Is this a great spud scam?

I DON'T know about you, but there's nothing I like better in this cold weather than a bag of fish and chips.

But I hear that our good, old fashioned British spud is so popular on foreign markets that its price may be forced up.

I listened to one chippie owner - from the South, I add - moaning and groaning that the price of chips is sure to rise by the summer.

Oh yeah! Have you ever seen the size of the packets of chips they offer down South?

A single portion from one of our good local chippies would really put them to shame.

I reckon it's just another scam for people to have to pay more for everything when they visit London.

IT'S not been Frank Dobson, the Health Secretary's year - has it?

First there has been all the chaos and confusion over the hospital beds during the flu outbreak.

Now he's got himself in trouble with GPs over who should be allowed to be prescribed Viagra.

He says it should only go to specially designated patients, but the doctors have other ideas.

They retort they will base their decisions to prescribe the drug on a patients specific needs.

I just hope Mr Dobson doesn't suffer from flu or a deflated libido.

THE Millennium hysteria that seems to be building up in Ireland is well over the top.

Hospitals are being contacted to see which will be the very first baby born there.

It's reckoned that the parents of that first born Millennium child could make a fortune from commercial companies jumping on board.

I sincerely hope mums-to-be refuse all offers of get-rich-quick schemes. Otherwise, they will have absolutely no peace throughout their lives.

The first birthday, starting school, and, sometime in the future, getting married - all will be subject to the full glare of publicity.

If prospective parents have got any sense they'll tell the hospitals not to reveal their identities.

TUNE in to Pete's late night phone-in, Sunday to Thursday 10pm-1am, on Magic 1548.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.