Went to ITV on the South Bank for a chat with the production people of a new series, starting June, I think, of Popstar To Operastar. Don’t ask why, although I must admit to a little curiosity after counselling opinion from my agent and a couple of other respected industry judges. Maybe I just wanted to know how I would respond if offered a part. I was always 95% certain I would make my excuses. Never saw a moment of last year’s first series, but checked YouTube clips and it struck me beyond doubt as down-market TV, masquerading as middle-brow, for those who need it – I don’t. As it happens, we were kept waiting almost half-an-hour past the agreed time to meet in their lobby, received a pitiful apology only after my assistant pointed out that we might like a cup of tea, and an explanation. Many readers here would be amazed, rocked, to know the state of play these days among the Production offices of such companies and such shows. Either way, I never did have to make a decision. They didn’t even have the courtesy to let my office know the chosen ones! Just drifted. Incredible! But I got a little adventure out of it, and never, ever felt comfortable with the idea of accepting, if offered. Could have been chucked out, voted off, first week. The ignominy! 

Then Guilfest was confirmed. That’s my real professional home: the rock festival, not reality (would that show be in that category??) TV.  Then to Greece. What an adventure that was. Athens is a let city. They do it all late. Play late, stay up late, sleep late. We went on stage at 11 and came off at around 2.30 a.m. Next day we boarded that train I was writing about earlier. 5 hours from south to north along the Aegean coastline, passing the mountain range that houses Olympus, snow-capped and dominant for a hundred or more kilometres. Thessaloniki then. And Greece’s greatest rock star, Vasilis Papakonstantinou comes to the show. We talk and drink (they smoke, constantly) backstage and agree that we’ll duet on Sebastian. Vasilis covered the song some years ago and his record became a big hit in his home country, sung in his native tongue. We ran it acoustically with the band, but knew as we walked on stage that we would be performing it on a wing and a prayer. But that’s the adventure…..the audience adore Vasilis and gave him a great welcome, unexpected as he was. We got through it. It won’t go down in history as the greatest evr performance of that song, but it had to be attempted and we did not let down a ticket-buying soul in that auditorium. To get it, to understand, sometimes you really do have to be there. We finished our show at around two a.m. and I was rushed off in a fancy car, at high speed, to an in-town venue where the great Vasilis was himself performing, to 3,000 people. He had promised that as soon as I arrived he would stop his show and start Sebastian. He was good to his word, but only after a long and obviously flattering introduction. I haven’t a clue what he was saying, but I strolled up a short flight of steps, appeared on stage by the pianist, and the place erupted. We stumbled, noisily and passionately through the song again and I can only say his audience was kind to me. We hugged, as performers do at times like that, and smiled the big smiles and truthfully everyone was satisfied. I returned to my hotel grinning and thinking what a good life I have. After all those years, we met. And we performed, twice, in the early hours the second time, together after all.

Then to Cologne, to settle my Children In Need promise. Barry came with me, plus Shop, my guitar tech/assistant, and we travelled calmly and smoothly on Eurostar and the Thalis. No airport mazes to negotiate. Easy. Played the songs Gregor Koenig had asked for. The one I promised, the first choice was “(Love) Compared With You”, but he talked me into “True  Love Will Find You In The End” (it has a special meaning for him) and “A Friend For Life”. Gregor is a fabulous man, with nothing but good aura. We ate Japanese food and drank copious good wine (German, but nonetheless…..maybe they have finally convinced me), and my table-mate was the wonderful Guido Dossche and his fab wife. Guido, the psycho-analyst and Diana the Care specialist, working with the most difficult and desperate youngsters, and great company.

And then the boy got married. Kerr and Lieze, legal. Kerr wore the Cameron tartan (his mother’s clan) and looked fantastic. She in white, glorious without being a meringue. In our tiny, Norman church, inthe Essex/Suffolk border countryside. Packed and throbbing with good feeling. Big and traditional hymns, some religion, an hilarious yet reverent  service from Father Eoin; I read a little T.S. Eliot from “Choruses From The Rock” and slightly choked. I was looking at the piece, only part-memorised, and I always knew what was coming next. “What life have you, if you have not life together?” he asks in conclusion. It broke my decorum. Greta was a charming bridesmaid, fuchsia frock and heels. I stood with her for a photo or two and whispered, “When did you become a woman?” The couple are on honeymoon in The Highlands and report wonderful experiences. I only told them, don’t miss Dulsie Bridge. Nobody should, whoever takes time to explore The Highlands. Think of Burns, but don’t think of diving in. Vasilis: he and I dived in, took the chance. If you ain’t in, you can’t win. Gregor dived in, too. We were all winners in that one. Especially the kiddies. Kerr and Lieze have dived in.  One old friend texted earlier that day, “May your mother bring good weather.” The boy missed his Gran and said so in his speech. Missed his Granddad too, who says he’ll never fly again. He dived in all right, many times in his life. He deserves the choice now. But me, I’m still fit to gamble.

Last night: Johnnie Walker at Cambridge Junction. Great night. If he comes to your town with his one-man show, dive in. You will have a terrific evening. Great fun, packed with humility, humour and serenity. It is the life story of a man who has really lived, and lived mostly his way. Unforgettable.