I OFTEN see graffiti in my area by the local "young team". This raises a particularly interesting question, at least in my mind - how old do you have to be before you get kicked out of the young team? Is there an age limit?

"Sorry, mate - you're 21 now. I think it's time for you to move on. And give us back that can of spray paint." Leave your rationality at M&S's door

NEW York's delis and fast food shops are world-renowned. But nothing quite prepares you for a visit to M&S.

I popped into the Byres Road store the other day to grab something quick for lunch, and left with a "super wholefoods salad with a basil and mint vinaigrette", a probiotic yogurt smoothie, a bakery cheese roll, freshly squeezed lemonade and spinach and ricotta ravioli.

Suckered in by the beautiful, food, I was now £8 poorer.

I know I shouldn't be taken in by M&S and their overpriced grub, but that place is enchanted.

The produce looks perfect - bright, colourful, perfectly packaged and never mis-shapen. You wouldn't think rational people would pay £1.20 for approximately five evenly-sliced pieces of mango, but they will. I have.

Even their microwave meals sound posh. I abhor ready meals, yet even I can be tempted by anything described as having a "wildflower honey and garlic glaze" or a "cheesy garlic butter centre."

You can only really enjoy Marks & Spencer if you leave your rationality at the door.

After all, this is a food fantasy-land where four apples can cost £2.99, vegetables come pre-cut into perfect shapes and yogurt isn't just yogurt, but Madagascan vanilla yogurt.

I'm never rational when I'm hungry.

You never see any graffiti by a "20-somethings team" or "middle-aged mob". This makes me think that defacing public property loses its appeal with age.

Still, for every former young team member who gives up graffiti, it seems there are plenty of kids eager to take their place.

I have a favour to ask of the young teams - if you're going to continue to graffiti my neighbourhood, can you please try to be a bit more creative?

I can appreciate graffiti that has some sort of artistic merit, but scrawling your tags onto the bus shelter? Please - my granny could do that.

If you absolutely HAVE to vandalise the area, I'd prefer it if you put a little more artistic effort into your creations. Try to make a nice picture. Or, if drawing isn't your speciality, how about making a political statement?

And no, "F.T. Polis" does not count as a political statement!

THE Glasgow Canal Regeneration Partnership recently revealed plans to rejuvenate the Forth and Clyde Canal between Maryhill and Port Dundas.

The area is currently run-down , but they hope to turn it into a "Little Venice" with new homes, cafes and shops.

While I admire their bold vision, I have a hard time imagining Maryhill, where I live, as a "Little Venice". Will the canal fill up with gondolas? Will residents be able to commute to work by water bus instead of the No 40 bus?

I'd never walked along the canal before reading about the regeneration plan, even though the path runs by my old workplace. I once mentioned to a co-worker that I was thinking about taking the canal path to work, and he told me about the time he saw a ned with a hammer while cycling there. "He wasn't building anything," he said, darkly. I decided to stay away from the canal - after all, no one wants to confront a ned with a blunt object before teatime. I decided to stick to the bus!

With my boyfriend Adrian along for protection, I finally decided to visit the towpath last week. It was easy to see the canal's potential - the area is beautiful. Still, on some of the quieter stretches we never felt entirely safe.

The Glasgow Canal Regeneration Partnership certainly have their work cut out for them.