iPod Recently Played for the last week

As always, the 'Shuffle Songs' setting has been activated and another random week was had.

I Can Only Disappoint U (LP Mix) - Mansun
So Why So Sad - Manic Street Preachers
Big Bang Theory Theme - Barenaked Ladies
Your Revolution - DJ Vadim & Sarah Jones
Everyone's At It - Lily Allen
Set The Fire To The Third Bar - Snow Patrol & Martha Wainwright
Dis lui toi que je t'aime - Vanessa Paradis
In Bloom (LP Version) - Nirvana
Do You Love Me - The Contours
The Reason - Celine Dion
I Confess - Posh
Half A Person - The Smiths
Mongoose - Sasha
5, 6, 7, 8 - Steps
Pyromaniax! (Evening Session) - Arsonists
Can We Fix It? - Bob The Builder
Dance Commander - Electric Six
Drop The Hate (Laid Remix) - Fatboy Slim
Great Things - Echobelly
Paths That Cross - Patti Smith
Where Love Lives - Alison Limerick
Waiting For You (Soul Brother Mix) - Sia
The Angry Mob - Kaiser Chiefs
Medicine Bow (Long Version) - The Waterboys
London - Noonday Underground
New Pink Floyd - The Future/The Human League
Pretend To Be Nice - Josie And The Pussycats
Over At The Frankenstein Place - The Original Roxy Rocky Horror Cast
Under The Thumb - Amy Studt
Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend
I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend - Lush
Leave! - VV Brown
X-Girlfriend - Bush
The End. - My Chemical Romance
Digsy's Dinner - Oasis
Caught By The Fuzz - Supergrass
Wild Child - Lou Reed
Darkshines - Muse
Let's Talk About It - White Denim
The Promise - Girls Aloud
Wannabe - Spice Girls
You Needed Me - Boyzone
Strip - Adam Ant
Hanging On The Telephone - Blondie
In Too Deep - Belinda Carlisle
Intro - Lauryn Hill
My Oh My - Aqua
You Do Something To Me - Dum Dums
Stay In Love Forever - Ash
In Liverpool (Intro/Narrative) - Suzanne Vega
Love U 4 Life - Jodeci
Electric Man - Mansun
I Need - Meredith Brooks
Change - The Lightning Seeds
Repair Man - Mansun
Mi Negra - Kad Achouri
Morning Rage (Instrumental) - UNKLE
All Answers Revealed/Reflect (Devotion) - Billy Corgan & Mike Garson
Thank You For The Venom - My Chemical Romance
My Insatiable One - Suede
X-Offender - Blondie
Just A Love Song - The Jellys
Filthy Mind - Amanda Ghost
Landscape - Goldrush
Hot Rock - Sleater-Kinney
Stan - Eminem feat Dido
Greasy Grass River - The Black Crowes
What To Do - OK Go
He Hit Me (Unplugged) - Hole
Doctor Jones - Aqua
Shiny Happy People - R.E.M.
Summer Night City - ABBA
Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Saint Etienne
Les silences de Juliette - Indochine
Twist - Goldfrapp
New Art Riot - Manic Street Preachers
Hunter - Bjork
Anywhere For You - Backstreet Boys
With My Own Eyes - Sash!
Light Of Love - Marc Bolan & T.Rex
Soldiers Of Fortune - Last Stop China Town
The Biz Vs. The Nuge - Beastie Boys
Little Black Book (Little Black Mix) - Belinda Carlisle
Carmelita - Rachel Stamp
Your Song - Ewan McGregor & Alessandro Safina
Coup de folie - Thierry Pastor
The World Should Revolve Around Me - Little Jackie
Set The Ray To Jerry - Smashing Pumpkins
Times Like These (Live Lounge) - Foo Fighters
Fluorescent - Gwen Stefani
Daddy - Jewel
Naked (Garden Of Eden Vocal Mix) - Louise
One Touch - Sugababes
Get Busy - Sean Paul
La p'tite lady - Vivian Savage
Starbirth In The Triffid Nebula - Rachel Stamp
Fade Away And Radiate - Blondie
Misfit - Amy Studt
It's Like That (Drop The Break) (Extended 12" Mix) - Run DMC Vs Jason Nevins
The Chemicals Between Us - Bush
Movin' On - Bananarama
Supermodel - Jill Sobule
Harper's Romo - The High Llamas
School's Out - Daphne & Celeste
Platinum Blonde - Blondie
Right Thru' It (Breaks Dub) - Brown
Get Happy - Frank Sinatra
DJ Song - Miss Kittin & The Hacker
Wichita Lineman - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Mono - Courtney Love
Too Much Of You - Kelly Osbourne
People - Andreas Johnson
____ (Low On Ice-Track 2) - Alec Empire
B-Side Baby - Cosmetique
Fuck Forever - Babyshambles
Diamond Dogs - David Bowie
I'm Your Guy - Metrosexuality Cast
Groove Holmes - Beastie Boys
Encore Une Fois (The Powerplant 'Toke On This' Mix) - Sash!
Pinch Me - Barenaked Ladies
Happy Just To Be With You (Nigel Lewis Mix) - Michelle Gayle
From Despair To Where - Manic Street Preachers
From The Bench At Belvidere - The Boo Radleys
Bullets - Editors
Aie A Mwana - Bananarama
Searching The Streets - The Donnas

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iPod Recently Played for the last week

So this is what the 'Shuffle' button said I should listen to this week:

Touch Me (I Want Your Body) - Samantha Fox
T-Shirt (UK Radio Edit) - Shontelle
Super Disco Breakin' - Beastie Boys
Six - Mansun
Song 2 - Blur
Danger! High Voltage (Kilogram Remix) - Electric Six
C'est trop tard - Alizee
I Don't Agree (R.U. Receiving Mix) - Dirty Harry
Shout To The Top (Club 69 Vocal Mix) - Fire Island feat Loleatta Holloway
Who's Gonna Kiss That Man - Marisa Turner
More Than This - Roxy Music
I Believe - Celvin Rotane
Red Alert (Jaxx Club Mix) - Basement Jaxx
Can It Be Love? - Samantha Mumba
This Is How I Disappear - My Chemical Romance
Bad Boys - 20 Fingers feat Gillette
School (Live) - Nirvana
Beggin' (Pilooski Re-Edit) - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Masochrist - My Ruin
Cum Undun - Peaches
Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
I Will Still Be Laughing - Soul Asylum
Jet Black Supersonic - Rachel Stamp
Je te survivrai - Jean-Pierre Francois
I Am Hell - White Zombie
Running The World - Jarvis Cocker
"Are we a rock band or what...?" - Apollo Four Forty
Who's That Calling? - Blue Apple Boy
Projects - Ash
Crush - Bianca
Break Of Dawn - Rhythm On The Loose
La Folie - The Stranglers
We're Going Out (Mint Royale Version) - Younger Younger 28's
Punch And Judy - Elliott Smith
Unintended - Muse
Won't You Be My Baby, Baby - Leila
Ride A White Swan - Marc Bolan & T.Rex
Final Hour - Lauryn Hill
Conspiracy Of One - The Offspring
Helicopters - Barenaked Ladies
Uncle Jonny - The Killers
Saint Simon - The Shins
Les fans et les chansons d'abord - Pascal Obispo
Gotta Get - Big Brovaz
Hurricanes - Pull Tiger Tail
Waking Up - Elastica
Zombie Nation (DJ Gius Remix) - Kernkraft 400
Spit - NY Loose
Don't Stop - Innerpartysystem
Tumbling Down - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
I Want You Back - Bananarama
Theme From The UFO 61 - The UFO 61
Stan - Eminem feat Dido
Sad For Me - No Doubt
Velveteen - Transvision Vamp
Complainte De La Butte - Rufus Wainwright
One Of Us - Joan Osborne
Don't - Jewel
Bonedriven - Bush
True To Life - Roxy Music
Superthug - Noreaga
Shoot Down - The Prodigy
Big Isn't Beautiful (Absolute Zero Remix) - King Adora
Nails For Breakfast, Tacks For Snacks - Panic! At The Disco
Simple Kind Of Life - No Doubt
Wee Love - bis
Here Comes Your Man (Live) - Pixies
Watch Me Fall Apart - Hard-Fi
The Boy Is Mine (LP Version) - Brandy & Monica
Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off - Panic! At The Disco
Five To One - The Doors
She's My Baby - Faithless
In The Dawn - Robert Miles
Frail - Remote Control
Tony's Theme (Live) - Pixies
Ziggy Stardust - Bauhaus
Stumped - Shea Seger
Imagination - Harry
The Cannibal Hiking Disaster - Alterkicks
Again - Janet Jackson
Sexy Noises Turn Me On - Salt N Pepa
Rock & Roll Nigger - Patti Smith Group
Obsession - Dexadrina
Les voisins - Axelle Red
Star Me Kitten - William S. Burroughs & R.E.M.
Even Angels Fall - Jessica Riddle
All I Want Is Everything - Bon Jovi
Work Is Never Done - The Futureheads
Together - Suede
The Changing Man - Paul Weller
Safe From Harm (Just A Dub) - Massive Attack
Boy Next Door - Jamelia
Caught By The Fuzz - Supergrass
Queer - Garbage
Old Age - Hole
Girl I House You - Marusha
Planet Earth - Prince
Hard To Say It's Over - Jason Donovan
Break Me - Jewel
Rape Me - Nirvana
You Might Need Somebody (Ill-In-Ton's Club Mix) - Shola Ama
Golden Brown - The Stranglers
Aimer - Cast Of Romeo & Juliette
Dying - Hole
She Drove Me To Daytime Television (XFM Session) - Funeral For A Friend
Living In Chaos - The Offspring
Tired Of Sleeping - Suzanne Vega
Life In Mono - Mono
Listen Up - bis
Miracle - Paramore
Just - Mark Ronson feat Phantom Planet
Case Of The Ex - Mya
Golden Touch - Razorlight
Flying - Cast
Country Yard - The Vines
Kowalski - Primal Scream
Shame - Matchbox 20
It's Like That (Jason's Battle Blaster) - Run-D.M.C. Vs Jason Nevins
Right Here - Kelly Osbourne
Bully Boy - Shed Seven
The Turnaround - The Herbaliser
Let's Talk About Sex - Salt N Pepa
Measured - Cecil
Lost In SE1 - Ciccone
PDA - Interpol
I Need Somebody - Ash
You Make Me Wanna... (JD Remix) - Usher
Shock Treatment - Richard O'Brien
Island Of Lost Souls - Blondie
There Goes The Neighbourhood - Sheryl Crow
Boys On The Radio (Live) - Hole
Stepping Stone (Original Band Of Gypsys Single Version) - Jimi Hendrix
Ask Me No Questions - The Bangles

iPod Recently Played for the last week

For some reason my iPod decided I needed to listen to a great deal of dance music towards the end of the week... most odd.

High On Your Own Supply - Apollo Four Forty
Breathe (Rap Version) - Blu Cantrell feat Sean Paul
It's Not Over Yet - Klaxons
Burn Black - Hole
Scandalous - Mis-Teeq
Ed Is Dead (Live) - Pixies
Angel's Whisper - My Scarlet Life
Theme From Retro - Blur
Girls - Sugababes
Fascination - Alphabeat
Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Cheatin' - Gin Blossoms
Stronger - Britney Spears
Frankly, Mr Shankly - The Smiths
The Bartender And The Thief - Stereophonics
Feel It - Kate Bush
We Are Broken - Paramore
Even In His Youth - Nirvana
It's Not A Fashion Statement, It's A Deathwish - My Chemical Romance
You Gonna Get It - Johnny Thursday & The Friday Knights
Too Late - No Doubt
She's My Baby - Faithless
A Tatons (Reprise) - Axelle Red
Fetisha - Orgy
Stronger (Antoine 909 Remix) - Sugababes
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
Morfe - Form Puls Fiction
Echo Beach - Martha & The Muffins
D I S C O Boy - Ex-Rental
And That's Why - Kenickie
Like Robots - bis
Crazy - Seal
Cuba (Salsa Mix) - El Mariachi
Rubber Ring - The Smiths
Sprinkle The Axis - Jameson
Commercial Break - David Holmes
Xerxes - William Orbit
Sincerite & Jalousie - Alliance Ethnik
Sweet Shop Avengerz - bis
Adnan - Orbital
Downer - Nirvana
Case Of The Ex - Mya
More Than Physical - Bananarama
Let Her Go Into The Darkness - Jonathan Richman
We're All In This Together - Human Traffic OST
It's Alright (D'Influence Mix) - Deni Hines
Don't Mug Yourself - The Streets
Sweetness - Fischerspooner
Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Marusha
Keep On, Keepin' On - MC Lyte
For What You Dream Of - Bedrock feat Kyo
Sky (Radio Edit) - Sonique
I Believe I Can Fly - R Kelly
Free Money - Patti Smith
Got The Feelin' - Five
Didn't I Break My Heart Over You - Rachel Stamp
Everything You Need (Mobin Master 12" Remix) - Madison Avenue
Can't Stand Losing You - MIKA Vs Armand Van Helden
Druglord Superstar - MC Lyte
I Drive The Bus - SpaceStation
Pretty Like Drugs - Queen Adreena
Full Throttle - The Prodigy
Flat Beat - Mr Oizo
Remember Me - The Blueboy
I Just Want To Make Love To You - Etta James
Smoulder - King Adora

Growing old disgracefully

I am 27. I know this because it says so on my drivers license and my passport and other important documents. However, I'm sure this is some kind of practical joke, as I'm reasonably convinced I am still 15, I am in no way an adult, and that even though I do things like pay council tax, it's not really real, I'm just playing at being a grown up. When people ask if I have kids (which I do plan to do one day) I just looked shocked, then remember that this is not a ridiculous question. That, in fact, Wellingborough is full of people my age with children at secondary school. Thing is, I still think I'm a kid. I am yet to complete any of life's milestones... no kids, not married, no mortgage, no degree, haven't even really sorted a career out yet, although have eventually found a foundation I like. Looking at my mother, I'm not sure this will ever change. I just hope that my more childish traits come off as more adorable and cute and less lame and unhinged!

Anyway, commenced birthday celebrations on Thursday. Shipped Pete off to Retro-Beat at The Horseshoe, and had the girls (i.e. Caz, Chrissy, Pebbles, Carly, Tahnee & Isabel) round for an Ann Summers party. Isabel was selling off her kit as it was her last party before moving to Cyprus so we picked up some bargains. I bought the Deadly Desires and Entice basques:

All in all, was a good laff. Then headed into town to hear Pete DJ at Retro-Beat.


Friday was my actual birthday. Had a pretty lazy day, which was nice, with Pete spoiling me. I got money from various people, a great Debbie Harry tee from Caz along with an iPod sock (I've been carrying mine around in an actual sock), Madagascar on DVD, a bottle of Cava and some chapagne flutes from Mum & Paul... winner of the weirdest gift does go to my dad's mother who sent me £26 in £2 coins in a jam jar and 3 tea towels. In the evening Dad and DJ popped over with a very nice bottle of champagne so I spent the evening drinking that whilst munching a takeaway from Bentos.

Saturday, me and Pete went into Northampton to check out the Anne Frank exhibition at the Guildhall. My brother has been volunteering at it while it's on so we went in, said hi, and had a look around. Then I went to my opticians, finally accepting my Miu Miu frames have had it, and ordered a new pair of glasses and stocked up on contact lenses. Should get the new glasses in the next few days. Unusually the frames I chose are actually really cheap! I did spend some time lingering around the Prada display, but to be honest I think they were a little old for me. Much as I love diamante, I don't think it works on glasses until a certain age, and even then you're flirting with Dame Edna territory. Wandered back to Guildhall to find DJ, and stopped to look in a jeweller's en route. Saw a very nice platinum and diamond ring for £13,999. The rock was huge! I pointed it out to Pete. He commented how nice the white gold and diamond £750 one was (which, actually, it was). I pointed out that if we ever did decide to get married, I would be demanding a bigger and shinier ring that the one Matt has bought Tahnee (which is very very nice and has set the standard, since they're the first of my close friends to get engaged). We dropped the subject, anyway! I lurked around the Guildhall waiting for DJ, while Pete disappeared into the record fair across the hall. I killed time by reading the plaques on the wall, my favourite being a list of "Wives and Consorts of the Mayor of Northampton". Consorts... I do love that term. Sounds classy yet illegitimate! Once I did manage to gather the boys, we went to Buddies for lunch, since DJ had never been. For those not familiar with Northampton, Buddies is an American style diner in an old school in a backstreet. It's pretty tiny and always busy, and crammed floor to ceiling with tacky Americana... inflatable Bud bottles, bumper stickers, The Simpsons memorabilia. They do about 30 different types of burger, but I went for the steak, which I have to say was pretty impressive. Even had a dessert (typically huge) and spent the rest of the day feeling like I was going to explode. Went home for a nap and ended up sleeping until 7pm. It's a hard life.

Anyway, birthday festivities will resume next weekend. Me and Caz (and her brother, Martin) are having a joint birthday do. Well, we're gathering everyone in town and getting drunk... not sure if that really constitutes a 'do' as such but it should be fun. Not worked out what to wear yet though... maybe a basque? Well, I'm not that old yet, I might as well get em out while I can!

iPod Recently Played for the last week

Here's what the 'Shuffle songs' setting on the iPod has been throwing up at me this week:

Because The Night - Patti Smith Group
Piece Of My Heart - Big Brother & The Holding Company
Loving Arms - Beautiful South
Blue (Da Ba Dee) (DJ Ponte Ice Pop Radio Edit) - Eiffel 65
She Drove Me To Daytime Television (XFM Session) - Funeral For A Friend
Saltwater - Chicane feat Maire Brennan
Light My Fire - The Doors
'Round Springfield (Medley) - The Simpsons
Sa raison d'etre (Live) - Pascal Obispo
Everybody (Backstreet's Back) - Backstreet Boys
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
The Circus Of Dr Lao - The Future/The Human League
The Night Train - Kadoc
Plump - Hole
Somebody Told Me - The Killers
Real Wild Child - Josie And The Pussycats
Hussel - M.I.A. feat Afrikan Boy
Kiss Kiss (Jah Wobble Remix) - Holly Valance
Get A Real Tattoo (Live) - Six By Seven
Across 110th Street - Bobby Womack
The Only Way - Gotye
The Age Of Love - The Age Of Love
Who's That Calling? - Blue Apple Boy
What's It Gonna Be - H "Two" O feat Platnum
Substance (Felix Da Housecat Remix) - Dot Allison with Miss Kittin
Mother Stands For Comfort - Kate Bush
This Way - Jewel
One More Murder - Better Than Ezra
Just A Little - Liberty X
Shining Light - Ash
Ding A Dong - Edwyn Collins
Spacetravel - Bush
Black Coffee - All Saints
Rester Femme - Axelle Red
Oops!...I Did It Again - Britney Spears
Tu Seras Bien - Axel Bauer
Runaway Lover - Madonna
Castles In The Sky - Ian Van Dahl
Held - Smog
She's A Mystery - Bon Jovi
Caught By The Fuzz - Supergrass
Win You Over - Forever Moon
Ce Matin La - Air
Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
Save Your Kisses For Me - Kenickie
Sitting At Home - Honeycrack
Don't Speak (Single Version) - Clueless
Protection (J Sw!ft Mix) - Massive Attack
Die In The Summertime - Manic Street Preachers
It Ain't What You Do - Bananarama
Fatigante - Louise Attaque
Rain (Vocal Mix) - Kerri Chandler
No Goodbyes - The Subways
Don't Stop Movin' (Original Version) - Livin' Joy
Special Delivery - The Offspring
The Stoop - Little Jackie
Three Lions (Jules Rimet Extended Mix) - Baddiel & Skinner & Lightning Seeds
The World Should Revolve Around Me - Little Jackie
New Moon On Monday - Duran Duran
One Of The People (Shark Tank Mix) - Adamski's Thing feat Gerideau
Loneliness - Tomcraft
Kabul Shit - Lily Allen
I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
What Do I Have To Do - Kia
Why Can't We Turn On The Lights - Space
Femme Fatale - The Velvet Underground & Nico
Primus (Live) - Babes In Toyland
Yesterday - P.P. Arnold
Survival - Madonna
Promise - My Scarlet Life
Break Apart Her Heart - Good Charlotte
Air - Ben Folds Five
Simple & Funky - Alliance Ethnik
Steal My Sunshine - Len
Ninja Hi Skool - Bis
Et quand bien meme - Jane Birkin
Tales Of A Dead Scene - Soulwax
Eddie - Rocky Horror Picture Show Original Film Soundtrack
Tusk - Fleetwood Mac
Something Better Change - The Stranglers
If You Only Let Me In - MN8
Ready Or Not - The Fugees
Family Portrait - Pink
When The Rain Falls - Suede
Straight Up - Chante Moore
I Know What I'm Here For - James
Viens boire un petit coup - Licence IV
3 Is A Magic Number - Embrace
Strange And Beautiful (I'll Put A Spell On You) (Jacknife Lee Mix) - Aqualung
Starman - David Bowie
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side - The Smiths
Asking For It - Hole
To You I Bestow - Mundy
Speed Of Sound - Coldplay
Can't Cry Anymore - Sheryl Crow
Artificial Sweetener - No Doubt
Slave Boy - Lolita Storm
Suerte (Whenever, Wherever) (Album Version) - Shakira

Mistresses (BBC 1, last night)

Something hit me while idly watching the first episode of the new series of Mistresses last night.

I think I'd seen the show before, and I'd read bits and bobs promoting it, so I had a general idea what I was in for. Besides, needed to kill time before Shameless was one.

I realised that the programme, and others like it, are 'grass is greener' television. Over-the-top scenes of illicit romps in hotel rooms with mysterious strangers... I remember being single, I remember liaisons, I do not remember anything like that. But then, I'm in my twenties, no kids, no mortgage, and whilst I'm very happy in my relationship and would like it to last, it isn't set in stone that this is my life until the day that I die. There is still possibilities, and my wild (ish) past is not that far behind me. I am not the target market for this show.

The target market are people who will look at these scenes and it will fulfill their 'grass is greener' fantasies that they secretly harbor. They will never go out and do these things, they don't have the energy once the kids are in bed, and his shirts need ironing, and they have to be up early to drop the Volvo at the garage. But, they will watch this show, tell themselves it's real, that people out there are doing that, let the thought flit across their mind, and return to boring normality.

I suppose the real difference between them and me is that I could do this stuff if I wanted. I don't, but I guess I have that option. I also have the option not to bother watching Mistresses again. Not that the world it portrays bothers me at all, it's the world of its viewers that I can't avoid thinking of that plunges me into the depths of despair.

I have nothing against marriages, mortgages, and kids, I hasten to add. But these are not things I intend to get tangled up in until I've done all I feel I need to do that they may stop me doing. Hopefully, doing things that way will prevent me ever feeling the need to go weak at the knees while watching crap television on an overstuffed floral sofa.