Lie Dream of a Casino Soul

Friday saw us travelling to Edinburgh to pitch to a very significant new client; we think we were successful, but only time will tell.

So we made the most of the visit to the big smoke, and had a fabulous dinner out before ending up in a very grotty and run down casino, people watching rather than playing. It was absolutely fabulous and desperate at the same time, and it you have never done it then I can recommend it.

The Chinese contingent seemed to have a never ending supply of chips (poker and not greasy!) and a very inscrutable attitude to winning or losing.

About 11:30pm I found myself singing along (quietly) to the song being piped through the room, and I was bemused to hear The Adverts singing the immortal line, "Gary don't need his eyes to see, Gary and his eyes have parted company", a mere snippet of the musical talent is still available for those who remember it first time around.

With Mark E Smith releasing the 26th Fall album this week to critical disdain it seems an opportune moment for me to dig out some old Fall albums and listen to "Fiery Jack" and "C.R.E.E.P." again, and reminisce about seeing them live, in the days of Lard and before Brix, and when Michael Clark did ballet in the Glasgow Concert Hall with the Fall providing the music, live on stage.

If you have no idea what I am talking about and are under 40, please buy any Fall album; if you are over 50, don't bother, you will hate it, unless you went to school with Mr Smith; those in between - you probably bought "Saturday Night Fever" or "Bohemian Rhapsody" instead.

I shall have to choose my desert island disks at some point;