:: It Feels Like I've Swallowed 3 Golf Balls ::

So, what news from the Devukhadrome? Well, after the success of the Seven Deadly Sins, a swift G&T with "number one fan" Hypatia should have signalled a chance to let my hair down. I was due at 10.30 on Saturday to start building set for Amadeus, so I dragged home my costume and a lovely bunch of sweet william she'd bought me, at a relatively civilised hour. I only just made it to the lock-up without fainting. My throat was ablaze and the mere act of swallowing caused me to wince. Fluey and aching, I let the set-builders in. Already flagging at 11am, I was sent home by Shaker Mel, but faced a dilemma: I was due to be viewing a flat at 1pm. I should remark at this point that the house hunting had not been going too well. We'd seen a number of under-par dwellings and with just 2 weeks to find somewhere, any opportunity had to be taken. Luckily for me, La Gribouilleuse took pity on me and bade me come over to hers for hot lemon and sympathy - with gargled aspirin. We viewed the place (with possibly the oddest agent I've ever encountered - all spangly pink and clueless smiles) and were ready to throw in a deposit and sign on the dotted line. But more of that later...

Hence, over the most glorious weekend of the year so far, I lay in bed, stricken with a nasty throat infection. TV almost drove me crazy (thankfully I fell asleep during much of Eurovision), but I did get the chance to watch Man With A Movie Camera again. By Monday morning, things weren't much better, so I took the day off work and headed to the quack. One little "Aaaah" later and my fate was sealed - on prescription drugs for the first time in 10 years. It's unusual to be given antibiotics (only penicillin) these days, so it must have looked bad. With the advent of MRSA and other drug-resistant superbugs, standard doctors' advice for a sore throat seems to revolve around palliative care whilst the body fights the infection on its own. However, I promise Dr Rufus that, granted leave to take antibiotics, I shall finish the week-long course although I now feel virtually better.

The other news which greeted me on Monday was that the flat we had wanted to move into had already been bagged by someone else. Momentary panic set in. What if we couldn't find another place in time? Lucky stars are there to be thanked, and sometimes they shine rather bright, as the possibility of another place came up quickly. With time off for a viewing on Tuesday afternoon, I went and had a look, then took my propective flatmates. This is a great property: nice size kitchen (with a dishwasher - yay!) and spacious, interesting rooms. We decided this was the place. Mission-impossible stylee,the three of us piled into the agent's car and raced back to the office to pay our deposit before closing. Fingers crossed now. We may be moving the weekend before Amadeus, but it seems to be pretty much settled. There's a plaaaace for us...!

What else has been missed from my missives?

Current Affairs:
The Indy has gone completely tabloid. A logical move.
Donald Rumsfeld has pledged detainee reforms, with the daily appearance of more grisly images from Al Graib. Meanwhile, Rumsfeld's pet chimp only seems to be sidestepping some of his critics - how important will relevations about his old-boy network prove? This is hardly old news, but it's interesting to see that his opposite number was also a member of the Skull & Bones.
On a cheerier note, Oxfam has announced it is to open a chain of fair trade coffee shops. Let's hope the folks at Progreso can come up with a viable alternative to their coffee milkshake toting rivals.

Music:
Much to talk about here. Christian O'Connell won DJ of the Year - I must confess to being a fan. The xfm Breakfast Show is soon to release a football song for Euro 2004, but if you know me well, you'll probably have guessed I'm not that fussed.
On my sickbed, I have been listening to the esoteric outpourings of Erland Øye, a tuneful Norwegian. One of his fellow countrymen, Even Johansen, is also doing well in the charts - as magnet in a cover of the Bob Dylan classic, Lay Lady Lay. Øye has released an album in the DJ Kicks series. I found a rather amusing review of it here, but in my opinion, this ranks well with my other favourites in the series: Thievery Corporation, DJ Cam and Kruder & Dorfmeister.
Sounds to avoid this week are David Hasselhoff's Rap Album and the primal wails of Ukrainian Eurovision winner Ruslana.

Film:
Apart from the obvious, film seems to be in the news rather a lot. The appearance of 9 songs was bound to cause a tabloid furore, with explicit sex on film (but don't forget, kids, it ain't porn!). The female star was interviewed today in the Grauniad. I wonder if a certificate will be forthcoming from the BBFC? Perhaps they ought to do cross-promotion with these people?

Is that all? Well, nearly. Just a final plug for AMADEUS. You must come and see it...