IF you want value for money then head to the nearest beach.

This weekend I escaped to Lytham St Annes and I must say it was certainly well worth the visit.

Unlike some other places where they completely rip you off as soon as you park up, I was pleasantly surprised at how the whole place still makes for a decent day out.

For once I did NOT say ‘it was better ten years ago’ or ‘Don’t pick anything up in case they charge you for it.’ The beach was great. The ice-cream was good and the donkey ride cost £2.50.

I haven’t been this pleased since I went to a wedding and they accepted Tesco vouchers instead of cash.

When the sun is out everything looks fantastic.

The narrow streets of Lancashire look particularly different from the dreary days when it rains for 24 hours.

The only issue I have is with people taking off far too much.

Sorry but some people need to realise that when the heat is on some things should remain hidden.

We can talk about freedom of expression all day long but there is ‘good semi-naked’ and there is ‘bad semi-naked’.

On a more current note is there anyone’s phone the News of the World hasn’t allegedly hacked into?

Not sure you can go any lower than allegedly attempting to hack into the phones of the relatives of war dead.

The whole sorry saga begs the questions.

At what point does something become totally unacceptable.

No-one really gave a hoot when there were reports that they had been hacking into the phones of celebrities.

The politicians? Well, we didn’t really care that much either. In fact they were all game.

As for the royals I personally wasn’t too bothered as long as they didn’t bother the Queen and Prince Charles.

Does the Queen even have a phone?

However, there are certain levels even the lowest would not go.

But then again we are talking about journalists.

Worst of the worst that lot.