I have just returned from the Shrewsbury Folk Festival, where, what with workshops and sessions, I spent about six hours each day playing. For three days, and two hours on the first evening. I was playing bodhran a little, but all the rest was mandolin, mandola and, er, ahem, nothing to see here, move along, um... banjo. I know I got photographed in the big session, but the rest of the time was music. Nancy Kerr, on fiddle, with left-hand pizzicato in the middle of her bowing; Lady Maisery, three young women including Hannah James, whose PA system and all electrics blew at the start of their gig. They took a vote, asking the audience, and then smiled and carried on without power. And so many other great musicians.

I sang, I played, I cried. And there was beer. Not only that, but I got the pictures for both "Ride" book covers.