Cherie saga finally fades

For the first time in what seems like a long time, the Cherie Blair saga gives way on most front pages to more mundane issues, such as pensions, house prices and standards in schools.

In the words of the Times, the drama of Cherie Blair, the Bristol flats, the lifestyle guru and her conman boyfriend appears to be nearing its finale.

The critics have picked over the show-stopping aria, and the principals now seem almost as exhausted as the plotline.

Even the Daily Mail, which has led the chasing Fleet Street pack in the hunt for the latest revelation, appears to have had its "pound of flesh" - for the time being at least.

Syria 'clash'

It does not touch the story until page 16.

The paper is more preoccupied with a prediction that house prices could fall by as much as 30% over the next four years.

However, a cartoon in the Mail cleverly combines both stories. It has the prime minister telling his wife: "Do you think Carole would know someone who could help you unload two flats quickly?"

Most of the papers look ahead to Mr Blair's meeting on Monday with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria.

The Daily Express foresees an "embarrassing public clash" between the two men over Iraq.

'Why the red carpet?'

And the Daily Telegraph speaks of a "big political gamble" by the prime minister in trying to court the leader of a hardline Arab state.

Melanie Phillips, writing in the Mail, is scathing about President Assad's visit.

"He backs suicide bombers, sponsors terrorism, tramples on human rights and is said to be arming Iraq. So why the red carpet?" she asks.

Mr Blair himself answers the critics in his article for the Financial Times. It would be a strange foreign policy, he says, if we talked only to those with whom we fully agreed.

The Independent is of the same mind, arguing that engagement, not isolation is the right approach to countries such as Syria.

Pension options

For the Guardian, the main story is the warning from education inspectors that pupils' learning is being adversely affected by the heavy reliance on supply teachers.

The paper also highlights a study claiming that school playing fields are being sold off at a rate of almost one a week, despite a pledge by Labour to reverse the policy.

The government's latest ideas to encourage us to save for our retirement are widely aired.

The Times and the FT both report that ministers may force workers to take out private pensions.

According to the Times, this so-called "nuclear option" would be considered if other measures, such as tax changes, failed to solve the crisis in retirement provision.

Santa, aged 73

Finally, retirement appears to be the last thing on the mind of a 73-year-old great-grandfather, Dan Jones, who is featured in The Sun.

He is about to play Santa Claus for the 50th year in a row, after surviving two strokes and 17 heart attacks.

Mr Jones, who lives in Birmingham, made his debut as Father Christmas at his daughter's nursery party.

Since then - as The Sun puts it - he has ho-ho-honed his performance in nearly 1,000 Yuletide appearances at schools, hospitals and charity events.