1060 - Music and musing

I’ve got a sore left eye. Resting tonight
Getting up early tomorrow morning
To look after Josie. Losing the fight
To write tonight, even though I’m feeling
Both bored and guilty. Once again fleeing
Responsibility. Consolation
In the Proms live on TV. This screening
Contains works by Berlioz and Mendelssohn
With such musical treasure, being alone
Is not such a big thing; rather, a flight
Through history, emotion, suffering…
I must mention the weather. Evening sun
After terrible downpours that have quite
Drenched July, and are still continuing
Thur 30 July 2009

1054 - Siren

An endless siren calls through the night air
An ambulance? A police car? No, neither
It’s someone’s house or car alarm I hear
Maybe they’re on holiday, unaware
That their property’s causing such a stir
How fortunate that I’m not next door. Hey!
It’s stopped, and there is peace on earth once more
It’s just as well, for just about to play
Is Akiko Suwanai, backed by the
Orchestre National de Lyon: they’re
This evening’s Prom… Oh, not again! I hear
An ambulance or police car on its way
To some Salford emergency; despair
Somewhere, but who cares? There’s the orchestra!
Fri 24 July 2009

1034 - 23rd anniversary

Just realised: today’s the twenty-third
Anniversary of my first wedding
And to make this realisation weird
Today I went round hers; we sat talking
About our two kids, then spent time looking
At our diets, and how healthy they are
On the Tesco website, and exploring
What could be done on her i-Phone; wonder
Of modern gadgetry. To Kylyra
I re-sent backing tracks, minus the words
Which I’ll deliver when I’m there, gigging.
Briefly saw Josie, then home, where I saw
More Monty Python sketches; the absurd
Aspects of Britishness got a kicking
Sat 4 July 2009

1024 - Busy day off

A sunny summer’s day… They do exist!
And I was off work watching Jeremy Kyle
Then Trisha, then I had a shopping list
Then finished reading ‘The Color Purple’
Lent by ex-girlfriend not seen for a while
Had lunch and also watched Monty Python
Still not rehearsed for tonight (that’s my style:
Leave it till last moment…) Watched Wimbledon
But conscious now of the time moving on
I realised the chance was almost missed
To practice for tonight. Decided I’ll
Do a medley of three songs (two are on
My CD) and a poem, one that dissed
Comedians, and contained appropriate bile
Wed 24 June 2009

1022 - Demonstrating in the street

The summer's here and (yeah) the time is right
For demonstrating in the streets (again)
John Simpson always likes to catch a fight
That's why he's currently down in Tehran
Ah, those fond memories of Tiananmen
And seeing Saddam's statue toppling o'er
He loves his foreign travel, specially when
There's oppressed people dying on the floor
Who cares where it may be, or what it's for?
It's thrilling viewing each and every night
Forget the boring politics, rerun
That cellphone video you showed before
The one where that poor girl was hit and died
And for a while we'll care about Iran
Mon 22 June 2009

988 - Everything hurts

Today I drifted semi-consciously
As the flu gripped, and relief was nowhere
As light spread, I slept with difficulty
Even breathing was hard, and it grew clear
I’d be off work again, but also there
Would be no energy even to read
Let alone play music, or leave my lair
I needed stimulation, and indeed
I got it, as the Speaker now agreed
To resign. Watched ‘Picture of Dorian Gray’
Then watched Gordon Brown trying to declare
He was ushering in the end of greed
Yet refusing to sack certain MPs
Right! Now I can slump once more in my chair…
Tue 19 May 2009

956 - Wondering what to do

A blue pink evening sky with plane slug trail
A purple cloud floats by behind the trees
While charging the phone I talk to my girl
The day’s work done, why not do as I please
The sky is darker now, cold evening breeze
From the balcony. How to pass the time
The muse will not allow access, she flees
And I may have to bow out when this rhyme
Is done. The sun has set and I can’t climb
The slopes any more. Let the evening fail
And hope wither, I’ll get up off my knees
Turn on the TV, settle for sublime
Or ridiculous. Watch a film and sail
Away, lose all attachment and unease
Fri 17 Apr 2009

946 - Work, rest and play 2

Early to bed tonight, early to rise
Tomorrow to fly to Belfast Airport
I may not be wealthy, may not be wise
In work and love’s tentacles I am caught
Tie me up, tie me down…I’m watching sport
Man U against Porto, half-time one-all
And after that, Jools Holland, who has brought
The Specials onto his show (Terry Hall?
We’ll see…) I’ve watched a film and now football
And so far the game has been a surprise
Glad no bets placed, or I could have got caught
Once more with my pants down, making fuck all
Up at six tomorrow, up in the skies
A full agenda, given lots of thought
Tue 7 Apr 2009

898 - Putting it off again

Off work today, but short on energy
Because of online chatting late last night
Breakfasted while watching war DVD
And Jeremy Kyle (unmissable sight)
Whenever I’m off, I enjoy the plight
Of chavs giving abuse, getting abuse
Although to some, to say so isn’t right
Maybe they’d like to live next to such crews
And hear their late night arguments and screws
Finished episode three of comedy
Since then, not done much, cause I couldn’t fight
Tiredness and laziness… Oui, je m’accuse!
But now, after a nap, it’s time for me
To practice the two songs I’ll sing tonight
Wed 18 Feb 2009

896 - Our first colour telly

When I were a short-sighted lad in shorts
Me dad brought ’ome our first colour telly
John Craven’s flowery shirts on news reports
And Pot Black’s snooker balls pocketed me
The Generation Game, wi’ ole Brucie
A feast o’ seventies orange an’ brown
Football were played on green instead o’ grey
Rolf’s pool so blue you could jump in an’ drown
King Edward the Seventh’s bright golden crown
The Goodies, Frank Spencer, Dick Emery brought
Colourful language and aching belly
While news o’ strikes an’ bombs brought us all down
Felt I were at the Crossroads, in Crown Court
How excitin’ can a small square box be?
Mon 16 Feb 2009

895 - What's going on

Today I’m writing, maybe recording
Then watching football live on the TV
The FA Cup Fifth Round match featuring
Manchester United, Derby County
At Derby’s Pride Park. A Rams victory
Seems unlikely, but come on Cloughie’s boys
Against the Reds we recently put three
Past them in the League Cup, though lots of noise
Has been made about their clean sheets. A cruise
Up to Bolton with Andy this evening
To Write Out Loud’s new venue there; should be
A good night, filled with laughter and applause
Not seen Josephine this weekend; taking
Her to meet Pearl on Tuesday: out for tea
Sun 15 Feb 2009

894 - Happy alone

Tired last night, went to bed and fell asleep
Slept like a log, thank God, neighbours quiet
Valentine’s Day dawned, appointments to keep
With myself and work, no shortage of it
Started with the news, there’s no end to it
Watched a chart countdown, then football preview
Wrote fifteen pages of ‘Love At First Fright’
Then watched the football scores, as boys have to
Followed by rugby (Wales - England), then new
Songs written and recorded; been a steep
Learning curve, but getting there, bit by bit
Not bad when last month didn’t have a clue
I drank and smoked, and now to count some sheep
With Plato for my bedside reading shit!
Sat 14 Feb 2009

880 - Preparations for visiting my daughter on her birthday

My daughter’s sixth birthday, cold and windy
Spent hours listening to new CDs, and wrapped
Her presents, sipped some soup, which is handy
When you can’t chew like I can’t, so I supped
My soup, with pieces of soft white bread dipped
Watched Football Focus, the soccer preview
While the music played on, and then I popped
The presents in three big bags, quite a few
Things bought, locked door, carried it all down to
The car outside, boot loaded gratefully
Under a grey sky, while a fierce wind whipped
Popped in to Maplins for adaptor, two-
Holed, but new brown shoes must wait till Sunday
Can’t be late for my date, or I’ll get slapped
Sat 31 Jan 2009

858 - Thank fuck it's Friday

Friday night's here, free from wage slavery
Free to drink, free to stay up late and sh*g
Free to puke, argue, split, feel misery
Or eat more than you should from a brown bag
Hurry - curry and rice, that's nice - fat slags
Got nowt on us. Could eat that twice. What's on?
Celebrity Big Brother. It's a drag
Now that annoying...what's-her-name?... has gone
We used to go out clubbing and have fun
Before we got together. We were free
Free to drink, free to stay up late and sh*g
Except we did it more then, singletons
Yet for some reason, we still choose to be
Chained to our partners, and our desks. A fag?
Fri 9 Jan 2009

838 - Ol' square eyes is back

A lovely day for once doing nothing
It seems I haven’t done this much for years
Too tired to think, my mind is on the blink
So I just watched one and a half series
Of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Now here’s
Another DVD lying around
Must watch before my son’s present appears
(A pile of films - the bet is safe and sound)
Well I’ve watched it now. Look who’s run aground
On Film Four - it’s Bogie and Katherine!
Will they get out of Africa? Boat nears
The sea, but gets stuck in mud. Could this mound
Of brown be metaphor, I’m wondering
For any of life’s frustrating failures
Sat 20 Dec 2008

834 - Account of a day off work

The neighbours seemed to shag three times last night
Or maybe just three attacks of bedbugs
That made the mattress shake and creak; all quiet
Voicewise, though - no female moans reached my lugs
Despite these interruptions, aural tugs
From my own Land of Nod, I slept quite well
Got up at nine-twenty and had some glugs
Of juice, turned on TV, watched Jeremy Kyle
Exposing and exploiting chavs a while
I shaved, washed, dyed my hair, the sky less bright
As noon drew on; played swing, including Duke’s
And Artie Shaw’s top tunes. Can nearly tell
Where notes are on guitar with eyes shut tight
Then collected son from London uni digs
Tue 16 Dec 2008

831 - Rainy Saturday fun

Got up, cleaned the flat, then did ironing
While listening to Love and to Roxy
I then drove up to Oldham, collecting
My friend, then ate at Franky and Benny
Which one, you ask? The one at Salford Quay
Too late for brunch, I chose the chicken wings
The barbecue sauce was a bit spicy
She had pizza, not eating everything
We went online at my place, the dating
Website was a bit shite, but interesting
Then watched some films. Hugh Grant danced so badly
But funnily, and did you know he sings?
Then a film about the shy geek winning
The girl. Maybe this could happen to me
Sat 13 Dec 2008

814 - Nuts and Bolton

Day off today to do lots today, hey
But all I did was write all about food
Wanted to go for a run today, hey
But I just wrote - not in a running mood
But a haircut was something I’d include
There must be time for that - no way José
I watched Jeremy Kyle, wrote about food
And that was it, off to the BBC
To see what they would say. It’s not easy
Getting scripts accepted by their guys, hey
I got all the tips down, then crossed the road
Got in my car, drove to Bolton city
For a friends’ poetry night tonight, hey
And all I did was read all about food
Wed 26 Nov 2008

803 - Chillin' in ma crib

Not feeling too good, Saturday morning
Headache, but not after a long session
Just some sort of bug, sickening, dizzying
Tense nervous headache? Here’s your medicine
And meanwhile I have got the ironing done
While watching videos on TMF
They’ve played the charts, now the oldies are on
Oh no, not Boyzone again - what a laugh!
Take That, Girls Aloud, my old friends Westlife
And now the Sugababes are back singing
Last night we stayed up till round half past one
Children in Need was on, and photographs
From York were uploaded for your viewing
Forgot to put them on Facebook. Hang on…
Sat 15 Nov 2008

787 - News night

I’m sitting watching the news and I’ve seen
The BBC row about Ross and Brand
African troubles in Congo again
The economy’s hard to understand
The presidential race that will soon end
Obama’s still leading, but can he stay
Or, like Lewis Hamilton on a bend
Will he lose the top spot on the last day?
A Scottish by-election on the way
The Scottish Labour Party a has-been?
The news is ending, so what viewing’s planned?
It’s Question Time, this time from USA
It’s Ranvir Singh, hurray, the local queen
Of North West News, waving her little hand
Thur 30 Oct 2008