Is it time for you to confess, Tony?

I TELL you, I wouldn't buy a second hand car from this government, never mind a submarine.

I was concerned about us going to war, but I thought if they are committing our young men to fight, perhaps to die, then they must have strong, good information that we are not privy to.

They made us think we must be in grave danger, but that wasn't the case.

I read somewhere that Mr Blair is considering converting to Catholicism. Maybe he has something to confess?

There is an old saying, I wouldn't vote for them if they gave me a pension, well now we all know that's one thing he won't be doing.

WHAT a great night at the Blackburn Conservative dinner and dance, and all credit to the chef or cook (is there a difference?) The dinner was excellent and the pudding, well say no more!

During the wonderful courses we were chatting about Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

And it came out in the conversation that when the big extension to the infirmary was to be built (about 50 years ago) the sum of £38,000 had to be found. So the good people of the town went to Thwaites Brewery and asked for a donation.

Mrs Elma Yerburgh, head of the family and of the brewery, asked: 'How much is it you need to raise?' She was told £38,000 and immediately wrote out a cheque for £36,000, saying with a smile 'I have no doubt the good people of Blackburn and district will donate the rest.'

Now isn't that a heart-warming story, and a story well worth telling?

I feel very strongly about continuity and firms that give stability and loyalty to the town.

I recall when we had three breweries - Dutton's, Matthew Brown and the only one remaining -- Thwaites.

I think the town might feel a little allegiance, don't you?

Did you know the council don't even sell their ale in King George's Hall? Shameful.

THE other afternoon I was with the ladies of the Mothers' Union in the Cathedral Crypt. I think I am in danger of getting a bit too respectable!

Over the past year or two I've met with quite a lot of women who belong to various sorts of these organisations and it's rather sad.

Often there are no younger women present, no future generation passing down the skills, family values, or helping with all the tasks and chores that are done by these strong, and very much under-valued ladies.And finally ...

ON a little lighter note, I too have been doing a bit on the home front, a little cooking, you know the sort of stuff? To put in the deep freeze, so I asked my good friend Edith for a little advice. She left me a little note saying 'Whatever you do, you mustn't forget to date your food.' So I wrote back 'What! And give up men?'