h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today and Monday are the last days of annual leave for 2011, and I'll be spending them Christmas shopping.

And I have no idea why.

Being a switched-on, clued-up 21st Century consumer, I've done 90% of my Christmas shopping already through the wonders of the internet.

Still, it's that time of year, isn't it? Where long-suffering partners are led around city centres and out-of-town shopping centres while the women in their life spend ages picking the right shade of wrapping paper.

I'm just dreading the hour I'll inevitably spend stood outside Lush...

However, if you're still waiting for ideas for Christmas presents, I've got two great ones for you:

Last night I attended a free gig at Manchester Central Library by Manchester's number one self-styled "Queer Vegan Poet", Mr. Dominic Berry. And the fella was absolutely superb. I've seen him compering at slams around Manchester, but this was the first time I was there for a full Dom set. He's just released a new book - "Wizard" - through the Flapjack Press, and at just £8, it's well worth a look: http://www.flapjackpress.co.uk/page4.htm

If live performances are more your thing, keep an eye on The Post, where I'll be submitting a piece on Working Verse - a poetry collective who are performing their debut show "Amateur Thematics" at The Lowry Centre on January 7th to raise money for the Francis House Hospice for Children with lowered life expectancies. It'll be a great night, but tickets are going fast.

Oh, and if you found this through the infamous Info page, welcome! Buy Dom's book and tickets to Amateur Thematics!

" if you found this through the infamous Info page"

Voyeur.

I know. I don't know why that useful page exists. It just lets perverts stare into my secretest most private* inner thoughts.










*Which I feel the need to plaster across the internet.