4973 - I'll be coming down the mountain when I come

I feel as though I'm through the hardest part
Work-wise, I feel like the struggle's plateaued
And I can see the sunlit lowlands treat
Me to a pleasant view, descending road
Winding its leisurely way as I stride
Taking in the pleasant spring air en route
Who do I think I'm kidding? I'm supplied
With so much work I wanna parachute
Off this mountain into a pool, and float
See blue sky up above, feel the sun's heat
Dreaming of travel, leaving my abode
It will be difficult, there's no dispute
All flights and rooms will sell out in a heart
Beat, and also will cost a barrel-load

4950 - Should've been in Prague Day 4

So although me and Helen should have still
Been enjoying the flat and holiday
I woke at home, and felt the giddy feel
Of having drank too much watching telly
Last night. Today spent hours on phone to the
Other family members, talk was all
About guess what? Coronavirus. Me
Mother had no clue of the risks, appalled
At her blasé attitude. Brother, small
If any knowledge of it either. Kill
Our Mum, potentially then mate, make way
To her bungalow, hug and then touch all
Her door-handles and kitchen things. You will
Not be stopped by her. Told him anyway

4949 - Should've been Prague Day 3

Woke after a good night in the Ibis
Budget Hotel, Luton Airport. Breakfast
Then taxi, then fast train to St Pancras
On to Euston, I read while Helen crashed
Out for a nap. Did not quite have the blast
We envisaged. Free bus to her bus stop
Then struggled home with heavy bag, then fast
As I could to buy essentials in shops
Then Harry said, in absinthe I should drop
Some burned sugar cube powder, and then this
Turned into a mad hunt and a hard task
No stores had sugar cubes, I shopped and shopped
Until Marks and Sparks food hall did the biz
And I drank four shots while I movie-watched

Sat 14 March

4948 - Prague Day 2

Didn't get much sleep, neither did Helen
The flat was warm, kept throwing bedclothes off
Before long, Helen was checking her phone
The news was bad, borders were closing off
And Monday's flight home's prospects looking rough
I rang easyJet, they couldn't help us
Said we could switch flights for free, but too tough
To do that in such a rush. Hel had sussed
We had to get flights booked, paid in a rush
Before all seats were sold, and us marooned
She chose Luton, booked hotel rooms. Enough?
No - she even booked train back north. Goodness!
What a star! Let's hope we can get refunds
But at least we're not stranded and cut off

Fri 13 March

4947 - Prague Day 1

Day one of the Prague trip, In Manchester
I popped to the art shop for my drawing
Stuff, then met Helen for a coffee, the
Usual place. The plane was full of shouting
Lads, probably a stag do. Taxi charging
Too much. Pavel, Air BnB host, said
All restaurants were suddenly now closing
At 8, and no more flights to Czech, so I'd
Thought we'd got lucky, but may have misled
Myself. Czech's closing its borders sooner
Than we expected or were predicting...
Our late night in that bar, we drank and fed
It was the last late night there in Czechia
It shuts down at 8 from now on. Shocking!

Thur 12 March

4946 - Czech mate

Last night at home before Prague with Helen
I had two bottles once home, then I ate
No main course, just four eggs in the fridge. Then
I added all the mushrooms I had left
That's filled me up enough. The weather's wet
But who cares, as long as tomorrow day
It doesn't rain on me walking to meet
Helen at Costa near Piccadilly
Packed bag, think I am now almost ready
Got tomorrow morning to think again
What more I need, preparation complete
Excitement building, feeling quite giddy
The best girl I could wish for to share an
Amazing trip with. Let's insist on fun

4945 - Hair today

Another long day at work but was good
I'm back on track with Soft Drinks just before
I go on holiday. One more day's head
Down, then a few days of fun in Prague for
A chance to let my hair down, not a bore
Coronavirus hysteria won't stop
Bog roll was scarce in Sainsbury's, one more
Small pack obtained, enough to prevent slop
And nothing to wipe it with when it drops
This trip's just in time. One month more, it could
Have been impossible to go on tour
Abroad and go out at night, what a flop
A few drinks tonight, but not quite a flood
Now bedtime's here, I hope that I don't snore...

4944 - Soft thinks industry

Predictably busy with the Soft Drinks
Industry Levy, no preparation
Done for the Prague trip. I needed to fix
Currency and travel insurance. When
Tomorrow's call is over, I'll be gone
Out to the shops to sort it out, come what
May, and I'm getting excited again
This time it should be good, or my name's not
Bony Tony. This Prague trip should be hot
And I don't mean the weather. There'll be kicks
Aplenty, if I realise plans for fun
Another horror film, Rupture. Not shit
I hope, like last night's late film. Films showing
What mad fantasies are thought up by some!

4942 - They couldn't get the staff

A nice day out in town with Josephine
On what was a pleasant early spring day
Nice because it was two weeks since I've seen
Her, not since Portugal, and I'm away
Next weekend myself, Czech Republic way
She was friendly and chatty, and we ate
At Bella Italia, Cote Brasserie
Being short of kitchen staff, so our plates
Were pasta-filled, our buds enjoyed the taste
Then Caffe Nero, then the silver screen
Watched Fantasy Island, it was okay
Quite clever in imaginative ways
But we were confused by the closing scenes
Back home, gave my ukulele a play

4939 - Video dreams

Listening to Hot New Bands on Spotify
On my phone, thru my speaker, yes, all's fixed
Bluetooth's working on my speaker and my
Headphones now. Tomorrow I will visit
Vee's flat after work, take my PC, it's
Sending files straight from my phone when they're done
Onto my PC, should be effortless
But never has been, can take all evenin'
To upload a single video, makin'
It pointless filming them. Now maybe I
Can do it easily like modern kids
What a dream, especially with Prague comin'
To be able to film just what I spy
And upload when I want, and watch transfixed

4935 - This is the new sheet

Where's Storm Jorge? I thought it would pour down
I think it did last night, but today it's
Been cold and sunny, suitable for goin'
Out for a walk, no rain, not even spits
Popped to the shops, got new holiday bits
And bobs as Prague draws near, some underwear
I needed that - and some good new t-shirts
Also new bedsheets, though those are for here!
Might throw the old one out, the wear and tear
Has made it feel bobbly, can't move around
My feet and legs without slight discomforts
It needs to be super-smooth lying there
Rolling around, enough to bring on spurts
Here come the clouds, darkness sudden, profound

4934 - Intense suspense

I've had another intense day but it's
Friday and I did what was needed as
The weekend loomed, so I can now relax
And am doing so after a few beers
Second night of drinking as I type this
Tomorrow I'll try to resist doing
It a third night, that would be an addict's
Weakness, and I'm rehabilitating
In time for my trip to Prague that's looming
All good, except for coronavirus
Threatening a time that's good for us
Helen's had a blow, one that needs curing
I hope we can grab fun in both our mitts
And our trip provides us with memories

4927 - Lisbon Day 4

Another good night's rest in the hotel
Woke Jo withj music once again - The Ruts
Then searched Spotify for new tunes as well
Compiling a new playlist - Hate Their Guts! -
I've actually called it People, adding cuts
About what little shits people can be
They try to use us like we are puppets
An unreasonable thing to you and me
The rest of the day has been a journey
From Anjos to the airport, arrived well
On time, and while waiting, ate late breakfast
Flew to Munich, stuck in the airport three
And a half hours, so I'm drinking dunkel
Beer, might be merry by time of the flights!

Fri 21 February

4926 - Lisbon Day 3

Cloudy at first, then the sunshine shone through
After confusion 'bout departure point
Caught the Yellow Boat with its friendly crew
Got off on the far bank - our appoint-
ment with the Christ statue was imminent
We took a tuk-tuk to Rio's twin bro'
Built in '59, the same monument
As the one in Brazil - no need to go
There now!) Only had half an hour or so
Then took the tuk-tuk back. Quick meal. Yellow
Boat just about to leave. Jo feeling faint
Headed back to the hotel so that Jo
Could have a lie down. There might be time to
Have an evening meal. Last night in this joint

Thur 20 February

4925 - Lisbon Day 2

Very late leaving our hotel room - she rises
So late it was 12 noon before we went
Caught Yellow Bus open top tour, which is
Also a ticket for a boat tour - can't
Wait for tomorrow! The bus drove inland
I thought it was the Modern Lisbon tour
But it was Lisbon and Belem. Unplanned
But brilliant. Saw Belem, but also saw
The Golden Gate style bridge just above our
Heads. So sunny. Next, we sat with slushies
And waffles at a pavement table. Planned
To see the castle. Just too late, the door
Was closing, but saw the cathedral. It's
Great in Barrio Alto. A day well spent!

Wed 19 February

4924 - Lisbon Day 1

No sleep at all. Watched Gone Girl on sofa
Then tried to sleep there, fully-clothed, waiting
For the taxi to the airport. Here's there
Early, I thought, at five to four, hearing
His email in my inbox. Josephine
Was ready when we called at 4:30
And got the plane after some breakfast in
Balzar Café, Manc Airport's top café
Changed at Munich, and left it dangerously
Late boarding our Lisbon plane, catching a
TRAIN to Gate K - that was rather shocking!
Found hotel, Turim Luxe, eventually
Then caught metro to seafront. The cold air
Was hard to bear, so hotel - we're coming!

Tue 18 Feb

4923 - Relax, don't do it...

So tired, not enough sleep, but sanity
Prevailed, Helen cancelled, so the whole day
In the office, not film-watching, drunkly
Getting all excited the Helen way
Dashing back home, then to Piccadilly
And the late night airport train, then to sit
In that noisy chaos, exhaustedly
Unable to relax, feeling like shit....
No, it was not to be - grateful for it!
Finished more work, though not done completely
Saw sense, better to go home anyway
Order a taxi for middle of night
Or rather, 4:15, and til then, be
Comfy on my sofa, dozing, TV...

4921 - Expecting to fly

Storm Dennis hits, though real rain's tomorrow
As half-term holiday week gets going
And family holiday flights cannot go
Ahead, ruining their hopes and plans, costing
An arm and a leg if organising
Replacement flights to their destinations
If not, all wasted time, disappointing
The kids and parents. Me and Jo's Lisbon
Trip's two days after the storm disruption
That was a close one. Even if we flew
Through the storm, at first, returning
To the start in peril of destruction
Would be a possibility, and so
Fingers crossed we'll get cool calm journeying

4920 - Untrue lies

Friday, rarely has it been so welcome!
I enjoy meeting my work challenges
I've done really well in this last hard month
Exemplary behaviour, I've no fears
That I can be criticised by my peers
With first-hand knowledge of failures by me
So it comes down to lies spread by others
In the end, truth will out and I'll be free
Meanwhile, the Lisbon trip imminently
With Jo, that'll be a welcome change from
Hard work handicapped by others' failures
And lack of fun for an eternity
Apart from the odd night out with Helen
Or music, films, podcasts and other biz

4901 - Going going going

Sunday, a bit of a failed day today
It's my crap phone and Dropbox both combined
Trouble uploading anything, all day
Kept trying, but it was a long, failed grind
I'll hope another day will be more kind
My only consolation, a booking
Of a holiday literally just round
The corner - mid-February, it's looming -
Me and Josephine then will be flying
To Lisbon for three or four days to stay
In the much-praised Portuguese stomping ground
Even before Prague with Helen, happening
Soon. Hope the office lets me go away
And hope my tech demons to hell confined!