Update your underwear, not your Facebook status

Facebook users have bombarded the site with an update on their underwear’s colour status.

The latest viral stunt encourages users to reveal what colour bra they are wearing and is to raise awareness of breast cancer.

Although the creator is unknown, colourful announcements are set to continue over the weekend as the trend continues.

Naked X-Ray? No thanks

I’m happy to remove my shoes and walk three metres across an extremely grubby floor on tip-toes as they are x-rayed.

I’m happy to wave goodbye to my new (and expensive) handbag as an over-zealous security officer kneads my prized-possession as though it’s a loaf of Hovis brown in order to get it to fit in the tiny tray.

I’m even happy lose a full-sized bottle of perfume, two lip glosses and a hand cream if it means we can all travel safely.

A naked x-ray is another thing entirely.

Full body scanners that give a detailed enough image for those monitoring the screens to see if you’ve got artificial limbs, breast implants and body piercings, as well as gracing the monitor with an outline of you, will be introduced at Heathrow Airport.

They have been used in a trial at Manchester Airport where travellers could opt out and go for the more traditional ‘pat down’ instead but, if it’s a success, we may all have to face the unforgiving scan.

Now though, international travellers have to brave a naked X-ray. Scary.

Of course, this is intended to be the latest in a rather infinite line of security measures that are supposed to reassure us but, with the details it will expose (literally), is this one step too far?

The intrusive nature of the images is more than enough to cause seasoned naturists to blush and, more importantly, it’s just another bona fide method of inducing public fear.

Yes, I accept the argument that if you’ve got nothing to hide then this shouldn’t be a problem.

But it is.

I’ve got something to hide…myself.

January Sales: You tease

January sales, you do it to me every year.

You draw me into your shop like a magpie to a shiny, silver coin with fluorescent window stickers lulling me into a false sense of reality.

I take the bait.

Your warm and cosy home is welcoming; the music is soothing and I glide around effortlessly, spotting treasure with every glance.

One woman’s junk is another woman’s treasure and to me it’s all beautiful, intriguing and bespoke.

Of course, that is until you say ‘goodbye’ and I’m tossed onto the chewing-gum dotted cobbles, barged into by every woman, man and child and smell the Starbucks two doors down.

Winter’s fierce, icy breath circles me, takes me by both hands and forces images of my dwindling bank balance and over abundant wardrobe.

I take the bait.

Guilt, guilt and more guilt creep in as I think of my bags of junk and discarded gems already spewing out of my wardrobes (plural), under the bed and in storage boxes up in the attic.

‘I can’t take these back now. They are the biggest bargains. Ever.’ I tell myself and vow to sort out Narnia when I get in.

It. Will. Take. Forever.

Another day, another snowflake…or two

Minute bundles of icy crystals that glisten in the light and softly frost the ground have shrouded the whole country in pandemonium today.

Schools, shops and offices have closed their doors across the UK as un-gritted roads and heavy snowfall have come hand-in-hand with a nationwide snow day.

The BBC have even cancelled tonight’s showing of ‘Waterloo Road’ for ‘The Big Freeze: A BBC News Special.

Now I’m not saying we should all brave the roads if conditions are really treacherous, but does the whole country really have to grind to an icy halt every time we get a shower of glittery goodness?

Saying that, snow divides the nation in two.

Half the population turn into 5-year-olds and hurl themselves down the biggest hill with a thin plastic sled to help them glide along and the other group look themselves indoors after carefully meandering down to the local convenience store and buying enough bread and milk to feed the whole of Australia.

I have to hang my head in shame here as I am a proud member of the latter (I only take a 4-pinter of semi-skimmed and 1 loaf of Hovis Brown though, I swear).

It would be nice if we could attempt to get back to normality for tomorrow although, as I’m up early for work in the morning, maybe another snow day wouldn’t go amiss.

C’mon Snow Monster, show us what you got!