Another instance of "niceness" is the lovely gold watch my friend Herman gave me the other day. He's a wonderful, independent - but at times rather lonely - person. I have a great admiration for him. He's great and he loves his fans so. I went to the Blue Angel Club in Liverpool with Herman.

No knocking of other performers ... That is Herman's golden rule these days. He explained to me recently. "In the past few months there has been so much criticising of one artiste by another. I reckon it's gone too far. I used to say exactly what I thought, I don't now. If I like something, then sure enough I say so good 'n' strong. But if I don't like it, I shut up.     "I reckon anyone in the biz does his or her level best to entertain, and I think you have to respect that."     Good for Herman! I reckon that behind a lot of the knockings are petty jealousies - and who wants those paraded?