4758 - Find me find me find me

Gone colder - I'm now actually sitting here
With a jumper on, first time for a while
And Josephine's back to school, September
The fourth (tomorrow), or college it's styled?
I've messaged her to ask, adding a smile
From an emoji, but it's really me!
After this, the next thing that I think I'll
Do is 'surf the net' (old phraseology?)
Research the best ways and places for me
To find partners. I need them, it is clear
Even if I think I don't, why not trial
It until someone good turns up, maybe
On the net, or maybe at events where
Like-minded women go that extra mile

4663 - Foolish in Dulwich

Yesterday, David's wedding in London
Married to Emily, town of Dulwich
The location in Christ's Chapel, then on
To the military school, Dulwich College
So much free wine, got drunk, over the edge
After a brief stint on the dance floor which
Was to the sound of a live band, we fetched
Our bags and headed off. Where was the ditch
I fell in? I don't remember that much
From the time we left til Euston was reached
Fortunately Vee took snaps of me on
The pavement laughing away like a son
Vee tried to pull me up but couldn't budge
Me off the pavement. Missed our train. Sausage!

Fri 31 May

4623 - Last Tango in Ancoats

A hot sunny day, just like Morocco
(But more humid). Sunbathing not needed
Because I'm still peeling, not set to go
Tanning just yet. Besides, I visited
Vee and Louis, on foot, benefited
From plenty of the sun's rays on the way
Watched footy, talked politics, debated
The state of our schools in austerity
Before I went out I started to play
Last Tango in Paris, Marlon Brando
And Maria Schneider, which really did
Make waves in the early 70s, grey
Shades, not really, more shocking, long ago
I'll watch the last hour next, then time for bed

4549 - Two courses but no restaurant

Still got the cold, although I got off light
A bit sniffly, and slightly below par
It's true I didn't get much sleep last night
But despite this my day was wunderbar
Management course at the Conference Centre
On Sackville Street, maintained my wakefulness
Got a Greggs lunch in central Manchester
Forgot my loyalty card again, yes
But my third coffee today made me less
Sleepy for long enough to skim read quite
Quickly through an online course, and chatter
Here and there, and heard from Helen, she has
Once more set a lunch date - she's feeling right
I hope she stays well, I want to see her!

4394 - Bedquake - disaster movie

Listening to jazz as I type this sonnet
Been out for tea at the Cote Brasserie
With Josephine who's back from Lanzarot
With a great tan and looking real healthy
At least they'll see she's been on holiday
When she goes back to school this week and meets
Her friends again. I'm so tired. Last night they
Were back and at it again 'tween the sheets
On the stroke of midnight they came, complete
Satisfaction, from the noise, you'd have thought
But then, forty-five minutes after three
Bedsprings in earthquake mode, repeat, repeat
And once again at six, more sex, dammit
So I've got beer in, oblivion the key

4372 - Eddie Lizard

Woke early for a Sunday, mainly read
This daft David Icke conspiracy book
About ancient gods all being the same god
Religions, like wars, made up by the Black
Nobility (Phoenicians) and a pack
Of white Aryans, with lizards in control
Of course he believes that Shakespeare wrote fuck
All of his plays, the guy could barely spell
He suggests Francis Bacon wrote them all
When I was at school, they said Holinshed
(A historian) was the main source, he took
A lot from there. Today I ate my fill
Four or five meals were stuffed into my head
Did no comedy work, but played my uke

4074 - A pound for your sports

At work I organised a Wear Red Day
It was to protest against racism
The national day for this will be Friday
But I'll be driving north, I'll be absent
So I held it today - we had some fun
And some donated a pound to the tin
Sports people will be teaching schoolchildren
Not to be prejudiced, to keep within
Their minds latent prejudice, accepting
Not rejecting those from minorities
Meanwhile Carla's job interview has gone
Well, she's got a job in Leeds. She's staying
Here for one more week with no rent to pay
She just needs to find accommodation

3939 - Hard talk

A nice relaxing Saturday, staying in
Cos Josephine's researching a debate
For next week at school. She's being Corbyn
Or just the local Labour candidate
What an honour! So to help her do great
I suggested a few things she could read
The manifestos to defend or slate
And today, sent some Facebook links that need
To be read by Labour supporters, feed
Her arguments, hopefully help her win
Which will be tough in such a Tory seat
Good luck, little Jo! Used my credit card
To book a room in Barcelona. Fine
Building, Richard Rodgers designed. Can't wait!

3915 - Tue 9 May 17

A very long day. Woke at 6:20
Tried to go back to sleep, but I couldn't
Too much goin' on, I guess. Acting, and the
Interview looming. Wrote some bullet point
Trigger notes for it. Then, at 9, I went
To St John's Campus, Manchester College
A big busy place with blue doors, and found
Classroom 221, union learning ed-
ucation, interesting stuff. So tired, veg-
etating, had to power nap. Comedy
Night at King's Arms. Included ad lib rant
As well as jokes and songs, and mock outrage
Tom Short came late. Must go to bed early
Be fresh tomorrow, neat and eloquent

3749 - Pub be good to me

A good night at the old King's Arms, Salford
I arrived at twenty to nine, quite late
But it was OK, ideal, got a slot
At the end of the first half, it was great
Anjuli was there, she was in a state
Stress from teaching in a 'good school' I guess
Hard work therein, not easy, over-rate
Some people do, promotion, or success
In one's career, it's a poisoned chalice
Listen to me, life's easy, if you're bored
Rather have that than overworked, a fate
Worse than death, while alive it's like death's kiss
A few really good pints beats that, my word
That's it from me tonight, a good one, mate

3677 - Food for sport

Nice to see Jo again, since Italy
I've not seen her, she's been away
Mainly in Portugal, and school study
Has begun for one more year and a day
Where teachers teach and pupils must obey
Today we went once more to Old Trafford
But it was derby day, sadly Jose
And his Reds lost to City, though that's good
For Blues fans like Louis, who's in good mood
No doubt after their precious victory
Expensive signing Pogba didn't play
Well for United, it seems. Nando's food
Filled us up. I'm still not very hungry
Nine hours later, but I'll snack anyway!

3622 - It ain't cool

It's turned out to be a really hot day
It'll be nice for the kids, a hot spell
Just as we're nearing the school holiday
I almost feel like a cold shower. Well
Almost. Well I said almost before, tell
You twice, there's no need to repeat, repeat
I repeat there's no need, that's a double
Repeat, quite a feat, quite sweet, yes my sweet
D'you like that three piece suit, that three piece suite
I would play this wordplay all day but they
Would feel fatigue, an antique you can't sell
I'm doing well down this well, it's complete
Or will be soon, I'm on it, sonnets may
Occupy me til I occupy hell

3384 - It's been a hard day's rest

Before I get tired, I'll write my diary
You could say it has been a day of rest
Well, it's Sunday, after all, used to be
That in the old days, told by God and Christ
But we always played hard, we didn't waste
Precious weekend time out of school, although
In later school days the evening was passed
At the dinner table struggling to do
Homework while TV sounds cruelly slipped through
The yellow sliding doors. Adults, did they
Have it harder than us kids? I would guess
Not. Childhood's hard precisely because you
Have no choice, can't escape from your duty
Which you don't choose, can't see yet, or resist

3326 - Driving south

A quick Friday night sonnet, here it is
Three bottles of beer ready to be drunk
Gearing up for tomorrow, my business
Then will be driving to see Pearl among
Her new teaching environment, starting
Her new career in Swindon. Checked the route
And it looks OK, motorway driving
Is easiest, my van won't need to toot
I hope, but will the 'Magic Roundabout'
Be on my route, that's Swindon's most famous
Landmark, it's just a roundabout. I think
It shows there's not much there, that's not in doubt
I've prepared the route, gathered some CDs
Now I'm all set to hit the south, kerplunk!

3314 - Sound debaser

A really good sleep, which I needed bad
Having felt ill and tired yesterday
My foot is still sore, and my legs are red!
But I don't think it's serious. Anyway
It's been a good and quite productive day
Including writing some new comedy
First new stuff since before my holiday
With a 'school' theme, as chosen by Dave T
So hopefully I'll do this on Tuesday
Not sure if I'll go out Wednesday - they said
On the TV there'd be rain. I may stay
In that night then. Played guitar, and did the
Ironing, listening to football. It's all good
A few drinks tonight, then retire early

3313 - A toast to the teacher

I'm definitely coming down with post-
Holiday chills, lots of aching, tired, cold
But saw Josie and now can relax, host
To myself, back in the flat, where I'll fold
Up on the sofa, watch footy unfold
I know the results, it's Derby's first win
And Chelsea have lost again, on floor rolled
Laughing ass off, they're really struggling
Next weekend I'll hire a van, I'm taking
Pearl's stuff down to Swindon, where she's engrossed
With starting her teaching career, to mould
The dispossessed of fair Swindon's asking
Quite a lot, teaching them French. To have toast
Would be nice, but no bread, not even rolls

3300 - Down in the pub watching United

I need an early night, but had a good
Day mainly relaxing, on internet
Quite a lot earlier, photos uploaded
The next ones will be holiday pix. Bet
I take a few when we're out there. Then went
With Javi to the Binary Bar, saw
United lose at Swansea, how upset
Will Josie be. I hope she's OK for
The first week back in school, maths, what a bore
Those days have long gone for me, yes, thank God
When 'Down in the Tube Station at Midnight'
By The Jam was a hit, took exam. Poor
Showing, tried again next June, succeeded
Got maths which I needed, then all forgot!