By The Time I Make A Million They'll Have A Coin For It

As I type it's Bob Dylan's 80th birthday. Happy Birthday, Bob. [I presume he reads my blog] I hope that tartan scarf I threw at you at the SEC in Glasgow all those years ago is still keeping you warm. 

I enjoyed The Big Sleep. 

I think I might start saying stuff like “Shake your business up and pour it, I haven’t got all day” to folk - just to see how that goes.

I read this in a day...

Powerful and poetically grim.

I am pretty sure I saw Hamish Imlach in a free concert with Ossian in Glasgow - maybe in The People's Palace? - when I was at secondary school, sometime in the eighties. I can't really remember anything about it. I've only ever really known of him. But I took the notion to read this book of his memoirs...

It doesn't disappoint...

And this is quite something...

I think it's the Fire Saga effect but for the first time in forever I made a point of watching and enjoying The Eurovision Song Contest.

A wee tip: if you are ever in the Tunnock's shop in Uddingston Main Street, be sure and pick up a banana loaf.

And now a visit to Poetry Corner (the second verse is my favourite):

I was glad to work on the titles music for this show.

(Still waiting on the call from Gary Numan to produce his next album...)

I'm pitching for something. Wish me luck.

...One Of Those Smiles The Lips Have Forgotten Before They Reach The Eyes...

Thanks to everyone who's bought/streamed "Endless Arcade" thus far, propelling us to Number 11 (count ' em) in the Official UK album Charts on the week of release.

And thanks for all the kind words; most especially this from Brendan O' Hare...

If you missed (or you'd like to relive, you crazy person) the Tim's Twitter Listening Party happening - here's the link.

I should have posted this pic during it - my POV in the Hamburg studio...

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Ah, l' esprit de l'escalier.

There have been a load of articles here and there. The Line Of Best Fit interviewed Norman and Raymond about The Pivotal Moments Of Teenage Fanclub.

If you haven't bought "Endless Arcade" yet (huh?) - you can do so here.

What else?

Wee interview with the great Julian Barratt - here.

Wee interview with the great Toby Jones - here.

And speaking of Toby Jones (Silky! -Ed.) I enjoyed TJ's adaption of 5 x Marcovaldo stories by Italo Calvino on Radio 4 (thanks for the tip, Eugene). Jones narrates and McKenzie Crook is understatedly brilliant as the put upon hero. They made me re-read this:

Now I'm reading some Raymond Chandler for a thing.

I've been getting into cheese - the dairy foodstuff. 

Some Alp Blossom last week

I've got an idea for a joke:

How do a porcupine and a slice of Welsh cheese make love?

Very Caerphilly. 

Admittedly it's not quite there yet. Needs development. Might start a crowdfunder.

TV? I'm still watching The Hairy Bikers, Monty Python, Futurama, Giants Of Snooker...

And finally, Esther....

I was glad to write the titles music for Series 3 of Inside Culture With Mary Beard.

And so to bed.