Meenzer

I was introduced to Jersey Shore at the weekend. It's quite something.

They've directed me to some kind of authorised repair place in North Lahndan, though obviously that doesn't necessarily mean they're going to repair it. Fingers crossed though. Cheers for that Craig, will take a look!

What's 'Wicked', Mr B? Or anyone else, for that matter. It's a musical. Supposed to be very good indeed. That it is (and I'm not normally into musicals unless they're depressing as sin à la Les Mis). You'd probably get more out of eating the curry. We've just got back from a weekend away in Hamburg and Berlin. We celebrated V-Day (ahem) in the latter city with friends of ours, a happily married couple who happen to be just as indifferent towards the occasion as us. So we spent the day pissing around at the kiddies' playground in Tiergarten in six inches of snow, followed by hot whiskies all round. I've sort of ended up getting him indoors a gift insofar as the thing I ordered off eBay (a Minardi bag to replace the one he had nicked from a pub the other week) arrived while we were away, but that's more a coincidence than anything else.

Thing is, there's no point in a warning system for someone like Stevie, he's a one-man walking warning in himself. Which is both the problem and the appeal of the bloke.

Vested interest much?

I propose we organise an open-top bus memorial along the 92/93 route. Crowds five-deep along Gosforth High Street. It's what he would have wanted.

His epitaph should be along those lines. He's sensitive about his weight though. And the turn-out too. "Buried on a cold rainy tuesday in February, the turn out from the family was unprecedented. Not since Great Uncle Patel was buried in 1976 have so many travelled for a mid-week burial" And it was on Sky as well. Corpse stayed at home because it was a bit chilly mind.

"Planning"

I did gather that, yes.

Is this some bizarre dairy product-based extension of the handkerchief code of which I'm unaware or something?

Sound advice that.

Oh and don't use sarcasm. Especially with "air quotes".

Be yourself. Unless you're an arsehole.

The local market's been swimming in butternut squash recently so I've been using that a lot. Roast some cubes of it with a couple of sliced red onions and some garlic, stir it through pasta with some creme fraiche or similar - easy as you like and dead nice. (Note to Ugly Mackems - cook the pasta first. )

Stick it in the blender, even if the bits are still crunchy at least they'll be smaller bits...

He's been banned? For quoting a bit of Auf Wiedersehen Pet?

Off to HH tomorrow as it happens, Parky (then Berlin from Saturday). I shall pass on your regards to Lange Reihe, I can tell you miss it like crazy.

Ludovico Einaudi - Nightbook An album of modern instrumental piano music wouldn't normally be my cup of Earl Grey, but this is proper lovely. Atmospheric and moody and spot on for this time of year. Title track:

If you think that's racist, you should see what they say about us...

It deserves a line-by-line dissection, "Sk8er Boi"-style.

I wouldn't mind, but the fella in question was actually from Mainz. The plot thickens...

I'd love to help, but I realise that "study it at uni" and "go and live there for five years" aren't massively practical.

omg. Yes then.

I think you mean you were brain-washed about English history and literature by liberals who think you can learn everything from books.