MANY, many years ago, when I lived in flat on Bolton Road, I bought a rather ugly Calor room heater.

It’s the sort of heater that you have to have refillable bottles of gas for and it has been my constant winter companion every since.

As I sit writing at the table, which is quite away from the fire, and look at it, I can recall the days when it would be surrounded by a clothes maiden full of damp children’s clothes — the same maiden that, covered by a sheet, made a great tent for the lads when they were little.

It also heated the shop during those days of fuel shortages — sorry, but can’t exactly recall the years.

There’s no doubt about it, memories are a big part of our lives; oh yes, I know that they do tend to get a little rose coloured by time, but just think how lost, how terrible, we would all be if we didn’t have them.

One thing is certain, it would restrict our conversations a great deal, as there would be none of that ‘hey do you remember when?’ A long time ago — sorry I daren’t say, daren’t even think, how long ago it was, and just how quickly those years have passed — anyway, it was the time when we were down Ribchester in the Lodestar, I bought a gadget called the ‘tasty treat machine’.

It was used to make instant, toasted, filled, pouch-like sandwiches, which were a very popular snack to accompany a drink with my customers.

I liked them, too, and when we left I brought it away with me and I have been using it ever since.

When I put a planning application in to change what was then a small eating house into licensed premises, one of the main criteria the court asked for was that we were not to become just a pub, but must provide food, which of course we did.

There were some strong objections from quite a lot of local people, but we all compromised and so, after quite a long battle, I got the first free house licence granted in about 50 years.

This made me very happy and I must say that I loved the chat and having a laugh with the customers who I always looked on as friends.