THEY do say time flies when you are having fun. Well I must be having fun, well I must be having a lot of it, because every time I turn round it's weekend, and here we are, almost at the longest day.

And I feel that I have only just got over Christmas.

I have been in London this week at a 'big do' at the, now wait for the name dropping bit, The Dorchester.

It was a very grand affair -- The Publicans and Brewers Centenary Celebration dinner.

Andrew Marr from the BBC was the guest speaker, a nice chap.

I keep reading about 'Smart London' but the majority of folk look like poor students on a foreign gap year.

I felt a little overdressed until the taxi driver said it was such a change to see a woman looking like one. I resisted the urge to ask 'like one what?' but thanked him for the thought.

Lots of tourists were in town for the Queen's Birthday, celebrated by the trooping of the colour.

Ceremonies like that always stir me. The guards, always smart, the horses, the crowds, and of course the massed bands, marching so precisely. Let's face it, nobody does like we do. I love brass bands and have to resist the urge to fall in behind, to strut and swing my arms. Brass band music has a strong effect; can move me to tears so I can fully understand men following them into battle.

Seeing all the England flags on the cars, and outside the pubs, and I can't help thinking, if all these men feel so strongly, so patriotic about England, why did they not fly their flags on St George's Day? It can't just be football, can it?

I really liked it when we had the seasons, winter with the football to look forward to, then long summer afternoons with cricket. Now it's all one long football season.

I keep waiting for the lads to get fed up with it but there doesn't seem to be any signs of it yet.

Perhaps I'm out of touch but to see grown men in football shirts, when by their figures you can plainly see they couldn't run to catch a bus never mind a ball, is to say the least a little sad.

It's a funny thing but football seems to have taken over people's lives. Churches are being asked to have their services early so folk can get home in time to watch the match. Shops are full of special stuff to eat, to wear, to drink, to decorate your car, bedroom, front garden. Nothing and no-one is safe, not even that sacred cow Coronation Street. Football!

How we despise mercenaries, you know those men that fight for whichever country will pay them the most, but footballers who do the very same thing are idolised.

I do feel a little more comfortable that I can be proud if England win knowing that the players are all English and are playing for their country.

I mean how can you have pride in a team consisting of men just playing for the highest bidder?

Don't they have a name for women who do that sort of thing, just can't bring it to mind at the moment, but I'm sure it will come back to me.

Till next week.