My wife used to be a closet News of the World reader until she got upset at their 'outing' of a cross-dressing bank manager, who subsequently lost his job and probably a great deal more too, after which she, my wife, refused to buy or read the newspaper ever again. I must admit it did confuse me rather as I thought that that was the kind of story she read the paper for in the first place!

However, whilst I'm a great believer in freedom of speech and I support the concept of free press, it does piss me off terribly when on the receiving end of incorrect media reporting, as happened to Fox Kalomaski recently at the hands of the trade press. There is a fine line between responsible reporting and creating news for news sake and it strikes me that some journalists, hopefully the minority, don't give a monkey's what happens from the fall out created when they lob a misquoted piece of editorial into the marketplace.

It was always my belief that journalists wanted to do their jobs in the first instance to help inform the public about the real things going on in life all around them and if they continue to report inaccurate stories, which basically means they're not doing their jobs properly, then I strongly suggest they should apply for a fictional scriptwriting job on Eastenders.

Location: Basildon, Essex

Date: 29 June 2008
Weather: Cloudy
Entrance fee: Yes

Catering offer: Hot snack outlets - burger vans and soft beverage bars

In-field entertainment: none

Dwell time: 3.25 hours

Total spend: £12.20

Number of items bought: 16

Average item price: 76p

Most expensive item: Shorts - £3

Cheapest item: Vintage toy tank - free

Booter rating 4.5 stars

   

Location: Colliers Row, Essex

Date: 22 June 2008
Weather: Sunny with chilly wind
Entrance fee: No

Catering offer: Hot snack outlets - burger vans and bbq plus greengrocer

In-field entertainment: none

Dwell time: 1 hour

Total spend: £29.75

Number of items bought: 6

Average item price: £4.95

Most expensive item: Toy tank - £22

Cheapest item: Vintage cutlery -5p

Booter rating 3.5 stars

Bought this week:

Toy tank - 50s Dinky Centurion, with box, tank has been in wars, made in England

Travel cutlery - 60s, four pieces in vinyl pouch, foreign

Hand held game - 1976, pocket bagatelle, Spiral score, space theme, made in Singapore

Vintage board game - 30s, Motorace, complete, British made

Wrist watch - 2001, Swatch, blue, made in Switzerland

Comic strip book - 1999, Dilbert, Don't tread in the leadership, printed in Frome

Euro 2008 was not on my intended TV list viewing list this weekend but it became the only tele that I consumed and enjoyed, mainly due to the wonderful performance of Holland over France on Friday which I sat watching with my son (he who still insists on wearing his M&S pants on display ('Fashion - It's Pants' blog April '08).

There are two issues that I pondered after watching a brilliant recovery by Turkey over Czech Republic (will Petr Čech ever live that fumble down!) that endorses the fact that English football is overrated and the players overpaid. The first is the clear difference in the lack of fouls that seem to be commited by European players (OK, I know that most of the top player in our league are foreigners but when they play for their national sides they seem to be more respectful and restrained) and the games I watched just flowed and were thoroughly entertaining. I can't remember the last time I ever thought that about an England game.

The second thought that bothers me is not just that the England team were not good enough to play at this international level, but that it seems that they couldn't give a damn about it. Where are the players who should be standing up and admitting that they didn't do their best for their country in qualifying, but that they will try harder next time, and setting the kids of today an example that whilst it's OK to fail there is pride in representing your country and it's not just about the money.

Maybe I'm wrong and it's all the Manager's fault and if it is then let's hope Fabio Capello can do something worthy with his collective of millionaires that call themselves footballers.

Location: Farningham, Kent

Date: 15 June 2008
Weather: Sunny with chilly north easterly wind
Entrance fee: Yes

Catering offer: Hot snack outlets plus bread and vegetable retailers

In-field entertainment: 3 bouncy slides, a bouncy castle and a tannoy system

Dwell time: 2.25 hours

Total spend: £11

Number of items bought: 9

Average item price: £1.22

Most expensive item: James Bond PS2 game- £4

Cheapest item: Vintage paperback -50p

Booter rating 3.5 stars

Bought this week:

Vintage tin - 50s, Peek Frean's Cheeselets, biscuits not included

Paperback book - 1959, When the gangs came to London, unabridged, 2/6 old money

Dexterity game - Tomy Aaaaghh!, size C battery included, challenging

Toy car - 1971, Matchbox, Citroen SM, red, needs respray

Vintage tile - 60s, fish pattern, green, abstract, felt on reverse

Board game - 30s, Waddingtons 64 Milestones, board missing

PS2 game - 2005 James Bond, From Russia with love, RRP £34.99

Boot shapers - new in box, Dasco, Aaromatic velour with Actifresh®

Bird food - 4 bags of seed, assorted