' I have never known anybody stoop to the level you have in attacking fellow folk music enthusiasts in the way you have.'

really! i know this bloke who goes round calling fellow musicians - clown, liars, dishonest....

and the thing is i'm not dishonest. the memory of the grey cock is perfectly clear in my mind. it was the only singers night i ever went to - didn't go to another one after being informed on the door that i wasn't welcome. though i went several other times to see peggy and ewan.

first of all - the fisherman's smock on the door - with three other fisherman's smocks - two men, two women got up. two penny whistles and two guitars. they buggered about for about twenty minutes - starting various tunes and then tailing off in self satisfied laughter. then a bloke with a beard and smock, got up and said he had lost nine pounds in fifteen days by just drinking water. then he sang van diemens land in a rather tuneless fashion.

i'm not sure i stayed much longer......

at the star, the old crown, and the prince of wales - they all pissed themselves that i'd been daft enough to go there. all traddy venues. many years later, i told Martin Carthy about the evening - and he said - well that surprises me not at all......

i'm not lying Jim and i do resent you saying that i am.