4903 - My room's not a balloon

So glad I found time last night to work on
My set, it's tomorrow night, yes, that soon
Although sleep-deprived and hard-worked, I've done
More on it since getting in, searched my room
And various boxes for props and costume
I'll get up early, finish work early
Then home to change, think I'll wear the maroon
T-shirt for the Middlesbrough gig. Must be
At Dane Road tram station by 5 in the
Afternoon, so Barbie can get us gone
Up the road, and not too far from the Toon
Got Thursday off as leave, yes thankfully
So enough sleep tonight's wish number one
No sneaking in my room to pop a balloon!

4894 - Ketching up with people

A long day with a lot of achievement
Got up in time to watch Andrew Marr's show
Wrote a new song and then some merriment
In the form of a JFK sketch, though
It needed ketchup as a prop, and so
Bought some from Sainsbury's and I cooked my lunch
Rang Louis on his birthday, radio
On while I dozed, then caught the tram to watch
Liverpool v Man U, the rivals' crunch
Match with Barbie Mugabe, and we went
To two pubs in Chorlton. Beer was a no-
No, for I was to perform song and sketch
Later, where the audience was in ferment
And chaos reigned, but made a video

4850 - A case of me

Left work early, because Barbie messaged
He wanted to start our videos early
And yet soon after that he then messaged
Again to say, contradictorily
That he was going to town for a drink. He
Met me outside the Brooklands tram station
Me with my suitcase of props, easily
Transporting them in that way, better than
In big heavy bags where nosey types can
See the stupid stuff inside I've foraged
From supermarket toy aisles, charity
Shops, and the like. We then did film all ten
Songs, but it lasted all evening. I cadged
Some stuff and it all ended quite hazy

Fri 6 Dec

4826 - Good grief Justyna

This little man he had a busy day
Set the alarm, waited for Giannina
A potential flatmate, went wrong way
(She did), wrong bus, so had to advise her
I couldn't wait, work was calling. Stayed there
Til 3, then 45 minutes to get
To an eye appointment in Eccles. where
I got the all-clear. Tram back to the flat
Ate tea, then walked down Oxford Road and met
Justyna, first time in a while, she'd say
That's cos her life's hectic, stressful, and a
Pain in every way, but she still came out
She didn't like all the acts, but Randy
Felt Face she did like, so did I, ha ha!

Tue 12 Nov

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

4653 - My Park Life

Busy at work, tiredness notwithstanding
Got in early, did online judgment test
For the Leap self-development training
Hope I did well, they'll need to be impressed
Then an enjoyable meeting. The best
Thing about it was free coffee, but met
Some useful contacts there. One will progress
My forthcoming note-taking work project
Left about four, tried to rest at home, ate
An omelette, dyed hair green, then went walking
To Cornbrook tram station, hopped on the next
Tram to Bury, off at Heaton Park, leapt
Up the steps, met Jamal, and did filming
In glorious sunny Heaton Park. I'm blessed!

4615 - Tram, Pauline?

A cold but sunny day, a fine morning
Contacting friends, making plans, feeling fine
Played uke again, it's hard now avoiding
Getting my hands on the uke, want to climb
As high as I can as the studio time
Draws near - it's next Friday - and then I met
Jo at Deansgate tram station. Then we dined
At Beastro - that tall waitress seemed to let
Me know she remembered us, and we ate
A big breakfast, then continued walking
To my flat, watched The In-Betweeners, I'm
Now familiar, albeit ten years late
With series one, first three episodes. In
A pile are series two and three aligned

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

4350 - Slice n Easy

Woke up early, so no weekend lie-in
Maybe tomorrow. So did some washing
And had a good ukulele session
Then Piccadilly to meet Josephine
An hour round the Arndale, Afflecks, walking
Then met Pearl at Slice. Sat outside but it
Was not hot any more. Almost shivering
After Pearl left, we went up Oldham Street
Looking in clothes shops, but nothing was bought
Got the tram part way home, nearly getting
Unwelcome attention from inspecting
Officers, but hopped off, didn't get caught
Now just want to relax. Probably going
To bed early tonight for some dreaming...

4329 - Smoke on the moortop

It's so hot that the north west's literally
Catching fire, the ground's so dry and smoke drifts
Across from the moor top to the city
Sometimes you smell it wherever you sit
At home or in the park. It must be shit
To live nearby the fires, breathing it in
Met Jo who really looks like her mum, bit
Of shopping in town, then up to Heaton
Park by tram for a picnic. Red face, burned
On legs a bit too, and inevitably
On the back of the neck. Popped home, then nipped
Back into town to meet Helen and friends
A good time had by all, and hopefully
I came across OK to Helen's set!

Sat 30 June

4266 - Short of the mark

I'm on edge today, but it's been quite nice
Hung out with Josie and non-royal Louis
Louis was heading down the gym, surprised
Us by getting off the tram dressed strangely
In scruffy blue shorts. In Pizza Hut we
Chatted for an hour or so, then he went
To keep fit while Jo got the train sans me
A new stage in her self-development
Saves me time and energy, better spent
In other ways than tedious train journeys
Chatted to Carla, back from Italy
On her way to buy an iron! Then bent
My uke strings to good effect. Now, some tries
At writing comedy songs seems timely!

4185 - Metrostink

A good day and good evening at Railway
Pub, West Dids, although we did not win it
Lots of tram inspectors swarming Tuesday
Late evening for some reason, but I'm quits
With them, luckily I had a ticket
Six of them, safety in numbers, it seems
Outnumbering the passengers, one who bought
A ticket on the platform, asked the team
How to buy one, lol, obviously his scheme
Was usually to avoid paying, I'd say!
Who was he trying to kid? What a tit!
The supermoon is gone, it shed no beam
Now I'm back home, and soon in bed I'll lay
The pain has gone, all's well for the minute

4179 - Phoenix in the snow

Tram to Oldham Central, on Union Street
Right outside Phoenix House, DWP
Building where the well-being meeters meet
At least they do today. First thing I see
Is they're mostly women, who're more comfy
With pink and fluffy feelings stuff, they say
And it looks like it's true, apart from me
And maybe three other men. Crazy day
For weather, up in the hills, where snow lay
And more fell as the day went on, not sleet
But snow. Later, back in the big city
It looked like boring rain was all that they
Had to look at or walk through with wet feet
Tomorrow, Euston Tower is where I'll be

3861 - Red but no bed

This is a day late, I missed the last train
After the Man U match with Josephine
A Europa League second leg close game
1-1 away at Rostov, and it seemed
At first United would easily steam
Into the next round, but it proved quite tough
Zlatan kept flicking the ball to his team-
Mates but neither he nor they got enough
Of a good shot on target to see off
The obstinate Russians. Juan Mata came
To their rescue in the second half, seen
Close-up from the Stretford End. Trams were stuffed
Full, took a while to get her home, so stayin'
Overnight with wine and chat was the scene

3851 - All about Steve

Well, it's been well over a year but now
I've had another big job interview
Going for promotion, and this time, how
I've improved, but enough? I'll let you know
Competition is tough, but I would view
Myself as a hopeful winner of Come
Work With Me (rather than Dine) - I know you
Got the reference, it might be lost on some
After work, popped home, ate, then caught the tram
To Vee's to watch All About Eve - that cow!
Anne Baxter looked sinister, while her mew
Was like Marilyn's (she was there, pre-fame)
Lola the Cat clawed me on the hand - Ow!
Now I'm relaxing with a beer or two!

3847 - Interview with the birthday girl

A tough day at work, meetings aplenty
Some discord, discontent and disorder
In the team over Tom - they just don't see
The demoralisation of Emma
Who has to do his work for him, and hers
Mock interview with Andy W
The weekend priority's to prepare
For the real interview on Monday. Who
Will be on the panel? Dashed home to do
Exercises, shower, change clothes quickly
Then carrying a basket, hopped on the
Tram to Burton Road, carried basket to
Jenny's flat. It's her birthday, her and me
Spending the evening, us two together

Thur 2 March

3846 - Koffee Pot and FA Cup

The main thing at work was Geoff Riley's talk
About biofuels before he retires
Passing on his knowledge. And I won't baulk
At doing the same if promotion fires
Me to the next grade and I swap my chairs
From Oils to Landfill Tax. Met Louis straight
From work, in St Peter's Square, and this was
The prelude to tea at the Koffee Pot
And then the short tram ride to Etihad
For a Cup replay. City failed to take
Huddersfield away, but tonight perspired
A bit but in the end fired in a lot
Of goals, 5-1 the score. No need to walk
Home, got the tram, No heavy rain, the liars!

3839 - Coke and empathy

Last night was fun, belated date with Jen
Met at the Shakespeare pub in town at 6
We both like early starts, so maybe then
We should next time meet at 5? Both had drinks
Then relocated to the Vine, got kicks
From chats and groping (on my part) in that
Quiet pub, room to ourselves, then taxi whisked
Us back in no time to her rain-drenched flat
For vodka and Coke, frolicking and chat
Much more cuddly than before, and warm when
We got together in bed. Electric
Batteries must heat her. How is she so hot?
Only 4 hours' sleep, back home on the tram
Then changed, and to off work, couldn't take sick!

3821 - Splitter splatter

After work, I had a date with Jenny
Great to see her again after troubles
With misunderstood texts, but I think she
Has potential, she thinks I have foibles
But we can help each other and double
Our lives, for now anyway. Film-going
Friday night at the cinema, hubbub
And people a-plenty, young, old, crowding
Into Cineworld. We watched 'Split' finding
It an absorbing watch, after late tea
At the nearby Wetherspoons pub, marvels
Of cheap food and drink. Did some good talking
Then after the film, went separately
Home in the rain. On the tram were fools