A good shoeing

What are you all doing today? I'm stuck in this office for another hour (and had to miss a swim for the second time this week), then going to a union meeting to find out what fresh horrors the university has in store for us.

After that, I'm sorely tempted to go to Birmingham to buy some new Doc Martens, as my black boots have a massive rip in the soles and my black DM shoes are completely knackered. I'm left only with some new cherry red ones, some tired brown nubuck ones, the exhausted suede ones, a new pair of brown shoes (technically meant to be for women) and the sandals. Perhaps I should diversify a little, though DMs are just part of my 90s indie culture - early Blur, Steve Lamacq etc. I do have some posh leather-soled brown and black brogues for funerals and weddings, but I never wear them otherwise. Then there are my fencing shoes (shiny silver and black, not to be worn off the piste) and some 1990s Adidas fencing shoes which are very cool indeed. Your suggestions? I no longer yearn for flashiness, if I ever did, but don't want something too staid.

We're all going on a summer holiday

Well, that's it, comrades, until Monday afternoon at the earliest. I'll take my iPod to All Tomorrow's Parties in case there's wireless access, but it seems unlikely. I'm particularly looking forward to Teenage Fanclub, Bon Iver and The Breeders, but I'm sure others will be brilliant too. I'll be the one in cherry red Doctor Martens, a Green Lantern t-shirt and bad hair, in case that floats your boat. What book shall I take as a prop? I was wondering about On Deconstruction but I've read it several times now, so perhaps a Moomins volume might be more fitting.

Now I'm off to see In the Loop again to top up my epithet levels.