I have had to spend Monday and Tuesday of this week in Wakefield. I was summoned for a workshop. Wakefield is slightly less horrible than Hull, but has the bonus of being near Barnsley. And a very good friend of mine, and his lovely wife, both of whom I was at school with, live near Barnsley. Longead and I actually worked together for five years as well, before he went into the police, so he is a longstanding friend.

So, Monday night I went and stayed with them. His real name is Kevin. But to me he is Longead, on account of his long head. That is what I have called him since he was about 18, and that is what it will always be. He calls me Speed. Which is another story.

It just so happened it was his 46th birthday on Monday. Not that we normally need an excuse for a good drink, but somehow it legitimised the excessive quantity of wine that was drunk. Longead is also a Mystic Wizard, like me. In the Mystic Wizards he is the ‘Cardinal Wizard’. One of the MW songs is one the audio tab.