SO parents are going to be entitled to flexi-time... Great idea. So great, in fact, that we should all have it. Parents, of course, need time off to fit in with children's schooling, illnesses, concerts, holidays

But do the rest of us not have lives to lead... repairmen to stay in for... dogs to take to the vets... aged parents to take to hospitals, or who need lunch and a bit of company? Or maybe in the dark days of winter we would just welcome the chance to enjoy what little bit of daylight there is.

Maybe it's time to re-think the whole idea of the working day. We are increasingly living in a 24-hour computerised society.

So why is a working day still thought of as nine to five? And why do so many of us still trail back and forth to work in offices?

I always thought it odd that years ago I was paid extra for working shifts. Paid extra to go shopping and swimming when hardly any one else was there, to travel on emptyish trains and buses and able to have long lunches or walks in the middle of the day? Definitely worth getting up at 4am for.

Some people, of course will always have to travel to work. Tricky to be a supermarket check-out girl from home.

On the other hand, customers can do their shopping from home. And a few years ago I read of a hotel which had a virtual receptionist - she was actually 200 miles or so away

Many office staff could probably work at home for at least one day a week - think what it would save on commuting time, temper and tights.

Many home-workers keep strict office hours, which seems a total waste of time. I'm writing this at midnight - but that's because I've been for a long lunch and a long icy, sunny, sparkly walk this week. And in between I've done the washing, prepared supper and tried to get the boys sorted out before the start of term.

Too many employers don't trust their workforce to work out of their supervision. Too many employees are too nervous to try it.

But a recent survey showed that many people would happily accept a cut in pay for the sake of flexible hours.

Most of us have to work for a living. But as long as the job is done, please let's have some choice over when we do it.

OF course we need new laws on guns and replicas but it's going to be hard to make them work.

Many years ago, when working in television, I had to return a prop to a specialist shop in the centre of Birmingham. The prop was a perfect replica of a machinegun.

Unthinking - these were more innocent times and I was too young to know any better - I walked through the centre of Birmingham cradling a machine gun in my arms.

Wow!

People just melted out of my path. Mothers snatched their children, old men sheltered in doorways, young men backed up against the safety of a wall. And I walked on through the suddenly empty city centre.

The sense of power was extraordinary. I was a pretty lowly cog in a TV world, but suddenly everyone was taking notice of me. Respectful notice. I could probably make them do anything I wanted. That is a very heady drug.

Once tasted, it's hard to see how anyone would give it up lightly - even under the threat of a five year prison sentence.

PRINCE Charles has many great qualities, says a lot of sensible things and does a lot of good work.

He also acts like a spoilt brat.

Unable to open a window at a friend's house, he smashed it. When it was repaired and he still hadn't mastered the catch, he apparently smashed it again. Very grown up. Don't know if he did it the third time - maybe his friends never asked him back again.

His latest smashing trick has been to hurl the Highgrove china to the floor - apparently in a paddy because he was voted fourth in the Today list of people we most want to deport. Is he surprised?

The very least we expect of our rulers is that they behave like grown-ups - and if the prince is going to start acting like a toddler in a tantrum, then maybe it's time the Highgrove dinner table was laid with spill proof mugs and plastic plates.

There might even be a Mr Grumpy range.

ANOTHER set of chain letters is going the rounds.

If you're scared of breaking the chain and getting bad luck - send them to me. Then you're safe and I'll risk it.

Another version offers untold riches to those of you prepared to send £10 to a stranger and then send 200 letters to 200 more strangers.

I've yet to hear of anyone who's made any money this way. And those most likely to be tempted are those least likely to afford it.

So if you've got a tenner to spare - send it to charity, send it to me, stuff it down a drain - and at least save yourself the expense of those 200 stamps.

ATHINA Onassis will be 18 this month and will inherit nearly £3bn.

Gulp.

She has been brought up by her father who has said he tried to give her as "normal" an upbringing as possible - which included armed guards and a private jet. Just like the rest of us, really.

And Athina seems to have something about her, is a fiercely competitive show jumper and is apparently training with the Greek Olympic team - encouraged, no doubt, by romance with a fellow team member.

But her father has been accused of living off his daughter. Her boyfriend has been accused of being after her money. Her mother died unhappy and alone.

We'd all like a bit more dosh - especially for our children. But considering the problems Athina's money is already bringing, maybe you can honestly say that you can have too much of a good thing. And be thankful that our children will have to make their own way in the world.

Not such a good idea, m'lud

THE Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, doesn't think people will mind that first time or even second time burglars won't go to prison.

If alternative remedies worked, then maybe they wouldn't. But until then...

At least when a first or second time burglar is in prison, he's not out doing his third or fourth time burglaries.

Published: 08/01/2003