Spares are almost impossible to find for my 40 year old pickup (seen here with Retro Diary Bill aboard). But I found a retired welder who has magnificently restored the exhaust using stainless steel. By product is it now sounds as throaty as a sports car.

That's not common sense that's an urban myth or, as we used to call it, an old wives tale. Common sense is not immediately believing the latest signings will produce promotion.

20 yards from our front door

I don't go to gigs anymore but if there is a stream to watch I will be there to watch it. All my local streams have dried up

Fun facts and Beth Orton connections: Beth's favourite musician is John Martyn who is my favourite too. John hated hers (and Orbit's) cover of his 70s song Don't Wanna know 'bout evil. I am not keen either. But she is a good egg nonetheless. Enjoy the gig.

Reasonably entertaining second half for the Stockholm crowd this afternoon.

In 1975 I worked with a Brummie called Lenny Bruce. He had never heard of Lenny Bruce. A famous comedian I said. He's not famous he replied. I've never 'eard of 'im.

My friend Alan who is known as Al by all his mates would be pleased and relieved if the AI moniker became obsolete.

AI isn't the right term. IE - Inference Engine is probably more accurate. There's no intelligence there. Or in those that 'own' it for that matter.

Is that a re-purposed ironing board Pete? Whatever, it is a very nice retro touch.

Nick Pope is Methodist actually

Even after all these years when I see new Beatles photos (taken by George) I still come over all peculiar. What guys they were.

Ian Wright suavely mashing up the Norman Wisdom Benny Hill look tonight

Borrowed from the other place. English law at its worst.

Allotments cuppa as daybreaks

Today my favourite song is What a Waste by Ian+Blockheads. Sublime backing, clever rueful wordplay and inimitable delivery. I had many many jobs of alarming variety and have wasted my life too thankfully.

The only bit of Artell's eleven minutes interview after a dull home defeat was his mention of Lev Yashin. There are not many left who saw him, there are a big majority I suspect who rightly have never heard of Lev. All I remember is that he always played in an all black kit.

Our rat problem returns. His only way into our garden is by tunnelling under the eight foot Victorian garden wall. Gotta keep the back door shut or he might fancy moving in with us.