I CONTINUE to read with waning interest about William Straw, son of Home Secretary Jack Straw, and how his life will carry on regardless.

What has annoyed me is the opinion of so many people who have written into newspapers both locally and nationally saying how widespread the use of cannabis is.

One cheeky writer even said the whole thing was a stitch-up and if you ask any 17-year-old in Blackburn, they will supply you with the pot you need.

Sorry, but I don't think so.

We have people working on this newspaper who are in their teens, and they have felt no need to take weed to enjoy themselves.

Drink themselves stupid maybe, but not take drugs.

Wake up and realise this - cannabis is a problem, but there are plenty of level-headed youngsters who know better. I WAS up in Newcastle just before Christmas doing a spot of Christmas shopping at the Metro centre.

I let my better half decide what was best and went to have a look around Newcastle, a town I like for some reason (I could be a surrogate Geordie, perish the thought).

Fortunately, I was able to get into the Newcastle vs Arsenal game with a couple of friends from my university days - both Geordies with vocal chords to match.

It was the ultimate sense of de ja vu as I looked around the ground.

Shay Given, Alan Shearer (hobbling around the touchline), David Batty, Kenny Dalglish - it was like seeing Rovers playing in Black and White, except for the fact the crowd were a lot livlier and for once I was able to enjoy a cup of Bovril without little bits of paper falling into it as is the norm in the Blackburn End. LET'S talk about women. Not famous women, but your average woman.

This issue came to light as I enjoyed a break with one of the staff in the fag room.

He was having problems with his girlfriend, who just wouldn't tell her previous boyfriend to shove off. Yet, when he dared to buy another girl a drink in a nightclub (and a girl he worked with at that), his bird flew off the handle. It may seem amusing at first, but it sums up a real problem.

In this day of equality, women can jump behind the banner of sexism and such like at the drop of a hat.

Yet they don't always give the bloke a fair deal.

Men have to do all the giving and aren't getting anything in return.

Women will have to learn they can't wear the trousers and keep the skirt in reserve.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.