Travel has become almost impossible over the last few days. It all seemed to come to a head on Monday when North London was effectively cut off by a bus strike (though how one notices that 46 is technically on strike is a mystery.) On top of this, the tube seemed to sort of collapse under the pressures of a new computer system and drizzle. I checked the Live Travel Updates before I left work and read the following:

"Central Line - Severe delays due to earlier technical failure" (read "someone forgot to switch on the computer")
"Northern Line - minor delays due to earlier signal problems at Kennington"
"Picadilly Line - minor delays due to a passanger being taken ill at Arnos Gove"

and (I kid you not):

"Circle Line - severe delays due to there being a lack of trains."

You can just hear the conversation. "Shit! What do we say about the circle line?"
"Signal failure?"
"Nah. Already used that for the Central Line."
"Oh. Er... Ooh! Sick passenger?"
"Picadilly Line."
"Oh, yeah. Bollocks. Er.. Oh, fuck it, just tell them we forget about the fucking trains."

Nice. That's my £81 a month well spent.

In other news, Primrose Hill Books has refused to stock my book on the basis that I don't have an account with them, and I mentioned my book was available through Amazon when they asked, with deep suspicion, if it had actually been published yet. When I mentioned said internet bookshop, the woman behind the counter literally recoiled in horror and told me in no uncertain terms that anyone who bought books through Amazon is not welcome in her establishment. (I don't, as it happens, buy books from Amazon, but didn't think this was worth explaining.) I doubt very much that Salman Rushdie or Charlotte Bronte are regulars at Primrose Hill books shop there regularly, despite their books being displayed prominently in the window, but didn't think to mention this. I reluctantly understand, though, why people have all but given up on local bookshops: htey don't actually stock many books, those they do stock are expensive, and they clearly don't like people. (Their response to me when I enquired if they might stock my book was first "You've picked a really difficult time to come in, haven't you", followed by "Why isn't your publisher doing this", followed by "Running Fox? Never heard of them" before telling me off for using Amazon and saying they were far too busy with "real customers" to deal with me. They did, however, give me a copy of their brochure on the way out.)

Vote for A Cultural Icon

The BBC staff behind The Culture Show are, for reasons best known to themselves, asking You, The Public to vote for your top Living Icon. They haven't quite defined what they mean by "icon", and the result is a rather bizarre list that includes Morrissey, Alan Bennett, Stephen Fry, Michael Caine and, inexplicably, Kate Moss. This presents something of a dilemma, as I feel a certain loyalty to Alan Bennett, who was kind enough to reply to my letter, yet a little part of me wants to vote for Moz Just Because, and a third bit of me wants to give my vote to Stephen Fry as a sort of democratic Cyber Hug. The criteria amused me: icons apparently have to be "Living" (yep, there's a clue in the name), but that seems to be about it.

I'm surprised there are no politicians included. They are not specifically excluded, but maybe it was felt that the concept of "culture" and "politician" presented something of an oxymoron. Nevertheless, I can't help feeling it's a rather sad day when there is even the slightest suggestion that Kate Moss has somehow had a greater impact on the cultural landscape of this country than, say, Tony Benn.

Enough of my moaning. I went for Bennett in the end. But Stephen, if you're reading, BIG CYBER HUG!!