I’ve mentioned the book on here before, but Robert Hadfield’s ‘Love On A Branch Line’ is an utterly charming forgotten book. Hadfield was the editor of The Saturday Book for many years, another lost tome from th […]

My real name is one letter short of ‘Mark E. Smith’.

Ok, I’ll bite. You’re wrong. Anxiety is a bastard, and it needs that capital A. My best friend has it. Has had it for years. Undiagnosed until a year ago. Not helped by thinking – or being told she just needed to […]

You win first prize of one night in Paris. . .

And the brown fizzy pop on tap, which tastes purely of – well – fizzy.

Those hotdogs they sell in Ikea are truly amongst the world’s finest dirty food. Should ‘meat’ squeak when you bite into it?

Red. And some English moutard, if available. Or that yellow glop with little discernible heat.

Not Elvis, not Flaming Star.

No. Earlier than that.

Yup.

Cowboy.

Katydid.

I like the odd Doris Day song.

I’ve discovered that one of her boisterous numbers – like the Deadwood Stage – is perfect for shifting an ‘ear worm’ that just won’t go away. Oddly, I don’t then get left with […]

My partner has this year met up with several ex-work colleagues. One of them – J – is a big fan of Hackett-era Genesis – as am I – and has seen several of Mr H’s shows.

J’s best friend – T – has known Steve for […]

There’s some great stuff on Wireless, and I’ve played it a lot, but nowhere near as often as The Flat Earth. I suspect this is because I love the title track so much.

Astronauts & Heretics was a bit of a mess, […]

That’s the duff track I rarely play.

Probably XTC’s ‘Nonsuch’, or ‘English Settlement’.

Closely followed by Genesis ‘A Trick Of The Tail’, Steely Dan ‘Gaucho’, Thomas Dolby ‘The Flat Earth’ and Tears for Fears ‘The Seeds of Love’.

I was exiting our branch of Sainsbury’s last week with the weekly shop, and was passed in the entrance by Maggie ‘Wavy Mavis’ Ollerenshaw. Once saw the actor Peter ‘Britain Today Is A Powerhouse’ Jeffrey at a fill […]

Slightly dull football story. Not if you’re a supporter of Barnstoneworth – sorry, Wessun – of course.

Yeovil heading for the Happy Shopper Own Label Cherryade League, or whatever its called now, too.

I’ll join you in the credibility shredder, then. Great tune, and the album its on is excellent.