There are many great parks in the world - though none apart from Paisley spring to mind at the moment - but there is only one 'doggy Park in Royton. Earlier today Olivia joined us on a visit to one of Daddy's old stomping grounds, scene of many a cherry picking - and also the odd BMX trick - and where, one hot summer night circa 1985, fresh from a screening of Electric Boogaloo at Rochdale Cinema, I threw myself at a piece of lino and attempted to breakdance. Seminal moments all.

Conisdering the enormous build up i'd given the place as one of the mythical, magical shrines of my youth, Cath was seriously underwhelmed by what she encountered, and indeed was moved to wonder if the 'doggy in the title was a reference to Collymore-esque shenanigans that go on there after dark. For the record, it's not, nor is it a reference to the infamous love that dare not woof its name that passed between a certain A. Bonnello and a passing dog (canine variety).

Thankfully, as the picture attests, Olivia was was far more smitten, and it was clear that she could feel the aura of the place. Sadly, much of the original park has been ripped out, presumably to rid the place of the menace of feral youths hanging around woth nothing better to do than practise BMX tricks and molest innocent mongrels. Even the infamous Big Slide, which once stood to the left of Olivia's head (just in this picture, not all the time) is no more. Sic transit gloria mundi, as i remember remarking to Phil Ball as he helped me up from another hapless attempt at a back spin.