop by to pick up his new card, but night
Is drawing in, and no sign of him yet
I've had a few beers and feel like more... Wait!
He's here, I let him in, gave him his card. Let's
Go to McDonald's, and we did, and ate
Fries and a drink each, and caught up on when
He's going to London and so on. Quite
Likely he'll wait til January, I bet
And now I'm back, time to settle down and
Watch a film. One more beer and that's alright...

4068 - Hire and hire

An interesting day out of the office
In a famous old trade union building
The Mechanics Institute on Princess
Street, near the Town Hall - what a great setting
Not only for today's union meeting
But also just maybe somewhere to hire
For a comedy evening, or something
Similar, so I took a phone picture
Of the room hire details on a flyer
Pasted on doors inside. Back home, Carla's
Looking forward to a new phase - moving
To Leeds, hopefully more gigs, a career
In catering or some other service
Job. And so another day is closing

4067 - TV OD

Wet day and evening, slight headache, weary
From last two hectic days, relieved to get
Home, watched a history prog about D-
Day, old black and white film that's been coloured
Then a travel show interestingly set
In St Petersburg, where I'd like to go
Next year, after the Baltic States. Then next
It's The Apprentice, the popular show
Where budding entrepreneurs in teams blow
Lord Sugar's, or more likely, BBC
Money, designing hotel rooms that met
The luxury market's needs. The boys know
One will be fired from the boardroom shortly
Yes, I am glued now to my TV set

4066 - Pension reinvention

A LONG day, woke at 6, lay in bed til
6:45, had breakfast, then walked to
Oxford Road, got train to Newton-le-Wil-
lows, then caught a train to Lime Street, although
It is being refurbished. Lucky, so
I made the meeting in Jack Jones House, which
Is a union place in Liverpool. Oh -
Enjoyed the talk on pensions. I am rich!
The Civil Service pension scheme has switched
From Classic to Alpha, but it is still
A good one. I look forward to a new
Talk I'll give to colleagues with this knowledge
Dozed on the journey back, refreshed and well
Able to host comedy night! Woo hoo!!

4065 - Pension tension

Acting class has just finished once again
Paid fifty quid, but that payment was not
From this month's money. I have still not spent
Anything yet, meaning the trip to Scot-
land, though costly, is OK - I have got
Enough in the bank to pay for it all
And the Belgian flights are already bought
To see December's Christmas market stalls
In the Low Countries. Now to have my fill
Of egg and cress sandwiches, News at Ten
Can't stay up late, I must be hot to trot
Onto the morning train to Liverpool
For what should be a good talk on pensions
That thing that the Government wants to cut

4064 - No disputing the computing

Woke at ten, wanted to stay in bed more
But it's work tomorrow, I must retire
To bed tonight ready to doze and snore
At a reasonable time, not three or four
In the morning! Maybe I'll get up tired
On purpose, setting the alarm for six!
There's football soon, from Lithuania
Where England are playing. Before then it's
A chance to buy a laptop from Office
Outlet or whatever it's called, before
The shop closes - it's Sunday. Must buy a
Replacement for the one that broke to bits
Back in the springtime. Though it's such a bore
I must get it before the chance expires

4063 - I don't warm to colds

I woke at quarter to ten, what a great
Night's sleep, had breakfast, chatted to Carla
Went out in light rain, walked at moderate rate
Caught the train to Wilmslow, annoyed by a
Sneezing and coughing man, distributor
Of germs I can do without, having had
A nasty cold last month, Romania
Saw me with a sore throat, I felt quite bad
The adrenaline saw me through the hard
Climbs and town explorations. Had a plate
Of breakfast at Fress Cafe, and better
Sausages you won't find. Then Josie bought
Her pink trousers. Back home, uke session, wait
Til you hear me play - I'm getting better!!

4062 - Brave girl!

I'm having a fun Friday night in but
Not sure if Carla's in or if she's out
She said she'd go out, but has she or not
Her door's shut, could just be resting, about
To emerge. But sleeping this long, I doubt
So she's probably out, she deserves fun
After the tough week or two since that clout
From a nasty neighbour (and ex-boyfriend
Of sorts, maybe), talking to police, going in
And out of the building in fear, she's put
It behind her, or soon will, and at Pret
She continued to work, even doing
Comedy gigs. While in contrast I've not
Done much gigging, it just didn't work out

4061 - Oh no, we've qualified again...

England scraped a one nil win at Wembley
Against Slovenia. It was the usual
Struggle, saved only by striker Harry
Kane, edging over the goal line the ball
In the 94th minute. It is hell
Supporting England, and what's more, I'd say
Next year in Russia, we will not do well
It seems that our national team cannot play
When the pressure's on. But Kane is OK
Like when we had Lineker, maybe he
Can inherit that crown. Maybe he will
Save us from failure this time. Don't be gay
And don't support the team there, or you'll be
Victimised in that rough land, that white hell...

4060 - Oh dear!

Oh dear, a bad at Tory conference
Here (for some reason) up in Manchester
Well it's better than Blackpool! It was tense
When finally on stage came Theresa
Her first big speech - she didn't do one for
The election campaign, she hid from sight
She apologised for her campaign, it's poor
Charisma-free outcome seen as a blight
Weakening not strengthening her own plight
Dead woman walking, is how they present
It, even in the Tory press. But her
Performance was woeful. We had the sight
Of constant coughing, comedian presents
Her with P45, and lost letter...

4059 - Running away

Today I continued to arrange my
Belgian trip, plotting where I might travel
And when. Looks like I'll stay one night, say bye
Then move on to the next town in a whirl
This isn't even my next trip. No, I'll
Be going to Scotland first, later this month
Dumfries and Galloway, driving through miles
Of coast road and Lowland undulation
Cottages and cafes and fishermen
Into a quiet corner of land I'll pry
Part of Britain that I've only known well
On maps as a child. And so, until then
I'll carry on in Manchester city
A place in which I always seem to fail

4058 - (I'll Soon Be) In Bruges

A long Monday at work, then acting class
But before going to acting I booked
My flight to and from Belgium, yes, at last
And the good news is that I will be back
The day before the Christmas meal. I bagged
A great deal with Brussels Airlines, early
December. Now I can plan where my tracks
Will show, as I traverse the Low Country
From Belgium to Luxembourg, and maybe
Strasbourg, or somewhere else in northern France
All very exciting, something to look
Forward to in Christmas festivity
Bruges, Ghent and other such towns, lights on glass-
Like canals, medieval fairytale book

4057 - Something rhymed

Why have I been so tired all week? Dunno
But hope it's not the same next week. Not much
Left to do Sunday evening, might just go
As far through this Lester Bangs book as Dutch
Go through cheese and tulips, mice, canals, such
Great waffles, and waffling cannot be wrong
Saw a short but OK film 'bout a bitch
No, that was just to rhyme. OK, she flung
Some acidic comments out from her tongue
But I think she was just remote and low
'Daphne' seemed to be caught up in the clutch
Of London life, emotion must be wrung
Like dirty dishwater from those who flow
Across the bridge like dead souls on their trudge