MRS DOREEN Whitehead, who runs the Hagues' favourite B and B near the far end of Swaledale, came over as a wonderfully warm character with a full share of good Yorkshire common sense when interviewed for a full-page feature in a national daily.

The interview was conducted in Mrs Whitehead's kitchen as she prepared dinner and the journey there had, said the reporter, involved a drive "up a narrow, winding path for 29 miles".

Well, the humble B6270 may wind round the foot of hills and twist across bridges and look like a path compared with the M25 or even Western Avenue, but it is metalled, can boast the odd bit of white lining, and has proper road signs.

Charitably, Spectator will assume it was the figurative "path to her door" rather than metropolitan condescension which dictated the choice of word.

Mayor's in luck

IN what should be a good omen for her year of office, the mayor of Darlington, Coun Isobel Hartley, won a raffle prize on Saturday. Delighted, she claimed she had "broken her duck" of never holding a lucky ticket.

Fortunately for Coun Hartley, she was attending a local fund-raising event simply as a private individual. As mayor, she would have been asked to make the draw and, having pulled out her own ticket, might well have felt courtesy demanded that she say: "Draw it again."

Stay away

There's plenty of time yet, of course, but Spectator cannot recall a previous election when somebody has not called to canvass his vote.

A couple of leaflets have been pushed through the front door but those doing the foot-slogging appear almost apologetic at intruding. As well they might given that this general election must rank as one of the most terminally boring Spectator has had to witness. Only six more days to go...