My friend and business associate, LanLan went to China last week. On her way out of the door, she asked me if I wanted her to pick up some cigarettes for me. Yeah, I know - stupid question. She got back yesterday and this morning dropped a big package on me. 200 cigarettes - Marlboro Reds - twelve quid! Those guys out in the East do everything dirt cheap. A run of decent business cards over here will probably cost you about £80 - over there a tenner if you haggle. What amazed me most though was the quality of the packaging. I can't put my finger on what's so different but the red jumps off the box unlike over here and the States, where the red seems somehow dull by comparison. They kick a bit like a mule too. Just an observation.

I had to go to that damn shop this morning. I was making Rhiannon's lunch and there were no juice cartons left. They've got the 'professionals' in to dress the shop and they looked just as miserable as the regular staff! What's the matter little campers? Fancy yourself as Al Fayed's right hand man and wound up wondering how best to position Tuna instead? The boss lady was there strutting like a mother hen. She was almost going to ask me what I thought being as I was probably the first person in at ten past seven, but she thought better of it. I guess my face said it all... and there still isn't anywhere to park.

Stepping up the pace and moving on with Too Hot For Dogs tonight. Got myself a template for the cover and if Charlie is as busy as I think she is, we'll be motoring in the right direction in no time at all. I'm really excited about it this time around - mostly because I think it can do something. When I first met Charlie about 20 years ago, she was an artist and 20 years later, she still is. That means we're not faking it around here... you wouldn't believe the amount of half assed people I've put this project in front of over the last few years. (Some of them were really good too but that's not all it takes anymore. Sad but true.)

Clip of the day: Dream All Day | The Posies