5545 - Long day’s journey into Manchester

Oh my god what a daymare, Halloween 

Stuck in Euston, overcrowded as hell 

With Covid all around and no mask screen 

Train cancellations more than I could tell 

No guarantee I could get north at all

Kept going down into Dante-esque lows 

When my goal was above all to stay well 

The Italy trip so soon that might close 

If I got diseased breath inside my nose

Yet fallen trees on the main line had seen 

To my hygiene priority. So will

I pass the test on Wednesday or disclose 

To Pearl that I can’t go? Or if I’ve been 

There, then test positive? Hope not, Pearl 

5544 - Sutton Warmfield

I was born up in Sutton Coldfield 

Near Birmingham, but today we were down 

In Sutton, Surrey, at the football field 

And it was warm the whole time in that ground 

Great for the end of October, a sound

Use of the day with Louis. Full breakfast 

In Leytonstone, then long train journey round

East London, Waterloo, Wimbledon, rest

On the platform bench waiting for the next 

Train to West Sutton, where the ground revealed 

Itself between hedges. In the shop, found

A nice bath towel with the Sutton crest

Shame I can’t sunbathe on it, it’s too cold

For that, now that we are late autumn bound

5543 - Back to London

Back to London, this time to see Louis

Train to Euston, then on to Leytonstone 

Everything transport-wise went swimmingly 

Main task though is to avoid infection 

Especially Covid, as my vacation 

To Italy to stay with Pearl is just 

A week away. It’s worrying me some 

Got to get the paperwork done, quick. Must

Give that priority next week. We passed

The high street, headed down to the house he

Shares with three others. Ordered curry from 

A website. Delivered. It passed the test 

Then watched a film called ‘Spotlight’ late in the

Evening, then read until half eleven 

Fri 29 Oct

5542 - Mind elsewhere

Mind elsewhere but mind also where you are 

You can be in two places at one time 

When the mind and the body are at war

And reason sometimes loses to the rhyme 

When the body is at war with the mind

Know where you are see the way to get out 

You don’t want to leave your body behind 

So think of how you’re thinking every thought 

Is that why you’re still seeking what you sought 

You know that coming back is just as far

As going out, you’re using the same line

Don’t stray too far away from where you ought 

And do not lose sight of the nearest star

But do not stare at it or you’ll go blind

5541 - And so to today

And so to today what we gonna do

The next minute is oh so far away 

Each second brings so clearly into view 

That it in turn is split a thousand ways

And each must be explored, each one for days 

Each day on horseback, sea sun sky and sand

Sunlight reflected from mirror to eyes

Or are they shiny stones upon the ground 

I dismount jumping and take one in hand 

This will give the scientists something to do

They sit and smoke in their laboratory 

And like the universe their minds expand 

Into the same dilemma as we two

That’s what to do today. What do we say?

5540 - Smooth PM

I finished work early, putting stuff off

The balcony was out there calling me 

I went out and like a cloud just went puff 

Away listening to fairy like hippie 

Stuff from the 60s, and the 70

Then watched Charlie Says, was overshadowed 

By Tarantino’s flick about Old C

But I thought it was equal or in mode

Superior. Then lying in my abode

Listened to groovy Silver Apples stuff 

West Coast Pop Art Band they played well for me 

And Pere Ubu amazed me like a toad

Then watched Pusher 3. This stuff is quite rough

And so it ended at least for today 

Mon 26 Oct

5539 - Forgettable day

Forgettable? It’s already forgot!

Incredible? I tell you it was not!

I’ve mainly just been sitting on the spot 

And my mind was peaceful, with little thought 

Finished work early, nipped to Sainsbury’s 

Raced back while the sun was above the trees 

And listened to something that made me freeze

Silver Apples remade that balcony’s

Reputation, which has recently sunk

Like I did when my head made quite a thunk 

As it landed last Sunday after drunk

I was making out just like an old monk

SA made it good again, I should say 

What a band, if listened to the right way 

5538 - Speakers corner

Speakers Corner is now my bedroom floor 

Or will be on Tuesday when they arrive 

They’re being delivered Tuesday around 4

For my keyboard they’re so imperative 

Because it’s soundless. It’s been supplied with 

No inbuilt nor no external speakers 

It took 3 months to unpack, but I gave 

It my full attention this weekend cos

I wasn’t wanting to drink, need a pause 

I turned it on, lights lit up, 5 or more 

It was black and shiny. This could be love

But pressed a key, silence only occurs

Volume knob useless. In manual, saw

I needed speakers, cables, in my hive

5537 - A three film problem

No problem really, just a Sherlock joke 

Dachau, Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd 

Then a gripping film called Polytechnique

About a young guy you’d want to avoid

Walking round with a gun, students destroyed 

Especially clever girls into science 

This was more memorable because Gerard

Had seen someone in Piccadilly and

So that meant my mind wasn’t so advanced 

But my senses had been given a tweak 

After that, Pistorius, then Motherhood 

Seen that episode before but it stands

A further watching for sure. Football took

An hour, then BBC reggae was played 

Sat 23 Oct

5536 - Old faces

Old faces from before the pandemic 

I’ve finally seen again in the office 

No senior managers to spoil the craic 

Didn’t get much that done because of this 

Jacqui, Kay and Charlotte we all have missed 

Their banter, and home working can be fine 

But in person today it resurfaced 

While outside there was rain, inside, sunshine 

Avoided temptation from beer and wine 

Went into Sainsbury’s but managed to stick

To food purchases- bread my only vice

Ate some with Marmite on, soon as I find

Myself home. A book, a film, guitar, slick

Groovy stuff. Keyboards this weekend. Promise! 

5535 - Whey to go

First time I’ve tried whey powder- it’s chocolate 

Flavour, mixed with milk in the cereal 

Bowl, so it gives a morning protein hit

And yes I felt pretty engaged and well 

All through the morning’s work. Though I felt full

Enough to need no snacks, had soup for lunch

Couldn’t resist chicken soup in a bowl 

While watching the news, with nothing to munch

Alongside it or dip in it. No crunch

Of Ryvita, it stayed on the shelf, not

Fattening I know, but I’ll remain careful 

To prevent any fat stomach relaunch 

Read a fair bit, watched films. Feeling a bit

Nervous about office black eye reveal 🥺

5534 - Arms on the mend

My arms feel almost better. They have hurt

Since my exercise regime began in

Early July. Gym possible soon but

Mustn’t overdo it, I’ll be taking 

It easier than I did, so no straining 

Of arms, lungs or heart. I went for a walk 

Not a long way, just round the Quays, seeing 

That it was already getting quite dark 

As I began. United fans, all talk

Heading to Old T with big game spirit 

But they’re losing to Atalanta. Bring

On a new manager!  Ole’s a dork!

Derby meanwhile are bottom, haven’t bought 

Anyone cos they’re bankrupt! They’re sinking 

5533 - Intense

A good night’s sleep, much needed, early start

Tremendous workload, much I had to do 

Did such a lot, really did such a lot 

And all there’s left to say now is just phew

Had beers left from Sunday, and had a few

But stopped short of drinking them all, well done 

To me, and cos I’m generous, to you 

Watched Mary Queen of Scots. Glenda Jackson 

As Queen Elizabeth. And Mary’s son

Became King of England, the first Stuart

As English monarch, but Protestant true

Maybe because he had to be. Began

Campaign against witches, survived that plot 

Short-lived dynasty. Cromwell saw it through 

5532 - Bloody🩸 face / Blood Orange 🍊

Left with a bloody face from last night’s fall

I awoke to see I have a black eye

Lucky 🍀 I’m not due in the office til

Friday. It might have healed by then, so I 

Hope. Gerard noticed soon as he came by

From work, commented straight away, that’s how 

Obvious the bruises and cuts are. But try

Though I might, couldn’t stay home, needed now 

To go shopping 🛍 for pasta, coffee ☕️, so

I walked round the aisles in the shopping mall

A bit self-conscious of my looks, but why

Worry? Let them wonder, why not allow 

Them that diversion? Has someone been cruel?

Or has he walked into a door? Poor guy! 

PS Watched ‘Blood Orange’ - a film starring Iggy Pop

5531 - Velvet Underground/ Fell Right on the Ground

Went to see the new Velvets film with Hel 

And it was a good watch, I’m glad we did

Shouldn’t have had three cans of San Miguel 

Before leaving home, though. I overdid 

The boozing. Several pints, bottle of red

Shared in the cinema as we sat back

And soaked up the sixties vibes and Lou Reed

And John Cale, Maureen, Sterling, the whole pack

Then to Corbieres for more beer. But alack!

I fell off my chair! I felt quite unwell 

Back home after I opened the fan lid

A four pack of Kronenbourg, a whole stack

Of yet more to knock back. Once more I fell

On the balcony, bashed my face in bad

Sun 17 Oct

5530 - Fast day

Time flies sometimes and today has flown by

Saturday maybe but didn’t lie in

After breakfast, turned the tv off. I

Thought I was clever, I’ll do some reading 

But forgot I’d paid for a film morning 

At the cinema. Shame. It was about 

The deadly Irish potato famine 

I’d heard it was a good film, and I doubt 

The timing could’ve been better, amount

Of Irish-themed books and films recently 

Used time well though, got Covid pass on phone 

And read all holiday emails throughout 

Downloading apps as required. Long walk by

The Irwell, Aldi shop, guitar session 

5529 - Sunset walk

A sunny Friday, and began quite well 

Arranging to see Helen on Sunday 

Got stymied somewhat - partly, I can tell -

By sudden Brexit news I had to say

To colleagues, must go up and right away 

Preventing me from cracking on with my

Main work item. Afterwards, though Friday 

No drinks this time around. I thought I’d try

Instead to do the canal walk right by

The Bridgewater, before the darkness fell 

Sky and water reflecting it, lovely 

Blue sky, orange-tinted clouds, watched geese fly

In the wider more spacious Quays, they spill

Onto the water, crash land beautifully 

5528 - Early start early finish times two

Early start early finish sometimes is

The way to approach a drinking session 

Today it applied in two different ways

Firstly with work, I attacked it full-on

Starting early, soon after eight a.m.

Enabling me to get so much stuff done 

I could stop mid - afternoon and drink beer 

On the balcony. There was even sun

For a while. All was well, but it grew near 

Gerard’s return from work. To disappear 

Before then was my aim, but with five beers

To knock back in two hours, that’s going some

I did it though, put on boots and coat, steered

Myself outside real quick in near darkness 

And walked 11k and had great fun 😁

Thur 14 Oct

5527 - Long day’s journey into fight

It’s nothing serious, no, really it’s fun

Yes, a long day in the office and yes

Some heated debate between me and one

Colleague, Fiona, as we tried to face 

The challenge of attempting to retrace 

A whole complicated customs process 

She drew it on big paper, and all based

On my notes that I wrote with great prowess

Friday and Monday, not without distress

She kept arguing but worked on and on

Because her complaints and almost abuse 

Were just because we get on well, no less

She’s relaxed with me enough to respond 

In that way and we stay friends nonetheless 

5526 - Italy here I come

I organised my flights to Italy 

While on the phone to Pearl there in Milan 

That’s where I’m headed in a week or three 

We planned time there and also in Turin

Only an hour by train - how exciting!

After yesterday’s hard work, was able 

To finish early and sit out drinking 

After that, a decent walk to Kersal 

Almost dark but knew where I was the whole 

Time, whole place to myself. It felt really 

Special as I walked round all on my own 

Listening to Northern Quarter music, real

Modern stuff for a change, slightly drunk. Be

Happy with the day- yes, I really am!

5525 - County Lines

The only thing that I can remember 

About today was watching ‘County Lines’

The end was happy, saw him recover 

From the beating he took for petty crimes

Also started on Rebus, my first time 

Descended into sleep fairly early 

Time was truncated because I was trying 

To finish a hard piece of work, you see

Just as I finished, Pearl rang. Italy

Beckons. There’ll be a trip in November 

Milan airport, then a few days of mine

And hers together in that great country 

And that was it, the evening was over 

Despite that, had fun, time was flying 

Mon 11 Oct

5524 - Recuperation Sunday

Feeling noticeably better at last 

Able to bend my arms back far better 

Than yesterday or for several months past 

Not since I began swimming this summer 

Earrly July have they felt flexier 

One down side though. Took a fairly long walk

My legs ached more, even knees, than before 

Though my toes weren’t as bad, start of my stalk

Around streets and later, canals. My luck

May be in, then, or has good health now passed

The heart still aches a little, not despair

Just maybe needs more repair. Sit and talk

Even the odd beer and smoke can’t be missed

Til a gentle gym trip feels right and fair

5523 - England v Andorra

Ok so Andorra are not the best 

But it’s still exciting when England play 

And there’s live coverage on the tv. Let’s 

Enjoy it, and see whether it’s ok

It’s not our best line up but I would say 

We should still beat them handsomely and score

A few goals and put Andorra away 

Now to see if we can do it just once more 

I’ve downed my beer and now I’m ready for 

The game. We want to see some bulging nets

And goal-scoring stats start to make their way

Can England polish off the great Andorre 

Or will this prove to be a harder test?

Now to find out. Bring it on. It’s the day!

5522 - Aching all over

I’m not shaking all over, I’m aching 

Shoulders, and the upper right arm

Guitar session last night, is that causing 

This discomfort advancing, doing harm

Whenever I exert myself. What am

I going to do, I wonder. Will it heal

Or am I falling apart, limb by limb

Sometimes it’s the right leg, sometimes I feel 

Pain in the left toes, walking. And my heel 

Used to be stiff first thing in the morning 

Wish it was just that now! Causing alarm!

Should I pay for a check-up? There’s no real 

Need. Flu jab soon. That’s when I’m mentioning 

It to the doc, opinion to inform

5521 - Horrible ready meal

I just had a horrible ready meal 

I never normally eat this garbage 

It looked good on the pack, so I thought, deal

10 minute microwave job, at no stage 

Do I need to cook, wash pans, wait an age

This was my reward after a long day

At work, followed by a walk, a rampage 

In the bedroom with my guitar, a play 

That’s one of my best ever plays, I’d say 

However, this curry and rice was vile

It was Weight Watchers though so no poundage 

Put on, hopefully. Bedtime soon. I’ll lay

There reading’McCarthy’s Bar’ til I feel 

Ready to drop off as I turn the page

5520 - Autumn sun

The sunniest day this week. Finished early 

So I could relive summer days again 

And got beers in, went on the balcony 

Got pissed on San Miguel while listening 

To music before the lodger got in

From work. Since then watched the Bulger killers

Docu, then the one on Joy Division 

Which I first saw long time ago, oh, years!

In the old cinema called the Cornerhouse

Never got over Ian’s suicide. He

Was the best. Visited his grave there in

Macclesfield cemetery. Bring on the tears

A good day overall like so many 

Will continue relaxing until when…

5519 - A week of no keep fit

A week has now gone by of now keep fit

No gym, swim or long walks for me these days 

But it was nonetheless a definite 

Landmark day, first day back in the office 

First meet with Dean, my HO. Also this

Should have been first meet with my manager 

Chas, but he’d not booked a desk, so we missed 

Seeing him too. More chatting went on there

Though, no senior managers to beware 

Of. So it was a fun day. Finally got

Down to some work as the afternoon rays

Of the autumn sun mixed with rain declared

The time ebbing away. Stayed til half six

Enjoyed it, but it’s back to the home phase

5518 - Still don’t feel quite right

Back at work, at times felt somewhat unwell 

But carried on though I finished early 

Went for a walk afterwards but I felt 

Less motivated, overall really 

It all now feels a bit pointless. Where’s the

Excitement of recent weeks? Gone so quick 

Vanished with this heart discomfort. It’s me

Who’s to blame. Have I really been so thick

As to disable myself keeping fit?

If this persists, before too long, guess I’ll 

Have to see the doc. I can’t even see

The point in a heart monitor. A sick

Piece of luck  it’s ruined now, I’m too ill 

Right now to exercise. It’s so shitty!

5517 - I am the passenger

Sitting in a National Express coach. South

We head, through green lands and bare hills, twisting 

Rivers, service station stop, Tebay. Both

Times I’ve liked stopping here. First time, shining 

Sun and scenery. This time I’m shopping 

In the Farm Shop, so much good stuff, hope I’ll 

Be back soon. Scotch eggs, sausage rolls, drinking 

Two bottles of beer tonight, each bottle 

From a local brewery. A slight struggle 

To carry it all with no basket. Mouth-

Watering Kendal mint cake is adding 

To the pleasures later. Manchester full

Of police cars, vans, horse boxes. It is both

To protect Tories and watch the protesting…

Sun 3 Oct

5516 - Wedding in Glasgow

Hannah and Adebiyi’s fine wedding 

In a fine location up in Glasgow 

St George’s Tron church, with live YouTube screening 

Seen by Mum, Pearl all those who couldn’t go 

Rain threatened and there was a shower or two 

But on the whole pictures outside taken

And the walk to Trades Hall, weren’t soaked, and no

Need even for an umbrella. Not on

The level of David and Emily’s, stunned

Though at times by the costumes and dancing 

Bagpipes, ceilidh, African, Kevin though 

Did tone down the preaching and kept it fun

Great views on the bus there and back. Loving 

The chance to really see hills, and Clyde’s flow

Sat 2 Oct

5515 - Glasgow- it’s cheap

Rushed to the National Express bus station 

In Manchester, got there on time, thank God 

The landscape on the journey up was fun

The sun shone and it looked great from the road

Some showers, but sun came out, on my tod 

I walked around the shops, got souvenirs 

Then went out with brother Robin, had good 

Time with him and Liz and Poppy, so cheers 

To them. Amazed by the low beer prices 

Went to the Hard Rock Cafe, but I’m one 

Who can no longer stuff their face. Thin bod 

Is what I desire, not stuffing faces

Back in the hotel already by ten

Good day then, wedding tomorrow, more food!