MALL-TIME WALKERS

LIFE will never be the same for us shopaholics in the new millennium.

Would you believe, the other day I found Number Three son and his mates at Sussex University doing their weekly shopping on the Internet?

I was all set to explode "Lazy beggars" until Dan gently explained that three or four of them sharing Tesco's £5 delivery charge worked out a lot cheaper than going by bus or train.

Electronic commerce, or e-tailing as they call it, is another blow to the future of High Street shops and perhaps supermarkets themselves, though they are in far greater danger from another American innovation, the shopping mall.

Visiting America recently, Ellen and I became hooked on these out-of-town arcades that are going to dictate the way the British shop in the 21st Century.

The concept couldn't be simpler: Build a mall like a theme park so that shopping becomes a leisure activity rather than a chore.

Make it light and modern, easy on the eye and insulated against the weather. Most important of all, put everything under one roof.

My American sister Jean thinks nothing of driving 40 miles to and from a mall and visits one after another at different times because this is a country where they love variety and competition.

Popcorn

These malls cater for every need. Giant multi-nationals co-exist happily alongside kiosks selling popcorn.

Arriving at something called Rolling Acres early one morning, we discovered by chance that these huge shopping centres on the outskirts of towns have spawned an amazing by-product - mall-walking.

There was my sister's brother-in-law Ed striding along in slacks, trainers and short-sleeved shirt.

He is one of an army of early risers that descend on these malls some two hours before opening time for a brisk walk in a controlled climate.

Security guards everywhere, so no danger of muggers, and there's nothing boring or monotonous about gliding along concourses with miles of tempting window displays.

A million Americans are at it every day and the numbers are growing. They even have mall-walking clubs which issue ID cards and give prizes to members who record a big improvement in health.

It's early days yet, but these malls are already coming to the UK.

The biggest is already here. Bluewater in Kent, not yet one year old, is the largest shopping centre in Europe with hundreds of shops and acres of parking.

So far there's no news of mall walkers, but it cannot be long before the health and fitness brigade descend.

Shopping malls have worked wonders for the health of America - and anything the Yanks can do we can do better.

Warren's frank gun tale

OH, the shame of it - I've just shelled out £11.95 to tune in to the Tyson fight. My missus isn't too happy about it, but I explained we have to see our man Julius Francis deliver the old one-two to the baddie.

I always was a sucker for the big occasion and find it impossible to ignore what happens in Manchester next Saturday after reading all those acres of print about Iron Mike.

Anyway, promoter Frank Warren and I go back a long way. When someone pumped two bullets into him - boxer Terry Marsh was acquitted of the crime - I asked Frank if it hurt. Right on cue, he came up with the correct Cockney answer: "Only when I laugh."

Michael's song is a real life-saver

WHAT wonders over the Internet day after day - like this report which reaches me from Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Tennessee.

When Karen, a member of the congregation, became pregnant, she told her three-year-old son Michael he was to have a sister. Day after day he insisted on singing to the unborn baby in mummy's tummy.

Sadly, complications set in at birth. Doctors warned the family to prepare for the worst.

Michael kept begging to be allowed to sing to his sister. In the second week, Karen decided he had to be allowed to see her before it was too late.

Michael gazed at her and sang: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey..."

Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. Her pulse rate began to steady. Her breathing became even and she seemed to relax.

Michael's sister was well enough to go home the next day. Call it a miracle of God's love - and a brother's song.

How Green is my Vanya now

WELL, fancy that. Robson Green's new partner is Vanya Seager, former Page 3 Girl of the Year discovered by yours truly 25 years ago serving drinks at a hotel in Shropshire.

Ah ha, I thought, given professional make-up, this girl will prove that any pretty young lady has the makings of a model. Rubbish.

With deep brown eyes and serene Eurasian beauty, she turned out to be anything but the girl next door.

My paper in Manchester soon lost

her to the Fleet Street tabloids, who promoted her as a rival to Samantha Fox.

Vanya quit modelling in 1978 aged 22 without giving a reason, though she was shy about her looks and couldn't get out of topless modelling quickly enough.

Vanya, who has a 12-year-old daughter, was working in the music business when Robson's pop career brought them together. She is said to be pregnant and they're expected to marry soon.

The TV charmer adored by millions of women is nine years younger than her.

At 44, Vanya still looks nothing like the girl next door.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.