Singing and crying

Up early and straight to the Sage in Gateshead for Eve's singing rehearsal with Quay Lasses. All night the wind had blown down the chimneys making the dogs fretful and howling, but as we approached Gateshead the sun suddenly broke through. When I first came to Tyneside in 1984, this area was no-go, the haunt of drug dealers and prostitutes. Now it's one of the finest concert venues in the world.

Just before noon I went inside to listen to Eve's concert for Radio 3. When I heard the little choir of girls sing 'Seal Lullaby' by Eric Whittaker I had to fight back the tears. And later that evening, when I tuned in to listen on the radio, I sobbed even harder. I never cried until I had children. Now hardly a day goes past when I don't shed a tear especially where one of the girls is concerned. Happy, sad - it's all one to me. Hanky anyone?