JUST typical. I returned to my desk on Monday after a two week break in unsettled weather and what happens? The sun shines that's what.

I feared for the carnival on Saturday when the rain teemed down most of the day, but thankfully fortunes were reversed on Sunday when the clouds evaporated and turned what could have been a disaster into a second success.

Tribute once again should be paid to the committee who organised the event and to the thousands who turned out to support it.

On one of the restful rainy days I decided to watch the first Harry Potter film..."and the Sorcerer's Stone" to see what multi-millionaire writer J K Rowling has that I'm lacking (apart from the money).

What a disappointment. It was the same reaction I had to the hyped up ET of years ago.

Despite the progress in special effects over the past 60 years I still don't think it compares for enchantment with the wonderful 1930's "Wizard of Oz".

In fact the fun we had was making comparisons to bits of other films we could find in it -- including Oz, Hound of the Baskervilles, Gulliver, St Trinians, Indiana Jones, Superman, the Railway Children.

One saving grace was that it was almost swear free, but I certainly shan't bother watching the sequels. I thought adults were supposed to like it but I'm afraid it waved no magic spells for me.