ISN'T modern technology a marvellous thing?

Many, many years ago, when writing to an American friend, the letter took about four or five days to get there and the reply took about the same.

Talking on the phone meant standing in a booth at the end of the road, pennies in one hand, and a bag of chips for sustenance on the shelf, as it was a very time consuming effort.

Now, everything is instantaneous. We are not conditioned to wait.

You only need to go and stand in the post office and see how people are really annoyed if they can't be served immediately.

It's a case of 'Hey! We know what we want and we know when we want it. And we want it now.’ I think that all this urgency is a little sad as sometimes the waiting, and the longing, feeds the imagination, which often paints a far better picture than the harsh reality.

I had a pleasant Saturday afternoon attending the official opening of the new Blackburn Lighthouse rooms. The listening group offers a great service to people in need of advice and direction and who are sometimes without family support.

Our hardworking mayor Alan Cottam accompanied by his wife the mayoress, both looking very smart, officially opened the centre, then went downstairs in order to wish success to another new venture which was also being opened.

Thus, hey managed to kill two birds with one stone — now I come to think of it that might not have been the best choice of words.

The new venture is a sportswear and phone shop named Top Traders which has opened in the same building.

It’s beginning to look like Market Street is getting back into business and endeavouring to live up to its name.

My memory might be playing tricks but I seem to remember a market of some sort being held on what is now the parking lot immediately in front of the Zy Bar.

I can’t exactly remember when it was, so it must be a good few years ago.