White Lines (Football & Cocaine) #1

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way... Oh what fun it is to see Chelsea win away... 

In the beginning they were simple days. Hop on an inter city train early am, stock up on beers from the blessed buffet (have I mentioned their toast before?), sit back in a compartment or stretch out across 8 seats to talk through prospects for the game, prospects for the season, prospects for the night out in town after the game and what excuse we could make to get out of our Sunday League fixture tomorrow.  

We weren't the Wrecking Crew, Old Town Tooled up Mob, Bunch of Nutters, Beachy Headcases, South Coast Psycho Gang, The Crumbles Rumble Squad or even The Sussex Naughty Boys! We were simply loyal supporters on our way to see our team (albeit in 'enemy territory'). 

Truth be told thought, we were just out for a pie, a pint & hopefully 3 points! And remarkably we carried on like this for a few years, a little rowdy now and then (especially the time we headed up to Old Trafford under the guise of Jaap Stamm's Transit Van Gang) but we never threw a punch or copped a hiding. 

Not even the time a Man City crew attached themselves to our party and offered to show us round Manchester... that was a close call! 

However, it all went smoothly until Mr White joined our happily little band of travellers.

He started turning up to the bigger games (notably a Cup Semi-final at Villa Park). He'd loiter at the back of the Executive mini-bus, hang around in Inter-City toilets and leave powder traces in the stadium bogs. After these trips, the chaps started to get a little more intense, a little lary (if you will), a little more wankerish. Small schisms would appear. 

The cost of a match day was getting steep... Ticket, Tube, Train, Beers, Food, Charlie, Taxi's to & from the ground, more food, more beers, more Charlie... Looking at the wrong end of £500 just to go and watch a 1-1 draw at Middlesborough! 

And then things got a little tastier - We started going to Europe! 

Tbc...

Day in the life of a Poet (September 2020)

Noonglow

-- Midday sunshine
hits Soho directly 
between the eyes.

The swiftest 
of Cappucinos.
--- And then we plunge
down the Dive Bar steps.
-- Sounds of 
Detroit Soul
Jamaican Ska
revving up 
from the depths.

----A rainbow appears 
in our underground.
Ivy League
 Spezzato
  Sprezzatura
   Su misura
     Sartoriale
       Schmutter

A taste of honey 
on the lips of angels.
-- we are all in paradise now.

Welcome to Noonglow!

The Bloke Whisperer

I set up The Bloke Whisperer in 2013*, ostensibly as way to help me articulate the agony and anguish I was feeling at the time. I was suffering from depression and anxiety. They were tough times but I finally managed to learn some strategies and techniques to help me cope with the difficult situations I was finding myself in. I've worked with numerous clients and helped them to overcome their own personal challenges. I wound activity down as other priorities took place.

However, in light of recent events, I have decided to re-ignite the business, with a very positive intent to help as many people as possible to grapple with their own personal demons. If you or someone you know would like a confidential chat over a coffee then don't hesitate to reach out: here

* I am aware that another business founded in 2016 also uses The Bloke Whisperer name. 

That's cool with me, it is more important to help people rather than get het up about such trivial things. 

x

John Martyn RIP

A brilliant guitarist, singer, songwriter and innovator. Anybody who wrote 'Solid Air' would be missed, anyone who also wrote 'May you never', 'Bless the weather' and 'One world' will be sorely missed.

Solid Air

You've been taking your time
And you've been living on solid air
You've been walking the line
And You've been living on solid air
Don't know what's going wrong inside
And I can tell you that it's hard to hide when you're living on
Solid air.

You've been painting it blue
And you've been looking through solid air
You've been seeing it through
And you've been looking through solid air
Don't know what's going wrong in your mind,
And I can tell you don't like what you find,
When you're moving through
Solid air.

I know you, I love you
And I could be your friend
I could follow you, anywhere
Even through solid air.

You've been stoning it cold
You've been living on solid air
You've been finding that gold
You've been living on solid air
I don't know what's going on inside
I can tell you that it's hard to hide
When you're living on
Solid air, solid air.

You've been getting too deep
You've been living on solid air
You've been missing your sleep
And you've been moving through solid air
I don't know what's going on in your mind
But I know you don't like what you find
When you're moving through
Solid air, solid air.

I know you, I love you
I'll be your friend
I could follow you, anywhere
Even through solid air.

You've been walking your line
You've been walking on solid air
You've been taking your time
But you've been walking on solid air
Don't know what's going wrong inside
But I can tell you that it's hard to hide
When you're living on
Solid air, solid air.

You've been painting it blue,
You've been living on solid air
You've been seeing it through
And you've been living on solid air
I don't know what's going on in your mind
But I can tell you don't like what you find
When your living on
Solid air, solid air.

I know you, I love you
And I'll be your friend
I could follow you, anywhere
Even through solid air.

Ice blue solid air
Nice blue solid air

New Years Eve in Eastbourne

Running around from the Sussex Hotel to Bilbo's, Dewdrop, Dolphin, Frasco's. Nothing else to do but drink and wait for someone to discover where the party is. Then pile in the off-licence, pile in a car, pile out of the car, pile into the party, kiss the nearest girl at midnight and fall asleep in a pile at about 5 in the morning.

That'll be a small glimpse of paradise then!

Amphetamine Sulphate

Otherwise known in the early 80’s as ‘Speed’, ‘Billy’ or ‘Whizz’, Amphetamine Sulphate was (and no doubt still is) the poorer cousin of Cocaine in the drugs family tree. With a wrap going for $2.50 at the time, it was as cheap as a couple of pints, certainly lasted longer and was an ideal accompaniment to a night out at ‘The Jazz Rooms’, ‘Cotton Club’ or ‘Ziggys’. Either snorted or taken as a timebomb (a line wrapped in a Rizla and swallowed) the sharp tang made the bristles on the back of one's head stand on end, apparently!

The pleasant rush, kept the feet dancing, the mind racing, the lips chewing and the heart pumping long though the night. Also it was an interesting literary stimulant, speed reading in particular was a very challenging business. In fact the only real downside was a rather melancholic comedown and a rampant sex drive with diminished responsiveness.

Nice to see that some things never change!