When I'm 64

Whilst I am thrilled that the Stones are still strutting their stuff,I do wonder what all the fuss is about with regards to their ages.They have proved themselves survivors in spite of the early tragic loss of Brian Jones. Many others of their generation have fallen by the wayside. However in the last couple of years I have been lucky enough to have seen some amazing performances given by artists who have been around for a long time. None of them have been diminished by age - if anything they have improved with experience. They include Ravi Shankar in his 90s,Crosby and Nash (late 60s,early 70s),Candi Staton (late 60s),Patti Smith (mid 60s)Jackson Browne (early 60s)and Leonard Cohen (late 70s). A few weeks ago I went to a local folk club with my cousin to see Julie Felix, who I remembered from the Frost Report back in the sixties. She is 74 and had just got back from performing at a Goddess Convention in Mexico! Enough said.

Cut the cake and pick up the pieces

Yesterday BBC's Flog It! came to film where I work, Haddon Hall in Derbyshire. One of my colleagues had been doing a bit of research on Paul Martin the presenter. She told me that he had played drums with the Average White Band when he was younger. Earlier this year I went to see the Titanic Odyssey celebrations in Liverpool - the amazing Little Girl Giant and her Uncle.On the way home on the train a kind young man offered me his seat. We got talking and our conversation ranged from his family connections to the Titanic, his love of Icelandic music, his imminent move to Germany, and the fact that his parents were friendly with one of the Average White Band. A memorable random train conversation. Back in the spring I went to a local folk night in a tiny rugby club venue to see Chris Wood, one of my favourite singers. He also mentioned Average White Band, as he had recently played at a festival with one of the members. Back in my Drive In Rock days we played on the same bill as the Average White Band in their early 70s glory days. I got the chance to ask Paul Martin about his connection with them, and our paths hadn't crossed on stage back then - he is much too young - but I find this a particularly interesting example of 6 degrees of separation!

Tar barrels and mermaids

This weekend I saw a piece in the Guardian what's on section about the tar barrels of Ottery St Mary near Exeter.It's a calendar custom defying health and safety regulations.Back in 1972 I was at Exeter University for a term.In those few short months I saw David Bowie,Shakin Stephens and Pentangle at the students' union. I also went to see the tar barrel event.There was an old fashioned fair in the town,featuring a two headed stuffed calf and a real mermaid,a woman in a fishtail,sitting in a glass tank.Strange days as the Doors once sang.