The headline on the front of today's Daily Express - "Now Your Shopping Bill Hits New High" - is the latest example of a worrying trend I've noticed recently on some right wing nationals.

There's nothing wrong with the story as such, but I just wonder why the Express needs to use the word "Now" in the headline. Surely the fact that the story is happening "now" is taken as read - we're newspapers after all.

"Your Shopping Bill Hits New High" seems to me to mean exactly the same as "Now Your Shopping Bill Hits New High", making the word "now" completely superfluous.

My late mother (r.i.p.) was blessed with a very quick wit, and cursed with children who inherited it. On the rare occasions when one of us came back with a reply she had no answer to her final word (and Mother always had the final word) would be “Watch out, one day you’ll be so sharp you’ll cut yourself.�

She was right.

The prim and easily shocked should read no further. Although as my oldest best friend Siân’s mother used so say “All is pure to the pure.�

With utility prices going through the roof and many more of us trying to reduce our carbon footprint, there are now a number of clever methods and gadgets to help us work out exactly how much energy we are using in the home.

For as long as I can remember I have been the recipient of more hand-clapping than you could shake a rattle at.

When I was teeny tiny, I only had to stick out my tongue on demand to get a rousing roud of applause.

Then there were the burps. Every bubble of wind which has left my mouth since day dot has had its own rapturous welcome.

I still refuse to buy organic apples that have been shipped all the way over from New Zealand or South Africa, but hurrah, at last there are a few more fruits available other than Rhubarb.

I will admit that I regularly engage my mouth before putting my brain into gear (as my oldest best friend Siân says). Here are more examples – in all cases I was drinking lime and soda. The prim and easily shocked should read no further.

My Dad wants a word with you!

I've just found the best thing EVER.

Picture the scene... I'm using my new found mobility to explore the house from top to bottom and then some when I stumble across a red plastic key-ring-type device whose buttons make it resemble a lady birdy-bug.