On the way home from work yesterday I popped into the Co-op for various foodstuffs.  At the counter I decided that what I really fancied in the weather was a vodka and orange, and so asked for a bottle of Smirnoff (the orange, you will be pleased to hear, had been taken care of in a prior trip).

The assistant asked me if I had ID.

I just burst out laughing, and she apologised and said that they'd just changed it so that if anyone appeared to be under the age of 30(!) they had to ask for ID to prove they were over 18.  I continued laughing, right up to the point that I realised I have no photo ID on me.

Realising how ridiculous the whole thing was, she called the supervisor over.  Who also thought it was ridiculous, but said that having been asked for ID, as I couldn't provide it I could not be served.

I laughed it off, and said it was no problem as the off license was next door anyway.

So I went into Threshers, and asked for the same.  She put the bottle on the counter, and then she too asked for ID.

"Oh, not you too!" I cried.
"Sorry, but there's been a crackdown and we've now had two warnings.  If we're caught selling alcohol to minors again we'll be shut down, so we're having to be strict about asking for ID from anyone who looks 21."
"You mean 30?" I asked to correct her.
"No, 21.  The Co-op have gone all out and made it 30, but we're sticking with 21."
"SHURRUP DO I LOOK UNDER 21!" I shouted through fits of laughter.
"You do..." she said, rather meekly.

For the record, I am 27, and have a receding hairline.  I also look like this:

When I'm working on getting drunk
When I've succeeded in getting drunk (this is arguably not a flattering picture - I am unsure).
When I'm drinking to try and remove the hangover from picture 2

Still, if someone thinks I look under 21 I'll take it as a compliment.  But: FUCK!  No alcohol!

On the same subject, why is a credit card with valid PIN considered enough proof of identity to buy n-thousand pounds worth of goods, but not enough proof to buy alcohol (I was paying on credit card)?  I guess credit card fraud is seen as less important than 16 year olds buying beer.

My "band":

Got a call from a friend a few weeks back while I was at work:

"Alright, Gaz....do you want to form an electro-pop duo?"
"You know I do!"

And thus it happened.  We've been working on a couple of songs, which is one of the main reasons I didn't get an MFC in.  When they're finished I'm sure you'll know.

Writing with someone else is weird for me as I've only ever written/recorded/produced on my own.  It's also pulled the music in a really different direction on one song, but I'm probably dragging the other back over my way.  Should be interesting.

Oh, I don't have anything to say, so I'll not even pretend I do.  Have a good weekend, y'all!