SOME domestic habits might seem slightly strange!

In our house Madam opens the mail...even when the correspondence is clearly addressed to the ol' sailor.

Last week, she smiled while opening a small hand-written envelope: "Looks like an early Valentine Card from one of your trollops!"

The card was unsigned so I've no idea who sent it and anyway, not being an international golfer or a premier league footballer, I don't know any trollops.

The brief message inside informed me I was wrong about the late Frank Pearce's book-signing, "It took place in Brixham, not Paignton... and I have a photograph to prove it."

Oops! Although having reached the age where some events fade into a foggy horizon, I was pretty sure my meeting with the historian had taken place in Paignton. Some days later, Matthew Clarke, owner of the Torbay Bookshop confirmed that Mr Pearce did, in fact, have a signing in his shop and yes, he remembers me being there. Bingo! So Mr, Mrs or Miss unsigned card-sender, I'm delighted you have photographic evidence of Mr Pearce signing his book in Brixham but truth is the literary gentlemen also did a signing in Paignton!

But thanks for the pretty card and I'm sure, whoever you are, you're, not a trollop! Happy Valentine's Day!

ON A wild blustery night about 200 people ventured towards Brixham's Community College, hoping for a question and answer debate regarding the development of sites within the Berry Head peninsula ... and they were so disappointed.

Jim Portus did an able job as chairman but the 'top table' was sadly void of developers or planners.

After a gentleman called Robin defined an 'area of outstanding natural beauty' local businessman Nick Griggs outlined his plans to create a small eco-resort within the old MOD area at Berry Head.

On paper, the eight buildings appeared to be top-of-the-range executive accommodation and ultra eco-friendly, but the frustrated audience displayed certain reluctance to the development.

I'm sure Mr Griggs' proposed self-catering buildings, for holiday rentals only, will attract the type of visitor who would really appreciate the historic qualities of this quiet West Country port.

However, what the residents wanted to learn about was the future use of areas such as Wall Park, Riviera Bay Camp and fields off Centry Road for possible housing.

That information was not forthcoming!

Les Crump, Torbay planning officer (sitting in the audience) gave his honest assessment of any future plans as he saw them. If I read his message correctly, Mr Crump pointed out that, like many local authorities, Torbay was restrained by the powers of Parliament.

Ministers have hinted that if Torbay wants financial assistance to construct the Kingskerswell by-pass, Torquay Town Hall extension and other sections of 'The Vision' then they must erect 20,000 new houses within the next 10 years.

Mr Crump argued that even if that figure was halved, Brixham's share of 'new-build' would be somewhere in the region of 2,000 to 3,000 new homes.

He agreed that while land might (just) be available, roads, medical aid, sewerage and other infrastructure requirements would be a community nightmare.

The simple facts of life are that Brixham is in no position to expand beyond the present boundaries and no amount of juggling or demands from those duffers 'up-London' will change the situation.

As the meeting closed we all headed for home in the pouring rain, muttering and mumbling against the 'madness' of politicians.

YOU sometimes write what seems to make perfect sense and no one responds.

Make one silly mistake and the phone doesn't stop ringing.

Many years ago, a former deputy editor explained — perhaps when I was feeling somewhat despondent — 'multiply the letters and phone calls you receive by 10 and that's the number of regular readers you have!'

This week I received three phone calls, so, according to Mike's statistics 30 people read this column.

Last week's silly mistake concerned the ex-Paignton Harbourmaster, whose name is of course Keith Foster not Pete.

It was just one of those crazy senior moments for which there's no logical explanation.

While Keith was chatting to me from Brittany I'd even jotted down, 'Pete'...don't ask me why!

The confused week didn't end there; during the England vs Wales rugby match on TV I called my lady Wilko — and had to move quickly before receiving a good kicking, but that's absolutely no interest to 30 or so readers!

HOW'S this for upside-down logic!

We're continuously told tourism is Torbay's greatest asset. I tremble to think of the amount of council tax revenue spent on television advertising and internet publicity, not to mention consultants pushing the wonders of Torbay.

We're also regularly informed that part of the Mayor's Vision is to promote the splendour of Torbay's tourist facilities.

Up until now, visitors seeking information about accommodation, events or places of interest to visit, called (in their thousands) to the Tourist Information Offices in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.

The Tourist Centre on the quay at Brixham is a friendly information centre and it's rare to pass the building without people streaming in or out the door or studying the notice boards outside.

Only last year, when plans were under consideration to turn the Old Fish Market building into a fancy upmarket pub-cum-restaurant, Torbay Council stated, loud and clear, that the Tourist Office would remain in situ. Or until a suitable building could be found to house this important office.

And here we are, only a few months on, and because of a 'change in contractual policy', the Tourist Office on Brixham quay will cease to exist.

Without a centre, not only will conscientious personnel be out of a job, but Mr and Mrs 'Birmingham' will stumble around the quay pondering, 'where're the best places to eat?', 'which boat do we use to catch the best fish?','what road do we take to explore the splendid coastline?'

Or, maybe in future they'll just say, 'let's return to Brum and next year head for Tenerife!

What price the 'vision' Mr Mayor?