In My View: Arch patrol is valuable family time

That one on the news every year where people from some location down south run full pelt down a steep hill – most of them face planting and chewing some major cud well before they reach the bottom.

I think there are even some places that roll round wheels of cheese down hills as well.

And the communities who like to set fire to wooden structures at least once a year have never floated my boat either.

One tradition I have a lot of time for is Grangemouth Children’s Day’s arches night, which this year takes place on Friday, June 17 – the evening before the big day.

Residents young and old wander the streets – this year it will be the area around Bowhouse Primary School – checking out the creative castles and the magical mock-ups friends and family members of the royal retinue have worked hard to construct in recent weeks.

It’s just a nice night – especially if the weather’s good.

In the last decade or so I’ve been living in Grangemouth I’ve seen everything from Dr Who’s Tardis to Elvis Presley’s crib Gracelands.

Community spirit is often in short supply these days, but this is one night when you wish you could bottle the good feelings that are in the air.

It’s a time when you can forget the dark possibility of President Trump and the fact everybody seems to be skinter than Bruce Springsteen’s knees after he’s committed to a power slide on a wooden stage.

Talking about community spirit, good on young Portonian Colin Boreta who took it upon himself to ensure Charlotte Dundas Court had flags for the big day.