Commuterland feels the pinch

In neighbouring Marlow, it's the same story. Four years ago, Marlow was declared to be the "new Ludlow" but now the organic deli has shut, the fish man has closed down, the butcher's is long gone. There is now no greengrocer in either place and the small local restaurants have barely any covers. By contrast, I had lunch in central London last week and the restaurant was packed. The West End still feels the same to me, with people buzzing in and out of shops.

It's the long-term feel of the place I worry about. Many of the shops that have closed were family businesses, run by fathers and sons for generations. They knew the locals and the locals knew them. They have acted as unpaid social centres for years as, say, the old lady from no 32 talked at length to a member of the Spiers family, who recently had to close the Henley Travel Agency after 42 years in business.

Now these shops will be taken over by chains - coffee outlets, cut-price fashion stores. Even when business comes back, I fear my town's character may be lost for good.

* Since the New Year I have become a yoga nut. I always thought yoga was a caring, sharing kind of a pastime but it has become obvious to me that there are two types of people who do yoga - unbendy ladies like me and reed-thin women who appear as if they live on nothing but mung beans. The latter are the yoga queens of the class. Last week, my friend Debbie came to the class. "Have you done yoga before?" the teacher asked, astounded as Debbie wound her legs over her head. "Oh no," said Debbie happily. "This is my first time." I noticed the yoga queens giving Debbie angry glances over their not-quite-so-supple legs. As I left, one of the yoga queens said: "Please don't bring your bendy friend again." I couldn't believe it. What ever happened to peace, love and understanding?

* I took a night off to see the wonderful Issy Van Randwyck, formerly of Fascinating Aida, perform how new show Two Birds and a Bloke. It's a small intimate cabaret show, full of music, some jokes, a few sketches and Simon Slater attempting comic versions of magic. It was all going swimmingly until I was pulled out of the audience and asked to assist in a card trick. So be warned. It's on tour but don't sit anywhere near the front or, like me, you'll end up blinking in the spotlight.