So there I was, loitering with very little intent out in the Marine Hotel, Sutton, when the thought occurred to the space between my ears that it was high time for My Good Self to get the middle section of the rear side of my slender frame moving again. Yes, I felt the hour was now upon me to reboot my beloved backside. I thought back to a wee chat I’d had a few seasons hither with my good friends, The King and Queen of Staines. I was waxing lyrical on my love of train travel when the King suggested to me that a wee bit of travel scribbling might well be no bad thing. It seems to me that when an individual of such high royal standing sees fit to bestow a few words of his worldly wisdom to my ears then it is only right and fitting that I should heed his wise counsel and act accordingly.

And so this is the latest gig in my one man attempt to make the universe a slightly better place. A bit of travel, a bit of scribbling, and not forgetting a wee bit of accompaniment from my six stringed friend.

And speaking of things musical I find myself by times reflecting on the old adage that a body is really only as strong as its weakest link. As has been previously stated in these pages the weakest link for a right handed classical guitarist is undoubtedly the left pinkie finger. Happily this devil like digit has been behaving a little better of late and so my dreams of serenading the good citizens of Grafton Street grow closer by the day. Rumours that Dublin City Council have plans to issue ear plugs free of charge on Grafton Street have yet to be confirmed.

Over in the sporting world England square up to Germany next Tuesday in the Euros and I feel the time has finally come to put 5,000 years of oppression behind us and give out a shout for Gareth Southgate and his boys.

So come on England.