Last night I saw the glare of a waning moon coming through the back window. A bright moon is always an invite to stare into the night sky but to be honest I was disappointed. Although the sky was clear, the moon wasn't really penetrating the darkness and it still felt like nighttime. You may well say it was bound to be, but a couple of nights before the moon had been nearly full, lighting the streets, yards, and alleys at the back of my home like a pale version of the sun, light grey clouds drifting past and the whole scene so close to daylight that you could have wandered around the countryside in that semi-twilight with no difficulty at all.

As it happens, yesterday was one where the cold got a lot colder during the course of the day. By nightfall, as I trode across the road for a kebab, I nearly froze. The weather people say we might get snow showers this afternoon. Looking out the back window right now there's a sombre display of medium grey flat clouds against a whiter background. Hang on though... There's a northerly wind today, and looking in that direction? Yep. A band of creamy flat-bottomed cumulus coming our way.

Rap on the Cobbles

I see Snoop Dog wants his ban lifted so he can come to Britain and do a cameo role in one our soap operas, Coronation Street. My first reaction was one of horror. As if the tale of working class people in a midlands street wasn't banal and surreal enough already, now a rap star wants to tuck into an indian takeaway and chill in the Rovers Return. If only Julie Goodyear was still acting the part of Bet Lynch. She'd be putting on her most expensive dress and leopard skin accessories. Eh chuck, she's puttin' the poor singer in his place like nowt else.

Letter of the Week

Recently I mentioned getting an unexpected P45 in the post and getting slightly furious with the government agencies over it. I'm pleased to say the matter is resolved. I've just received another letter telling me to expect a P45 in the post and not to worry about it.