I broke off that post prematurely, as half-time in West Brom v Arsenal was drawing to a close [with W Brom leading 1-0, cheeky buggers!]; so I went down to pause the tv.

Further to String's unimpressive & officious intervention: as Jim knows, I have the utmost respect for his musical attainments & career, as member of the fine Critics Group & so on; so don't see what String thought he was achieving by diverting the topic in that direction. It is my impression that Jim likewise remembers some of my writing on folk. And indeed we have often both expressed regret on these threads that our mutual respect, and the things we have in common folk-wise, should be so unfortunately vitiated by other matters having led to a certain amount of contumacy over matters ideological. I remember Jim once remarking in that connection that the old Officers' Mess rule about no politics & no religion had much to be said for it.

But alas that would not do on Mudcat, would it? & so the matter remains. I wish Jim well in all his endeavours. It is absolutely no business of mine, I repeat, where he chooses to live & I can't imagine what can have led anyone to comment on that.

But, alas, our ideological differences persist. I fear I can't see that much can be done about that (can you, Jim?); but could wish it might lead him to fewer manifestations of quite such obloquy & ill temper, like inaccurate accusations of my having endeavoured in some way to prevent his speaking his mind!

As if...!