FOR some people it might seem only like yesterday, but 1984 really was another era - it was a time when the Cold War still dominated our lives and there seemed to be a constant threat from the east.

FOR some people it might seem only like yesterday, but 1984 really was another era - it was a time when the Cold War still dominated our lives and there seemed to be a constant threat from the east.

Evidence of this has emerged with the revelation that the KGB had prepared maps of many British towns and cities, including Ipswich, so their troops and agents would know their way from Bramford Road to Landseer Road after invasion.

In 1984 the Brezhnev era was coming to an end with his protégé Konstantin Chernenko fighting a losing battle against reform. We were less than 12 months away from Gorbachev taking over at the Kremlin.

With Reagan refusing to meet the old Soviet leadership at a summit and things going badly for the Russians in Afghanistan, there was a real feeling of tension across the world.

There were genuine fears that the Cold War could heat up at any time. Cruise missiles were being installed in Britain, peace camps were springing up at airbases across the country, and CND was stronger than it had been for a generation.

Back in 1984 even the most optimistic person would have imagined that the Berlin Wall would be gone in less than half a decade.

Whether we are actually any safer now is unclear. The prospect of Russian troops marching through the town has disappeared.

Now we are more likely to see Russians interested in marching into Portman Road . . . and taking control of our football club!

WHAT a difference four days can make in the life of Ipswich Town!

On Friday we were looking nervously forward to the next three games which would determine the outcome of the season.

With the club teetering on the edge of the relegation zone, three defeats would plunge Town into the abyss.

But after two victories things couldn't look better - especially in the manner of the club's victory at Hull last night.

Now the club is looking safe in mid-table and, more importantly, the players now have fresh belief in their abilities.

It is far too late now for Ipswich to consider any kind of push up the table to the play-off places, but the performance last night gave the travelling fans another tantalising glimpse of what could have been if only a level of consistency had been found during the season.

It will have given Town boss Jim Magilton hope that the side can develop next season and if it can introduce that much-needed element of consistency then there really are reasons to be cheerful in 2007/8.

FOR years the Stoke Park Centre has been an ugly eyesore at the heart of one of Ipswich's busiest communities.

So it is wonderful to see that after years of negotiations and plans being drawn up, at last something is happening on the ground.

As the demolition crews move in, people across the area will be delighted to see this concrete monstrosity coming down - and will be looking forward to shopping at the new Asda there next year.