Stuff I've Made With My Own Bare Hands

Lemon Curd.




Play-do Pingu.

Kicking It With The Polish Crew

These days, since becoming a mutha (and I mean that in the most maternal sense of the word possible), my nights out are somewhat thin on the ground.

Tonight however was film and martinis at lovely S's place. She'd had the fantastic idea of sending her child away for 24 hours or so. I'd had the terrible idea of asking my parents to babysit. They said "sure, anytime, long as you're home by ten".

Whatever. I can get drunk in no time.

But This Is How You Travel, This Is How You've Always Lived.

I've just finished B.E.E's Lunar Park. I didn't get it, but I loved it.


Also, did I mention I saw Depeche Mode on Monday? The most grown up gig I've ever been to. Everyone sat down gently tapping their feet while mr Gahan et consortes put their hearing aides in and did their thang and then we all applauded politely and Depeche Mode went back to their winnebago and had a nice cup of cocoa.

And I Wish It Was Me You Chose

Highlights Of The Year So Far

Seeing roe deer prance across the road, stop in the clearing no more than twelve feet away, so close you could see their shiny black noses twitching. They stood there frozen, three of them, for what felt like an eternity but was probably a minute and a half before breaking off in to the woods like on a given signal. "Mummy I want one" said the wide-eyed Baby Monster breathlessly. "Yeah I do too" said I.

Peace, My Lily.

The Greatest Toons Of The Decade We Used To Call "Now".

Not wanting to be left behind on the whole making-lists-rollercoaster, here's my contribution: the 20 songs of the 00's that (for various reasons) mean the most to me. Songs that remind me of good times, great times, sad times, fun times, people I loved, people I messed up with, places I went and things I did. The Noughties weren't kind to me, but I'm gonna miss them anyhow. Here's to the ten years that shaped me, raised me and turned me loose.


1. "Drive" - Incubus

2. "Tied Up Too Tight" - Hard-Fi

3. "Duality" - Slipknot

4. "Oceans And Streams" - The Black Keys

5. "Trouble" - Ray LaMontagne

6. "No One Knows" - QOTSA

7. "Seven Nation Army" - the White Stripes

8. "Plug In Baby" - Muse

9. "With Every Heartbeat" - Kleerup feat. Robyn

10. "Slow Hands" - Interpol

11. "Oh My God" - Kaiser Chiefs

12. "Laura" - Scissor Sisters

13. "Four Kicks" - Kings of Leon

14. "Pain" - Jimmy Eat World

15. "Elvis Ain't Dead" - Scouting For Girls

16. "Halo" - Soil

17. "Float On" - Modest Mouse

18. "Danger! High Voltage" - Electric Six

19. "I Bet That You Look Good On The Dance Floor" - Arctic Monkeys

20. "Like Eating Glass" - Bloc Party

That's What You Get When You Don't Take Your Vitamins

I'm very close to realising and accepting that I completely lack the discipline required for working from home. However, I blame J for keeping me up well past my usual bedtime last night. I also blame him for my sore muscles and for planting MacBook-seeds in my tiny little brain.

This year, the year of the Lord 2010, is going to be my notable year. I'm gonna start eating well and going to bed early and not drink wine in the week and being nicer to people. I'm gonna be a sociable, pleasant person who actively works towards widening my horizons and keeping au jour with my friends' lives and....stuff. No, really. You'll be surprised at the lack of sarcasm from now on.

Music this week: Florence + the machine and The XX.

Books this week: about to start on Donna Tartt's "The secret history".

Wine this week: Bulgarian. Red.

How Many Miles Must A Documentary...

Just watched this thing on the telly about Buffy Sainte-Marie. She's great, innit.