But before my holiday had even started I saw something which made me extremely unhappy and also extremely cross.

There was a large map on the wall at Manchester Airport and, idling away time after checking in, I began to study various areas on the map, finding places I had never even heard of. And then, of course, I looked for Israel.

It wasn't there. Or rather it was certainly there, but it wasn't named.

The names that were on the map included Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. But, according to this map, Israel didn't exist. I stood there gobsmacked.

Usually, when I see something wrong - particularly if it concerns Israel - I protest because I agree with the saying "evil persists when good men do nothing".

As I take this to include good women too, I try to do something positive to have things put right.

But I was at a total loss on this occasion.

To whom could I complain? Certainly not to any of the busy airport staff going about their duties.

It wasn't their fault and they wouldn't have been able to help in any way.

Even if I were to find out who was the head honcho of the airport and write to him, I very much doubt that he would accept any responsibility for the map, which I imagine has been issued to many of the airports across the country.

So I felt helpless. But I thought I would mention this offensive map in case other people come across it, feel as I do, and have any ideas as to what - if anything - can be done about it.

Web is mixed blessing

I HAVE always felt that the Internet was a mixed blessing.

In its very early days Granada's managing director David Plowright dubbed it "the information highway of the future," and I agree that as a fact-finding medium it is absolutely invaluable.

But did anybody ever envisage that there could be a downside to the Internet?

I now read that a recent study has found that half of all children spend up to five hours a day sitting in front of their screens, not necessarily gleaning information but playing on their games consoles, texting to their friends or going on social networking sites such as Facebook.

The result is that many parents feel that children no longer value spending quality time with them, and which mum or dad wants to feel second-best to an Xbox?

Then there is the potential threat of obesity as a result of the children spending so much time remaining sedentary - usually munching a bagful of crisps or some other calorific snack instead of being outside in the open air playing football or some other healthy sport.

But worst of all is the menace of paedophiles who use the net to groom young children, and that seems to be a growing problem.

As I said, the Internet is indeed a very mixed blessing . . .

Sad song for Amy

THE thing about being Jewish is that we tend to glow with pride when one of our co-religionists achieves something worthwhile, is recognised in the Queen's Honours List or does something which earns respect from the wider community.

Unfortunately, the reverse is true. When someone Jewish is involved in something unsavoury or acts disgracefully, we all feel embarrassment and shame, particularly when the culprit has an obviously Jewish name.

Amy Winehouse is the perfect example. I shuddered when I read that the troubled songbird, in spite of receiving treatment for her addictions, is clearly hitting the bottle again.

She is reported to have stumbled on stage an hour late for her concert in Belgrade. She mumbled her songs and kept disappearing off stage.

And an angry audience booed her because she was just too drunk to perform properly. Amy, you have let us down again.

And as for your poor family, I can only begin to guess how they must feel.

Back to The Priory for you . . .

Checkout for cheques

WERE you as infuriated as I was to learn that the powers-that-be want to wean us off our longstanding and very convenient system of payment by cheque?

Instead, they want us all to make payments online.

Why, after so many years, are we threatened with cheque deprivation?

One reason I heard was that the banks claim that they make a loss every time they process a cheque.

Forgive me for being a little short on sympathy, but could these be the same banks that got us into the financial mess?

Instead of putting the banks' needs first, can't we give a little more consideration to the needs of their customers?

If you took a poll you would find that most people, particularly the elderly, would opt for a cheque book every time.

Gifts a thing of the past

I DO applaud the growing trend for people celebrating simchas to ask their friends and family not to send them presents but to make a donation to a favourite charity instead.

Many people - particularly golden wedding celebrants - have, over their lifetime, acquired all the things they need and they don't want any more ornaments to dust or plants to find room for.

They might put on a brave face, force out a seemingly grateful "thank you so much" or "how kind of you", but deep down inside they might well be thinking, "This I need like a loch in kop".

So it makes perfect sense to have your celebration marked by even a very small gift of money that will help a deserving cause and enhance the lives of both the needy recipients and the celebrants who will have the satisfaction of knowing that, because of them, a mitzvah has been performed.

So long, all, and thanks

AS Midge Ure famously put it: "We all like a pat on the back." So, as this is my last column, I want to thank all the people who over the years have told me how much they have enjoyed reading what I have written.

I'm only human so I felt 10 ft tall - twice my actual height - when a lady said: "I always find myself nodding in agreement when I read your column." Others have told me: "Yours is the first page I turn to."

But perhaps the most gratifying comment of all was: "You write what we would all like to say but can't quite put into words."

You can't imagine how much your support and approval has meant to me, so I'll bow out with a big smile and a very big "Thank you."

E-MAIL: ldonn@jewishtelegraph.com