4179 - Phoenix in the snow

Tram to Oldham Central, on Union Street
Right outside Phoenix House, DWP
Building where the well-being meeters meet
At least they do today. First thing I see
Is they're mostly women, who're more comfy
With pink and fluffy feelings stuff, they say
And it looks like it's true, apart from me
And maybe three other men. Crazy day
For weather, up in the hills, where snow lay
And more fell as the day went on, not sleet
But snow. Later, back in the big city
It looked like boring rain was all that they
Had to look at or walk through with wet feet
Tomorrow, Euston Tower is where I'll be

4178 - What is funny?

A fun day, probably a bit pissed from last
Night. After work, went home and wrote some jokes
For tonight's comedy, which was a blast
Familiar faces and some new ones, stoked
The flames of wrongness, humour up in smoke
OJ is a character, sure enough
Best to accept him as a natural fluke
An oddity, a psyche in the buff
Unaware of his status, thinks we love
Him, and if we're tolerant, do our best
To accept him, like any other folk
But we're unable, we just have to laugh
At him because he's crazy. But his thirst
For attention means why not? What a bloke!

4177 - Rain Rain Went Away

A wet beginning, then the rain eased off
The weather forecast said it would dry out
So with a full bag, with comedy stuff
In it, and Carla's belongings, I thought
It would be safe umbrellaless to strut
My stuff down to the office, in my black
And white comedy shirt, and I was right
I didn't get to wet, slightly wet socks
But they dried out once after a while at work
Some hours later, in pleasant weather, half
An hour's walk to the bus station, ticket
To Leeds, met Carla there, taxi that rocked
Up to LS6 Bar, a meal, then laugh
Creation upstairs, went OK, she thought!

4176 - Man Flu in Manchester

A successful trip out with Josephine
Despite still having my cold, a bit low
On energy, but was overheating
By the time I got on the train, was so
Packed, for some reason. We headed into
Manchester, she got Tania's birthday prez -
Half a month late!! - but didn't manage to
Find her own present, and yet her birthday's
This Wednesday. Lunch in Cote Brasserie - there's
A place I recommend for fine eating
At a great price. Planning for tomorrow
Now, comedy night in Leeds, hope to cause
A meet-up with Carla, who knows the scene
Got to check bus times and then let her know...

4175 - This nose is on fire

Today I've a terrible streaming nose
Strange how this usually first stage is second
This time round, after a sore chest. The flows
Of mucus continue without relent
Like lava from a fierce erupting mount
I'm trying to replace the fluid loss
Of various drinks I've drunk a great amount
Like tonight, after a film, McDonald's
Milkshake (banana). But I feel I must
Have still more in a moment, heaven knows
And then I'll settle down, tuck in beyond
The reach of cold, underneath the blankets
I know I'll need my hanky, don't suppose
My nose will stop the flow - it's not yet spent...

4174 - The Bogeyman Cometh

Well enough to go in to work today
After just two days off, the second one
Maybe I could have gone in, but well hey
I could have made myself ill once again
Recovery time must be allowed for men
You know what man flu's like, it's terrible
My chest feels OK now, just cold symptoms
Like runny nose remain, my hanky's full
No, that was just a silly rhyme, a fool's
Attempt at humour, or to cause dismay
Really, I've just used my sleeve... Fooled again!
I've done no such thing. I'm just full of bull
(More like full of snot.) That's not nice, Tony
Even if you feel like the bogeyman...

4173 - The Vinyl Countdown

My second day off sick, but much better
Didn't need the heat on during the day
I read Byron, watched Kyle, played uke later
But I forgot my diary yesterday
So I'm writing this tomorrow, you'd say
In a way, sort of - you know what I mean
It's no longer Thursday, it's now Friday
And back to work tomorrow I have been
If tomorrow's today, staying on this theme
Back to yesterday now, can't remember
Much now. Added more tracks to Spotify
Watched most of Question Time, the usual scene
Brexit, the NHS. Shame about the
Fall of Mark Smith, whose vinyl I once played

Thur 25 Jan 

4172 - Out of my bed

Last night I was heading for early bed
When just in time, saw Inside Number 9
With hardly any clothes on, must be said
Which wasn't wise when my health wasn't fine
It's cos I'd had a late night hair wash in
The bathroom, so no shirt on, watched the show
Then went to bed, ended up shivering
Had to get out and put on a shirt so
I was warmer, but still I seemed to go
From bad to worse in bed. I even read
Byron while unable to doze. Hard time
Getting up at 9:15, didn't know
For sure if I'd go to work. Decided
Not to. Feel cold and weak, but I ain't cryin'!!

4171 - Trolley song

I've definitely caught the bug, my chest
Was slightly affected, a cough
Every so often, aches in arms and legs
Even in my ears, but it's not as rough
As some have had it. They've taken time off
Been laid low. It's the time of year. The news
Last night showed scenes from hospitals up north
Old people in corridors on trolleys
Vulnerable as always to winter's freeze
The strain on nurses increases and begs
The question, how long will they stay and tough
It out? People become desperate and seize
The chance to escape, a place they can rest
Too many patients, makes them say, Enough!

4170 - Smellier than Delhi

Woke up at stupid o'clock, 5:15
And the whole day felt knackered. I just had
A nap and feel better now I have been
For 15 minutes to the Land of Nod
Not sure what to do now. Just had a good
Tea, tasty chicken pieces, just the trick
(Not KFC, I don't go there for food!)
Had veg too on my plate. Smell of garlic
From the flat below curling like a thick
Smoke in my nostrils, smelled but still unseen
Prompting me to start cooking - it just could
Not wait a moment longer. Now to pick
Something to do. Fed up of the phishing
Attacks on my phone. Next month, an upgrade!

4169 - Snow yolk

You can't beat fried eggs but you can beat an
Omelette. Fried egg yolk - nectar of the gods!
Fortified with that, the day's almost done
I hatched a plan to go and watch The Post
At Home Cinema, but it's been the most
Miserable day, and I'd have got wet feet
And my MP3's given up the ghost
But its song collection's preserved complete
Copied to my laptop. Spotify's neat
But not sure I can listen to it on
My walk to work, or anywhere. I'm lost
If I can't walk and sing and hear the beat
Will my phone have good enough reception
Or will it lose it after a few yards?

4168 - It noh funny

A nice relaxing day doing nothing
Apart from playing uke, watching TV
And reaching the denouement, finishing
My second (both good) Balzac novel, The
Wild Ass's Skin. Next I chose someone he
Mentioned a few times in that - Lord Byron
And though it's a long book, it's poetry
So it'll be quick to read - it's Don Juan
After tea and the footy results, one
Made one's way to town, beginning drinking
Some great pints at the Crown & Kettle. D
And I then met Nancy and her pals in
The Frog & Bucket opposite, watching
Professional (and unfunny) comedy...

4167 - The Lunch Bunch

Lunch at the Indian Tiffin Room today
With Farah, Emma, Andy, Steve, and me
The birthday boy. Thali, like a buffet
On a tray, with some bread, rice, two or three
Tasty pots of food, tapas-like, and we
Had a good natter, about pensions - yes
Not my chosen topic, necessarily
And memories of Burnage, and places
To get a curry in those areas
Not doing much tonight. Main thing to say
Is I watched The Book Thief, moving movie
Of death in Germany under Nazis
Now it's a film called Idiocracy
It's bloody awful. Bad end to the day!

4166 - This really is tomorrow

Birthday again, far into the future
It seems real life was back in our childhood
And early teens, but after that, well you're
As familiar as me. Compare what should
With what is. That's cos dreams are always good
But reality differs markedly
That said, dreams are false, waste of time to brood
Better to wake up to reality
And not worry about things like money
And anyway, we've got enough for our
Needs. Wants are less important. We've got food
Drink, a place to stay, coffee and green tea
Family or friends, ways of travelling for
Special times away, and lazing in bed!

4165 - The graduate

A long and quite tiring day. Had some fun
This evening at Jo's request for a pic
Of my '87 graduation
Took a while to find, so I had a look
On my phone, couldn't see it, than I plucked
Out some old pix from my remote hard drive
And so she could see, put 'em on Facebook
Attracting a few likes, me with my wife
And her sister Wendy. It's fun to dive
Into old pix from ages ago, none
At all to compare to now! But I'll stick
With now, for now, and always, in my life
Cos that's all there ever is. On and on
Try to enjoy it, not be a cynic

4164 - Cold Feet

It snowed tonight before I went out and
I got wet feet as I trudged through the slush
Walking to the King's Arms ready to present
The Worst Comedy Night in the plush
Surroundings of the snug, and there was much
Merriment and camaraderie there
Despite the weather and the hard to budge
Depression of this hated time of year
No microphone, but none needed to hear
What they had to say. Comedy diamond
(Never mind gold), Lesbian, not butch
A Lithuanian girl, she's the girlfriend
Of a Hong Kong guy, both first timers here
OJ as usual, last on, rambled without end...

4163 - Dress to impress

Low on energy tonight. I thought it
Was because I ran to avoid the rain
On the way home. The skies were black as soot
I got away with it, safe home again
But maybe it's more than that. There's a strain
Of flu virus going around - maybe
I'm fighting it off. Enjoying staying
In tonight then. Tomorrow, comedy
Think I'll go to bed and get up early
Meanwhile, I'm changing my leather jacket
For an anorak with a hood, remain
Dry if I can this week which looks scary
Weather-wise. Could be rain or snow or sleet
Dressed appropriately we can't complain

4162 - Northern Freeez

Managed this morning to write comedy
On the theme of beer - why, not really sure
Maybe it was inspired by drinks, Friday
And a state from which I'd just recovered
Mind you, by bank account! Can I afford
Much more til next month? No, I've got birthdays
To fund in the family. But quite a hoard
Of vouchers lies in my bag. There are ways
Of still having nice things by using these
And what with this and some nights out I see
Lining themselves up, there's real reason for
Cheerfulness in the grip of January's
Arctic freeze. After writing, the movie
Darkest Hour was on at Home cinema

4161 - TFI Saturday

I'm flipping cream-crackered, I even dozed
On the sofa at lunchtime, to recharge
Batteries from the sleep that I have lost
A late night and then some - livin' it large!
So today ain't got energy to budge
Good news from the football - we win again
Away at Birmingham. Potential grudge
Match - Gary Rowett used to manage them
But their fans have no reason to hate him
He was unfairly sacked, and they've lost lots
Of games since then, while his Rams team has charged
Upwards as towards a crowded sheep pen
Tomorrow, might see a film, but I must
First write some quips - cos Tuesday, I'm in charge!

4160 - Brink it on!

At last night's leaving do, went to The Brink
It's like the Gas Lamp, down steps from Bridge Street
Three of us got there first, and bought a drink
And that in all cases was a nice stout
With Helen and Sonia - good to be out
Then joined by (who came next?) Steve Robinson
He's married to someone famous - who's that?
Why, who else but, yes - Mrs Robinson
It was his leaving do, and was real fun
Just turn up the jukebox, drowned by the clink
And hum of loud chatter. To Collier Street
And The Eagle pub, with lovely Helen
I was a bit too pissed to laugh, I think
But overall the evening was complete

4159 - Straining my brain

I'm using my energy this evening
Almost done with 2017 pix
Downloading them from Facebook. Remembering
The Barcelona and the Israel trips
It's funny how you forget all the things
You've seen, all the little details and names
It's all just a blur, memory plays its tricks
But seeing these has brought it back again
It's not that long ago, it should not strain
Me to recall. I've also been playing
Guitar - it's so much harder than uke, strings
Get in each others' way while I'm playin'
Oh well, maybe I'll stick to uke. Listening
To Spotify, my 70s choices

4158 - More sonnets about Commie buildings and food

I'm doing good stuff, busying myself
Each evening of the week, exercises
Curating last year's photos - there's a hell
Of a lot of exotic travel pix
Tonight I downloaded Romania - lots
From there, and also Moldova and then
Lots more from Odessa (Ukraine), all sorts
From the port and steps to old cars. Ukraine -
Good to relive it! Now though, time has gone
By and I need to eat. I will eat well -
Got three sausages to fry, and with those
I'll have mushrooms. I've got the football on
The radio, as background to the meal
I've just put the heat on - it's brass monkeys!

4157 - It WAS all right in the 70s

It's going well, exercised once again
When I got home, then bo track selection
From Spotify's many suggestions. Then
Played uke to some 70s stuff online
A nice change from the old playlist routine
It's proving well worth ten quid a month, and
Regarding payment, I've not yet begun
Not until mid-March. Next, a Facebook scan
Of last year's photos - the aim, saving on
My computer. I'm lucky among men
At the moment, free to do every one
Thing I want to, when I want, whether planned
Or not. After that, reading Maupassant
Short stories of the Prussian invasion

4156 - Gather ye photos

I'm going to play my uke to Spotify
Tonight, not to my MP3 player
Those old familiar tracks will be passed by
In favour of material that's newer
Not as in recently recorded, nah -
New as in different songs that I've not played
At least not often, though they're familiar
Then later, after dinner, I'll curate
The photos from last year, get the complete
Set off Facebook, download them onto my
New laptop and transfer them all from there
To my remote hard drive where old stuff stayed
Gathered, preserved memories of years gone by
Which I rarely look at (so why bother??!!)

4155 - Everything's working again

No plans for the day, then Vee got in touch
So I asked her if she could help me fix
One or two things on my laptop, not much
But I was too lazy, and she knows tricks
So I went round hers, and now it all clicks
Into place. Security, now sorted
Spotify's on phone and laptop, a mix
Of music that needs to be updated
I'll do that shortly. Also, what was hid
From view, files from my old laptop, we poached
From a March 2017 memory stick
And checked the remote hard drive connected
As it should, which it does. My laptop's such
A capable one now. What to do next?

4154 - Not mad on her

A fun day chatting to Jo, then going
For breakfast to Sainsburys, two fried eggs
Each, but no tomatoes, and then walking
To Tony Wilson Place, slightly late. Ed
Glinert had started his music guided
Tour, talking about New Order and Joy
Division, Buzzcocks, Stone Roses, and said
Funny things about them all. And the boy
Product of Madonna and also Guy
Ritchie, called Rocco, he was following
The tour with us. the product of her ex
I made a comment, Jo shushed me, but why?
Cos Rocco was right behind, listening
I don't care. Let him know Madonna sucks!

4153 - Rammed at Old T

A quiet Friday, few people about
In the office, time on my hands. I went
About 3:30, walked back to the flat
Had a quick tea, I didn't have to spend
Money on a takeaway in town. Then
Walked to Piccadilly to collect Jo
Met her just outside of Wilmslow station
We got the train and tram returning to
My flat, then caught a cab - laziness, you
Know - to Old Trafford. I could hardly wait
To see if Derby could cause an upset
On Man United's home turf, but soon, 2-
0 was the final score, and we were out
Of the FA Cup Third Round, all hope spent

4152 - Play for today

Still feeling good after last night's fun show
Got home tonight, a beer and guitar play
It's bloody cold though, so now I won't go
Outside any more tonight, no, no way
It's so bloody cold that I have to say
I'd like to go to bed and lie snuggling
Under the covers, no more work today
Just feeling good and only relaxing
I must admit my mood is now changing
Things seemed bad at New Year not long ago
In terms of my prospects. I couldn't see
Any grounds for hope in my performing
I may have no gigs but now I feel so
Much better in myself than yesterday

4151 - Ace of clubs

A great night at the Carlton Club. I sang
I played the uke, even did a solo
And for the first time, pictures as background
All got laughs, audiences like me, you know
So what if cliques reject me, so it goes
I've done my time in my mind, ready to
Bare my soul, move people, I can disclose
What lies beneath, not rehearsed, now and true
Based on long years, freed from society's glue
I felt at ease both playing and singing
On my own, not a gang of mates, oh no
Purity no-one can deny, some blue
But also plenty of red and yellow
Soon I'll let truth reverberate and ring

4150 - Going nowhere slow

Woke up real early, too tired to say much
Maybe of late these have become boring
Anyway. How can I spice them up, touch
A common nerve rather than just listing
The unimpressive thoughts and deeds going
On in my head and life, going nowhere
While still going places when travelling
But always coming back to this sad lair
Not that I want a partnership to share
Life with, just fun friends will do, when I budge
From the flat, which ain't that often, wanting
Company isn't a major need. Dare
To do what I want, no-one else can judge
They do what they want, so it's the same thing

4149 - New Meh

Fun night last night without drinking at all
Except for tea, that is, which sustained me
Quite satisfactorily til the toll
Of the bell and the fireworks in the sky
Four films watched yesterday, but comedy
Was neglected. Today I tried to put
That right, doing some drawings, now ready
To send to the compere. Hopefully it
Will interest Wednesday's crowd, should make 'em sit
Up a bit and pay attention, a small
Advantage over just speaking, to see
The act can draw as well, and also flirt
With uke and singing songs. Heard the football
Results, now to choose which old film to see...