Just back from a wonderful weekend of cakes, ale and song (both human and avian). Everything from Child ballads to nightingales.

There seems little point in responding in detail to Jim Carroll's tirade; everybody is all too well aware of what he has said. For the record, I would just like to make it clear that I have never advocated "allowing club platforms to be used as rehearsals for non singers" nor do I think that standards do not matter as has been said elsewhere.

Jim did indeed try to take our discussion off-line but he was far less inhibited in his abuse there and no better at listening to what I was actually saying so I said that I preferred to be assaulted in front of witnesses. In particular, he accused me of "encouraging people to sing in public if they are incapable of handling the basics of singing". Something which bears no resemblance to anything I have ever said.

Jim, you continue to make slanderous attacks on me and use every thread to do your best to sully the reputation of the current UK folk scene and those who dedicate themselves to making it work.

Agreeing to disagree is not an option.