While on a recent trip to visit Lucy in Glasgow, I suggested that she ease the daily workload that her current blog requires, by starting a new blog. I then stipulated that all blogs have to have a focus and pushed her for one. After being made to realise the hypocrisy of my demand, I declared my own blog’s agenda to be “a low commitment read on the basis of highly infrequent posting”. This of course was some linguistic trickery to save face, when the stark reality is that my online output is nothing more than a sham of strung-together nonsense.

Clothing as a visual marker

If I’m known for anything then it’s probably for spending the majority of my time wearing the same baby blue hoody. As I’ve previously discussed, it’s a good match with my bike and goes somewhat with my company’s scheme. I figure it’s good to build up a characteristic image, so people can quickly recognise you in an emergency situation, when you’re passing on a speeding bus, or to locate their position in an audience when returning from a toilet break.

Despite the years I’ve invested in locking myself into this visual association, I’ve recently become aware that due to a lack of fabric conditioner, it’s becoming quite course and rough on my skin. There are also several signs of discolouration on the back area. Not wanting to become a walking parody of happier times, I decided to take the plunge and update to the latest version today.

Notice the slightly richer and more saturated shade, the duotone effect inside the hood and the increased zipper height offering more neck protection during winter cycling

Aldi as everything

Everyone knows Aldi is great for things like tomatoes, rubbery cheese and bags of microwavable popcorn, but it’s also becoming increasingly great in other areas. One of these areas is art supplies and the other week I bought this astonishingly large pack of paper for around 30 DKK (under £3). My duvet-top photo doesn’t do it justice as I simply didn’t have time to fan out each of the different colours, textures and sizes. There’s everything from thick corrugated to tissue to glossy gradients. Standard weight paper is also very well represented with most of the electromagnetic spectrum included. I have lots of fun projects planned with this.

I’ve also received a tip that they have full-size, professional-level keyboards for sale at less than 1.000 DKK (£100), which is fantastic news as I am beginning piano lessons (or resuming if you count a childhood attempt more than eighteen years ago) and my current range of instruments can manage no more than three octaves.