It seems a bit pointless writing this column this week, as nothing I could write could get within several miles of the TV reviews of Clive James, who died last week.
The NHS has been in the news a lot recently, what with the Government being accused of holding secret talks with US pharmaceutical giants about a post-Brexit trade deal.
If you have visited Lancaster and Morecambe recently, you may have noticed something unfamiliar in the air. I think it might best be described as a quiet but tangible sense of optimism.
So we tend to think of ourselves as a bit more resilient up north (hard), what with us all travelling on terrible Pacer trains, eating gravy with everything and surviving, largely, without Pret a Manger every three metres.
In one way or another, it’s been quite the week for the Royals. First we had Prince Andrew’s toe-curling interview with the forensic Emily Maitlis, and then on Sunday, the third series of The Crown (Netflix, streaming now) arrived.
After spending 20 years dealing with finding facts for stories and reporting them a.k.a journalism, it may be that I have fallen victim to my sceptical leanings in every area of my life.
I read the Lancashire Post report of the recent sad passing of Les Campbell, the former speedy and tricky PNE winger, who frequently deputised for Sir Tom in the 1950s (LP November 13).
