I think most people here know I'm a Red in both sport and politics, so I thought I'd just stick to 3 things I, and you, know to be true.

I get so angry when I see every institution that were always just there, totally decimated. Doesn't matter where you look, many are just gone forever. It took 13 years to tear the lot down and, unless they raise taxes, it will take 30 years at least, to just get back to where we were.

So after my usual waffling here's the gripe I know you all will remember.

Back in 'our' day you could see the doctor same day, next day when it changed to appointments by phone. Ours were referred to as the three stooges, but how grateful I'd be for them now. They were doctors pure and simple, not business men.

Building houses. Remember when every parties general election promises included how many new houses they'd build? I have to say compared to todays house building those council houses were quality. You got mould in your house? The council came out and sorted it. Leaks, vermin, outside maintenance, communal landscaping, dodgy flags all sorted in what can now be called quick time by the council.

Public transport? I lived on Linacre Rd and you had no need to time the buses. You just stood at the bus stop and a bus would be along any minute. Ours was right by the phone box so we could have a mess on that pretending we had someone to ring. Needless to say in those far off halcyon days none of us had a landline phone. Now many uneconomical bus routes have been dumped, those that still exist run far less frequently, 1 an hour in many places.

Each generation is supposed to have it better than the one before, I feel so sorry for young families now. No more the wife going to work part time for pin money, nowadays it's full time and is a necessity.