4423 - Cheshire OK

It's been a different day, refinery
Visit to Stanlow, the place that I've seen
So often on the way to my mum's. We
Had a presentation, then a tour in
A minibus round the site. Interesting
All those pipes and towers, clever people
And a free lunch too, despite the saying
Then to Cheshire Oaks in the rain, a while
Since I've been there. The place felt sad, but full
Of leisurely shoppers whose time is free
On a Tuesday afternoon. Now back in
My flat, a uke session, and a bottle
Of beer or two. And next, I'll have my tea
Then song practice, preparing for Berlin...

4354 - Driving for pearls

A hot and mainly sunny day, and I
Was off work, visiting mother with girls
Bad start, drove the wrong way in Bolton. Why
There are so few signs to Manchester fools
Me every time. Was late picking up Pearl
She looked nice in her summer dress. Next we
Collected Josephine, then we were Wirral-
Bound, and a nice meal, chatted happily
No beach trip though, I didn't know Mummy
Didn't like the hot sun, she doesn't fry
Happily, so instead for a short while
We sat in her back garden, although she
Kept in the shade. The car's returned. Might try
To quickly watch a film now, yes I will...

4273 - On the road (literally)

Whew! That's going down as one of the classics!
A hot sunny day, pub crawl in Cheshire
By train, station to station, in the sticks
But (apart from Crewe), wealthy area
Some impressive cars seen parked here and there
Open-top sports cars drove by small bald men
Beautiful green farmland and some great beer
I thought the host was an old mate but then
After a while talking, a point came when
I realised it wasn't him, he just looks
And sounds like him. Lol. But me and him were
The last to leave in Wilmslow after ten
Walking home, fell on a main road, minute
Before I could get up - but I'm still here!

Sat 5 May

4272 - Settle down!

I'm knackered now, a busy day, and then
Home for a mad uke session and some beer
I really pushed it, now I only yawn
Will have an early night, get my head clear
Am flushing out the beer now with water
Tomorrow it's a pub crawl, visiting
Various towns in the beauty of Cheshire
Helen might join me, we will be drinking
In the sunshine at the height of the spring
Some people are partying, though they seem
To be quieting down now, it would appear
I did exercises two weeks running
Three days a week, trying to build up my strength
Now I'm settling down as night time draws near

4271 - Lily the punk

A busy day, then home to uke of course
Played Island compilation, tracks I knew
And some I didn't, it lasted 3 hours
Helen messaged, said she was listening to
My reggae vinyl stuff, and liked it too
So much excitement from such little things
Looking forward to the weekend in Crewe
Hope she can come along for a few drinks
Stopping at railway stations while heading
Back to Wilmslow, tasting brewery flowers
Cheshire country, good company, skies blue
A perfect way to celebrate the spring
And more besides as the long weekend goes
Drinking tea now, relaxing, like you do

4153 - Rammed at Old T

A quiet Friday, few people about
In the office, time on my hands. I went
About 3:30, walked back to the flat
Had a quick tea, I didn't have to spend
Money on a takeaway in town. Then
Walked to Piccadilly to collect Jo
Met her just outside of Wilmslow station
We got the train and tram returning to
My flat, then caught a cab - laziness, you
Know - to Old Trafford. I could hardly wait
To see if Derby could cause an upset
On Man United's home turf, but soon, 2-
0 was the final score, and we were out
Of the FA Cup Third Round, all hope spent

4141 - Pass the mistletoe

Christmas Eve, made nice by having a car
(Hired) so I could take J to P and L
At V's in the evening, presents, cards are
All exchanged in time, quizzes, won by L
(Football) and me (music). Cleaned my flat. Hell
Of a job washing duvet for J's bed
But did it in the bath after I failed
To fit it in the washing machine - far
Too big! Took Louis home. I just couldn't tell
Which way to go but did it, succeeded
Finding Whalley Range, then Wilmslow, and had
A Christmas kiss from a tipsy Tania
Got home just as Eve turned to Day and poured
A beer to relax. Family Christmas Dad!

4009 - Burger point

A quiet Sunday at home, Carla chatty
Earlier on, then went for a burger to
Knutsford, in someone's car, presumably
I'd like to go there with J and P too
In the next few days, 'twould be nice to do
I wrote some 'women' jokes - it's irony
Or gentle rib-tickling; my point of view
Ain't anti-women, but it worries me
That I couldn't do those jokes normally
In the dull PC climate so strongly
Stymying the arts, politeness through and through
What will be preserved for posterity
At least from working-class culture that we
Have known but lost? Once more dictated to

3850 - Rip it up and start again

So somehow I got a good night's rest which
Was important, with what there was to do
Not just seeing Josephine, had to reach
Piccadilly in the pouring rain, go
To Wilmslow on the train, meet her, wait so
Long for a train to town, wander round shops
Eat at TGI Friday - what a blow
To the wallet that is!, go back and drop
Her off with her mum. No, also, the top
Task today was still undone, that's to teach
Myself how to do the job interview
Tomorrow at 12. My mind has not stopped
Yet, thanks to sleep and good diet, so sketched
Out things to say, strategies to win through

3773 - Papa's lost his brand new bag

A good works night, lasted from twelve til ten
Or ten thirty, not sure, but home now, and
It's now nearly twelve, so that was good, then
My bag's in the office, charger, I'll sound
Out the possibilities, get my hands
On it tomorrow, on the way to see
Jo in Wilmslow, and sort out her presents
And in Manchester, buy her gifts for me
I'm quite drunk, but I've been worse, honestly
Good chats with most of them, with most of them
They are a good bunch, mostly they are sound
No, all of them, they all are, honestly
So now it's bed time, it's now midnight ten
I hope I get a good night's sleep, and, and...

3745 - Out on a Lymm

Taken today off, not much done so far
Came quite close to the 900-page end
Of the doorstop novel half-read before
Cyprus, and that is 'Our Mutual Friend'
By Charles Dickens - it drives me round the bend
Wondering how he did it - must have been quick
And easy for him, especially back then
When all drafts were on paper and pen. Nipped
The reading in the bud, cooked lunch, equipped
Myself with energy. I've left an hour
And a half before the car collection
From the central Manchester branch of Sixt
Me and Carla are off to Lymm to score
Comedy success, win colleagues and friends

3717 - The late late show

A good sort of day, after work, went out
Met Jo at Wilmslow, went to United
At Old Trafford to watch the football bout
Between them and Fenerbahce from dread
Turkey, but it turned out to be sorted
By the first half, 3-0 up, another
Goal soon after the break. We decided
To queue for the train back early, missed the
Goal by Van Persie near the end. Oh dear!
Back home late, reading my Dickens en route
Back to town, finding that Our Mutual Friend
Is getting more engaging, pages blur
As I drink in the master's voice, oh but
It's true, people are crazy, self-centred

3698 - Autumn taught 'em

Nice sunny day, rain forecast, but held off
Noticeably cooler though than summer
Good sleep badly needed, Carla chat, off
Caught train to Wilmslow, then to Manchester
With Jo, even read some John Lydon there
On the train, singer of Public Image
He loves music, so such a big honour
For him to have done that song in an age
When music mattered. Now it's disengaged
And run by old men for young kids. I loved
Bella Italia, tasted much better
Than Zizzi or Pizza Express. Wastage
There was none. Garlic bread all polished off
And lovely lasagne, coffee, oh yeah

3628 - Expansions

Slept at Vee's, short morning walk to the bus
Sunny day, very lucky, festivals
Are not nice in the rain and mud. Was nice
At Jodrell Bank in Cheshire, had our fills
Of ice cream and snacks we bought, heard some tales
From Steve Morris, New Order drummer, in
A hot marquee. Scientific details
Of the expanding universe within
Another airless auditorium
Heard a few bands in nearby tents, that plus
A couple of beers downed with rapid swills
Sat opposite the satellite dish, then
Headed to a grassy spot where there was
A good view of the main stage for late thrills

Jean-Michel Jarre was the headline act, but of as much interest to me was the constantly changing patterns on the Jodrell Bank giant telescope / satellite dish. The changing patterns were specially designed by Brian Eno

3627 - Take it easy, take it easy

I went in to work with new gold-brown hair
Was surprised by how few noticed its tint
That's good in the sense it's not too severe
But also disappointing it isn't
As eye-catching as I'd hoped when I spent
Money on it and looked in the mirror
And said 'That looks great!' - it was really meant -
To Lisa behind me, the hairdresser
Tonight's plan to go to Wilmslow on a
Pub crawl has been scuppered. It's only fair
I can't turn up at Vee's at midnight, won't
Get enough sleep before going to Cheshire
For the Bluedot Festival, sitting there
On the grass all day, hope no rainfall slant

3488 - Party on

Stayed up most of the night, Jaynee's party
And then relocating to a hotel
In Wilmslow with a London girl, Nikki
Not much sleep was got, tired, it's safe to tell
Met Jo at the station, and hopped pell-mell
Onto the Manchester train, then tram to
My flat, then back out again, bookshop sale
Two books for £10, but left them at Lou's
Mingled with City fans, but no abuse
Cos they beat Villa 4-0, they're happy
Got tram back to the flat, we're both here til
Tomorrow, when it's Mother's Day, us two
Will visit my Mum, chocs at the ready
Meal at Ellie's, the weekend's going well...!

3453 - Blur blurb

So today, me and Lou went for Breakfast
At Sainsburys (sounds like a film, don't it?)
Then I went to Wilmslow, then caught a fast
Train to town with Josie, who'll graduate
To teenager tomorrow (although late -
She was born at ten to midnight!) Walked round
And round the shops, bought her a birthday treat
Of a bath bomb and a Blur CD sound
To offset her recent Oasis. Downed
Chicken and leek pies at Rowntree's, a last
Drink at Starbucks. Back home, Louis has set
Me up with Netflix on TV. From out
Their film selection, I made up my list
Then we watched 12 Angry Men talk and sit

3418 - The second day of Christmas

Back home after a long walk in the rain
Began the day at Mum's with an omelette
With cheese and mushrooms, I couldn't complain
Said so long to her and Rob and then set
Off in the hired blue VW, got
To Wilmslow soon enough, invited in
Gave Jo her boots, she put 'em on, looked hot
Then drove to near Vee's flat, parked, and had fun
Handing out presents and cards. Next, consumed
Pizzas aplenty, West Didsbury, gained
More pix, quips, arguments, gossip, and ate
Starters, pizzas, dessert. Turned my lights on
Realised I'd been driving with fog lights, strained
To see ahead! To Vee's flat, then my flat

Sat 26 Dec

3369 - Cheshire chat

A fun day driving around Cheshire in
A hired City Car Club car with my Jo
Drove at random, headed for Altrincham
But struggled to find our way out. To go
Left or right's always the thing you don't know
Eventually we found Dunham Massey
And Little Bollington, saw a sign to
The Swan With Two Nicks pub, went in, and we
Had a nice meal, and a nice and funny
Chat. Afterwards we continued driving
While it remained light. Lymm, Bowdon. Although
We kept returning to Altrincham, seen
The shoppers, with a Christmassy feeling
As darkness descended and the lights glowed

3339 - Old folk's night

A fun night out in Stockport, though that seems
Like an oxymoron. Actually it was
Not fun except for taking the piss. Teams
Of superannuated folk 'singers'
Doing The Irish Rover, that business
Except that was probably the highlight
Me and Ged almost argued with a Mrs
Who thought this was good music, not a blight
(Albeit very quiet) on the sight
And on the ears. But they were old, not seem-
ly to take the piss I guess, but who cares
It was too deadly to just sit there tight
Like being in church but thinking of wet dreams
Then to the Boar's Head, then home for a piss