No new recordings have emerged, although last Christmas The Pogues appeared on various TV Shows for to perform "Fairytale Of New York" with Katie Melua. Still, there are whispers, oh aye, and if a fella could bear to allow himself to think it for a moment, he might find himself with the modest hope that maybe a new Pogues record with Shane MacGowan songs sung by Shane MacGowan might surface sometimes afore the end of the decade.

Dear God, what a man would give to hear such a thing.

"So tell me" says the gypsy with the half-moon eyes, having listened to this evangelical hyperbole for much of the past four hours. "Is the bastard thing better than Red Roses For Me or not?"

I take a sip o' my Red Bull and light another cigarette. "No", says I, "But what is? The next two Pogues albums, but what else? Scarcely a bastard thing. But it's better than you've been led to believe, and it's better than Peace And Love, although that record is still glorious."

"So out of a possible ten stars" says he, "What?"

I shrug. "9 and a half?"

The barman yells about "Wicklow hoors!" to some lad stood dancing by the jukebox and I say to my friend there, "So" says I, "Did I ever tell you of the time I fell in love with a lass and also discovered for the very first time Berlin by Lou Reed?"

"You did not"

"Well the night is young and I've a headful of caffeine and nicotine and mooder-upper, so what say I tell you that tale here and now. And also, eight stars, afore you ask."

Thanks folks.