We all make career mistakes. One of mine was to allow the word 'zany' to creep into a publisher's catalogue copy. 'Zany' can take years to live down, particularly if you decide you want to switch lanes and start writing deeply thoughtful literature. Not that I did. But I bring this up because last week I saw David Daniels singing in Orlando, and wondered at what point after signing the contract he discovered he'd be expected to wear US Marine fatigues.

Orlando has a pretty dumb storyline anyway, saved only by the music, but I question the wisdom of setting much of the action in a rat's nest of electricity cables. And as for the chorus...well I guess the designer just has a real thing about camouflage gear. 9 out of 10 for Messrs Daniels and Handel, nul points for the designer.

Another night and several pig-based Bavarian meals later we heard Vesselena Kasarova in Alcina.
An unearthly voice that I can hardly wait to hear again so I'm stocking up on her CDs, but she has such presence too. Only July, but I'm already betting she'll be my personal find of the year.

But then back to earth, house-hunting with my mother. The agent, sensing we were less than enthusiastic about the property, showed signs of desperation and began stating the bleeding obvious.
'Window,' he pointed out. 'Radiator.'
Indeed they were. An apartment with a window AND a radiator. Happy thought.