Another

 Well, it's another birthday for me and old Tom Waits – and a bit of a milestone, being the 75th. Three quarters of a century on this earth! As so often at this time of year, I've been somewhat prostrated – some kind of cold/flu/whatever – but have rallied in time to greet the day, and the wind and rain of Storm Darragh, though mercifully we're on the fringes of it here. I wonder what Tom's up to...
  Yesterday, as I lay on my bed of pain – actually, my sofa of no pain – I heard much of Sean Rafferty's final edition of In Tune on Radio 3. It was one big musical party, with guests galore, all bursting with genuine affection for Sean, the most genial and urbane of music presenters, and the best interviewer of musicians Radio 3 ever had. Needless to say, Radio 3's management didn't value what they had and the latest incoming Controller promptly announced his intention of moving him to other duties from April next year. Sean, understandably, decided not to hang around awaiting the coup de grace. I hope very much we haven't heard the last of him. In Tune will never be the same again, and Rafferty will be sorely missed.