WELL, it looks as though it's going to be war after all.

And all I can think of is those bright-faced young soldiers - young men the same age as my sons, soft-skinned lads like the ones I see at Tesco in Catterick, all dressed up in uniform like hard men, but buying sweets and pop like little boys. Young girls who can almost melt away all your feminist equality principles because the uniform - those boots - just look so big on them.

Cherie Blair cried at the thought of her son at university in Bristol.

Let's hope for the sake of all those other sons and daughters who've been biding their time in the desert, that once it starts, they can be in quickly, do what they have to, and get out and home again soon. And that their mothers have no cause for tears.

BACK in late summer of 1939, my mother was on holiday when war was declared.

"How on earth could you go on holiday knowing what might happen?" I asked often.

But now I understand. Pages and pages of newsprint, arguments, discussions still never convince us that there is actually going to be any fighting - and how much more so in 1939 when it was so much closer to home.

My mother went swimming and dancing. We watch Cold Feet. It's called ordinary life. And presumably it's part of what the war is meant to preserve.

ORDINARY Iraqis meanwhile, are doing their best to get out of their country. Those who are staying are busy hoarding petrol, candles, basic foodstuffs.

But if, God forbid, war would ever come to our doorstep, what would we hoard?

According to the latest retail price index our shopping baskets are short on bags of rice and sacks of flour. Instead we live more on takeaway burgers, kebabs and even caffe latte to go. No wonder the price index also includes slimming aids and health club membership.

Buying instant food and ready meals, not even making your own coffee is fine, as long as we retain the ability to make our own if the need ever came. In case of war, for instance. If a generation has grown up used to buying even their sandwiches ready-made, what chance of them making their own bread?

Back in the 1940s, the index included sewing machines and unskinned rabbits - not to pamper and pet but to make a nice pie from.

Now, according to other research this week, rabbits are one of our most popular pets, and so doted on, that many of them are seriously overweight.

Could be useful.

Happy birthday, Guru

AMAZINGLY, this totally idiosyncratic shop in the centre of Darlington is 30 years old next week - we hope to mark the occasion with them in a bit more detail soon.

But in the meantime, they are celebrating by holding a raffle in aid of St Teresa's Hospice. Tickets at £1 each are on sale at Guru from now until Sunday, March 30, in aid of the Giving to Life Beds Appeal.

For regular customers, buying a raffle ticket is better than sending a card.

And if you've never been in the shop, this is your perfect opportunity - pop in, say hello and buy a ticket.

THE death of Thora Hird at the age of 91, having worked until she was 90, reminds us to quote again one of her sayings.

"It's not being old that stops you doing things," she said. "It's stopping doing things that makes you old."

And as she was winning acting awards until well until her 80s, I think she knew what she was talking about.