Hmm. Perhaps that "major arena" tour was a little over-optimistic after all?

Having turned down the chance to review Shayne's Nottingham show this evening (the interview was quite enough, and we've decided to see Dreamgirls instead; even more Gay Points), I have instead sub-contracted the assignment to Chig, who will be hot-footing it over from Birmingham this evening, notebook and pencil in hand. (The relief from my editor was palpable.)

As usual, K and I won't be celebrating Valentine's Day, because a) we don't do slushy, b) it only distracts attention from my birthday on the 17th, and c) it's a bag of bollocks, as this lethally accurate post from last week's Post of the Week shortlist illustrates.

Alternatively, maybe I'll send him one of Meg's Anti-Valentine cards instead. It wouldn't be the first time...

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While we're on the subject of Post of the Week: although the project is going every bit as well as I had hoped, we could still do with a few more volunteers. To this end, we have introduced a new category of volunteer: the Permanent Judge.

The duties of a Permanent Judge are dead simple, and not in the least bit time-consuming. Once every four to six weeks, you'll be asked to read the shortlist - which contains between six and twelve of the week's best posts - and to e-mail the names of your favourite five posts, in order of preference. You'll have from Saturday lunchtimes to Sunday nights to do this. I can't imagine it taking any longer than 30 minutes at most, and you'll get to read some damn good stuff into the bargain.

If you're interested, then please e-mail me.

What do you think of Post of the Week, anyway? I'd be interested to hear your opinions, criticisms, suggestions, whatever...

Labels: linkage, love, postoftheweek

(And, oh dear, this was one of the Guardian Guide's questions from two Saturdays ago.)

Mike answers: It all depends upon your definition of "falling in love". From my early teens until my early twenties, I suffered my share of unrequited romantic obsessions - but with the benefit of hindsight, I'm not sure that any of them counted as being "in love". Love's a vibration, man. You send it out, and it returns to you. Loving someone without their reciprocation - or, hell, even their knowledge - is something else entirely. So I'm answering the question in the negative.

Labels: love, myself, questions