Actually, I can't stand U2 but that's by the by.

It struck me as I set off from Birmingham this afternoon that it would be the last time I would drive past the the twin cooling towers at Tinsley before they are demolished next weekend. They have always been the marker that I am nearly home, for the last twenty or so years that I have lived in Sheffield and have been driving around the country. Strange how a redundant bit of industrial architecture can come to mean so much. Ah well.

I was also listening to the excellent North American Indie mix that the fabulous Skyekat sent me, the final track in particular. It's 'Sheffield Shanty' by 'Monkey Swallows the Universe' and is a wistful little track about the rain in Sheffield turning the seven hills into seven seas, and sailing from Broomhill to Walkley, amongst other places. I felt a thrill of recognition and a sense of place that sent a shiver up my spine. After a bit of head scratching and a quick google I realised that the singer was none other than Nat Johnson who I saw supporting John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett a while ago, and also that she has a new single coming out in September - hurrah!