The penitential ashes were much in evidence in school yesterday, though there was not much sign of abstemiousness at lunch time.

Asking students, what they were giving up for Lent, the general response was ‘nothing.’

I once asked a friend what he was giving up for the season. ‘Sarsaparilla,’ he had answered, without a moment’s hesitation. ‘I never touch Sarsaparilla during Lent.’

Not being sure what Sarsaparilla was, I had made a lucky guess. ‘Is that like me giving up Irn Bru or Dandelion & Burdock?’

‘Exactly,’ …