Here’s a jolly photo from my birthday a few weeks ago, posing with a copy of kiddie rehab classic The Secret Garden. Photo taken by Dr Adrienne Cullum at the club How Does It Feel To Be Loved, Brixton. My thanks to her and to Ian Watson.

That evening, I had a sense of a convergence of my personal history. On my birthday, I tend to dwell on my past and present regardless. So to be surrounded that day by people from different periods of my life somewhat intensified the sensation

Amelia Fletcher was DJ-ing, playing Kenickie at one point. In a nutshell, that’s my early 90s meets my mid 90s. It also occurred to me that the first time I met Ms Fletcher and Rob was again in Brixton, at a Heavenly gig, The Fridge, 1990. I got all the band members to sign a fanzine called The Fine Art Of Shoplifting. "Mathew is cool". "Yes, but only in The Fridge – Rob." It was the first of umpteen Heavenly gigs for me. Over the next four years, I would hitchhike around the country to see them play.

Others from my past that night at HDIF, equally at no invitation of mine: David Kitchen, who ran my old band Orlando’s mailing list; Claudia Gonson of the Magnetic Fields, who I fondly remember supporting The Divine Comedy at the Water Rats in 1996, with Ms Fletcher on guest vocals wearing an Orlando badge; Justin Pearce – my more recent past.

In the same room were Martin White, Jennifer Denitto, Neil Scott, David Kennedy – all from my present.

Dickon Edwards, This Is Your Life. Who are you now? Who were you then? Are you happy? Were you happy?

The story goes on. I’m neither the gushing indie music fan I was in 1990, nor the troubled music biz hustler I was in 1996. But there's remnants of those characters in my current make-up. The pun is definitely intended.

Amelia and Rob are now in the band Tender Trap. I've just been listening to their latest, highly witty EP on Elefant Records, "Como Te Llamas? (Tell Me Your Name)". I wouldn't hitchhike to see them anymore, but then I wouldn't hitchhike to see anyone any more. But I still adore Ms Fletcher, whose biography really must be written one day. And I’m looking earnestly forward to the next Tender Trap album.

Sample lyrics from the EP:

Indie girl seeks the same
I'll be wearing a check shirt and a denim skirt
And a hairgrip with a cat on it

– "Como Te Llamas? (Tell Me Your Name)

I don't know anybody.
Now I am disembodied.
I found affection here online.
Oh be my Catcher In The Rye
I'll be your Postcard singles

– "Friendster"