1059 - Up early

So short of sleep, I went to work today
The guy below was singing, half-seven
Before that I’d been woken up by… Hey!
Wheelie bins being dragged at 7.15?
What gives? Got up and went in. Yes, went in
But not much done, well, unsurprisingly
A works do, with beer and a meal looming
Blokes at one end, the girls all separately
But later, managed to talk to Tracey
While eyeing up the girls in the bar; they
Had legs to die for. Wasted, wasted on
Whoever they were with, temporarily
The rain eased off, the sun came out to play
And in the end it was a nice evening
Wed 29 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

1018 - Trainspotting

Another trip up north to Newcastle
Another chance to see some scenery
Another chance to see girls and ogle
On yet another long slow train journey
But the nice girls they never sit by me
They walk past empty seats and sit elsewhere
Then, after they have passed, immediately
Some guy sees nothing wrong in sitting there
And I think to myself, a wasted fare
No-one to stare or glance at (all subtle,
Out of the corner of my eye, quickly)
Why do girls do this? It seems so unfair
And silly, since it’s so predictable
Some other guy will sit by them, not me
Thur 18 June 2009

1010 - Here we go round the mulberry bush

The women that I’ve known are like the men:
Just people I bumped into; well, that’s true
Of all things in the universe from when
The Big Bang banged to today; chance just threw
Them together for no reason, like two
Neighbouring grains of sand on a big beach
That after a while will move on when you
Or your dog kick them apart, or they’re reached
By the incoming tide. Let nature teach
Its lessons. Go with the flow; maybe then
There’ll be less stress. Drift on into the blue
On this speck, spinning like dust round a torch
Complete each orbit, then go round again
With someone else, for anyone will do
Wed 10 June 2009

994 - The death of romance (again)

Weather Report are playing in my flat
And flat is how things look now: sky is grey
What a contrast with the warm sunshine that
Greeted us when we met earlier today
We went to Yorkshire, the Halifax way
Turned back to Hebden Bridge and wandered round
I bought stuff as usual, gave cash away
But nice things for the flat were what I found
Along with freedom. She also cooled down
Like today’s weather, she started off hot
Now we both want to explore separate ways
I’m pleased it ended quietly, no sound
Of arguing in the car, no spits or spats
Romance is dead, but freedom wins the day!
Mon 25 May 2009

993 - Sunny music

A dreaded sunny day, so rare; so what
Should I do with it now that it is here?
I finished my song ‘The World At War’ that
Has tormented me for half of this year
I improved ‘High Over Liverpool,’ mere
Changes to volume levels on guitar
‘Deborah in February’ was my clear
Favourite to begin work on, but the star
In my heaven was near, in Manchester
And so, rather than start that song, I met
Her for a browse round St Anne’s Square. Yorkshire
Is where we’re going tomorrow by car
Hebden Bridge to be precise. But I put
Some tracks down for ‘Deborah’ this evening. Cheers!
Sun 24 May 2009

987 - Man flu, Day 2

Ooh! Aah! Ouch! Eek! And, Oh My God! Still ill!!!
Sore throat, organs aching, unsteady feet
As bad as last night, hot flushes, cold spells
So I stayed at home to recuperate
This afternoon, a visit from Janet
Cheered me up as I was eating dinner
She rang to say she was outside, and wet
She’d bought some treats for me! Surprise! Let her
Up to the flat. She looked so smart in her
Work clothes. To be close again was a thrill
And it was touching that she’d been so sweet
As my clothes dried on the radiator
We could not really kiss in case I filled
Her with these awful germs… On with the fight!
Mon 18 May 2009

985 - Alone again, poetry

Been struggling to re-record ‘World At War’
And still I’m not quite satisfied it’s done
As I prepared to sing I heard the roar
From Old Trafford: yes, United have won
The title for the umpteenth time, ho hum
Good news at the foot of the table, though
Newcastle, at home, couldn’t beat Fulham
Hull got a point, and so did Middlesbrough
So the Geordies face relegation woe
Tonight (though without Janet), it’s Blue Boar
What a bore! Yet again I’m on my own!
Some chats with poet friends, hopefully, though
Sadly this time, I’m not taking guitar
Just reading three poems. I’ll miss you, hun!
Sat 16 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

971 - Today, Derbyshire, tomorrow, Paris!

It’s late, I need to pack, watching football
Why am I so late getting organised? Well it’s coz
I spent a lovely day out with my girl
But early tomorrow I’ll catch the bus
To John Lennon Airport, off to Paris
To see my daughter, who now works real hard
At a café near Notre Dame. Hope this
Doesn’t tire her too much, not too much poured
Out into other people’s cups. We’ll board
Le Metro to some great spots, join the whirl
Of French life, drink some coffee, take some tours
Have as good a time as we can afford
In the capital of what was once Gaul
Pictures to follow on Facebook, of course!
Sat 2 May 2009

968 - Travelogue

Last day in the office for a while - great!
A two-day meeting in a York hotel,
The usual booze-up and meal on our plates
Then, when it’s over, Friday night my girl
And I will reunite, her slim legs curled
Around me, hopefully, like times before
Being close to her’s the best thing in the world
Going on an anatomical tour
Is a thrill when there’s time to kill, to score
Is always my goal; like chess, she’s my mate
And then, on Sunday, I fly off to Pearl
In Paris, where I’ll happily spend four
Days by the Seine, then back home very late
On Friday morning. Hope it all goes well!
Wed 29 Apr 2009

965 - Messing about on or near the river

I drifted on the waves of sleep till nine
Or half-past, at half-mast my wakefulness
Landlubber scrubbing floors to make them shine
Removing mould from black-stained walls, real mess
Flat sparkles like a yacht off Shoeburyness
Flat anchored near the banks of the Irwell
Except when earthquakes strike, no seasickness
But when they do strike like storms, who can tell?
Drove out to Lymm later, clanging church bell
Calls drowners to be saved, throws out a line
Canal barges bob gently, free from stress
Crossed and recrossed the Mersey by car, sailed
Through Partington, Carrington, Sale, to wind
Our mast down in the garden’s peacefulness
Sun 26 Apr 2009

964 - Munch of the day

Awoke with my brown-skinned girl by my side
Breakfast, and then with great skill she helped me
Sort out phone pictures, and then with some pride
Showed me her own pix of her family
And travels over the last year or three
Got cloudy, so I chose to go swimming
With Josie (too cold to go to the sea)
Roads packed with United fans, all driving
To the game against Spurs (seems they’re winning
The title once again, Ferguson’s side…!)
A fun time in Stockport pool with Josie
Followed by a late afternoon’s eating
And joking around. Back home, guitar played
Quick call to my girl, football on TV…
Sat 25 Apr 2009

959 - April sun

A spell of sunny weather and life seems
More beautiful: the land, people, buildings
Driving through London, even though it teems
To absolute excess, becomes thrilling;
Round three and four lane roundabouts, racing
Round Wellington and Marble Arch, Park Lane
Like Italians, sun in our eyes blinding
That was Saturday. Sunday, down the lane
To Mobberley with Josie; pub’s the same
As it used to be: food the stuff of dreams
Josie riding her bike, and I’m jogging
Today, Monday, me and John took the train
Up to Glasgow, where even here it seems
Sultry….Like you, the person I’m missing…
Mon 20 Apr 2009

957 - Down and up

Another Saturday in London town
Last week I went with you on Megabus
Well today it’s with Louis I’m back down
Taking him back to continue studies
At Westminster Uni, Harrow Campus
But first, it’s off to see another game
The Rams are visiting Crystal Palace
So come on Derby, it’d be a shame
If our season spluttered out like a flame
On a birthday cake candle when it’s blown
After I’ve dropped him off with little fuss
It’s up the motorway once more; those same
Old sights and red rear lights that have all grown
Familiar over years… Then once more, us
Sat 18 Apr 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

955 - Feline good

I’m getting ready to go out again
With J, after our Easter together
What we’ve got planned is a night in Chorlton
To watch musicians play on the guitar
I don’t expect I’ll take part; not been there
Before, so best maybe if I just watch,
Ask J about my new phone, and prepare
For an early departure…work is such
A busy place this month, with a whole batch
Of meetings coming up, rides on the train
But anyway, I’ll pick up my guitar
Before I go out with my special catch
And practice ‘You Are the Cat’ once again
Well, you see, J is such a cat lover
Thur 16 Apr 2009

949 - Good Good Friday

It’s been a good Good Friday, yes it has
Stayed over at your place and it was fine
Seriously sleep-deprived I am, because
Of work and play, conversation and wine
It’s been a good Good Friday, despite rain
We even walked in it and didn’t care
We kept on getting wet but didn’t mind
Even inside, there’s plenty to explore
You said that it was important to share
You shared with me your electric fingers
When they weren’t on me, they were on my mind
It’s been a good Good Friday, but compare
It to what’s to come, and we’d better pause
Briefly for rest from loving overtime
Fri 10 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

944 - Springtime up in the hills

It’s late again, another night at yours
And not forgetting our little day trip
To Uppermill, all pleasure without pause
Surely we cannot let this great chance slip?
You know how I adore you, want to sip
Each pore of you like red wine, then refill
The glass immediately, savour each drip
Intoxicate you, then turn up each thrill
Until you are a helpless wreck, until
Life is too sweet to bear, then more, because
My mission is to make you flop and flip
And lose your head; I want to be the pill
You need to take in increasing numbers
Now please just pop this in between your lips
Sun 5 Apr 2009