4662 - Days of wine and psychosis

Stayed up quite late last night, wine and music
Just had to blow off steam a little bit
Felt pretty good about starting to click
Made contacts on Instagram, and a tweet
Or two has made some more. I'll be quiet
On that scene tomorrow, for I must head
To London for a wedding, and I'm quite
Excited, so long since I attended
One. On the way home I bought them a card
I'll fill it in tomorrow. I'll be stuck
On the train long enough! Got stuff to eat
But then there'll be a big meal provided
I'm sure, so it'll be great! Alarm clock
Set for 6:30. Now, watch TV set!

4661 - Don't shoot the performer

Spent time and energy this morning on
Social media, posting new things, trying to
Engage with people out there, having fun
Also trying to arrange a shoot, but who
Is free to do it? Looks like they can't do
It, though I've four assistants from my ad
Incredible, but it just goes to show
You can't rely on any girl or lad
General reliability's SO bad!
What will I do when Edinburgh comes?
Hoping for help from peers to get me through
Podcast at 6, Reaching the Press, with food
To hand while I watched on my small i-phone
Europa League final now, from Baku...

4660 - Sleep no more

Hardly any sleep, mind active last night
No reason except lots of sleep two days
In a row. At work, despite being tired
Finished my piece of work. No exercise
When home again, of course, after all this
But pleasantly surprised myself how much
Work on social media and images
I got done after a very late lunch
(Make that tea) of quorn mince and lots of mush-
rooms. Maybe it was this good food that fired
Extra energy into me, who knows?
Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube page
All posted on, comments gained, pictures liked
I have to now ensure momentum stays

Tue 28 May

4659 - Video filled the social media

Worked more on ideas not for my Fringe show
(That's done), but for performance on the street
Once in Edinburgh, persuade folk to go
To see me based on what I do being neat
On the Royal Mile. Also, you can't beat
Some video ideas I've had just today
And that's timed well, I've managed to recruit
Another assistant, a young lady
And arranged to film something this Thursday
Might see Jamal Tuesday and video
My Punch and Judy scenes, for I was quite
Surprised my puppets arrived here today
I'm kind of getting more excited now
About my brand, and social media feats

4658 - Bullocks to Brexit

Shaved and cut my hair, did a good job too
Watched Andrew Marr Show politics circus
Brexit Brexit Brexit wall to wall stew
And now it's Euro election results
The Brexit Party forecast to exult
And Lib Dems the beneficiaries of the
Status quo. Tory voters in revolt
Likewise many traditional Labour
Voters, feeling that Labour has dithered
And sat on the fence, unclear what to do
Support Remain or Leave, when their voters
Are themselves in both camps. And I've made more
Progress on my social media sites. Phew -
It was hard work, but Vee helped that progress

4657 - The binaries of hate

Josephine briefly came out, met Deansgate
Walked along that road to the Living Room
I had a pie, garlic chicken she ate
That was enough to fill our stomach room
But she had to go back home all too soon
Her mum was going out at 6:30
When I got back home, searched on Amazon
For Punch and Judy puppet sets. Quickly
Bought one, but not delivered til Thursday
The result of ideas flowing at great
Speed as pressure mounts, the usual vacuum
Replaced by white heat, Why Punch and Judy?
Because they show the binaries of hate
Debate turns to violence, logic consumed...

4656 - Art is pain

No matter what they say, each artist has
The same pain of rejection, from the small
People who gather in their great numbers
Only if we stand strong against their gall
Can we produce. Most worthy people fall
But if a few of us focus and try
Maybe we can overcome our trial
And break on through, I don't yet know if I
Will succeed, but I have some guts. They die
In the face of the world, when they produce
Enabling the shits to enjoy, just like all
The watchers of the drama, struggling by
We speak for them, we die, then they love us
As they sit and judge, so comfortable

4655 - Salford pink

A sunny day and after work I made
Myself all pink, t-shirt, trousers, and hair
And headed to Salford Uni parade
Ready for filming with Jamal. Met there
And ad libbed very well, so much better
Than I thought possible. So just as planned
A collection of film and stills prepared
For social media scrutiny, yes and
There's still time for more as the sands
Of time blow towards the Fringe. At lunch, had
A meeting with Carla over Cokes - where?
The Old Pint Pot, Salford, her and Adham
Warm sun on back and neck, its rays just played
A merry tune. Overall, things look fair

4654 - Saltford, here we come

God, I'm knackered, three nights of not enough
Sleep, combined with daytime activity
At work and evenings too, it's been quite tough
But rewarding for little old TB
Managed to come up with some ideas that we
Could film tomorrow, despite my tiredness
The idea? To film at Salford Uni
Where Jamal's a student, can get access
To music rooms. Could be a real success
I'm also gonna deliberately screw up
And call Salford 'Saltford' for comedy
Purposes. As usual, with such quickness
The ideas came, no editing of stuff
No - if it's daft, it's good enough for me...!!!

4653 - My Park Life

Busy at work, tiredness notwithstanding
Got in early, did online judgment test
For the Leap self-development training
Hope I did well, they'll need to be impressed
Then an enjoyable meeting. The best
Thing about it was free coffee, but met
Some useful contacts there. One will progress
My forthcoming note-taking work project
Left about four, tried to rest at home, ate
An omelette, dyed hair green, then went walking
To Cornbrook tram station, hopped on the next
Tram to Bury, off at Heaton Park, leapt
Up the steps, met Jamal, and did filming
In glorious sunny Heaton Park. I'm blessed!

4652 - Exercising my imagination

Chan went on holiday early morning
Leaving the flat nice and empty and free
I was tired because of next door's humping
About 1 am, kind of disturbed me
Had hoped to exercise, but too weary
So, after some creative ideas, I
Watched Memoirs of a Geisha DVD
Having read the book (I was impressed by)
Halfway through, got some Corona beers. Why
Not? Excited at prospect of filming
With Jamal in Heaton Park. Hopefully
It will be sunny. I'm not gonna lie
The momentum's growing nicely, building
Towards the Fringe. Here comes Bony Tony!

Mon 20 May

4651 - A month of Sundays

On way to bed shortly. Been good Sunday
Still not progressed my website, Facebook page
Or Instagram account, a month since they
Were set up, but a creative rampage
This morning, busking lyrics written, wage
A bet they'll get listeners on the Royal Mile
Out shopping, squeaky dog toys all the rage
Another Squirmy Wormy, plus now I'll
Have a new character, moany female
Octopus, called (oh no!) Octofussy!
But she'll be lovable despite her rage
A bit Miss Piggy, maybe, in her style!
More filming ideas I hope I can play
Out this week, then give them an online stage...

4650 - Sweet FA Cup

I've not done what I hoped, but still I've had
A good day, dominated by two things
The FA Cup Final, Man City thrashed
Watford six nil, quite rightly too, thrilling
Nice to see a final with goals going in
The other thing was the Eurovision
Song Contest from Tel Aviv, where I've been
Nice to see shots of the beach I've been on
The winner, don't know why, the Netherlands
I thought the best songs were by Norway and
Italy, Australia also. Britain
Came last, ridiculous, but not so stunned
We don't get that it's about glamour. Bad
Choice yet again! But still enjoyed the songs!

4649 - Shooting a star

Good day's work, I applied for the Leap course
An accelerated development
Programme, and though it might be tough, it's worse
To languish and stagnate. Join the ferment
Of pushy loud people, like performance
Arts people I'm joining soon in Scotland
Studying social media's this weekend's
Task. It should be mainly free. I've now found
Another guy to film me. Determined
To get some footage and pix, next few days
Next week's evenings I hope are mainly spent
Shooting, out and about. Could be combined
With some material we could shoot indoors
The flat's free all week. Chan's away again!

4648 - Absolutely challenged

An enjoyable day at the office
A room full of women, and I did good
Seemed to know my stuff, first time I've felt this
For a while. Also helped create a mood
Of fun and comradeship with people who'd
Never met me before. Confidence boost
And very welcome too! Shopping for food
Then home, got down on the mat for that most
Useful routine, ABSolute Challenge, forced
Stretch and strain of my abs, try to resist
That outward stomach bulge as we get old
That look in men and women is the worst
Then  my best-ever uke session, with Yes
And The Smiths the music. Then, breaded cod!!

4647 - Lions, lambs and the Rams

A workmate was rude to me this morning
We never spoke again and I'm not sure
I will speak to him much more now, going
Forward, because he can just snap and roar
Like a sick lion on the office floor
It's not just me either. Our manager -
Now in a new job elsewhere - said before
He left, several times, that he felt despair
At this man's unjustified behaviour
To people in general, he's annoying
Good chat to Y, who I manage. After
Discussing work, we discussed for an hour
Religion, technology, other things
Now bring on the Leeds/ Derby match... and beer

4646 - The wolves of Rosalind Court

My God, feels like I spent all night watching
That Leonardo film, Wolf of Wall Street
L Di Caprio, not Da Vinci - daft thing!
I kept pausing it, kept on hearing shouts
Thought it was through my wall, source of the heat
Was it Florida and her current man
But no! It came from below. Being discreet
I lay on the floor with ear hard upon
The floorboards, but unable to discern
What it was all about, even telling
The language proved impossible. Forgot
The last three nights' diary entries, oh damn!
I'm staying up late now, rectifying
That oversight... Four diary entries wrote!!!!

Tue 14 May

4645 - Buzz lateryear

Felt OK despite last night's beers, until
The afternoon. This evening, watched podcast
Of 'Building a buzz' from the Fringe people
Didn't learn that much, but some good contacts
The Fringe media team said, by all means ask
Anything anytime. Facebook group for
Edinburgh acts will be useful for facts
Like where to buy or hire useful stuff, or
Maybe find a Front of House manager
I'd offer my services, the cost nil
Hopefully, mutual help between our acts
My best bet is another spare actor
Or singer or dancer. It feels so real
Now feeling optimistic and relaxed...

Mon 13 May

4644 - No rest for the d**khead

Just as well I worked so hard yesterday
Cos now much time had to be devoted
At least partly to tonight's gig. But they
Didn't turn up like last year. Maybe they'd
Chosen not to because they all wanted
To watch the last Premier League matches, or
Just enjoy the sunshine. Still, Lukas made
A decent amount he collected for
A children's hospital. But it was poor
A small crowd. Comics dropping out. I stayed
To the end, this marathon comedy
Night, dressed in brown, but no, my hair colour
Stayed natural. Wanted it brown, but no way
Too late for a shower at home. Beers had!!

Sun 12 May

4643 - Life ain't a rehearsal - but my show is!

Jo was busy with exam revision
This weekend, so had it all to myself
So today I really got my head down
And worked on my show. Came up with a wealth
Of new jokes, even a rant! Did so well
My mind was fresh for hours, just kept going
Perhaps inspired by Larry overkill
(Larry David) - two box sets of viewing
These last few days - and there was no curbing
My box set-watching enthusiasm!
Any excuse, I s'pose, to do f. all.....
Proud of what I've achieved this week, working
Hard on the show, admin, now revision
Of content and times. So, next - REHEARSAL!

Sat 11 May

4642 - Money makes the world go round

What a week! Not just European Champions' League
Amazing football results, but my own
Achievements with my Edinburgh show this week!
Last weekend I saw with shock the deadline
Four days away or I'd be out of time
To upload my press release and photos
Publicity photos to ensnare fine
Journalists! They must be good. Heaven knows
Tom had let me down. I couldn't use those
Shit quality pics on my phone! Mystique
Of problems dissolves with money, I'd gone
On Gumtree, hired someone, yesterday posed
Round Deansgate / Castlefield, and now at work
I've put it all on the theatre webzone!

4641 - Pictures are thrilly

I've just done my first publicity pix
As my alter-ego Bony Tony
Apart from two in Morocco, that is
But this time Liam was hired by me
And he's got a good camera, and will be
Useful in social media use, also
My timeline and my itinerary
Is getting hectic now. By tomorrow
I'll try to upload the best four photos
And my 300 word draft press release
Plus flyer and poster designs, hee hee!
Before going to the shoot, new ideas flowed
A new song about me and my worm. It's
Also got a name now - Squirmy Wormy!

4640 - Fringing it all back home

Felt tired this afternoon after last night's
Amazing football match and drinks. I had
To get beers, as you do when life excites
You so much. Liverpool through to Madrid...
And breaking news, Spurs win at Ajax. Mad!
An all-English Champions League final, then!
The day after David's wedding, not bad
Prospect, to watch that on TV, and when?
Saturday the First of June! Tonight, been
Watching a Fringe podcast about advice
On marketing. All good, but not so glad
About the lack of tech help at Surgeons
Hall! Despite the high cost, no help with lights
Or sound, unless I pay! Disappointed!

4639 - And that's (not) magic

The last two times I've played to my music
I've switched from uke to guitar, and tonight
I built nicely on two nights ago, quick
To adjust to the guitar after quite
Abandoning it for two years. I tried
Playing some solo notes, playing the bass
(Much more powerful than on the uke!!) and bright
Flicks of the fingers towards the top space
To add top notes, creating rhythmic grace
I just need to practice some more. Magic
It's not - I can do this because for night
After night, I played my guitar for years
I've got a cameraman lined up to click
My publicity shots on Thursday - great!

4638 - TB Confidential

I must admit I put my work off all
Day - typical me, not done much despite
It being a long Bank Holiday break. Full
To-do list, lying ignored day and night
While I watched the entire first box set
Of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Mind you, I
Eventually began to work about
7pm, til 10:30, felt my
Confidence grow after a bad start. Why
I'd not found the email earlier, but still
I found it, logged in to production site
Of theSpaceUK, learned more technically
Drafted a press release. Next step, I will
Find a social media assistant. Great!

4637 - Superstring theory

Sunny Sunday, met Jo at Deansgate, then
Brunch at Sainsbury's. Next, my flat, the plan was
To watch some Curb Your Enthusiasm
She fell asleep on the sofa because
She'd had a sleepover with lots of girls
And boys too, though they later had to leave
But Jo woke up and told me what the buzz
Was on Spotify, new names to receive
Into my playlists. Guitar, time to give
You a go today, and I did. To strum
Six metal guitar strings is tough whereas
Four nylon uke strings feels like light relief
Although I struggled at first, gradually gained
Momentum, became one of the rockers

4636 - Cancer Charity and Home Bargains bonanza

Went to the local Home Bargains - it's great
Got stationery there useful for my show
Coloured stickers and pens to decorate
My uke ready for the Fringe. When I go
People can see the venue number, know
Where to come and see the show if they pass
Me busking on the Royal Mile, Ed'bro!
I've got sticky numbers on my uke - gas
Or what? Took flower off but then replaced
It cos it left a stain. Bought almost eight
New DVDs, some box sets, cost just two
Quid for two, and three tee shirts, also cost
Just two quid at the charity shop. Hate
To miss such bargains. Cheap HP beans too!

4635 - Reggae Reggae Discourse

Listening to music, a bottle of wine
Listened to 60s, now it's 80s on
Mancunian Blues by 808 State, fine
Accompaniment to typing a sonnet, one
Track after another flows, let's groove some
Last night's reggae gig was quite a let down
Where were, for instance, the Mighty Diamonds?
Where the fuck was Yellowman? Not in town
Praps back in JA, dunno. What a clown
But Eek A Mouse turned up, not the first time
I've seen him live, Max Romeo, Babylon
And its War was seen, as was the Uptown
Babies classic, I Chase The Devil, wind
Me waist and that. A good night with Helen!

4634 - No time to waste

Good day at work, got things done, ignored most
Conversations, focused on what I did
I've made good progress, or else I am toast
No-one's helping me, so I must be rid
Of such expectations, enough have hid
There's no more time to waste on timewasters
I'll advertise for helpers, say ten quid
Per hour to do what I need. And I guess
That way I might be able to impress
To do things of which I maybe could boast
Recordings in late afternoons, hindered
By nothing. Great reggae gig, though was less
Than hoped for. Yellowman was sorely missed
No explanation given, we've been had

4633 - The art of ploys

After work, an Instagram workshop which
Was held at the HOME cinema complex
I opened an account already, it's
No posts yet, but soon I can start to flex
My muscles creatively, make contacts
And hopefully reach people, build a buzz
In the run-up to the Fringe, to the max
It's ignorance of something that causes
Fear and resistance, makes you feel useless
And demotivated to use these tricks
But now my confidence is up, and next
I'll do a few posts, or at least practice
Can't always dress as Bony Tony each
Time, but I could post a cartoon or sketch