adidas Ardwick

With its sunkissed railway arches, blissfully unhappy inhabitants and laid back approach to everything, Ardwick is the new California . Limited to 500, available from Oi Polloi at the end of the month.

World Book Day

The printed word is sacred in this house, and therefore my purchases of books are not frowned upon by the wife like clobber ones are. So to celebrate World Book Day, take a lesson in literature here with these recommendations...

First up Bill Routledge's excellent Northern Monkeys. Refreshingly for a casualesque book, it doesn't start with Scousers nicking Lacoste in 1979, but back with the sharp yet dangerous Teds, to the talc footed Northern Soul dancers and through to the boots and braces of skins. This ultimate bible on every major youth cult from the 1950s to the present day, and how each individual movement has shaped the way us lads dress today. If you want bullshit ''ten of us ran five thousand of them'' ten-a-penny hoolie accounts crudely written by a ghost, then this isn't for you. I know I promised a book review on this but won't bother - It's hardly hot off the press as this is the second edition. Was disappointed to miss out with the limited print first time around, but quite pleased I did. Got this direct from the author and it's signed personally. Lovely.

Next up is the Irvine Welsh Omnibus - Trainspotting, Acid House and the Marabou Stork Nightmares. Got a few other Welsh's for Christmas, but surprisingly non of this novels so was able to snap this up with all three rolled into one. Bought from ex charity shop bookseller World of Books for the princely sum of 99p (and another two quid postage). At 920 pages long that works out approx 0.00325p per page. And they say there's a recession on. Tried reading Trainspotting as a young teenager and couldn't get round the Scotch dialect - so I copped out and bought the film. Older and more mature, and shamefully a Welsh virgin (not many of them around - have you been to Cardiff?), have decided to give the cult books a go in all their Scotch wrote glory. Here's hoping I succeed as I've got six of the fuckers now.

Proper Magazine issue lucky number 13. Bought out of habit but has to be said I'm not immediately feeling this issue. Very commendable they've gone for a spring/summer theme (Surfing) but I know I'm not the only person doesn't really get excited by summer swag. Short sleeves shirts and shorts may be canny for hot weather, but they certainly don't get me sweating with excitement like Hikerdelic jackets or Scandinavian knitwear. Still sure it'll be a good read.

Actually got this a long time ago but don't think I've actually charted it on the blog. Got from Oxfam for a few quid, this is the illustrated history of Subbuteo. An interesting read regarding the nations favourite sport game from humble beginnings to global success to terminal decline. Plenty photos including everyone' favourite the 'Kit chart'.

Recent Purchases

A few bits and pieces picked up by the usual thifty means -

First up my dream jacket. One True Saxon Jungle Marsh Parka in brown. Don't care that OTS is now defunct after selling out to the man, this is classic OTS gear when it was at it's finest. Seen these come and go on eBay and I've never managed to land one. Managed to snare this one for under a score (then a bit postage). Quality colourway for upcoming autumn and has some smart features, including more pockets than a kebab shop sized pack of pitta breads, and a basic watch viewer (A short zip on each sleeve, not in same league as CP windows mind). Pleased as punch.

Next having sold a couple of Ralph shirts due to poor sizing, felt I'd left myself open to exposure on the shirting front. Was after a gingham tuktuk in summer sale but missed out on the email informing me on increased reduction, so by the time I'd logged on at tea time all the fat bastard sizes had gone. So picked up a couple of Wolsey's for the price of a pint each, again from eBay. Two nice designs with nice detailing on buttons.

Final bit of clobber in this post is yet another Ralph polo (yawn). Again as per from TKM, my usual haunt for RL polo shirts. A baby yellow with green horse, feel very Brazilian in it despite the fact I haven't shaved. In the clearance for £18, not going to say no to that are you?

Next up some bedtime/bogtime reading. Got issue #11 of Proper a couple of months ago, fairly late in the day for how long it's been out. Just hadn't got round to getting it. The plus side of that move was I didn't have to wait long for number 12. And just the other day an eagerly anticipated Stand Against Modern Football plopped through the letterbox.

Finally a daft little piece. A good few years ago Football Focus did a feature weekly on every clubs top cult heroes - voted for by the fans. This is the book that goes with it. Found in poundland of all places, although I can't remember how much I paid...