Like I was never gone?

Fully sick, mate

For the past four days, I've been laid low with a horrid cold. I won't bore you with the symptoms. Did a lot of serious thinking. Back to work on the morrow.

The invisible (gentle)man

Saw an episode of "Antiques Roadshow" where a lady brought in a clear glass bowler hat. The expert declared it to be from 1870s Sunderland and enquired if there was a matching clear glass walking stick. Yes, originally, but it had been lost or broken long ago. No gloves?

Tapez not dead

When I wasn't feeling up to anything but lying in the dark, I listened to a couple more super-cheap audiobooks: "An Auctioneer's Lot" (2005) and "Sold To The Man With The Tin Leg" (2006), both written and read by Philip Serrell. As any fule kno, PS is one of the experts who assist the teams of amateurs in purchasing their antiques on TV's "Bargain Hunt". He spins a fine yarn.

Flipper

"Top Gear's Midlife Crisis Cars" (2008) by Matt Master is a hoot (if you get all the Brit gags). Scathing summaries accompanied by period advertising pics. Something about the crappy Opel Manta speaks to me. Moving on... For the fifth novel in a series, Roger Zelazny's "The Courts Of Chaos" (1978) feels amazingly fresh. And Mark Michalowski's "Doctor Who: Wetworld" (2007) makes a decent dunny read.

Japanese technology

I just ate a Kit Kat flavoured with red bean paste - the kind of sickly sweet treat that immediately makes you wanna drink a glass of water. Worth a try, though.

New linky dink

Sarah Silverman Online tracks the career of everybody's favourite foul-mouthed comedienne. Well, she's my fave, anyway. SSO reguarly features videos of Sarah's latest material.