Coronation Street's critics can say what they like, but the soap's story lines are always up to date with what's happening in the real world: the national census, which is causing problems for Norris Cole (should enumerators question their neighbours?); Alma Halliwell, a victim of belatedly-diagnosed cervical cancer, and Audrey Roberts and Curly Watts standing in the local council elections.

It was no surprise that Curly Watts, encouraged by friends and his - ambitious for him - police sergeant wife (seems irregular, a police officer involved in politics) would throw his hat into the local political arena, and typical of him going all out in his new role, with a house-to-house canvass of his ward.

It was Curly's and Emily Bishop's experience with the stuck doorbell, and the unfriendly response it drew from the disturbed householder that reminded me that door-to-door political canvassing is a dying practice.

During the 1997 General Election campaign Liberal Democrat Andrew Waller called at my home to introduce himself, but only after I had written to Dick Turpin about the non-appearance of candidates, or their literature, and that I wouldn't consider voting for anybody I hadn't seen in person, or on TV.

So, I was pleased to see pictures of York's three main political protagonists: Hugh Bayley (Lab), Michael McIntyre (Con) and Andrew Waller (Lib Dem) in a recent Evening Press article by Adam Nichols. There are three other candidates, including: The Monster Raving Loony Party's irrepressible Eddie Vee, of whom we've seen and heard a lot of late; and Bill Shaw of the Green Party which, I hope, has a manifesto which includes plans for a comprehensive scheme for the recycling of waste materials and a determined campaign to deal with our globe-threatening problem of pollution. If it has, it could win him at least one vote.

It must be about 20 years since anyone called to hear my views about national or local government manifestos. One long-past caller, who came to mind when I saw Curly canvassing, was a candidate's agent. In taking a short cut from my neighbour's house, and crossing in front of mine, he knocked over a planter of spring flowers. When I answered the doorbell he made no apology for his 'accident', but went on at length to tell me what the Conservative Party would do for me. I listened patiently until his punch line came: "Can we count on your support?" Glancing down at the upturned planter and the soil and flowers scattered in front of my house, I replied: "Not blooming likely! Goodbye!"

It's best to be straightforward with people - a quality politicians sometimes lack.

Regular readers may recall that before all the recent publicity about DVS (deep vein thrombosis), I drew attention to the need for more legroom in aircraft for economy class passengers.

When you're a 1.88 metres tall heavyweight, being stuck in a 'cheap seat' for 12 hours adds creeping paralysis to the boredom and terror of long-haul flights.

Research into the problem of sitting in constrictive seating for long periods, has resulted in the introduction of elasticised 'flight' socks, which can help circulation and reduce the danger of developing blood clots in your legs. Although we don't fly these days, Jean's osteoporosis makes her chair borne most of the time - rather like a flight to Hawaii every day - so I bought her some of these flight socks, which seem to do all that is claimed of them.

THE share price of airline Easyjet is said to be falling. If you have watched the television series Airline, which catalogues the "disasters" that befall its passengers - often deservedly - and the sometimes cavalier handling of their problems by the cut-price airline's staff, you will understand why.