For Amy

Long-time readers will recall that Amy Winehouse featured regularly on ToE about five years ago. I championed her singing generally and her wonderful album Back to Black particularly - it was possibly the best pop record of the noughties. She made it big but her self-destructive years since have been painful to watch and on Saturday she died, at the age of 27. I pay tribute to her at The Dabbler.

Groovin' with William McGonagall.

Over at the Dabbler I contemplate the chillin'-loungin'-groovin'-funkin' spectrum. Yes, there's not a word-endin' 'g' in sight.

And there's a repeat of my post about the world's worst poet, William McGonagall.

Flashman

I write about Flashman over at the ST (that's the Sabotage Times, not the Sunday ones). Unusually, I do this under my real name and, watch out, there's a mugshot.

Since the Sabotage Times is James Brown's organ (others have included Loaded and GQ) I focus on the laddish elements of the series.

Two Tax Gatherers

And I've also written about a painting by Marinus van Reymerswaele.

Rupert Thomson

Tough few weeks lately, but I have managed to contribute to the Dabbler review of Rupert Thomson's excellent This Party's Got to Stop and also conducted a Q&A with the author.