5119 - The road to health

It’s not the road to hell, it’s the road to health 

This morning my diarrhoea’s almost gone 

And by evening, bowels control themselves 

Can watch tv, no need to pause and run

Today, watching tv is what I’ve done 

Finished 30 Rock series 2 box set

And watched Les Miserables. Both have been on

My work desk since before lockdown, so great 

To finally move that pile of stuff and get 

Finished books and dvds off my shelves 

And to the charity shop next week some

Time, put them in a big box. Gerard might

Want room for his stuff. Though tired, couldn’t help

Playing my guitar - a mighty fine strum!

5118 - Convalescence

So as I said in yesterday’s sonnet 

Or at least in its title anyway 

It’s good to get back home, a cosy fit

When you’re food-poisoned, shitting night and day 

Not in that crummy flat where I had stayed

In Aberdeen. No wonder it was cheap 

Location good, but nothing worked, sticky

Floor, loud neighbours just when you try to sleep 

Grateful my illness waited, didn’t seep

Out of my bottom while still doing tourist 

Stuff up in Scotland, draining energy

Soiling clothes in a car where I don’t keep 

Replacement underwear, cos I don’t shit 

Myself normally. Being home is it!! 

5117 - Why it’s good when you get back home

Ok, it’s still Friday the 28th

Of August, the previous sonnet’s setting 

I’ve dozed for hours on the bus, should feel great 

But instead, tired and cold as I’m walking 

All the way home, with shoulder bag, dragging 

My red suitcase behind me all along

The cobbles and bobbles. I’m suffering 

(I realise very soon) from poisoning

By blue cheese that was warm and had gone wrong

On the last day of driving. Still I ate

Some of it, but then thankfully throwing 

Most in the bin. Slept blissfully a long

Night, but diarrhoea had become my fate

And all Saturday spent tired, shitting...

Saturday 29 August 

5116 - Magic bus

I took this picture while in Aberdeen 

It’s of the harbour, complete with some boats

And next to it you’ll find the bus station 

Where thanks to the alarm, made sure I rose

At six to catch the bus on the long road

To Glasgow, and from there to Manchester 

At this point, didn’t know I had swallowed 

Something that had made me ill. Didn’t care

I felt so tired on the bus that for hour

After hour I just dozed, looked at road sign

After sign, dozed again, didn’t suppose 

I needed to read, or could, for that matter 

Or even listen to music. Was gone 

With the fairies, tranquillised, hot and cold

5115 - Aberdeen Day 4

Ten and three quarter hours driving today 

No wonder I felt tired, and stiff legs too

Went so many great places all the way 

Just dropped off at the end. Missed turn-off to

Scone and it’s palace around 6, and knew 

Had to give up, go back to Aberdeen 

Besides, it was lashing down, staying true 

To the usual weather here, yes, even 

In August. The highlights were: Stonehaven

Dunnottar Castle, Crawton, Inverbervie 

St Cyrus, Montrose, Arbroath Abbey (who

Knew that was there?), Dundee, Tay Bridge Crossin’

And St Andrews. Out of way places, may

Never visit again. That’s sad but true!

Thur 27 Aug

5114 - Aberdeen Day 3

Eleven hours of driving, second day 

With the mint green Fiat hired car up in

Aberdeenshire. Drove round the coast to Moray

As far as Elgin, oh so much driving 

Some lovely small ports, harbours, boats, fishing 

Like Sandhaven and Rosehearty. Beaches 

Too, like Aberdour, empty. Exploring 

The distant caves, the sound of waves, crashes

Of foam onto the rock hypnotises 

Macduff was a lively place, I must say 

Shipbuilding, fishing, picturesque, living 

And vibrant, more than neighbouring Banff. What is

More pleasant than driving in Scotland, eh?

One more day of driving to come. Big grin! 😀

5113 - Aberdeen Day 2

Today was a day of relentless rain 

But while days of that type are usually bad 

This one was so much fun it was insane 

The best non-stop-rain day I’ve ever had 

First, some shopping in Aberdeen, then sped

To the bus station, bus to the airport 

Found Easirent car hire in hotel hid

A nice turquoise Fiat 500. Sought 

The road to the mountains, and quickly caught 

It, seeing Castles Drum and Crathes, then

Banchory for lunch, Aboyne far inland 

Now in the Cairngorms, Ballater. I bought 

Some souvenirs in Braemar. Glenshee ran

On for miles. Perthshire, Angus. All so good!!!