I could not go to the funeral because I was working, but I was there in spirit. I hope it went well, and the wake as well.

I spoke to Rod Noble this morning, oddly enough at the same supermarket where I heard about 10 days ago of the news about John's passing. Rod said that about half an hour before John passed away in Durham in England, and at the end of an evening of singing, both with the chorus group and in a singing session as well, John said that this is "as good as it gets".

That's how I want to go, when my time comes. I want to have been with a great bunch of people, doing what I love doing, probably something music-related, and having a great time.

So, he left on a wonderful high.

I'll be playing some tunes on the lovely harp he made for me, and thinking of him in those heavenly music sessions. There must be a lot of people he has to catch up with, from over the decades of his time in the folk scene.

Helen