I think the piper is a Scottish feller called Alan who lives on Whatman Road - I caught him in action at a street party a couple of years back, and I've heard his skirling strains wafting over the gardens on many a long summer evening.

Personally, I like his playing. It did strike me that it would definitely get people's backs up if he wasn't any good. But he is - fortunately! I believe that he's won a few prizes, and that he's much in demand for weddings and the like.

I do wonder about his next door neighbours though. They must be pretty tolerant...

Honor Oak does seem well supplied with musicians. As well as the unmistakeable sound of reluctant schoolkids practising, I'm always hearing more fluent performances on cellos or violins or guitars. Often the players sound quite accomplished.

Some near neighbours were having an al fresco dinner party recently and the evening ended with something folksy and a little melancholoy on a fiddle that somebody produced. (Thanks to the player, if they're reading, because I enjoyed that.)