Rainy Day Man, this is what they call you. But nobody knows the truth. But I know now, rain is just an answer. To your broken heart. Funny how the rain keeps falling down, Will it ever stop somehow? Something different here, for a change we’re not wallowing in nostalgia and feature the lyrics of a newly released song. And there’s a Leeds connection here as Jeff Christie, one of our most enduring musicians for over fifty years links up with Italian singer songwriter Lorenzo Gabanizza for their fourth composition together – ‘Rainy Day Man’ (see page 20.) Still on a musical theme and local barber Mark Ramsden tries to get us away from the telly and out to see some live music. Maybe we would but it always seems to be a rainy day here and the rain keeps falling down.

Hey, Now just get in and close the door. And put your foot down, I’ll tell you what. Why don’t we cross the city limit. And head on down the M62. And forty-five minutes to Manchester. Driving away from home, Thirty miles or more. And we’ll go moving away from home. Without a care in the world. “Driving Away from Home (Jim’s Tune)” is a song by Scouse band It’s Immaterial. Released as a single in March 1986, a classic driving song although we’re not sure who Jim is but we think he might like a pint (when he’s not driving) and a sing song. And with that in mind it’s competition time again. We’ve two tickets up for grabs to see the Dublin Legends at the Irish Centre. See page 20 for more details. The Crossgates Community Coalition have launched a fund raising page to try to buy and revamp the iconic library building and turn it into a community hub. Whatever the politics involved, nobody can deny this buidling is a part of our local history (page 22).