SO, here I am, on Platform 4 of Darlington station, waiting for the 3.58pm to Aberdeen – with a drum-kit. Yes, a drum-kit.

I’m not even catching the train to Aberdeen, nor any of the stations in between. I’m here because I received a strange instruction from my wife.

“Max has got a gig in Newcastle tonight. His train comes through Darlington at 3.58pm. He needs his drum-kit.”

I’m a 63-year-old grandad who’s had a very hard paper round. I should be taking it easy at my age. But, no, I’m an ageing roadie, delivering drums to my musician son as he passes through on a train.

The drums are packed into an assortment of cases – they are bloody heavy – and I’m expected to carry them from the station car park to Platform 4.

“I’m meeting my son to deliver his drums for a gig tonight........

© The Northern Echo