1806.29 YOU SHALL GO TO THE BALL

Proms are a relatively new phenomenon in the UK, a product of the American influence of TV and films. Prior to 2000 you might be lucky to have a bit of a school disco to mark the end of your school life. I didn't get anything - I remember just walking out of school after my last exam, never to return.

Both my daughters have had the privilege of the prom experience.

1802.04 DISCOVERING NEW TV

When I was a kid we had 3 television channels and the only reason people had kids were to get up and change the channel for them.

Television, some say, is having a bit of a renaissance at the moment. Some of the best screen entertainment can be found on the little glowing box in the corner of the room (Ok, I accept that there's not much about modern TVs that are little or boxlike these days, the corner isn't the most common place for them either).