IT’S wonderful to be back on the road again after 18 months, although things have changed in so many ways. Many people are, understandably, still wary of being in confined spaces or in close proximity to each other — I still am myself to a degree — and I have had some very worrying experiences travelling to gigs.

Three times in the last month I have been caught up in torrential, localised flooding incidents on motorways: twice in one day. A journey to Preston 10 days ago should have taken five hours but actually took over eight. I remember occasional such events before lockdown, but for them to happen so frequently is unprecedented and deepens my support for Extinction Rebellion and all those standing up for the planet in different ways.

The disruption caused to working people’s lives by such actions is nothing compared to what will happen if things go on like this. I only wish I could cycle everywhere as I do within a 10-mile radius of my home. Unfortunately you can’t do that with unlimited instruments and a mountain of merch. As soon as practicable and affordable, I’m getting an electric car (once their massive price tags come down so ordinary folk can afford them).