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 - contact details below.

1. Feeling festive yet? The decorations seem to have been up for months. But what says Christmas to you? I bet it harks back to your childhood, and may not even seem that traditional. For me it has to be tangarines, nuts in their shells and a bonfire. Don’t ask why, but I always seem to be on bonfire duty at Christmas.

2. Another UKIP MP drops a huge gaffe and, apart from the painkillers and stress, blames a lack of media training for the blunder. Surely you don’t need training to be a decent human being?

3. And while we are on the subject, have you noticed that the last seemingly “acceptable face of racism” is towards the traveller community. But, they are starting to employ top lawyers and take people to task, so mark my words, 2015 will be the year of defamation cases brought by travellers. Perhaps it will mark the end of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.

4. Did you know you have to be a certain age to buy Christmas crackers? Apparently, because they contain small traces of gunpowder, you have to be at least 16 to purchase them. Surely this is taking things a bit far? Knives – yes, solvents – okay, but crackers? That’s just crackers!

5. I finally succumbed to the pressure and bought myself a Christmas jumper. The Christmas jumper party was attended by 95 people and there was not a single double in sight – what are the chances of that?

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