4447 - Onwards and upwards

Well that's my last day done at Ralli Quays
A place I came to in June '98
The France World Cup holding early matches
Scholes scored a good goal in the sun against
Tunisia. Went there to progress, but ain't
Been successful til now, but I probably
Wouldn't have managed it elsewhere, a faint
Chance out in the sticks to reach the
Amazing heights of SO. Got to be
Happy I'm there despite the long delays
Tomorrow I'll be packing, then I'll wait
For Jo in Piccadilly. Then we'll flee
To Trafford Hall near Chester, spend the night
Then early cab to Liverpool Airways

4446 - Cote of many colours

Another good uke session, come what may
At work today started clearing cupboards
Nearly done now, and also printed my
Boarding passes for Nice, going abroad
This Sunday early morning with my daught
Lil Josephine, now 15, let us hope
The sun shines down in south France like it ought
Nice, Monaco, Italy, and St Trop
It will be great, this Cote d'Azur trip hop
Despite Jo's restrictions, I hope to play
And do what I like, we cannot be bored
That's not the point of holidays, no strops
It will be a challenge, but mustn't stray
From having a good time like we are lords

4445 - Please freeze me

I've eaten too many peas for my tea
A big panful of the fuckers because
Chan stuffed her stuff into the freeze box, We
Only have a small one shared between us
And I bought a new bag of frozen peas
At Sainsbury's, for which there wasn't room
So I poured all the old bag of peas, please
Understand why, into the pan, but doom
Filled my brain, so many there to consume
Didn't believe I could eat so many
But I did, caused my stomach agonies
I probably look pregnant, though I've no womb
Better though to binge with intensity
On green veg than meat, so I rest my case

4444 - From jester to Chester

Hard day's work, got in early but two hours
Wasted, spent trying to check in online for
The flight to Nice from Liverpool, and as
I struggled with that, also booked somewhere
For me and Jo to stay, it's near Chester
Saturday night, early taxi to the
Airport, 7:15 flight, but we are
Now able to do it. Sonia showed me
Our hotel's in town by the station. We
Are well-placed for day trips to Cannes, Frejus
Menton, Italy, you name it. Before
I went out to the King's Arms, had a wee
Sleep, felt a bit pissed, smuggled in beers
Got found out, had to leave, who really cares?

4443 - New balance

Only one night of detox and I'm back
Hard day's work done successfully and then
Exercises when back home. Back on track
It's King's Arms tomorrow though, temptation
Will rear its head again, but beer is down
Right now in my affections, although it
Is still hard to turn down. But since Berlin
Booze itself is less important, not fit
To base a lifestyle around, cigarettes
Also, and that is good. Long-term, it's whack
Although still good fun on odd occasions
Like parties, nights out and so on. I bet
There'll be plenty more good ones, there's no lack
Of chances, but balance is the main aim

4442 - Weeder's digest

A very late sea bass and potato
Polished at 10:15 this evening
I've got to digest it next hour or so
So come on, let's do some quick digesting!
It's better than another night's drinking
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I've had
A bottle of wine each night, enjoying
It, but now need to detox, clean my blood
Rehydrate, etc. Try to be good
Later than usual meet with Little Jo
She was obsessed with funny group chatting
On her phone, with some daft weed-smoking lads
She thinks it's funny, when you're young, s'pose so
Saw V, P and L, usual chat and ting...

4441 - Sea bass, sea bass, sea bass, are we

Nice lie-in after last night's beer and wine
Out with Steve Clarke to La Vina for three
Beers, then carried on drinking, didn't dine
No, no tea for me last night, so hungry
By today lunchtime. Sea bass so yummy
With peas, carrots, potato, gravy and
Cheese in the spud. It hit the spot for me
Then went to Home art cinema to spend
Some time outside on a nice day, not planned
It but watched Touch Me Not, hard watch but fine
Choice so soon after Berlin. Got curry
And rice in the fridge, big Leffe on its end
A nice treat waiting. First, I feel like tryin'
To write some jokes I could do on Tuesday

4440 - Oh shit again

Only a week now to go til I leave
Ralli Quays 3rd floor policy and peeps
I've known since '98, would you believe?
And I can't make Helen's 40th, hopes
Are dashed, it would've been so good, but nope
I've booked the train to London that same day
Oh well, that's how it is, give me some rope
I'll hang myself, can't believe I'm away
For such a good do, maybe I can sway
Things so I can join her and mates, reprieve
A bad double booking. I'll ask the Pope
Or whatever it takes! I'd like to say
That Helen's super cool. Now I'll be brief
If only, the thoughts that torment and creep,,,

4439 - Just a delusion

Great uke session, at the moment it's all
I wanna do, and then I ate mackerel
Lovely it was, only a pound. I'm full
But bored, so I might buy a wine bottle
It's days now since Berlin with lovely Hel
We were supposed to be going healthy
But she's not, not yet anyway, so hell
Why not join her in glorious failure? We
Might be apart, but this is unity
In spirit, hope I'm not delusional
Does she care at all? It is hard to tell
What is the secret, and where is the key?
Just need to digest my late tea so I'll
Have room for drink, watch Question Time, settle

4438 - New kids on the block

My last team meeting as an Oils team man
Talked about guidance, then completed my
Handover document as best I can
So when I've left they can all still apply
My knowledge and advice, it won't just die
They'll need it, the team lacks experience
The newbies at my old grade, they will try
Their best, but can't claim that it all makes sense
To them. Brexit is in tomorrow's plans
Not only in the news. The government
Is also the civil service who I
Work for. I'll be going through our guidance
Highlighting EU references so then
Changes can be made to them by and by

4437 - Zuruck

Incredibly, it's only yesterday
That me and Helen were still together
Coming back from our Berlin holiday
She's been out of the office, not seen her
Today, but she did pop in and said the
Trip had been full-on. Yes indeed she was
Quite tired lots of the time, but then before
It started she was ill, and just two hours
Sleep the night before. And again, no hours
On our first night there!! But there is no way
It was bad, just because it was, well, her
I was only sad when her speaking paused
But it didn't for long. Hopefully we
Have passed the test and we will go elsewhere

4436 - Berlin Day 5

Wrapping up my first holiday with Hel
Up at 6, caught the train to the airport
Getting to eat my breakfast a struggle
Got tense with queuing, it got slightly fraught
In the end, all was fine, I even caught
40 winks on the plane to Manchester
What a temperature drop, it was extraord!
From 24 to 8, Berlin to here
That's the degrees of freeze we have to bear
Walked home, my MP3 player's not well
Bought a new one later from Argos. Sort
Out holiday photos, took well over
Three hours, but now all saved and sent, all's well
Catch up with diary, listen to football

Mon 15 Oct 18

4435 - Berlin Day 4

I got a few hours, bed til 12:30
Punctuated by breakfast at McD's
(Her idea!), so about five hours, but she
Only got two or three. So tired, but she's
Done so well today. Pizza, then taxis
To and from Schoneberg. But why? Helen
Wanted to see the flat David Bowie
Stayed in with Iggy Pop here in Berlin
A long drive, but seeing it was interesting
Nice Indian food at Sadhu, duck curry
Kreuzberg has great food and great premises
All at good prices, better than Britain
Helen was done, had no more energy
So I went to Madame Claude, watched singers

Sun 14 Oct 18

4434 - Berlin Day 3

Although Helen flaked out and slept early
She still wasn't recovered by morning
Pity, because tonight was the real key
Nevertheless, we had real fun seeing
The Berlin Wall artwork, lots of paintings
From 2009 on the old wall
Sat by the River Spree, just relaxing
In the sun, clear blue sky, Berlin Kindl
Beer in a bottle. Museum. More bottle
Then Checkpoint Charlie, Hackescher Markt, we
Then ate Vietnamese. To flat returning
Chalked my hair blue, then on train to pub crawl
Via Alexanderplatz. Six shots were free
Left club, quarter to four. We'll be paying....:(

Sat 13 Oct 18

4433 - Berlin Day 2

Both got not a lot of sleep, so we rose
Earlier than expected, and had 'breakfast'
At McDonald's, then walked round Kreuzberg's roads
Had lunchtime cocktail, 4 euros the cost
(Real cheap), then got some quite cheap train tickets
And headed for Berlin city centre
As soon as we got there, H saw the boats
So we cruised on the canals or River
Spree, not sure which.* There were locks. But we were
So tired, although the sun shone like it was
Still the heatwave. Went back for a repast
At Que Pasa in Kreuzberg. I couldna
Finish it - too tired! Doggy bag chose
Then H flaked out, two nights no sleep - she's bust!

* It was a canal cruise

Fri 12 Oct 18

4432 - Berlin Day 1

Cleaned flat, even did exercises, well
I'd had a bloody good sleep, then prepared
To meet Helen at about 3, so we'll
Have lots of time. Train to airport. H scared
Of flying, but it was fine. Plane late. Dared
Not get a train, so late, taxi to flat
Met Larissa, unpacked, over the road
At quarter to one at night, and we sat
In a dark bar, Schwarze Traube, and met
Some American women, made a deal
Stayed up late, music, chat, and more beside
Talkin' bout next trip already, and that
Could be Marrakesh in December! Fell
To bed, but little sleep for the wicked!

Thur 11 Oct 18

4431 - Pack it up, pack it in

Yuk! That was tense! I couldn't get contact
With Larissa, the Berlin flat owner
It's no longer listed, getting panicked
She got in touch after maybe an hour
Severe stress the night before departure!
Not what you want! But the plans are back on
And that nice flat wasn't a dream, no sir
We really will spend time there, not a con
So now onwards and upwards to Berlin
My new case is already almost packed
Not gonna do much else tonight, for there
Is enough time tomorrow. Meet Helen
At 3.30 for a drink, then on track
For the airport by train, then through the air!

4430 - Drinking wine spody o Spree

Couldn't resist a bottle of red wine
Too excited to not self-medicate
Need some horse tranquillisers by the tonne
Hairdresser appointment to trim my pate
New silver suitcase partly packed, it waits
By my side, five days break, easy to pack
Promotion got, holiday, celebrate
It feels good now and I don't give a fuck
Listening to Alex Harvey, art prog rock
New tracks to learn, all part of this good time
All good things they all come to those who wait
Stayed happy and busy e'en when it sucked
Wish it was sunny, could swim in the brine
Berlin has no sea, but the Spree is great!

4429 - Now is very nearly the time

Too knackered due to sleep interruption
To do exercises tonight, what balls
But so excited as the clock ticks down
I'm tired, she's ill, if that stays so we'll fall
Into more normal tourist stuff, but still
I'm sure we'll have a great time in Berlin
Narrowed songs down to maybe five. I will
Hopefully practice like interviewing
Build-up, memorise my lines so it's in
My head, not on a page. May not happen
Anyway, but if not, then there are all
Sorts of ideas, all of them exciting
Best of all will be going with Helen
That's the main thing, it is incredible

4428 - Germany of an idea

Really tired, can't find any energy
But I must do some kind of song practice
If when we're in Berlin I want to play
At an open mic night. So after this
Sonnet is written, at the very least
I must listen to the chosen songs more
Than once to learn them better, which will boost
My confidence to play and sing them for
The audience. Never done these songs before
Not sung songs properly for ages, Could be
Getting laughs is the thing that I do best
Keep the songs simple while you sing and you're
Giving yourself a chance. Keep it easy
Like in an interview. A piece of piss!

4427 - Friends united

Life's a high right now, getting excited
About the Berlin trip with Miss Helen
Things have gone so right, so unexpected
Don't care what happens, I know it's great fun
She's lovely, so am I, we can't go wrong
You're the bee's knees but so am I rings true
And where better to start but in Berlin?
I'll bring it all to the table, so few
Opportunities like this, we all queue
Up at the gate waiting, competing, hid
From joy, but now the gate's open, and wide
Nothing can stop us from being not blue
But red, and the most joyful shade of red
Bring it on, let it start, let it happen!

4426 - No no no

Went out with Nancy, but it didn't go
Well, as it hasn't the last few times, so
I've said that's it, let's not bother, let's go
Our separate ways if we can't agree, no
Hard feelings. Life's too short. I hope she goes
On to good things, as I will, but meantime
I can do without shit when things are o
k, if she doesn't like it that's not mine
To worry about. She'll realise in time
It's a time of change, don't want blockers, no
Please don't dictate or be negative, no
There's no reason for that and there's no rhyme
I'm happy now, and I don't want that so
And so. All I want now is let it flow...

4425 - Then from the office, I'll be a leaver

So tired, was awake from three to half six
Can't find energy to do much this eve
Only half seven... Hoped for 40 winks
When I got home, but no chance of relief
Chan was cooking. So I cooked mine. Mint leaf
Popped onto my white fish, peas and pasta
Now my stamina is what I must prove
In the office today, was asked by more
Than one about when I was leaving here
And congratulated me on success
At last. So nice. Soon me and H will leave
For Berlin. Online check-in's done, prepare
By buying a small suitcase with wheels, fits
In the cabin, practice songs, stay fit, breathe!

4424 - Uke can do it

I've done two good things tonight. Exercised
And worked on songs to play, and chosen those
I will focus on live. At last I've wised
Up to choosing simple soulful songs, chose
Songs that'll sound good, make them tap their toes
And not too hard to sing, underlying
Funky rhythms, simple lyrics, obtuse
Meanings dispensed with, complex chord changing
Thrown out. A solo act is challenging
So don't try to be clever. Well advised
To communicate feeling, heaven knows
That's what it's all about with performing
This strategy will bring about my prize
To cap the holiday that's uttermost

4423 - Cheshire OK

It's been a different day, refinery
Visit to Stanlow, the place that I've seen
So often on the way to my mum's. We
Had a presentation, then a tour in
A minibus round the site. Interesting
All those pipes and towers, clever people
And a free lunch too, despite the saying
Then to Cheshire Oaks in the rain, a while
Since I've been there. The place felt sad, but full
Of leisurely shoppers whose time is free
On a Tuesday afternoon. Now back in
My flat, a uke session, and a bottle
Of beer or two. And next, I'll have my tea
Then song practice, preparing for Berlin...

4422 - It's off-fish-al!

I got my promotion, that's the main news
My last promotion was in '98
Twenty years I've waited, have felt the blues
Especially this last year or two. Can't wait
To crack on with this new job. Such a state
I downed a bottle of white wine and played
The uke, then fish, beans and salad I ate
Now I'm writing this feeling almost slayed
But it's good. The year that's ending in 8
Was quite bad at times, fate threw boots and shoes
But now there's good green food upon my plate
Berlin with Helen, promotion attained
Uke playing, Edinburgh, French chateaus
Tattoos, World Cup, lodgers two. Celebrate!