Ben McCormick

Little boy got a hot rod
Thinks it makes him some kind of new God...

Peel session version of this was a joy that sustained me through teenage years of car-obsessed peers.

Train has pulled into Toulouse and will be here for another 45 minutes. Could feasibly nip down the road, sink a swift pint at the Melting Pot, have a look at my old flat and still be back before the train pulls out. #tempted

Bottle of red wine and a few cups on the tiny table inside a sleeping compartment on a French night train.

All aboard... the night train.

Stone cold classic. Utterly floored me first time I heard it.

Absolutely smashing through tapas before this evening's train back to Paris. Boy, am I going to miss this. Good job I'm heading back to Catalunya next month, otherwise I may have to seriously consider moving here. #bravas #tortilla #pancontomate #padron

It's really odd. Lots of new builds made to look old. And essentially like being over the border while in France. Some nice old bits and plenty of restaurants. Definitely worth a visit. Walk finished around 6.30pm, so had the same glorious colours with the trees. Absolutely stunning.

Lovely out, wasn't it? I walked from Puigcerdà to the Catalan enclave in France of Llívia, then up to Ur and back to Puigcerdà. Definitely caught the sun.

Sitting outside a café in Spain, which is in France. Yes, I'm in the weird Spanish (well, Catalan) enclave of Llívia.

Yes we do, Mikey. You should come along some time.

Acid House Mountain-climbing Club

There were loads at the bottom of the mountain and I did treat myself to a deserved pint afterwards. But up there was another world.

*nor. Fuck off, autocorrect. What the fuck is wrong with nor? Cunt.

Mountain peaks in the Pyrenees with a few fluffy clouds in an otherwise clear blue sky.

Here's what Andorra looks like from 2600m up. Not a soul to be seen, not road, building or any form of transport. Just a gentle breeze and the odd trill of a bird to break the silence.

YouTube video by The Fall - Topic Mountain Energei

As I'm about to scale the peaks in the Pyrenees...

So I went fishing
A note from a fish said
"Dear dope
If you wanna catch us
You need a rod and a line
Signed, the fish"

#FallFriday

youtu.be/MIfUPm8xrvo?...

Impressions of Puigcerdà, day one. It's great. Property is more or less London prices. These findings probably related. Would absolutely not hate living here in what's essentially a pretty small town miles from any kind of city. #puigcerda #catalunya #holidaymusings

Another time for sure. Christmas ALFOS? It's hiking this weekend, but I'll do my best.

Waking up to see the foothills of the Pyrenees scooting past from the train is not shit.

Oh no! That pint'll have to wait, then.

I see England's women have royally fucked it against Pakistan. #WCWC #PAKvENG #fuckedit

This bodes well for my planned trip to Rijeka and Trieste next year. Looking forward to seeing how you get on.

That's how much a bag of crisps was when I first bought them.

Was at the Shirkers for the green hop fest. Thought I'd taken it easy.

Had a mere four pints of sub-5% beer last night after work. Still feel dreadful. Rapidly becoming a total lightweight. #beer #hungover #lightweight

So if they're blaming Brexit, they'll do something about that, right? What with their huge majority and overwhelming mandate to do whatever they want and all that.

I missed the gig in Manchester on that tour because I was too young with no ID. Mate I was with got in but was back outside (or rather, in the pub round the corner) less than 30 minutes later and with a look of fear etched on his face. I felt like I had missed and also not missed something.

Yeah, the early gigs. Around 20 minutes of noise, no smiles, no words, that's your lot. Given the context of the mid 80s, that was amazing. I'd have been happy with them calling it a day after SCT was released. Obviously they needed to make money, but wow, that would have been a statement.

I tried. I really did. But everything I listened to of theirs post-87 sounded like a band that had been neutered. Felt like they'd said everything they had to say on their first attempt. Imagine if they had left it at that.

Honourable mention for the NME version of Some Candy Talking.

Peaked at Psychocandy for me. Everything else sounds watered down.

Lure them in, lull them into a false sense of security, then strike in a pincer movement? I like it. Might have to work on my luring skills, mind.