WELL that is good news, just the very thing I have been waiting for. We are now free to have sex in a public toilet, that is providing you close the door, I wonder is that the same closet door everyone has been coming out of lately?

The Government is so good at giving the freedoms we don't need.

Have we got the freedom of speech? I don't think so. There are lots of things I would love to say, but will 'they' let me. Not on your Nellie. Why Margo, they say, that might hurt someone's feelings. But what about my feelings? They hurt because I can't say what I would like, what I feel needs saying.

I was at a meeting the other day, about the regeneration of Blackburn. I said we have to accept the fact we re a two community town and this should stop. We should not be talking about community leaders like we are in two different towns, we should be talking about 'the' community.

I really feel if the town is to stop deteriorating, as I feel it is, we must first of all make a big effort to bring the two halves of the town together, it won't be easy. There is a lot of suspicion on either side. But it must be done.

Making Whalley Range into a bright attractive, open 'Asian experience' where folk from other towns would come to buy silks, spices and other goodies, that would be a start.

There would have to be additional attractions. We must give the folk from out of town a reason to come here. Oh, hell! I think I must have been on too many debate shows lately, I'm starting to think and talk like a politician and that won't do at all.

I HAD lunch the other day at the De Tabley, a really nice affair, It was a 'do' to raise money for the 'Grant a Wish' charity, they raise money in order that terminally ill children get a last wish, some of the stories they told were sad yet in a way, happy.

The children it seems accept, and the granting of a wish gives the whole family a get-together. The chance of a great time and to store up a lot of happy memories.

DO any of you out there have old photos of Blackburn Carnival? Why did it stop? I remember when the Beverly Hillbillies were a big favourite on telly. We had a float the 'Jubilee Gill Billies' I bought an old Model T Ford and the lads up at Thwaites did us proud by making a Grandma Clampett's Cabin on the back of a brewery wagon, I was Ellie May. The banners said things like 'there's gold in them thar tills.' Need I say we won.

Another year we did the town's tops, that was the year Lionel Morton and the Four Pennies had their big hit 'Juliet.' The parade lined up at the fire station and I think the judging was done there.

Then through the town and down to Witton Park. Was it run by the Lion's or the town I can't recall? But I remember I enjoyed it. At that time we still had waiter and waitresses in the pub, Albert, Monica and Mavis.

The piano room would be full by 7.30pm, and Lilly playing all the latest hits. Its funny a rather nice gentleman came up to me the other day and said 'Do you remember me? I'm your Mr Wonderful, you used to sing that to me.' I felt quite chuffed that I'd made him feel special, especially considering I sang it to a pub full of people very weekend. Happy days.