The Joys of Civilisation

What's Aberystwyth got? Three streets, a pier, mouldering Victorian sea front buildings, Judith Iscariot as mayoress, stacks of pubs, the world's largest camera obscura and a beach? Wo-bloody-ho.

What's civilisation got? Public transport that (sort of) works or at least runs frequently, joy, more concerts than you can shake a thrust aloft (and rhythmically swaying) mobile phone at, happiness, a wider gene pool and ... everything you could possibly need, including paninis at 4am and urchins to shine your shoes.

Maybe not the shoe shining urchins. Still, cor blimey g'vnr... I can't complain and for the most part I'm relishing the opportunities of being away for a while.

Alas you can take the girl away from a torpid Victorian seaside resort town, but you can't take the decaying pier out of the girl - next weekend I am once again eshewing the amenities of the modern world to be off my tod down to Devon. It's worth it though: come next weekend Teignmouth will be basking in the warmth of its favourite sons and hosting two nights of Muse homecoming gigs. I have my ticket and I'm grinning like an idiot.

In Celebration of Some Sunshine.

Don't-complain-about-the-weather-resist-tempta... oh damn it!

If you must live in Wales then surely you're asking for all the trouble, rain sodden trouser bottoms and unoriginal sheep jokes that get thrown your way. I should be grateful that my health kick has been nicely sabotaged by the unceasing drizzle and gloom - that instead of wandering, er-hem, that is to say power walking (powerfully) around the countryside, flinging myself into bushes to dodge cars, I've been forced to stay in (with crisps) catching up on films . Days in with 'In Bruges' and the like aren't so bad really - so what if nipping out to the off licence gets you a bit damp?

Low and behold here comes the sun though, and to celebrate here's some nice summery records:

• Pains of Being Pure at Heart- Young Adult Friction -Distilled sunshine, park benches and furtive fumblings in a cup.
• Tom Vek - Nothing But Green Lights - Clangs about a bit but makes a nice understated point.
• Asobi Seksu - Strawberries (Ulrich Schnauss remix) - Fey music for celestial nights.