Last year at Sidmouth, during Shirley Collins talks about her early years travelling with Alan Lomax recording in the states she suddenly turned round and ran towards rhe window which was open as it was very hot. She embraced a rather drawn looking but happy man looking in the side window, and seemed overjoyed to be with him. I couldnt work out who he was, but you will guess that it was Nic, one of my heroes, so he is still trolling around, but presumably unable to play to previous standards for whatever reasons. I was disturbed by the recent art work on his double CD Unearthed by tony hall, and wondered if he regarded it as a bit of a joke, I certainly dont like the implications of it, but what do I know?