Computer programming is very much like making love to a beautiful woman. You have to work out her logic, push all the right buttons then pray she's been thoroughly user tested.

No, computer programming for a client is more like shagging a gay man.

To get any sort of result at all, you have to spend hours of preparation, agonising over every last detail.

They act like they're perfect and they're doing you a favour by even talking to you.

They never tell you what they want - or if they do, it's something weird which you've never done before.

If they receive anything less than total satisfaction, it's always your fault.

Once you've delivered to their satisfaction, you'll never hear from them again.

Started off efficient like Hawkwind, I was pleased to see Jarvis making an effort. Like Air they got into their stride & I thought This is Hardcore (which isn't a song I know) & Sunrise were excellent. Babies was good as well.

didn't recognise much stuff which reminds me why I don't often go to gigs when I don't know the tunes, though I'd agree Jarvis had that presence.

very good show, 1 hr 45mins, very loud, good ats. they did an ancient song as one of the encores, Anorexic Beauty, which I didn't know but quinny did. thought doing Wickerman during the encores was a bit of a mistake as it slowed things down...Hardcore/Sunrise/Babies, all fab.

Must say that I would hope they'd play Wickerman in Sheff (we didn't get it) tho maybe saving it for the encore was OTT. We didn't get the anorexic one, but we did get a nice B side in the main set ("Laughing Boy"). I enjoyed the main set but felt it lacked take off until the closing "Sunrise". That said, the six encores were ace - superb Hardcore and Sorted, Trees, Babies, Underwear and (not one of my faves but worked well) Party Hard as the closer. Evidently they played "Common People" at Brum but it was unrecognisable. Would have liked "Something Changed" tho'.

Assalaam Aleikum

For those of you who don’t know, I’m in Pakistan with Oxfam for a month to look at the nutritional situation of Afghan refugees and my first impression is that Islamabad is not so bad after all! However saying that, one week in, and I’m still yet to experienced the place, what with just travelling from hotel to office and back. Ho hum. Also it’s a new planned city, a kind of vastly superior, bigger and Pakistani version of Stevenage I suppose – big wide roads and no crowds. Hardly threatening at all (Stevenage much more so). The closest I get to experience what’s going on as such is through World Service TV, which is kind of surreal. The weather is totally perfect – blue skies, warm sunshine and cool nights. Quite pleasant all in all. The Oxfam team and Pakistanis are really cool too, and aside from being in my fifth room, and third hotel in only 7 nights here, so far so good!

The Taliban lost control of Kabul on my second day (coincidence?!!!) and now Osama where the hell have you Bin Laden is now reported to be here in Pakistan. How the world’s most wanted man who is not able to disguise himself either by putting on a false beard or indeed shaving his current one off can cross the heavily guarded border into Pakistan – I do not know. Incidentally, did you know that under the Taliban, it was an offence for women to wear white socks, or those with animal designs (particularly pigs of course), and that men were not allowed to pee in the direction of Mecca or wear a tie (no legislation on cravats though).

I flew into Pakistan on Pakistan Airlines (worst toilets, best stewards) via Karachi (huge McDonald’s directly outside the entrance) and Quetta. The internal part of the flight was bizarre. I sat next to two women in purdah who had remarkably similar feet and wondered whether they were sisters. Whilst landing in mountainous barren Quetta, which involved a spiral descent to reduce the risk of being shot down, there was an announcement that we would be landing in 5 minutes – inshallah! (*) And I used to be scared of flying (and still am to an extent) – LOOK AT ME NOW!! Anyway I was so tired by this point that I really didn’t care!

Hoping to see the real Pakistan in the next few weeks. I’m off to Quetta today for a week and then to Peshawar (determined to find out whether Peshawar naans actually exist). Should be interesting. I’m really looking forward to it Have got some shalwar kamis made up for the visits which I must confess to really enjoying wearing. Haven’t quite mastered the Jemima Khan look though!