Cross-Country trains ran smoothly yesterday whisking me to and from Leicester where I met a fantastically enthusiastic bunch of Year 6 pupils at Whitehall Primary School.

The plan is for them to become commentators and journalists covering football matches, school events and ultimately a scalextric race meeting they host in the school hall. We will agree the details with them nearer the time.

I am pleased to report this is a further example of how the apparently aimless fooling around we do can transform itself into something useful.

James