Friday, 30 October 2020

5179 - The Crown

I’m going to watch The Crown on Netflix now
Only three series, but then how many 
Episodes?  Still, it’s popular and how!
It might be fun acting out royalty
It’s hard to look like people so ugly 
Casting is problematic, I would think
Friday night in, in front of the TV
Might actually be ok 👌, make boredom shrink 
Even though it’s a beer night off, no drink 🍷 
Allowed, need to replenish stocks, allow
Rehydration, feel better Saturday 
Do more in the day, maybe later, clink
The glasses, to make up for alky drought 
A big tub of choc mini rolls all for me!

5178 - Yet again

I think because work has been so hectic
No that’s not right, it wasn’t always so
But while working away as the clock tick
And tock took me towards when I could slow
Down at last, free to relax, couldn’t go
On without wanting to let off some steam
So like a vision of heaven, a glow
In the distance, an oasis, a dream 
The thought of some reward, preferably extreme 
Was hard to shake, and the reward I’d pick
Was the usual one, where the beer would flow 
But because it gives me a flushed face, keen
Nowadays to try more wine, do the trick 
Of getting sloshed 🥴 with less beer, more vino 

Thur 29 Oct

Wednesday, 28 October 2020

5177 - My type of hangover

After last night’s wine and beer, didn’t feel 
As energetic as just yesterday 
Struggled to focus in the morning, real
Foggy mind, mental cogs stuck in thick clay
The colour of my mind a cloudy grey
No pain, just lethargy, my hangover 
I’m fairly lucky how I feel next day 
Unlike many who are forced to beware 
Of drink when later pain’s so hard to bear 
I’d hoped it might be a short day. No deal!
Always drags on beyond when I would say 
That’s when I’ll stop, I’ve earned it, can’t defer
A shorter day no longer, but I feel 
Unable to stop. Work gets in the way!

5176 - After work

After work, as it gradually grew dark
Unnecessarily spent the evening 
Sitting outside but enjoying the craic
Just listening to the music and drinking 
The last week or so it’s been increasing 
To every other day or so it seems 
As autumn sunshine cools and dark sets in
Round late October, get these foolish schemes 
In my head, that through winter I’ll have been 
Unwilling to drink because of the stark
Bitter weather, the sheer cold that’s stopping 
Me. Why, when I can sit inside with scenes
On TV, tunes playing, heat on?  It works
I do it every year. You just stay in

Tue 27 Oct

Monday, 26 October 2020

5175 - Relaxing

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Gjnt3VnAQuXDi4kOffNKXc3YpWW_OYou
A horrid rainy day, I just stayed in
Tried to work but was hard to concentrate 
Mainly because of wine and some smoking 
Last night, as Gerard dropped by until late
We sat and chatted. I enjoy the chat
It’s great to share some wine and other stuff
But my mind’s been quite foggy as I sat
At the computer, finding thinking tough
That fun team quiz was too hard, and enough 
To do that I just couldn’t face. Though grim
Outside, it’s warm in here, it’s feeling great 
Did exercises despite feeling rough
Now it’s time for documentary watching 
Mainly music, for this YouTube’s so great!

Sunday, 25 October 2020

5174 - Sudden news

Poor old Helen’s having a real rough time 
And me I’m doing my usual nondescript 
Livening things up with bottle of wine 
Punk documentaries on TV that lift
The mood, though then it all seemed fuckin shit
Now Gerard’s stopping over, he’s texted
Shaking things up, I didn’t expect it
I suppose expect the unexpected 
Wonder if he is going to get wasted?
This crazy life I find hard to define 
But this is exciting, a real uplift 
Writing this quickly, soon interrupted 
Especially if he has stuff that’s forbid
If not, I’m slightly drunk, and that’s a gift!

Saturday, 24 October 2020

5172 - Bottle of wine and two beers

Couldn’t resist finishing work at 3
It’s Friday afternoon, you understand 
And it’s sunny out on the balcony 
So put the stool out, grab headphones for sound
A bottle of wine’s an idea that’s grand
Nip to Sainsbury’s to get one, and get two 
Beers with it, they will taste nice beforehand 
Indeed after the beers, already you
Feel affected, but first taste of wine, phew!
Makes your head swim. So it’s a mystery 
How you drink the rest and you can still stand 
When I was done I felt tired, that was true 
And went to bed at ten, yes, real early 
With a glass of water real close at hand 

Fri 23 Oct

5173 - A miserable rainy day

A miserable rainy day - happy inside 
The heat and light’s on. Tonight clocks go back
The autumn’s in its later phase. Can’t hide 
From the wind if you’re a leaf. Odds are stacked 
Against those at the ends of branches. Plucked
By strong gusts, they sail onwards in the gale
To find their final resting place, they’re tucked 
Against a wall, a tree trunk, they prevail 
For a few days, beautiful red and pale
Yellow. For a week or two they abide 
Then break down into mush under heel’s clack 
Or organic decay on grassy vale
Meanwhile I’m safe and warm, not stuck outside 
Might watch a film, energy has gone slack

Thursday, 22 October 2020

5171 - Tired but happy

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ex8eGGXhaBw1-rvz4bb3XnHnm9NmgWX0
Yes one of my eyes is shut, how I feel 
Today after broken sleep and early 
Meetings, a stressful start, quite a big deal 
And they carried on intermittently 
Throughout the day, talking near constantly 
Or sometimes listening. Overall it went well 
I even had some praise so quite happy 
Celebrated with a shave, recycle 
Of glass, tins, plastic, cardboard, off to fill
The bins outside. And then I had a real
Blast on the old acoustic guitar- three
Hours, almost, played a blinder. Bloody hell!
Forgot my tiredness. The guitar can steal 
Time, absorbing the mind so completely 

Wednesday, 21 October 2020

5170 - Henry the Eighth

He was the top king of English history 
Our kids all learn about his selfish reign 
He was a bastard but his legacy 
Is to separate England from well Spain
As well as the Vatican’s holy chain
All because Anne Boleyn she resisted
In the end he split from Rome, not in vain 
He became God’s representative, bid
Himself the new pope, unprecedented 
Hard to appreciate now, revolutionary 
More important than his emotional pain 
The power structure of ages upended
Thomas Cromwell aided him because he
Was not high born and helped him in his gain

Tuesday, 20 October 2020

5169 - Hidden treasure

Late last night, by chance, browsing on Facebook 
I came across a YouTube link. It was
Complete Rehearsals (Joy Division). Luck
Was mine. It lasts for one and a half hours 
The sounds from their rehearsal studios
Before anyone knew them, and the best
Thing about it, it’s those hidden treasures 
Unheard songs back then didn’t pass the test 
Got left out of the repertoire, suppressed
Not played in gigs if you had gone to look 
Unknown treasures not on Unknown Pleasures
Pictures added by someone. The lads rest
Eating chips on Oxford Road. Soon they’d cook
Up their own feast that the world still devours

Monday, 19 October 2020

5168 - Watching the detectives

Last night I watched Roadkill, episode one
Starring Hugh Laurie as a minister 
It was ok, a bit cliched, but some 
Good scenes inside Number Ten and other 
Nearby locations. Hugh will come under 
The gaze of the police as they find out
The naughty things he’s done all over the
Country, probably. Then afterwards I put
On a film I wanted to see - ‘Detroit’
I’d seen trailers for it when I had gone 
Before Covid, to that Home cinema 
About police brutality. They were not
Nice guys to the innocent on the run
When the whole ghetto area was on fire

5167 - Guitar god

I’m slowly becoming a guitar god
I can now play along to anything 
Today I treated my own neighbourhood 
Well, those who could hear me madly strumming 
To sixties and late seventies rocking 
And new waving and reggaeing besides 
I could hardly believe what I’m hearing 
Though my own skill is the thing that provides
It’s a weird feeling that never subsides
All the years I had this guitar but could 
Barely play it. I remember buying 
It in Birmingham, teenage dreams so wide
Of the mark, but eventually persevered 
And now I hear my own superb playing!

Sun 18 Oct

Saturday, 17 October 2020

5166 - Brrr

It’s starting to get noticeably cold 
And dark early, oh what a bloody shame 
Saw Josephine again and yes I told 
Her, we’re supposed to meet tomorrow. Blame
Was accepted. The prices aren’t the same 
Tomorrow, eat out to help out applies
At Don Marco’s on Sunday, but she came 
Today. It cost me twice as much. It’s lies
To say it was a great meal, and a fly’s
Buzzin’ in my face as my tales got told 
Penne pasta with salmon, she chose. I’m 
Having it too, I said, but not so wise
In the end. Went to Archies, got a hold
Of a milkshake each, bye, and head for home!

Friday, 16 October 2020

5165 - Fun on Friday

It’s fun on Friday, and it always has
Been. The day when work turns into freedom 
I’m watching tv now but before was
Listening to music, til the cold then won
But despite this it has still been good fun 
Now watching Rock Against Racism and
Before that, Guy Garvey’s From The Vaults. In
My home I’ve seen some good stuff and good sound 
I love it from my head down to my hand
Old music but it’s still cool and because 
It’s raw, sometimes well played, or less well done 
It’s nostalgic to listen to old bands
Old racism such as the law of sus 
So good it was defeated and it’s gone 

Thursday, 15 October 2020

5164 - It’s getting to the stage

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1mBt_8OTXL5Bag_-Zm-EwYAG4ph-cRZGA
I can’t imagine this thought applying 
To Frank, him in the picture, him up there
But for me, strangely, frankly, it’s getting 
To the stage where work, though hard, is better 
Than the evenings that follow. That’s so rare!
Perhaps I should be grateful that I just 
Need to rest and do nothing more after 
I close the laptop on the desk, just rest 
With a clear conscience since I’ve done my best 
The problem though is it’s become boring 
No company, and even if there were
A desire every two days to get pissed 
That’s more like Frank isn’t it, don’t you think?
Except for him it’s each day of the year!!

Wednesday, 14 October 2020

5163 - Stuff you

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1_LzG7-ZP9vyTsybmRMWhKGju-7RozJRc
So stop bullshitting, asserting you’re right 
You’re not, because you’re not considering 
Anyone else, as usual, think it’s white 
And black, and you’re right and any differing 
Views must be wrong. I am not dithering 
I have an independent brain, that’s what 
I have been trained to have, and I’m using 
It to debunk your egocentric rot 
So spare me from your assertiveness, not
Impressive, it’s just ego, and can quite 
Easily be debunked, I’m resisting 
Your utter rubbish, not scared, heard the lot 
You think you know it all but it’s all shite 
I’m ready and able for arguing! 

Tuesday, 13 October 2020

5162 - Insomnia

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NTutTCINryX2gf7ZrfZi0MorlM23P3do
I haven’t got insomnia really 
But last night sleep just wouldn’t come for hours 
I’d dozed off briefly earlier you see
So today I’ve been knackered, but was forced
To work anyway, it doesn’t stop, pours
On with emails, meeting invites and calls 
All to help the UK Transition cause 
I hear the nutter below through the walls 
And floors, muttering, bellowing, a fool’s
Life, even clapping, singing tunelessly
Dropping things on his floor as if he’s lost
Coordination and mind, alone, dull
Survival, pointlessness, perhaps pity
Is appropriate, though he makes me cross

Monday, 12 October 2020

5161 - Woah!

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1TzbQWA5pxgGt-IjgGHmpNXV-3PPTaX5a
What a great day, it just ended so well 
Had to get a bottle of wine and neck
It, which I did, and you don’t have to sell
Madness to me, and so it’s what the heck
Right now I’m recovering but while not sick
I’m not a hundred percent either, no
Sometimes you feel you’ve got to pick
Between health and well being. Hard to quite know 
What to do anytime or how to grow 
Another good day and evening. Rebel -
Tune out, if things are good or bad. Just stick 
To your guns, do what you feel, with the flow 
We’re stuck in our bodies and minds, a cell
It’s natural to break out, break out, break!

Sunday, 11 October 2020

5160 - The long march

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1QHSmrqnQEgKphH4GzR3bh4w6xd_gYSmQ
Here I am, in front of the new mural 
In Manchester’s Port Street. I came back here 
Because I filmed a video by this wall 
Yesterday, but I discovered later
I must’ve pressed the wrong button and there
Was no video on my phone- a photo
Was all I had. So I came back, a clear 
Determination for a second go
And though it wasn’t as much fun you know 
When you do something again, and you’re all
Alone, the film was a little better 
I walked from there to Salford even though 
It was a long way to the shopping mall
Ordered table and chairs to deliver

5159 - Last orders

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=13PBpWHbSVDtMXn_YwiGyp-FcH-xgGrfE
Possibly the last Saturday pub crawl 
For a while. In Manchester it seems that
The government just wants to close them all 
For three weeks maybe is the estimate 
It started with a nice welcome invite
From Paul to meet in Manchester to see
The Ian Curtis mural, new street art
On the side of a building, and then we
Went for a few pints, having more than three
More like six. I had videoed the mural 
But I had pressed ‘photo’ not ‘video’ - twat!
I was talking to a phone pointlessly 
In front of others by the mural wall
Cameras at the ready they had to wait!

Sat 10 Oct

5158 - TFI Friday

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1RyQ9ZoxYQ9pelEysXyeUKSljrUssGUNU
After more hard work 😓 I felt great relief 
And I only wanted to do one thing 
After the efforts of the week, a brief 
Trip to the shop in order to buy drink 
Sit on the balcony, watch the sun sink
And when my four beer bottles had all gone 
I walked round the room and began to think 
I’ll get some more, and did the Co-op run
It was now half eight, darkness long set in
I couldn’t finish four more bottles. If
I had, then I could have made myself sick 🤢 
But I really needed relaxation 
If not quite oblivion. Drink is time’s thief
But in a strange way it helps my well- being 

Fri 9 Oct

Thursday, 8 October 2020

5157 - Ingsland versus Whales

Watching a live international match
First one for months, England are playing Wales
Danny Ings, surprisingly, on the pitch
For England. Mings is a sub!  For Wales, Bale’s
Not there for some reason. The ball just sailed
Into the Wales net. Giggsy is gutted
While Southgate smiles. Calvert-Lewin can’t fail
In almost every game he has netted
Everton are top, couldn’t have predicted 
A nice relaxing evening just to watch 
After a hard day’s work. I’m hard as nails
Or need to be in this job. Was tested
Today, not helped by some, but it’s now such 
A demanding role, even for this male!

Wednesday, 7 October 2020

5156 - Now or even sooner

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ixQqLbcjgoZBbZNkSdJGy3lAtLnAlSzq
OK so I have ordered my will stuff
From Amazon and it will soon be here 
I know I’ll die like everyone, so tough 
Though it is, time to acknowledge that we’re 
All in the same boat, floating on the mere 
This is for future generations that 
Depend on us to keep our minds quite clear 
And I won’t let them down, won’t be a twat 
I sit here now in this miserable flat 
But I’ll help them, won’t make things tougher, stuff 
Is bad enough without boomers, so they’re 
Doing our best to pass on what we’ve got 
That’s not always a lot, but it appears 
Our duty to do what we can. So cheers 🍻 

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

5155 - Trump lives

Great to see Trumpy Trump Trump doing so well 
Straight outta hospital, he’s such a man 
He doesn’t need a mask, no girly veil
Into the White House, scaring everyone 
They back away, more than before even 
He stuffs the hated mask in his pocket 
He’s the kind of leader you all would want 
Illness is for pussies, hard men stay fit
Although he dodged the army, wouldn’t fight 
White Christians vote for him, but black ones will 
More likely vote Democrat. Religion 
Can’t make whites vote the same as blacks, the white
Agenda is reduce crime, meaning fill
Prisons with blacks, vote Trump, God understands!

Monday, 5 October 2020

5154 - Lennon lives

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1afdiYlNcn0BZZxkl4_mA_4cfPFqzHqmu
Lennon responded to my ad for an
Assistant in comedy or podcast 
Although it was late, I texted him and
Said shall we talk, and he rang me back fast 
The reception wasn’t great, hard to grasp 
At times what he was saying, but he’s quite 
A character. A lot of water’s passed
Under his bridge. So the rest of the night 
I’ll upload the film it was a delight 
To shoot yesterday, ruminating on
What happens to us when we breathe our last 
Do not go gentle? I say lie back, right 
At the start of eternity, become Ready for a long ride by being relaxed 

Sunday, 4 October 2020

5153 - He’s here at last

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1zqKGMEM0HmrF8WvmJFOlh_6E5TZQOQRq
The lodger’s turned up almost two months late
He’s carrying lots of bags up from the van
I was agonising, having debate 
With myself whether it’s safe to begin 
Uploading today’s video, off-putting 
Earlier, expecting a guy to ring me 
About doing a podcast and helping 
My comedy. He seemed keen but sadly 
Didn’t get in touch. Gerard puzzlingly 
Said he might move stuff in or he might wait 
Til later in the week. Uncertain then
Uploading takes two hours and it would be
In vain if he broke the connection. Write
This first, I thought. Then he came waltzing in!

Saturday, 3 October 2020

5152 - The Never-Ending Supper

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1lvTeOEVC5mu9vyFOn5DjFQNlHbuf3pAP
By God I’ve been hungry today given 
The fight against the urge to get more beer
It’s not been all that hard, I easily won
But I’ve been eating more than my fair share 
Maybe that’s not so bad if my hunger 
Has replaced my thirst for the alcohol 
Especially if I enjoy my food more 
Even if that food is nothing special 
Omelette for breakfast, had no cereal 
Bought a small bag of porridge. Not eaten 
It for a few weeks. When ill, nowhere near 
Able to eat a normal-sized bowlful 
Kept throwing half of it into the bin 
I’ll try to go back to it. No sugar...

Friday, 2 October 2020

5151- Now

This is now, not yesterday, tomorrow 
What occurs to me now is what I’ll say 
I don’t plan these things, I just write and go 
I don’t care how it looks or who will pay 
They won’t part with their money anyway 
Screw them and their idiocy, they’re not 
Important to a rational approach. Hey 
Better be true and fill your own piss pot
Just looking for rhymes to mean all but naught 
I’ve drunk my share and soon I’ll have to show 
That hard work will pay off or maybe they 
Are fooling me. But anyway, I’m caught 
In their web of deceit. But all I know 
Is I love it. The weekend’s here, okay 

Thursday, 1 October 2020

5150 - Good stuff

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1izGDic7AejejYW2WCHNJg_CdqoPol-b7
A good day at work, actually at home 
Decided to celebrate with some beers 
And sent some music to Helen Horton 
And added comments saying have no fears
We’re great friends and there never need be tears
Listened to music on the balcony 
The autumn sun and music in my ears 
Then watched women’s football, it’s Man City 
At home to Arsenal, and victory
Went to the Blues, although goals had gone in
Before I tuned in, next up it appears 
Is Motherland, then Frankie Boyle, hee hee 
So nice to work well, then relax. All done
Apart from bedtime, dreams can be so weird!!