SPECTATOR wonders what Blue Watch make of the new fire chief in County Durham.

To be more precise, we are talking about the new chief executive of the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority.

Executive is the key word, for Susan Johnson is a manager rather than a fireman or woman. She used to be head of business development at the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, and chief executive of the Northern Business Forum. As a holder of an MBA from Durham University, her background is rather more strategic management than running up ladders, extinguishing dangerous fires or rescuing cats from trees.

Chief fire officers, traditionally, used to be respected as firefighters as well as managers.

The appointment breaks the mould in a more profound way than simply being the first woman to head a fire service in this country.

We wish her luck, but hope she can at least handle the office fire extinguisher.

Hot stuff

Passion was the key word at all the launches of the North-East's new image strategy held around the region over the last two weeks.

Invited audiences of the great and good, including Spectator (who is neither great nor good, of course) were urged to be Passionate about north east england. Which we are happy to be.

On departure, guests were handed a goody bag full of branded paraphernalia such as glossy campaign brochures and advertisements, mouse mats, scribble pads, shopping bags and ... a little tin of peppermints.

These look pretty innocuous until one was popped into the mouth. The peppermint was more like chilli mint.

Hot stuff indeed, it certainly made Spectator sit up and take notice.

Cottage closed

Perhaps Spectator is nave but it seems strange in a world where sex seems to be available in all shapes and forms from so many different sources that public toilets in Thirsk have to be partially closed because of the problem of "cottaging" - an almost quaint phrase for a gay sexual rendezvous.

Has the sexual revolution (not sure which one, mind) passed the town by?

Tasty meal

The sign spotted outside the Golden Boat Chinese restaurant in the former Romanby Court premises just off Northallerton High Street read: "As mush as you can eat for £11.95."

Mmm, sounds absolutely lovely.