Heavens to Betsy, It's been a while. All the babble of chat and books and Britpop, and somehow it's all flown past me. But you know (cheesy smile) - I've kinda missed you guys. In the week that Melody Maker did their side-splitting (the snakey symbol rears its head) Stuart Murdoch buys Rangers spoof (please do a little more homework next time) and I am forced to share a train carriage with fans of the aforementioned team, complete with their British National Party magazines, it may seem that the world is full of lies and hatred, but it's not true, and in a bid to show the more "fluffy kitten" side of the world, I present my new column (oo-err). This week: Keith "Save the Babies" Watson, Chris "Sylvian" Leonard, Amanda "you see, I am a swan" Bergman and your hapless scribe finally saw the full glory of Paul n' Linda's palatial residence - the Versailles of Auld Reekie, as the locals call it. Paul, with those Rochers you were really spoiling us. Oh yes, and is it really true that Keith was seen buying a V-neck sweater? Don't do it Keef. Our spies have been out and about: Spotted: Girl in Marks and Spencers in Manchester City Centre using her Belle and Sebastian badge to do up the top button of her regulation issue M&S blouse. This makes her an early front runner for this column's style and sophistication award. Last year's winner, Anna Schroder used her badges as cufflinks. Resourceful, and in immaculate taste - congratulations, Anna. Isn't technology wonderful? Before I had email access, the indescribably sexy world of yet another eligible young bachelor, Rod (Rod by name, ROD by nature) Begbie, was just the stuff of a madman's dreams. As he himself says:

He's like a Bill Gates without a Microsoft

Girls, how can you resist? Incidentally, thanks for correcting my anagram by the way, Rod, now I understand what made you too busy to go on strike, you were taking time and trouble to rearrange the letters of my name, in order to prove me wrong and demonstrate once again just how clever you are. I'm truly flattered by all your attention. Finally, in the world of showbiz, Richard B&S was seen demonstrating his percussion skills with tambourine-wielding hopefuls Camera Obscura at an open-mike session in Glasgow. Sadly, their performance followed an impromptu set by a very old and heroically drunk harmonica player, whose unique renditions of traditional tunes and special brand of folk-dancing (including the 'lurching dangerously from side to side and appearing on the verge of death') stole the show for many. That's about it. Next week, Stephen Trousers invites us into his beautiful pied a terre, and says "Poetry saved me from cocaine hell". Cheerio, Love Tag xx ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . 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 . Listen, this is pish, I think I'll leave -----------------------------------------------------------------------