WALKING to and from school along Scarborough Road for all of my young school days, I expect I knew every inch of the road. Living at Park Cottage, just past Norton Parks, I was able to run home for my lunch. I doubt if there was much time to play about. That made four trips a day. Must have got some miles in over the years. The Brambling Fields lads and lasses stayed at school for lunch, as it was twice as far as I had to go, and I expect they took sandwiches, although I have no recollection of knowing how they got fed and watered. I wonder if they got a warm drink on a cold winter's day?

The reason I mention this is because I travelled along that road this week, taking a close look at the changes which have taken place in the lea of the railway bridge at Norton. Close by the council buildings, which if I remember rightly was the home of Mr and Mrs Abbott before its council days, was a row of small cottages, which due to the building of the railway bridge, were actually below the level of the main road at this point. In the first house lived the Ellis family, one at least of the boys was at school at the same time as myself, and another, whose first name I have forgotten, I met in Malton recently, and we had a chat about old days. Mrs Ellis I can 'see' to this day, a white-haired lady with an equally spotless white apron, as she came out of the house some mornings to watch her youngsters setting off for school. They were also spotless and well mannered, and remained so as long as I remember them. The name 'Kings Row' was mentioned to me, being the cottages we speak of, a name I didn't know, nor did I know that they got their name from a public house, somewhere nearby, called The King's Head. Several years ago, I was given a list of old pubs and ale-houses in Norton and Malton, but this one doesn't appear, only two being shown on Scarborough road. One was the Dog and Duck, near where I lived, on the site of which was a row of small cottages wherein lived Mrs Waddelow and her daughter Vera, and two Duggleby families - houses now long gone. Nearer Norton was the Balaclava, which had previously been named the Blue Bell, but I can't trace the King's Head. 'Spect someone will know.

I had to resort to a dictionary again in order to understand the first line of an article in this weeks Gazette & Herald, which read "A rapping robot ...". Now I'd heard the word 'rap' now and again, and assumed it was some sort of new 'music', but I was content to leave it at that. However, I find that 'rap' refers to the spoken word (hundreds of 'em) spoken against a background of 'music'. Not, I gather, the way it used to be, but from what I've heard as blaring radios, passing by in small motor cars, thunder out a hurried gabble trying to race the 'music' to the end. Neither winning, nor words, nor music deciphered. So that's 'rap'.

The A64 saga stumbles one - to dual or not to dual, and as for a few obvious improvements, like Rillington, I wonder why we should be so involved, or concerned, for the people who pass through our district on their way to the coast. The inconvenience and upheaval of major roadworks will be ours. Not for our own benefit, but so that people from just anywhere can go faster. Councils appear to be in favour of its upgrading - how will it benefit them? Or their constituents. Our local MP is in favour. For what reason? I don't seem to read of any good reason so far - in fact no reason, other than to get to the outskirts of the coastal towns faster, to join an even bigger back-up of traffic which can't disperse quick enough. Scarborough appears to think it will get more folk to visit - I suspect it will make a rod for its own back with bigger and better traffic jams. Money spent on the health service would be more sensible, for the more roads capable of carrying more vehicles simply end up full of them, and very soon we are back to square one.

Talking recently of Cambridgeshire Police nicking young WAAFS for cycling offences during the war reminded me of when I was in Barrow-in-Furness during the time the new aircraft carriers were being built (Indomitable and Indefagitable, I think). The Ack Ack defences were increased to protect them, the Vickers Works and the town. Serving in anti-aircraft at that time, we were located on Walney Island, where we had a busy time. Our troop officer had been round the sites during daytime, and Gnr Heaton, his driver, was bringing him back, chatting together as they drove along those quiet roads, when they were flagged down by a police car. Exceeding the speed limit was the charge. Doing 32mph in a 30mph area, and Heaton had to appear at court, where he was fine ten shillings.

No allowance for the fact that we were all on the same side. The PC came to our site the same night to apologise for pulling him up, saying that he wouldn't have done so had he been on his own, but he had his officer with him, and had to go through the correct procedure. They parted friends.

New word? "Intaxication" is euphoria at a tax rebate. It last until you realise that it was originally your money.

Updated: 12:12 Wednesday, December 17, 2003