I watched yesterday’s London Marathon coverage in the hope of seeing my pal on the telly. In vain, as it turned out, as he wasn’t in fancy dress and he doesn’t have large breasts (there’s a reason why TV camera operators are called ‘cameramen’).

Anyhow, there were a couple of commentary classics. “Ben Evans has broken the world record for a marathon in a dinosaur costume. I wonder what he was dressed as?”

“Twenty six point two miles. That most classic of distances”. Which made me think…

What other classic distances can you think of? Paging KFD!

Here’s one to be going on with (if this works).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM0sTNtWDiI

I read this in the latest Q.

[Jake] Bugg has become so accustomed to living out of hotels that whenever he goes home to visit his family he’ll still check into one. Even at Christmas.

“I feel like because of what I do it sometimes makes me feel distant because they’re not treating me as a family member, they’re treating me as ‘Jake the singer’. It’s weird, your own family look at you in a different light. They’re like fans and that can be difficult.”

What a bellend.

… but not a lot.

I did once met Paul Daniels and his glamorous assistant when I was hiking in the Yorkshire Dales. This was early ’90s. They were sitting on a bench outside a cafe taking in the view. We shared a pot of tea (I paid) and talked nonsense. I remember he mentioned how much he loved the Dales, and how nice it was to no longer wear that ridiculous rug atop his bonce.

I know he came across as a bit of a twerp, but he was genuinely pleasant company for the half hour I spent with them.

And I still have my 1981 LP ‘The Paul Daniels Magic Show’ somewhere.

What would be your perfect birthday present? For me, news of Belly reforming with Gail on bass.

http://bellyofficial.com/shows/

Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, London, Dublin.

I feel twenty years younger!

One of the great things about living in a university town are the people you meet. My current neighbour is deputy chief of Stockholm’s police, here doing a masters in criminology. It’s her birthday next month and she’s asked me to DJ. What I know about Swedish music is limited to

1. Abba 2. The Cardigans 3. Roxette 4. The Wannadies 5. that theme tune to the Bridge

I ask the hive mind of the massive to fill in the gaps for me.

Cocteau Twins related alert: Liz has completed some music for a Sky TV series.

Don’t hold your breath for the album or tour…

http://blog.eil.com/2016/01/29/cocteau-twins-elizabeth-fraser-set-to-return/?utm_source=Blog.eil.com+Record+Collecting+News&utm_campaign=3e9034ea29-EIL-Blog-2016-02-03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_488cee8dc3-3e9034ea29-276239997

This just in from Kerry.

Following Colin’s tragic death on 26th January, we have arranged a public Memorial Service in Liverpool where he grew up. Everyone is warmly invited to join Colin’s family and friends at 7pm on Friday 19th February 2016 at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, St James Mt, Liverpool, L1 7AZ.

Please join us to mourn but more importantly to celebrate his life and music. Please share this information with your friends and anyone who loved Colin or his music – we want to give him a wonderful send off so the more that can come, the better.

Liverpool has a good selection of hotels to suit all budgets but we recommend you make your travel and accommodation arrangements early as hotels fill up quickly on Friday nights. The Cathedral is a 20 minute walk from Liverpool Lime Street Station, and the Cathedral has a pay-and-display car park.

His family ask that you don’t send flowers, but those who wish may make a donation in Colin’s memory to one of two chosen charities: Bru Columbanus – a facility that provides ‘home from home’ accommodation to relatives of seriously ill patients in Cork Hospitals and has been a haven for » Continue Reading.

Nitin Sawhney and Steve Abbott on Jeff at 4:30pm today. School run more interesting than usual. Podcast available shortly.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06wd26b

This just in from Red Grape. I know the “Wonderful Life” Hit Maker and his manager Kerry (she married a MacColl) through Boo Hewerdine and he’s a lovely chap. I once drove Colin and Boo back from a London gig to Cambridge at 3am and they kept me awake by singing folk songs and cracking terrible jokes.

My thoughts are with him and his. There appears to be something in my eye. Here’s hoping for a swift and thorough recovery.

“Red Grape Records Press Release

BLACK (Aka Colin Vearncombe). We’re very sorry to have to tell you that Colin Vearncombe been involved in a serious car accident and is currently in a stable but critical condition in Cork University hospital. We will keep you updated as soon as we have any significant news but in the meantime would ask you to respect his and his family’s privacy. We know they will appreciate any messages of support you’d like to post on https://www.facebook.com/blackakacolinvearncombe/ and we will of course pass them on.”

Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense has been restored with “more than 60,000 instances of dirt and scratches removed” (it says here). An 85 minute film will have 122,000 frames, so that’s roughly every other frame enhanced.

DVD and 1080p Blu-Ray with 5.1 and 2.0 audio channels of both “Feature Film mix” and “Studio mix”, whatever that means.

Apparently released last Nov 16th, but nobody told me.

The previous (non-restored) print looked pretty good in my local cinema.

http://www.secondsightfilms.co.uk/news/2015/oct/stop-making-sense-restored-on-blu-ray-and-dvd/

My personal paradise is Ballater in the Cairngorms. Mrs F was born and raised in nearby Tarland and we visit every year. We always stay in Ballater, which has become like a second home to us and where we are made to feel most welcome. The surroundings are beautiful beyond words. If there was an electronics industry in the Highlands, I’ve relocate there in a heartbeat.

Yesterday, storm Frank did his worst and the town has suffered terribly. This makes me genuinely sad. We stay in the white house in the left of the frame as the caravan washes under the bridge.

If anyone on Deeside is reading this, keep your chin up and we’ll see you next summer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35203139

11.25pm – Tuesday 15th December

“Join Film4 for the network premiere of this extraordinary documentary about Edwyn Collins and his battle to regain normality after suffering a major stroke. Narrated by Collins, this is an incredible story of struggle and redemption.”

I’m looking forward to seeing that.

http://www.film4.com/whats-on/the-possibilities-are-endless-on-film4

Still In a Dream: a story of Shoegaze 1988-1995

5CDs of your finest swirly pop for £33.99. Not out ’til the end of Jan, so too late for Crimbo, but that’s my birthday sorted.

https://www.burningshed.com/store/boxsets/product/315/7115/

This Saturday’s gig in my local village hall might be the last. The miseryguts parish council chairman has got the hump with us pesky kids and our tuneless music going thump thump thump. He can’t make out any of the words. Is that a boy or a girl? He can’t tell. You know the sort.

I thought I might do a themed compilation CD to play during the intervals between live acts, to let the audience know our plight.

Any suggestions? I’m starting the Stone Rolling (sorry!) with The Last Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ32lL4R970

Bad news for those of us who like to download lossless.

They’re hopeful they can recover. I do hope so.

http://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/info/Actualites/Why-you-should-support-Qobuz177798

These things are to be celebrated… there’s a new vinyl shop open just off the A1 at Buckden, near St. Neots. It’s been open for a week in the owner’s barn/shed at the back of his house.

It’s only about 20 mins from me, so I went on a quick fact-finding mission today and I can report (a) Ian’s a lovely bloke (b) there’s a surprising amount of stock. I arrived 5 mins before closing time but Ian stayed open while I quickly did the bargain bins (which took 40 mins).

He also sells new Rega turntables, various vintage vinyl-playing kit and vinyl flight cases.

http://vinylrevivaluk.com/

So, big Jezza wants us to email him the questions we want the Prime Minister to answer.

Your starter for ten: “Prime Minister, who played to sax solo on Baker Street?”

Volume, the long-awaited Three Johns boxset, was released last Friday. A compilation of single A+B sides, expanded versions of Atom Drum Bop and The World By Storm. A bargain at £16.99 from the tax-dodgers (I bought the German twofer CD for the price of a small house).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Johns/dp/B011TK2RNC/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1440420674&sr=1-1

We’re off relly-visiting to Scotlandshire next week. I’ve just checked the village What’s On and it turns out that Dry The River frontman Peter Liddle is playing the pub round the corner. He/they have passed me by. Worth 8 quid?

I didn’t realise Whigfield had done more than two songs, and I couldn’t name the one which wasn’t Saturday Night. Luckily, she’s just released a 4CD + DVD best of, so we can all catch up.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saturday-Night-Best-Whigfield-4CD/dp/B00WVN24S0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1437133193&sr=1-1&keywords=whigfield

Daughter’s friend is learning grade 2 trombone and is a bit bored with playing along with classical & big-band stuff. I can think of Dexys and Specials (or anything else with Rico on). Can you suggest any more? I know you can…

How’s this for niche? Cactus World News are releasing an album of rarities and out-takes. I doubt HMV will be opening at midnight for that.

* See what I did there?

The Suedes are on BBC4 tonight from Glasters. All Shook Up, presented by Marc Riley, is on the iPlayer. I enjoyed the pilot episode. There are now three more. Wire rather good on ep 2.