Idle Miscellany

I have this philosophy about booze: I like it. I always think of myself as something of a "French alcoholic", which is a term I should explain. I've heard it said that in certain parts of France it's very hard to classify people as alcoholics or not, because their drinking habits are strange. They only drink a glass a night with a meal, but they take it religiously and find it hard to cope if their booze is taken away from them. So are they alcoholics or not, or do they need a new term entirely? Whatever, I think I'm a bit like that. "Little, but usually" is my motto.

Earlier this week I sat down to write a list of Woes. I'm having some rough luck at the moment, and writing a list is a poor man's exorcism. As it turned out, I could only manage nine woes, and most of them will resolve themselves if I just keep my head down for a few weeks, so it's not too bad. One of them is boozelessness, and that disappears on Tuesday. Hurrah.

But I needed some cheering, and I've got two recommendations for you. Thud is Terry Pratchett's latest paperback, and it's quite possibly the best thing he's ever written. It's page-turning, brilliantly written, and laugh-out-loud funny. I was getting strange looks on the tube last night because I was clearly guilty of that most British of crimes, Displaying Glee In A Public Place.
The other thing worth recommending is Little Miss Sunshine. It's one of the funniest fillums I've watched in ages. That's not a particularly sparkling way to review a film, but it's true. So there you are: Recommendationage.

Oh, and one other thing: Bandillity. We - being Jim-Bob, Little Jim-Bob, The Glimmer Twins and I - are starting a new band. There'll be more to say about it as time goes on, but it's bringing a big ol' grin to my face at the moment. We'll be playing all-original rock stuff, and I think it's going to be great fun. The first gig's in January, so stay tuned...