1050 - Stranded

Oh ye of little faith, fear not I’ve gone
I’m merely cut off from the internet
BT won’t take over my landline phone
Till Friday evening; till then I can’t get
My new broadband provider changed from shit
Pipex to O2, who should be better
And, next week, when I do, I shall post yet
More sonnets on my site, and update a
Networking site or two, to have greater
Coverage and include the things I’ve done
In the last month or two, such as a set
Of new songs. It’s quite good that I’ll get a
New email address: less junk mail will come
Yes! I’ll be back soon, so, my friends, don’t fret!
Mon 20 July 2009

1044 - I woke at noon

I woke at noon - that’s a recent record
I’m still offline, though - have been since late June
That makes you feel cut off, as though the cord
That binds you to the world has not been thrown
To you, drifting in the ocean, alone…
Put up my photos on the computer
Watched video that I’d shot of Irish town
And country; a new musical idea
Came to me, but the track hasn’t appeared
Yet, except in my head; hard to record,
Tricky arrangements, more than just a tune
A blend of classical and rock, a near
Nightmare, but hopefully they won’t be bored…
Gave Andy late lift from airport to home
Tue 14 July 2009

1043 - In Ireland 5 - Banter near Bantry

Stayed up listening to music and talking
And life plans and whatnot and feeling high
At the way my Irish trip was ending
With my music being liked by Tor and Ky
And invitations to return, to try
Recording my songs with good production
And also, and this could be fun for me
Taking part in group improvisation
Slept on the sofa at DarkWorld.com
Only a short sleep, second night running
Croissant for breakfast; Ky was looking tired
She had some work. Andy and me went down
To Durrus for a pint and sandwich. Things
Have ended up all right, then, finally
Mon 13 July 2009

1042 - In Ireland 4 - Sheep's Head

I woke up in a red car in Bantry
I walked around the town, around the bay
Around the bend, past the camp of gypsies
The Cork and Kerry Mountains rose and lay
The Pillar of Kilnaruane don’t say
Too much, pointing straight up; no direction
Except the sky. Consulting notes, my way
Led me down Sheep’s Head towards Kilcrohane
Steep green slopes bled into blue sea. Drove down
To a farmhouse called Desmond’s; white, lonely
Where a small, select group had come to play
Tomás spoke verse and Derek actually sang
Drove up and down and around with Andy.
Tor and Ky (musicians) said I could stay
Sunday 12 July 2009

1041 - In Ireland 3 - Cork and Kerry mountains

Torrential rain all day, till around six
Drove from Killarney to good old Bantry
Across the Gap of Dunloe, with its tricks
Of tight bends, sheep and rain, incessantly
Caught sixty winks down by the Bantry quay
And then found Bantry Boys’ Club (That was hard!)
Tonight was a good night for poetry
It seemed to go down well, seems to have scored
A local hit: a succession of bards
Some more traditional, some with music
Even some kids and food, additionally
And afterwards… What happened afterwards?
Oh yeah, more drinks and chat with the poets
Who’d come from all Ireland and overseas
Sat 11 July 2009

1030 - 24 hours in Salford and Bolton

Last night Andy came round with Soundforge 5
We picked up Rachel en route to Bolton
The writers’ group met, consisting of five
Sat out the back of the Hen & Chickens
One exercise: to draw inspiration
From one of Gary’s books, brought in a bag
My book was ‘Death’s Eye’ (the explanation
For yesterday’s sonnet). I mustn’t brag
But I worked hard today. It was a drag
How the rain fell. Thought I wouldn’t survive
The walk home; thought I’d end up all sodden
My office wear reduced to soaking rags
But I borrowed an umbrella at five-
Past five, and walked home under its protection
Tue 30 June 2009

1025 - Look at last night

Last night went quite well; I did my three songs
Or rather, a short medley of the three
And then my poem. I didn't have long
Just 5 minutes had been given to me
Not many there,as far as I could see
Apart from performers, such as the band
Who turned up without amps, saved luckily
By Rob Goodier, who had two there on hand!
As usual, things did not quite go as planned
Refreshment-wise, things had turned out all wrong
Drove to buy cakes with Alex hurriedly
Then straight on stage, Rob's guitar in my hand
With which I did quite well, with my three songs
And at half-time, handed out my CD!
Thur 25 June 2009

983 - Giggin' in Wigan 2

Tonight I shall be giggin' in Wigan
Well, okay, it's just an open-mike night
Before that, hopefully, I'll be eatin'
With Christine and Carole, something quite light
In a Wigan cafe before the flight
To the Tudor House Hotel for the show
Two nights ago, sober, managed to write
A longish new poem I hope will go
Down well like the food. Before all that, though
I must plough through some work that's been pilin'
Up on my desk. With any luck I might
Actually get some of it done, the flow
Of emails usually slowing me, and then
Leave work early for Wigan poetry night
Thur 14 May 2009

979 - Crazy Sunday

A lovely day, though cloud-covered and wet
Caught up on sleep, radio playing low
Cleaned that big dusty carpet in my flat
Swept floors, then phoned my girl. Now, where to go?
She drove north on the ring road, till below
We saw the hills near Bury, and turned off
Ramsbottom was the destination; though
It rained, we shopped, we had some food, we laughed
She always finds antique shops, likes old stuff
Then J came back to my newly-cleaned flat
It was nice to be together once more
Off she went in her car: bye-bye, my love!
Then visited two friends, two pleasant chats
Now home again, work looms once more. Oh no!
Sun 10 May 2009

907 - Busy nights

Amazing: a night in! So few this week
But I'll use it to play some more music
Maybe re-record 'World at War' - a weak
Mix, and low volume made it less than slick
On Wednesday night. Hey soundman, get your shit
Together next time, or I'll bring my own
Equipment, damn you! Didn't drop my pick
At least. Last night, I networked - yes, me, Tone!
Met several new contacts and exchanged phone
Numbers and emails; maybe we will speak
Of new arts projects, build them brick by brick
July festival audiences blown
Away..... Nice dream, go float off down the creek
Off home now from the office...What to cook?
Fri 27 Feb 2009

878 - Poetry can be fun

It’s late, and I’ve had one or ten whiskies
Been to a poetry night, read some stuff
By God, it was a bit cold, felt I’d freeze
But now I’m back home, feel a bit more tough
Read two poems I wrote on the chuff chuff
That took me home from Glasgow yesterday
Not too bad, since both were quite off the cuff
One about Burns Night, one at close of day
As train sped through hills heading England way
The whiskies made me laugh, it was a wheeze
As guys read poems, stifled the odd laugh
I’ve not had much to laugh about, so hey
Why not? It’s cheaper than stand-up, and these
Nights can be fun with wordsmiths spouting guff
Thur 29 Jan 2009

843 - Christmas wishes and dishes

My mother’s house is a place of refuge
A modest detached bungalow set in
A quiet cul-de-sac, a place to soothe
The frayed nerves; mouth opens, she puts food in
She may not be an expert at cooking
But there’s nothing quite like what mother cooks
An omelette with bacon and cheese melting
Heats me up, produces ravenous looks
We both went to Geoff’s daughter’s, where we tucked
Into some turkey breast. It wasn’t huge
My dessert appetite was not trifling
Three helpings of trifle and still not fucked
And so Merry Christmas, even to Scrooge
To Santa and, of course, to Josephine
Thur 25 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

830 - Windy wanderings

The pubs were full of Christmas revellers
While winds blew hard and rain lashed down outside
The Brunswick, Waldorf, Grey Horse and Circus
The Rain Bar, Briton’s Protection, we tried
And managed two pints, then went for a fried
In some empty takeaway joint with Coke
Recorded some pub sounds, then a piece I’d
Written the other night, bit of a joke
About those office do’s, with the drunk bloke
With roaming hands and overly loud slurs
A year’s worth of resentments he can’t hide
Goes home so pissed, he’s liable to choke
And so the grand finale of this year’s
Finally here, a foaming beery tide
Fri 12 Dec 2008

824 - Saturday shopping spree

A lovely sunny winter’s day shopping
In Macclesfield and then in Manchester
First stop was Aldi, using their parking
Facilities and buying our drinks there
Next stop the charity shops, which was where
I hoped to find cheap clothes, but instead they
Were packed with eighties records; grabbed our share
Ate a snack or two, then drove all the way
To town and braved Primark on Saturday
Okay, maybe I did too much spending
But two coats, eight tops, three trousers later
I felt better equipped than yesterday
Not only that, but it was fun spending
Some time with a good friend, so thanks to her
Sat 6 Dec 2008

684 - Good day

I feel great, top of the world mama, yeah
This life can be good if you are selfish
Have had a really nice day; went to a
Chinese buffet with friends and filled my dish
And since then did some ironing, got pissed
And played electric guitar and keyboard
Undertones, Sweet, Sparks, Sabbath, Jim Webb. Missed
The chance to play much Brel; couldn’t afford
To risk playing after eleven, sword
Of Damocles stuff if you do that. The
Rules state you must be quiet then. I wish
I was in a detached house; then I could
Do what I like and play on. But, whinger
You can watch a DVD if you wish…
Sat 19 July 2008

627 - No smoke without desire

Update on my quitting smoking project
Last night a friend suggested that we share
A packet of ten, then went to collect
Another pack of twenty after there
Were none left in the first pack. And I swear
I didn’t want her to, but she gave me
The half-empty pack of twenty to bear
Homewards to finish off myself, ’cause she
Is also quitting with difficulty
Needless to say this had a bad effect
On my longing to give my lungs more air
And less tar. ‘No ta,’ I said, but sadly
Was too weak to resist or to reject
This devilish pact after so much beer
Fri 23 May 2008

570 - Living room superstar

Last night was a good night, all on my own.
No worrying about weird women’s ways;
Just playing music, with a microphone
Recording to computer. More such plays
With music software and I might amaze
Myself by making home recordings soon.
It takes years, though, to pass the learning phase
And reach professional standard. The moon
Seemed beyond reach, though! I can write a tune
And recite lyrics, and I’m not alone -
Andy’s on hand to help me nowadays
To get the hang of this, spend afternoons
Composing, emailing those tunes. It’s grown
Beyond a dream. Could be something that pays.
Thur 27 Mar 2008

562 - Busy doing nothing again

Today I felt so full of energy
From breakfast time till late in the evening
I worked hard, really hard, unusually,
Emailing, doing my policy thing,
And, at lunchtime, even going shopping.
It was my boss’s birthday. I chose his
Presents, and brought them in, in red wrapping
Paper, while he brought in cakes (because this
Is traditional). Stayed in the office
Till half past five, then to Central Library
For the poetry group. After reading,
Over to the pub. I was on the piss,
Then for a curry (the Rajdoot) where we
Had Korma, nan and rice, and sat talking.
Wed 19 Mar 2008

531 - From friends to family

What have I done today? Well, not a lot.
I woke up at eight thirty three and stayed
In bed for a while, wanting to know what
Had happened in the world, and heard the rad-
io news. Nothing much. Got up and made
Myself clean under the shower. Looked at
E-mails, went shopping, decided to raid
The wine counter. Stood on the welcome mat
At Tania’s house, Josephine seeing that
I was let in. Made sandwiches, a hot
Drink. Then the drive to Flixton, where we said
Hello to Grandad, watched football, and sat
Putting the world to rights. They’ve lost the plot,
We agreed. Then home, and my guitar played.
Sun 17 Feb 2008