Excellent PANIC night in Leeds last night, even though I would have liked to have stayed a little longer - that's the problem with living off the beaten track - you have to leave early. Bummer. Aly is a top bloke, and the place filled nicely. Bought the Magic Numbers' album this week, and, as expected, it's filled with gentle melodic splendidness. Not bad, but not arresting. Music for half-drunkenness. On a non-music front, I scratched my arse at lunchtime. Ahh, blessed relief.

Sk.

Most stuff done, and we're palming the kids off on Granny this weekend to go for a mucky weekend in the Dales. Dentdale exactly. What a beautiful place. Moz-wise, the S&G last week was really good fun, a lot of familiar faces and Dave played some damn fine tunes. Looking forwards to Aly's Panic do next weekend, should be a good one. Oh blimey, just watching Never Been Kissed on the telly, and as I write this, Please Please Please....comes on at the "Senior Prom" - what does that mean? Anyway, goodnight, and expenses.

Sk./Peter

Here we are, in lovely Haworth, gazing out of the back at fields of sheep. A world of difference from smelly Idle. Many things have changed, and I'm finding it hard to keep in touch with friends, especially with the enforced internet-incognito. Ditched AOL, which was all they deserved. I seem to have missed out on a lot of interesting bits, especially the Viva-Hate out-takes, very interesting too. Nice to go to the S&G the week before last, great to see some familiar faces, such as Dean, Anthony, Ashley and the very crazy Gripper. I don't think I've ever seen someone dance and then fall asleep on the spot! Dave spinned a couple of favourites, and all-in-all a great night. Bye for now,

Sk./Peter

...but with good reason. After being fucked about with the move, the kids being unhappy, and now a torn achilles in my right foot, it all seems to be going to plan. Oh yes...if I didn't have my missus as a wall to lean on, I may (and some may say I already) have gone mad. What I have learned from the turmoil of the last month is that family is very important. When everything goes wrong, your family is there for you, and it makes a huge difference. On the plus side Mr. Jon G. has unearthed a couple of gems in the South Bank Show and the Hacienda show - bless him and all who sail in or around him. Phoneless and internet-less for the next week as the move goes ahead, so you can say what you like about me.

Sk.

The house building firm told me & my wife, as we drove across to get the keys, that the house was not ready. I am in killing mood. What stinks about this is that the kids don't get to go to the new school, after saying goodbye to their friends. Sick down to my heart, but that's just the way it goes. Aww, I could say much more, but what will it achieve?

P./Sk.

Pete told me we were to present the radio show in front of the Town Hall on Friday, but the day before, I realised he lied, and we were on the big stage to perform. The bastard. Anyway, we went on, and did our stuff. I was going to do more Moz stuff but ended up only doing Kit, and, I must say, I enjoyed every second. I do love that song - such a shame it never saw an official release. Usually I'm as nervous as hell, but this time I think I hit every note, but sat too far away from the mike. Hey Ho. Today (Sunday) Pete and I travelled across to Sowerby Bridge to do it all again at the Puzzle Hall Inn. What a disaster. Hardly anyone there, still, it left us free to muck about, and we did an ad-hoc "The KKK Took My Baby Away". A good laugh, and a great pub. Now, back at home, back to the worries of the move. At least next week it will be all over.

Sk.

My friend Pete called me tonight and provided a moment of jollity in the turmoil I'm in right now. He said "Skin, when we play this weekend, can we do Judy Is A Punk, slow and jazzed up?". Well, let me see...D A G - yes, that should be no problem, Sir. Now, all we need to do is that easy-listening version of "Ace Of Spades".

Sk.

You would have thought that at my age, I would have more sense - oh no. Been doing a bit of running in preparation for a charity event soon, and a couple of days ago I really, really pushed it on a 4 mile run - on the flat, by the canal. When it was over I felt great, if a little shagged out. Two days later, the muscles in my legs are giving me some severe gip, so tonight I got out the Fiery Jack. Now, I love the Toy Dolls, and I should have taken a hint. I rubbed it all over the thighs. Now this stuff is a slow burner (2.5% Chilli extract!), and I discovered about an hour later that the Jacobs had been impinged upon. Not nice at all. If brains were dynamite, I wouldn't have enough to blow the skull off. And it's got Lard in it.

Sk.

Much as I'd like to be whooping it up tonight, I am stuck at home finishing off a conference paper for an, errm, conference, tomorrow in Manchester. Should be staying over, but can't be arsed, anyway it's only 40 miles or so to Manchester. Which reminds me, does anyone remember that wonderful single by It's Immaterial - "Driving Away From Home"? - it contains the lyric "it's only 35 miles and 45 minutes to Manchester, and that's my birthplace you know". There was something on the telly by Simon Armitage the other night, and I was reminded of the wonderful landscape that we have in Yorkshire. So, while the rest of the family are otherwise engaged tomorrow, I think I'll take the opportunity to take to Marsden Moor and clear out the tubes. Maybe stop at The Sair on the way back, haven't been there for years. Music-wise, I've been listening to the Redskins - brings back memories of strong lager and Hardcastle Crags - anyway, great, great tunes - politically a bit right-on, but the tunes make up for it. I remember seeing a clip of them years ago, and it was a little strange seeing skinheads in turned up jeans and Docs singing Motown and Northern soul stylings.

Goodnight,

Sk.

Thinking about music that has passed by, and perhaps I never had the chance to appreciate, only in passing, I have been listening to some songs that make me sit up and take notice, after all these years. Everything Flows by Teenage Fanclub makes me weep when I listen - like Elgar's Enigma Variations there is a surge to the returning home, and it fills me with joy. Others, at least for me, like this are No.13 Baby by Pixies, and The Sprout & The Bean by Joanna Newsom. Moz songs in this category would be ones that others may not find as immediate - "Oh Well I'll Never Learn", "Southpaw", "Seasick..."...all instil the same feeling. I suppose I'd better hibernate.

Sk.