So, Heather Mills-McCartney is talking about the power of one - represent yourself in court and save yourself a wadge of cash. But Ms Mills-McCartney is one hundred million short of the £125 million she was asking for as a divorce settlement. So is it the victory she is claming?
She is very clear that Sir Paul is definitely worth double the £400 million that the judge believed him to be. Methinks, she may be a little cross with herself for sacking her legal team; yes, she saved herself £600,000 but what did she lose by not having the experts onside? Could she have got more? A lot more?
Heather has stated that she needs proper security - to hide from the press snappers (paparazzi), which I find surprising as I often used to see the McCartney offspring (from his first wife, Linda) wandering around without any bodyguards.
Who can say what the truth is in all of this?
Heather has also explained that she wanted the money to continue with her charitable work so, by my reckoning, there will be some very worthy recipients - not least the animals and those maimed by landmines.
We'll all be waiting to see if the "campaigning girl" is as good as her word.
This morning on Radio Five Live, the presenters were talking about the fact that British MPs can get their second homes paid for by the British Taxpayer. And how! Since the Freedom of Information Act, the British public is beginning to see exactly where its money is going...
Since most MPs' constituencies are a long way from their own homes, they get an allowance to help with their second home ie where they go at weekends to do their constituency work. The Additional Costs Claims Guide - known as the "John Lewis List" - is used by Parliamentary officials to determine whether an expenditure claim submitted by an MP is reasonable. MPs can claim items up to £23,000 per year.
As an example, you can claim up to a grand (£1,000) for a bed. For a bed! Imagine what sort of bed she could buy ME for that sort of cash.
In a conveyor belt-like shopping list, not unlike the Generation Game, you really do think those MPs really haven't ever had it so good...here's the list in full:
Air conditioning unit - £299.99
Bed - £1,000.00
Bedside cabinet - £100.00
Bookcase/shelf - £200.00
Bookcase/cabinet - £500.00
Carpet - £35.00 per square metre
Carpet fitting - £6.50 per square metre
Coffee maker/machine - £100.00
Coffee table - £250.00
Dining armchairs (each) - £150.00
Dining chairs (each) - £90.00
Dining table - £600.00
Dishwasher - £375.00
Drawer chest (five) - £500.00
Dressing table - £500.00
Dry cleaning - both personal and household [items] are allowable within reasonable limits
Food mixer - £200.00
Freestanding mirror - £300.00
Fridge/freezer combi - £550.00
Gas cooker - £650.00
Hi-fi/stereo - £750.00
Installation of new bathroom - £6,335.00
Installation of new kitchen - £10,000.00
Lamp table - £200.00
Nest of tables - £200.00
Recordable DVD - £270.00
Rugs (each) - £300.00
Shredder - £50.00
Sideboard - £795.00
Suite of furniture - £2,000.00
Television set - £750.00
Tumble dryer - £250.00
Underlay (basic) - £6.99 per square metre
Wardrobe - £700.00
Washer dryer - £500.00
Washing machine - £350.00
Wooden flooring/carpets - £35.00 per square metre
Workstation - £150.00
Personal items not allowed - for example: hairdryers or hairstylers, shavers, toothbrushes, toiletries and bathrobes.
Any form of payment protection or illness cover is not claimable from ACA in relation to mortgage payments.
In order for a member to claim the mortgage interest against his ACA home, his/her name must appear on the mortgage.
Garden furniture such as patio sets, loungers and barbecues are not allowed.
Basic garden maintenance is allowed, but plants, shrubs, flowers, hanging baskets or other decorations etc are not.
Let me tell you, these prices aren't cheap! These sums will buy you some top quality gear! And if the Mistress did become an MP, I could enter Westminster Dog of the Year competition. I know I'd win. So, I think it's time for us to do some serious lobbying to get on a List. Once the Parliamentary seat selectors meet me, I am sure they'd think we were a dream ticket.
OK, so, yet again my Friends for Life predicition was 100% right. And let's face facts, that's the best showcase for dogs - NOT the Best in Show finale...
But, no matter, a dog with a docked tail wins again. It was third time lucky for Phillipe, a Giant Schnauzer.
Clare Coxall is the Crufts 2008 Best in Show judge; she won Best in Show in 1966 with a Toy Poodle. That's the Mistress's year of birth, as it happens. Anyway, I digress.
Big Phil (NOT Phil Scolari!) the Giant Schnauzer, aka Ch Jafrak Philippe Olivier was the winner of the Working Group. He is owned by Mr & Mrs Cullen from St Leonards-on-Sea in East Sussex.
In spite of all the hype and the scandal (has Crufts 2008 been rigged? Really?), my money's on the Shiba Inu to win Best in Show.
OK, I'll come clean; I am not sure this dog will win because there will be calls of "fix, fix, fix" but I have another reason to mention the Japanese dog.
My lovely, gorgeous friend, Lillie, sadly passed away last month. Lillie showed me what it was to be a really classy girl. A foxy lady in the true sense.
Those experts on the BBC reckon it will be third time lucky for the Giant Schnauzer; I don't know, maybe they know something I don't.
But in honour of my faithful friend and South East London family (because her owners really are my London family), it has to be the Shiba Inu to win...
As with any award where there can only be one winner, comes the agonising process of deciding just who deserves the top prize.
The Crufts annual Friend for Life award, sponsored by the Kennel Club, is no exception. Each year, I give my view about who I think will win although - truth be told - all of the dogs are already winners, as are their owners.
This year seemed EVEN harder than last, which was even harder than the year before!
My heart says - as Loolapaloola (see comments) has rightly guessed - the black Labrador, Percy should win because...he's a Lab! And he's an assistance dog, which means he has changed someone's life in the most profound way. But I must spread my support around and, in the past, I have given the paws up to Dogs for the Disabled, a wonderful organisation.
My conscience says - particularly with all the negative press at the moment - the soldiers' dogs deserve to win, in recognition of their owners' heroic efforts.
But, this year, I'll be guided by the Mistress. She burst into tears when she saw Yepa in action, well, more precisely when Yepa's owner said that she believed Yepa was her best hope of walking. There is something really amazing about all assistance dogs - no doubt about it - but when you see that special bond between a child and their dog, well, it's a testament to both owner and hound what can be achieved.
So, this year my vote will go to Yepa but it's a tough call. And thanks to the joy of technology, you can watch this small film about all the finalists - on the BBC's website
In the meantime, here's what the BBC has to say about each finalist - WITH the contact details to phone - don't leave it too late. Every vote counts!
LINDA BRUCE AND SADIE
Linda Bruce was a truck driver until major surgery on her back left her unable to continue the job she loved. At that time she met Sadie, the German Shepherd, who had recently been rescued by the RSPCA. Together they've helped each other pull through.
Tel: 09015 22 51 01
WILLIAM JOHNSON AND PERCY
Dogs for the Disabled trained Percy to be a 'autism assistance dog’ – providing 6 year old William Johnson with a much needed lifeline. With Percy at his side, William has the reassurance and confidence to visit new places.
Tel: 09015 22 51 02
SERGEANT PAUL FARTHING AND NOWZAD AND TALI
Nowzad and Tali were fighting for survival on the streets of war-torn Afghanistan when Sergeant Paul Farthing came across them whilst he was serving with the Marines. Bringing them to safety meant embarking on a dangerous 4,000 mile journey to bring them to their new home in the UK.
Tel: 09015 22 51 0
HAZEL CARTER AND CONNIE
Two years ago Hazel Carter damaged her back and was left in constant pain and virtually housebound. Unable to do even the simplest of tasks, she trained Connie, her Newfoundland, to be her very own Personal Assistant.
Tel: 09015 22 51 04
HARRIET RINGSELL AND YEPA
Cerebral Palsy has left 11 year-old Harriet Ringsell with severely restricted movement. Best friend Yepa, her Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla has given Harriet the encouragement to overcome her disability. Thanks to Yepa, Harriet now believes she has a chance of walking again.
Struggling to see how a pampered pooch (not unlike the one pictured above) has just managed to bag the Best of Breed title in the Gundog Category at today's Crufts?
Let me tell you that dog had been groomed within an inch of its life; it would not last five minutes out in the field with a coat (or should that say, skirt?!) like that.
