One of the joys of a Sunday is reading the Sunday newspaper (or, should I say, reading some of the paper and leaving the magazines and supplements for later in the week.)

In today's Sunday Times there's a report about a plan to introduce women-only taxis and segregated compartments on trains. It doesn't surprise me.

Some people don't seem to understand the concept of equality before the law; that any law should be applied equally to everyone irrespective of gender [or race].

Of course, being an Englishman in England I'm no-one's priority and am at the bottom of everyone's list when it comes to accessing benefits or services, or attempting to participate in, and contribute to, society.

And then there's the constant ridicule of men in the media and the fact that I can't even identify myself as English on most ethnic monitoring forms...just to mention two recent observations.

If you're English, male, white, northern and law-abiding in England in 2005 you just don't count...nobody wants to know!

GREENKEEPER

Even if I were on piecerate
Maybe I'd still divert
Around the crocuses.

BALANCE SHEET

Closed in a kiss
The day sleeps
Contentedly.

Yesterday I was quite busy sending and receiving emails and instant messaging with family and friends. It really lifts me to hear from people; it may be only a few lines on a computer screen, but someone has taken the time to write them, and to send them to me - and that means a lot.

AFTER THE PARTY

My face is lying in the wastebin
Wrapped in a tissue of lies.

My dinner languishes in the cabinet
Being eaten by files.

My body lies over the ocean
Good travel agents insist on insurance.