Wedded bliss?

Someone bought a print of this picture from work today. As a wedding present. Isn't that a weird message to give to a couple on their wedding day? Isn't that more the kind of thing you'd get from a guidance councillor? 

Anyway, moving on. Sorry for the silence. I'd assumed that no-one was reading, so was becoming a bit slack about the whole bloggery thing. But then I got a complaint from my reader - hello Soph - and felt slightly guilty. So, here we are,  New Entry.

It's now spring. Another reason for the lack of writing. You can go outside after dark without your toes falling off! It's sunny and quite warm! The parka has gone back in the cupboard. There's baseball on the telly every night.

Spring is officially good.

This is actually the one time of year where it would be possible to employ a sense of style. In winter you wear as much as possible and normal rules don't really apply. In a couple of months it will be 35 and humid, at which point you resort to shorts and t-shirts. But now and in fall the temperature is just right. Sadly, this potential for stylistic flamboyance is lost on your average Torontonian. Unless you count the punk 'look' of course - black tee for a band with 'F*ck' in the name, grotty jeans (boys) or ripped goth tights (girls) and tattoos. Always tattoos. They love a good tattoo or in Canada. All a bit grim. Not true of everyone - I have some very stylish friends - but really, New York seems a long way away.

It is also Juno weekend. Oh calm my fluttering heart. Yes, the most boring awards ceremony of the year and, this year, held in Calgary, the most boring city in the world. Celine Dion is nominated in nearly every category. Apparently she had two albums out last year - who knew? Celine is the Canadian equivalent of Annie Lennox. She could retire and still be up for best new album every year.

Changing the subject for the final paragraph, we've been having a little debate at work. Who would do a good Clash cover and what song should they do? There have been some totally ridiculous suggestions and a possible winner. But who do you think it should be? And yes, this is a blatant attempt to solicit a comment. Just one will do. It will reassure me that there really is someone out there...

Wrote For Luck

So, Toronto is warming up. Well, it's over freezing and that's positively roasting. I had to go home and change jackets because the mental Canadian Goose duvet was too much. This is, officially, a good sign.

And I've discovered the wonder and horror of 6 Music this week. Great on some fronts - music you don't get on Canadian/American radio. Shocking on others - hello Lilly Allen, you have a lot to answer for. Kate Nash, OK, kinda your fault but, you know, a one off. NO! Russell Brand and now this tosser, George Lamb. I mean, really? Surely the only, THE ONLY, point of 6 music is people who love music. People who understand Word and the importance of buying the NME when you're growing up. People like I know in London. And we get this asshole. Jesus, how many reasons can there be to not go home?

Anyway, listened to Guy Garvey's show. I love Elbow, and his show was, well, right. Also, he had the best Sting joke for a long time. And Paul Morley's FAC 501 was amazing. My brother just sent me the two Hacienda comps - you've got to love nostalgia. It made me dance like it was 1991. A Guy Called Gerald - I had forgotten and I am sure I'm not the only one...

Back to FAC 501. Tony Wilson - what can you say? Manchester was his for a while. He made it. We lived in it. Now it's gone. I met Paul Morley a fair few times. He was the first person to introduce me to the wonder of melancholy. Thank you Paul - finally got it the other day. And that radio show confirmed it. 

This week (and, to an extent, last Saturday) made me miss old Manchester, when it was more raincoat than WAG. OK, so the unemployment figures were displayed on the town hall, it rained all day, every day, and you were as likely to get mugged as walk out of Affleck's Palace with a '061 - State Of The Nation' tee but, hey, it was real. And there was The Fall, Joy Division, the Smiths, The Buzzcocks, New Order, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, 808 State, Inspiral Carpet and so many more before Oasis poisoned the well. But that city has gone. Long live Rio Ferdinand. Tony would hate it and love it at the same time.

Walk away, in silence...