5005 - Bassic instinct

So yesterday - cos I am one day late -
Sunbathed late morning thru almost to lunch
I knew the weather would deteriorate
Certainly by tomorrow, had a hunch
And saw the forecasts predicting a plunge
In temperature. Exercised to music
Lee Perry's Super Ape still packs a punch
That phased reggae piano sounds so slick
And the always good bass sure does the trick
Missed hearing from Helen, she has gone quiet
Hope she's OK and soon gets back in touch
Drank wine in the evening, with more music
Nice sunset, but I'd have preferred a date
With Helen on the screen, not left in lurch

Sat 9 May

4991 - Happy feet

Been clean today, and that's an achievement
Considering it's a sunny Saturday
Evening, but drank too much on Thursday. Felt
A bit rough Friday, drank wine but no way
Did I enjoy it. Decided I would stay
Home, not go out for more, and soup went down
Nicely before bed. Even so, today
Still felt rough early on, and a bit down
But soon cheered up. At lunchtime, headed down
Stairs to sit on the grass. Second day spent
Getting a tan. My feet look more healthy
They've gone from purest white to a light brown
At four, Vee's history quiz. I won. Second
Quiz I've won in less than even one day

4986 - Guess Who's Having A TV Dinner

Another day in lockdown. Work finally
Done, thought about a walk in the late sun
To avoid all responsibility
To make a new video, but what was on
A TV film channel?  Marlon, in On
The Waterfront, then Mary Queen of Scots
Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson
And then, To Sir With Love - they got the hots
For Sidney Poitier, just like they got
In Guess Who's Coming To Dinner. Lately
I've really been entertained, more than once
A day sometimes by the classic films put
On Sony Movie Classics, channel 50
And I feel satisfied that I stayed in!

4775 - Filming in the rain

Very tired, worked hard this week, Friday night
For me tonight won't be much fun but still
It's nice to have a flat empty and quiet
Nothing that needs doing, nothing that will
Not wait, and there's not much more time to kill
Til bedtime, hopefully waking refreshed
Working on comedy ideas until
The afternoon, then I'll expose my flesh
To the sun's rays, if warm enough. We're blessed
With a sunny Saturday. Sunday might
Not be as nice, but that's not too evil
If we get to film in rain when we're dressed
In office clothes in a field, some strange sight
Like that would be funny, make people smile!

4750 - Back home

This was going to be my last Edinburgh day
Albeit consisting of just catching the bus
But a lift from Tom last night means today
I'm home, and the sunshine is glorious
After unpacking and shopping I was
Able to sunbathe and top up my tan
It was great listening to songs on the grass
And just getting settled back home again
Got some beers in, and healthily eaten
Next thing I want to do is have a play
On the uke while I digest potatoes
Chicken and salad. Summer's almost gone
This might be the last day this year I'll say
I could soak up the sun's refreshing rays!

Mon 26 Aug

4749 - Ed Fringe Day 26

Last day in Edinburgh. Dehydrated
But such a nice sunny day, relaxing
To stroll around, vest on, tattoos stated
Places I've been. Drank fluids, liked eating
Ice cream, stopped me overheating. Packing
Now in this heat, and listening to music
Will finish at Tom's Comedy Shorts, watching
(Unless I get invited to the mic
Unexpectedly)*. Then Tom and me, and his chick
Will pile into his car and be headed
South for Manchester, finally ending
Our month-long odyssey we have all liked
I'm actually sad to leave, though it's costed
Me a fuckin' packet! Been exciting!

*Didn't go to that show, Tom cancelled it so we could drive home earlier!

Sun 25 Aug

4747 - Ed Fringe Day 24

Walked more today than any other day
24 kilometres, not far off
Marathon length. Quite a good show today
Three fun-spirited lads came, two were of
Aussie origin, and they gave the love
All the Aussies I've met here have given
Not only that, an Aussie comic gave
A great show - Bilge Pump Seminar - down in
The Boteca (Heroes) basement. Walking
In addition to Edinburgh, the bay
From Musselburgh back to the city. Wove
My way across sands, rocks and seaweed. Sun
Shone on it all! Can now definitely say
I've seen some great sights, free from push and shove!

Fri 23 Aug

4718 - Tone loves the sun

Felt more energetic today, felt good
At lunchtime, bought more hairspray and a watch
To time my act. In my shorts, felt I would
Be able to fit in an hour and catch
More sun, which I did, tan topped up a touch
Looks good as I sit here now typing this
In the humid evening, though rain's a much
Closer prospect than it would seem unless
You'd seen the forecast. Now need to rehearse
The show, having strummed tunes on uke. I did
Exercises in the heat. I'll be such
A busy boy soon, but must shun excess
Try real hard to stay fit, eat well, fresh food
Through August, get my sleep, and just relax...

4717 - What's it all about, Tony?

Not as sunny as yesterday, but still
Warm. No shorts today, but tomorrow I'll
Wear them, the sun will blaze, and I'll sizzle
Out at lunch if time, if not, go home while
The sun's still hot, and sunbathe there, I'll pile
Onto my towel. It could be 32
Or maybe 34 or more. Must toil
Hard as I can not to miss the days you
Only get rarely. Last year, not a few
Golden summer days were wasted. Battle
Away in the office to no avail
Joke around, what do I get? If I do
Well at the Fringe, so what? Who'll care? But thrill
It would still be after this lifelong trial

4701 - It's only words

Mainly sunny, Monday, not in work mood
Neither was anyone else, seemed to me
Chatted to two colleagues, then time for food
And costume-shopping with Helen in the
Arndale Centre, at LuvyaBabes party
Clothing emporium. Couldn't really take
Any good pix of H in her sexy
Costume, because of shop assistants. Took
Some OK ones though, did my best, then looked
For seats in the sun, The Mitre seemed good
For quick service. Back home this evening, she
Sent another pic, wearing tights - my luck
Was in! Practiced street songs a little. Should
Start learning the lyrics now, urgently!!

4695 - Milan Day 6

Lie-in til 10, had chosen not to do
Much. Caught the airport train, we almost missed
Platform 13, Garibaldi - oh, phew!
Just made it! Burger King nuggets and fizz
Then to the airplane at Gate 36
Milan to Manchester, temperature drop
Glad I'd changed out of shorts to long trousers
Partial cloud cover, potentially a strop
But honestly, a relief, I can't stop
Thinking GB's coolness is something new
And refreshing, no hot sun, not oppressed
Couldn't resist when I got home, a drop
Or two of beer. Watched England's women flop
Now it's bedtime. To all you, here's my kiss x

Tue 2 July

4669 - Same old song

Mainly sunny, before some days of rain
When will the promised heatwave start? Don't care
Really, last year was hot, almost insane
And I've sunbathed in Morocco this year
With someone nice but not enough, I fear
Played uke three days in a row now, so good
Still can't sing at the same time though, can't bear
To practice singing at home, rather blood
Shot out from my eyes than my neighbourhood
Hear me singing in my flat! Was a strain
Just playing guitar, hating them to hear
At least I'm better now, less shy about
That. Same with social media. Try in vain
I still hate it, but must not be so scared

4666 - Tramendous

A quiet day at work, but I got things done
Even dropped off clothes at the dry cleaning
Having clean clothes on will be kinda fun
It's good to limit unpleasant stinking!
I included the jacket I was lying
On the pavement in, London, Friday night
After work, rushed home for some quick eating
Before going out filming in my white
Bony Tony t-shirt. Blessed with sunlight
I filmed a funny scene that saw me run
Slowly up the ramp desperately trying
To catch a tram. It's time lapse, should be quite
Funny when sped up. Castlefield Bowl, some
Chariots of Fire running, and geese walking

4655 - Salford pink

A sunny day and after work I made
Myself all pink, t-shirt, trousers, and hair
And headed to Salford Uni parade
Ready for filming with Jamal. Met there
And ad libbed very well, so much better
Than I thought possible. So just as planned
A collection of film and stills prepared
For social media scrutiny, yes and
There's still time for more as the sands
Of time blow towards the Fringe. At lunch, had
A meeting with Carla over Cokes - where?
The Old Pint Pot, Salford, her and Adham
Warm sun on back and neck, its rays just played
A merry tune. Overall, things look fair

4644 - No rest for the d**khead

Just as well I worked so hard yesterday
Cos now much time had to be devoted
At least partly to tonight's gig. But they
Didn't turn up like last year. Maybe they'd
Chosen not to because they all wanted
To watch the last Premier League matches, or
Just enjoy the sunshine. Still, Lukas made
A decent amount he collected for
A children's hospital. But it was poor
A small crowd. Comics dropping out. I stayed
To the end, this marathon comedy
Night, dressed in brown, but no, my hair colour
Stayed natural. Wanted it brown, but no way
Too late for a shower at home. Beers had!!

Sun 12 May

4624 - Lazing on a Monday afternoon

The last of four sunny days this Easter
My only chance to sunbathe - I took it
Around lunchtime lasting over an hour
Hope I topped up my tan outside the flat
Listening to music, even the odd hit
From The Clash and AC/DC, and then
Flight of the Conchords live. Shopped and then ate
But put off my website development
I need to do that this evening - accounts
On Twitter, Instagram and Facebook are
All needed for Fringe brochure and website
Must motivate myself to set up them
I did abs exercises on the floor
A Yorkie Easter egg, fattening chocolate

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

4622 - On the lamb

A few late night Stellas, deserved reward
For my studio endeavours yesterday
Then bed, then this morning had to applaud
The In Betweeners, series three. Today
I watched it all, and in between, away
To town, see Jo, and enjoy the sunshine
Expensive lunch at Mowgli, a curry
And lovely lamb chops. The fat tasted fine...!
Won't need dinner tonight, stomach's well lined
Sat in the sun in St Peter's Square, warmed
Up nicely, sat outside Nero's with J
And talked In Betweeners' funniest lines
She caught the tram, and home alone I walked
(Although Chan's here!). So far, Easter's OK!

4620 - The weekend really does start here

Early finish at work, then lunch with my
Old colleagues, thanks Emma, and good to see
Farah and Suni in The Scene, but I
Was shocked to see it so very busy
It's doing well after a slow start. We
Had thali, as usual, I had a pint
They say Easter weekend will be sunny
Tomorrow I'll be holed up, out of sight
In Pinhole Studio, Ancoats. Helen might
Turn up and help, might be late, don't know why
But it's up to me to successfully
See this music for my Fringe show goes right
Taking it easy tonight, got Quorn pie
Eat, relax. Tomorrow, must be ready...

4610 - Cool by the pool

Lie-in, back to work, felt drained mentally
And a little cold in the warm office
Recovering from the strain of holiday
And fighting off bugs caught in foreign skies
Helen's gone down with a bad cold and she's
On leave today, probably bad all weekend
Today I ordered posters and flyers
For the Fringe, but they are not yet designed
Also last night searched websites trying to find
A quick sunny break in June. Seemed to me
The best choice is Chania in Crete. Beaches
And cheap hotels with pools, just the right kind
Try to get the best tan ever for me
With a cool chick as companion for this