V's Birthday...

Tea and toast, a gathering of friends, and V opening presents with a tear and a laugh. Four bums on one bench, watching pretentious dance but sneaking out before it's finished for cocktails and chatter, a curry and rice in our favourite cafe.

Clearing the Drain

It's like a black wet fungus trailing from my rubber gloves; the sludge I clear out (holding my breath, on my knees).

Sausages

Sticky from the oven, skins dark and juicy; they pop and sizzle as I jab the fork in, put them on our plates.

End of a Hard Day

A comfort cuddle, slouched into the settee, my head buried against your chest, your arms holding all my worries away.

Last Orders...

We sip every last word of this play, perched on our bar stools, watching them create an almost-love moment around us.

Heels

They make a clip clip sound on the pavement, these blue shoes with their gorgeous heels.

Thirteen

She lies along the back of the sofa and tells me about hair dye, pink clip-in extensions, false eyelashes. She gives me a young girl smile. 'I'm experimenting' she says.

A bit of Saturday Graft

A joyful ache in shoulders and arms from pushing eighteen wheelbarrows piled high with cow muck.

Comforts

Sometimes I just want the quiet of a familiar room, my settee, a blanket to keep me warm and a big plate of my favourite food.

Kim-By-The-Sea, 11pm

Always: a wash of heat as the door opens, velvet curtain brushing against shoulder, as we mix in with these murmuring voices huddled around tables, drinking hot tea, and letting home-made cake melt on the tongue.

Cornflakes, 5am

In the dark of my bedroom, spoon clinks against bowl. I'm awake with hungry thoughts, so the crunch crunch with chilled milk is welcome in this dead hour. I lie back down, drift into a second sleep.

Five Minutes Early

Street lamp makes an orange fog, car park almost empty, and all these windows like cinema screens with TVs, lights and open curtains. In the driver's seat, I play with the key, as if I might turn it. I wait and there you are, outside the window, ready to invite me in.

Little Pleasures

I lick chocolate fudge cake from where it is smeared against the inside of the box.

My Ten Minute Break

Step out into the wind, walk briskly to the park, wonder at what I never noticed before: a whole history of Hulme carved into the ground.