HOW DO you deal with terrorism, vandalism and violence? Well I don't think it's by being tolerant.

Tolerance and understanding have been the buzz words for the past decade, but where has it got us?

As I was driving down the main road into Liverpool the other teatime, the shops had closed, and the entire street at ground level was shuttered and barricaded.

It was a blind alley! I thought it's a sad reflection on today's society when folk feel that they have to make a fortress out of their premises. It's just the same in areas of Blackburn and Preston.

Bus drivers are being issued with anti spit' kits; schools are asking teachers to consider searching for knives, and a report out this week shows schoolchildren are drinking to a frightening degree. Where have we gone wrong?

It comes back to the same thing, lack of discipline, God, I'm sounding like my mother.

But when school teachers started wearing jeans and saying Call me Jake', it all went to pot.

We all need parameters, need to know how far to go, children especially.

At the last election, there was a lot of talk about respect', so I asked Jack Straw what sanctions they would give to school teachers to help them get that respect.

He said Margo, we will have smaller classes, pre-school classes, parent teaching classes.' But Jack, that's not a sanction for the teachers I replied and he raised his eyes to heaven. Margo, there's no such thing as a magic wand.' Yes there is, it's called a cane. Now I'm not talking about beatings or thrashings, but just there as a deterrent. That, I'm afraid, ended the conversation.

So, in sparing the rod we may have spoiled a nation.

But not to worry, life has a way of making you look at, and appreciate all the good things and there are many.

It's just that I can't seem to think of them at the moment.

Worry, fear I've felt both many times but have gone on despite the thumping of my heart.

For my mum, you know the one, the one I'm beginning to sound like, always said Think of what you were worrying about last year at this time, bet you can't remember' and I couldn't, so, what's the point of worrying now? Just you get on with it.' Because some emotions like regret, worry, even grief are useless to wallow in for they can't, and don't, change anything.

But you can hopefully learn from them and move on. Here endeth the lesson.

On Saturday at Thwaites, cracking little theatre, I and the crowd were entranced, listening to lovely songs sung by the talented James Loynes. It was a great night, that lad should go far.

It's funny, years ago when going out for the evening my dad would say Don't forget. In by 11pm'.

Now that's when the youngsters are just setting out.

I'm wondering, is that the generation gap they talk about?