Thoughts from the Bus Stop

'I want you to make friends with fashion. I really do. I want you to know that there are clothes out there that will not only fit, but flatter. Clothes that won't make you feel like a second-class citizen just because you can name more than one pizza off the Pizza Express menu...'
Excellent, practical advice on How To Wear Clothes from The Guardian's Jess Cartner-Morley.

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I love love LOVE Green Wing. The pre-launch trailers for the show totally put me off. I couldn't believe it had any connection to Smack The Pony, (it's devised and produced by Victoria Pile, whose credits include Spitting Image, Smack The Pony and Los Dos Bros), it looked like rubbish. But it's fantastic - dark, surreal fun, with a cast drawn from many of my favourites shows - Black Books, Smack The Pony, The Book Group, The Office AND Spaced. (Great to see Stephen Merchant pop up in one episode too - working in the path lab.)

I really enjoy the bits involving minor character Harriet 'Mumsy' Schulenburg - losing children, fishing mashed potato out of her handbag. Mark Heap is a joy as pathetic, obsessive Dr Alan Statham, hopelessly devoted to undeserving HR boss Joanna. And Michelle Gomez - what a body! I never noticed while she was playing Janice in The Book Group, but blimey, missus - as permanently-on-heat Sue Hill she gets the chance to work it... great legs, madam. And then there's the delightful Julian Rhind-Tutt as Mac, causing many hearts (and other organs) to flutter. I have to link to this: blogger Sophie's montage of the Mac and Caroline kiss (perfect for we who have to get our romantic kicks vicariously...). She's a Mac/Caroline shipper - good girl. As if the appalling Guy Secretan stands a chance with Caroline... tuh!

27.9.05: Edited to add The Green Wing Gallery on the British Sitcom Guide.


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'I spot a pair of fat-tongued trainers, next to Neneh Cherry's 1989 'Raw Like Sushi' album...'
My thoughts on Fifty Years of Black British Style at the V&A Museum. See also their own Black British Style microsite.



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'We fall in love by accident
A heavenly coincidence...'
Have been meaning to flag this up for ages - Moldy Peach Adam Green's video for the brilliant Friends Of Mine. I loved this so much when I heard it on Radio 2, but then I found out it was only released as a single on vinyl and I can't justify buying a whole album just for one song. So I have to make do with occasionally playing the video on my PC after hours at work.



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'I had tried to become a Christian at school, but been put off by someone coming in to talk to the Christian Union and explaining that God had sent them a pastel green Volvo estate car.'
Smack The Pony's Sally Phillips on how she became a Christian (via rejesus, originally from Third Way). I bet she'd be fun to go for a drink with - at least if I don't manage that in this life, there'll be plenty of time in the next. Not to knock Sir Cliff of course, but it's nice to know there are well-known Christians who are a bit more on my wavelength...



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"There is a point when you think, 'I will make myself fancy by blinding them with spangles.'"
Following a discussion in the office about how (according to Heat magazine) Lauren Laverne fancies my colleague's uncle, Francis Pryor, a welcome revisit to Kenickie Fried Chicken for a few Kenickisms. Wear high heels, and get a record deal...



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In the key of 'Grrr'...
I LOVE the ad for Honda's new diesel engine - the one with the dirty, noisy engines flying through a animated landscape of rainbows and peacocks and exotic topiary, been shot down by bunnies wearing ear protectors, while Garrison Keillor sings a specially written folk song. Click here for the full animation and news on the site they're launching to accompany the ad. Altogether now: 'Hate something, change something, make something bett-errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...'



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'This song's about caravanning...'
Am really glad I went to see The Dials play at the Marlborough Theatre on Friday night - they were excellent. Pidge, the drummer, is my sister's mate's boyfriend, so we were there out of loyalty, but I really enjoyed myself. I knew it had potential when I saw the mandolin, banjo and pedal steel - add to that some wit and great tunes and you're in for a good evening! Am trying to get something by them on CD from Pidge (and get them to listen to Laura Cantrell, if they aren't already).



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Mr Jarrett believes Andy's broodiness is down to his body being full of hormones at the end of the breeding season. "He doesn't seem to have a mate."
Andy, mate - you are not alone.
Sad flamingo tries to hatch stone



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The Magical Nightlife of the Demimonde
Queen of Burlesque, Stella Starr - an old colleague of mine (sadly not a colleague in burlesque cabaret but something much less thrilling) - shakes a tassel at Toulouse-Lautrec's cabaret drawings and tells us what it really feels like to be on stage.




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It's Hard To Hitch Down Life's Highway With No Thumbs
The excellent Mat Fraser opens his latest venture, Thalidomide! A Musical.



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