Shop 'n' roll

If you lead the exciting life of a rock 'n' roll writer, sooner or later in between the never-ending round of booze-filled excess and visionary interludes that constitute your working week, you'll have to visit the local post office depot to pick up a parcel of review discs.

I say "local post office depot" but what I really mean is the post office depot that's inconveniently located in a faraway, out-of-town business park that would take a bus journey lasting over half an hour and then involve a considerable walk to get to.

In circumstances such as this I always give my pal Tim a ring. He's got a great car with seats that warm-up and an in-car sound system that makes your ears and nose bleed when he hits the open highway. Today's in-car entertainment was Herb Alpert's Casino Royale, which is without doubt a fantastic toe-tapper.

After picking up the said package of review CDs, we blasted back to Whitley Bay to the accompaniment of Mountain's Don't Look Around. In keeping with the rock 'n' roll mood, we headed on the highway, looking for adventure and...Sainsbury's.

Tim gives it some rock star attitude as we rove from aisle to aisle...

Eventually, in between picking up some onions, chatting about my up-and-coming travels, nabbing some grapes, how we listen to music, rejecting hair care products, Tim's fabbo new Martin guitar, and finding Hanukkah honey, we saved the soul of rock 'n' roll and probably a few Nectar points into the bargain. No wonder he looks pleased!