5638 - When you’re tired - go down the gym!

I got up quite early, then realised 

I was still tired, but at least I could start

And finish work early, and despite eyes

Aching already, I had set my heart 

On going down the gym and play the part 

Of keeping fit before my long weekend 

Of bad behaviour. Yes, I must be fit

In advance of the big binge I intend 

I’ll probably miss Clarendon gymming and 

Swimming this Sunday, or I might surprise 

Myself and still go, might be all binged out 

And in the mood for getting fit again 

But for now, duty done, rest is advised 

Might give Josephine a ring, birthday chat

5637 - Light at teatime

Light at teatime for the first time this year 

First time since October, I’d say it was

Finished a hectic work day, all is clear

From my in tray, so cooked my tea. Real buzz

Sitting down and eating it, just because 

The sky was still bright though it was dimming 

Yet there were still blues, greys and oranges

No need for lights on, all infiltrating 

The walls and inner spaces, my living 

Room colourful and warm-looking, and cheer

Was spreading, with its springlike messages

It gets dark at half-five now but getting 

Dark later each week, each night. Still cold here

In early February though, still brings shivers

 

5636 - Pictures in my head

I’m a creative guy, got some pictures 

In my head of the things I’d like to do

And at last I have managed to discuss 

Doing them with someone who’s just like you

So watch this space and then enjoy the view

When you’re no longer playing the lead role

Now that’s all sorted, other good stuff too

Like a fun day at work in which a whole 

Load of stuff was done, and good chats with all

Of my regular collaborators

And I emailed my keyboard tutor too

Seeing him Thursday after work, a full

Four pages of questions! Then my focus

Will turn to turning sharp pictures to blurs

As I start four days off work. Here’s to you!

5635 - Exciting development

A pleasant sunny late January morn

Enjoyed my walk to the leisure centre 

Did balancing and abs first, then sat on

The bike, increased the resistance factor 

From fifteen, which felt too easy, to a

More testing twenty, for twenty minutes 

Same factor and time on the cross trainer

Which gave strength to my arms, with benefits 

In the swimming pool. Back home, my haircut’s

A success. Music store, bought new headphone 

To use with my keyboard so it’s quieter

I could play it at night now! My spirits 

We’re really lifted though when they said phone

This expert for a free keyboard tutor!!! 😀

5634 - Busy Saturday

Yes, busier than the usual Saturday 

Slept nicely for a change after last night’s 

Drinks on the balcony, and felt ok

I knew I had to fight the mental fight 

And get keyboard and speakers set up right 

Been reluctant to bother, not sure why

But after shopping, having lunch - a white

Slab of tofu included - got out my 

Mop and cleaned the dirty floors. Do or die

Time now. Connected the speakers. It played

Just fine. Experimented and was quite 

Impressed. Some great sounds, and I soon found I 

Could alter them in great knob-twiddling ways

Quite proud of all that! Should sleep well tonight!

5633 - Friday is balcony day

Friday may be balcony day but it’s 

Bloody freezing now in January 

It was ok at first, I must admit 

And even after it got dark, for me 

It was still tolerable though more chilly 

I had my coat on and had raised my hood

To keep the warmth in despite low degree

Listening to fast loud music’s always good 

Out there from one til eight and in good mood 

Made up with Helen and in fine spirits

And also simply because it’s Friday 

My manager is pleased, and so he should 

I’ve done well and he does acknowledge it

Most times we speak, and that too makes my day 

5632 - It happened again

So tired, went to bed at quarter to ten

After several insomniac nights this week 

Dozed off quickly but woke just before one 

And for over four hours I lay awake 

Maybe more. Suppressed emotions a choke 

Hold on my attempted relaxation 

Though tired, energy ran head to toe - look!

My toes were tapping time to some hidden 

Beat in my head, though no music was in

It or playing outside of it. Helen 

The cause once again. Met her after work 

My records in her car that we’d taken 

Them in to hers last month for a listen 

It was nice to make up. Gave her a hug

5631 - Even more paddywackered

Oh no, so bloody knackered, but despite 

That, had no choice but to work as normal 

So tired, but still another sleepless night 

Yet a heavy workload had to fulfil 

Why do I deny myself for people 

And why am I punished day after day 

But like I’ve said before, within my soul 

I’m content, no matter what others say 

Or do, I live my self-contented way 

Meanwhile, Boris he continues to fight 

Despite his looking like a big fat fool 

Trying to use Ukraine 🇺🇦 as a tactic. Hey!

It won’t work any longer, and your plight 

Is a source of amusement to us all 😂

5630 - Knickered Knackered Paddywackered

A second night short on sleep but was far

Better than the previous one, so not bad

By contrast! At least I don’t need a jar

Or drugs when disappointments make things hard 

I worked long and well and had fun instead 

Keeping your focus is a distraction 

That’s better than wallowing in a sad

State, eased by intoxicants. That’s not fun

It’s self-destructive. Too much depression 

Around already. Somehow I’m not sore

Though I’m a victim of people I’ve had

The misfortune to have known, I’m not one

Who feels down for long. I can’t ask for more

Than cheerfulness and health! And that’s not mad!

5629 - Nessun dorma

No-one slept last night. It’s the atmosphere 

Or maybe the cold when your arms pop out

From under the duvet - too hot in there 

But too cold within seconds. You can’t fight 

The restlessness. Everyone I asked thought 

The same, they all suffered similarly 

With sleeplessness, seems everyone was caught 

In it’s frustrating web. Thought I might be 

Able to take the afternoon off. We

Had a meeting I couldn’t miss later

On though, and still one more call after that 

Exhaustion came on to the nth degree

Switched my computer off and lay down flat 

Briefly drifted off, podcast on quietly 

5628 - Swim away

Like Wimoweh but in a swimming pool

I swim away with goggles on, fast lane 

All to myself, doing breaststroke and front crawl 

Not that I’m fast, but no-one else was in

It. And you can do backstroke when alone

No worries about collisions at all

Had meant to take it easy, but once in

Couldn’t resist the lure of the front crawl 

Getting my lungs working again’s a real 

Challenge, but when you do it, quite a thrill 

And a free bath and foot soaking again 

Then a shower and hair wash. Room was full 

Of dads with young kids from the little pool

I look weird to them but I’m not to blame 

Sun 23 Jan

5627 - A pint of Holts

Holts bitter isn’t one of my favourites 

It lives up to its name, though it is cheap 

Met Paul in the Old Monkey (not the Ritz!)

Then later, Night and Day on Oldham Street 

And finally the English Lounge. Defeat 

Avoided by Southampton, playing well 

Against League leaders Man City - fine feat

And fine feet too, fine football skill

But by this time we weren’t feeling too well

Paul caught his bus back to Leigh and repeats

His previous bus trick of falling asleep 💤 

He woke up in time, ill but not too ill 

And went on to drink more. Me, tried to hit

Some more cans, only one, then a retreat 

Sat 22 Jan

5626 - Effin’ freezin’

It’s effin’ freezin’ - well , it’s January 

So it should be cold at this time of year 

After work, went out on the balcony 

It was ok at first with the odd beer 

But after a while, I got out of there

And went for a walk where I nearly froze

Can’t wait for spring but it’s still mid-winter 

You have to go through it though, I suppose 

No matter the pain to your ears and nose

The week’s work’s over at last, happily 

Tomorrow I’ll put up lights and spread good cheer 

In my room, putting on some good light shows 

My feet i must say are getting chilly 

But I suppose that’s natural, oh yeah 

5625 - Nobody’s birthday

Nobody’s birthday, not in my family 

Dominated by work, but successful 

News-wise, politics continues juicy

With Johnson and Partygate rumbling still 

And many closing in now for the kill

Probably people he’s offended I guess

He’s not nice, empathy isn’t a skill 

Like Trump, it started off funny, a less

Boring leader than normal, but won’t miss

Him when he’s gone. He has no sympathy 

And deserves none in return. Meanwhile Pearl 

Has Covid over in Milan - surprise?

Not really. It’ll give immunity 

So for her future health it’s just as well 

5624 - Louis Louis

It’s my son Louis’ birthday, just one day 

After my own. Should I give him a ring?

I think I might, otherwise some might say 

I’m not being nice enough, though parenting 

Hardly applies now that he’s swift heading 

Towards his mid-thirties. He hasn’t tried

Very hard given his age to get in

To the spirit of Christmas or abide 

By birthday expectations or provide 

Sincere good wishes, gifts on my birthday 

No effort or money was forthcoming 

At times it can come across as just snide

Quite tired though and tempted to just lay

Down a while, listen to podcasts, snoring 😃

5623 - Happy birthday to me

Yes, it’s my birthday and it’s just struck me

That my age has just risen by a year 

And now I’ve realised that, I’m not happy 

So I’ll stop thinking about it. A mere

Year now from reaching 60, that’s severe!

I worked hard, until 5, despite it being 

My birthday. Slight setback to my career 

Didn’t get the interview I was hoping 

For, but I’ve applied for others. Waiting 

For better news and, of course, more money 

After work, as often, got in some beer 

The sun was still visible, still hanging 

There when I went outside. Chat with Pearl. We

Talked for a long time. On the balcony 

Listened to music, drank til bedtime near 

Tue 18 Jan

5622 - Light the lights

My lights came today with remote control 

Didn’t cost much, a mere fifteen quid

In the meantime applied for a new role 

In Customs policy which would be good 

Better than Excise policy I said 

Customs is what I’ve done these last three years 

I’d like to take charge of it if I could 

After applying, popped out for some beers

Still sunny for a while, enjoyed those rays

Then went for a bracing walk in the cold

Listening to The Creation as I did

And walking in the darkness round the Quays

Mid January of course bound to be cool

But it’s growing lighter now, thank your God

5621 - Goggles

New goggles, kept the water out just fine

And stopped those stinging eyes hurting all day

It was weird, my underwater vision 

So clear, in a disorientating way 

Swam well, too, outlasted most others. They 

Were sometimes faster, but they couldn’t last

Leaving the swimming lane to me - hurray!

Like yesterday, they keyboard goal advanced

Yesterday, posters. Today, my one quest 

Was ordering some coloured lights - Amazon 

Delivering them tomorrow! At last, the

Enterprise is ready to launch, and test

My musical ability - so can

I play, and film myself to boot? Let’s see…

5620 - Bop to the shop

Went into Manchester, shopping to do

Above all, T K Maxx vouchers to spend 

Bedding was what they went on. I got two

Things - duvet and king size sheet. And I went 

Looking for lights for the bedroom. I want 

Coloured lights to make my videos look cool

If and when I ever get keyboard and 

Speakers connected. I’m a lazy fool !

I didn’t get lights but a nice shopgirl 

Said it’s Home Bargains or B&M who

Might stock something cheap. Bought some posters and

They’ll look great in the videos too. Goggles

Bought from Sports Direct. Swimming tomorrow 

No kore aching eyes making me half-blind

5619 - Friday afternoon - I think

Had a good week at work but still desperate 

To finish and start straightaway on beer 

Popped to Sainsbury’s at lunchtime, fleet of foot 

Keen to start booze, the point of speed was clear 

Still answered emails and then disappeared 

To neck beer on the balcony, then back 

Again, messaging too til almost four

Then back outside, five beers went down my neck 

And when all gone I went out for a walk

It was freezing out, so I kept it short 

Walking near my office - busy round there 

Even though it must have been six o’clock

Maybe later. Some sausages to eat 

Early bed, but broken sleep. Read later 

Fri 14 Jan

5618 - Work is fun shock

I said what I never thought I would say 

That I now look forward to work. I was

Talking to my manager in this way 

Admitting that work now gives me a buzz

It felt so strange, unusual, curious 

It’s partly down to people and partly 

The work’s interesting and I’ve mastered this

Subject of Customs 🛃- well, prematurely 

I might be making such a claim. Surely 

Though I’m increasingly confident. They

All seem to treat me with respect. My views 

Matter, and my knowledge grows constantly 

It’ll almost be a shame going away 

If I get promotion. So I can’t lose !

5617 - Sudden temptation

Another lesbian-disturbed night. Oh well 

Guess gym’s ruled out tonight, too tired by far

And so it’s proved. Work was ok, didnt feel 

Too bad at all. Watched Mardy Fish (tennis star)

Film about his mental illness that scars

To this day, though he’s Davis Cup captain 

Not much food in, had omelette, but fridge bare

So reluctantly had to go shopping 

Despite my wish to sit down, just stay in

Treated myself to some tasty treats. Will

Snack on a mint choc lolly - jealous, yeah? 😃

I won’t eat the steak pie, omelette’s filling 

Me up still, so I’ll save that til I’m real

Starving. Besides, I’m weight-watching, for sure

5616 - Post-lesbian doings

Despite the lesbians making lots of noise 

Partying below half of the night long 

I actually felt ok today, work wise 

But fancied beer thinking I wasn’t strong 

Enough to do much else as eve wore on

But after a few cans, started wanting 

To go for a walk, though cold, and had fun

Listening to indie round by the Quays in

The January dark. Helped with whetting 

My appetite, too. Lamb for tea, so nice 

Then watched Baby Driver, film full of song

And car chases, with eye-catching acting 🎭 

A late Kev Spacey appearance - now he’s

Banned, due to dodgy sex stuff that he’s done 

Tue 11 Jan

5615 - Still no keyboard session

The one thing I must do above all else 

Is the one thing I keep failing to do 

I’d finally do it tonight - was convinced 

Yet still no keyboard session - sad but true 

I bought the ‘new’ keyboard last June - who knew 

I’d still not have played it by January 

As if to avoid it, I continued 

Working til almost six when I could be

Forgiven for being too tired. Inevitably 

I had tired myself out and now had spells 

Of hunger plaguing me. I guess now you 

Know what I did - and it wasn’t the keys

At lunchtime got some books though. Reading thrills 

At least, if no keyboard frills, can’t argue 

5614 - The new Sunday

The new Sunday, at least since last July 

Has helped me to keep clean Saturday night

Get up fairly early, meaning that I 

Can go to gym and swim feeling alright 

I do better there, and feel out of sight

Also, free bath and shower, gotta like 

That side of it, plus walking stats look right

And washing clothes afterwards gets them spick 

And span soon as you got em sweaty. Pluck

From all this activity the lie

That you’ve now done enough, no need to fight 

The desire to relax. It’s terrific 

How you’ve earned a slobby afternoon. Try

Listening to podcasts in bed. Dynamite! 

5613 - A slobby day

A slobby day, almost forgotten it

Even though there’s still several hours to go 

Watched a couple of crap films - idiot 

Waste of time I guess, but chilled days are few

Now my stuff’s used up, didn’t have a clue 

What to do rest of the day. Resisted

Getting beer, last night was enough though do

Feel ok generally, not too wasted

But really staying clean now’s what I need 

Maybe treat myself to a foody treat

Just finished my book, I could read a new

One. Going through them fast. Some short but good 

Ones for a change, small pages, two hundred 

Or less, when TV’s off, they see me through 

5612 - That Friday Fooling

It’s that Friday feeling, and certainly 

There’s also Friday fooling going on 

Started quite early on the revelry 

Listening to 500 Songs podcast - fun

When combined with experimentation 

Only two beers left to go with my stash

Had to pop out, get a San Miguel can

Or four, then when headphones needed a charge 

Switched to TV, with some good films to watch 

The Guns of Navarone entertainingly 

Passed two hours like a bullet from a gun

Followed by Pulp Fiction, can’t improve much

On that! And so Friday ends happily 

And this foolish web of lies is now spun!

Fri 7 Jan

5612 - But oh what another night

A very intense workday hey for me

It was freezing and so the heat was on 

I washed some bedclothes and gym stuff, smelly

As if I didn’t, it would soon become 

Barely time for lunch as I fell upon 

The darkening afternoon and soon nightfall 

Then came a moment of inspiration 

Play guitar, and that seemed to solve it all

Then Gerard provided a tangled ball

So I listened, music from the 60s

Love the old stereo wide separation 

But now I need to eat something quite small 

Because it’s getting late. It’s so flukey 

I remembered this diary must be done ✅ 

5611 - Oh what a night 2

After work, and before it had finished 

Helen was messaging some funny stuff 

Worrying about a meeting , slightly pissed 

Whereas I kept my resolution stiff 

My aim was to go down the gym. I love

How that fills up the evening when I do

And I feel good and warm and positive 

My half hour cycling - couldn’t believe how 

 Strong my legs felt, and so was tempted to 

Go for it. I did 8 miles 76

Then vigorous cross trainer work for half

That time- 15 minutes- but felt like new

Enjoyed shower and walk home. Warmed up - bliss

Your active body seems to heat itself!

5610 - Oh what a night

After work, seemed to have an endless night 

Though I was tired it turned out really fun 🤩 

Firstly - it’s quite hard to remember right -

I read more of Belle de Jour’s Guide To Men

About 50 pages, easily done 

It’s hardly like James Joyce’s Ulysses

Then, time to eat, a nice piece of chicken 

With spinach, mushrooms and two kinds of cheese 🧀 

While watching the end of Name of the Rose 🥀 

The series, not the Connery flick. Now tired

And cold too, headed for bed with clothes on

And listened to several great podcast shows 

500 Songs is well addictive, mate

Lastly, Lou Reed’s Autopsy, channel 7

Tue 4 Jan 2022

5609 - Pearl’s birthday

Arranged to speak to Pearl on her birthday 

That awkward date, the 3rd of January 

Good chat, lasting 90 minutes, I’d say 

Covering topics of interest - Italy 

Covid, driving, music and dancing, she

And I never fail to talk about stuff 

And so we did, and mainly happily 

Earlier, I messaged Helen, and some rough 

But funny exchanges with Dermot of

A typically offbeat nature. So they 

Were waiting from last night,beer cans for me 

Drank them and bought wine too, and had to love 

That rock songs podcast on the balcony 

And her shenanigans that I could see 

5608 - Pub hubbub

I was now, or so I thought, at the end

Of the Christmas and New Year binge period 

I went for gym and swim at Clarendon and 

The place was locked up which was very odd 

The website had said it was open but

When I’d walked there it was all shuttered up

Against the odds I thought Ordsall gym could 

Be open, and it was. Relieved, I stepped 

Upstairs and cycled half an hour, a top

Performance, and cross trainer session, planned 

For 30 minutes also, but altered 

To 15.  Showered, home again, read. Hoped

To play keyboard, but messaged by Paul. And

Rather than that, went to the pub instead. 

Sun 2 Jan 2022

5607 - Another New Year’s Day

Another New Year’s Day, it’s been okay 

Lie-in, reading, a walk to Kersal Dale

Trod on the muddy wetlands gingerly 

Rewarded with some mute swans paddling well 

Towards me when I called to them, but failed 

To bring anything for them. Video

Is funny though. The swan pecks at me, real 

Angry, it was, to be denied food so

Disappointingly. Not played keyboard though 

When will I plug it in and learn to play?

Also messaged a somewhat downcast Hel

Tried to cheer her up, not much I could do

Finished the Netflix Franco series. They 

Have Name of the Rose on Amazon. Brill!!

5606 - New Year’s Eve itself

Everyone says thank god that year’s over

But they don’t know at all what lies ahead 

Instead they should be grateful they were there 

Throughout the past year, made it to the end

And are still here to enjoy food and bed 

As for this New Year’s Eve of ‘21

Becoming ‘22, I felt tired

By 8pm, doubted I could last long 

Enough to see the New Year in. But song

Saved me, specifically a podcast where 

This musical know-all does 500

Songs, each one a half-hour long discussion 

About its importance. Thanks to that, yeah

Stayed up to watch the fireworks - that was good !

Fri 31 Dec 2021