My singing is about as wonderful as singing can possibly be - in my own mind. When I actually open my mouth and let sound out, the reality is somewhat different. In fact, I'm a bit like the penguin Mumble in Happy Feet - except I can't dance either.

Weirdly - and this bit is true - I tend to meet singers on trains. I mean great singers. Last year I met and befriended a woman called Helen whose singing really is wonderful. I've heard her in concert, and in my home when my wife and I had her round for dinner, and even once on the train! There is no build-up with her - she goes straight from silence to awesome sound.

And last month I got talking to a woman because she overheard me talking to someone else about geology. Turns out she teaches geology as her day job, but she is also a singer-songwriter in a band that supports Fish, Marillion and Midge Ure. I haven't heard her singing live but she sounds good on her website.