Why no mention of George?

I was at home on Wednesday thinking my house was going to fall down around my ears and wondering if I could find my copy of Our House Is Rockin' by Marmalade (cavity wall insulation may be green but it's bloody noisy getting it in there) when I quite literally said "What the f$%£?" out loud as I logged onto the Word website.

There in all his glory was George Lamb on the cover of the new magazine announcing his resignation to the world. The other stories framing his shaggy haired visage didn't exactly bode well for circulation figures via Tesco - on second thoughts turning the magazine into a pop/rock version of OK may be a smart move financially.

But where has he gone?

Why no mention or outcry?

Have we been duped but no-one apart from me noticed?

Or was it a trick of my failing eyesight and impending dementia?

Answers please Mr Ellen - I imagine you have final say who appears on the cover.

Blink and you would have missed it - Percy and our David on the One Show tonight at least he got to spend time in the company of Claire Grogan whilst trawling through old LP covers.

A great night out David?

I've just transferred this month's free CD to my hard drive and updated my spreadsheet of featured artists.

Who do you think has featured on these CD's most often since way back in July 2004 - answers on a postcard ....

I saw Aberfeldy last week who, despite being local to me, I first heard on the September 2006 Word CD. They were playing a showcase gig in Edinburgh and they finished up with Chris De Burgh's "A Spaceman Came Travelling" and Shakin' Stevens's "Merry Christmas Everyone" (which I missed, had to get the last bus home).

For my money however they were surpassed by their solo support act Donna Macioca who finished with Maria Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" complete with sleigh bells (supplied by Aberfeldy's drummer Murray Briggs), ukelele (played by Donna) and multi tracked backing vocals a la KT Tunstall looper (it must be a Scottish female singer thing) - excellent stuff.

As this festive season progresses who have you been to see who has taken this approach to their encore, be it seriously or ironically, and did you enjoy it?

NB as a postcript this gig encompassed the last few months Word blogs for me with 6ft plus punters in my line of vision (just move a little left or right and you will be OK), incessant chatter during the set (if you're not interested go into the bar it's behind you!) and ukelele as a lead instrument (has Mr Ellen started a trend?).