Phil Martin's Blog, page 3

It could have been us

It could have been us
UnitedRoad was heaving; I stood on the half way line,I dreamtof FA glory, that trophy would be mine,It was justa quarter final but it meant so much back then,I'dwatched the boys in 85 and craved cup victory again.
It meant alot to everyone, the lads were going barmy,Everyonewas singing 'on the march with Fergie's army.'But Foresthad a handy team and hit us on the break,Come onUnited equalise, for FFF Fergie's sake.
We piledon the chances but the ball just woun't go in,But thenwe had a corner and I knew we could still win, UnitedRoad was surging, to see I had to dodge,As BrianMcClair's overhead was cleared by Stevie Hodge.
TheStretford End went wild; it must've crossed the line,But thereferee disagreed and then he blew full time,United fanswere raging, at least ten thousand fought,Thetrouble lasted ages, all over the fore court.
My heartwas devastated, couldn't believe that we'd gone out,We wouldhave beaten Liverpool, of that I had no doubt,So fastforward to April and the day of that sem-i,My youngmind disliked both those teams due to jealousy.
That day Isat in K-stand, Derby's Goodard skinned Steve Bruce,ThenHillsborough news filtered through and two morons gave abuse,The restof K-stand turned on 'em and shout-ed the morons down,And anuneasy, eerie silence engulfed everyone in the ground.
The newsthat some supporters died, slowly filtered through,The gamehad lost significance; no one knew quite what to do,The matchday buzz had disappeared as we waited for the bus,If BrianHill had given that goal, it really could've been us.
It couldhave been your brother or you sister that had perished,Maybe yourdad or just a friend but someone that you cherished,I had somefriends on my Manc street who followed Liverpool,Theycelebrated every goal on the fencing as a rule.

I wonderedif they had got out, I feared that they had died,It wasn'tuntil the evening that I learned that they'd survived,They weresinging on the fences at just gone two o'clock,But sensedit getting too busy and moved over a block.
I've beento Anfield many times, the rivalry's intense,But you'dmiss them too if they weren't here, so show some commonsense,Coz asmuch as you hate Liverpool, we share a lot with them,And fewteams had the followings that we both had way back then,
I went toHillsborough that very year, when Choccy scored a brace,Twenty sixthousands reds rocking; our support was really ace, But ifwe'd beat the Forest, and the ref had give that goal,It couldhave been those very fans that that fateful day had stole.
Because wetravel in our numbers just like Liverpool,And whenwe've got those numbers, there's mob mentality rule,Our awaysare far from saints, let's not kid anyone,So wouldthe same thing happen if it was us that day that'd gone?
Maybethere was pushing, I don't know I wasn't there,Somepeople might have gibbed in but I really couldn't care, Coz we wouldaturned up without tickets, we woulda turned up late,We wouldhave gone into the ground if the cops opened those gates?
Ninety sixinnocents were taken that tragic day,But Unitedin the Leppings Lane might've acted the same way,Wewould've tried to get in, in time for the opening goal,See itwasn't down to surging fans but lack of crowd control.
Theycouldn't control the numbers that turned up for that sem-iBut justcoz it needs controlling don't make that crowd guil-ty,And alleviateat one end and cause a problem at the other?Whycouldn't those in control... communicate with each other?
Two pens withspace, one pen full but no way those fans could know,And onceyou're though those turnstiles there's only one way to go,Thosefences should've been opened way be-fore three o-clock,Theyshould've ripped down the lot before the game was stopped.
Read theirstories, research their lives and never act the fool, Coz theonly real difference was their love for Liverpool,Too manyquestions and few replies, two decades plus now on,And stillno answers for those fans about what really went on.
Think backto that poor bloke, who lost both his teenage daughters,If youstill can't find that sympathy, you're heartless and you're soulless,Look atthe innocence in their photos and make it personal,And ifthis tragedy don't hit you hard, it says all we need to know.
So nexttime when it's April and it's semi-final day,Forgetabout the Munich chants and the shite they used to say, The onesthat died were innocents, fathers, sons and daughters,Soremember the respect... that our own tragedy has taught us.
In wholewe've been respectful but this is my regret,Thatfuture generations... of United may forget,Of whatjust really happened and who it happened to,And that thoseinnocents of Hillsborough could've been me and you.
See allthose people out there who abuse on the internet,You neverknew this tragedy, otherwise you'd not forget,But you say 'this' because they say 'that', who cares where it starts,Abusing about these tragedies says just what's in your hearts.
So by allmeans don't like Liverpool, keep the rivalry intense,But showrespect for stolen souls, coz let's make no pretence,If ourlove for Man United had taken us there that fateful day,We'd bedemanding our own justice for the ones that passed away.
R.I.P. 96 (justice for football fans) R.I.P. The Manchester Flowers

Copyright©2011 by Phil Martin
All rights reserved.

The tiniest tavern in town

The tiniest tavern in town

Like aVictorian game of Tetris where the buildings din't land neat,Lies thehiggerldy piggerldy architecture of Manchester's Portland Street,Yet secretedin this skyline of roofs that just don't blend,Lies a wellbrewed Mancunian treasure, a perfect hidden gem.
"Squeezein, shuffle in, there's room for just two more,"It'sstaggering how many drinkers squeeze through that tavern's door,Just roomfor thirty people and still I'll sit on someone's knee,Yetthousands of folk stare back at me from every place I see,
Theireyes, their eyes are everywhere, bearing down on me,Thousandsof folk all staring back and smiling relentlessly,Everyone ishappy yet none of them speak or change their pose, Generationsof drinkers, or just the famous ones I suppose.
Coz thesmallest pub in our city has the biggest welcome in the world,Whereevery drinking celeb in town is proudly unfurled,A real stargazer's paradise, a celebrity stalker's passion,With boozer'sfaces stuck to the wall in time honourary fashion,
Thisboozer's five-a-side team would beat any on the planet,It'd win everyweek down at the Pitz until they'd have to ban it,Coz Bestie'sthere of course he is, along with Franny Lee,Keano,Parker, Robson... Nobby and Paddy.
But it ain'tjust the footballers who've had a pint in this tiny bar,From TonyH to Muhammad Ali they've come from near and far,Actorslike Ray Winston, musicians by the score,It's anear infinite list of celebrity and I don't want to bore.
But this photowall of famous folk spans every generation, Whilst twofootball teams lie side by side without any altercation,Two tinyrooms, a tiny bar, your mates'll never lose yer,Just loseyour inhibitions in Manchester's smallest boozer.
It used tobe the meeting place for all the acts they used to have on,When 18thcentury circus folk would drink in the Circus Tavern,Coz thereused to be a big top close by on ChathamStreet,So thistavern was where trapeze artists and lion tamers'd meet.
The clientele'sstill colourful and will always have a tale,As the barmaid and the drinkers pass down your real ale,It floatsthough the crowd and to your seat, no room to be nervous,There'sreally no more intimate pint than the one the Circus serves us.
Its size makesthis place special as I feel like I belong,As drinkershuddle together... forming just one throng, One chat, oneconversation and just one subject matter,Everyopinion is invited as the regulars natter and natter.
But withall the faces on the wall it really makes me think,Sinceopening time in 1790, how many folk have bought a drink?Since thedays of that long gone circus and cries of roll up, roll upHow manyfolk have squeezed in here for an intimate, friendly sup?
A hundred thousanddrinkers? A million, probably more,I'd liketo see every single face stuck onto their photo wall,
Coz a staggering number of drinkers have crammed into that tiny space,They'd need every inch in this city if they printed every face!
Copyright©2011 by Phil MartinAll rights reserved.
Manchester-based crime novels by me
Killing Doves, just $1.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Killing-Doves ebook/dp/B006NXD2M6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324429234&sr=8-1
The Attached just $1.99 (for i-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC orKindle) First six chapters available on this blog.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006CNC3DQ
Child Number Three, just $1.99 (fori-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC or Kindle) First six chapters available on thisblog.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Child-Number-Three-ebook/dp/B005IRNYVM/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321268694&sr=1-2

The smallest tavern in town

The smallest tavern in town

Like aVictorian game of Tetris where the buildings din't land neat,Lies thehiggerldy piggerldy architecture of Manchester's Portland Street,Yet secretedin this skyline of roofs that just don't blend,Lies a wellbrewed Mancunian treasure, a perfect hidden gem.
"Squeezein, shuffle in, there's room for just two more,"It'sstaggering how many drinkers squeeze through that tavern's door,Just roomfor thirty people and still I'll sit on someone's knee,Yetthousands of folk stare back at me from everywhere I see,
Theireyes, their eyes are everywhere, bearing down on me,Thousandsof folk all staring back and smiling relentlessly,Everyone ishappy yet none of them speak or change their pose, Generationsof drinkers, or just the famous ones I suppose.
Coz thesmallest pub in our city has the biggest welcome in the world,Whereevery drinking celeb in town is proudly unfurled,A real stargazer's paradise, a celebrity stalker's passion,With boozer'sfaces stuck to the wall in time honourary fashion,
Thisboozer's five-a-side team would beat any on the planet,It'd win everyweek down at the Pitz until they'd have to ban it,Coz Bestie'sthere of course he is, along with Franny Lee,Keano,Parker, Robson... Nobby and Paddy.
But it ain'tjust the footballers who've had a pint in this tiny bar,From TonyH to Muhammad Ali they've come from near and far,Actorslike Ray Winston, musicians by the score,It's anear infinite list of celebrity and I don't want to bore.
This photowall of famous folk spans every generation, Whilst twofootball teams lie side by side without any altercation,Two tinyrooms, a tiny bar, your mates'll never lose yer,Just loseyour inhibitions in Manchester's smallest boozer.
It used tobe the meeting place for all the acts they used to have on,When 18thcentury circus folk would drink in the Circus Tavern,Coz thereused to be a big top close by on ChathamStreet,So thistavern was where trapeze artists and lion tamers'd meet.
The clientele'sstill colourful and will always have a tale,As the barmaid and the drinkers pass down your real ale,It floatsthough the crowd and to your seat, no room to be nervous,There'sreally no more intimate pint than the one the Circus serves us.
Its size makesthis place special as I feel like I belong,As drinkershuddle together... forming just one throng, One chat, oneconversation and just one subject matter,Everyopinion is invited as the regulars natter and natter.
But withall the faces on the wall it really makes me think,Sinceopening time in 1790, how many folk have bought a drink?Since thedays of that long gone circus and cries of roll up, roll upHow manyfolk have squeezed in here for an intimate, friendly sup?
A hundred thousanddrinkers? A million, probably more,I'd liketo see every face stuck on their photo wall,What ahistory chart that'd be but then they wouldn't have the space,Theirphoto wall'd cover the whole city if they printed every face!
Copyright©2011 by Phil MartinAll rights reserved.
Manchester-based novels by me
Killing Doves, just $1.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Killing-Doves ebook/dp/B006NXD2M6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324429234&sr=8-1
The Attached just $1.99 (for i-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC orKindle) First six chapters available on this blog.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006CNC3DQ
Child Number Three, just $1.99 (fori-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC or Kindle) First six chapters available on thisblog.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Child-Number-Three-ebook/dp/B005IRNYVM/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321268694&sr=1-2

The greatest save at United

The greatest save at United
Bailey'ssave v Brighton to keep us in the cup,
Stepney's reflexto Eusebio's volley quite close up, Schmeichel'ssaves at St James' or Vienna in ninety six,Edwin's Moscowpenalty palm, it always has us split. But ourgreatest save in history didn't come from a gloved hand,But abusinessman eighty years ago, who gave us thirty grand,Withoutthat cash injection we would have gone I swear,And wouldhave all been city fans, a thought I cannot bear,
Coz wayback then in thirty one with our future in dire straits,They couldn'tpay the players and couldn't generate the gates,Butthenthis Salford businessman said he'd find a way,To build Unitedup again, starting with the players' pay.
Hesupported the club financially as guarantor to the bank,He stoppedus going bankrupt but we've got him too to thank,Forsetting up the youth team so players could be free,Coz backthen skint United couldn't afford the transfer fee.
Our JuniorAthletic Club was where future stars would come from,He boughta rugby ground, the Cliff, to train these youngsters on, Then hegot the train to stop at Old Trafford on match day,To driveup the attendances so the club could pay its way.
When thoseGerman bombers wrecked us, HE fought for the cheque,To metaphoricallybuild us up again, quite literally from that wreck,Ten yearsaway from Old Trafford but still an important entity,This manwould bring us home again and give us back our identity.
And thenit was his master stroke to look at Liverpool and City,And employtheir former player the great Sit Matt Busby,As managerof our football team, in 51 he won the cup,But then hisemployer passed away, this great saver of our club.
He diedbefore we won the league again in fifty two,But I hopeyou know our history was all because of you,Adifferent path, a different route, and United was extinct,And thehistory we'd never know would be concise, brief and succinct.
So who washe, this great man, who started everything we know?Should wesing his name from the rafters... next time when we go,To OldTrafford to see United, a club that might not exist,If thisbusinessman from Salford hadn't promised to persist.
He shareshis name with Colin, Terry and Darren too,But thisGibson did more than any United player could ever do,He stoppedus from going bankrupt but didn't quite stop there,JamesGibson became our chairman, a chairman that would care.
Theremight have been another way for our club to carry on,But he'sthe one who made sure our United wasn't gone,So nexttime you're on Matt Busby Way over the railway track,Feel freeto pat your gratitude on our James Gibson's plaque.
Copyright©2011 by Phil MartinAll rights reserved.
Buy Killing Doves, the third of four Manchester-based thrillersavailable from Amazon, written by me! Available for just $1.99 (fori-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC, Android or Kindle) First six chapters available onthis blog. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Killing-Doves-ebook/dp/B006NXD2M6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324337993&sr=8-1

Zippy's burgeoning CV

Zippy's burgeoning CV                                                      Since hefinished with Rainbow his face is everywhere,Though you'llrecognise him most from his role in Albert Square,But whenChristmas time is over and the snow begins to thaw,FatherZippy shows another side as a celebratory seeking whore.
Coz hedoesn't spend his summer in some storage park,He travelsthe world for starring roles where he can make his mark,If youhaven't seen him anywhere else, then really perhaps you shoulda,Coz he'sfamous in the Far East for his role as a giant Zippy Buddha.
He's knownto dress with bunny teeth and bunny rabbit ears,So agigantic Zippy bunny can bring us Easter cheers,AtHalloween a Zippy witch with a broomstick is for hire,Onfireworks night a Zippy Guy Fawkes is burnt upon a bonfire.
ChineseNew Year is fun for him, it's different every time,For as arooster, pig or tiger, Zippy always looks sublime,And thenit's off to Spain to take the bull by the horn,Where aZippy bull is chased around by a Zippy matador.
As a Zippysphinx in Egypt, there's nothing he won't do,Down Underhe gets dressed up as a Zippy Kangaroo,Zippybears in Canada, in Rome a Julius Zippy,In Americahe stands tall as a Zippie of Liberty.
I guess Ithink my point is, coz this is just all daft banter,Why can'tour Father Christmas look a bit more like a Santa?Check himout during the day if you don't believe my whinge,They'vedone away with rosy cheeks and turned our Santa orange!!
Copyright©2011 by Phil MartinAll rights reserved.
Buy The Attached, the second of four Manchester-based thrillersavailable from Amazon, written by me! Available for just $1.99 (fori-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC or Kindle) First six chapters available on thisblog.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006CNC3DQ
Buy Child Number Three, the first of four Manchester-basedthrillers available from Amazon. Available for just $1.99 (for i-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC orKindle) First six chapters available on this blog.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Child-Number-Three-ebook/dp/B005IRNYVM/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321268694&sr=1-2

An apathetic stroll with Dalton

An apathetic stroll with Dalton

Whatfills your mind... when you stroll... down John Dalton street?
Tuckinginto a grill on the alley, or sipping a cocktail treat?Adrink in Bar and Restaurant or pop into Panacea?Arush to get with the cool kids so everyone can see yer?
Nailsdone, brand new shoes, just stepped out of the salon,Thebiggest worry in your world is what your mates have put on,Butyour self-obsessed, fluffy mind wouldn't think to make the query,Soyou'll never know that Dalton Street is devoted to Atomic Theory.
You'llnever know who Dalton is; it just wouldn't cross your mind,Tofind out what this street's about, you just haven't got the time,Notaware of things around you as you stand and smoke your fag,Hesaw the make-up of the world; you just see the make-up in your bag.
Youknow absolutely everything about whose doing what to who,Butour street names remain a mystery; you just haven't got a clue,Outstandingpeople, amazing feats, we'll walk on them forever after,Butstill you never seem to wonder who your city streets are named after.
Itjust wouldn't cross your mind but then I guess that we're all guilty,Ofbeing engrossed in busy lives but to me that is a travesty,Cozthere's nothing wrong with knowing why things are the way they are,Or recognising past glories and the folk that raised the bar.
But hey we are all different, if we weren't it would be boring,
I just wish for once you'd let... your head go off exploring.To find out who Dalton is, Whitworth, Mosely, Byrom too,Or to wonder what Minishull and Aytoun Streets are devoted to?
Have you never wondered why Balloon Street has its unusual name?Artillery Street or Fountain Street, you should find out just the same,There's stories hidden everywhere, about folk better than me and you, I know history don't sound cool and it's not what we usually do.
But these people will live forever, they left their mark many moons ago,Whilst me and you will just disappear... when it's our time to go,I'm sorry I'll shut up; I see this chat hasn't got you smitten,But it's sad that when I say Atomic... you think of Atomic Kitten.
There's so much important history, on the streets that we stroll down,Yet you never think to find out and that really makes me frown, But life's for living have some fun, so please just ignore me,I just wish you'd see beyond your next pornstar martini.
Copyright©2011 by Phil MartinAll rights reserved.
Buy The Attached, the second of four Manchester-based thrillers available from Amazon, written by me! Available for just $1.99 (for i-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC or Kindle) First six chapters available on this blog.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006CNC3DQ
Buy Child Number Three, the first of four Manchester-based thrillers available from Amazon. Available for just $1.99 (for i-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC or Kindle) First six chapters available on this blog.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Child-Number-Three-ebook/dp/B005IRNYVM/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321268694&sr=1-2

The busy bees of Manchester

  The busy bees of Manchester


Those beesare buzzing everywhere,In everyfactory and every square,Thecarders and twisters, the bobbers and weavers,Thespinners and piecers, the bees and the beavers.
Fightingfor jobs and the bread on their plate,Notknowing they're making our proud city great,Thepotters and stampers, the lacers, coal barers,Thetrappers and puddlers and machine operators.
Allbusy Manc bees, some with two jobs a day,Doingowt that they're told to take home their pay,Thesewers and scavengers, the cobblers and cloggers,Thedryers and hangers, the bleachers and dockers.
Conditions are woeful each month folk arekilled,Operating machines whilst plying theirskills.The beamers and carders, the tenters and twisters,The hookers and winders, the doffers and stitchers.
They nurturetheir trade, they master their craft,Andsmother their day in pure honest graft,The finishers and mashers, the pickers and packersThe quillers and reachers, the reelers and stackers.
Smoggy lives always played out underpollution,The unsung heroes of our revolution,The spindle maker, the scutcher, the sizer,The ruler and rover, the self actor minder.
Theclatter of carts, the screeching of wheels, Theshrieking of boilers as the steamer squeals,The weftcarrier and stripper, the tackler and grinder,Thethrostle spinner and sizer, the warper and winder.
Machinesalways clanging, the beat of the loom,The earshattering noise of the industrial boom,The jacquardoperator, the overlooker and plater, The frametenter, half-timer, the fly and reed maker.
A forestof chimneys and poorly lit streets,Thickblankets of smog where roof and sky meets,There'slittle in life from which folk can take solace As thenon-stop working bees of...Cotton-o-polis.
Churningout linen: sheets, pillows and towels,Tirednessgripes as the floor manager growls,But hitwith a whip, they work on, don't seek pity,Therelentless grafters of Warehouse City.
Eachplaying a role in this eco-system,There's toomany jobs... even to list 'em,They madeour city what today you can see,So wehonour their graft with the Manchester bee.  It's thereon our crest, to show they worked well hard,Onbuildings and floors, on beers and bollards,To showthat their hard, honest graft built this city,They'vedecorated town with these bees that are busy.
Copyright©2011 by Phil MartinAll rights reserved.
Buy The Attached, the second of four Manchester-based thrillersavailable from Amazon, written by me! Available for just $1.99 (fori-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC or Kindle) First six chapters available on thisblog.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006CNC3DQ
Buy Child Number Three, the first of four Manchester-basedthrillers available from Amazon. Available for just $1.99 (for i-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC orKindle) First six chapters available on this blog.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Child-Number-Three-ebook/dp/B005IRNYVM/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321268694&sr=1-2

POEM: The busy bees of Manchester

The busy bees of Manchester  Those beesare buzzing everywhere,In everyfactory and every square,Thecarders and twisters, the bobbers and weavers,Thespinners and piecers, the bees and the beavers.
Fightingfor jobs and the bread on their plate,Notknowing they're making our proud city great,Thepotters and stampers, the lacers, coal barers,Thetrappers and puddlers and machine operators.
Allbusy Manc bees, some with two jobs a day,Doingowt that they're told to take home their pay,Thesewers and scavengers, the cobblers and cloggers,Thedryers and hangers, the bleachers and dockers.
Conditions are woeful each month folk arekilled,Operating machines whilst plying theirskills.The beamers and carders, the tenters and twisters,The hookers and winders, the doffers and stitchers.
They nurturetheir trade, they master their craft,Andsmother their day in pure honest graft,The finishers and mashers, the pickers and packersThe quillers and reachers, the reelers and stackers.
Smoggy lives always played out underpollution,The unsung heroes of our revolution,The spindle maker, the scutcher, the sizer,The ruler and rover, the self actor minder.
Theclatter of carts, the screeching of wheels, Theshrieking of boilers as the steamer squeals,The weftcarrier and stripper, the tackler and grinder,Thethrostle spinner and sizer, the warper and winder.
Machinesalways clanging, the beat of the loom,The earshattering noise of the industrial boom,The jacquardoperator, the overlooker and plater, The frametenter, half-timer, the fly and reed maker.
A forestof chimneys and poorly lit streets,Thickblankets of smog where roof and sky meets,There'slittle in life from which folk can take solace As thenon-stop working bees of...Cotton-o-polis.
Churningout linen: sheets, pillows and towels,Tirednessgripes as the floor manager growls,But hitwith a whip, they work on, don't seek pity,Therelentless grafters of Warehouse City.
Eachplaying a role in this eco-system,There's toomany jobs... even to list 'em,They madeour city what today you can see,So wehonour their graft with the Manchester bee.  It's thereon our crest, to show they worked well hard,Onbuildings and floors, on beers and bollards,To showthat their hard, honest graft built this city,They'vedecorated town with these bees that are busy.
Copyright©2011 by Phil MartinAll rights reserved.
Buy The Attached, the second of four Manchester-based thrillersavailable from Amazon, written by me! Available for just $1.99 (fori-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC or Kindle) First six chapters available on thisblog.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006CNC3DQ
Buy Child Number Three, the first of four Manchester-basedthrillers available from Amazon. Available for just $1.99 (for i-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC orKindle) First six chapters available on this blog.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Child-Number-Three-ebook/dp/B005IRNYVM/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321268694&sr=1-2

The purple reign of Manchester

The purple reign of Manchester
When itcomes to colours, us Mancs will speak of two,Forgetabout the rainbow, you're either red or blue,But mixthese two together and a new colour will form,One that'sperfect from the fridge, delicious hot or warm.
For in1908, on Granby Row, a seller of herb and spice,Manufactureda medicine that folk thought tasted nice, Back thenit was a supplement known simply as Vim Tonic,But todayit is a well known brand; in fact it is iconic.
You'llknow exactly what I mean, if your smile's ever been purple,Or iffizzy, still, hot or cold, you've been known to shlurple,PurpleRonnie was a fan and 'Dad's pants' was a hoot,Withraspberry, grape and blackcurrant, it's seriously mixed up fruit.
Its reachtoday is far and wide; they make it in Yemen,They sayit's Arabs' favoured drink during Ramadan,In GranbyRow a monument stands proudly there to thank,The placewhere Vimto was first made, here in sunny Manc.
Copyright©2011 by Phil MartinAll rights reserved.
Buy The Attached, the second of four Manchester-based thrillersavailable from Amazon, written by me! Available for just $1.99 (fori-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC or Kindle) First six chapters available on thisblog.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006CNC3DQ
Buy Child Number Three, the first of four Manchester-basedthrillers available from Amazon. Available for just $1.99 (for i-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC orKindle) First six chapters available on this blog.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Child-Number-Three-ebook/dp/B005IRNYVM/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321268694&sr=1-2

POEM: The purple reign of Manchester

The purple reign of Manchester
When itcomes to colours, us Mancs will speak of two,Forgetabout the rainbow, you're either red or blue,But mixthese two together and a new colour will form,One that'sperfect from the fridge, delicious hot or warm.
For in1908, on Granby Row, a seller of herb and spice,Manufactureda medicine that folk thought tasted nice, Back thenit was a supplement known simply as Vim Tonic,But todayit is a well known brand; in fact it is iconic.
You'llknow exactly what I mean, if your smile's ever been purple,Or iffizzy, still, hot or cold, you've been known to shlurple,PurpleRonnie was a fan and 'Dad's pants' was a hoot,Withraspberry, grape and blackcurrant, it's seriously mixed up fruit.
Its reachtoday is far and wide; they make it in Yemen,They sayit's Arabs' favoured drink during Ramadan,In GranbyRow a monument stands proudly there to thank,The placewhere Vimto was first made, here in sunny Manc.
Copyright©2011 by Phil MartinAll rights reserved.
Buy The Attached, the second of four Manchester-based thrillersavailable from Amazon, written by me! Available for just $1.99 (fori-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC or Kindle) First six chapters available on thisblog.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006CNC3DQ
Buy Child Number Three, the first of four Manchester-basedthrillers available from Amazon. Available for just $1.99 (for i-tab, smart phone, PC, MAC orKindle) First six chapters available on this blog.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Child-Number-Three-ebook/dp/B005IRNYVM/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321268694&sr=1-2