AC/DC vs Michael Jackson

Saw AC / DC at Wembley Stadium on Friday. Driving down we listened to Bad to mark the passing of a legend. The news put a little bit of a downer on the start of the day, as did hitting a rain storm on the M40. By the time we reached High Wycombe though the sun had emerged, and after a 30 minute train journey we joined a festival atmosphere at the Ibis hotel bar outside the stadium.

The support acts were The Answer followed by The Subways and the crowd was pretty thin on the ground during their sets. Not having been to a standing gig for some time it came as a bit of a shock when the audience seemed to quadruple suddenly for the headline act. As the crush intensified I instantly regretted having my SLR in my backpack, and I recalled the familiar feeling of panic as you realise you cannot move in any direction - you just have to sweat it out, literally. Despite it being open air, hardly anybody was smoking, so the smell of armpit and flatulence was omnipresent.

Happily, a couple of chords into their first song, AC/DC obliterated all of these minor concerns with their balls out rock 'n' roll - thousands of people became one mass muscle, twitching along in time to the familiar sounds. The old, profusely sweating rockers delivered a blinding set with truly impressive stamina. Angus in particular seemed to have the boundless energy to match his schoolboy shorts - if not the legs any more! Explosions, fire, crashing steam engines, extended solos and topless women in the crowd made for an unashamedly juvenile and chauvinistic couple of hours - precisely what we want from our rock heroes.

Driving Pleasure

Today I paid to have my far-side front headlight bulb replaced, which cost just over thirty pounds. Next I drove to an appointment, after which I discovered a seventy pound parking ticket on my windscreen. To round it off, as I got out of my car at home, a driving instructor waiting for their pupil informed me that my driver side brake light was out. Best of all I'm due to renew my car tax and insurance at the end of this month.

Bumble Bees

Out and about over the last few weeks I've seen a worrying number of dead Bumble Bees. According to my neighbour, who telephoned a local nature reserve for information, they are dying in great numbers due to an imported virus. Let's hope it doesn't mutate or we'll all be a buzz over Bee Flu next.

Life Cycle

I took my paunch for a cycle round the park again today. It was scorching again and riding through the sun-dappled wooded paths I felt at peace. So much so that even getting a puncture couldn't spoil my mood. I wonder if there is a way to get paid for cycling everywhere? Maybe I could get sponsored for cycling around the world? The major problem with that idea would be that my fiancee loathes cycling.

Body Beautiful

I've been doing lots of exercise and drinking a great deal less lately, but have so far lost no weight. This got me to thinking about my own body shape and whether the sculpted adonises, adorning men's fitness magazine covers, would be able to replicate it. The magic recipe seems to be years of overindulgence and laziness syncopated by periods of frenetic, punishing exercise. Follow this with a slow tailing off of the excesses, a more or less consistent level of exercise over a period of two years, and you may eventually arrive at my particular synergy of muscle and flab. I don't think the adonises have the stamina for an erratic regime like mine, best they stick to gym worshipping and gargling with egg whites.