Pisht.

Someone's leaving the team for another team, so we went for a pint at lunchtime. This was a mistake - it's hit me much harder than a lunchtime pint usually does.

It has also occurred to me that a lot of people in the States are going through what I (and people like me) did in the Eighties with Maggie in charge. Urkk. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Maybe they'll get some good bands out of it, though. Speaking of which, the Grauniad has a "new bands coming your way" slot of a Friday, and this week it's . . . Nada Surf. To be fair, they do point out that they've been around for a while and have already had a hit, but still. They reckon the new album's pretty good. And they use the E-word.

Anyway, speaking of already having had a hit, i don't think I've been giving enough prominence to the fact that John Otway's new hit, "Bunsen Burner" is out this week, backed by his (and surely now the definitive) version of House of the Rising Sun. Midweek figures are apparently very encouraging, so I do encourage you all to go out and buy a copy or copies and make it a big one. It is his birthday present, after all. Also available now are the new single by Puressence and the new LP by Half Man Half Biscuit.

I have to post things to people this weekend too. I'm not sure, but there may be a party on too. And I need to copy some flyers. There's also talk of Buca-related activities in the Big Shitty in about three weeks, which sounds positively dangerous. As dangerous as drinking-with-bootpunk, in fact, which I've had to list with my insurers as a Hazardous Activity. So maybe I'll take it easy for a week or two then go into training

Ballboy.

Most of you are probably all too aware of my liking for a certain Edinburgh band. It seems the new album's going to be out soon. I'm so pleased I'm just going to have to share it with you. It'll be called "A guide for the daylight hours"and the tracklist will be :

1. avant garde music

2. where do the nights of sleep go to when they do not come to me

3. you can't spend your whole life hanging around with arseholes

4. i wonder if you're drunk enough to sleep with me tonight

5. i lost you, but i found country music

6. a europewide search for love

7. something's going to happen soon

8. nobody really knows anything

9. sex is boring

10. meet me at the shooting range

Allegedly it's out on the 11th of November. Best start saving my pennies.

Love them, loathe them, or be totally indifferent, but on one point I will accept no debate : they give good title.

If anyone fancies going to see them, they're playing in Minneapolis tonight, and Chicago tomorrow.