Easter: Chocolate Heaven!

I have mixed views on Easter. On the one hand, I dislike any intrusion of religion into my life. I see the church –particularly the Christian church in this country - as an idiosyncrasy in an ever more secular society. I'm not the only one.

For 30 years the British Social Attitudes survey has been asking about our religious views. Its study reveals that today, well over half of us aren't at all devout and Christian faiths are dwindling. Many British people who retain spiritual beliefs aren't Christians.

I visit churches for weddings and funerals, but really these are parties. When I fill in forms requesting personal religious details, I scrawl 'N/A' and move on. If the church is given airtime to 'speak out' on issues that don't concern it or about which it knows nothing, I shout at the television.

But at least we can all enjoy Britain's annual chocolate egg-fest. Maybe it's a hangover from childhood, but I have a great fondness for the old Easter egg. The satisfying snap as the first piece of shell is broken off; picking through the sweeties inside (to make this interesting, really they have to be different); wrapping the remaining shell in its foil, as we save a fragment for later.

So over the Easter break, touch wood I'll receive plenty of eggs. Not that touching wood did much for Jesus, if you like to believe it.