Just read Ken's blog must send him the lyrics of 'Sweet Transvestite' or just this link.

Kimmo Pohjonen 'Finnish techno accordian terrorist'

Yesterday spent at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry at a Records Management awareness raising day hosted by the North West Archives Group and Re:source. The stuff on the Freedom of Information Act was excellent and made the day worhtwhile. Met Hilda form North Cheshire who cheered me with news she'd got �57k out of her PCT for libraries (I only really want �12k a PCT in Liverpool if South Sefton come on board properly then that'd be �9k) and even more good news she'd got �31k out of the WDC to do up a lecture theatre at the Peelhouse Plaza a really freaky GP practice in Widnes that was preveiously a cinema that has two lecture theatres made out of the dress circle now. Mair form the LMI was there and Suzanne from South Cheshire who I'd spoken to but never met so it was quite a nice gathering of health people. Got over to Manchester early by train so it was a case of buying a copy of the Independent and heading to a greasy spoon for a sausage barm and excellent coffee. Interstingly enough there was a poster for a Durutti Column gig, Vini Reilly's shaggy bowl cut bended head looked well cool. Now I don't own any Durutti Column and have only heard their stuff once but remember it as being very laid back guitar music of beauty at a time when all I wanted was shouty stuff so I might have to invest if I can find any. Anyway if you want to find out about them you can either try the unnavigable but beautiful official site or the ugly but effective unnofficial site. The other poster that caught my eye was for one Kimmo Pohjonen who was described on the poster as a 'Finnish techno accordian terrorist' is he working for Osama Bin Laden the well known gooner who heads Al-Qaida. God what a frightening thought a country invaded by accordian players squeezing away 24/7, you'd almost be in France... Went for a wander round Deansgate area of Manchester and came accross the coolest model rockets in a model shop. Going to have to buy one at some point for Callum, maybe need to wait until he's a bit older. On the way back from the meeting while waiting for a train I stopped for a pint in 'The Crown' a pub that looked extremely plastic paddy on the outside. On the inside it was just a normal victorian boozer and the pint of stout I was served with was poured was a delight from start to finish. All poured by a pale saint of a barmaid who had a fragile beauty based on her alabaster skin. Evening and the family tripped to Pizza Hut at Cal's request because he'd done well with his speech and language therapy and has finally got the grasp of in, on and under. We are busy at the moment trying to sort out Knowsley Council to give us some support. Sharon was a bit hacked off with them when they suggested we were really after them paying some of Cal's school fees. I'm glad I wasn't about at the time I'd have gone balistic. She pointed out that wasn't the issue, we had that committed what we wanted was some support to bring Callum's language up to speed be that through support for him in school in terms of some staff support or whatever. It really bugs me that they can whinge that we're cross border 'cos the school is in Liverpool and that because it's an Independent school there are difficulties there. For crying out loud haven't these local government people read the shit coming out of central government for the last 6 years, it's practically all been about interagency working, cross sector working etc. Better Sharon deals with it 'cos I'll just lose my rag with them.

Hairdryer's been out again, 'My baby does her hairdoo long, do long, do long' as the great Kimberley Rew put it on the 'Bible of Bop' (is that how you spell hairdoo?, it's a long time since I saw or heard the album), or in my case my ducks nest needs drying, man. Yes, Cal's tree costume is nearly done, just been to Woolton Tesco to get the superglue to glue in the duck once I have dry papier mache in the morning (hat's in the airing cupboard). On the way back the name of an old girlfriend popped into my head, I've been vaguely trying to remember her surname for a while, Emma Barrett, a woman who taught me much about goldfish in that she answered the big question in my life in sixth form did goldfish sleep (apparently they do but with their eyes open, Emma claimed she had goldfish that said Bruckner and one that died attempting Rimsky-Korsakov, links are here 'cos I guess 17 years later I'd better get round to finding out something about them other than goldfish speak their names, yes I was 17 at the time). She also prompted my mother to give me the birds and the bees lecture when she wandered into the room and yelled contraception at me to which I replied Catholic. Mind you it wasn't an issue.... Years later when I was at UCL I met Emma again and even voted for her in a student union election. Clair has an interview at Southport Drugs Council (presumably it's all about Sanatogen abuse up in Southport) as an administrator. As she is interested in this sort of area, hope she get's the job (not the Sanatogen abuse). Adam had some good suggestions for the CPD bid from the WDC, now scribbling like mad to meet his requests. Top man, Adam. Spread my Enquiries management database and stupid icon for it round the team today, Mo found the technical hitch and a marginal adjustment later it's all solved.. Think there's a touch of scepticism in certain quarters, but spoke to Marie over in St Helen's who I intend to share this stuff with, then spent some time explaining that it was no problem sharing stuff with her. Off to a RM meeting with Mair at the Museum of Science at Manchester, adventurous trip by train. Looking forward to it and PCT librarian's next week on Thursday, be good to catch up with Liz Farrell, hope to persuade her a pint would be a good move.

Back on the Love Spit Love kick, as a band name it always reminds me of that great Richard Hell track 'Love Comes in Spurts' a man who defined a blank generation. Wish I could come up with a name as good for this typically topical gig.

Spent some of the evening painting Callum's hat green for his tree outfit, the old dear called and leaves and t-shirt are on the way back to us. Need to get some brown paper and shred it tomorrow to for the nest for the rubber duck. Well if he has to be a tree he should follow family traditions and be a little wacky.

EBIS meeting today, bit crap 'cos we didn't really get our shit together but did get to meet Colin from Arrowe Park and the new web developer at what was South Cheshire. Good chat with Marie, all gloom and doom though. Monst called she has a nasty cold, so plague has entered the house. I had to leave early to pick up Cal. Evening food a chink and a touch of the old XTC and then worked on the design of an enquiry management database 'cos I'm begining to lose track of some of the shit I'm doing. With any luck it'll look tarty for the accreditation too. Just plugged into a bit of Love Spit Love for a bit of variety while I type this. I always forget how good a singer Richard Butler is, not in any classic way but his voice has a delightful smoky drawl character and I love the way he writes the lyrical equivilent of a crossword. Mic had some hassles getting in so I need to run through this Typically Topical stuff with him tomorrow and really kick this pilot off. Between us I think we've got the thing sussed. Just need to start pumping the thing out and getting some feedback. God, 'Half a Life' is a pretty song.

TLC is nice and sick again, and nice to see the gooner Tom Watt gainfully employed!

Beginning to come round to the events of the weekend, began on Friday with a trip round to Linda's who warned me that the chances of the library getting a successful CPD bid in to the WDC are nil, oh well they will be unless we try. Nice to see Mark, mind you he took the piss over the footy, but who's top the league now! Saturday and it was haircut time for Cal, and then shop for a dinner service. God what an exciting life, but got home in time to listen to the defeat of Spurs..... Sorry being couth so pouring un verre de vin rouge rather than glugging it straight from the grog bottle. Just reached the excellent, 'Aliens of the Lord' 'If I were a business man I'd stuff my suit right down the toilet pan it's appalling who's he fooling If I were the holy Pope I'd give out condoms while I'm smoking dope if you gave 'em it could save 'em and tell him if he's quick he could dine with Margaret Thatcher send him to the planet of the aliens of the lord If I drove a London cab I'd shut my mouth to stem the fascist gab no more jingo down the bingo If I were the Prince of Wales I'd smear manure on my top hat and tails it's abundunt so redundant Lock him in the Tower give them both a damn good send off send him to the castle in the kingdom of the planet of the aliens of the lord' yes the home of sensible songs.

Tracy's back having sorted out her kitchen and Mo's off sorting her new kitchen, kitchen trade is the place to be! In the meanwhile busy sorting out a template for a new current awareness service, daily health news culled from the papers. So far it's been christened 'Typically Topical' but it's too obvious for my liking, seriously tempted to rebrand it 'The Rattle of Booby Moore's Bracelet' but not certain it'd make sense to anyone. The idea is to hit Health Service management type people who need to keep up to date...... Tonight's rattling vibes are being provided by the excellent Captain Sensible until TLC kicks in at 9.30, jangly as hell and guitars to make your ears bleed. Lovely, 'Riot on Eastbourne Pier' is currently assaulting my ears and it's a blast. Vist the good Captain at the official Damned site now he's back with Dave Vanian and crew.

Busy tail end to the week, Al's vist was a success, nipped into see Ken on the way. Not got at blog recently, things have been a bit mental. Still just like to record that Arsenal are top of the league following a 3-0 win against Spurs, can life get sweeter?