It's time to play the music

It's no secret that Jason Segel is supposed to be writing the next Muppets film. Clearly this is exciting.

I just hope he finds space for my favourite Muppet.



The talkie bit at the beginning is just adorable.

The fault is I can find no fault in you

Number Four of An Occasional Series

I was making a mix CD for a few friends the other day, and trying to think of a few interesting things to put on it. While rifling through my record collection, I happened upon a CD that I hadn't listened to in ages, and which contains number four in my series of Best Songs Ever Written. The album is Sulk by the Associates and the song Club Country.

The song is an absolute gem, although it probably isn't quite as well known as their biggest hit "Party Fears Two". It has it all - throbbing bass, fabulous 80s production and a soaring vocal from Billy McKenzie. It is utterly mesmerising. In fact, it needs to be heard rather than described as words don't really do it justice.



The general consensus on the Eighties seems to be that it was a musically barren time, remembered for nothing except a whole load of cheesy pop nonsense. I think songs like this one prove that statement is untrue.

Absolute genius.

Why don't you come back, please hurry.

So, my dad went to see Brideshead Revisited last Friday. I am not quite sure why, as he didn't watch the original TV series as far as I know.

His film review? "It was good, aye. Quite well done. I can't remember who the actors were, but it was an enjoyable movie. A good period drama I suppose. It wasn't overdone".

Praise indeed.

Everyone's a winner, baby, that's no lie

For what might be the first time ever in history, Monday morning came around with all three (count 'em) of my football teams having won at the weekend.

Such moments are precious and don't come round very often. So, come on you blues, yellows and reds.

The pointed end flies in the lead

While at a gig, I stumbled into a conversation with a friend about Flying Vs. Now I rate this friend's musical taste pretty highly, so I was aghast to learn that he thinks Flying Vs are cool. In fact, and I quote, his exact words were "the flying V, especially in metallic silver, is the best guitar in the world".

Me? I think they are one of the ugliest and naffest looking things in the world and I was genuinely a bit taken aback to hear him wax lyrical about them. I guess beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, however cliched that may be. I reconsidered for a second, but then decided that he was wrong and I was right.

I am however glad to report that he does not think that fretless basses or double-headed guitars look good. Which given the way our guitar conversation had been going was something of a relief.

You're about as easy as a nuclear war

I found the fact that the National Archives have released that script that would be used in the even of a nuclear attack on Britain during the cold war both fascinating and chilling.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7648042.stm

When you read it, you can almost hear that BBC voice in your ears, like the one at the start of Two Tribes by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

I spent quite a lot of my childhood in the early 1980s worrying about nuclear war, and having spoken to others of my age, found out they were all going through the same thing. So reading this was really evocative and brought back memories of me standing in my bedroom looking out into the darkness. I grew up in an area which was supposed to be a nuclear black spot, due to the existence of an oil refinery and this made me worry even more.

Now there are just other things to worry about!!

Good guys they make rules for fools

OK, so here are numbers 6-10 of Ten Things That Every Gentleman Should Know

6. After a dinner party, always phone to say thank you, then follow up with a letter. Never, ever text.

Well, this must mean that none of my male friends are gentlemen. Either that or I never throw dinner parties.

7. Your socks should always be darker than your suit.

OK, but what if you aren't wearing a suit?

8. Always compliment a lady on how she looks

Well, duh! Isn't this kind of obvious? Yes, we like to be told we are looking good

9. The correct time to arrive for a 7.30pm invitation is 7.40 pm, unless you are in the military, in that case arrive on time..

Well, my friends either arrive on time, or are fashionably late, which is generally more that 10 minutes late.

10. When staying with friends at their country house, budget a £20 tip for the butler for the weekend.

This is crazy talk. I don't think that any of my male friends have friends who have a country house. Or if they do, they've never told me

So, my conclusion? None of my male friends are gentlemen. Or else, I'm no lady.