MY initial reaction was one of disbelief. A wind-up surely? But then again, in this litigation mad, compensation culture society, anything goes these days.

IN the event of a hung Parliament and my being invited to form the next government I already have my first decision formulated.

WATCHING a documentary on television the other evening about the work of Great Ormond Street children’s hospital I was first of all uneasy about this type of TV which intrudes on families at times of greatest stress.

IF you are of a certain age you will have oft times sympathised with Terry Wogan’s TOGS. Terry’s Old Geezers were an integral part of his late lamented morning radio program.

EXPLORERS and adventurers helped to put the “great” into Great Britain and thankfully there are still a few of them left to inspire us. But I seriously wonder what kind of country we will finish up with in years to come, once all that youthful obesity and ‘elf and safety work their way through.

WHEN a 10-year-old called his friend a “gay boy” outside school, he was reported to the head for use of homophobic language and placed on what amounted to a sex offenders’ register which will remain on the record until he leaves secondary school.

THERE are certain well established ways of handling disgrace and professional incompetence these days.

SOMETIMES we newspaper columnists paint a bleak picture of life in modern Britain as we rail against injustice, wrongdoing and the sheer greed and stupidity of many of those who govern us.

IT has been one of those weeks when you think you are living in a Jeremy Kyle horror show.

BEING a Yorkshireman, Sir Michael Parkinson doesn’t mince his words and rarely have I see a report as bluntly condemnatory as that which came out recently from the Government’s dignity ambassador.