Still here. Like a Norwegian Blue, I've just been resting. I return with some summer frippery. First, another day in the life post, since the past one proved quite popular. This time delivered via twitter, an offering made even more poignant perhaps by yesterday's news that they've pulled the plug on the UK. So, from the bottom up1: day-in-the-life I'm going to keep these up for as long as I see other blogs in this industry complaining about what a career in architecture is really like outside the cozy world of academia. Too many posts these days about how rarely you actually get to Design, or how undervalued the client makes you feel, or how rubbish everyone else is. Cheer up you miserable buggers2, your career is what you make it. Next a repost of summer reading and listening suggestions that Phil Clark at Building magazine asked me to help with. You can see many more on his original post. Books: 100 Houses 100 Architects: Editor - Gennaro Postiglione Refreshingly critical coffee table picture book that even has some floor plans. Worth it for Till/Wigglesworth house alone. Euro-centric cast list means it misses Charles Moore though. Bay Area Houses: Editor - Sally Woodbridge Making up for lack of Charles Moore in previous with this one. Perfect case studies in beautiful suburban housing. Effortless English Arts and Crafts sensibilities jump the turn of the last century Atlantic and learn to loosen up in the Californian sunshine. Expect to see timber shingles in my next project. This Is A Man - Truce: Primo Levi There's a generation of Italian writers who cannot be surpassed. Well, two at least - Levi and Calvino. Levi tells the story of his time in Auschwitz and in doing so defines the furthest corners of every human soul in history. Nothing can prepare you for the visceral contents. Music The Red Album: Weezer Flawless grunge is an oxymoron. If that's so this the best damn oxymoron I ever heard. Another perfect album from the guys who started with little more than a poorly knitted jumper. Includes an ideal soundtrack for architects: 'I Am The Greatest Man That Ever Lived'. That was a joke. Maybe. Seldom Seen Kid: Elbow I'm praying with all my atheist might that Elbow don't get struck by the Mercury Music Prize curse. If they win we all have to promise not to make a fuss and let them carry on crafting such heart stopping moments of metaphysical revelation. Not to mention the moments of (less-than-meta) physical revelation that you can scream along with them perfectly; as long as you're in the car on your own. With the windows up. Piazza, New York Catcher: Belle & Sebastian A novel in one track. I think I finally 'get' Belle & Sebastian. Took me bloody long enough. notes: 1. 'designing a house for myself...' - watch this space, I'm currently making a bid for a plot of land 2. this month's Monty Python quote quota has now been met. Next month: The Two Ronnies