ramblin’ – Page 23 – EXCUSES AND HALF TRUTHS

The Cut Season 2 Episode 31

It’s been a strange and unsettling week. We have been to the cinema and eaten out. Three times! We have been to Ikea to sort out bits and bobs for a badly-overdue refurb of Cut Central. We even went to the launch night of a swinging new arts hub in the middle of Reading. Sitting on the first floor terrace, enjoying the views of Crispy Dosa and the Oxford Road Travelodge while sipping a glass of wine we thought to ourselves ‘Is this how it used to be? Is this what normal feels like?’ It’s been so long. Kinda nice to crack open the airlock. But, yes, strange.

This week we go lowbrow with the comics coverage, extremely geeky with the music bit and go wild in a famous bathhouse.

Now is the time. Here is the place. This is The Cut.

The Cut Season 2 Episode 30

A week of freedom, and to our eyes little seems to have changed. Most people are still wearing masks and socially distancing. We went to one of our favourite pubs in Reading (The Fox And Hounds in Caversham, try the loaded fries) which was table service only and all the more pleasant for it. It feels like we’ve heard the official advice, saw it for bullshit and decided to stay safe. Well, for the most part anyway. It could all shift again by this time next week.

But hey, at least we have links for you. Comics chat, saving chocolate and a disagreement about vinyl.

Now is the time. Here is the place. This is The Cut.

(featured image from our pal and X&HTeam-mate Dominic Wade).

The Cut Season 2 Episode 29

The Second Summer Of Covid. We are entering unknown territories, expected to act as if things are back to normal when they clearly are not. Will you be wearing a mask when you next go shopping? What happens if you get pinged by the NHS app? It feels to us that we have to navigate these strange new waters without a map or guidance, left by a government with other priorities to sink or swim. Strange days indeed.

Anyway. Let’s check out this week’s linkeration, which includes Nicolas Cage and a pig, the late renaissance of a pair of musical legends and a comic about wombats.

Now is the time. Here is the place. This is The Cut.

The Cut Season 2 Episode 28

Well yes so football, apparently. Any excuse to throw beer in the air instead of down your neck which seems to be the more logical place for it to go. For those of you who enjoy such diversions, have a jolly nice time and we hope you get the result you want. As for The Cut… business as usual.

This week, that business includes the race to document the Titanic before it vanishes, an extremely horrible book and the pitfalls of translating English nonsense verse into Chinese.

Now is the time. Here is the place. This is The Cut.

The Cut Season 2 Episode 27

We understand there to be a sporting fixture scheduled for this evening which will garner the attention of a significant portion of the British public. Here at The Cut, we remain mildly uninterested in the whole rigmarole, although we obviously wish the national team the very best of luck. We’re waiting for the Olympics, frankly. At least there’s a bit of variety.

This week, join us in the joys of accidental connections, the delight of queer beer and bounce with us to a wild reinvention of a classic slab of metal.

Now is the time. Here is the place. This is The Cut.

The Cut Season 2 Episode 26

It’s been a long, busy week. The afterglow from our staff retreat barely lasted a day before it was wiped away with the demands of the fast-paced, high-pressure world of newsletter production. But we are here for you, Readership. Our sacrifice is your reward.

As we start this sunny weekend, let us entertain you with the insides of bowling balls, the fiftieth anniversary of a stone cold classic and the eerie sounds of The Apprehension Engine.

Now is the time. Here is the place. This is The Cut.

The Cut Season 2 Episode 23

Aaaah, what’s happened to the sky? It is a strange blue colour, not at all like the familiar flat grey. And why is some of it on fire? It is so warm! We feel the urge to shed some of our many layers of heavy woolen clothing and go cavorting in the fields. Time to air our flabby palps—Sumer is ybloody here!

In this week’s episode, tea and beer and cocktails because why not tis the season. Now is the time, outside in the sunshine is the place. This is The Cut.

The Cut Season 2 Episode 22

Sumer is ycumin in, according to the old song. Really? We see little evidence of the change in sessions as yet. If anything, things seem to be going backwards. Still, all this rain is good for the garden, if not for our mood. We hold out hope for a sunny long weekend cos boy howdy do we need to get some mowing done.

This week, impractical devices, violent deaths and a card trick that still stumps all the experts.

Now is the bank holiday. The garden is the place. This is The Cut.

The Cut Season 2 Episode 20

Happy birthday to us! We’re having cake and pop. You’re having… well, much the same as ever, in a slightly extended form to mark our fifty-second episode in style. If you’ve stuck with us this long—thank you. Your patience and tolerance for our nonsense is appreciated. Sadly, things are unlikely to get any better, although we may attempt a tuck, nip and polish to enliven your reading experience. Or we may just clatter along in our ad-hoc ramshackle fashion until something drops off. It’ll be a ride, either way.

In our slap-up feed this week, we’re serving up no-knead bread, OKi Dogs and the juicy tale of the greatest thriller that never was.

Now is the birthday. Here is the cake. This is The Cut.

How It Started/How It’s Going

This week marks the first anniversary of The Cut. That might not seem like much when put against, for example, The Guardian who celebrate 200 years this month. It’s a big milestone for me, though, as it’s the longest sustained and consistent run of publishment on this blog since—well, ever.