Each week I use this space to share my five thoughts of the week – 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 using the details below.

1. I never thought I’d say it, but I’m now officially a southerner. There’s no way I could live anywhere else in the UK. Apart from the rubbish weather elsewhere I can’t bear the pace of life. Last week I was in Darlington, which has got a couple of positives, but the speed people move at drives me crazy. On foot or behind the wheel, everyone takes an absolute age to do anything – it’s infruriating.

2. Ever eaten at a Russian restaurant? For some reason I thought it would be all beetroot and undercooked potatoes. How wrong could I be. The menu was incredibly varied and everything on it was delicious. But, don’t do it too regularly, otherwise it’s a heart attack waiting to happen.

3. How can a bus driver possibly justify kicking two gay people off his bus for kissing each other? Maybe he was just having a bad day and couldn’t persuade anyone to kiss him – jealousy is an ugly thing.

4. John Hartson is right, footballer Victor Moses is a cheat. But why would anyone be surprised, all professional footballers take every opportunity they can to cheat. Diving is cheating, pulling someone’s shirt is cheating, standing over a free kick is cheating. Until refs get tougher it will continue to go on.

5. Did you see U2 on Graham Norton? Patrick in the office disagrees, but I reckon they’re still the world’s greatest living band. I saw them years ago and they’re as good as ever.

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