Hedgecutting

Bucket BBQ

There were some Stella Artois adverts that claimed the lager was 'reassuringly expensive'. I didn't really understand that point of view. If something's good, then if it costs less, surely that's better still? The word 'cheerful' always seems more cheery qualified by 'cheap and...'

So the bucket barbecue, at steal from Sainsbury a couple of years ago at £5.99 (end of summer offer) is a wonderful thing. Particularly when you are barbecuing for one, as is the case in these parts with MM away much of the time and BLISS and TTT non-barbecue interested vegetarians. I offer to do corn on the cob and vegetable kebabs but I've had zero take-up so far.

It hasn't seen much use, actually. That £5.99 must work out at about three quid an outing, but now the weather's changed...

I Sell The Dead

Watched I Sell The Dead with BLISS tonight. Absolutely, brilliantly, totally and utterly barking mad and a wonderful film. Grave robbers, vampires, gangs, The Pogues' “Waxie's Dargle”, Ron Pearlman. Gothic sepia colours. Glorious madness.

Women's World

I finished this after cutting the hedges (see below) and before lighting the barbecue, and while half-listening to South Africa having bit of a good fourth day in the Oval test match.

An astonishing idea, compiling cuttings from 1960's women's magazines to tell the story. Not as astonishing as Georges Perec (I've yet to finish Life, A Users' Manual, for some unknown reason, because I was really enjoying it) writing a novel without a single letter 'e', then following it up with another without a single 'a'.

My new jam...

Is Get Higher by Black Grape. This (and similar) was blasting through the earpieces today, drowning out the noise of the hedge trimmers, and the neighbour's dodgy music. Apparently, and thankfully I missed the Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton marathon, but I keep copping the Plastic Pogues (or the Pogue-goes, or the Pongs). I find this odd as you can listen to the real Pogues who are absolutely spot-on.

It's here, please listen: http://www.thisismyjam.com/IstvanFallok