4815 - Women, wine (or plonk)

What a day at work! I am cream-crackered!
But happy I did all that I could do
Now I just want to relax, so I've got
A bottle of wine I'll start in a few
Minutes. Working at home Friday, a new
Pile of work. Must start early if I can!
Until then, I will drink a heady brew
And forget work for a while, renew my brain
Cells through escape and excitement. Helen,
If only I could see her, but I've not
Been in touch to arrange something to view
Or go to. But Saturday we'll see Gran -
Me and Jo, that is. Jo is acting weird -
It's Halloween, with her friend … wonder who?!!!

4814 - Flat out and in

I woke earlier than normal, having had
A good night's sleep - it's great when that happens
And as a result, my work wasn't bad
At all today! Reorganised my plans
For my projects, and now they make more sense
And are up-to-date. That's reassuring
And so now I have much more confidence
That all I have on hand is in hand. Bring
It on! Also looked at my complex Gambling
Duty issues (not my gambling!) I'm paid
Tonight, but this month I'll have fewer funds
Because my lodger, Chan, will be leaving
In November. Must quickly place an ad
For a new lodger before Christmas comes!

4813 - They wanna be elected

So!!! There'll be a general election soon
On December the 12th, to be precise
Just as Christmas approaches and the tune
May change from the usual jangly ditties
To more serious ones, but that's no pity
Felt more energised today, and I got
Things done, though not all that's in my in tray!
Need to put in long days and be a swot
Got home, did exercises on the mat
While watching news updates, keeping in tune
With developments. Uke-wise, found some nice
Acoustic stuff to play, and I was not
Bad, if I say so myself! Could I croon
Along to it yet? That remains the prize!

4812 - Toptober

Excited after yesterday's filming
And after a really brilliant weekend
One I can't seem to stop revisiting
Best was Friday afternoon with Helen
When she's like that, a dream companion
Looking sexy, acting naughty and so
In tune with what I like, it's so much fun
Our minds both on the same wavelength also
Talked of Prague early December, but no
Now she's checked availability in
That period, but she is making amends
Offering January! Saturday, Jo
Came out to see me. Sunday videoing
And fun with Chan as her time here nears end

4811 - Simply Timperley

As predicted, the Blackpool trip was not
Possible today, for comedy filming
Instead we convened at Barbie's house at
Timperley, and it proved well worth doing
Maybe fifteen films shot for uploading
With help from Barbie and AJ who do
Such a good job somehow realising
My ideas, always in one take, each new
Daft idea coming to life. I know you
Could not achieve so much so soon in shit
Stand-up nights in front of weekend drinking
Idiots, that's where the money is. Boo-hoo -
I can't get those gigs, don't want to compete
In a race to the bottom, performing...

4810 - Frackpool

Today I stayed in, watching the rugby
In the morning, England beat New Zealand
Brilliantly, a historic victory
The final favourites, they are now England
Who will they face in the final? Welsh friends
(Or foes) hopefully not, they seem to win
Against us when it most matters. No more,
Especially in the World Cup Final in
Japan. I also wrote a new song for
The filming tomorrow, fracking the core
Subject, filmed in Blackpool is what I see
On the beach, the red tower in the background
I left it late, and it won't come to be
This time, but maybe some later weekend

Sat 26 Oct

4809 - Love Cats

A short morning's work, then I met Helen
We had a cocktail at the Alchemist
Then a beer or two at City Road Inn
Then watched the Hutchence biopic, he missed
The mark, we both thought, was a plagiarist
Of Jim Morrison, the great Doors singer
Then another beer or two, got quite pissed
As you can imagine, and as ever
Public pissing, pulling down of her drawer
Followed by chips and more beer, and so then
Another great night out, a love-torn mist
The best girl I know, such a performer
She's my muse, my dream, I'll see her again
On our travels, Prague the next joint visit!

Fri 25 Oct

4808 - Turning pages, waiting for wages

Brexit work's so intense it dominates
The days these days, I haven't much left once
I get home, so I relax with my thoughts
Might play some music, reading even comes
Into mind, which it hasn't done for months
But when I've done this, might pick up that book
I've struggled to get into, the doldrums
Of inactivity can't always look
At drink to get me through. Doesn't take pluck
To pick up a book, watch how time stagnates
Less than before, like a busy day comes
To an end sooner and you can head back
Home to freedom, so a good book puts skates
On a quiet evening, and it feeds your brains

4807 - A date to remember

So energised yesterday that, half-ten
I went out for a bottle of wine so
I could bring on some sleepiness again
Listening to funk, until drunk and could go
To bed and drop off, which I did, although
I woke up two hours later and I stayed
Awake for almost an hour, doncha know
So no exercises today, afraid
I ain't got the energy. But I played
A blinder yesterday on the mat when
I did 95 press-ups in a row
That's the most I've done in recent years, mate
Just heard from Tania, Josephine's dating
A footballer's son. Wow - I didn't know!

4806 - The vote to nowhere

Just watched the Brexit votes - yes, YET MORE votes
Firstly, the Withdrawal Bill - the 'new' deal
Negotiated recently - got the most
Votes a Brexit deal's had so far, a real
Improvement on Theresa May. But still
It's going to be consistently derailed
By amendments and watering down, thus killed
In effect, by the other parties. Failed
Again, Brexiteers! The DUP rail
Against it because there'll be border posts
In NI, which will be closer, they feel
To the EU than the UK. Impaled
Once more, the Tories plans are turned to toast
This hung Parliament is like a stuck wheel

4805 - Parliamental

Feeling a bit weary partly because
I woke at 5 am and dozed and lay
Awake once more. Now I'm paying the cost
Also at work it's been a busy day
Soft drinks levy, Brexit, choosing which way
To work from now on with my staff of one
It's going well right now, I hope it stays
That way, and all acrimony is gone
So busy didn't know the goings-on
In Parliament, whether MPs would choose
Brexit today, tomorrow, or someday
As predicted, the speaker has said 'Non'
Tomorrow is when the UK withdraws?
Don't bank on it, though the pundits say 'Yea'

4804 - This fella loves Bella

Josephine said last night let's meet. I thought
She would choose instead to watch Man U on
The TV at home, but instead we met
At Manchester's Piccadilly station
Ate at Bella Italia, Cross Street, one
Of my favourite eateries. It didn't
Let us down, lovely flavoured pasta, down
My gullet too soon, but in my palate
It was delightful. While on Chapel Street
She said, why don't we go to Old Trafford?
Liverpool were the visitors. Sat down
In the Lowry Theatre, I had a flat white
She had a coke, and I voiced humorous thoughts
About the weirdos in there walking round

4803 - Brakes on Brexit

Today was dominated by the long
Live broadcast of the Brexit deal debate
Between 5 and 6 hours from the Commons
I watched and could increasingly relate
To the argument by Labour. We wait
For the conclusion even longer, yes
And though Starmer and co seemed to frustrate
Getting it done, now for over 3 years
The background explanation's not averse
To democracy. While Boris Johnson
Talked like Trump about making Britain great
But withheld details from MP voters
So they couldn't judge, form an opinion
Starmer made clear the damage would be great

Sat 19 Oct

4802 - Face off / off face

It's Friday night, think I deserve some fun
So though I don't want to smoke, I just can't
Think of anything else to do, buy some
Beer, or possibly wine, headphones around
My neck, stuck in my ears, the stool I'll plant
On the balcony floor, sit on it, light
Fags and hear music, tilt bottles or cans
And get off my face on this Friday night
Physically I don't need it, but I might
Go mad if I don't have some fun from can
Or bottle. From what or who else is found
Physical transformation or delight?
From where could it come that cheap and often
Followed by sleep and a new day unbound?

4801 - Ukulele independence party

Slept better last night, didn't overdo
The drinking either, so I feel OK
Could focus better at work, could see through
What emails and documents tried to say
And get things done quicker. Back home, I lay
On the mat and did exercises for
The second time this week, but with two days
In the week left, so I hope to do more
Played Britpop and 70s on uke, swore
It was one of my best sessions yet. Do
I record some music videos Sunday
After next? I should take the plunge before
Too long, I know that. Practice makes me grow
More confident that I'm able to play

4800 - The Killing Joker

Did what I could, Brexit-wise, left at four
To meet Helen on Bridge Street, then adjourned
To the Deansgate Pub, then Cask, for a beer
Or two, before seeing Joker, a film of spurned
Manhood, great performance in which we learned
Once more that ignoring or mistreating
Men won't end well, a message that's being burned
Into the consciousness, undermining
The propaganda that's overwhelming
That what men do is their own fault, and fear
And rejection they feel means they should burn
In hell. Who do we turn to? Who's listening?
Men have emotions, ignore them at your
Peril, we're still here. Watched it with Helen

4799 - Woke

Still recovering from my cold, energy
Still low, didn't do much in the evening
The main thing was playing uke expertly
Joy Division, and 90s indie things
Then ate food, and tried early retiring
Went to sleep fairly soon but as always
Woke in the middle of the night, struggling
To get back to sleep as the radio plays
Eventually did so, but then delays
In getting up follow, and lethargy
Of the brain are the result. Suffering
From what is an all too common malaise
I minimise the damage, try to be
Natural in the time of my waking

Tue 15 Oct

4798 - A night at the races

Felt a bit low on mental energy
Maybe cos was awake from four til six
Thought maybe tonight would hear from Louis
But no, so watched England and some racist
Abuse from the Bulgaria fans. Score? Six
Nil to the Whites. I mean, the Mixed Races
I mean the Three Lions. Much better since
That poor show in Prague. They tied their laces
Properly this time, ended with glad faces
Aside from that, the Queen's speech Brexitty
In nature, poor dear looked old, frail, bewitched
By Boris's manoeuvres, some traces
Of disagreement visible, maybe
Or is she a leaver, Elizabeth Rex?

4797 - A hard day's knife

Up early enough to watch Andrew Marr
Also did exercises for a third
Day in a row. Walked into Manchester
Met Josephine, we ate Mexican food
At Wahaca, quite expensive, but good
I had a nice sea bream. Walked round Arndale
First time in a while, where there was spilt blood
Only two or three days before, a failed
Knife attack, man arrested and wrestled
To the ground, on national TV we saw
And now we walked past Starbucks where a crowd
Of people sat at those same tables, cool
As you like. Got home, Chan at work, left her
Wallet and keys here at home, the daft bird!

Sun 13 Oct

4796 - Autumn in my step

Not been out today though it was quite nice
Apart from to recycle the rubbish
A few beercans drank Thursday, Friday nights
Dissipated the inactivities
Into a twilight zone but not ghoulish
Just oblivion on my own, and strangely
I was recovering from my cold with this
Remedy of drink, fags and balcony
Soon out there as seasons change it'll be
Dark and cold once more, long gone the delights
Of long light nights, t-shirts, and smoke that wisps
Into a pale blue sky unendingly
A sad summer in some ways, but I'm wise
Compared to spring, feel almost devilish!

4795 - Czech your facts

Tonight I watched Czech Republic / England
And despite an early goal, England lost
It' took me back to the day when Iceland
Beat us when Hart let in a harmless shot
But mainly how our players couldn't get past
Anyone, always sideways and back, no
Matter that they were big stars, and the cost
Of their paypackets would bankrupt and blow
Apart whole countries' economies, so
Frightened of the occasion. They returned
To this mode tonight, and gave up the ghost
As soon as the Czechs equalised, a throw-
back to the heady Hodgson days, look stunned
Like rabbit in headlights, boxer concussed...

Fri 11 Oct

4794 - Thoughts that can't be bought

You can't deal with my mental changes that
Are faster than yours, they happen real time
It's not my fault if you are a slow twat
No more shame on my part that makes me climb
Your slope, your expectations, I see I'm
Different, and from now on I decide how
I progress my life, avoiding the slime
Of normality, dictated somehow
By people like you, brought up with head bowed
I went to university, they taught
Me to think for myself, and I won't chime
Like a clock, I'll decide what I do now
If you think it's wrong, that's okay, but what
Are you gonna do? I'll do what is mine

4793 - Lie-in of Judah

Again, awake part of the night and I
Finally woke up, checked the time, it was
Just before nine, so I leapt out for my
Wash and breakfast. Could not immediately dress
So headed for the kitchen wearing less
Than I should, then Chan appeared to collect
Her clothes from the machine. Not quite shameless -
I did have a shirt and pants on! Cold sucked
My energy levels, haven't yet kicked
The virus into touch, runny nose high
Point, the source of waterfalls of mucus
Nostrils getting tender. So what is next?
Upload some videos of my comedy
Soon I'll need to decide next year's ideas!

4792 - Bint stint

Poor sleep last night, with my cold now full-on
Meant I was exhausted today for sure
But still stayed til 4:30, work all done
Then went home, hoped for nap on the sofa
Didn't get it, then walked to Manchester
Met Justyna at the Frog and Bucket
We crossed the road and went round a corner
Then came back thinking time to go in, but
For another half-hour we had to wait
And once we got in, there was still a long
Wait, as there always is. I still think there
Were enough great acts, award-winners, it
Was 6 of them, all were funny women
We got picked on, me in particular!

Tue 8 Oct

4791 - You've got to be in before you can be out

Tired, partly from my own weekend excess
And also I seem to have caught a cold
Out again tomorrow, so I must rest
Tonight, try to recover and enfold
Myself in duvet and sheet. The uke flowed
Tonight, played old rock tunes from a playlist
Made by Spotify, and more practice showed
How great it is to persevere, that is
The secret of art and of fruitfulness
The harvest of my labour through the years
That little uke, so small and light to hold
Brings to life vibrations from my cortex
Some from my childhood. But so much descends
From and depends on young experience

4790 - Poxy driver

Stayed in apart from Sainsburys. Bit washed out
Unsurprisingly after two nights' booze
Still did exercises though on the mat
Still thinking of Berlioz and belly ooze
Looking back on it's quite hilarious
Though I think Helen's still ill, suffering
It was nice walking in the rain to bus
Stop, helping her catch it and not needing
An expensive taxi this time. Spending
£60 getting home last Friday, what
A rip-off. Had thought I could write some new
Stuff, comedy or a song, but watching
The Pickwick Papers was far as I got
Enjoyed it though, class acts from the 50s

4789 - Bilious at Berlioz

Saturday, day of showers, met Josephine
It was dry as we walked around and ate
At Las Iguanas, where the Brexit scene
Was discussed, must have impressed those who sat
Nearby, my still-young daughter really at
The races now with politics and views
She's doing it at A level, and that
Will make her even better with the news
And current affairs. Like Louis, she'll use
That expertise to good effect, I ween
Then met Helen at Waterhouse, some chat
Then to the Bridgewater after some booze
That knocked H out, she felt ill, kept it in
The whole concert, then puked, then went and ate!

Sat 5 Oct

4788 - It's not me

Oh my God, this life is crazy for sure
Having a great time despite fools around
I no longer give ground, too many poor
Experiences from people all around
They have issues, so do I, as I've found
So why should I carry the can? Teachers
Deal with this every day, but grown-ups own
Their decisions, and so it is perverse
For me to cater for grown-up weirdness
I thought I was immature, yes, but your
Failings are not mine to correct, or ground
In reality, if you're so much worse
Sink or swim yourself in your own ordure
I've my own agenda now, and it's sound

4787 - A long and mainly Brexit kinda day

A long and mainly Brexit kinda day
It's so exciting now, adrenalin
Is almost kicking in, middle of the day
Is almost kicking, almost kicking in
The country's arguing and dividing
And I'm in the middle, screwing so hard
But as day turned into cooler evening
I went with a friend to a place so hard
To find, down some steps, with a helping start
From the barmen and bouncers so friendly
Bar Pop basement on Canal Street hosting
Kiri Pritchard-Maclean's new stuff. A lot
Of laughs and some serious issues to play
Around with. Well done Kiri, it's a win!

4786 - Brexitpop

Feeling a bit weary now after quite
A day, Brexit and Soft Drinks work on fire
One person has tried to put up a fight
But it won't stop me in my real desire
To shine at this higher level, inspire
Those around me, impress them and myself
With Brexit especially, it's a higher
Responsibility and test, a wealth
Of opportunity. I have been held
Back unfairly so long, had so much spite
In my direction, felt internal ire
Now I'll show when they chose me, they chose well
Bursting out of the binds that held me tight
Freed to do it my way. Sing, heavenly choir!