The Euro's in, which may trouble the pound; the second millennium's almost over; another crisis in the Middle East; unrest in South Africa; Terry Venables may take over the England soccer team, but the Express (January 3) front page leads with: Blair children miss new term. Hardly headline stuff.

Of course, most of us expect those in high office should set good examples, but if there is genuine governmental concern about children taking holidays during school term time, the 'School Board men', could do no better than station themselves at main UK airports.

In September and October, Manchester Airport was heaving with school-age children waiting to jet off to Florida and other far-off holiday spots.

Still, I shouldn't complain, it could be worse. Robert Benchley once observed: "In America there are only two classes of travel: first class, and with children."

Bryan Marlowe,

Otterwood Lane,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.