1049 - Manchester monsoon

Today I hoped we’d see the Festival
Of Caribbean Culture in Moss Side
But that plan was scuppered as the rain fell
We ate lunch and kept an eye on outside
Torrential downpours, they became our guide
So we went to the pictures (in 3-D!!)
Wearing ‘sunglasses’ in the dark, inside
I’ve not done that since I was height of knee
To a grasshopper. After ‘Ice Age 3’ -
Though too late - the weather then turned out well
Someone said, “Don’t wear those glasses outside!”
Drove down to Wilmslow to drop off Josie
Right now, after those sweets, I still feel full
Might do more music next, if not too tired
Sun 19 July 2009

1048 - Homework

A busy day at home… What did I do?
It’s all a beer-soaked blur now, finally
Amazingly, I cleaned all my windows
I’ve now got windows through which you can see!
I’ve almost finished a new track, to be
Called ‘Couldn’t Think Of Anything To Say’
It needs remixing, keyboard part, maybe
And after four hours doing that, a play
On the guitar, the first for many days
Watched Monty Python, ‘Elizabeth’ too
Cate Blanchett in love with Walter Raleigh!
Walter, he chased the Armada away
No sign of Francis Drake…But that’s how you
Keep the Yanks interested in history!
Sat 18 July 2009

948 - Happy days

Been hard at work and play these last few days
Up early today to see my Josie
We went to Uppermill and found some ways
To amuse: stepping stones, a small café
But no cruise on the barge today. Then we
Drove back through the hills, past stone cottages
The Pennines and Manchester, from Mossley,
Both look good, a new sight for Josie’s eyes
We then watched a new family film: it was
A tearjerker about a dog who dies
Worn out from years of being so naughty
We ate these mice sweets full of E numbers
Josie’s front tooth’s out - tooth fairy be praised
A sleep now, then my love I’m off to see
Thur 9 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

945 - Tonight's not the night

Thinking of you and listening to The Who
And shortly now Neil Young will have sung
‘Tonight’s The Night,’ but he’s not right; no, you
And me were last night; tonight I’ll just hang
Around the flat, feeling shattered; I’ll bung
On ‘Gomorrah’ tonight, not tomorrow
When I’ll see ‘Space Odyssey.’ That’ll bring
Me down to earth, grounded before I go
To Belfast again on a plane; no snow
This time unlike that last time when I flew
Tonight there’ll be a flight, but not so strong
Or fast as Belfast or last night….Oh, no
Tonight it’s flights of fantasy, not you
Tomorrow, too, ‘Without You’ to be sung
Mon 6 Apr 2009

938 - Tired sonnet

Wanted to watch ‘Il Divo’ after work
I also wish I had watched ‘Gomorra’
These two Italian films show the beserk
Gang violence there. Well maybe tomorrow
I’ll have more energy and I will go
Tonight, however, I’m just staying in
Resting, an early night, slowing the flow
Watching some DVDs and relaxing
Too tired to play music, just beer drinking
Is all I can manage now, after work
I plan nothing, and that plan is thorough
After this, there will be no more writing
At times like this, living alone’s a perk
And household chores - oh, spare me the horror!
Mon 30 Mar 2009

936 - No rest for the wicked

The day began round her house, then taxi
Home for a few hours’ rest, then collect parcel
Of Kubrick DVDs, then, shocked to see
How much brick dust there was, cleared up that hell
Under the rug in the spare bedroom: well,
Louis is sleeping there tonight. Breakfast,
Then off to see Josie, who did real well
On her scooter, and made sure not to waste
My two-for-one voucher, a cheap repast
At Gourmet Burger Kitchen, her and me
No time for catching up on sleep; pressed bell
On Louis’ door in Burnage, and real fast
We got the evening’s food from Sainsburys
Watched The Shining, talked scripts and how they sell
Sat 28 Mar 2009

874 - Fourteen lines with two rhymes and an 'oh'

Woke up at eight, thought, ‘Mustn’t be late,’ so
Hopped out of bed, usual shouts from below
‘Hang on,’ you ask, ‘it’s Sunday. No tasks. Slow!’
But I’d promised not to miss little Jo
Waiting, anticipating in Wilmslow
I’d driven down there by eleven, though
My Ford drove from Salford and is quite slow
No waiting, accelerating I’d go
When white van man incites my anger, show
Boy racer tendencies, outpace these low
Forms of life, get to ex-wife’s; didn’t know
Where to have lunch with Jo, my hunch was ‘No’
To Pizza Express; wallet needs less flow
Late breakfast, then fast to Disney film show
Sun 25 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

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

816 - Can I go home now?

Incredible tiredness pervades my bones
I sit at my desk, unable to work
Two nights of staying up late caused these moans
And so as Friday wears on, I just shirk
My emailing friend has gone out; no smirks
At our funny exchanges to enjoy
Just clockwatching and drinking tea; no perk
Such as a bite of chocolate to employ
My chocolate's all at home - you stupid boy!
Tonight, though, I'll be hearing screams and groans
No, not the neighbours this time (those damn Turks)
But at the cinema. Please don't annoy
Me, long-legged louts kicking my chair, or phones
Switched on all through the show (drives me beserk!)
Fri 28 Nov 2008

700 - Licensed to quill

James Bond reversed, not by some evil guy
Who ties him up, points a gun at his head
And then, inexplicably, lets him try
To escape, which he does; villain instead
Biting the dust soon after. No. I said
James Bond reversed, meaning by my good self
In using the number 700
Apparently, blogging’s good for the health
Publishing thoughts on a virtual bookshelf
Permits your internal conflict to fly
Somewhere out there where it is detected
Deflecting stress, defusing it by stealth
So I urge you, for your own sake, to try
It’s cheaper than the gym, James. So to bed
Mon 4 Aug 2008

699 - Stars stuck

Pictures of old film stars stuck on the wall
Smoking their cigarettes, scooting in Rome
Clipped eyebrows, padded shoulders, men looked tall
But weren’t; perfected in old monochrome
Monroe holding Yves Montand disc at home
Kath Hepburn wearing the trousers, and proud
Tousle-haired Marlon and James Dean in bloom
Marlene leaner, Greta better. How’d
They look today, now smoking’s not allowed
Now dressing-up’s not done; no dress at all
That wavy hair’s a no-no, so’s a comb
They’d find a way to stand out from the crowd
They’d find a way to make themselves seem tall
Acting out roles in life’s visual poem
Sun 3 Aug 2008

618 - De-Rangers

The Scots are in town for a football match
The sun is blazing down on their blue shirts
Their dehydrated town-centrewards march
Their somewhat spine-chilling mass vocal bursts
We've heard them all day from the office. Worse,
I'm planning on seeing a film in town
Near Albert Square, where a big screen alerts
The drunken throng to how it's going down
In the nearby Man City football ground
Meanwhile I'll be in a dark room to catch
The latest Joy Division movie, versed
Even more in doomy Manc folklore, found
Truth in the Cornerhouse, shadowplay watched
Then home to catch the match, glass of wine nursed
Wed 14 May 2008

591 - Naked

Watching the film ‘Naked’ directed by
The Salford-born Mike Leigh, and laughing at
David Thewlis’ unconvincing try
At a Salford accent. Sounds more like that
Wonderful accent, Scouse. Dave was begat,
However, in Black (not in Liver) pool.
Although he’s generally a real twat,
Everyone likes him, loves him. He’s a fool,
Or is he rather the director’s tool,
There to act out Mike’s fantasies? For I
Wouldn’t mind directing sex scenes with ‘fat,’
‘Old’ women characters still worth a drool
Cos they’re all played by sexy women. Why
Act so middle class, proletariat?
Thur 17 Apr 2008

576 - Mary Poppins Day

Today was National Mary Poppins Day,
In our house at least. Watched it all again.
The bonus DVD was given a play,
Which showed the opening night from way back when
(In August ’64). Songs by Sherman,
Who turned up along with old Walt himself,
Wife Edna by his side, and the main man,
Our Dick, down from the chimneys. “Your good ’elf…!”
Julie, her cut glass accent off the shelf
At Selfridges, freshly plucked from her play
On Broadway, where she’d made old Walt a fan,
Before the Hound of Music brought more wealth.
The author was there too - her stories say
Life’s not all duty. Learn from the children.
Wed 2 Apr 2008

419 - Can you afford to be healthy?

Last night my son and me saw the devil
In human form, and the name of the beast
Is Michael Moore. Yet he had his revel-
ation about US healthcare, not least
That Cuba's is far fairer. From the east
They fled for freedom, loving Liberty
But finding, after they'd finally pieced
It all together, a new tyranny
The name of this new beast being Money
Bow down, oh Freedom-worshippers! Level
In theory, but excluded from the feast
If poor or of selfless philosophy
Directed towards hate and fear, civil
Discontent deflected abroad. No peace
Sun 28 Oct 07

407 - 87 Heaven

I've just been watching video footage
Me and my first wife shot in 87
On old-style tape, for this digital age
Resurrected, now in DVD heaven
Film of the now sadly-missed sunken garden
At Piccadilly, the old Marks and Sparks
And a long bus ride into the past, driven
Past what were southern Manchester's landmarks
We filmed those ducks and goats now gone from parks
No longer safe from stupid youthful rage
Acting the fool in Liverpool, and given
Fine summer sunshine for our youthful larks
Now halfway through my book, that early page
Reread reveals so much that I'd forgotten
Sun 16 Oct 07

344 - What's on my desk today? Some DVDs

What’s on my desk today? Some DVDs
I rented from Blockbuster: first, ‘The Queen’
(Love Tony Blair in that!); then, memories
Of the eighties in ‘Wall Street,’ Charlie Sheen
Learning that greed is good. One that I’ve been
Waiting to see is here: ‘The History Boys;’
‘The Last King of Scotland’ (Idi Amin);
‘Thank You For Smoking,’ which no doubt annoys
Some, and ‘Tideland’ - again, a drug destroys.
Also, there’s a pile of new-bought CDs:
Richard & Linda Thompson, Bruce Springsteen,
McCormack and Tauber both in fine voice.
A coffee mug, on which the name Tony’s
Displayed in gold letters … and this machine.
Tue 14 Aug 2007

319 - I think I'll set up in business and sell

I think I’ll set up in business and sell
Those tiny concealed cameras, sometimes used
By undercover TV men to tell
Their tale of criminals later accused,
Thanks to that evidence. If you’re confused,
Just think of the YouTube generation,
All furtively filming! But… How abused
Our privacy would be: a whole nation
Of perverts, global communication
At its fingertips! Cracked Liberty Bell,
How far does freedom ring? Your chime’s infused
With insult, ridicule, exploitation.
But hell, by now we all know, all too well:
In free markets, mere morals are misused.
Fri 20 July 2007