Weather: Mainly cloudy, 23. It's humid in Brighton.

Travel: Back home. Brighton to London is a moment slow, but nothing significant. Victoria to Euston is a breeze. The 1438 leaves almost 15 late, after the driver was delayed when the whole service went up the spout this morning. We make up all but 5 minutes by New Street, but the engine blows a fuse less than two miles from New Street. We get pushed in, but there's nothing else coming in for over 20 minutes. Vermin staff are more concerned with checking the validity of tickets than actually helping their "customers". Failtrack staff are notable by their absence. I wind up shooting off to Snow Hill, with three bags in tow, to pick up the tram. 35 minutes and no luggage space at all. Not smart. There's even bag space on the bus.

Track of the day: Mark gifts me copies of Gretchen Peters' albums: The Secret Of Life (1997) and Gretchen Peters (2000). She is one of the greatest singer-songwriters of the time. No questions.

Weather: Sunny early, cloudy with showers later. 22 is top temps, and it looks like going cooler and wetter later in the week.

Track Of The Day: No Surprises, Paranoid Android and Street Spirit off Radiohead's Dream Performances. Spirit from TOTP in February 96, the other two off Later With Jools in May 97. They do turn out some utter gems.

No travel, it's a day off work. Recovering from the weekend.

More quiz show guff: The Weakest Link hosted by Anne Robinson. It's just wrong. The format, in which the questionning goes round a semicircle, with money for a string of correct answers, is the usual stuff. The twist is that one contestant is removed after each round, reducing to a five question penalty shoot-out to decide the winner.
I think the real interest killer is the host, Anne Robinson. She doesn't so much ask as squeak the questions, and comes off far worse than the perpetually cool Kirsty Young on The People Versus. Anne is also completely unsympathetic, and gets on my nerves very quickly. The show is also an odd length, 45 minutes. It may be adapted to (or adapting) a one hour US format, but that doesn't make it right.

Weather: Sunny spells for much of the day, but with rain spreading in the evening. 23.

Looking round houses always wears me out. Especially when I have to navigate a car as well.

The Vikings arrive in St John's. Emerging on a foggy evening, the ship - powered by local oarsmen - arrives through The Narrows to the cheers of spectators - and loud car and ship horns. Fireworks from The Battery lit the night sky, while a single spotlight turned the crew into silhouettes behind the sail. Our correspondents report that it's a magical moment.

Those of you following the occasional debate on how old Lolly, the bizarre British kid-pop sensation, really is might have appreciated tonight's Liquid News. Lolly was promoting her new single, a cover of Cyndi Lauper's classic "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," when host Christopher Price asked why she was so coy about her age...
L: "I don't want to put pressure on people to achieve certain things by a certain age. Like, have seven GCSEs by 18, or..."
CP: "Or, speaking hypothetically, top ten singles if you're 22, called Anna and from Sutton Coldfield."
L: [looks slightly confused, but still smiles] "Yes, that's it."

Which leaves nothing more to do than say a fond "Goodbye." Unless you're 22 year old Anna Kumble, in which case you get thoroughly confused by such a simple task and say "Hello."

Weather: Sunny early, cloudy later

Travel: Back to work (boo.) Slightly late out of New St to Longbridge, but nothing significant. The express bus goes AWOL, so it's the stopper, which takes forever. And miss the 1725 home, causing major stress as the 1734 is delayed past 1740. Still make the connection.

Track Of The Day: Absolutely (Story Of A Girl) Nine Days (2000.) I've loved this since first hearing it in May. To see the video on MTV Europe is great - it just might turn into something of a hit here, too. Which would be good.

Weather: Drizzle and wet for much of the day, clearing after 3. 20 is as high as the temps get.

Travel: All on time heading out; the 1722 to Shrewsbury runs almost 10 late. Lousy. It's enough stress to persuade me to take the tram next week.

Offer Of the Day: Outside Wolverhampton station, Vermin staffers are handing out (pre-opened) cans of some fizzy liquid. It contains herbs and spices - mine is mainly blackcurrent, and is meant to be a pick-you-up. Two mouthfuls is quite enough for me - fizzy liquid during rush hour is bad, and gross fizzy liquid before boarding a bumpy bus might be a recipe for disaster. Where's the bin?

England beats the West Indies by an innings and 39 runs after less than two days of the test. WTF?!

Weather: Wet early, sunny by mid-morning, 22.

More house hunting. Dull.

Angela pops this into the mail file, and something pops up...
Isn't it funny how just about the only people who *really* have fun at a wedding are everyone BUT the bride and groom? The wedding in Vegas was an exception- I REALLY had fun and so did Alan!
Sudden thought. Does anyone offer Millionaire-themed weddings in Vegas yet?

[if you have the millionaire cd, cue track 64.]
"Are you Brad Kevin?"
"I am."
"Good answer. Are you of sound mind."
"I am."
"And are you Leigh Kath?"
"I am."
"OK. And are you of sound mind?"
"Yes, I am."
[cue track 68]
"Great. Now, is there any reason why you two shouldn't get married right now? Let's ask the audience."
"No? That's great."
[cue 48, into 49.]
"Brad, take a look at this. Leigh Kath. Yours if you answer this question correctly. Do you, Brad Kevin, take this woman, Leigh Kath, to be your lawful wedded wife?"
"I do."
"Final answer?"
"Final answer."
"You realise, once it goes orange, there's no going back."
"Final answer."
[cue 50]
" [sigh] You said 'I do.' The right answer is...
[cue 52]
" ... I do! We play on!"
[cue 53, 54]
"Leigh, this is it. For the big one. This hunk of male is yours on one more correct answer. Here's the question. Do you, Leigh Kath, take this man, Brad Kevin, to be your lawful wedded husband?"
"I do."
"Final answer?"
"Final answer. I do."
"Sure?"
"Sure."
[cue 60]
"You said 'I do'. [pause] If you'd said "No," you would just have lost two teeth. [longer pause] If you'd said "Maybe," you would have lost respect. You said 'I do.' [l-o-n-g pause] We'll take a break."
[cue 69, a song of the couple's choice.]