I couldn’t believe it. I had sneaked down Lower Marsh to grab a sneaky cooked breakfast, when I got a text message from “LIVE8” saying I had won tickets to the concert on July 2nd.

I was gutted when I only heard about Pink Floyd reforming after the text lines had closed, but it looks like I only needed that one attempt I had made anyway. I will happily admit that I felt like a mug sending a text message for this competition, but it turns out to have been the best £1.50 I have ever spent.

Fortunately Jayne wants to come along. I would have had a terrible time deciding which friend to give the other ticket to: there were so many suitable candidates.(And I would have suddenly discovered a whole load of new friends) Its also handy because, generally speaking, she will be more interested in all the acts I don’t really care about (Keane, Dido, Robbie Williams, Joss Stone) and I am interested in all the one she doesn’t care about (U2, Pink Floyd, Muse, Snoop Dogg). Just about the only common ground we will have is REM and the Scissor Sisters.

Of course the big moral issue of the day is should I sell them if someone offers an obscene amount of money. That decision has been largely made for me now that eBay have banned the sale of them. I am sure I would have been tempted otherwise.

Bob Geldof said that it was “sick profiteering” but I am not so sure. There may be people out there who won more tickets than they need – when they find themselves in the possession of something which they know is very valuable to some other people what are they going to do? And how does Bob know the circumstances of everyone who wants to sell their ticket? The sort of real offers which were getting made are in the region that can actually make a real difference to some lives. I heard someone on the radio news say he had sold his for £900. (Not sure if that was each or for the pair) I know a few families where £900 would have a significant impact).

Although I’m a socialist, I can’t see what is wrong with somebody selling something they own, if it is worth more to someone else than it is to them. I have never had a problem with the selling on of cup final tickets or Glastonbury tickets when its individuals who find that they need the money rather than the experience, or just change their minds. I just have a problem with those who bulk-buy tickets just for profit, and the middle men who inflate the prices, while paying well under the odds.

The suggestion that someone who managed to get a ticket to, say, Glastonbury then got invited to a family wedding or whatever and couldn’t use them, should return them to the ticket agent for re-sale when they know full well that the going rate for them is many times the face value, is ridiculous. Talking of which, I also entered the Guardian’s lottery for Glastonbury tickets… do I think I can get lucky twice in a week?

Without eBay selling them it just means there will be hunders of touts in the region of Hyde Park, with their mantra of “spare tickets bought and sold.” Having dealt with one of them in the past I would much rather sell direct to someone who wants to go to the show than have those sharks take their cut, which is a hell of a lot more than eBay would ever take!

But I am getting off the point. Considerably.

Looking at the line up for Live 8 I suddenly realised that there is the prospect of having two different versions of Comfortably Numb played at the same show. Will the Scissor Sisters have the chutzpah to do their version with Pink Floyd on the bill? Will they be able to resist doing it? Will Dave Gilmour join them for a guitar solo? Will Roger get the hump about it?

I did some rough sums, and if the event runs from 2pm until 10pm, that leaves less than 20 minutes for each of the acts, without allowing any time for transitions. Pink Floyd won’t get warmed up in that amount of time – its barely enough for Shine On, Comfortably Numb and Run Like Hell. If only Coldplay, Dido, Annie bloody Lennox, Sting and Keane could be persuaded to take a sickie and give their time to PF… Of course there is a good chance that, like in Live Aid in 1985, some of the artists will be pairing up. That will help. Perhaps it will be Mariah Carey performing with Razorlight, Elton appearing with Scissor Sisters, or Velvet Revolver backing Madonna?

Anyway, much as I am looking forward to seeing Roger & David sharing a stage, if there is anyone who wants to compromise my conscience and get me in Saint Bob’s bad books by offering me silly money I’ll be content to stay at home and watch it on the TV. Anything on the excessive side of excessive and the Mrs. will insist I accept!