When I was asked to write a guest column my first thought was how could I ever live up to such a high standard? Then I thought start with a grovelling comment and add a name drop, or two.

I was fortunate to attend the launch on Thursday of the city's newest attraction, Dig, at St Saviours church. Billed as an archaeological adventure it was opened by father and son team Peter and Dan Snow.

They of course present battlefield-based programmes and I have to say their enthusiasm for history is not only reserved for TV.

What a couple of great guys who had a lot of time for everyone present.

History is often portrayed as a boring subject but it's thanks to people like them it becomes the fun subject that it really is. (Yes I realise that was another creep).

I've just heard a story about a guy called Leon (sorry didn't catch his surname), who has just finished recording a documentary for ITV. In it he was given a route around Britain starting and ending in London. He was only allowed £5 to spend each day on travel, food and somewhere to put his head.

No surprise in learning that London, Glasgow and Cardiff all featured low in his list of helpful cities. York, while not winning (we came second to Kendal) was highly praised as being "happily rejectful". Apparently he spent three hours here with nobody doing anything positive but being so nice about saying "Sorry, wish we could help".

I would be interested to know if anyone remembers turning down Leon's requests. I can best describe him as a bald cockney. This, of course, does not refer to late-night kebab wagon incidents.

It's a wonder we don't crack up with all we have to worry about. On a national scale there's bird flu (although I have it on good authority that one pub has taken a positive step by banning hen parties).

In York, we have more parking issues than most: if it's not the costs or the wardens it's the lines themselves, first in the wrong place, then the wrong colour.

Now it's the city's most famous flowers: where are the daffs?

While there are many theories regarding their demise (namely the weather) Mrs Debenham, a landlady from Farndale, has reported that many people are staying away until the daffs arrive.

This got me thinking, what if the same were to happen here? York would be lost without it's much-needed influx of tourists. Then it struck me, we are the city of festivals - surly the council could fund a project that involves the mass production (probably by local children) of pretend daffodils.

These could then be placed at strategic points such as Clifford's Tower and the Bar Walls to replenish our depleting numbers.

So that's my idea, The York daffodil festival. Hands up who wants to help?

Finally, my father was questioned and appeared in last Thursday's Press with his opinion on obese children. He commented that it was the responsibility of parents to see their children ate properly. Can I mention that every time my kids go round they are force fed crisps, cakes, sausage rolls, sweets... its one rule for grandparents and another for the rest!

Updated: 09:41 Monday, March 27, 2006