So here I am, sat desperately trying to think of ways to avoid my surrender to the call of labour. I can't even partake in my usual afternoon recreation of playing keepie-uppies with my beachball because I'm wearing shoes today rather than trainers, and by God they make it difficult. That'll teach me. Anyway, I thought I might tell you some of my favourite places to listen to Belle and Sebastian. On buses and trains, especially on long journeys, especially when it's raining. Loads of time to lose yourself without (m)any distractions. There's a pub in Stirling, and the manager always plays your CDs if you ask very nicely. They play the music really loud and it's brilliant to see everyone's reactions when IFYS comes on. Someone always asks what it is. This is the same pub where I witnessed an old guy engaged in a most bizarre activity with a bottle of Becks. It occurred to me as only mildly strange that he had bought two beers at once when he was evidently alone, but I never thought any more about it. Until, that is, he started talking to the brown paper bag he had was unwrapping. Not the usual drunken ramblings and profanity, I hasten to add - his tones were affectionate as he gazed lovingly into the bag. He then took one of the aforementioned refreshments and proceeded to pour it gently into his paper package, encouraging its contents to 'drink up'. After a bottle of beer each (his brown paper 'friend' was by this time sodden, and beer was spilling generously over the table) the guy decided it was time time to reveal the contents of the saturated bag. So he pulls out these two crabs. They were alive, I swear, and he spent the best part of the next hour drinking with his pincered companions, every so often tipping the beer slightly so they could have another drink. Sorry I kind of digressed there. I'll shut up for a while now, promise. Love Nicola xx -- Nicola M Stip / Blue Music www.stip.demon.co.uk ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net . We're all happy bunnies humming happy bunny tunes. Aren't we? -----------------------------------------------------------------------