5430 - England v Denmark

Worked hard til 5:15 then dashed down to 

Deansgate station to meet with Josephine 

Ate at the Chip Hut upstairs and then to

My flat to watch the build up before seeing 

England v Denmark, cheering on our team 

The first half wasn’t great, we showed the fear

Yet unlike before, they ended supreme 

And powered on through to the final. Now we’re 

Facing Italy on Sunday, so near

To winning, but let’s not care too much. You

Know that we could lose. The achievement’s been 

Acceptable already, so let’s cheer 

Them on from our home. Saw Jo on tram, new 

Experience, our team in the final dream!

Wed 7 July 

5429 - Early swim

An early swim, first early swim midweek 

Tuesday morning, the eight o clock pool slot

Predictably I didn’t get much sleep 

I never seem to when the alarm’s set

Nevertheless I walked down Liverpool Street 

To Clarendon Leisure Centre in my

New blue trainers, so comfy on my feet 

Once in the water, tiredness seemed to fly

Breaststroke, backstroke, crawl, but no butterfly 

Back home to work, but afterwards was weak

With fatigue. Tried to sleep on sofa but

Gerard came in so couldn’t get shuteye

But Italy v Spain kept me awake 

Italy won from the penalty spot 

Tue 6 July

5428 - Interlude

Today has felt just like an interlude

Between two visits to the leisure place 

Yesterday, my first time, it really proved 

Exciting, now the novelty replaced

By discipline. Alarm set so I’m raised

Out of bed early and can head down there

Into the pool where I will set the pace

Faster than last time, hopefully. Did a

Bit of messaging to Mum, Pearl and Claire

And Josephine too. Tried to phone Lee but

The would-be bathroom fitter for Mum was

Not there. Watched Wimbledon but poor Emma

Pulled out injured. I finished Nevil Shute - 

No Highway. Next one - A Town Like Alice…

5427 - Gym n swim

Gym n swim day number one - I’ve never 

Done this combination of keeping fit

Hardly been in a gym though to be fair 

Long time ago went and tried to lift weight

And did my back in! Down Liverpool Street 

To the Clarendon Leisure Centre though 

I had no trainers, and no vest. T shirt

Got soaked with sweat in the gym, but I’ll know 

Better next time. Chatted to a man, so

Fit for a 73-year old. There

Were running, cycling, rowing machines. Great 

First time in there. First proper swim for, oh,

Many years! Several lengths of breast, then the

Backstroke, then crawl. All combined to excite!

5426 - England ease on through

I did think England would beat Ukraine but

Not that easily. The quarter final 

Was rarely in doubt and became a rout

4-0 in the end, Kane with a two goal 

Headline grabbing performance that made all

Those watching excited whether English 

Or not. To see England doing so well 

Must be especially hard for the Scottish 

They tune in hoping we’re out with a crash 

Josephine visited and we both sat

On the sofa. Before that, ate our fill

At Cote Brasserie, chicken was the dish

Sadly this last year I’ve been getting fat

So tomorrow I’m starting gym and pool!!

Sat 3 July 

5425 - Home again

Looked after mum at her place now for two 

And a half weeks but home today at last 

The only thing on my mind was to do

What I’d been unable to for the most 

Time - drink and smoke outside. I got back just 

In time to watch the first quarter final 

Spain knocking out Switzerland but were forced 

Into extra time and penalties. Well 

They’ve not looked great this tournament, but still 

In it. Then Belgium v Italy- blue

Triumphing over red. Italians worst

Team to play against, I’d say. You can tell 

They’ll make the final, knock Spain out - but who

Will also get through, and who will be toast?

Fri 2 July 

5424 - Tennis the menace

Last full day at my mum’s, it’s Wimbledon 

On the Telly, there’s nothing else to watch 

I’m trying to read this evening, moving on

Through a peculiar novel in a batch 

Of three by Nevil Shute, not On The Beach -

That’s the third one - no, it’s called No Highway

And then, A Town Like Alice within reach 

Which makes me want to read on and then say 

I finished it, though it was hard. But hey - 

It’s different, undoubtedly old-fashioned 

The characters and plot a little strange 

It’s about aeroplane safety and they 

Are all shy, realistic, normal. Fun

In short supply, but I must still finish!