4857 - Do do ron ron

Friday, a manic morning prior to
Going to the Wellington for our do
It was the first Christmas do in my new
Job that I properly took part in. We two,
Helen and I, last year, followed my crew
But mainly stuck together, chats were few
With my new colleagues. This year, I did do
The do fully, Helen out with hers too
In Castlefield. Nice meal, then drink flowed through
And enjoyed the evening, it almost flew
Left around ten, maybe, dunno, do you?
And on the way home, bought more beery brew
But could only manage one more can. Too
Much and I'd be ill, so bedtime was due!

Fri 13 Dec

4754 - Boredom once again

So here we are, in limbo once again
What's the point of life once you've done the stuff?
Spoken to younger people, the refrain
Is all the same, they've coupled, that's enough
Or they haven't, high maintenance, they're too tough
Screw them all, who cares, unless they can show
A spark of something? I'm too old now, shove
Them all, their petty needs, mine the same, so
Be different, be fun, appreciate me, or no
Don't expect me to do my best, cos when
You switch from me your focus to some fluff
I get bored and you've lost me, I don't know
Why I should bother trying to entertain
So talk your talk and I'll walk somewhere off...

4748 - Ed Fringe Day 25

Last show of my first Fringe, friendly faces
Half-filled the room. Last show went with a bang
Amanda and Giles, Josh on sound, more Oz
Representation, Pinwheel Productions
Kaleigh and her group who've been such good friends
More Aussies (why so many Aussie fans?)
Word of mouth probably, that's how it spreads
Many of them were seeing it more than once
Got all my stuff out in the given five mins
Taxi back, table given away, then whizzed
Up town again on foot, Hannah waiting
Two hours' chat, then soon after met some friends
Again at their show, then went out for drinks
Josh and Amanda been so nice, so thanks!

Sat 24 Aug

4723 - Here I go, here I go, here I go!

I didn't find a way to safely dye
My teeth for Edinburgh - just as well,
Maybe! It would have washed off, gone down my
Throat, or, if food dye, proved impossible
To make it stain my teeth, and would have swilled
Straight off at the first drink or snack I ate!
Today ticked off important things - I'm thrilled
That I'm collecting the keys to the flat
Soon as I arrive, unpack, sort my shit
Then I'll be meeting A and K just by
Surgeons Hall, our venue, café table
To discuss respective plans and shows. It
Is now really taking shape! Will time fly
Or drag? Either way, it may prove crucial!

4698 - I've gotta lotta bottle, said the axolotl

I had that Friday feeling, maybe since
A bottle of wine the previous night was
Still in my blood, but I felt good, and it's
Nice that my relations with my staff is
Better than it was, though the actual cause
Is not what I've done, I won't accept blame
Hopefully it'll get better. Banters
Were good all round, even talked a good game
About my Edinburgh show, with fame
Almost certain, well no, OK, but fits
Of laughter are good, even in office
They cheer me up. Played uke when I got home
Got beer in on the way. Couldn't convince
Myself to stop, went out and bought more booze

Fri 5 July

4689 - Instagram Karma

Last day at work before going to Milan
And I facilitated at table
In a conference in Liverpool and ran
The high-level and high-grade crucible
Of potentially uncontrollable
Know-alls, but it went well and I received
Good feedback, and it was enjoyable
Tired on the way home on the train, but waived
Having a nap then or at home. Not peeved
Though, cos I instead did preparation
For the trip, started to pack, was able
To book a taxi to the airport, shaved
My hair again, posted on Instagram
And Twitter, so busy, incredible!

4607 - Bye Bye Jamesy

James' first leaving do, it was OK
We got pissed. Crazy Pedro's, Mulligan's
Waterhouse, The Vine, not sure who has paid
Poor old James got too pissed, I helped him and
Hopefully, he got the Bury tram. Found
It for him, then I walked home no problem
So much to learn, I played my part, and then
I got home alone, with mixed feelings, then
Are not a great bunch, but that is the norm
Some of them haven't got that much to say
In years past I'd have felt bad, but now spend
Little time worrying, let them be them
Me and James hit it off, and I can say
That's enough, I know who are my true friends

5 April

4595 - I'm Mr Know It All

Bought travel insurance online, then played
A mean uke to some classic reggae tracks
Then it was time to walk some miles of road
To Ancoats, see Louis and Vee, then back
We talked politics, then played The Chase app
On TV using a remote control
I did the best of the three of us, top
In music, and joint top in sport, did all
Right in general knowledge, a right know-all!
Got some good teabags off Vee. To avoid
The rain was lucky, but I kept dry socks
Now I've eaten all the quiche, nicely full
Walking listening to music, I enjoyed
Deep Purple, Foetus, AM (the Arctics)

4580 - Talking and not talking

A windy Saturday, the odd downpour
Met Jo in town, walking around, and ate
At an extremely rowdy place. We were
Surrounded by noisy parties, and it
Was hard to talk in Las Iguanas but
We enjoyed it and stayed there for a while
Nachos, then chilli con carne, mine hot
Jo's mild, but still hot for her. I said I'll
Look in the football shirt shop, but I failed
To find a 70s Ajax top. More
Wandering, met Felix again on the street
Handed us Gouranga stickers. Trouble
Between Jo and Tania, an atmosphere
I was the go-between during their spat

4579 - Drinking with the rude boys

Finished (for now) the EU exit stuff
At work, and then a welcome early end
Met Helen (and Alan) and headed off
To Sinclair's Oyster Bar, where fun is banned
Suni was barred entry, racistly shunned
He had shoes on, his clothes were suitable
So we went next door to the Wellington
And before long found a nice round table
A few pints downed, with my old Oils people
Including Steve K, a guy who is naff
But harmless, except for his harassment
Of Helen, who's nice and incapable
Of giving him the logical brush-off
I told him straight, butt out, you're not a friend

Fri 8 March

4561 - Hell's falafels

A mad hectic morning, meetings, The Fringe
Things to ask and sort out, then lunch with Hel
At Pizza Hut, Cross Street, kids within range
As I habitually swore, my tales to tell
The afternoon calmer, it's just as well
Cos I was starting to run low on power
Back home, played uke just like ringing a bell
Then a tea of quiche and quorn to devour
Two Qs, topped with a veritable tower
Of greens and pulses - quite the healthy binge
At this rate I'll get into falafel
Might be deluded, but think I shit more
Give my gut some roughage like a syringe
Help it recover from the beer bottle

4558 - Clone zone

Good day at work, then waiting to meet Pearl
I was in Piccadilly Gardens where
I bumped into Angela, office girl
From the old place, Ralli Quays, then in the
Time before meeting Pearl, went to withdraw
Twenty quid to buy shirts, red and yellow
But there was a dodgy man in the queue
Seemed to want to clone my card. Worried, so
In the pub with Pearl, phoned the bank to go
Through what happened, closed the card, unable
To buy my round though, so Pearl paid with her
Small finances, felt like a so and so
Good chat, cut short somewhat, a real
Pleasure to see her before she's not there

Fri 15 Feb

4539 - Wind of strange

Just played uke well, Chan was here and she heard
While showering, drying hair, and cooking
Been out with Jo, cold wind, but sun. We fed
In the Living Room, Deansgate, while chatting
About modern music. Been listening
To the Arctic Monkeys, and indie stuff
I revealed that I have since been warming
To Alex Turner and the guys, and love
Hearing newish stuff, Giggs while on the move
To meet her at Piccadilly. The herd
In the Arndale walked round. She was searching
For pink semi-permanent dye, remove
Spray after one day, but she's not preferred
To buy it just yet. Next it's nose piercing...

4499 - Uni and loony

Well here I am after one more night out
This time with daughter Pearl, four or maybe
Five hours in Turtle Bay, Oxford Road, caught
Up with each other's events, Italy
Move in her case, though she's split up sadly
With Luca, she's still moving to Milan
And there's no reason why it won't still be
A great move, and she will then meet someone
Else fairly soon. She got a distinction
In her Masters. I can now hardly wait
For the Uni of Bristol ceremony
The day before she emigrates! Had fun
Updating her on my news, it's about
My great new job, my show and holiday

4470 - Speaker's corner

OK chats at work, gradually getting
To know them better, some of them easy
Some of them not quite as, but I'm feeling
More at home. Like with my ukulele
Played along to my new speaker and the
Phone playlists, using Bluetooth, my first time
I feel more in touch now with the IT
Played Led Zep, Queen and Quo. Pleased to say I'm
Now able to play Brian May, it's fine
But one thing I can't face, should be doing
Is applying for Edinburgh. See,
To be a hit means being there the whole time
And I don't want to do that, that's the thing
It would be knackering and unhealthy

4465 - Big deal

Today was a better day, much more talk
I feel I'm building my relationships
With new colleagues quite quickly. Had a walk
Down the aisle, talked to Sue, then had a trip
To Sian's desk, chatted to Nic, no more chip
On shoulder. Also getting to grips with
The new work area. Ready to put lip
To phone and chat to Laura, and forthwith
Learn from an expert, time to cut my teeth
Meanwhile, exercised back home, played uke, spoke
(Messaged) Helen, after her painful blip
She's doing OK. Next, there'll be some grief
Over the Brexit deal. Brexiters stalk
The corridors, Remainers defy the whip

4464 - They don't talk anymore

I thought this week there would be more talking
But my manager Steve's in just one day
So no chats even about work, something
That's hard to take coming immediately
After so many fun times recently
At the old place. Their goodbye card it said
End of an era, but it seems to be
The start of the ice age. I'm surrounded
By one grumpy bloke and by one real quiet
Another guy nearby, he likes chatting
But he's just talking to the women, they
Of course talk to each other, understood
They don't talk to a new bloke, he's sitting
There alone, friendly workmates far away

4442 - Weeder's digest

A very late sea bass and potato
Polished at 10:15 this evening
I've got to digest it next hour or so
So come on, let's do some quick digesting!
It's better than another night's drinking
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I've had
A bottle of wine each night, enjoying
It, but now need to detox, clean my blood
Rehydrate, etc. Try to be good
Later than usual meet with Little Jo
She was obsessed with funny group chatting
On her phone, with some daft weed-smoking lads
She thinks it's funny, when you're young, s'pose so
Saw V, P and L, usual chat and ting...

4437 - Zuruck

Incredibly, it's only yesterday
That me and Helen were still together
Coming back from our Berlin holiday
She's been out of the office, not seen her
Today, but she did pop in and said the
Trip had been full-on. Yes indeed she was
Quite tired lots of the time, but then before
It started she was ill, and just two hours
Sleep the night before. And again, no hours
On our first night there!! But there is no way
It was bad, just because it was, well, her
I was only sad when her speaking paused
But it didn't for long. Hopefully we
Have passed the test and we will go elsewhere

4432 - Berlin Day 1

Cleaned flat, even did exercises, well
I'd had a bloody good sleep, then prepared
To meet Helen at about 3, so we'll
Have lots of time. Train to airport. H scared
Of flying, but it was fine. Plane late. Dared
Not get a train, so late, taxi to flat
Met Larissa, unpacked, over the road
At quarter to one at night, and we sat
In a dark bar, Schwarze Traube, and met
Some American women, made a deal
Stayed up late, music, chat, and more beside
Talkin' bout next trip already, and that
Could be Marrakesh in December! Fell
To bed, but little sleep for the wicked!

Thur 11 Oct 18