Each week I share my five thoughts – the good, the bad and the ugly.

But I’m not selfish, so I’m also very happy to donate the space to guest writers to have their say. Write to me via the details below.

1. What is acceptable behaviour on a train? I ask because the other day I witnessed a tutting woman turn to her husband to complain about a younger woman putting on her make-up. Clearly she felt this was an outrageous act. Personally, I found it a fascinating spectacle and don’t consider anyone curling eyelashes or applying lipstick in front of me to be ill-mannered. I’ve seen many worse habits on a train.

2. Are Scottish notes legal tender in England? Surely the answer must be a resounding yes. And yet, places still refuse to accept them. Even staff at my local post office looked quizzical before finally giving them a thumbs up.

3. Thanks to DL Simnett for this thought: “I’ve been watching the regeneration of Bromley Market Square with interest. It looks fantastic and I can’t wait until the hard-working workmen have it all finished”.

4. There is a saying that “the younger generation don’t know they’re born”. Well, one thing this doesn’t apply to is pensions. I now realise my father’s generation were definitely the ones to cash in on the pension bonanza, often offered early retirement with healthy payouts. Future generations will have no choice, we’ll work until we drop.

5. Finally, there’s something irritating David Alston and, in his words, it’s this: “The bombardment of offers, containing so-called ‘free gifts’. By definition a gift is something given, not paid-for. It cannot be other than free”.

Send in your 5THOUGHTS by email to aparkes@london.newsquest.co.uk, on Twitter to @parkestheeditor or through Facebook to facebook.com/newsshopper.