Dry Am Kloot

I can feel trouble brewing with my local scary-eyed dry cleaner. One of my luxuries is taking five shirts to the laundry every couple of weeks. I've been using another dry cleaning shop slightly further away on my high street for the last couple of years because they are always friendly and do a good job with the clothes. But unfortunately this means passing the scary dry cleaner's shop to get there, which is fine when taking the garments in - but rather more awkward when returning with a flowing bundle of freshly laundered shirts.

I have tried crossing the street to put some distance between us, but usually tend to opt for the 'shoulder swap' when walking on the pavement as I pass, whereby I disguise the freshly laundered shirts by placing them on the blind side behind my body...

This morning, just after swapping the clothes hangers into my other hand, the scary dry cleaner emerged from his shop right in front of me, saw what I was doing and.... smiled the most 4-letter smile I think I have ever seen. Terrifying. Then he walked along behind me on the pavement until I made it back home, when he continued on his way. So now he knows where I live...

Loving the new I Am Kloot album. Seven albums in [kind of] and still a proper band. Having trouble with the new Divine Comedy though - I love his early records but feel he's now become a parody of what he did so well. As with Richard Hawley - love the early stuff, not so keen on the later crooning. Same with Rufus Wainwright... Is there a pattern emerging here? I tend to still like bands when I feel that I've discovered them and before everyone else does. Probably just jealousy on my behalf.

25 years since LiveAid... Lady Gaga wasn't even born then. How can that be right?