Wimbledon & the World Cup over, both with excellent results. Federer remains, without doubt, the best player there has ever been, and in our house we were pleased for him that he equalled Sampras' record of four consecutive Wimbedon wins. He dropped only one set in the entire championships, and that in the final against the admirable Nadal. In a few years' time, when Fed is no longer champ, the papers will be able to call him FedEx.

Down to London twice last week, for radio (actually you're supposed to say up to London, even if you're travelling, as in this case, 250 miles south to get there): three pre-recorded programmes all done as-if-live, with no recuts. Monday: interviewed first for OneWord Radio's book programme 'Between the Lines'. Don't know when it'll be broadcast but it was a pleasure to be on it. Then to the lavish new studios of Radio 2 for Steve Harley's 'Sounds of the Seventies': a Special on Dylan, for broadcast at 10pm English Summer Time on Tuesday August 1. Dylan has mostly chosen to ignore his 1970s output in concert in recent years, but hearing things like 'Abandoned Love' over the BBC's big speakers was terrific. Harley has been a fan man and boy.

Down again on Saturday, to be at Broadcasting House for 10.30am for that evening's Radio 4 slot 'Loose Ends' with Ned Sherrin. Not, I think, a Bob fan man or boy, though he was perfectly courteous to me, as was interviewer Gideon Coe. Somehow I still ended up as the novelty item, and it was a struggle to suggest that The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia is a work of wide scope and not just a tunnel down which only the anorak-clad fanatic might profitably venture.