A number of things have occured recently, marking this period of time out as unusual. My thesis was finished, bounded, sealed, coated with wax and handed in. Cath has taken to calling it my "baby", often finding me lovingly holding a copy in my arms, telling it stories and tucking it in at night. Much like an actual baby, I became tired of it recently, wishing it would just go away and frequently threw it on the floor. Finally, I was able to send it out in the world, knowing I had done all I could to prepare it for the harsh realities of modern existence, disappointed in its flaws and wishing it was prettier. However, unlike an actual baby, the man who took it off me did not offer me any money.

On Monday I went to watch the Haunted - the last gig I'll see at the real Zodiac. They were great, playing the new songs (which I enjoyed more live than on CD) and some oldies. Best thrash band in the world. For an Oxford gig, the pit was OK. Metal gigs in Oxford have the following structure. Kids at the front, pressed against the barrier, noticeably not moving, nodding, possibly even blinking for the entire three hours (Frontman Peter Dolving actually asked one of them if he was even enjoying the show). Then, a large space where the pit is. Then, everyone else, keeping to the back, as if they were actually there for some other reason.

The two support acts were Wolf (power metal cheesiness with porno bassist) and crossover-thrash kings Municipal Waste, who are so dumb and fast they can't help be entertaining: "This song is about ripping your fucking face off and throwing it on the stage. I wanna see 47 faces on the stage by the end of this song. It's called...Headbanger Face Rip". Other classics include "The Thrashing of the Christ" and "Terror Shark" ("This is a song about a shark").

Come to the Ministry of Mirth this Sunday, 8pm, at the Wheatsheaf. The show will feature some of the smartest comedy acts in town - Tom Greeves and John Lean and Andy Murray and Alex Erler and Parth Sonerji - and possibly the dumbest - Craig Holmes. Expect jokes about ham, Norway, skipping ropes and bicycles. Also, check out the new Ministry logo - it's all awesome and drawn by John, who got paid for it and as such now has a CV.