I'm getting annoyed and confused with the differing British and US ways of denoting dates when I'm surfing the net.

Why can't we standardise matters and use Roman numerals for the months and then there's no confusion? Except, of course, that computers aren't able to process Roman numerals.

COUNTDOWN

A lowing sun
Breaks the last straw
On the horizon's back.

Cleavage of hills,
A snapped chain
Of vapour trail.

A shadow stretching
Beyond the point,
Semaphoring trees debate;
Headlights butt the mist.

Lullabies rock reluctant children
"News, on the hour, every hour."
Sheep so quietly rehearse.

I enjoyed a free bus ride back into town last night. I was waiting at the bus-stop and a young woman with a toddler in a pushchair just gave me her Dayrover ticket that she no longer needed.

Some good things do happen to us after all; this kind act (at no cost to herself) saved me £1.30.

Of course, it's all perfectly legal: the bus company advertises one of the benefits of a Dayrover ticket is the fact that you can pass it on to family and friends for them to use...so why not a complete stranger?

SABBATH

It's Sunday again:
God doesn't give a toss
About the rest of the week.