The announcement today that the Government are finally banning junk food from our schools comes as a profound relief to all of us with young children. My David and Davina are only four years old, yet I have watched with increasing concern as they have come home from nursery school with their stomachs lined with naught but chocolate, chips and coke. It is high time that busy mothers were allowed to relax, content in the knowledge that their little ones will not be fed poison - yes, poison! - by the uncaring ogres to whom we entrust them. Education tsar Ruth Kelly should bask proudly in the praise her unique vision will surely afford her, and no expense must be spared in making that vision reality.

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We are constantly told that our prisons are overcrowded, and yet in the past month at least two old age pensioners have been sent to jail for the 'crime' of not paying their council tax. When the law is patently such an ass, it must be abolished. Is anyone else as mystified as I regarding what this 'tax' actually pays for, anyway?

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Finally, on a lighter note, my warmest thanks and deepest appreciation to those who have bothered to comment on my musings. As Matthew often says, to those of us in the public eye it is you - all of you - who are the cattle that give we, the shepherds, a meaning.

Thank You.

The last few days, dear reader, have been difficult. It is with enormous distress that Matthew and I have watched the gutter press leap upon the trials and misfortunes of our dear friend Kate. Hubby has, on occasion, worked as a dresser and make-up artist at fashion shows (always the theatrical!) and has literally swooned over Kate’s wide glittering eyes, permanent smile and almost preternatural energy – he once remarked that is was as if she didn’t actually need sleep!

I know that a woman such as Kate will realise that she doesn’t need to hide her light under anyone’s bush. Her admission that there are elements of her life that she needs to address is particularly courageous in an age where self-pity is all, and I can only hope that certain parties re-evaluate their decision to cast her aside in the wake of this spontaneous, ingenuous statement.

Hello everyone, and welcome to my new Weblog. I should perhaps start with a little bit about myself - though I'm sure many of you are familiar with me already!

My name is Jacqui, Jacqui Swann, and I'm a Columnist-cum-TV Personality from England. My lovely husband Matthew is a succesful actor, having featured in two of the country's most popular soap operas as well as fronting a high-profile ad campaign for washing up liquid. The twins, David and Davina (after Beckham and McCall, naturally!) are the apples of my eye - I've been a mother for four long years now, but I wouldn't have missed a thing. My work has taken me to parties and premieres all over the world, and yet I just cannot sleep until I've phoned them. I even called Davina's mobile at nursery school once - I'd forgotten about the LA/London time difference! 

I've just been introduced to the wonderful world of blogging, and I must say it's delightful to see so many of you trying your hands at 'The Craft'. I've never let my lack of professional training stop me from saying exactly what I want to say, and so should you! A weblog, to me, represents the purest form of writing - no censorship, no editing, no deadlines. And rest assured that what you'l be getting from me over the next few months will be Jacqui Uncut, Straight From The Hip...

Hop on and enjoy the ride...