5484 - Here come the embers

It’s the last day of August and so here 

Come the embers, the fire is dying now 

It wasn’t hot for long. Will September 

See some late much-needed sunshine? And how 

Will the next few months be? Well we’ll soon know 

I don’t like this yearly change of season 

But September itself is alright though 

It’s pleasant, the light of early autumn 

Until the clocks go back will still welcome

You outside, walking or sat on a chair 

This year’s vaccinations helped this year go

A bit better than last but are they long-

Lasting enough to see us through winter?

Keeping fit is my goal, darkness or no

5483 - Day of rest

It may not be Sunday but I’m resting 

All day, apart from a good 8k walk

I watched tv about neighbours arguing 

Then more tv about police highway work

Always good when you’re brain dead. No more talk

Except what’s coming from the TV set 

Last night I had beer, so now there’s no cork

And no booze to celebrate when I got 

Home from my few days in London. A lot

Of walking done while there, it’s exacting 

After a holiday like that, you seek

A day of nothing. Whole series, that’s not 

Usual for me, The Chair, by name, bingeing 

Feeling lacklustre, all effort is shirked 

5482 - Bye bye London

Just time for a last breakfast at Caffè 

Nero, Earl’s Court, our home these last few days 

The man behind the counter knew we’d say

Our usual order, sausage rolls, it raised

A laugh. Then it was time to make our last 

Tube journey, to Victoria coach station 

Left enough time that things were not too rushed

The coach trip took nearly five hours but on

The whole we weren’t too bored. I read Scotland 

Street, dozed a while, Facebook comments - yes, they 

Made me laugh. Some passengers were amazed 

At Pride Festival in full swing upon

Canal Street, by the coach station. Walked J

To Piccadilly station. Time for beers!

Sun 29 Aug

5481 - London Day 4

Last full day in London, fatigue sets in

But still we did ok, despite the cloud 

Late start, waited for J, I couldn’t win

Her round to Richmond, so then Brixton would 

Be the first stop. A vibrant market mood

But the gloom ruined it. J seemed weary 

We agreed a museum might be good 

But Tate Modern was ticket only. We

Walked towards the London Museum. Lucky

Though to pass ‘The Clink’ on the way. Within 

Was a cool little history lesson. Blood 

And instruments of torture. Emily

And David, plus Ariana, in Tooting

We ate at Richard’s, chat and some great food 

5480 - London Day 3

Where today, you say? Tower Hill, Tower Gateway 

To Island Gardens, Millwall, Isle of Dogs

Crossed under the Thames by foot, found the way

And came up in Greenwich. The Cutty Sark’s

Still there. Back on the tube, London Bridge. Sucks -

The London Dungeon’s gone to Waterloo 

But the London Bridge Experience, it looks 

Similar. Was OK but got a few

Bad vibes from being shouted at. Who knew 

You couldn’t take pictures, why anyway?

After that, walking or cycling in parks

Dominated our time. Hyde Park, we two 

Pedalled round. Kensington, Holland Park, Thai

Buffet in Hammersmith when it got dark 

5479 - London Day 2

We both lay in as sleep was slow to come 

Josephine isn’t well with a bad throat 

But it’s been great today. Not until one

Did we have breakfast right here in Earl’s Court 

Then caught the tube down to Notting Hill Gate

Wandered up and down Portobello Road 

No market so not crowded. Saw Rough Trade

Shop, popped in. Next, St John’s Wood, Abbey Road 

The zebra crossing crossed, didn’t get mowed

Down by cars. Next, we tubed it to Camden

Sat by the lock and even saw a boat 

Primrose Hill next, great view of the whole load

Of London, central and eastern. Then on

To Brick Lane, Hannah and Ade, curry fun 

5478 - London here we come

Despite a bad start, ended up just fine 

Got a call early this morning to say 

Sorry you can’t stay in the flat, there’s been 

A ‘fight’ - it’s cordoned off. I thought, No way!

Where will we stay? Booked hotel straight away 

Caught train and Josie jumped on at Stockport 

The Garden View Hotel is fine and they 

Have given us a room each (it’s Earl’s Court)

And this has proved far easier than I thought 

This central spot is great and it has been 

Possible to go anywhere, easy 

Tower of London, South Bank, Westminster, Lord

Nelson’s Column, Notting Hill Gate in time 

For pasta, then hotel again, hooray!!!

5477 - Bad day at the WAH

Been a bad day at the Working From Home 

My boss rejected the main thing we did

Punched it full of holes, now feel like a gnome 

Worked long and hard, our reputations bid

Us to make amends somehow if we could 

That’s my last day, I’ll see you next Tuesday 

Off to London tomorrow with the daught 

They’ve not returned my call, the place we’ll stay 

In Ilford, Essex, that’s a slight worry 

But the money’s been paid so they should phone 

If not tonight, tomorrow. Better had!

Done most of the packing for going away 

Wednesday til Sunday, round The Smoke we’ll roam

So now work’s done, I can get excited 😆 

5476 - Reading frenzy

Despite finishing work early and beer

On the balcony, read Filth to the end 

A hundred and fifty pages or more 

I didn’t even think, try to pretend 

I could finish it tomorrow, intend 

To take another book to London, but

I’ve done it with a day to spare. I went 

To fetch the next book I can put

In my travel bag. It is Scotland Street 

By Alexander McCall Smith, a mere

Slip of a size book in comparison 

I’m chuffed with myself, what a literary feat

And another book set in Edinburgh 

A respectable book I can defend!

5475 - Gym, Swim and Guitar

Three elements of my life today are

Gym, swim and guitar, the first two have clear

Physical benefits, while the guitar 

Is more a mental thrill, but still we are

Using our bodies, especially finger

Power to make that music sound just right 

And in the gym and swim, the brain’s leader

The general, deploying soldiers to fight 

The arms and legs must overcome their fright

The resistance of the weights or water

You try to lift or splash your way through, they’re 

All overcome by willpower leading might

Though it takes years to finally master 

The art of sport or music, we’ll get there!

5474 - Chernobylia

Another film found about Chernobyl 

A place that in ‘86 almost ruined 

My life, I should’ve been in Minsk but will 

Always be glad I switched courses to end

Up in the States not Ukraine when it stunned 

The region and all Europe, cloud drifting 

This film is Russian, new, on Netflix, and

It’s called Chernobyl ‘86. Gripping,

Not least because of outdoor scene shooting 

Which is so well done, the whole thing seems real 

Visited mum’s with Josephine, a send-

Off for J to uni. J is going 

To study law in nearby Liverpool 

Some firemen came to fit smoke alarms. Grand!

5473 - Almond drink

It’s Friday but no beer, just almond drink 

It’s refreshing though, it’s just what I need 

Damn that dripping tap over by the sink

Had to get up and turn it off, indeed 

After work, pleased I’d done all that I did

I put on headphones and I went walking 

The quays and canal route was where my feet 

Chose to tread, each other consulting 

One foot polite, the other insulting 

But after they had both had a real think

The quays and canal was what they agreed 

It was cloudy, but still I was heating 

Up in that thin anorak that I fling

On when it’s not cold 🥶 but there’s not great heat 

5472 - Drunk Thursday

For the third week in a row, on Thursday 

After work, I decided to get beer

And drink it and get drunk 🥴, not on Friday 

Which is tomorrow. This may seem quite queer 

But tomorrow afternoon’s a lot freer

Of meetings than today was, on and on

They went, prompting the beer-drinking desire

Also, on Saturday, I’m seeing my Mum 

Taking Josephine too. It’s much more fun

To do family stuff clean, well-rested, way

Better that way, while tomorrow it’s clear 

I may not be in tip-top shape. The sun

Has been hidden most of August. Today 

Outside needed a coat to not shiver 🥶 

5471 - Gym jams

Yes, Wednesday is my night down Ordsall gym 

And I think I did better than last week 

It’s hard to believe how I’ve changed within 

Gone from craving beer to being fit and sleek

In recent years this is a fitness peak 

A long day’s work, too, yet it’s after eight 

I’m changing in the changing room, not weak

After a 90 minute session - great 

Isn’t it?  And I must be losing weight 

Really fast, each week I’m more sleek and slim

It’s proved easy and fun - c’est magnifique!

I didn’t need much food upon my plate 

After I got back home. Appetite’s thin

Like I’ll be soon. I’ll be both sleek and chic!!!!

5470 - Work = fun?

More to do at work today than there was

Yesterday, when I had to read a book 

To pass the time, days like that are such bores 

I finished the book and started to look

At a new one at bedtime- Filth, and luck

Is with me, cos it’s set in Edinburgh 

No, today wasn’t like that, cos I took 

Part in a few meetings with good banter

And by the day’s end I had a thorough 

Sense of well-being. Next I got my jaws

Into some smoked mackerel- not foreign muck 

Extremely tasty, and more tomorrow 

But before that second helping tomoz

There’s Wednesday gym night to get weight unstuck!

5469 - Flat earth 🌍

I Just watched a flat earth documentary 

It could and should have been funnier but still 

It passed some time even if not funny 

Before, played guitar, first time for a while 

Very quiet at work, so quiet that meanwhile 

I booked a hotel in Glasgow, Hannah’s

Wedding in early October. I will 

Book a bus ride there and back. Megabus 

Stop there en route to Edinburgh. I was

On that journey in ‘19, quite happy 

I’m not doing the Fringe this time. The skill

Of good advertising leads to success

I’ve learned that, but don’t think that it’s for me 

It takes 5 years to do Edinburgh well…

5468 - Needed to lie down

I just needed to lie down, simple as

My legs were aching. Had to take the weight 

Off them, after my gym and swim. It was

The gym session that did it, no debate 

My legs took the brunt of the work. It’s great 

Though, how the belly’s really going down 

Like a punctured balloon. In my prone state

Recovering from leg press, cycle ride, run

And long walk there and back, appetite’s gone

Down a lot, which will further help the cause 

Of belly reduction. Now I can’t wait 

Til Wednesday after work when I’ll resume 

Pushing myself to improve those figures 

On the machines. Faster, harder, more sweat!

5467 - Drinky-poo’s

Enjoyed a few beers out with Paul, a mate

Began with art and craft exhibition 

And a couple of pints in the square. Wait -

It’s raining again. Always seems to when 

I come here. Rudy’s pizzeria looks

Dark under the awning, like it did

When I was there with Carla. Kind of sucks 

When you can’t see the menu. Then we slid

On down to the Northern Quarter, he said

How about Eastern Bloc? They had no draught

Beer, just cans. Relocated to Oldham 

Street, even met two funny guys from Hyde

Sheltered from rain outside Night and Day, what 

A nice place Manchester for summer sun! 

Sat 14 Aug

5466 - What a walk

I went for a walk after work and thought 

I didn’t want to go the same way as

I’d gone before, wanted a brand new route 

A random stroll who knows where, it always 

Turns up the unexpected. Always does 

And didn’t disappoint this time. I went 

In a new direction, past Hulme, the trees

Of Whalley Range. I thought, I want

To go on to Chorlton, but I didn’t 

I carried on in a straight line that ought

To take me somewhere else. Withington was

Where it led, then on way home, no intent,

But found a new pool to visit, and sport

Has won. Four quid for full length swims, that’s class!

5465 - Thursday - the new Friday

For the second Thursday in a row, I

Got drunk, instead of waiting one more day 

As I maybe should have done. And so why?

Unlike last week, I am working Friday 

The answer?  I heard the weatherman say 

It would be sun with no cloud later on

That didn’t happen, it wasn’t like they 

Promised. It was windy and so less fun

But still enjoyed it, music and beercan

At the ready. When darkness came on, my

Next action was watching a film play 

On the tv, chosen from Amazon 

It was Taxi, this cabbie had to buy

His freedom working for cops in Marseilles 

Thursday 12 Aug

5464 - See you gymmie

I’m getting a real buzz from the fitness 

Bug. Looking forward all day to the gym 

And I’m getting better because whereas

I have been doing one hour sessions in

There, today I worked out longer. Begin

With mat exercises, that’s what I do

The abs ones I did at home, staying in

When there was no choice. not much wanting to

Quite often. Now it’s the warm-up when you 

Get started, before the machines. The test 

Today was half an hour cycling, tiring

But then half ah hour’s running followed. Who

Can do that apart from triathlon - those 

Super fit people?  Me, that’s who!  Get in!!!

5463 - Route Canal- fourth treatment

This was the first time the new walk was done 

The Salford Quays walk but a better route 

On the way back I don’t turn left, go on 

Across Trafford Road hot in pursuit 

Of the Bridgewater Canal- what a beaut!

So much nicer than the old way, longer

Too - but not too long. Perfect healthy treat 

Probably an hour and a half’s walk, but there

Are few roads, just the odd tram, Pomona

To Cornbrook, rumbling by. Lots of them run

Along the towpath, all young, some quite cute

While some insist on cycling. They come near

To spoiling it sometimes, but they’ve not won

I’m hooked, this walk I’ll frequently repeat 

5462 - Route Canal - third treatment

Was keen to finish work and head outside 

Go for a walk, but not the usual one

No, discovering canals that seem to hide

In the midst of the city is such fun

I’d followed the Bridgewater Canal from

Near Old Trafford to Whitworth Street before 

(Yesterday) but saw that there was a join 

To the Rochdale Canal I should explore 

So I did that today and wasn’t bored 

Followed it past Deansgate and though I tried

Not to leave the towpath, in fact there’s none

In Canal Street to walk along. I bore

Like a mole under Piccadilly, spied

East Manchester, then had to head for home 

5461 - Route canal - second treatment

Heavy rain this Sunday morning, that’s when

Since the start of July I walk a mile

To Clarendon Centre to gym and swim 

But the downpour caused leaks there. Damn! Thought I’ll 

See if Ordsall is also like the Nile

Or if it’s gym is open. It’s upstairs 

But the roof might have leaked. Gave it a trial 

And it was fine. Running machine, others

Used too. Tough hour’s workout but swimmers 

Catered for there - no pool. So once again 

I walked the new-found Bridgewater Canal 

Can I walk all the way to Manchester’s 

Centre? As far as Castlefield Basin

But then you can follow Rochdale Canal!!!

5460 - Route canal

I discovered a new canal today 

Or rather, a new walk that I can take 

An improved route back home from Salford Quay

Along the Bridgewater Canal. My walk

To the Quays this afternoon, just a break

From watching Olympics on the sofa

(Great though that was), it seemed like a mistake 

It was raining, and I saw, just over

The Dock, hordes of United fans. Drove a

Path through them but officials blocked my way

Forced to find a new route, managed to make 

Pomona Island, Dead end. This rover

Saw walkers on a towpath. Joined them. They 

Could walk all the way to town. Lucky break!

5459 - Fatty’s Cafe

It was Josephine’s driving theory test

After watching some brilliant Olympics 

The women’s Madison bike ride was best 

And the modern pentathlon it transfixed 

Me as I sat on the sofa. Honest,

So pleased I’d taken the day off and could 

Sit back and enjoy it all. And so next 

Walked in heavy rain but at least no mud

Umbrella couldn’t keep trousers dry. Would

I be late meeting Jo? Got taxi. Blast!

The driver went the wrong way, knavish tricks

Couldn’t stop J passing though, and she did

Then went to a fatty’s cafe, Ancoats 

Had the Mega Barm - weight apocalypse!

5458 - Hello again, balcony

Ok, so it was gloomy, and it poured 

Ok, so I felt really bloody fit

After a hard day’s work and no beer for 

Almost a week, I felt like this was it

Off work tomorrow, let’s relax a bit 

From work, fitness, sobriety and all

No pub visits with friends this weekend. Let’s 

Renew my balcony acquaintance, pull

On my coat to keep warm, and have my fill 

Of lager, large Stella 4 pack was poured 

Down my neck while on blue folding chair sat 

I did eat afterwards, twas smoked mackerel 

And watched White Boy Rick, what a sad record

Of a ruined young life all turned to shit 

Thur 5 Aug

5457 - Woah!

Woah! I feel much better than yesterday 

When I had aches and pains and didn’t feel 

Able to gym or swim. Contrast today 

With then, and the picture feels quite unreal 

I went for the first time down to Ordsall 

Gym, near where I live, started on the mat

Doing my abs exercises like all 

Through the last 2 years at home. It fell flat 

Recently, but now I start gym time that 

Way. Then checked out the machines - pleased that they 

Have different ones from Clarendon. A real 

Good run to end with, a 30 minute 

5 mph 5% incline. Hey -

Feels so good, might go tomorrow as well 😀

5456 - Aches and pains

Aches and pains, sounds like an old 60s song 

I’ve got them not from love but exercise 

Went to the gym and pool, Sunday. Too long

I must have run on the machine. My thighs

And hamstrings feel delicate - a surprise 

Seeing as it’s now Tuesday evening. I went 

For a walk these last two days, gentle tries

At keeping up the fitness, no relent

In the daily weight loss. Time is well spent 

Walking round the Quays, but you need shorts on

When it’s warm like today, or otherwise 

Your upper legs get sweaty 🥵. Well it sent

Me crackers, til the shadows came along 

And then my legs cooled and I felt real nice!

5455 - Fit but tired

I must be fitter than for quite a while 

Yet today I felt tired especially when 

I stopped working and went walking- but I’ll 

Admit that in the old days I wouldn’t 

Have gone walking at all, maybe sat down 

Watched tv, played guitar or bought some beer

And when winter comes maybe I’ll return 

To lazy ways when it’s too cold to be a

Fitness freak - but I hope not. An idea

I had this morning while washing, a feel

Of my stomach, it felt slightly more thin

Did I imagine it? It seemed quite clear

And if I thought it, well, it’s not my style 

To make things up. My belly’s reducing! 😃

5454 - Sparks fly

Gym and swim this morning, then cooked some food 

Because of the Olympics, no shortage 

Of entertainment. Trying to get clued

Up on what happened with the medallage

Turned out was a pretty good gold haulage

Well, two in one day’s better than my youth

We won bugger all, there was some blockage 

Like with the football team. There was no proof 

That we could win at the moment of truth 

The BMX final, everything cued

Up perfectly. Then at 5, time to dodge 

Showers, go to the cinema, believe 

It or not, first time for 18 months! Loved

The Sparks Brothers, especially old footage!

5453 - Pizza with Carla

Ex-lodger Carla visited by train 

From Huddersfield to Manchester tonight 

We had pizza, though not a major fan

Second one this week too I’ve eaten out

And had pizza. This week has been a treat 

Four times I’ve eaten out now with friends or

Family. Actually, now I think about it

On Friday, it was just drinks, fairly sure

From a health point of view that’s rather poor 

But I’ll make up for it tomorrow when 

I’ll be back to being healthy, doing keep fit

I’ve walked a lot this week too on the floor 

As Bob Dylan might say on days of rain

My walking stats these days are really great!

Sat 31 July