ONE OF the high spots of writing a weekly column is when readers stop me in the street, shake my hand and say 'keep up the good work'.

But I'm not always right, sometimes I get things terribly wrong and I've been promising to come clean and admit it.

Well what better time for a cleansing of the soul than Christmas?

Some years ago I said a certain lady councillor looked like Deirdre Barlow's mother, Blanche, in Coronation Street.

I thought it was funny but she didn't and chased me out of the town hall. It was an ungallant remark (but a striking resemblance).

Worse still was my comparison of the proprietor of a well-known Macclesfield delicatessen to roly-poly comedienne Jo Brand.

She was not best pleased. I apologise here and now for my insensitivity. (She did make fantastic sandwiches).

Mrs B has been the butt of many of my stories and my day of reckoning came when a grey-haired old dear stopped me in Chestergate and asked if I was 'that chap that writes them stories'.

When I nodded she whacked me over the head with her umbrella. 'That's for being rude to your wife,' she snapped, before shuffling off into the Grosvenor Centre.

Luddite

I never should have pulled that radio stunt in Poynton when I told everyone the council had instituted a Kitty-Cat Curfew and all cats found outdoors in daylight would be clamped (by fastening a lead boot to one paw).

Some Poynton cats were locked indoors for days on end.

When Labour Councillor Steve Carter made a fuss about the placement of another new mobile phone mast I called him a Luddite.

Time and public concern has proved me wrong. Mr Carter is one of our best councillors and I apologise.

I was wrong about Sutton councillor Hilda Gaddum. Far from being an intransigent dyed-in-the-wool Tory, Mrs Gaddum has proved to be a courageous lady who doesn't hesitate to challenge authority of any persuasion; in fact just my kind of politician. Sorry, Hilda.

Chief planning officer Peter Yates has taken enormous flak over the years, some of it from me.

But while others have come and gone, he has resided in the area for 20 odd years.

There has been no hit and run tactics from Mr Yates, he's worked and lived alongside any decisions he's made.

His commitment to the borough deserves to be acknowledged.

I apologise profusely for blowing-up Macclesfield Town Hall live on breakfast radio.

The station received lots of complaints about that (especially when listeners found out I hadn't actually done it).

The Dog Dirt Commando trick in Wilmslow was a big mistake. I caused panic when I appeared in Grove Street aiming a cardboard flame-thrower at passing pooches.

Telling traders at Chelford Market the Human Rights Act demanded they should price all their produce in Japanese yen to avoid discrimination laws didn't go down too well either.

I wrote a lot about Alderley councillor Frank Keegan, which proved totally incorrect, and even more about Councillor Brendan Murphy, which didn't. Coun Murphy is a genuine man of the people and I welcome his return to the council chamber.

Apologies are due to Macclesfield MP Sir Nick Winterton for not writing about him enough, and to Police Commander Penny Wilson for writing about her too often.

Ghost

Sir Nick is like the Holy Ghost; he's everywhere. Maybe we should ask him to join the police? Sir Nick would turn up before you had chance to put down the phone.

I made another mistake in heralding the opening of the bus station.

How was I to know it would prove unsuitable for buses or that Arriva drivers wouldn't be able to find it without a map?

I was totally wrong to believe anything the town hall ever told me about plans for a Macclesfield cinema.

It's no nearer now than it was years ago. I was also wrong to say I wouldn't pay the council with washers. I would.

I apologise sincerely to the anonymous person I described as a 'an old slapper'. It was meant in jest, I never thought anyone would identify with my comments. Sorry.

Finally I'd like to apologise to anyone who wrote to me and didn't receive a reply. I do try to give attention to each and every letter.

If you contact me by e-mail I promise I will definitely reply. It's by far the quickest way to communicate. If you don't have a computer ask someone who does to write your e-mail for you and I'll respond in a trice.

I think that's enough self-flagellation for now.