Holmfirth

Some have him down as a left back. Some have him down as a right back.

Sorry which Adam Smith are we talking about?

The works of Smith are like the Bible in that anyone can snip out a quote and claim that it proves something or other while someone else can pull out a quote that proves the opposite.

According to Wiki (so it must be true, mustn't it?), Margaret Thatcher used to carry a copy of "The Wealth of Nations" in her handbag.

So are Lambie and Thatch singing off the same hymnsheet politically?

Or are they looking at different parts of the same hymnsheet and interpreting them differently?

I imagine Thatcher's response to that passage would be, "And so what?" This was a woman who had no problem using the force of the state to crush dissent. Which makes it kind of laughable when you have advocates of the "free market" slagging off "the state". What do they think laws and the vast apparatus that enforce them are?

Wildebeeste would be proud of me today. A walk that earlier took in Refresh at Broomhill has now brought me to Cafe #9 in Nether Edge. And, from initial impressions, it looks to be the nerve centre of the local Guardianista community. Not much chance of grabbing the Telegraph's sports section in here. Sheffield being Sheffield there's a bit of climbing talk going on in the background with references to mates who have "done" Everest. My claims to have "done" Gainsborough Trinity, Goole and Frickley Athletic don't really amount to much by comparison.

And here's a curious thing about Sheffield: it's got one of the largest and virtually continuous leafy, middle-class suburban areas in the country. Think slabs of Bristol and then go a bit more. Plenty of alternative, liberal chattering class-types (sorry for the stereotyping but you get the message) and - I dare say - a fair share of those who read the Mail or Telegraph (these being a slightly separate community beyond the Porter Brook). This would be a surprise to many - it's pretty well-kept secret nationally - and even John Betjeman was impressed. The reason is down to history, geography, capital, labour and prevailing winds. The contrast is the other side of the city which has some of the largest areas of local authority-built housing that you'll find anywhere. But around here, thanks to the Victoriana and hills, I'm often oddly reminded of pieces of the Warberries, Lincombes, St Marychurch and the older parts of Chelston. The sea views aren't much cop but the Porter valley - up to the cafe at Forge Dam - does a pretty decent impression of the Cockington valley. I'm not sure of the Torquay version of Cafe #9 but I'll happily put in a good word for the Blue Walnut. I may drop in over Christmas.

Wildebeeste will be interested to know that I discovered Cafe #9s through reading a book called "Home: a personal geography of Sheffield" written by Carl Lee, a local geography teacher. I picked it up in Rare and Racy last week. Wildebeeste would enjoy it even though he may wince at the lack of proof reading. He's welcome to it after me. Otherwise I can drop it off at the Oxfam shop on Union Street in Torquay ready for it to devoured by Alpine Joe.

Actually the service in Cafe #9 was, er, on the curmudgeonly side today.

I popped into Zed's and bought a flapjack.

The Cherry Tree was shut when I passed. I'll save that for another day.

There may be pictures later. I bet you can't wait.

And you may even get a New Year Torquay Picture Quiz if you're all sufficiently patient.

I know when I am defeated, AJ.

No football season is complete without half of Sheffield roaring (that's a local term for blubbing, folks) and it looks like it will be the Blades fans having a damn good roar for the second year in succession!