The makers of X Factor are absolutely despicable. They parade crazily delusioned people - even do mini-features on them - not so we can laugh at their singing, but so we can laugh at how fat, ugly, badly dressed or low-class they are. They just had on a whole family of obese people who'd pushed their hideous daughter to compete. Obviously she couldn't sing, but that wasn't what it was about. It focused on how her facial features were stuck in the middle of a huge expanse of flesh. It was a freak show.

Awful.

Is it just me, or is Taylor Dawkins of the Foo Fighters going for a distinctly "Kurt" vibe here? I say 'vibe', however, when I obviously really mean 'complete rip-off'.

This is a promo shot for his new band, and it seems more than slightly odd that he'd want to trade off the fame of his bandmate's dead former bandmate.

Anonymity and that

As a young teacher, I've been pretty careful to make all my internet profiles private: I know how easy it is to find people with just a crafty internet search. So for a month or so I've been reading and commenting on a blog by an "anonymous" screenwriter, but have easily worked out who he is because of information he's disclosed! I wonder if he's aware . . .

Anonymity's nice sometimes though. Last weekend me and Ian were at a friend's party in Manchester and I knew relatively few people there, but I really liked that. Sometimes Sheffield feels so small and incestuous, and I'm not even a socialite or scenester. Recently I've been yearning for a place that feels larger and more alive . . . But at least my students don't live in the same city as me, so there's something to be said for commuting to Chesterfield every day. Imagine having to keep the mask on outside of school hours - hell!

However, it has been going quite well so far. The only group I've had trouble with has been a Year 9 class, set five out of eight. They're not thick or anything; they just don't much like working.

I don't either, but I have to do some now . . . and switch on the heating (is anyone else freezing?)

PS. An American senator is suing God to make a point about litigation. How droll.

Pavarotti RIP

I felt very sad about Pavarotti's death, but I just glimpsed some footage of his funeral on TV, and seeing eight to ten men REALLY struggling with his coffin did amuse me slightly. Lesley Garratt got it right when she said, "he was a giant of a man in every respect", or words to that effect. Nevertheless, his version of Nessun Dorma will continue to bring a tear to my eye.





It's that weird expression on his face after he's finished that amazing long slur. He looks completely bewildered and emotionally exhausted. Amazing stuff.

Miscellaneous

I can't be bothered to dwell on my first school week yet - perhaps I'll do that tomorrow once I start on my prep for the forthcoming week.

I'm feeling quite satisfied after me and Ian planted a load of daffodil bulbs about the place, and tidied the garden up a bit - using the push mower, digging out some dandelions and pulling up some of the widespread herb robert. Then a gorgeous big kitten came into the garden, and I feel extremely guilty for playing with her: I love the birds and I don't want to encourage a cat to come back, especially one without a collar and bell. Speaking of which, there was a repeat last night of Bill Oddie's top ten birds. I felt annoyed that the blackbird wasn't on the list, because their songs are the best of the garden birds, and they also have a lot of character. You've got to like a bird that runs rather than hops.

Gorilla = Phil Collins weirdness

Piglet Massacre

Adam told me about this http://www.thestar.co.uk/news?articleid=3107771 at Megan's party on Saturday, and I was in disbelief. An entire litter of thirteen day-old piglets at Heeley City Farm were killed and mutilated: one was decapitated and another was cut clean in half. Others were cut up and their body parts were strewn all around the farmyard.

It's bewildering that even the sickest person could behave in that way: little piglets are the cutest mammals there are.

Some local businesses have donated large sums of money to help security at the farm, but they need to raise another £5000 in order to install a fence - send your tenner (cheque, of course) to Heeley City Farm, Richards Road, Sheffield, S2 3DT.

It's a shame they have to go to such measures, but I have to say that the last time I took a wander around Graves Animal Park, I was surprised at how accessible all the animals were once the park had shut for the evening.

Anyway, I'm trying to cheer up by watching a docu-drama on Blackbeard. Bizarre.