Me and my good friend John. Happy 77th birthday, John Foxx!

I've spoken before of the poverty of my childhood Action Man collection (a grand total of 𝗼𝗻𝗲 - a figure which had neither realistic hair nor gripping hands, and had a foot missing, which required an army boot being kept on at all times); this collection was supplemented by various sad, cheapo,

Smash Hits - this week in 1980. Such great memories of seeing the Skids on their Absolute Game tour. At Rotters!

It's 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 at this week's 𝙊𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙨 Shared Reading group. Readings take place in Calderstones Park's beautiful Reader Mansion from 1.00 to 2.30 on Wednesday September 24th. No prior knowledge of the text is required, and texts are provided free (as are refreshments). All welcome!

𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝘿𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜... 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙒𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 Part of this year's Liverpool Fringe festival. Live at The Bookbinder in Liverpool's beautiful Lark Lane!

My iPod 2012: "Got any Derek Jacobi, mate?"

Toni Basil. 82 today. Explain that, relativistic physics!

We're not quite there - and it's the most fleeting, ephemeral of seasons - but I love autumn, me! Well, the early part, anyway.

See what George did there? Oh dear.

Robert Redford (1936 - 2025) A great film star - beautiful in Barefoot in the Park (and many others), fabulous as the Sundance Kid, and his Oscar-winning directorial debut Ordinary People is as powerful today as when I first saw it in 1980. Loads of really enjoyable films - The Hot Rock, The Three

Sal and I have been in Cataluña for the past week. Such a lovely holiday!

World Suicide Prevention Day Such a sad commemorative. Look out for the vulnerable, everyone.

I made two 70s football-themed Mastermind appearances; I also did 'Punk 76-79' and two 70s-linked film directors on the same programme. I thought I was 'Mr 70s' (esp football wise), but I learned so much from this brilliant book. Nice one, Jon Spurling! @jonspurling.bsky.social

Sal and I performed guest spots and did the judging at the Liverpool-based Slam Poetry competition 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 in Mathew Street last Thursday. Many thanks to the lovely Aimee for organising such a great night!

Viz 06.09.18 Dog's 'tasteless' David Bowie gag:

Off to see the new Darren Aronofsky film today - here's my review of 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 from a while back: www.saintvespaluus.co.uk/film-37-48/r...

New Viz Ace! Gilbert Ratchet clears the garden centre of its table-hogging, right-wing, anti-woke,1970s pensioners. I'm sure the writer has heard my 'No Screens/The Good Old Days' poem:

The Philippines, 1978 - the set of 'Apocalypse Now'. Marlon Brando channels his demons into becoming the messianic Colonel Kurtz - after losing out a hotly-contested 'Open All Hours' battle to the UK's Ronnie Barker. "I was, am, and always will be Arkwright," proclaims the 53 year old actor.

Performing at last night,'s Rainbow Toffees awards. Just a brilliant organisation - and fantastic to have @indiawilloughby.bsky.social as our guest of honour!

29.08.17 The joys of non-league football: Carlisle City v Daisy Hill. A football ground in the middle of nowhere, on a balmy late summer evening. Fabulous and dreamlike.

Annie, Barlow, Belsie and Albert - the British Abba!

What a splendid evening: Merseyrail was surprisingly ace, the weather was great, and that stadium is awesome! @evertonfc.com

Blondie - Lime Street, Liverpool: Debbie Harry: OK, you guys: where we drinkin'? I've heard 'Coopers' is kinda neat! Clem Burke: Jeez; I bet The Blob Shop sure is peachy! The Other One: Let's eat! They say that the Lobster Pot does the best goddamn French fries in the goddamn UK!" All: "F***in' A!"

This week: Wednesday 27th: Everton v Mansfield - Hill Dickinson (S.E. Upper) Thursday 28th: BLAST! (34) - The Excelsior, Dale Street Friday 29th: Rainbow Toffees Awards (Liverpool Central Library) Saturday: Wolves v Everton (tellyclapping, alas)

Sal. Croatia. 22.8.24 Just beautiful. Looking forward to our first Hill Dickinson on Sunday! UTFT! @Everton #Everton

Pick of the Pops for August 21st, 1982. Might revise my opinion of The Firm's 'Arthur Daley' (He's Alright): www.saintvespaluus.co.uk/music/pick-o...

BLAST! (34) 7.15 to 10pm Live at The Excelsior 28.08.25 Free! @theexcelsior.bsky.social

Mike/Mick Pejic. Boss.

1975 Me: Pint of Skol, please. (Shouts over to bloke coolly drinking on his own) Telly! What are you having, mate? The Actor Telly Savalas: A glass of Blue Nun, my friend. Me: Large one? TATS: (Looks round for attention) Well I've never had any complaints, baby! (The pub erupts)

We'll be looking at Jack Finney's 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers', along with Saki's brilliant short story 'The Music on the Hill' in today's SciFi/Other Worlds Shared Reading group at The Reader Mansion this afternoon from 1 to 2.30 pm. Texts and refreshments are free. All are welcome!

Me and my beautiful partner in the West Yorkshire sunshine. 17.8.25. I love my Sal!

A Lovely Poetry BLAST! (4) Live at St. James Gardens! We're working with The Unusual Arts Company to promote free alfresco music and poetry throughout the summer. There are a few performance slots left - send me a DM if you'd like your five minutes of stardom!

John Inman - inspiring love* in some grim, non-descript town, 1975. *Including the 'no-nonsense copper' for whom a 'friendly clip round the ear' actually meant fitting you up for a crime you most certainly didn't commit and then (with his mates) kicking your head in down the station.

Joe Harper - Everton's most expensive (£180,000) striker back in 1972. No fancy 'six-packs' (nor many goals for the Toffees) for Joe!

Pick of the Pops July 30th 1981 www.saintvespaluus.co.uk/music/pick-o...

The Dreaming Live at The Bookbinder Monday August 11th Free entry!

Book 41 of 2025 'Magazine the Biography, 1978-2025' - Helen Chase Magazine's third album 'The Correct Use of Soap' will probably be in my all-time Top 5 in perpetuity. I'm not a band obsessive, but it only takes one piece of art (or just one kind gesture) for me to love something (or someone)

Birmingham City, 79-80. What lovely sporting apparel. I always wanted the Toffs to sport the three stripes.

New Viz Kneecap/Robotic Sentience Ace!

Book 40 of 2025 'The Odd Woman and the City - A Memoir' An ageing woman lives and walks around New York, overhearing conversations and ruminating on the nature of loneliness, self and memory. She remembers friends, lovers, encounters, books, and the sights and sounds of her city. I wasn't 10/10

BLAST! (33) @theexcelsior.bsky.social (24.7.25). The best Spoken Word night on Merseyside - and we're back at the end of August! Pics courtesy of Gary Lambert/Glam Gigs

'Bastard Squad': still the greatest TV programme-within- a-programme ever!

This week: 23.7: Sci-Fi Shared Reading at The Reader Mansion (2 -3.30pm -all welcome) 24.7: Pride on the Page Shared Reading at The Everyman (6-7pm) 24.7: BLAST! (7.30 till late) @TheExcelsiorLi1 (Free, but get there early.) 27.7: A Lovely Poetry BLAST! Spoken Word live at St James Gardens (5-8pm)

'Walkie Chalkies': my match-going footwear for the 2025-26 season:

Book 38 of 2025 A bit niche, this one, but I enjoyed this account and analysis of the rise and fall of one of my favourite pop groups. It's overlong, but I liked JJ's writing and his his ability to reimagine those fertile and febrile post post-punk days with such passion. A healthy 8/10

Had an ace weekend at the Bay Fringe Festival. I performed at the lovely West End Theatre, stayed at the fabulous art deco Midland Hotel in Morecambe with the very beautiful Sally Porter - and saw a flying unicorn kite!

From 'Bunty' (1985) - 'My Brother's a Chimp'. Presumably: 1. He's always cracking one off; 2. He drinks tea straight from the spout of the tea-pot; 3. He flings his own faeces at passers-by.

"Do you like salted or sweetened popcorn?" "Neither; both are just plain evil - especially the ones that look like Casey Affleck."

I'm performing my one-person show 'The Girl Who Could Fly' at Morecambe's The Bay Fringe Festival this weekend. I'll be treading the boards of the West End Playhouse on Saturday July 19th! I'll be bringing my show to Liverpool in the autumn. Ticket link: www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Lan...

When I was younger, many people said that I looked like a pop star - Simon Crowe from Lindisfarne, to be precise: